tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37026937190566816692024-02-06T18:59:10.760-08:00Surrounded by ChaosA blog of an ordinary girl surrounded by craziness!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-7779040216002167072012-09-06T13:06:00.003-07:002012-09-13T11:17:00.948-07:00Summer's still here, but not for long...It's harvest time!!! The potatoes I planted in the wine barrels didn't do so hot this year- I suspect the quality of the soil, but check out the size of this volunteer from last year!!<br />This is a Yukon Gold that I obviously missed during last year's harvest. It grew three of the largest Yukon Golds I've ever seen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq_Fd863RJm9tVZia1zL93os8EQ53V9uqMGVid22zwyqbzpIxHBI2Uauz5zWcCVyJ9daFwF-BoPLuwgkhty5wVZPlbJBT_W8oxZVqw1EUGqHd0slm03_WaQEfxVz9mfmnKcpLk7cyUFI/s1600/Yukon+volunteer.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158775740337314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq_Fd863RJm9tVZia1zL93os8EQ53V9uqMGVid22zwyqbzpIxHBI2Uauz5zWcCVyJ9daFwF-BoPLuwgkhty5wVZPlbJBT_W8oxZVqw1EUGqHd0slm03_WaQEfxVz9mfmnKcpLk7cyUFI/s320/Yukon+volunteer.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaKw1GUqQcc7QKObA18uMt1bHrUa0HzUVSkKt-MkuWe5qSevWT3WP4LgvvEWoHWp7RPMfZsNAuTYxMFcHqfXatXSz0hreKvmLwgR0YorTMIAhO8Et6vLprO6HZWmX3Ia-jdl9PaeP0II/s1600/Yukon+volunteers.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158255160260018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaKw1GUqQcc7QKObA18uMt1bHrUa0HzUVSkKt-MkuWe5qSevWT3WP4LgvvEWoHWp7RPMfZsNAuTYxMFcHqfXatXSz0hreKvmLwgR0YorTMIAhO8Et6vLprO6HZWmX3Ia-jdl9PaeP0II/s320/Yukon+volunteers.JPG" /></a><br />I also had a Norland Red volunteer as well, which outdid itself too! The carrots did much better this year; I've been pulling them as I need them and they're so sweet tasting!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQREP4LNDvEyn1hxWy_p2KNaAQbWJSgNEvl5pY3gUU48j-oR8jPMcnrb90JDHQo8Xqn9XuDCVbDdCdsN9iJsiAA95sdkLap2s4i5CyjyxlnF7pMKAWYuZvxbZ_P-ebCRTGL3TMmxmLZY/s1600/Potatoes+and+carrots.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158253279609586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQREP4LNDvEyn1hxWy_p2KNaAQbWJSgNEvl5pY3gUU48j-oR8jPMcnrb90JDHQo8Xqn9XuDCVbDdCdsN9iJsiAA95sdkLap2s4i5CyjyxlnF7pMKAWYuZvxbZ_P-ebCRTGL3TMmxmLZY/s320/Potatoes+and+carrots.JPG" /></a><br />Here are the potatoes I planted in the wine barrels. Not much for size, but I did get enough for a few dinners and they tasted great. I'll just tell people they're a mini-variety or something :-)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RYWi1rWkwECb5TJWz3M9PpXzngxSO2QVk77IuwC-Td67jApHRkGbGXbYOhuw4AVj_p6CMF-rCbOkx2QjQgh95IMD_U5QwfVX_HyfPQdCHJ3gU7SMz5chFqOaVdMIPRBsWqOYL5jj840/s1600/Little+spuds.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158238316168354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RYWi1rWkwECb5TJWz3M9PpXzngxSO2QVk77IuwC-Td67jApHRkGbGXbYOhuw4AVj_p6CMF-rCbOkx2QjQgh95IMD_U5QwfVX_HyfPQdCHJ3gU7SMz5chFqOaVdMIPRBsWqOYL5jj840/s320/Little+spuds.JPG" /></a><br />I caught a glimpse of one of my preying mantids while watering the strawberry pyramid. Look at how big they've gotten! I'm really hoping to see some egg sacs appear in my garden this year. It's been doing a great job keeping white fly infestations down on my strawberry plants.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPWcrRj6dGawqP9eVW3GrEXFt8qEGPv1C7he-ktz1LmUv5gF7GWn7u5O3EfwIctkI2L1lt4UnTIevPIuCzZHNIFWza-tzS_iKnUTnkZbBeCUzyl9kfurPzYwfSTdOl6jkhQ3V7Gt32cA/s1600/mantis+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158232243281522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPWcrRj6dGawqP9eVW3GrEXFt8qEGPv1C7he-ktz1LmUv5gF7GWn7u5O3EfwIctkI2L1lt4UnTIevPIuCzZHNIFWza-tzS_iKnUTnkZbBeCUzyl9kfurPzYwfSTdOl6jkhQ3V7Gt32cA/s320/mantis+2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGbvtJuDQUdyBX3beLpX7nDGDM4jkSNxpoZ91kyblntLqRAPczl8H9YDJHNgGhpSyoHMwWLJoyOQIfWQho4qFAvlFCofXrrs33Qfrbbv94klI6cJnyMDistDwU35k8_C7N8e7mPJQOIw/s1600/mantis+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158216023116338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGbvtJuDQUdyBX3beLpX7nDGDM4jkSNxpoZ91kyblntLqRAPczl8H9YDJHNgGhpSyoHMwWLJoyOQIfWQho4qFAvlFCofXrrs33Qfrbbv94klI6cJnyMDistDwU35k8_C7N8e7mPJQOIw/s320/mantis+1.JPG" /></a><br />I finally potted up the succulents I bought at Gardenpalooza in April. I found this plant stand on CL for $20 and got the pots at Al's nursery in Woodburn. So far, they're really happy and starting to root nicely.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4dGQN8SlHY7IihvfpHuY7lnxaDs-cg5b50-q1j859kzPZuKBh7radyGTpKtXEbgyfMEHhqrJJhCIrjQ5flRuwOb4K5Eg769GOhS0-o5UrSKCChnmDibRngOPM8hRaon7BeSPrW68Mdk/s1600/Succulent+pot.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158818505024546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4dGQN8SlHY7IihvfpHuY7lnxaDs-cg5b50-q1j859kzPZuKBh7radyGTpKtXEbgyfMEHhqrJJhCIrjQ5flRuwOb4K5Eg769GOhS0-o5UrSKCChnmDibRngOPM8hRaon7BeSPrW68Mdk/s320/Succulent+pot.JPG" /></a><br />Also, my toad lilies are blooming this year! I planted them last fall and have been waiting patiently to see what the blooms look like. I liked them because they looked so much like orchids, but without all the hassle. Very pretty!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_73_hTv5zhDTkAKhy4BytPb8Xisq2j1H7LROXbfag35B_RPHQzgiYYpmDN55DOeAirWjCNSKaeCbK-xnSu7c45Nw0G1vlCW9vFkeZDen03xNZviSEsR0l6bwmHElel9dsR-DVbD2wyU/s1600/Toad+lily.