Homegrown and eaten

20 Jul

 

Cantaloupes!

Cantaloupes!

Ready to eat in a few days.

Ready to eat in a few days.

Two of over a dozen.

Two of over a dozen.

Vines from two plants spread both ways along retaining wall.

Vines from two plants spread both ways along retaining wall.

These cantaloupes are a special treat.  We don’t usually try to grow them, since the garden space is filled with herbs, hostas, coneflower, heliopsis, butterfly bush, Dave’s fly in diner for the birds with bath.

Ready, set

Ready, set

Slice

Slice

Slice

Slice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have shared one of four cantaloupes with wildlife…..it seems this one may have been so ripe that it split open when we were out-of-town and raccoons feasted!

Raccoon feast

Raccoon feast

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Domestic Archeology 2

28 Jun

Discovered in the corner of a large walk-in closet:  A collection of toothpick holders!  It was the “3 pigs” that caught my eye, which brought back memories of “trolls”, “mini-dragons” and doll house furniture.

Personally, I have collected thimbles, magnets, tack pins and silver charms.  I have been in many souvenir shops over the years. I don’t remember seeing toothpick holders sold as souvenirs.  Salt and pepper shakers…definitely.  This collection charmed me with remembrances from the Smokey Mountains, Virginia Beach, Black River Falls Wisconsin and a Marriott.  I wonder, how long it has been since Marriott sold souvenir toothpick holders?

What is your favorite collection?

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100_2681

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Summer solstice 2014

21 Jun

2014 photos:  celebrating summer’s bold color palette, bright whites included

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http://www.weather.com/travel/summer-countdown/summer-solstice-first-day-summer-20140619

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Salvage pick…my first

13 Jun

To fans of “Flea Market Flip”, “West End Salvage” and “Salvage Dawgs” intrigued with the creativity to repurpose, reinvent and reuse “picks” demonstrated on every episode.  I have been.

I seek  inspiration from my first “pick”.

Salvage_1_horizontal

Salvage_1_horizontal

Salvage_1_vertical

Salvage_1_vertical

Overhead rack for kitchen utensils?

Overhead rack for garden tools?

Wind chime with bicycle sprockets clanging?

See thru lamp “shade” with key rings linked together hanging from the rim?

Linked key rings

Linked key rings

I worked in this direction until I checked the weight.  A lamp would need a very sturdy base.

Suggestions?  Comments?

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Staged and smiling

27 May
Classic Mom appreciation

Classic Mom appreciation

My long time friend and author of Pimla’s Pondering posted in January her very successful home staging venture.

https://pimlaspondering.wordpress.com/category/real-estate/

I too have been a fan of HGTV shows demonstrating staging homes for sale.  Among other things, Pam credited the darling stuffed frog as winning over the buyer.  Fast forward to May, a thousand miles away in another state…I find myself with the opportunity to test my skills at home staging for my sister and brother-in-law.

My “clean slate” was accessory free.  The major furniture pieces remained in place.  However, there was much to “shop” or choose from to add back.  My take away from Pam’s post was the value of bring a smile to a potential buyer.  My goal was to do that in each room.

From photos to wine bar

From photos to wine bar

Prepared to toast

Prepared to toast

Shining star

Shining star

Shall we chat?

Shall we chat?

Friends

Friends

Zen

Zen

Angel in our midst

Angel in our midst

Let's read

Let’s read

Awww!

Awww!

How to explain pink tile and green towels

How to explain pink tile and green towels

Sweet!

Sweet!

Lighten up dark blue chairs

Lighten up dark blue chairs

Docs from the builder

Docs from the builder

Shall we say there is no place like home?

Shall we say there is no place like home?

 

 

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“Blooming-ton” containers, before pictures

10 May

Yes, there is room for annual flowers/plants in the lawn of perennial flowers/plants!  We choose to use containers for annuals.

Last year I planted “Wave” petunias in the old containers.  These hang like photos on a wall in an indoor room by decorating the fence “wall”.  Cost = $3 each.  I planted lantana and verbena this year….”Citrus” and “Raspberry” photos below.

Wave petunias

The next project was filling hanging baskets.  These have another variety of “Wave” petunias.  We did three more baskets with begonias.  Cost = $5 each (including new cocoa fiber liners).

Hanging baskets

Three pairs of foam containers flank the front porch step.  My tradition/habit is to have geraniums and spike plant (foliage).  I choose variegated Salvia for the largest of the containers.  Cost = $4 each.

Front step containers

Last but not least is a pair of containers for purple fountain grass by the garage doors.  This terra-cotta looking container has weathered well over 10+ years (unlike the real thing).  Cost = $8 each.

Purple fountain grass

Container contents Total = $74 plus some potting soil and mulch to top off.

