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    T Tuesday: garden art edition

    July 12, 2016 - By 

    For several weeks I’ve been meaning to share a little garden art piece. Last week I didn’t even make it for T stands for Tuesday.  In my defense, last Tuesday didn’t even seem like Tuesday since Monday was the Independence Day holiday. Enough with the excuses and on with the project.

    I used a strand of memory wire, beads and a fishing swivel to create this whimsical edition to my flower garden. I started out with a wildly random color assortment but didn’t love it. After some thought, I decided on blue, white and silver. I felt this combo would contrast nicely with the surrounding greenery.

    suncatcher

    I was really hoping the fishing swivel would make it twirl in the wind. So far it hasn’t seemed to spin. Perhaps if there were something flat or paddle shaped at the end instead of a faceted bead it would have enough wind resistance to spin. Oh well….

    I must also mention this was a stash busting project. Absolutely no cost. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

    It’s a good thing to since I was saving my pennies to buy a set of these pretty copper mugs for our new favorite summer drink.

    Moscow mule

    So pretty and the customary vessel for a Moscow mule. By keeping the copper mugs in the freezer they retain the cold for much longer.  You have to be careful with this vodka and ginger beer concoction though….they go down quick but sneak up on you. Don’t even ask how I know that one.

    I have errands on my list this morning but I’ll be around to check in with the rest of the T stands for Tuesday gang later.

    What are you doing today?

  • Around home - Blog - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: late June garden edition

    June 28, 2016 - By 

    Last week for T stands for Tuesday I promised an update on my garden this week.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    It’s flourishing! Tons of blossoms. I think we are just at the cusp of production.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    There are already jalapenos on the plant…

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    and roma tomatoes…. come on fresh salsa!

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    The deck box garden is doing really well too.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    I ended up pulling up the horse radish that was growing in here since there is another plant in the big garden space and planted my Egyptian walking onions instead. I saved the bulbs from the top of the plants last year in a paper bag in the shed. They overwintered out there will seemingly no ill effects.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    The planters along the railing are also looking great with the herbs and green onions. I’ve been thinning the green onions by using them…so nice to have those fresh green literally right outside my door. I couldn’t be happier.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    It meets Marvin’s approval as well.

    Over the weekend I adding a little bit of ambiance to the deck with a string of lights.

    T Tuesday late June garden edition

    We have yet to try them out at night but I think they will be a lot of fun.

    I also noticed some birds have been very busy….T Tuesday late June garden edition

    I do remember seeing a chickadee hanging around here quite often. I’d have to bet he is the guilty party.

    I’m also going to continue to share my CSA box each week as I really believe that its well worth the cost to bring fresh organic veggies to your table each week…provided you have enough people to eat all those veggies.

    CSA week 2

    Week 2: cilantro, basil plant, kale, green onions, garlic scapes, mixed spring greens, head of leaf lettuce, strawberries, carrots, kohlrabi, broccoli and white turnips that are eaten like radishes. Can’t wait to see what the next box brings.

    Today I’ll be finishing a commissioned seamstress project. I was asked to shorten some curtains and sew lining fabric behind the thin linen for some actual light blocking.

    What are you doing today?

  • Around home - Blog - Kitchen - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: CSA edition

    June 21, 2016 - By 

    Last week we received our first box of produce from our CSA. What a bounty!

    All of that came from the 3/4 bushel box on the table.

    Loon Organics CSA week 1

    Another really cool feature is a “swap box” at the pickup site. If you see something in the box you’d rather have, you can swap it out for something in your box. That’s how I ended up with 2 bunches of radishes. I swapped the second bunch for a bag of arugula.

    Carrots, beets, bok choy, garlic scapes, mixed spring greens, spinach and radishes all in week one! AND the basil plant in my deck box. I knew from seeing the boxes last year that we’d likely get one so I didn’t bother planting any…just left a spot for it instead.

    CSA basil plant

    Between the CSA, our home garden and the garden space at my in-laws, we should be eating super healthy this summer!

    I’ll update you on my gardens next week. They are growing like crazy. I’m so happy to walk out there every morning to see the growth. I don’t even mind having to pull a few weeds and use the watering can to hand water the spaces with our collected rain water.

    I hadn’t realized until just a few days ago how much my focus changes to the outdoors in the summer. Likely because our winters are so long and sometimes harsh that we tend to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

    Mini-me and I are off for a small adventure today since J is at work!! He got his first job and is at his second day of training today.

    What are you doing today?