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158808418309954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_73_hTv5zhDTkAKhy4BytPb8Xisq2j1H7LROXbfag35B_RPHQzgiYYpmDN55DOeAirWjCNSKaeCbK-xnSu7c45Nw0G1vlCW9vFkeZDen03xNZviSEsR0l6bwmHElel9dsR-DVbD2wyU/s320/Toad+lily.JPG" /></a><br />My onions also did much better this year than last year. I planted seeds instead of onion sets this year and they've really made some nice bulbs. I've used a lot of fresh onions in cooking and when I canned salsa last weekend. It's very convenient just to go out back and harvest what you need.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr5t54cue5iDi3tsdwD4DX4CV1gt21tm1cv0CJpGAyXMI4pLSu8QRI7VpKYXFvTsheHgbGplt-fB8IbTer0Z-Nv9AxfXigor7hLjyySF-tEWsaBcGuVmTylw8ebMmFd48JSkvxEAQkwU/s1600/Yellow+Onions.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158798518390594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPr5t54cue5iDi3tsdwD4DX4CV1gt21tm1cv0CJpGAyXMI4pLSu8QRI7VpKYXFvTsheHgbGplt-fB8IbTer0Z-Nv9AxfXigor7hLjyySF-tEWsaBcGuVmTylw8ebMmFd48JSkvxEAQkwU/s320/Yellow+Onions.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaueB1-VU7ASj3-iYRIfDqUx-2YXwi0LMhK7vEYc99GY4OvuhjE4sFaCWxw05DQ5I_c2s91pTEQ1QJ3_Yo_9bVe6MrMWubhYo2MKhaISe8J3a5-8WUHagPeYr9P7Fk_SXdbgVCwL1JG74/s1600/Red+Onions.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785158785820101538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaueB1-VU7ASj3-iYRIfDqUx-2YXwi0LMhK7vEYc99GY4OvuhjE4sFaCWxw05DQ5I_c2s91pTEQ1QJ3_Yo_9bVe6MrMWubhYo2MKhaISe8J3a5-8WUHagPeYr9P7Fk_SXdbgVCwL1JG74/s320/Red+Onions.JPG" /></a><br />So...it's September and I'm still harvesting carrots, onion, and tomatoes, but Fall is in the air, I can feel it!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br />Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-27810264114927490502012-09-06T10:16:00.006-07:002012-09-06T12:53:58.640-07:00Gosh, it's been a while...Hello loyal followers! Sorry I've abandoned you for so long... <br />Just a quick recap of what's been going on at my house! Mom did her annual cherry pitting this year, with pretty stellar results. We put up three jars of Bings and three jars of Rainiers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWbGUJYesv1r4JeAbXX5g042LWFWjuHMu7UCT8ABs4FNgIuO8kTYHTdCn4FddCeNCXaQvpCeuInZIkK0tXp-y096n_opnrAgGL9wUZFZOzQpHOkLo8tiDaQSQWg1phcS7M70gmpgMFQc/s1600/Mom+pitting+cherries.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785127540013619570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWbGUJYesv1r4JeAbXX5g042LWFWjuHMu7UCT8ABs4FNgIuO8kTYHTdCn4FddCeNCXaQvpCeuInZIkK0tXp-y096n_opnrAgGL9wUZFZOzQpHOkLo8tiDaQSQWg1phcS7M70gmpgMFQc/s320/Mom+pitting+cherries.JPG" /></a><br />My strawberry pyramid really took off this year and produced enough strawberries to make a few batches of strawberry jam!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXuHnJdOqN_oy23wsDwuEwVud_HdQ1VDItHN6wh3W3cWaRW04Fo7-XT-BX67ICm-8LrKy3HMHQcndv28Y9DbQ32ANlTQqhJutI_w-RuAb7-wNkyXRG9usFfdphwVUgYtYp5BPeeYQE4Y/s1600/Mashing+strawberries.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785127524396622626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXuHnJdOqN_oy23wsDwuEwVud_HdQ1VDItHN6wh3W3cWaRW04Fo7-XT-BX67ICm-8LrKy3HMHQcndv28Y9DbQ32ANlTQqhJutI_w-RuAb7-wNkyXRG9usFfdphwVUgYtYp5BPeeYQE4Y/s320/Mashing+strawberries.JPG" /></a><br />Some home improvement: I ripped out the corner cabinet that used to be perminently installed next to the old stove and replaced it with a cart off of CraigsList! It moves away from the stove so I can get everything clean and it provides much better storage and surface area. It's been great for canning!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoAX712apeHkkxOrcu_NRYK7bAs6EoJ1XWAmBDnf74Z67ogWbL_ZzVpUj0JkH7qzqKOYiiwNLxqGzJxtvjzw1WWBbX4wti_-92eKTtoR6Sumq7Z-OBa-SdcNhHI7xM4ZgV5Kt_DL1ZnU/s1600/New+kitchen+cart.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785127516796694258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoAX712apeHkkxOrcu_NRYK7bAs6EoJ1XWAmBDnf74Z67ogWbL_ZzVpUj0JkH7qzqKOYiiwNLxqGzJxtvjzw1WWBbX4wti_-92eKTtoR6Sumq7Z-OBa-SdcNhHI7xM4ZgV5Kt_DL1ZnU/s320/New+kitchen+cart.JPG" /></a> More home improvement: we ripped out the carpet in the frontroom finally! I still have a ways to go before I can afford to repair and refinish it, but just having the nasty old carpet out is a big improvement. Although, it breaks my heart that someone would PAINT original hardwood floors- why, WHY?!?! The good news is that I don't think the floors in the bedrooms are painted, since the hallway was also spared. Someday soon, the carpet in those rooms will disappear as well...</div><br /><div>Here I am pulling up sections of carpet and padding with Mary's assistance. Getting the carpet up wasn't what took the time- it was all the tack strips and thousands of staples! We were at it until dark.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_wKfrbHZj21SIHXhWWgA-yzXEIM4gXvrozxhzodI3iL6FCNB7P7Lb-nJZPl-8d_eQ6VgG9ltvFOnMpyZtyAbxUpBj3YxG2-W9pf_6wFSM_FqDEIaOvYhTtR8Ox0tAFBc_L6M8caeXG4/s1600/Pulling+up+carpet.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785114637791909042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_wKfrbHZj21SIHXhWWgA-yzXEIM4gXvrozxhzodI3iL6FCNB7P7Lb-nJZPl-8d_eQ6VgG9ltvFOnMpyZtyAbxUpBj3YxG2-W9pf_6wFSM_FqDEIaOvYhTtR8Ox0tAFBc_L6M8caeXG4/s320/Pulling+up+carpet.