You just can't win

So we finally have some rain. We're getting the remnants of Fay and so it's rained non-stop for two days...the first rain I've seen here in I don't know how long. Still not enough to get us out of this drought, but needed nontheless. Yet, I want the rain to stop. The time to do my veg sampling is quickly running out. The leaves have started turning and that's bad news. I'm in a perpetual tense state and unfortunately, my boyfriend bears the brunt of it. :o( I'm sure everything will work out in the end...even if it does mean I'm in graduate school for and extra semester or two.

A couple of thoughts

When you're in the woods for hours on end by yourself, you have a lot of time to think.

#1 I really should stop watching crime shows...I have very little doubt that I'll stumble upon a body someday.

#2 They call dense patches of rhododendron "rhodo hell" for a reason.

My Campus Ride

Here is my ride to campus about which I've been talking:

Campus Ride by MapMyRide.com

Oh, and don't let me forget by golly--I have to give a shout out and props to MY BIG BROTHER for referring me to this awesome website. If he hadn't told me about this site, I can guarantee I wouldn't be where I am today. :oP

Great idea!

I think this is a fabulous idea, although some may find it tacky and informal:

save the date * save the trees







I found this site via Brenda's Wedding Blog.

Passionate about passion flower

A while ago I saw a picture my friend posted of a passion flower. Having just moved from New Mexico, I thought this flower was so unique and something that one would only see in the tropics. I was quite pleased to find out it's a common wildflower in North Carolina. I was also quite pleased to find out that I have several growing around my property.

Some interesting notes on the passionflower:

The species found in the southeastern US is Passiflora incarnata. This species is also known as maypop, wild apricot, or purple passionflower.

It produces a fruit about the size of a chicken egg. It is edible, but mostly benefits wildlife because of the abundance of seeds. The purple fruit produced by a different species is toxic.

P. incarnata leaves are used to make a tea that treats insomnia, epilepsy, and "hysteria". It also has painkilling and antidepressant properties and the dried leaves can be smoked.

Curiously, its name did not originate from the idea of love, but rather from its structures likened to the crucifixion of Christ on the cross. From Wikipedia: ...the radial filaments which can number more than a hundred and vary from flower to flower represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds.

There you have it folks!

Kitchen renovation has commenced!

The guy is here doing the electrical work right now, the cabinets are being delivered today, and the installation occurs tomorrow. YAY!

Proof I help with these projects:



Chris thinking about what he did that landed him in time-out: