I have a dirty mind......but a clean greenhouse....

A clean greenhouse is the sign of a dirty mind. I like a clean and organized greenhouse. This is how we left the teaching greenhouse after our last class. It should be a pleasure for the next person to use.

We have kept a third of a bench for ongoing research projects since this greenhouse has higher light levels than our normal one. It makes some of our research much easier. I look at it as a 'perk' for teaching.
Anyway this is a very special day as we have verified another first for the plant world. In fact we have 'three' of dem.. This breakthrough is going to lead to some of the most amazingly beautiful plants. I only hope God keeps me going for the 3-5 years it is going to take to finish.

Last Class..........its over..........

I am happy that class is over and I can now focus on research again.

The students were great and it was kind of sad to see them go.
They actually hung around and seemed like they did not want to leave.
But we moved on and they will still be around.

Now it is time for me to move on back to pollinating, taking data and writing............
I will need Mosaic Mom's help now.
Hope I can be a good student for her.

The Last Class........plus more........

My last class is this Wednesday........no more lectures........maybe there will be some freedom to be creative in the research world.....

The students get to evaluate me which will take 15 minutes...I can't lose there......bad evaluation = no more teaching(?)...........good evaluation keeps me out of trouble.......but no less teaching.....

Heard from an old surf fishing buddy who said it has been a "very bad" year for surf fishing. He should know since he teaches a class about it......makes my efforts this year seem significantly better under those circumstances...gee maybe I will go agian next week.....

I invented a new inline (chum plug) that needs to be tested....it looks like another can't miss design......just like the "deep digger" sand flea rake....brilliant.......

Gave a lecture, based on Mosaic Mom's notes, on the "edible landscape" in class last week........it went really well......everyone is interested in food....they would be really envious if the saw her garden......unfortunately gardening is art and cannot be taught as a recipe.........there are so many things that go into a successful garden.....I am lucky to have a real gardening partner......we may actually get it right one day.....

Raked a few cubic yards of leaves yesterday.......Gosh.....there have been an awful lot of cell divisions going on in our yard.......

Doctors............

2 weeks ago went to doctor to see about rash.....that led to blood test.....that led to todays testing of carotids because they sounded funny........that led to all the tests turning out fine.....that led to a plus for their bottom line........that led to me wondering about doctors' motives.....that led to the rash being almost gone.....that led me back to work where I will go to the next to last class and give a vigorous lecture.......that will lead to me going home and rooting for the trailblazers on TV tonight......that will lead to me cussing the refs.......that will lead to Mosaic mom wondering where I got that rash from anyway.....that will lead me to say that I am a victim due to excessive carotid blood fl0w....that will lead MM to say she thought as much and that she loves me anyway......what a great day that will make.

New Office View...........

The class finished their little landscape project.
My view has improved greatly and the class is almost over.
A real win win for me...........

Gosh...It is cold again...40's with big wind..

Saturday and Sunday I was moaning about the heat.

Today, I must be in Alaska as it is windy and cold - BRISK as we do not like to say.
Actually we have not gone anywhere...it is that miserable at home.
A late cold front with 30 mph winds and temps in the 40's this am.
Same for tomorrow...

Makes you feel bad for the poor corn and zuchini.
Ahhhhhhhh but it is GREAT brocolli weather...and we have several heads ready to harvest.

Anyway, it sure is nice to sit here in with my heater and work this story up.
But, by Friday I will start the "heat" moaning all over again as temps to reach mid-80"s.

Ya gotta love stability...............

My New Baby...........

One of my first Amaryllis seedlings flowered this week. I really like the pastel orange color.

I have seen other oranges on the internet but I really like this one since it is mine.

There is another seedling soon to open also. I have saved the pollen from this "breeder".

I already have a field prepared for the next generations.

I Went....................Surf Fishing

Jinxed of not, I woke up yesterday and decided to go fishing afterall.
Arrived at beach by 7:30.
Sand fleas were tought to find but got some with my "deep digger sand flea rake".
It was an overcast and windy day but the temperature was perfect and the water was clean and not to rough. The wind was SE but the water never got dirty.
Caught several small whiting and a couple of catfish early but then things got good.
Ended up with 30+ fish and brought home 11 nice whiting and 2 big pompano (15" plus).
The fish were filleted and frozen on cookie sheets (photo below).
The fillets were then removed from the sheets and put in freezer bags.
They do not stick together so we just remove a few to cook whenever we want.
As most fishermen know, both whiting and pompano are fantastic eating.
Another day well spent.

**** The most amazing thing was that at 1:00 pm I was the only person on the beach for a mile in either direction. It is hard to believe that I had my own personal beach on a perfect day (although a little windy). When I left at 2:00 the beach had gotten crowded again - 2 other people showed up.

Pompano and whiting fillets. Life is good.