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtgUlociPUsaxTaOK6APhPS6XcTdn8SlajSj8UUCsyy6KdLHemDPoqlBEvKazwcrj5MvkFxzbLP6fMxYq4sXKuefBjBNFEqYmibu9iwTQcS3U3NF_Z1t3aMtzfeLxJRm3Ri0Wn6ZgvjM/s1600/Mary+pulling+staples.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785114653924302146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtgUlociPUsaxTaOK6APhPS6XcTdn8SlajSj8UUCsyy6KdLHemDPoqlBEvKazwcrj5MvkFxzbLP6fMxYq4sXKuefBjBNFEqYmibu9iwTQcS3U3NF_Z1t3aMtzfeLxJRm3Ri0Wn6ZgvjM/s320/Mary+pulling+staples.JPG" /></a><br />You can see Mom's enthusiasm about pulling staples, even though ripping up the carpet was her idea...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIjG24blIXKS180F6OjRvO8WdLNc6ueZ-6guUlx1j5JGwv7x-FrJDUC5mgwxRee_A3ok3AJTw1JWdUsMyvIb2tFwgiuZpYQXjEFfSes8Vwa9rpg8fGJjy2HULoP7reBdpreYIS34ikBc/s1600/Mom+pulling+staples.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785114644062380546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIjG24blIXKS180F6OjRvO8WdLNc6ueZ-6guUlx1j5JGwv7x-FrJDUC5mgwxRee_A3ok3AJTw1JWdUsMyvIb2tFwgiuZpYQXjEFfSes8Vwa9rpg8fGJjy2HULoP7reBdpreYIS34ikBc/s320/Mom+pulling+staples.JPG" /></a><br />And here it looks, done! Much better- the improvement in air quality alone made it worth it.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpgaLcN-zqER4WRDpeEITuePgfQmdNfYEi79lRXlk1xhEFupPKQ2WM4gP2Yyntl2hCalBkc3qvkY0jd7VbOkvVfcZCOjcwEm0zVk8f9CEOowFSKfMPSiSGBDJCu6TDSxYsszyJ2_tfcI/s1600/Carpet+up+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785114667894596242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpgaLcN-zqER4WRDpeEITuePgfQmdNfYEi79lRXlk1xhEFupPKQ2WM4gP2Yyntl2hCalBkc3qvkY0jd7VbOkvVfcZCOjcwEm0zVk8f9CEOowFSKfMPSiSGBDJCu6TDSxYsszyJ2_tfcI/s320/Carpet+up+2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAU6zBOMq8RyfVY8qYw3UJgmAiZvFLSwLTIuZSo3FQmIfxYy4JP-razMAMtZgD2Si_idL8nkffaU8RU7bAEa9yfrDqrxoKP2cp4rT12YSgR28Dz_lW_8HxHb5OX5H6b-d8Np78YwtjoE/s1600/Carpet+up+1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785114664573169234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAU6zBOMq8RyfVY8qYw3UJgmAiZvFLSwLTIuZSo3FQmIfxYy4JP-razMAMtZgD2Si_idL8nkffaU8RU7bAEa9yfrDqrxoKP2cp4rT12YSgR28Dz_lW_8HxHb5OX5H6b-d8Np78YwtjoE/s320/Carpet+up+1.JPG" /></a> Here are a few shots from the scarf dye-day we held at my house. I attracted quite a bit of attention by wearing the scarves I dyed at Mom's house last summer, so there were a lot of Kettle ladies that attended the dye day at my house. Behold our creations!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw0Iq9p_mfbu83Xiv7uDnIeCB2AoUfYL7opNXC3OzW_iAnVpBCabhlYTMFTEd2zHmYbLC50d7X8In0MEqfikLjwV1kljQCXCGXgMm-wotTorLEPsDkp4S_W61b597AuwF4Kje-DXdYOk/s1600/Hanging+scarves.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 325px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785127558113963186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw0Iq9p_mfbu83Xiv7uDnIeCB2AoUfYL7opNXC3OzW_iAnVpBCabhlYTMFTEd2zHmYbLC50d7X8In0MEqfikLjwV1kljQCXCGXgMm-wotTorLEPsDkp4S_W61b597AuwF4Kje-DXdYOk/s320/Hanging+scarves.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTFdGa7QsVEDfHBb0iNzD96ix7EaMOk4rw07colMeg4DDHxF3N09CUNFHU0zEHt8lGPDn0NIlgzLJR5AelHodMrsQan71xwgT4oy8YAH5GL_xuaikBm9NU_tY7riykhHoFYtzATfEw0A/s1600/Hanging+scarves+2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785127542062989202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTFdGa7QsVEDfHBb0iNzD96ix7EaMOk4rw07colMeg4DDHxF3N09CUNFHU0zEHt8lGPDn0NIlgzLJR5AelHodMrsQan71xwgT4oy8YAH5GL_xuaikBm9NU_tY7riykhHoFYtzATfEw0A/s320/Hanging+scarves+2.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>My three. The one on the left has inspired a new colorway for Tanglewood Fiber creations: Becky's Blackberry.</div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBvfDbcTngUjnsh91RHipOY9DJjpCrPRWuNY3AGWrO3ZoPqFI-3GCeOqSNAeEhp6fCVO1yYBX8nVt3OZ0hNZ6WTjAi7VolUlmqXIGVoy3vhb2kN2BlB3mFrteM_alyk0UujpuGCOFvhU/s1600/My+three+scarves.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785128845170186978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBvfDbcTngUjnsh91RHipOY9DJjpCrPRWuNY3AGWrO3ZoPqFI-3GCeOqSNAeEhp6fCVO1yYBX8nVt3OZ0hNZ6WTjAi7VolUlmqXIGVoy3vhb2kN2BlB3mFrteM_alyk0UujpuGCOFvhU/s320/My+three+scarves.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>How Alice felt about the excitement:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8enP5MMleMQBP1eau9cnf1TExeYtqVFm-CiYe2v4HtM0Rud4smf-oiBLQ0Q5U6bxAtd9uimv9xVGVl-VjLn0psNR8_rzZ42QZ6LPMogwvc2RFg0YC-z-KBJ8NuMckW6WUQn1rfvrauM/s1600/Alice+in+basket.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5785128856919111234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8enP5MMleMQBP1eau9cnf1TExeYtqVFm-CiYe2v4HtM0Rud4smf-oiBLQ0Q5U6bxAtd9uimv9xVGVl-VjLn0psNR8_rzZ42QZ6LPMogwvc2RFg0YC-z-KBJ8NuMckW6WUQn1rfvrauM/s320/Alice+in+basket.JPG" /></a><br />So, sorry again that it's taken me so long to post. I'll try to be more prompt in the future!<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-85313079460128938512012-06-20T14:50:00.001-07:002012-06-20T14:50:22.301-07:00It's a good time to have a garden...I've been at home with a sinus infection the last few days and took a few pictures during the few times I went outside to get some fresh air. All the plants are really starting to take off and my garden has transformed into an oasis of green!
