Saturday, 26 March 2016
We got up early (for us) in order to go to the high school and caucus for Bernie Sanders. At this caucus for the democrats, Bernie was the most popular candidate by far, leading to a larger number of Bernie delegates being sent to the state convention.
If you wish to know how it works, you can read more about the event here:
“PACIFIC COUNTY — During Saturday’s Democratic caucuses, Pacific County voters showed an overwhelming preference for Bernie Sanders, the Vermont democratic socialist who has galvanized young voters with his populist platform.
Just over 81 percent of the county’s caucus participants supported Sanders, and just under 19 percent supported Clinton — a 62 percent margin, according to the Washington State Democrats website. That means Pacific County will send 77 Sanders delegates, and 18 Clinton delegates to the next step in the process, the 19th Legislative District convention.”
I am pleased to live in such a progressive area.
Above: To the right in red is Karen Brownlee, the potter who organized the recent Empty Bowls event.
I did not like it one little bit when the reporter from the local paper stuck her camera right up in our faces without asking. Allan managed to take the above photo without my even knowing he was doing so.
Our table adjourned into another building to hear some citizen speeches about why each of the two candidates was supported (Bernie, except for three speakers).
I find it hard to stand for a long stretch of time because of knee pain and lightheadedness, so we left before the speeches ended, having already done the important part of making our choice. And our minds were not going to be changed; that was the purpose of the speechifying (some of it most eloquent, especially when I was in agreement); at the end, attendees would be given the opportunity to change their choice. Oh, how sad it makes me to not choose the female candidate. It would be a wonder to see a liberal woman president in my lifetime. As a feminist since age 12, it is disappointing, but I just find Ms. Clinton too hawkish and too much of the moneyed class. I’ll vote for her if she wins the national nomination, which I do think she will because…money wins. However, we live in hope.
On the way out of the parking lot, we drove by the two excellent flowers displays that someone has planted along School Road.
Depot Restaurant
We had a brief mission at the Depot: deadheading.
Long Beach
More deadheading ensued in Long Beach along with the planting of two of my birthday Asphodeline lutea ‘Italian Gold’.
I see that Allan also noticed my new-this-year Tulip acuminata.
“The rare Fire Flame or Turkish Tulip dates back to at least the early 1800s. This rare heirloom has a wild form with uniquely narrow yellow flower petals edged and prominently tipped scarlet.” (Van Engelen) They are $2 apiece!
Basket Case Greenhouse
Last time we’d been to the Basket Case, I had been in too much leg pain to shop properly, so today we made up for it with another purchase and some more photos for the Basket Case Facebook page..
I asked Allan to go to the way back yard to get a photo of skunk cabbage.
Fred told him that a British man had asked if the nursery had them for sale, and said that in the UK, they are sold as “swamp lanterns”. I was so pleased, as I was going to say again in the blog that I had read that they are called swamp lanterns in the UK. I had been afraid to Google and find out it was not true, because I like the story so much. Much joy that it is confirmed by Fred’s customer.
Golden Sands Assisted Living
I had some seeds to plant (bachelor buttons and sweet peas), along with some gladiolus bulbs donated by our client Jo.
Klipsan Beach Cottages
Deadheading narcissi, a bit of weeding, and planting of sweet peas took place at KBC, along with a discussion of knee replacement by friend and KBC manager Denny, who has had one knee done and may have the second about the same time that I have my first. Denny is very happy with his new knee. He said that the one thing I must NOT do is push the knee out sideways and “pop it out”. I worried over this for quite some time while working, as this is how I work, and is how I have gardened for forty years.
My “bad” leg (right) is always straight and my good leg (left) bent. If I forget to bend my knee now and then on the bad one, it locks straight and is hell to bend. How am I going to relearn how to work in a way that does not push my leg sideways? I pivot on that leg pretty much all workday long. I have 7-10 months to try to figure out a solution to this. It is making me rethink the whole thing a bit. I wonder if I could get a brace to wear instead of a new knee. (I am not kidding, nor am I making light of polio, which my former partner had as a child.)
(Edited the next day to add: My friend Sheila told me about knee braces that tennis players can wear after knee surgery. I especially like the look of one like this:
And another friend who has had both knees replaced tells me it is only until the knee gets strong again that you must worry about it going sideways. So my concerns have been laid to rest.)
The reminds me, why why why do I still not have an Embothrium in my collection?
Real name is mlokosewitschii.
I had wanted to deadhead and the Anchorage Cottages and then plant three plants in Long Beach on the way home. A long rain storm passed over us all the way south so we just went straight to the…
Port of Ilwaco.
Editorializing: Nearby, grass by the parking lot was Round-up-ed. Does it look better this way or green?
I had picked some rosemary for Salt Hotel’s kitchen and, after delivering it and having a pleasant chat with Julez and Laila, we returned home, after making a spontaneous stop to pop three plants into one of the Ilwaco planters (Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’, a variegated oregano and a golden thyme).
More knee thoughts: From my seat in the van, upon leaving and arriving home, I see this cluster of grassy weeds on the edge of the garden.
I find it extremely difficult to believe that I am supposed to not pull these for THREE months after the operation. I know the first month will hurt, but come on! There is no way I am going to be able to resist pulling weeds like this, especially if I am not going to work. Some long handled tools are in order; I am used to bending right down and grabbing out any weed I see.
Guest photo:
Ginger’s Garden Diaries
from my mother’s garden diaries of two decades ago
1997 (age 72):
March 26: Don came to help chipping of pile behind garage but the chipper cord was stuck too tight to start machine. I left message for Bill [her “handyman”] to see if he can get it going.
1998 (age 73):
March 26: 1:00-4:30 Cool—rainy and sunshine. I started a big job today. How come I like to work in my strawberries best? I started cleaning the rows. The first one was easy—mostly new plants from Gordons. But by the time I started the second row, I realized most plants needed to be divided and it’s easier to dig all the plants and divide them at the work table so I tried that but got rained on. I divided them in the greenhouse. I hope to continue this work tomorrow but it will take several days.
When I was recovering from my hip replacement I too was anxious to get in the garden but wasn’t allowed to bend over for three months. I used long handled grass shears to cut plants back. Using a grabbing tool didn’t really work to pick plant debris up. I would try using one of those long handled dust pans and a rake. Yes, long handled tools will become your best friends for awhile. I used a kneeling stool for three years and it was a lifesaver for me. Funny once you have limitations, we stubborn gardeners will find a way to still garden.
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Thanks! That is inspirational.
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You are inspirational in so many ways! I am hopeful for your knee. I have a good gardening friend who’s body is also not cooperating. Sending you positive vibes😀👍
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Thank you!
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It was a great day for the caucus, my first one. Chinook was a solid voting block for Bernie! Great day for flowers too, I did take particular note of those near the school parking lot.
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Yay for Chinook!!
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Interesting to hear of a caucus from a participant not a journalist. We worry, if Bernie becomes the Democratic candidate, whether he can get elected. I’m with you on wishing a woman could get elected but also with you on Clinton’s connections with the financial world.
Lovely tulips.
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Thanks, Mr T. I am sure the whole world worries about what the heck this crazy country is going to do next.
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It all comes of reading too many comic books.
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