Urban and Suburban gardening: growing in your patio

So in O-town I guess because of the "seediness" of Lee Rd. some would call that area urban. It was great in some ways and not so great in others. I was able to tear up the entire front yard and put in an organic "yarden", but driving by the drug deals on the corner not so great. So when we moved we wanted a place where neither of us was worried about walking down the street, which landed us in suburbia (that wasn't the only reason though to be fair). While we don't have a yard we do have patios with walls, so you bet I have things growing.

I almost missed the growing season out here but I seemed to have squeezed out a few summer veggies. I got a handful of black eye peas (didn't plant enough, I'll do better next year), One or two yellow crook neck squash, half a dozen under ripe tomatoes (kid needs to learn her colors, green growing, red ready) some lettuce, thyme, basil, stevia, and eggplant. You can see from the pictures there isn't that much ground but if you know what you want and it's growing habit it is just a matter of feeding and watering. Shallow roots get pots like window boxes so they can be mounted on the walls. Taller deep rooted plants like the eggplant or tomatoes go in the back against the wall so shorter plants like the squash and herbs can be in front. Climbers take center stage and help green up the walls. So if you have the desire but only a patio, with a little light and some creative planning you can eat home grown veggies.

Turning the old bath tub into a planter,

Head bather

The lab is open.

I have begun creating again! Today I mixed and poured a whole batch of lip balms ready to be labeled and photographed for my stores. It has been brought to my attention that I need more price points, and the lip balm is the first of many to come. It is full of good for you oils, coconut, apricot, Shea, cocoa and some bees wax and coffee butter to add a little color and body. While it is not as robust as your cup of joe in the morning it does have a subtle coffee aroma, but the best thing is it lasts on your lips with a shear layer of silky softness. While visiting last month my mother tried it out and was amazed at the staying power.

So get ready, get set, and get your next favorite thing for winter Love lip balm. It is named after the Love bath line because I thought what could go better with a little self love but velvet lips.

XOXO

Head Bather

A woman in office...

So we are embarking on a part of history this season marks an election that will be remembered no mater what "color" gets into the white house. On one hand we have the first African American, and on the other the first woman in the "off white house" (my word for the vp's house). We have seen coverage after coverage on each sides experience and the latest was about Palin and how she would handle her first one on one with the press. Now I don't agree with allot of her positions or McCain's but I have to say the press could have done better.
For starters they (the press) are in a business concerned with selling their networks so they have to make their time on air riveting, but to be "fair and balanced" where was the one on one with the other vp candidate?
I know there isn't as much controversy over Biden as a vp and maybe that's because of his experience, fine, but how about each vp being interviewed at the same time with the same questions. I mean who but those in the loop of presidential coverage could have given the correct answer to "what is the Bush doctrine", and even then it apparently wasn't a well used term. I don't think that the press is completely biased to the Obama campaign (even though SNL did parody it, oh and where is Tina Fey to play Palin? get on it girl!) however I do think it is harder work for the American public to stay honest about the candidates on both sides. We have networks who are more concerned with ad revenue than honest journalism, and a public that only sees colors or sex if they trust the politicians enough to even pay attention.
So there is my two cents, I will go back to being creative now.
Oh and yes I did register to vote!

Going to fill the tub to relax,
Head Bather

I was due...

I have just recovered from a migraine attack, when I say attack I mean a three day assault. Could have been the chocolate overload or the mom's night out or that I haven't had one that "good" in a while. I must say most Rx's don't do anything but dull or sedate the pain or me, so I have stuck to the over the counter pain remedies for a few years and one of my concoctions. Anyone who has had migraines may tell you that a dark cool room is just the thing, and they are right. My bedroom and living room have very well lined draperies just for such occasions, they kept me in a constant state of twilight. This helped but the right side of my melon still felt like there were small construction workers breaking up the bone of my skull like an old concrete driveway. Cold also helps and since I had run out of one of the key ingredients in my headache concoction I settled for a damp towel to the head. The last and first thing is my all around cure all lavender oil applied directly to where it hurt. I would have mixed it with some peppermint but was all out, that usually provides the cool for a good amount of time.
Now I am happy to simply feel a dull ache occasionally or some disjointed head feeling. So I am back from the bed and headed to the tub.

Love always,
Head bather