It's a great place to read a book, putter around, or just sit and enjoy the birds singing. I recently put up a few hummingbird feeders, but the hummingbird at my house still prefers the red cape fuschia...
My sweet peas are starting to bloom:
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC03gj6Wpk970yiQ2Jf0i4ZF0FJCEU-f0oOgWyBUd2Zf5GdjQLVFBIIigfitqHm-wPkoe20mzigj5E682tnd13Mvm7YvBUKUDiHXzj4KUpjB5wATGpD-6iEDlxMs3Eq-lwDRyTr1BurE/s1600/Sweet+peas+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC03gj6Wpk970yiQ2Jf0i4ZF0FJCEU-f0oOgWyBUd2Zf5GdjQLVFBIIigfitqHm-wPkoe20mzigj5E682tnd13Mvm7YvBUKUDiHXzj4KUpjB5wATGpD-6iEDlxMs3Eq-lwDRyTr1BurE/s320/Sweet+peas+1.JPG" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZDadwXK0A-6q2nVdo9IKodYXW79gmZzSMABdV-8FO9Qz1FYy7TRl3_lxSPfw8y1BH_cO0g77LRy8bp6eswceni4eLdcfK9VtMuJFV7ZEelo3OzCp6HBFjt8hlwPxUt0g_ySqTpCDed0/s1600/Sweet+peas+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZDadwXK0A-6q2nVdo9IKodYXW79gmZzSMABdV-8FO9Qz1FYy7TRl3_lxSPfw8y1BH_cO0g77LRy8bp6eswceni4eLdcfK9VtMuJFV7ZEelo3OzCp6HBFjt8hlwPxUt0g_ySqTpCDed0/s320/Sweet+peas+2.JPG" /></a>
As are my pole beans. I've already got one small harvest from my bush beans.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yXhJeFGuNuUwWJw4p77YE_t9N2u1p28ckRXNKSSMpMZB8ONZQaxMFBlZINSns8QGYRvh4WTutZ1FhZIv6HjBZaoYLV9p718ef-j7b4TLyffGWI0SGVhtu-6BrcVNw5DDWxQHhL9zbkQ/s1600/Pole+beans.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yXhJeFGuNuUwWJw4p77YE_t9N2u1p28ckRXNKSSMpMZB8ONZQaxMFBlZINSns8QGYRvh4WTutZ1FhZIv6HjBZaoYLV9p718ef-j7b4TLyffGWI0SGVhtu-6BrcVNw5DDWxQHhL9zbkQ/s320/Pole+beans.JPG" /></a>
The garlic is starting to dry out and flop over. Harvest time should be around late July.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOshm-VFZ6VhQPsN3-Kg1YuZVmAeWEH_ggUeQHtTd30zwqmufuMlxzKFUvHUSyf7Hn2PRK1IgQTf0U185WANY4whlwx3-CAt6iIYv8oJ0nGUHk-lee0fbczCXiCQL2TKLVFSZgwErZMM/s1600/Garlic+growing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOshm-VFZ6VhQPsN3-Kg1YuZVmAeWEH_ggUeQHtTd30zwqmufuMlxzKFUvHUSyf7Hn2PRK1IgQTf0U185WANY4whlwx3-CAt6iIYv8oJ0nGUHk-lee0fbczCXiCQL2TKLVFSZgwErZMM/s320/Garlic+growing.JPG" /></a>
The thyme and basil seeds I planted in this hanging basket are doing well...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR8bX39ctWAi-ZmoAqZOOS-dMGgVCb1uGI0FDMvswtTVKvNPjMzcCmNGanF8u8SInFjRszyeTYm6Skwbz34kL8_jo6wR3_P1N-JHac2ai4JJ7y0aWJb4OuYtgcRvuHiRumqgVTZHIgQ0/s1600/Basil+and+Thyme+basket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRR8bX39ctWAi-ZmoAqZOOS-dMGgVCb1uGI0FDMvswtTVKvNPjMzcCmNGanF8u8SInFjRszyeTYm6Skwbz34kL8_jo6wR3_P1N-JHac2ai4JJ7y0aWJb4OuYtgcRvuHiRumqgVTZHIgQ0/s320/Basil+and+Thyme+basket.JPG" /></a>
Here is a "cycle-up" project I've been working on: vertical gardening in plastic bottles. So far, it's worked really well for shallow-rooting plants like salad, radishes, onions, and herbs.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2aue0ImkhRiJH_PdZYtopIpr-XSuG0M-ZE262KC2SwT0ImC9g49SF2Foe-15C7JUUkRhAkJwAc7whTZ-iFcs4R3UnFNojUEzMnVHvQoH-etIkeLxJvRqWfzW3BIUbijT58SqngwTeXA/s1600/Redneck+vert+gardening+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2aue0ImkhRiJH_PdZYtopIpr-XSuG0M-ZE262KC2SwT0ImC9g49SF2Foe-15C7JUUkRhAkJwAc7whTZ-iFcs4R3UnFNojUEzMnVHvQoH-etIkeLxJvRqWfzW3BIUbijT58SqngwTeXA/s320/Redneck+vert+gardening+1.JPG" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs36fckHxtd2zrCZa-T9QgTcoF1R6nG_cPJz-32RFADG3yHTL95hrV7kVxe2X5Ba5k2vs6A231_cyo63OO2iZvcD1xvUO0asm5_Kx9jYQiDOqI5P4Ah1ZZo0-t_sjxeZZRp2SUNzIq3E/s1600/Redneck+vert+gardening+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs36fckHxtd2zrCZa-T9QgTcoF1R6nG_cPJz-32RFADG3yHTL95hrV7kVxe2X5Ba5k2vs6A231_cyo63OO2iZvcD1xvUO0asm5_Kx9jYQiDOqI5P4Ah1ZZo0-t_sjxeZZRp2SUNzIq3E/s320/Redneck+vert+gardening+2.JPG" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwPyaBvLIPctgib4DkLZb-OIEbQhm9Uyr4Vk0aKLsCFrSVjP_x_-jJh0ZFiPtcROzZUdM90FFzha62ASrJh34UIzeU6qe1nYM_gwqL_KUDD4mGDwHbiIsJl1D310Zr2G3FXML7NcwARo/s1600/Redneck+vert+gardening+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwPyaBvLIPctgib4DkLZb-OIEbQhm9Uyr4Vk0aKLsCFrSVjP_x_-jJh0ZFiPtcROzZUdM90FFzha62ASrJh34UIzeU6qe1nYM_gwqL_KUDD4mGDwHbiIsJl1D310Zr2G3FXML7NcwARo/s320/Redneck+vert+gardening+3.JPG" /></a>
My strawberries are going to town, too! This is the first full growing year for the strawberry pyramid and it's evident that the plants are better established. The berries are bigger and better this year!
