I've moved along to another project... Check out www.chickentreasures.com
I still love Oakland but with the explosive growth and skyrocketing rents, I'm going to ease off my cheer leading.

Sweet Alyssum, a prolific volunteer

Lobularia maritima...nobody calls it that.

Alyssum is a classic garden staple. Available in any nursery all year in California, easy-to-grow is an understatement, mostly pest and problem free, ranges from white to pink to purple flowers, and re-seeds itself.

This is one of my garden favorites because it re-seeds itself readily. It will eventually revert back to its wild, somewhat leggy origins, so I re-seed myself every other year or so. Some varieties from the nursery are sterile so you may not get volunteers the following season. I usually buy a few different seed packs and sprinkle them about. The photo above is this year's garden and all the low white flowers are volunteer alyssum from last year's plants. 

As the older plants become leggy and over grown I pull them out and then shake them over the bed to drop any seeds. By that time there's already seedlings coming up to take their place. In the foreground of the photo you can see the starts coming up between the stepping stones. They will likely be flowering in the next two weeks.

I'm a huge fan of plants that re-seed themselves. Larkspur, Snap Dragons, Lobelia, Cosmos, tomatoes and well, all of them... If they start themselves, chances are they will survive. 

Bodie loves alyssum too

The odd but likable Cucamelon...

Melothria scabra 

I'm not surprised this strange little fruit has many names...mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon and Mexican sour cucumber...It's been a food staple south of the boarder since pre-Columbian times.

Slow to get started, I often worry it's not doing well in the beginning. This delicate little vine really takes it time getting established but then one day you discover it's one of the most vigorous and high yielding plants in the yard. Drought & pest resistant, it can grow up over 10 feet. 

So, what's the big deal? How do they taste? What do you do with them?
I often eat these right off the vine. The taste is a bit like watermelon rind and lemon cucumber. Crunchy & slightly sweet, they are great in salads, stir fry, can be pickled, canned and put into salsa. I pickled some whole last year and wasn't crazy about the result...the inside went soft while the outside stayed crunchy, making for a strange texture. This year I will try slicing them thinly, pickling and serving it like a slaw or sauerkraut. Stay tuned...

So tiny and yet...

If you are looking for something different to grow or a vine that won't take up a ton of space, try this (next year). Seeds are readily available from many good companies on line. Sew in April - May to harvest July - September.

More notes from the garden

I mentioned yesterday that I like to grow my veggies with my flowers. I don't like the look of a raised bed, plants all rowed up, nothing but the same plant and soil. Give me texture, color, depth and chaos! Controlled chaos that is...The garden is a great place for a control freak; I'm like a god here. If a plant doesn't perform well, grows the wrong way or in the wrong place, I cut it or move it or pull it completely. My garden is exactly that, MINE. It looks the way it does because of the choices I make and the care I put into it. 

From right to left: Bee Balm, State Fair Zinnia, Gomphrena "Fireworks", Cucumber, Gazania, Portulaca, Sun Gold Tomato, Alyssum, Thyme, State Fair Zinnia, Coreopsis, Chive, Painted Tongue and a bunch of snap dragons that seem to blend in.

The cucumbers are being trained up the trellis. Last year I grew gourds this way with great success. I don't have room for trailing vines on the ground so vertical gardening has allowed me to grow some sprawling plants not possible before. Also on trellises: Cucamelons, Hops, Cherry Tomatoes and Thunbergia.

'Flora' is the sweetest hen

On the other side of the bed shown above, is the chicken run. The cherry tomatoes are trained to grow over the fence and into this space. The hens can't get enough sun golds and I can never eat them as fast as they're ready. This arrangement keeps everyone happy and the chickens out of my yard (always a heart breaker with their scratchy ways). Chickens are fun and easy to keep but they will turn every bit of land into a moonscape eventually. I toss weeds, plant clippings, bugs, worms and all manner of garden detritus into the chicken area. This makes for delicious eggs and content chickens.

Hops & Sunflowers on a perfect Oakland day

Let me tell you about my garden

Dear Sweet Baby Jebus...it's been quite some time since I've written anything here. I'm sure I warned you this could happen. Let's see if we can just pick it back up, shall we? 

My favorite thing about Oakland lately is my garden, so I'm just going to tell you all about it. Wild America is happening just outside my backdoor! There's a visiting oriole who likes to gulp from the hummingbird feeder. He is so very orange and a real exotic compared to the usual visitors. The male house finches think they're special but this guy shows up in a flash of orange that hits you like the sun. He's elusive and plans his visits for when my camera is elsewhere. 

