Knitting, gardening, and Dr. Who

It's hot and humid here. One would think it was July.

Well, okay, it's not that hot, like 90, but compared with what we've been having, it's definitely on the warm side. The dogs only lasted half an hour when we went out to play last night. Supposed to be warm today and tomorrow, with wind and thunderstorms. Oh joy. At the moment it's sunny and steamy. Taenzer is wondering why I don't take her out.

Here's my latest knitting project.

It would be farther along if I didn't have to keep ripping back 10 or 12 rows when I realize I've done the ribbing wrong. It's supposed to be a zig-zag kind of ribbing, but I keep finding that I've done a kind of twisted, wrap-around ribbing instead and have to go back and fix it. I'm not really sure the zig-zag ribbing adds much, but it's what the pattern calls for. Fortunately, I'm in no big hurry about this, and I like the yarn, so it's a nice knit.

I've been watching my old Dr. Who tapes in the evening while I knit. I'm up to Dr. No. 5, Peter Davidson. I may go back and re-watch all of them and transfer them to DVD at the same time--which is why I got this particular player; it's supposed to copy from tape to DVD. These tapes are in amazingly watchable condition considering that they're 20 years old or more, but I think it would be a good idea to copy them. Then I *might* toss the tapes. I'm trying to clean out the house, and DVDs take up much less space than tapes. I just hate to get rid of something that's still watchable.

People get quite passionate about the various Doctors and their companions. I think all the people who've played the Doctor have brought their own twist to it, and then you have to make allowances for the creative team and the time that a particular Doctor's episodes were produced in, so I think there's a bit of apples/orangeswhen it comes to comparing them. (there's a rainbow somewhere!--it's raining out, and the sun is shining) It seems that most people tend to favor the Doctor they started out with. For me, that was Peter Davidson, but I think my favorite Doctor might be Jon Pertwee, with Tom Baker and Paul McGann running very close seconds. The one I like least is Colin Baker, but that's not the actor's fault, it's the fault of the material he had to work with.

Adric is possibly the most hated companion ever, but I don't see it. I watched the show where he died a couple of nights ago. The actor who played him might not have been the best actor ever, but I actually like the character a lot, I suppose because I've known a lot of kids like him. My most favorite companion is Jo, with Sarah Jane and Benton (who technically isn't a companion) next. My least favorites are Tegan (although, bless her, poor Tegan was put through some of the worst situations of any companion), Turlough, and Mel. I like Peri and Adric, and I have a soft spot for Harry Sullivan ("is an imbecile!")--not the brightest bulb in the box, but he's a trier.

(Now it's sunny, rainy, and thundery!)

I'm so pleased with the bluebells this year. They used to be near the front porch

steps, but the dogs were peeing on them, so I decided to move them (do you know how much a bluebell plant costs??). Last year they were just two scrawny little plants, and this year--tada! They'd look particularly pretty with pink bleeding heart nearby (which didn't come up this year-guess I'll look for a couple of new plants) and some soft (not bright) yellow tulips, like Jewel of Spring. I ought to feed them--something. Maybe I could dig something out of the bottom of the compost pile. Plants this pretty (and pricey) should be encouraged. (btw, isn't the bark on the tree in this picture amazing-looking?)

There used to be four bleeding hearts out front, but this is the only one that came up this year, and it's hearty. Oh, no, that's a pun! I didn't mean that! *lol* I meant it's a big strong plant!

I really prefer soft colors in my garden, like these lovely double tulips (Angelique and Maywonder, underplanted with vinca and veronica Waterperry Blue):

But how can you resist these bright, cheerful little faces? (I didn't plant these, so they're quite old--more than 20 years! That's pretty darn good for tulips)

And don't you love the red feathering on this one? I wish I had a place to plant a huge patch of red, orange, yellow, and yellow/red bi-color tulips! (that wouldn't clash with everything else, I mean)

Mental note: I want to get one jackmanii clematis (to replace one that didn't come up), 3 large green hostas (3 that didn't come up in front), 2 medium-sized green and gold hosta (replace 2 in back) and hakone grass to go between them, silver artemesia and a collection of annuals for the driveway bed, and i think pink petunias and some heliotrope to put in front of the roses out front.

I would also like to dig up the vinca in the white garden and replace it with white-flowering vinca from Wayside (I'd move the blue vinca to the north side of the house), same with the lamium (which blooms purple, but there's a white-flowering form, White Nancy), and get white columbine and white foxglove from White Flower Farm. Maybe next year.

Oh, and I never thought I'd say this, but the European ginger--which I love--is spreading like a maniac. There are little clumps of it all over the yard this year. One hates to discourage a happy, enthusiastic, and beautiful plant, but one doesn't necessarily want it *everywhere*. I think I may have to take out a trowel and dig some up and move it. Maybe I can replace some dandelions with it!