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOCbUjBnE2L3tSCn4fsWdFO3lxxkDo2HCsLAim9dCueWWYcELfOPraDfL_1k8YecG1yD-xnQ9FTvXHbI83b6rbYFDaD8xltTgzKfGtF9YZh8v1OX8rN46veIaf3Ktu6APv0EBG6PuwRM/s1600/Strawberries+ripening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOCbUjBnE2L3tSCn4fsWdFO3lxxkDo2HCsLAim9dCueWWYcELfOPraDfL_1k8YecG1yD-xnQ9FTvXHbI83b6rbYFDaD8xltTgzKfGtF9YZh8v1OX8rN46veIaf3Ktu6APv0EBG6PuwRM/s320/Strawberries+ripening.JPG" /></a>
I also finally created a support for the loganberry and thornless blackberry canes. With more support, they won't be climbing onto the patio and tripping innocent bystanders.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTmrZ7lDgn9pmd0juVJkITTi7UxLUDzqh5Bo_lozvUL9Y9oLRndIVNxwWOrQ-qRi9HcMBhcWt0tiyRFU4HIw8ydCijTc_u9uydOaZgJ-F_hA5_OGSjd0qb4C_nzXT3MLt1DZtbTYE-I/s1600/Tied+berry+vines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLTmrZ7lDgn9pmd0juVJkITTi7UxLUDzqh5Bo_lozvUL9Y9oLRndIVNxwWOrQ-qRi9HcMBhcWt0tiyRFU4HIw8ydCijTc_u9uydOaZgJ-F_hA5_OGSjd0qb4C_nzXT3MLt1DZtbTYE-I/s320/Tied+berry+vines.JPG" /></a>
My potatoes in back are growing pretty well; I think these are Yukon Golds.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8t3hiyuc_0Rqyuq8aW9mwKn072cOqqBslmGsvWxBa1mXE84Gg7qw4hLE7i4JC8kva1tKPJ21RHQ4GY_0UeY-HHPI5UiSl5KT0wawkP3M04Q4jheHH0RJ0WCEnVUg0sIXxzTijVVL8IY/s1600/Potatoes+and+Cauliflower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8t3hiyuc_0Rqyuq8aW9mwKn072cOqqBslmGsvWxBa1mXE84Gg7qw4hLE7i4JC8kva1tKPJ21RHQ4GY_0UeY-HHPI5UiSl5KT0wawkP3M04Q4jheHH0RJ0WCEnVUg0sIXxzTijVVL8IY/s320/Potatoes+and+Cauliflower.JPG" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-41634413986575396892012-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:002012-05-23T12:11:44.899-07:00No Grass Allowed!As many of you know, I hate grass. I hate that it takes several gas-powered machines to keep it short, looks like crap in the summer, and that Silverton fines you if it gets too long. I've been thinking of what to do in the front yard ever since I moved in and every plan I've come up with has including getting rid of the grass altogether. It's not like I'd be losing much- it's really only clover and moss and dandylions, and crabgrass. The same combination that many people in my neighborhood have. It's a waste of space and resources. So, with that in mind, I began to scheme. I was very adamant about having an espalier. I liked the way they looked and how they usually give a lot of fruit in a very small space. I decided that the long stretch of yard along First Street would be perfect for a free-standing espalier for apples and pears. In theory, it was a very simple idea of setting posts, stringing wire, and planting trees. In reality, my house sits on an old river bed and there are little rocks scattered throughout the topsoil, which made rototilling a very difficult task, indeed. Combined with the boulders that were found a foot below the ground made setting posts a labor of love. A big "atta-boy!" for my handymen!
Here's the cleared area by the front door:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG4bn1Bb9zEW6yMRSkpQaiIpoe86dyGJ1Tbm_aHgF8nLcg74PFMi1pFAU-2k7HazeKcb6C2O8HjYRaOGM_CGQrHt388HG2e0sojZ1-s_vQI4VTefDw0a2Q89A7hBaIrnv9VNpfhJUKTs/s1600/Front+torn+up+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVG4bn1Bb9zEW6yMRSkpQaiIpoe86dyGJ1Tbm_aHgF8nLcg74PFMi1pFAU-2k7HazeKcb6C2O8HjYRaOGM_CGQrHt388HG2e0sojZ1-s_vQI4VTefDw0a2Q89A7hBaIrnv9VNpfhJUKTs/s320/Front+torn+up+2.JPG" /></a></div>
and here is the cleared area for the espalier and the posts set:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEkYezSylT_lUR3ve8nGFxUNZPQXweDRQMc7KaqhzKywTJqcBNfzRJu0AUJIGoNNeSD0ZNRN4zPmE8QJfMG0z4sxjahTACeUrdj4y6N7rvUYaJl3fGsw1pFlJD43k4X2L3EZXX_P9p8E/s1600/Espalier+started.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEkYezSylT_lUR3ve8nGFxUNZPQXweDRQMc7KaqhzKywTJqcBNfzRJu0AUJIGoNNeSD0ZNRN4zPmE8QJfMG0z4sxjahTACeUrdj4y6N7rvUYaJl3fGsw1pFlJD43k4X2L3EZXX_P9p8E/s320/Espalier+started.JPG" /></a></div>
Here is what it looked like after the posts were in and the wire strung:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnUgAKOyfabrRCM0hIBzW4kN08yoHzBI8tgsGXLzcZj5GfCHtNWBJqx78DI2Z-LEIOh9JFVWm2927Cx-gnuLceZfBcvj0v2d0o1BCL3Ejr8xjelyJcylctD3HC6eXacKIPX-X5f_Az6w/s1600/Espalier+finished.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnUgAKOyfabrRCM0hIBzW4kN08yoHzBI8tgsGXLzcZj5GfCHtNWBJqx78DI2Z-LEIOh9JFVWm2927Cx-gnuLceZfBcvj0v2d0o1BCL3Ejr8xjelyJcylctD3HC6eXacKIPX-X5f_Az6w/s320/Espalier+finished.JPG" /></a></div>
One of the apple trees in the ground! Soon, I'll start to train and tie the branches to the wire.
