Rose bouquets

We've planted roses in both of the brick planters flanking the front of the house. They've really taken off and are doing very well this year. I have bought all of my roses from Reagan Nursery in Fremont. They have the largest and best selection of all varieties of roses. It's always lots of fun and not enough money when we go there. They also have a large selection of Peonies, Camelias, and Azaleas. Here are a few of my roses.

This is the only rose I got from Home Depot. It's really beautiful when this rose begins to bloom. The new blooms have a bright pink color and becomes peachy after a few days. Finally, it becomes a pale pink right before it wilts. The multi-petals resemble a Peony.


This Hot Cocoa never was a strong plant and never did really well until we replanted it with new Rose Soil. It went from a weakling with fingernail size leaves to a robust thriver with healthy sized leaves and stalks. The color is just so RICH! One drawback are the sharp and large thorns which cover the entire stalk.


This has to be our favorite of all, the Eden Climber. I was skeptical of whether it can adapt to the SF weather and bloom. So far, it's never disappointed. Every year it'd have flushes of these tightly clustered blooms. The color gradation contrasts especially well with the new house color!
We bought another Eden Climber for the planter on the other side of the house, but in a cream color.


The 8 rose bushes we have supply me with plenty of fragrant rose bouquets to enjoy throughout the summer. I especially love them in the bathroom.

The Young Farm

We've been wanting to grow our own vegetables for a while, and have not been very good at farming. So far this year, we've only had some tomatoes and sweet peas.

Here's the vegetable box at the beginning of the season.


Aunt Jo has been supplying us with seedlings of tomatoes, and zuchinis.



We grew some sweet peas from seeds.



Strawberries from the Bitner Farm


We'll have to elevate the boxes and supplement the soil with more manure for next season. Hopefully our harvest will be better next year.

Amy Winehouse, step aside!

Ella Winehouse in da house!

Who's got the highest Beehive of all??

Back to Work

Four months of maternity leave seemed like a lot back in April, but now it's all gone in a flash. I can vividly remember turning off my daily 7 AM alarm; it was like yesterday. Last Sunday night, I packed up my laptop, and felt what seem like first day of school jitters. Sniff... Sniff...

I've been leaving my blog open on my laptop at work so that I can look at my Ella Bu all day. Time for some new pictures!

Ella loves to hold her bottle now, but still needs a litte help from Mommy.


Ella doesn't cry anymore when she wakes up from a nap. She just looks around and starts to babble to herself.


She loves to sit upright now, but can't quite sit by herself yet.



Ella starts her days in the swing, and sometimes just nods off again.


Finally!!! Ella finally began to take to Auntie Emily and have been sleeping soundly in her arms for a couple of times.


Getting ready to wash her greasy hair.

Ella's Party

We celebrated Ella's 100th Day with a picnic at Golden Gate Park last weekend. The unpredictable weather in SF was very cooperative. The wind was calm for the most part and it was sunny for the duration of the picnic, which unfortunately melted the malt balls in the favor bags.


It also happened to be Daddy's birthday, and it was the best birthday he's ever had. All the photos are posted on Flickr, but here are a few.

Auntie Emily and Daddy went to the park early to set up and waited for the jumper to arrive. They set up all the tables in the shape of an "E" for Ella. Nice detail!!


Thanks Grandma and Uncle Bo for picking up all the Sushi and Chinese food!!!

Mommy and Uncle Ethan had the difficult task of cupcake tastings and we decided on the Red Velvet and Lemon Drop Cupcakes from Noe Valley Bakery. Both were big hits with everyone!!

We also want to thank everyone who participated in the Sumo Wrestling for providing the FREE entertainment.


We had a great time hanging out with everyone! Thanks for coming to share a fun day in the park with us!