The bees are out in full force. I see so few of them outside of the summer months, it's worrisome. The Borage is the first flower they show up for in any real numbers. Now that the Bee Balm is blooming they are all over it and seem happy. I'm going to say any bee that isn't on a stinging rampage is probably pretty happy...

Monarda (Bee Balm)

I like to stay organic in my yard. IPM (Integrated Pest Management) seems to work for me...I don't mind squishing a cucumber beetle between my fingers and tossing it to the chickens. Aphids are easily removed with a blast from the hose and if a plant doesn't do well or attracts pests, I toss it out. Insecticides just don't feel like the right option. Not because of any moral code or strong beliefs; just that they bring imbalance, they're not necessary and there's already too much of it being tossed around. I grow my veggies mixed in with my cut flowers; why would I apply poison?. Part of gardening for me is creating a full ecosystem...I want all the bugs and birds at the party; just as long as there's a balance. The wasps never bother me and I enjoy watching them hunt in the sunflowers and zinnias. I don't mind sharing some of my fruit with the bugs and squirrels and sometimes they do take more than their share. But for the most part, there is balance and place for all things. Even weeds...some produce seeds that draw Goldfinches so I let them grow in a wild corner of the yard. I feel like I'm drifting off point...but what is the point really? To share my happy Oakland experience with you, dear reader! (who is likely friend or family and can hear this prattle from me any time) Thanks for listening.

Gomphrena 'Fireworks'

Phat Matt's BBQ

As a worshiper of the pig and the bounty of meats it provides, I get pretty excited about BBQ. Now, tell me you'll buy if I fly and I'm over the moon. Needless to say I was pretty excited about trying Phat Matt's wares.


This place is easy to get to and has plenty of parking (joy!). The interior is roomy and Raider Nation themed. I noticed a bar so it looks like a good place to watch the game. I also noticed that each table had its own roll of paper towels which struck me as good planning. Honestly, that's all I have say about the interior of this joint because as soon as I got 10 feet in I was stuck with the sweet sweet smell of slow cooked meat. 

2-way brisket & ribs, baked beans & potato salad

We got our order to go and had a bag tip over in the car so the beans got all up in Brett's potato salad. But did he complain? No sir! Both of these sides were tasty and he ate every bite. The Memphis style pork ribs got good reviews too. Pork ribs can be hit or miss and Matt was spot on here.

2-way brisket & ribs, greens & coleslaw

Do you see the chunks of meat in those collard greens? The meat to greens ratio was almost 50/50. That's one way to get folks to eat their veggies. Delicious! And how about the meat portion? HUGE! She put in a mighty effort, but was unable to consume it all.

Brisket plate, coleslaw & mac and cheese

So the coleslaw was good but no one went crazy for it. The Mac and cheese was deemed good but not awesome. We all had brisket in our orders and all agreed it was super tasty. Cooked to perfection with a good bark on it and a reasonable layer of fat. 

2-way brisket & pulled pork, beans & yams

I've saved the best for last...the pulled pork. Dear sweet baby Jesus it was fantastic. It had a vinegar based sauce and was so moist and delicious. I am pretty sure I was humming or moaning when I ate it. It's a good thing I tried the beans and yams (tasty) before diving into the pork because it had my full attention once it hit my mouth. Dang it. I want some now. And again, do you see the huge portion size? I could barely get any brisket down I was so stuffed with pork. I will be a repeat customer for this meat alone. And you can buy it by the pound/piece if you don't want sides.

What could have possibly made this meal better? 

This photo sucks.

Freaking candied bacon! I wanted to push everyone else out of the way and gobble this down in the corner like an animal. But I have learned to control my base instincts so I shared like a proper lady. Dry like a jerky, not too sweet and smokey flavored; this was a treat. 

These folks are doing BBQ right and I am so pleased they chose Oakland to set up shop. Matt started in Chicago 30+ years ago and by some kind of magic here's here. All of his fantastic ketchup-based sauces and rubs have no added salt. I didn't even get into their weekly specials or talk about their desserts...I will leave that for you to discover. 

Get down to Phat Matt's (family owned and operated) and try it for yourself. You know you love BBQ and you love Oakland. Spend your money here and support them both.

http://www.phatmattsbbq.com/ 

3415 Telegraph Ave
(between 34th St & I-580) 

another ART MURMUR post

It's a good thing cheer leading for Oakland isn't my real job because I would have been fired for not showing up...it's been some kind of month. Family is never easy, but an aging mom with Parkinson's and a husband on disability will take the starch out of anyone. Now that my life is back in some kind of order I'm ready to pick up my pom poms and rah rah rah for Oakland again.