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I also had the handymen put in a new front walk. Before, it was nothing but dirt and mud leading to the front door. I got these pavers from a friend who is also re-doing their backyard. Yay for repurposing! I think it looks rather sharp. I plan to put in several bulb spirals on either side as well as some nice potted plants along the walk. Something fragrant...
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While all this work was going on, there have been some additions to the "Andersen Household- Silverton Branch" this week. One of the Preying Mantis egg sacs finally hatched! There were hundreds of babies waiting to be dispersed outside.
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They found homes on the strawberry hanging baskets and pyramid as well as on the grape and columnar apples. I hope they're happy and that I get to spot a few adults come Fall.
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The other new addition is a worm bin! I've been wanting one for a while and finally saw a good deal on CraigsList. My one pound of worms are working their way through the first tray. As they eat up all the food, you add additional trays to the top for them to move into. The bottom tray then contains worm casings and compost tea which is great for baby plants in the greenhouse!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwb87-wQ5DrLYHpYQrogQmeRvJhzjM7recGiLTLd9UiFuLua8VwOEQ9ZaK9xsBn7LaKYheQg5eTt_gPIC2GOTa4B-QFv2GpXkb9OkIPTtM5Hll7dm33JLpqY8HErrwJT-CC8f-Cjk9Uc/s1600/Worm+bin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwb87-wQ5DrLYHpYQrogQmeRvJhzjM7recGiLTLd9UiFuLua8VwOEQ9ZaK9xsBn7LaKYheQg5eTt_gPIC2GOTa4B-QFv2GpXkb9OkIPTtM5Hll7dm33JLpqY8HErrwJT-CC8f-Cjk9Uc/s320/Worm+bin.JPG" /></a></div>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-53410361113039362842012-05-22T11:49:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:53:28.261-07:00May Sunshine Works Wonders!We've had an unseasonably nice May here in the PNW and the plants are loving it! My columnar apples actually bloomed this year and I can see tiny little apples starting to form
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My bush beans and broccoli are out of the greenhouse and into the ground,
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As is my cauliflower.
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I nailed left over chicken wire to the fence so the cucumbers have something to climb on. The row of spring onions I planted in this bed are also coming up.
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It's the strawberry pyramid's first established spring and it's going to town! All the blank spots I filled in last summer with runners have rooted nicely. I hope to get a bumper crop of strawberries!
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And all my potatoes are sprouting. Here are the Russian fingerling potatoes...
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And here are the red, Yukon Gold, and Russet Potatoes...
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And I even have a couple of voluteer potatoes that I must have missed last year!
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The plants in the greenhouse continue to grow like crazy, some of the tomato plants are so big that they are starting to lean over and put out flowers already.
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Here are some craft projects I've been working on. I repurposed some plastic soda and water bottles as hanging planters. I've planted salad, thyme, and basil in them. We'll see how well they work- no slugs!
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Matt and I built a support for the Raspberries finally. Once they grow tall, we can tuck them in between the wire to keep them from falling over.
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My vertical pots are doing well- the larger pots hold water much better and don't dry out as quickly. The parsley I planted should fill out nicely. Again- no slugs!
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A nice spring also means lots of asparagus! I bought this batch from Bauman's- a local nursery and market in Gervais. I find it easier to can if I first sort the stalks by size.
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Then, I cut the stalks to fit the jars and peel the bottom half of the really thick ones.
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Ta Da! Seven quarts of pickled asparagus! I used my brussel sprout brine recipe, since I thought the brine I prepared last year was too sweet. We'll find out in three weeks if it's any good!
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Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-55857282449441118542012-05-22T11:13:00.000-07:002012-05-22T11:13:28.802-07:00Kitchen Demo!Another original appliance bites the dust!! For anyone who has followed this blog, you know that there is an on-going battle between the original appliances that came with the house and myself. To review, the house came with the following:
1. A washer that flooded the floor and wouldn't spin.
2. A dryer that you could hardly reach, that would catch clothes in a loose piece of trim inside the drum and twist beyond recognition.
3. A water heater that was not installed to code.
4. A toilet that leaked
5. A refrigerator that quit one day while I was at work and ruined all my food.
6. A dishwasher that stalls at the beginning of a cycle and runs unending until you adjust it. It's basket wheels also pop off at random moments.
7. A wonderful gas stove that I haven't had any problems with....yet.
Yes. It has been an adventure. Not in a good way.
So, I decided to premptive with the stove and replace it with a slightly newer model brought up from the Lakewood kitchen remodel. Over the years, I'd also notcied that splatters and drips would go between the stove and built-ins on either side. As a person with a strong food safety background, the fact that I couldn't get in there to clean really bothered me. That <i>anything</i> in my house could be that dirty bothered me...
So, when we pulled out the old stove and corner cabinet, I was not surprised to find this:
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and this:
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and this:
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What I was surprised to find was a water bill from 1997 (their rates have gone up significantly), an old metal rocking horse child's toy, and the head of my broken pie blackbird (which can now be re-capitated)! After using a shopvac, lots of GooGone, and a putty knife, I got the area clean before putting in the "new" stove.
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It was installed in time to make homemade lasagna with Matt!
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I'm almost there....the only thing left left to replace is the dishwasher and I think it's on to me. It's been on it's best behavior lately...Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-20632670609405394192012-05-07T15:14:00.000-07:002012-05-07T15:16:49.023-07:00Kentucky Derby Hat!My first attempt at making a Kentucky Derby hat. I think I missed my calling as a milliner...
I bought a regular sun hat and re-inforced the brim with a wire frame...
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Then, I covered it with real moss that had been attached to a fabric backing...
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Added other moss, lichen, peacock feathers, and butterflies and voila! An outrageous Kentucky Derby Hat!
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I'm proud to say I won "Most Creative" at the party...Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-45610227484989380612012-05-01T16:37:00.000-07:002012-05-01T16:37:54.789-07:00The Front Yard Needs to be DONE Already...Unfortunatley, my plumbing disaster in January, followed by my truck disaster in March put the kybosh on landscaping the front yard all at once. Luckily (or perhaps, unluckily), I have a very determined boyfriend....
After mowing the lawn (finally- I thought we might have to bale it instead!), Matt decided that the bush in the corner of the yard HAD to come out. Behold the results:
A great big hole in the corner of the yard! Here he is rototilling after he and Bob (my next door neighbor) pulled the stump out with a Jeep and a chain.
