Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
August 2013 Goals
Well another month has ended and another is beginning. This is the last month of our summer before J goes back to class. So it's crunch time. Time to buckle down and get crap done. So what are our plans?
4. Paint Coffee Table
This was a goal for last month that I also didn't get finished. But I'm hoping to get this bad boy knocked out this month.
5. Put up Shelves in Studio
I would like to add some additional shelving to my studio so I have more room to work. I'm hoping to get that room more organized this month.
6. Pick Out a House Color
We would like to get the house painted this year still, but we have to pick out a color first. So if we get the color picked out this month, we'll be happy.
So that is what we have planned for this month. What is everyone else working on?
Don't forget to stop by my other blog and enter to win a beaded cuff. You have until August 11th, so hurry. :-)
1. Get the Plans for the Deck Approved
We have the plans all drawn out and an estimate on what it's going to cost. We have a mock up of what it's going to look like in the backyard and we've had the utility company come out and mark lines. So we're ready to go. Now we just need to get down to the city office and get a permit. Luckily, the permit can be issued same day, so we can start ASAP.
2. Build Deck
Once we get the permit, the obvious thing is to get the deck built. I'm hoping that we can get it finished in a couple weekends. Hopefully once the inspector comes out and okays our post holes, we'll be on our way.
3. Fix Garage Door
This was on the list for last month and we didn't get it done. So hopefully we'll make some time to fix this bad boy. Then maybe it won't make a noise like the gates of hell are being opened up every time we open the garage door.
4. Paint Coffee Table
This was a goal for last month that I also didn't get finished. But I'm hoping to get this bad boy knocked out this month.
5. Put up Shelves in Studio
I would like to add some additional shelving to my studio so I have more room to work. I'm hoping to get that room more organized this month.
6. Pick Out a House Color
We would like to get the house painted this year still, but we have to pick out a color first. So if we get the color picked out this month, we'll be happy.
So that is what we have planned for this month. What is everyone else working on?
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Don't forget to stop by my other blog and enter to win a beaded cuff. You have until August 11th, so hurry. :-)
Monday, August 5, 2013
July 2013 Goal Accomplishments
Done and done. Okay not 100%, but 95% done. The outside door, patio door, and back door all need to be painted, but other then that, it's done. Now it's time to decorate. YAY!
Done! I called and they came out next day to mark the lines.
3. Clean out the little play house
Sorta done. J has done a really great job of cleaning this out and getting rid of quite a few car parts. Now to just finish and get this bad boy taken down.
Done! We have the plans all cut up and even approved by J's dad. Now we need to make that appointment for the city to approve them. Then it's deck building time.
They are cut up and sitting next to the little house. I'm hoping that when the city comes to cut down the trees in the neighbor's yard, I can ask them to take the tree logs with them.
6. Fix the down spouts
All the down spouts around our home are about 2-3 feet off the ground. We need to lengthen them so the reach the ground. Right now if you aren't paying attention, you will run into them with your knees. We also would like to put the ends that fold up, so it is easier to mow under them. This will hopefully be an easy fix that we can knock out in a weekend.
7. Fix the garage door
Our garage door makes the most god awful noise when you open or close it. J needs to realign it because it was not installed properly.
8. Find out about gas line for garage
J would like to install a garage heater before winter this year, but this requires a gas line to be run to the garage. Hopefully after they come out and mark the gas line, we can call heating places and get some quotes.
9. Finish coffee table
I would like to finish the paint on our coffee table. I stained it last year, but would like to paint the legs a lighter color this year. I'm hoping that this will be a simple afternoon project.
So that's what we accomplished last month. Not everything, but a good start. What did everyone else accomplish this last month?
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On a side note, I'm having a giveaway over at my other blog. Check it out and you can win a beautiful beaded cuff.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Garden Update - July 2013
Well I've been slacking with posts again. I mean this is the July garden update in August. Ugh. I don't have much of an excuse except that I've been a busy girl. I've also had a killer migraine that I wish would just go away, but I think it might be here to stay for a while. Yuk.
But I do have a garden update (the sun kept going behind clouds, so some of the pictures are sunny and some are not). You can see what the plants looked like a month ago by clicking here.
First up are the broccoli and kohlrabi. They are really starting to get big. I'm not sure if the broccoli are getting big enough to produce actual broccoli, but I'm still holding out hope (they are in front). Everything had to be started so late this year, that nothing is growing like it should. But I'll keep holding out hope that I'll get some broccoli this year. I hope to at least get some kohlrabi (the purple and green ones in the back). Fingers crossed.
