Planty Gets Some Lovin'

This may be one of my most favorite pictures ever:

My nephews hugging and kissing Planty.

Somehow, I have no idea how, they understood Planty as a plant with a personality. They treated him as if he knew what they were saying and doing...

Which, of course, he does.

Planty's New Digs - And Other Green News

Today I put Planty back in his old pot - the one he called home in D.C., for many a year.

I had to transfer Planty to a smaller, flimsy, plastic pot after the awful culling I had to give him earlier this year. With his smaller size and my "gypsying" ways the enormous, super-heavy old pot just wasn't an option.

After convalescing in the plastic pot for a while now, Planty has gathered his strength and some of his size back... It was time to move him home.

Before you know it he'll be completely his old self again - attacking people who come through my front door in the same way he prevented people from going in my kitchen at old 304!

In other plant news:

I bought a pretty pink plant the other day that I also potted this morning. I have no idea yet where to put it, but I think it will be a nice addition to the ol' homestead. The goal is to slowly rebuild my personal botanic gardens after I lost pretty much all my plants - except Planty (thank the Lord) and one other - during the move back.

And finally: the fall bouquet Jonna brought me as part of a housewarming gift last weekend when she and Linds came over for dinner. Aren't they nice!

Planty's New Home

A couple weeks ago I brought Planty over from Laramie to get him settled in his new home.

Aside from my bed, Planty was the first thing I found a permanent location for in the apartment.

After being traumatized by freezing weather in the back of my car, culled, and toted back and forth between Laramie and Vail I think he rather likes his new little corner...

You'll also notice the photo on the wall above Planty. It was the first thing I hung on the walls in my new place: an awesome picture of the Lincoln Memorial, my favorite memorial in D.C., at sunset...

It's ALIVE!!

Since I have arrived I've had sitting around the apartment a box of seemingly dead plants.

I assumed they were dead because my once robust and beautiful geraniums looked like dried twigs sticking out of moldy potting soil. (I figured this was the likely aftermath of moving them in a cold car and the shock of less, and dramatically colder, air.)

Incidentally, I've been meaning to dump them out for quite some time, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Good thing, because yesterday I took a look at them again and two of the geraniums have leaves! I couldn't believe my eyes!!

The other plants should really thank those two because I've now decided to keep them all around a little longer to see what happens.

It's kind of like Night of the Living Dead. Crap. I wish I hadn't said that because they are in my bedroom right now...

A Plant(ies) Update

For everyone who has been waiting for news on Plant(ies') condition...

Plant(ies) has new growth!

After a nightmare this morning in which I discovered him completely shriveled in his pots, I jumped out of bed and did a thorough examination.

There are still some stalks in critical condition, but overall the original Planty seems to be pulling through, with new little sprouts to boot.

So, Planty is a daddy. I feel like I should be passing out cigars!

Plant(ies)

No need to say anything more...

Day 8 - Last Leg to Vail

The day really got started with lunch at the new Corona Village in Laramie with April and her family. I got to meet Jesse, her brand new baby (lots of babies on this trip!) who is adorable. Linds H. said she didn't like the new Village, but I kind of did. Having Taco Tuesday there might not be the same - nothing can beat the long lines and cheap tacos and beer in the dingy, crowded restaurant of our college days - but for a Sunday lunch it wasn't too bad.

After that I had to get down to the awful business of culling Planty. Oh, and it was SO awful. I felt like the bad guy in some slasher movie, hacking off Planty's limbs. I didn't do this with glee, however. I kept apologizing to him - and the two other plants I sacrificed (they weren't going to make it!) for their pots for Planty. I'm a cold-blooded killer...

I finished loading up the car and strapping Plant(ies) into the front seat by me. Linds thinks Planty is to me what Wilson was to Tom Hanks in Castaway. Hmmm...

Depart Laramie at 5:30 p.m., March 9, 2008. (Note: there are really no mile markers on this trip.)

230 W (WY) toward Walden, CO:
-I can't see out the back of my car any more than I could when I had the U-Haul. But at least I can use cruise control!
-I also can't see because the sun is RIGHT in my eyes. Wish I had the darned visor!
-The mountains are rising right in front of me. Love it!
-Feel pretty emotional right now for some reason. I'm excited, but disjointed, also a little lost, but like I'm on the path to finding me. I just feeling like crying right now for no good reason - but for good reason too I guess.
-I can't wait to get started on "The Book - Colorado Edition." Yes, I started one for Colorado long ago.
-A cloud just passed in front of the sun. Relief! At least for a moment.
-A National Forest sign. Don't see those everyday in D.C.
-There are so many fun log cabins with snow piled half way up them. I want one.
-I also want a dog. I am aching for a dog. Have been for a long time, but the size of dog I want wouldn't have been happy in my studio in D.C.
-I also want a Jeep Wrangler. A dog and a Wrangler have really been the only two things I've wanted for my Colorado life. For years now that's all I've thought. I would have bought a Wrangler after the Liberty was stolen and totaled, but another Jeep product in D.C. was not a good idea with my track record.

127 S (CO):
-Drinking my tea from the travel mug Linds C. and Cins made for me!
-I'm going to live in the mountains!
-My car takes forever to heat up.
-Been trying to give the one-fingered wave (no, not the same as flipping the finger, for those who are unfamiliar), but I'm getting no response.
-Maybe it's the D.C. plates. They think I'm a poser. Ha.

14 S (CO) toward Steamboat:
-Driving through snowy northern Colorado with all the ranch signs makes me think of books/movies like Centennial and Lonesome Dove.
-Carrie and I are already planning to go to Denver this weekend to hang out. Hope I have some going out clothes in the back of my car!
-Wide Open Spaces by the Chicks is on. The lyrics are SO appropriate! Particularly the second verse. (I would hyperlink this, but that's not an option on blogger right now! Annoying.) "Many precede and many will follow, A young girl's dream no longer hollow, It takes the shape of a place out west, But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed."
-At Continental Divide 8772 ft.: Pacific Watershed (left)/Atlantic Watershed (right).

9 S (CO) towards Dillon:
-The mountains are actually glowing purple right now. Glowing.
-I love how mountain towns give the elevation and not really the population.
-The definition of a river out here is so different than that out east.
-Love being able to drive with my brights on.
-Last time I drove this stretch was with Kara on our way to Jenn T.'s wedding in Steamboat.

I-70 W (CO) Last stretch to Vail!
-I can't believe I'm almost "home." Whee!
-I wish I could adequately describe the way the moon looks over the mountains right now.
-I will never get tired of seeing the stars again. I say "hi" to Orion every night.
-How scary to be a runaway truck.
-There's the sign for Avon, Colo., where I will actually be living (right outside of Vail).
-Don't know what I think right now. I'm excited and a little nervous. Why am I nervous? I'm not really a nervous person.
-Avon next right!!!
-Here I go! I'm exited. Oh, man.
-Done. I'm almost to Carrie's. So weird!
-Whew - pulling into the apt. complex!

I'm here. It's official. My cross-country journey is over. Wow.

I live out west... (I can't believe it.)
I live out west... (It's sinking in.)

I LIVE OUT WEST!