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The stump!
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As the boys worked, I saved as many muscari bulbs as I could find. They've naturalized in this corner of the yard and I'd like to keep some for my bulb spirals.
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Here's what the front yard looks like now. A mowed lawn and a great empty spot, waiting to be filled.
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I also got two half wine barrels from a very nice gentleman off of CraigsList. They worked beautifully for potatoes! I managed to get all my seed potatoes planted this weekend and I'm hoping for a better harvest from last year!
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Here are the two containers I got free from work, full with Red Pontiac seed potatoes.
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And since I didn't raise chicks this year, I could finally use this planter for it's original purpose- growing russets!
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Some progress was also made in the back yard- mainly transplanting tomatoes into bigger pots, but my columnar apples are also flowering. I hope the bees find them...
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Ever since I trasplanted it into a larger pot, the rhubarb has been much happier. These are the biggest leaves it's ever put out.
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Mom and Dad bought these trellises at the Iron Works place and couldn't fit them in the car to take to LA. Darn. I'm testing them out with sweet peas...
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And here are the tomatoes- in bigger pots and ever growing!
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Sunday dinner was special this week. It was the first gathering of the Girls Cooking Club! I was the host for this first dinner and picked a French theme for the night. Of course, I decided to make Boeuf Borguignon. I started cooking at 11:30 and was finished just in time to eat at 5:30.
My prep: Onions (pearl and regular), home grown carrots, and mushrooms (yuck).
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Searing the stew meat...
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As I coooked, the kitties napped...
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And voila! The French dinner table!
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We had Potatoes Anna,
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Braised Leeks and Frisee salad,
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My Boeuf Borguignon,
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And Almond Cream with Strawberries for dessert! It was really, really good. It was so nice to only have to concentrate on making one dish, instead of a whole meal. Next month- Greek!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfqWgEBh3tlFNiG3H5oc4VtSwrGK_meboGj8d8dmqv-MQeJ1zYZSxiGoMDwLWU_3h2bT5pA0b-xMH4L-e1nmdKGWRjkOCEpKZ4KA4hpOX9rrYOdFLnerfAgCgHij41c8UDmrUVURNYyc/s1600/Almond+dessert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfqWgEBh3tlFNiG3H5oc4VtSwrGK_meboGj8d8dmqv-MQeJ1zYZSxiGoMDwLWU_3h2bT5pA0b-xMH4L-e1nmdKGWRjkOCEpKZ4KA4hpOX9rrYOdFLnerfAgCgHij41c8UDmrUVURNYyc/s320/Almond+dessert.JPG" /></a></div>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-8915417551563484362012-04-27T10:13:00.000-07:002012-04-27T10:13:30.326-07:00Spring!This month is my garden's one year anniversary! What better way to celebrate than to post lots of garden pictures?
My Citron Bleeding Heart has come back this Spring vigorous and blooming like crazy!
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The white Bleeding Heart isn't too far behind!
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A couple of the checkered Lilies I planted last Fall have come up- they have a truely unique flower.
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Tulips that I planted last Fall...
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I tidied up the strawberry pots by removing all the dead leaves that were choking the new growth. All the strawberry plants are putting out flower stalks since I took this picture.
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All the onion seeds I planted are coming up. There are cipollini, red, yellow, and scallions under this greenhouse.
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I've put some pansies in by the blueberries for a little early Spring color...
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Most of my sweet peas have found homes on trellises- this one was improvised from an upside-down tomato cage over a pot.
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I also completed another craft project. This is a window frame that I'd seen outside a thrift store I drive past every day on my way to work. The glass had been partially broken out of it, so I got it for a few dollars. I removed the rest of the glass, strung wire across and hung my seed packets from it! It's great because now I can see all the seeds I have at one time instead of sifting through stacks of folded packets.
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I also cleaned out the chicken coop last weekend. The girls are always thrilled with new straw. They love digging through it for the occasional hidden oat...
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And now for some rediculous, shameless cutness! A typical day for Alice and Cooper:
Nap on the couch...
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Nap in the storage bins...
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Climbing the laundry basket...
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Then, more napping while Mom cans jam...
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That's it for now; the plants are growing faster than I can post. Stay tuned for more updates!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-1500656809964937272012-04-02T15:35:00.000-07:002012-04-02T15:35:36.854-07:00Annual Sausage PartyA few quick pics of the sausage party at Janell's house this weekend:
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Italian Sausage!
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And here's a trivet I made out of the seams of old jeans:
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And another pic of the babies. Enjoy!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxlF5aFWUF0u5j2wqKiiIsDYJbIJ50-XQoLZUgc1oWusSKxhiQp09gHl004IS46xXFo_f8z18zkedvHn_kd5nbqI8l6L3ZpPFZOfnRMvEA0Wbp4FCcTc4drTD3ZkjS8jbxIg5emYTJ68/s1600/Kittens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxlF5aFWUF0u5j2wqKiiIsDYJbIJ50-XQoLZUgc1oWusSKxhiQp09gHl004IS46xXFo_f8z18zkedvHn_kd5nbqI8l6L3ZpPFZOfnRMvEA0Wbp4FCcTc4drTD3ZkjS8jbxIg5emYTJ68/s320/Kittens.JPG" /></a></div>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-15727688210736818962012-03-26T12:26:00.002-07:002012-03-26T12:26:47.121-07:00Being SpontaneousIs not something I'm usually good at. When your spontaneous, you haven't planned (obviously). When you don't plan, you aren't prepared. An unprepared Becky is an unhappy Becky, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. This, according to my family and friends, is why I'm such a wet blanket. A stick in the mud. Stodgy. Cynical. Bitter. These, among other adjectives, have been used to describe me over the last few months. While I know I don't like to do things at the last minute and I don't like when the "plan" goes awry, I didn't think that I had degenerated into someone that wasn't fun to be around. Apparently, I have. Mom's cure: get a kitten. Since Sam left to go back to Matt's house, I've been relatively cat-free at my house. I have most of the equipment for a cat (cat box, scratch pads, toys, cat litter), but no cat. I had been more than happy contiue being cat-free, but after the debacle with Velvet, I starting to think it might be nice to get a kitten. I mulled it over for several months, then Matt told me that his mother's cat had just had kittens. It seemed like a sign. So, I went over to see them and they were indeed as cute as you might imagine. All seven of them. After eight weeks, they were ready to go home and I claimed a brother/ sister pair out of the litter. Introducing Alice and Cooper:
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After heavy doses of wormer and Advantage, I started to let them out of the bathroom and play in the house. So far, they've charmed everyone who has stepped in my house.
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They are both so small and cute that I feel like the Winter Worlock after getting his train...
