Day: March 25, 2014

I’ve always enjoyed watching airplanes land. Since Slideman took me to see the Boeing 747 land at Mitchell Field in Some Year I won’t say, I have found it exhilarating. Almost as exhilarating as surviving my own landings. But that’s another story.

A few years ago I discovered Pelicans. I’d never seen them up close and personal, but across from Alcatraz Island is a great spot. Watching them fly and land reminded me of those huge, low, eerily clunky and seemingly impossible old planes from WWII. They really impressed me.

Today, as I was crossing the bridge over the Werra River, the white swan landed — came down over my head and to the river and I was just struck by the amazing beauty, majesty, even, and power of this creature as she came down, wingspan so much larger than one thinks, beautiful smooth tucked in suddenly, elegantly floating in the river.

Bad day to have left the phone camera at home.

…. to give it a little ‘zing’. To make it ‘pop’. To make up for the lack of Sriracha sauce currently residing in the flat.

Rainer Peppers are amazing. They come in all shapes and sizes. So far, the “just one Rainer Pepper” has been small. Those are gone. Now there are good size Rainer Peppers, safely ensconced in the freezer for when one is needed. Two sandwich bag sizes have been enough for six months of ZazzzOOm. More than enough. It is possible that the Caustic One will have to make some chutney with the cherries so that there is room in the freezer for the 2014 crop of Rainer Peppers! Rainer Peppers are *not* the kind of peppers that one just pops into one’s mouth and enjoys, unless one has an asbestos tongue. The Caustic One does not.

One of the great perks of being in Ag research is being in proximity with Really Good Organic gardeners. Who like to share their wares. Rainer is one of those amazing people. I am very fortunate to work with him, as he is in charge of my polytunnel tomatoes!