• Around home - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: cats edition

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    Last week for T stands for Tuesday I had wanted to share a video with you. I am 99% sure it will work but first I want to give you a little back story.

    We have a stray cat that keeps coming around. It’s really friendly to a point…such as it rubs itself all over you but if you pet it “improperly to its standards” it will spit at you. I have yet to figure out if its a boy or girl or if it still has front claws. Close inspection is definitely not allowed with this one.

    pumpkin

    Look at it’s funny tail. It’s curly like a pug dog. So weird and cute at the same time. We’ve taken to calling it Pumpkin for the gender neutral name. We do feed and water Pumpkin when he visits usually once a week. It comes when I call to it so it makes me think that it has a home but for goodness sake…keep it inside then.

    Marvin is an inside only cat so these two have only met through the window screen. I think Pumpkin wants to be friends….

    [KGVID]http://www.halleshobbies.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/catmeeting.mp4[/KGVID]

    We’re thinking about building some sort of shelter for it as we are not sure if this cat has a safe and warm place to overwinter. Since Pumpkin is quite feral and possibly belongs to someone we hesitate to bring him in as well as the fact that we know nothing about his health.

    We are in search of another kitten though. We’ve visited a few and fell in love more than once. Who can resist a fluffy, playful kitten?!?

    I’m battling a sore throat currently…more tea with honey and lemon is in order.

    IMG_0912

    What are you doing today?

  • Around home - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    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?