6.22.2012

Just Blame It on the Hobgoblins and other stories

Lou to Maia this morning: "Ah... did you decide to do some redecorating in the night?"


Maia: "I don't know what you're talking about. But if I had, it would be more innovative and aesthetic than anything you people come up with."

* * *

Your garden-happy blogger got a bit of a sad shock this week when the dogwood tree—keep in mind that this is not a sweet little shrub, but a full-grown, bird-attracting shade tree—went from looking relatively healthy to showing itself entirely covered in anthracnose.


And I do mean entirely. Every branch from trunk to tip has affected leaves. Whether it's the comparatively mild spot anthracnose or the deadly dogwood anthracnose, I'm not sure. It may not matter, with this level of infection. "Cut off the affected areas, burn the leaves, and disinfect your pruning shears" is clearly not an option.

I fear the happiest possible ending I can get out of this is "Cut it down, have my little cry over it, and then plant a weeping willow."

In more cheerful gardening news, I splurged on a clematis vine this week.


Also, our little pink rose is absolutely loving not being choked out by whatever random bush-weed had it by the throat last year.


And I don't even know what to do with the potatoes. They're so healthy that I keep having to cut them back so they don't suffocate the blueberries.


* * *

Writers' link of the week: An old Neil Gaiman response to a reader question about agents, mostly answered in thorough detail by Teresa Nielsen Hayden. Granted, this was seven years ago, but there's still plenty to be learned from it.

* * *

Music of the week: A lovely Debussy violin sonata, which recommendation I'm shamelessly passing on from The Egotist's Club. Permit me also to recommend The Egotist's Club, one of my new favorite blogs to read. You'll find books, drinks, faith, linguistic flourishes—so many of the best things in life.



* * *

Random amusement of the week: Better Book Titles (advisory: some of these are quite... adult.) Quality varies, but there are some real gems. Among my favorites are re-titled books by Edith Wharton, J.D. Salinger, and George R.R. Martin.

* * *

It's four o'clock, and I'm off. The piano calls, and so does my book, which I am still happily and messily revising.

Happy weekend!

3 comments:

  1. Have you seen the list of retitled Harry Potter books? Not sure where I saw it, but here it is:
    Harry Potter and the Magic Rock
    Harry Potter and the Secret Sewer
    Harry Potter and the Ex-Con
    Harry Potter and the Fire Cup
    Harry Potter and the Secret Club
    Harry Potter and Snape
    Harry Potter Goes Camping

    And the way Maia has hung the draperies is very...artistic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Haha @ David. I guess Harry Potter is the new Bobbsey Twins/Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha, David! Not quite as interesting that way, are they? And that does make them sound like a list of kids' mystery books.

    ReplyDelete

All comments are currently moderated. Friendly comments are welcomed with fairy music, magic wishes, and possible unicorn sightings. Troll comments will be Transfigured into decent-looking rocks or Vanished. Spam comments will be shot down with blasters.