Then my sad looking snow peas. Last month they were healthy and large. Then I got too rough with them and broke two of the larger plants main stalk, which caused them to die and me to cut them down. Sad face. But I have gotten a LOT of snow peas so far, so I guess I'm happy.
My lettuce was attacked by something, but I cut it back and it's starting to grow back. I've also started a third section of it and because it grows so fast, I'll have new fresh lettuce in a month or so. Oh, and just to let you know, this stuff tastes amazing.
My basil plant is still doing well. I've cut it back a few times and been making and freezing pesto.
It's yummy. I cut it back the day before this picture was taken, so it looks a little small.
I also added a Greek basil plant.
Some rosemary. This stuff smells so good. The smell stays on my hands for hours after I touch it.
And I added some sage. I don't really use a lot of sage in my cooking, but I thought maybe I would try it. Why not.
My tomato plants and pepper plants are growing, but at a pretty slow pace.
The Juliet tomatoes are definitely doing the best. But the colder weather is just not being very nice to them (It got down in to the 50s last weekend). I have gotten two yellow boys, one black krim, and a ton of Juliets, so it hasn't been a total failure.
My pepper plants seem to be growing now, they just wanted to take their time. They have buds on them, so I'm hoping to get something out of them.
The carrots seem to be doing pretty good. It looked like something had gotten to them, but they are still growing. These are going to be great. I can't wait to see the purple carrots.
My parsley had started to flower, so I had to cut it down a lot! But it's hardy and will grow back. It always does.
The mint is crazy, like always. I just cut it back and brought a ton of mint to work. I've been enjoying it in my water with a little bit of lime.
I've also propagated four plants from this guy. One plant went to a guy at work and another went to my MIL. The other two will go up on the deck (which is almost ready to be started, squee).
And remember how I had to restart me cucumbers and zucchini three times because of the slugs. Well look at where that little fresh out of the ground sprout is today. In just one month, I now have three cucumber plants and two zucchini plants.
Okay, I bought two of the cucumber plants because I wasn't sure if I would get anything, but the one I started from seed is doing awesome. It also shows me that when I start me plants from seeds I get nicer looking results. I can't wait for these babies. Oh the pickles I will make.
So that's the garden right now. It's not as full as it could be, but it's something. The strange weather we've been having (or is it normal weather, I can't tell), has not been kind to my little plants. Hot and humid one week and then cold and overcast the next. With sporadic downpours here and there.
I'm a little jealous of the neighbors garden. This is her first year with one, and it looks pretty nice. Though she did start with much larger plants then I did, so she had a bit of a head start. Next year will be better because I'll make sure to start me seeds early. The plants I grow from seeds always do better then when I start with store bought plants. And I feel pretty excited when something I planted as a seed grows into a large plant.
Check back next month to see what the garden looks like at three months old.
But I do have a garden update (the sun kept going behind clouds, so some of the pictures are sunny and some are not). You can see what the plants looked like a month ago by clicking here.
First up are the broccoli and kohlrabi. They are really starting to get big. I'm not sure if the broccoli are getting big enough to produce actual broccoli, but I'm still holding out hope (they are in front). Everything had to be started so late this year, that nothing is growing like it should. But I'll keep holding out hope that I'll get some broccoli this year. I hope to at least get some kohlrabi (the purple and green ones in the back). Fingers crossed.
Then my sad looking snow peas. Last month they were healthy and large. Then I got too rough with them and broke two of the larger plants main stalk, which caused them to die and me to cut them down. Sad face. But I have gotten a LOT of snow peas so far, so I guess I'm happy.
My lettuce was attacked by something, but I cut it back and it's starting to grow back. I've also started a third section of it and because it grows so fast, I'll have new fresh lettuce in a month or so. Oh, and just to let you know, this stuff tastes amazing.
My basil plant is still doing well. I've cut it back a few times and been making and freezing pesto.
It's yummy. I cut it back the day before this picture was taken, so it looks a little small.
I also added a Greek basil plant.
Some rosemary. This stuff smells so good. The smell stays on my hands for hours after I touch it.
And I added some sage. I don't really use a lot of sage in my cooking, but I thought maybe I would try it. Why not.
My tomato plants and pepper plants are growing, but at a pretty slow pace.
The Juliet tomatoes are definitely doing the best. But the colder weather is just not being very nice to them (It got down in to the 50s last weekend). I have gotten two yellow boys, one black krim, and a ton of Juliets, so it hasn't been a total failure.
My pepper plants seem to be growing now, they just wanted to take their time. They have buds on them, so I'm hoping to get something out of them.
