Garden Fuss

As we get closer to our last frost date somewhere around and hopefully after May 21st, I thought I would get a jump on some annual herbs and summer squash by winter sowing. Don't think it's too late to start your plants using this method. Save some pain in your back and legs and your wallet by letting Mother Nature do the work for you. I am always amazed to see the plants emerge in their white, clear, and even green plastic bottles and clam shells. I thought for sure I was going to lose the tomatoes and peppers with such a cold spring, but they are up and starting to take off. In a couple weeks we should be enjoying some warmer weather and I will be venting and thinning back seedlings so check back for more pictures of our winter sowing adventures.

This has been a long time coming but I am finally putting the pictures of our winter sowing project up for you all. All the brassicas are up of course, and the lettuce looks great. I plan on starting some more vegetables this week, getting the squash, cilantro, peas, and beans going. The wind helped rip off the covers to some of the peppers and marigold so those are a loss. It didn't help that my helper *ahem ahem* forgot to put holes in the bottom and the drowned before they had chance to freeze to death. Oh well, maybe better luck next time.

In honor of Earth Day I am adding pics of these beautiful perennials. Not all of the edible, but they include rhubarb, crocus, tulips, and daffodil. Only the crocus have flowered but the foliage looks spot on. I even remmbered to fertilize this spring so I'm looking forward to fabulous show stopping blooms. I've waited two years for flowers from my peonies that were gifts from my mothe inlaw. I'll post pics of those later. The last two year have been all about the foliage so hopefully this year there will be more to come.

Sundays in spring are all about brunch in our house. No one wants to get up "early" to do aything other than relax and enjoy each other around a plate of bacon, dutch baby pancakes, fresh fruit or fruit juice, and a good magazine or book. Today we are indulging in a grilled chicken and asparagus frittata with spinache and chopped baby carrots. This dish has so many elements we could be lounging all day instead of getting out and enjoying the sunshine. Oh well, there are just some sacrafices we have to make. Happy Sunday!!!

It took an extra day to finish mirror two with the excess sticky stain involved. However, the results are what I wanted and more. The now shimmery copper stained set dramatically change the look of our home and I love it! Don't be scared to start your own DIY project. Just be realistic about your goals, finances, help, and personal energy level before and during such projects. Now that this job has been completed, and we are going straight into 70 degree weather from temps in the teens and twenties I can again focus on the sprouting spring and winter sown garden. Happy Planting!!!

I failed to mention before the benefits of checking out your local reuse stores. For instance Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, the Arc, and countless other locations offer previously unwanted or disused items to consumers that could have gone to a landfill adding to our pollution issues as a nation. These places are at the top of my list when I think about taking on a project, including but no limited to Halloween outfits and Christmas Parties. I feel good about repurposing andecstatic about jazzing up our space with such intricate pieces. I just have the twin mirror to finish and then their getting hung. This was the best $13.98 I've spent in a long time. The stain, sandpaper, and hanging kit were more than the heavy mirrors but essential to the restore. I'll have more pics posted soon. Make sure you come back to check those out and an update on our winter sown project.

While waiting for the snow to thaw I started getting the spring itch. On a quest to find some classy retro pots to plant in I stumbled across two beautiful antique mirrors. What happened next is pretty standard DIY design mayhem. I travelled to Ace hardware where my first order of business was to figure out what was needed to hang these behemoths. After that (actually it was a couple weeks later)my daughter and I were well into the sanding and realized we need power tools because our arms are shot from other daily chores and work. Therefore we hustled straight to my in-laws for all the other essential tools for restoration ie... a sander, and badda-bing badda-bang we have (not so)instant beauty. Please enjoy the pics. One mirror down one to go wish us luck.