Bodie wants to know why you aren't hanging out in Oakland.

Let's get this cheer started with a personal appearance by yours truly. I am going to be at art walk this Friday helping Darkwear Clothing  sell their wares. This local lady is showing off her stuff for the first time LIVE since she moved to the Bay Area from LA. Come down and help make her feel at home. We'll be serving tea! 
Check it: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Darklysewn?ref=ss_profile

Leather holster hotness

Darkwear began a long time ago, in a little room full of feathers, leathers and fabrics where Tiffany began pegging jeans for friends at school in the 80's. She's come a long way baby...

You know you want it.

Art walk is a great opportunity to support local vendors. Here's the link to learn more: http://oaklandartmurmur.org/about


  Find us on 23rd Street between Telegraph and Valley this coming Friday night

Piedmont Ave Art Walk

Did you know that Piedmont Avenue hosts an art walk every third Thursday? Well, I didn't. Let's go check it out this Thursday 6-9 pm!
http://piedmontavenue.org/avenue-art-walk

Bside BBQ lunch

Celebrated my 6 year anniversary at the real job here. 

Sweet glorious animal flesh! You warm my heart and fill my belly with your juicy goodness. It's possible I love you more than a choice parking spot.

I'm a gal of many names, one being Bacon Princess and I'm married to a man some call Meat Daddy so I've got a bit of cred when it comes to the meat... I was pretty excited to try this West Oakland BBQ joint run by the same lady chef who brought us Brown Sugar Kitchen.

The vibe inside is good and the decor simple...lots of wood and barn type understated western theme but who really cares about that. It smells good inside and the lady took our order right away. We started with the baked chicken wings with Rogue Creamery blue cheese dip and the fried okra bites. Both were a hit but the corn meal batter on the okra was a real stand out. So crisp and sprinkled with a bit of salt...I took the crumbs and mixed it in with what was left of the blue cheese dip proclaiming I could have kept up at any Roman feast. Or maybe I said I'd make a great Roman Emperor and demanded candied hummingbird tongues. You get the idea.

Dark & Stormy pork ribs

I ordered the brisket with a side of baked beans and my friend had the dark & stormy St. Louis pork ribs with a side of spicy coleslaw. We decided we could share if we each got something different. The brown sugar rubbed brisket was done just right and the BBQ sauce was pretty good but I didn't want to lick the bowl. The ribs were just alright but honestly, I'm just not that wild about pork ribs. The coleslaw was delicious and not a big sloppy milky mess. The beans had good flavor but weren't thick enough for my taste...more ketchup and brown sugar demanded my dining companions. The mac and cheese was so good my other companion finished that instead of her last rib and the potato salad was pretty good but was still on the table with the beans at the end of the meal.

Brown Sugar rubbed Brisket

The pickled veggies deserve a shout out of their own. Not one bit of those were left behind and I pined for more...my mates and I are all pickle lovers and these had us clucking like hens over a fat worm. Sweet and spicy with some clove and obviously homemade and fresh. Yum!

All in all, it was a good meal with good companions and we all felt satisfied. The portions are just right and the prices are decent. Check it out for yourself and tell me what you think. http://bsidebbq.com/

Oakland Art Murmur

Sticker. Map. Postcard

First Fridays uptown have been going on for awhile now and I figured I should get my ass down there and report on the awesomeness...let's just start with the true greatness of parking close to the action. Getting a parking spot in the urban jungle can really set the tone for the evening. Even though I had to do a little loop to get back to the spot I wanted (one way streets and no right turns) I was distracted by all the people out and about...When I moved to Oakland 15 years ago this area was a ghost town and pretty sketchy. But on this night there were people everywhere and even a trio playing live music in a doorway.


My pal and I parked on Broadway and walked toward Grand and the Great Wall of Oakland where a animated movie was showing and the sound system was so good we stopped to watch. But I was drawn the the food trucks I saw a block over...Fist of Flour Pizza (portable wood-fire pizza oven), Tamales, flat bread truck are just a few I paid attention to. My pal had a tamale (4 bucks) and a big cup of cucumber lime water (1 buck). The tamale was good but that water was amazingly refreshing.

Crowd on 23rd

The food is on 23rd along with street vendors and art galleries which were packed. We pushed passed a guy playing banjo and squeezed into Hatch Gallery to see the Pretty Pretty show described as obsessive nostalgia. We cruised the street vendors, my pal picked up some free art, a guy was screen printing Occupy Oakland posters right there and people were buying them as they dried on the line.