Raspberry Verbena

Raspberry Verbena

Citrus Lantana

Citrus Lantana

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Ship day for my kits for Days for Girls International

29 Apr

I read about  this organization in this month’s issue of Oprah magazine.  As a four-year supporter of Helping Hands Touching Hearts (see earlier blog posts); Days for Girls International has a strong appeal to me.  They take part of the service work and support to a new level with an expanded mission.  With five years experience, they have incorporated “lessons learned” in their “crowd-sourced” global system.

www.daysforgirls.org

The official website of Days for Girls International. Dignity, health, opportunity. Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. Washable sanitary solutions for women.

The website is very well done.  Initially, I spent an hour reading, exploring links and watching You Tube video instruction.  My first step was to go through the remnant stash (from over 50 girls dresses).  From the small remnants, I yielded (69) 4″X5″ pocket pieces.  From the medium remnants, I yielded (10) sets of liner pieces.  From the trip to JoAnn’s, I purchased 10 yards of flannel in 4 different color/patterns.

The instructions from the website smartly includes downloadable patterns and video instruction of the finished kit.  Eight washable pads go with two washable liners, one panty and one wash cloth.  The quality expectation is for the kit to last an individual girl for three years.  It is also expected to be colorful, beautiful and neatly packed in a gallon size Ziplock bag inside a pretty drawstring bag.  Lovely!

It's a start

It’s a start!

I added another 11 yards of flannel, more of my fabric stash, PUL and lots of thread.

Shipping 22 DfGI kits

Shipping 22 DfGI kits

My first shipment includes 22 wash cloths, 22 drawstring bags in 3 different fabrics, 44 liners with wings and 88 pockets and most importantly….176 tri-fold flannel pads in 8 different colors.

The “polar vortex” winter created opportunities to make a lot of progress for one woman with one sewing machine in her cozy attic sewing room.  There were over runs on a each of the items sooo….the next shipment in the works.

 

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Another alternative workout

13 Apr

At home this time, it is time to spruce up the landscape with mulch.  We usually order 10 cubic yards of mulch.  Since this week was a solo project, I ordered 5 cubic yards.  At 500 pounds per cubic yard, the challenge was 2500 pounds or 1.25 tons.  So, less work than moving firewood….hmmmm (see previous post).  I had a rain delay before finishing.  No comment on the hours nor pace.

Does this look like 2500 pounds?

Does this look like 2500 pounds?

I got great coverage of the landscape for the street view.  I’ll be moving and adding plants in the next couple of weeks, then finish with the next 5 cubic yards.

I also found the Asiatic lilies I moved in the fall.  They popped up behind the new iris bulbs.  I need to make notes on my checklists 🙂

Standing 1

Standing Stone 1

Standing stone 2

Standing stone 2

Golden Quart steps

Golden Quartz steps

This is the neighbor’s view.

South lawn south view

South lawn south view

South lawn southwest view

South lawn southwest view

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Alternative workout

23 Mar

My exercises of choice include 5K walking, yoga classes and swimming laps.  I wrote a post about the Automattic’s Worldwide 5K Event September 23rd last year.  I’m looking forward to doing another one this year.

Opportunities to stretch oneself come along….like relocating firewood to help open space in a barn for more hay storage.  The subject firewood was very neatly stacked at the point where it was cut.

From here

From here

This stack was originally small, long, straight trees used for poles to hang tobacco plants to dry.  (The hay barn was originally a tobacco barn.)  Long out of use, the poles were cut into firewood.  The problem is this is about a quarter-mile from where it would ultimately be used.  Now, this is where my alternative workout comes in.

Load 1

Load 1

Load 2

Load 2

Load 4

Load 4

My estimation is there were 45 wheel barrel loads times two with about 66# per load.  First to load the end of the truck at the hay barn and the second to unload at the former dairy barn.  This is one row deep on the truck with the goal to stay within an ergonomic zone for reach (which did not apply to the start and finish stacks).  So, where am I going with this?

Stowed at point of use for Dad

Stowed at point of use for Dad, 85 years young

Stowed front

Stowed front

Stowed back

Stowed back

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dad is ready for next winter with wood at point of use, stowed under a 4′ x 8′ workbench.  Yes, there was an overflow.  Fun estimates:  density of this wood=30#/cu.ft and 100 cu. ft of storage makes for 3000#s or 1.5 tons!  That concludes the story of my alternative workout.

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Infinity Scarves

4 Mar

are definitely one of my favorite projects!  One skein and done.  The color and texture of Lion Brand yarn is luxurious.  I have been so prolific making them that I decided my favorite project should be party favors.

Infinity Scarves 1

Infinity Scarves 1

Infinity Scarves 2

Infinity Scarves 2, gift bags from JoAnn’s

Infinity Scarves 3

Infinity Scarves 3 with Elfcroft card from VistaPrint

So my dear friends received a cozy scarf in spite of our record-breaking cold winter.  It was a challenge to get together and much appreciated.

Infinity Scarves 4

Infinity Scarves 4

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