The carrots seem to be doing pretty good. It looked like something had gotten to them, but they are still growing. These are going to be great. I can't wait to see the purple carrots.
My parsley had started to flower, so I had to cut it down a lot! But it's hardy and will grow back. It always does.
The mint is crazy, like always. I just cut it back and brought a ton of mint to work. I've been enjoying it in my water with a little bit of lime.
I've also propagated four plants from this guy. One plant went to a guy at work and another went to my MIL. The other two will go up on the deck (which is almost ready to be started, squee).
And remember how I had to restart me cucumbers and zucchini three times because of the slugs. Well look at where that little fresh out of the ground sprout is today. In just one month, I now have three cucumber plants and two zucchini plants.
Okay, I bought two of the cucumber plants because I wasn't sure if I would get anything, but the one I started from seed is doing awesome. It also shows me that when I start me plants from seeds I get nicer looking results. I can't wait for these babies. Oh the pickles I will make.
So that's the garden right now. It's not as full as it could be, but it's something. The strange weather we've been having (or is it normal weather, I can't tell), has not been kind to my little plants. Hot and humid one week and then cold and overcast the next. With sporadic downpours here and there.
I'm a little jealous of the neighbors garden. This is her first year with one, and it looks pretty nice. Though she did start with much larger plants then I did, so she had a bit of a head start. Next year will be better because I'll make sure to start me seeds early. The plants I grow from seeds always do better then when I start with store bought plants. And I feel pretty excited when something I planted as a seed grows into a large plant.
Check back next month to see what the garden looks like at three months old.
Monday, July 22, 2013
It's sure is sunny in here.
Okay so it has been quite a long time since I posted on here. It's not entirely my fault. I've been having problems with Chrome ever since I updated Windows. So for the last two weeks I've been devoting a few hours a day to trying to get it to work. But I finally gave in and just switched back to Firefox for now. Maybe someday Chrome will work for me again.
But in the mean time, I have been working my little butt off trying to get the sun room finished up. You might remember that I primed it last summer. So it's looked like this for months and months.
It was the catch all room. All of our junk got thrown in here, as you can see above. Bikes, half finished projects, in progress projects, boxes, old furniture. You name it, it was in here. And every time we would clean it out, it would only stay clean for a week or so, then it looked like this again. Blah.
But no more. We picked out paint and I was determined for this to be my first project I finished. I wanted this done!
We went with a lovely pale yellow. It's so pretty out there. I was a little worried when I started painting. I was worried it was too buttery, but now that it's on the wall I'm in love.
There are still a few things out there that need to find a home; like the bike and the car seats, but over all it's looking pretty nice out there.
We even bought some furniture for out there. As you can see the little pug has claimed her spot.
I still have to finish up some trim and patch some holes and then do some touch ups, but it's about 80% done. The next project is to measure and make curtains for all of those windows. That is going to be a project.
And here's a reminder of what the porch looked like when we moved in, just to show you the progress we've made.
It's quite a difference. But now we love sitting out on the porch enjoying the outside with out actually being out there. Don't judge, the mosquitoes have been awful this year. I like to get up early and sit out here and bead, it's just so lovely.
Now to think of accent colors and get to decorating. Yay!!!
But in the mean time, I have been working my little butt off trying to get the sun room finished up. You might remember that I primed it last summer. So it's looked like this for months and months.
It was the catch all room. All of our junk got thrown in here, as you can see above. Bikes, half finished projects, in progress projects, boxes, old furniture. You name it, it was in here. And every time we would clean it out, it would only stay clean for a week or so, then it looked like this again. Blah.
But no more. We picked out paint and I was determined for this to be my first project I finished. I wanted this done!
We went with a lovely pale yellow. It's so pretty out there. I was a little worried when I started painting. I was worried it was too buttery, but now that it's on the wall I'm in love.
There are still a few things out there that need to find a home; like the bike and the car seats, but over all it's looking pretty nice out there.
We even bought some furniture for out there. As you can see the little pug has claimed her spot.
I still have to finish up some trim and patch some holes and then do some touch ups, but it's about 80% done. The next project is to measure and make curtains for all of those windows. That is going to be a project.
And here's a reminder of what the porch looked like when we moved in, just to show you the progress we've made.
It's quite a difference. But now we love sitting out on the porch enjoying the outside with out actually being out there. Don't judge, the mosquitoes have been awful this year. I like to get up early and sit out here and bead, it's just so lovely.
Now to think of accent colors and get to decorating. Yay!!!
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