A bit of Pretty Pretty show at Hatch Gallery

My favorite bit was 2 kids selling their mutant toys a la Sid in Toy Story. They were whimsicle (regretsy.com reference) and affordable. Best lemonade stand idea ever. I wish I had some cash...these kids had talent.

Mutant toys for sale

We walked up Telegraph toward Broadway stopping to look at vintage clothing for sale on the street and all manner of freak show out on a Friday night to wrap it up at Bar Dogwood which was hopping. The bar smelled like fresh french bread baking and the bartender caught my eye right away to get my order. Two bags of chicharones & beverages. The vibe was great ; the conversation lively...tables are communal and sharing space is key. If I had been hungry I'd have had the meat plate or the heavenly grilled cheese. 


My pal and I didn't even scratch the surface of the scene in uptown and had a great time. I can't wait to go back. You don't need cash to see art and people watch, but it you have cash grab some street food, get a drink, meet new people and tell me all about it. Go Oakland! 
http://oaklandartmurmur.org

Day Tripper

I feel fortunate to live someplace that is so close to so much. Think about it...I could leave in the morning, drive to the mountains and ski all day then get in the car and head west for hot springs and wine tasting the next day. I'm not going to, but I could.

From my house I can be at a dog friendly beach is under an hour or on a canoe in the Russian River in two. There's excellent camping 20 minutes from home (Lake Chabot) or in any direction including San Francisco (Presidio). You don't even have to go to wine country for wine tasting; there's at least half a dozen tasting rooms IN Oakland. 

Redwood forest, coastal headlands, desert, mountains, small town life, city life, hot air balloon rides, sailing, river rafting, hiking, biking, surfing, Oh My! All of these are easily accessible from here. What's your favorite day trip?

Mountain View Cemetery

I love a good view

A memorial park but a park nonetheless. Designed by  Frederick Law Olmsted -the architect of New York City's Central Park, Stanford University and Yosemite Park, this little spot is a true Oakland gem.


The winding roads, native and ornamental trees and outstanding views of the surrounding Bay Area alone make this a worthy destination. But there's more...It's well planned, you can feel the history here, and the park seems to go on and on with hills and turns and valleys. The mausoleums, monuments and gravestones are each a piece of art; some are resting places of notable local celebrities. Charles Crocker, Julia Morgan and artist Thomas Hill are resting here along with regular folks. 


It's quiet so you can hear the birds sing and the wind blow. People walk their dogs or just themselves along the meandering roads. The hills are no joke, so a workout is possible. During the holidays there's a light display in the entrance circle, docent tours year-round and in April the Tulip Extravaganza. Who doesn't want to go to an extravaganza in a graveyard?


They really put the park into memorial park. I never feel morose or think about my own grief when I'm here. Though it would be a wonderful place for thoughtful remembrance or to have a good cry; I'd rather bring a picnic and laugh with my friends or show up for the sunset with my husband. And of course, there's plenty of parking.

Bronze gates

The Estuary

The Oakland Estuary's official name is Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline but I only know that because I went looking for a map. I figured you might like one after you read all the nice things I have to say about the area. You can have it now: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/mlk


I like to use the entrances near High Street of which there are many. The path follows the shore line all the way to Hegenberger. You might see a Belted Kingfisher plying his trade on the East Creek Slough or watch the crew team practice. Lots of folks from the live/work lofts on San Leandro Street bring their dogs here and it's popular with bicyclists and walkers too. Corn Flowers grow wild along the most western path and the place is silly with shore birds. Thousands of migrating birds come through Arrowhead Marsh annually to grab a snack and a nap.


This area runs along the southern edge of Oakland and is spitting distance from the 880 and light industrial/commercial area where trees are hard to come by and there's too much pavement. That is what makes this area special...it's an oasis in the urban jungle. The air feels better here, the sky is bigger and seeing birds going about their daily routine relaxes me. Plus, there's hardly anyone there. This is one seriously under utilized park. 


Recently, the path was repaved and some areas landscaped. There are restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic tables and benches in the right spots. And parking...plenty of glorious parking.

Here we go...

I often talk about how much I love this crazy town and find myself cheerleading for it. So even though it's been years since I've taken the time to write anything meaningful, I've got a full time job, rarely finish anything I start, have a project list that resents me and like to nap, I'm going to write this blog. 


God willing and the creek don't rise, some of my love for Oakland will get through to you and you'll fall for her too. She's big, has a lot of baggage and problems but is exciting, beautiful and fun to hang out with. And there's parking.