Friends

Jun. 1st, 2012 @ 11:05 am Strawberry report

About 95% of a quart. There are more numerically than that might imply, though, as the average size is going down. (Still many big ones in the mix, but the smaller ones are getting dominant.)

About this Entry

alexx_kay

Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 31st, 2012 @ 10:56 am Strawberry metaphors

Keeping up with the garden is a lot of work. If I'm diligent and thorough, about half the fruit actually reaches ripeness. No amount of care can save more than that from fatal imperfections due to circumstances beyond my control. Fruit that looked perfect at first glance may reveal nasty chunks of rot when looked at more closely in a second pass. It's frustrating, but something you just have to live with.

Feels a lot like building game systems. Or probably any creative endeavor. People enjoy the sweetness, but they don't usually realize how much ended up in the compost heap.

About this Entry

alexx_kay

3 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 31st, 2012 @ 10:40 am This Monday, June 4: Redbones Bike Party in Davis Square

Tags: events , fundraising , massbike , redbones , somerville

This Monday evening, June 4, from 5 to 9 pm, Redbones will hold its 16th annual Bike Party and Benefit for MassBike and New England Mountain Bike Association. The party will be outdoors on blocked-off Chester Street in Davis Square, in front of the restaurant.

A $15 ticket gets you food and drink, bicycle valet parking, and a raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. The drawing for various prizes starts at 7:30 pm. There will be music from the Second Line Social Aid & Pleasure Society.

About this Entry

ron_newman, posting in

bostoncycling

Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 31st, 2012 @ 10:29 am Health update

Tags: diabetes , diary , health , strawberries

Went to the doctor last week, and just got back a letter with my lab results. Almost everything they measured is smack dab in the middle of the 'normal' range. My A1c (a long-term measure of diabetes severity) is not yet into the desirable range, but is getting very close to it.

For many years, I would order new pants when my old ones started to wear out. Since I started modifying my diet a couple years ago, and exercising more recently, I've been ordering new pants when the old ones start to fall off. I'm now down to a 33 waist. When I put away laundry last night, I pulled my 38-inch jeans out of the closet, and put them in the "drop off at goodwill" pile.

There will probably be some backsliding this month. Picking strawberries isn't nearly as aerobic as other exercise stuff I was doing, but takes up so much time that I don't do nearly as much of that other exercise. And the strawberries themselves are pure carbs. But the point of improved health is to enjoy life, and I enjoy the strawberries too much to not make this trade-off :)

About this Entry

alexx_kay

5 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 31st, 2012 @ 10:21 am Strawberry report

Tags: strawberries

About 90% of a quart today. Plenty of sun, so even more expected tomorrow.

My office has many more people than it did last year. I feel compelled to pick more than I used to. The smiles of joy people give me in return are addictive.

Of course, there's still about half the people at work who see me offer and say "I'm good." No, no you are not. If you are turning down fresh strawberries, you are at best, broken, if not actually evil! Yes, I have strong feelings about this :)

About this Entry

alexx_kay

3 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 30th, 2012 @ 03:25 pm Strawberry report

Tags: strawberries

Forgot to post this morning. Very similar haul to yesterday's. But as soon as we get another day of solid sunshine, it looks likely to hit the "too many to pick before I have to leave for work" mark.

About this Entry

alexx_kay

Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 29th, 2012 @ 03:15 pm I love my friends, but they're not always observant

Tags: kate

As in -- Kate was wearing a pretty emerald ring yesterday. Yes, that means what you think it does.

(No, it's not the "real" engagement ring yet -- we're going to shop for that together. This one's an heirloom from her family, that is standing in for the time being. I actually proposed on Sunday with the necklace and earrings she was wearing yesterday, which is why she was wearing such fancy jewelry to a cookout.)

And no, we don't have a date yet, but we're figuring sometime in 2013. More details as we figure them out...

About this Entry

jducoeur

51 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 29th, 2012 @ 09:42 am Strawberry report

Tags: strawberries

About 85% of a quart.

Overcast today, so tomorrow may not be as bountiful.

About this Entry

alexx_kay

Leave a comment
Permanent Link

May. 28th, 2012 @ 10:21 am Strawberry report

Tags: strawberries

Was confused about my units the other day. 19 strawberries is more like half a pint than a pint.

Sunday, I got a bit under a full pint, and stopped actually counting numbers.

Sunday afternoon, ordered Chinese takeout. The delivery guy has been coming to our house for years now, and was very happy that "the straws" were back, and helped himself to a little extra tip. Sunday evening, housemates picked about a half pint for baking with.

This morning, despite the various extra harvests on Sunday, got well over a pint.

I'm calling it. Strawberry season is now officially open! This is more than we can eat by ourselves, so come on by and harvest at your pleasure. It may take a few hours for new ones to ripen, but not long :-)

About this Entry