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Saturday was glorious in Silverton- a whole 68 degrees with no rain! Matt and I decided to go to the Oregon Gardens to see their spring flowers and get out of the house a bit. All their daffs are blooming!
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They have also put in a chicken coop since the last time I was there! No chickens yet, but I was really excited to see that they planned on getting some. Apparently, I'm a trendsetter in Silverton! I wonder how they got around that pesky city ordinance....
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I also found this herb spiral that is exactly what I want to do in the front yard, except make a bulb garden out of it instead of planting herbs. Imagine daffodils, hyacinths, muscara, irises, lilies, and tulips going up and around? Sounds good to me...
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We also saw these neat domes from a distance while driving in. I thought they were cloches, but they turned out to be bio-filtering water. These domes cover tanks of water plants that filter water continuously pumped through. Very cool!
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After the gardens, Matt decided he needed a break from the computer and I needed a break from gardening. We decided SPONTANEOUSLY to go to the coast for the afternoon. We packed Matt's car and headed to Newport to walk on the beach and have dinner at Local Ocean. It was a wonderful unexpected detour, so there!
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Lettuce and Cilantro...
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Gherkin cucumbers...
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Bush beans and sugar snap peas (from seed I saved last year, I might add)...
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Brussel Sprouts and Celery...
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Broccoli and Cauliflower...
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The strawberries that I rescued from the strawberry tower...
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Sweet Peas...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CuazP1wQNCYYyge_LqewksskPKO1NBolL6-upSKOAZ34uxFADROCa2oapnBxi_iVpdV42W4YbZP_BA0jqqepXBlkcJWrTGzVILNeN3R8-waHqX4kDVq4ySxHAS_9DzAj_ooJ02hCNgo/s1600/Sweet+peas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CuazP1wQNCYYyge_LqewksskPKO1NBolL6-upSKOAZ34uxFADROCa2oapnBxi_iVpdV42W4YbZP_BA0jqqepXBlkcJWrTGzVILNeN3R8-waHqX4kDVq4ySxHAS_9DzAj_ooJ02hCNgo/s320/Sweet+peas.JPG" /></a></div>
Tomatoes...
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And here are a couple of vertical gardening prototypes I made- one with small pots and one with medium sized pots. I've made them so they can hang along the fenceline and planted them with parsley.
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A wonderful Spring morning in Oregon-
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All I have to say is: Brr!!!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-73262074245792231502012-03-09T14:36:00.000-08:002012-03-09T14:37:01.533-08:00Weekend WorkIT WAS SO NICE OUTSIDE LAST WEEKEND!!..that I hardly spent any time in the house. It was such a rarity to have a nice weekend in March that I took full advantage!
First order of business- finish potting up seeds. I did broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, more tomatoes, tomatillos, and cilantro. The greenhouse is officially full. My germination mats came in the mail right on time to put under the newly planted pots:
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The greenhouse bursting at the seams:
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Matt also put up one of the magnetic strips he bought me for Valentine's Day. I'll use this one for spices I use all the time.
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I also painted the front of the pantry shelves with chalkboard paint in between chores outside. Now, I know exactly what I have and how many jars there are without pulling out the stool.
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I also re-potted all my bearded irises, since they were getting really root-bound. Out of six pots, I got fourteen new starts! Matt and I decided to rearrange the patio so that the flowers are more prominent and get more sun.
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I also tidied up the strawberry pyramid- these were all the shoots that had rooted in the hazelnut shells over the winter. They're all potted up and in the greenhouse.
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The big project that Matt and I finally finished was a tall greenhouse over one of the raised beds. I wanted to make a larger one to try and extend my tomato harvest. Last year's Romas were particularly disappointing...
Look at how cool it is! It zips!
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I also got some scrap materials from work last week. I think I'm going to plant potatoes in the black tub, but am not sure what to do with the rest...any suggestions???
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnlABatJUphUHbU8vYcgmX5ohQlet5Vqs-FNdzyAPboFBWndf4EFTl_gX_rSwlO60fBGpz66ryksfO4NiA1wT2AYkwD151ibksyuXYcRHWQjd_nqqUqSP4Z0tJmch3y2bCZr_24sRc80/s1600/Kettle+scrap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnlABatJUphUHbU8vYcgmX5ohQlet5Vqs-FNdzyAPboFBWndf4EFTl_gX_rSwlO60fBGpz66ryksfO4NiA1wT2AYkwD151ibksyuXYcRHWQjd_nqqUqSP4Z0tJmch3y2bCZr_24sRc80/s320/Kettle+scrap.JPG" /></a></div>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-89265837126271172972012-03-09T13:42:00.000-08:002012-03-09T13:42:02.214-08:00Home and Garden Show 2012Mary, Lugene, and I were quite the Portland-bound trio a few weekends ago. We trekked up north for the Home and Garden Show at the Expo Center. We saw lots of amazing plants and garden ideas. I'm going to try my hand at making something like this:
A vertical-hanging pouch planter! I have most of the materials at home to try out a prototype- maybe this weekend.
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This is my vision for between the garage and house in the backyard. Someday (not anytime soon, I'm afraid), I'd like to take up the cement, replace it with patio stones and build a beautiful arbor like this. I like the hog panels and metal posts rather than more wood on top. Seems like it would keep the price down...
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After we left the Home and Garden show, the three of us went to lunch at Habibi's- one of the best Lebanese restaurants I've ever been to. Then, we did a little vintage clothes shopping. Mary found a great Easter hat, but decided not to get it for some reason...
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Then, after some time at Powells Book Store, we got back in the car and decided to visit Voodoo donuts! This is the first time I've been there since their expansion and it looks so different! The stained glass windows are really neat.
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I decided on Captian Crunch and Lemon Filled donuts to take home.
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I also got two carniverous plants at the home show which include a baby pitcher plant (isn't just adorable!)...
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...and a Sundew, which is currently living at Matt's apartment and decimating the gnat population there.
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I also got some air plants! I've been wanting to do a project in my kitchen windows for a while (since they don't open, might as well hang plants, right?) and I went a little crazy in the air plant booth at the home show.
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They make a stunny display in the window!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ighJpxqOxkPqEPtCXRrqsrttTOAK90K2ChEkpGoMSJnHBAxgQ-iUevz7Kd20ExYJSCuyeqFBv7rgCOXFYw9Lbxgkyy0n8BnGOzasSoONN_qkx-hs9SOk8yw9ZNy3ANV0NXe4HkG5jP8/s1600/Air+plants+hanging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ighJpxqOxkPqEPtCXRrqsrttTOAK90K2ChEkpGoMSJnHBAxgQ-iUevz7Kd20ExYJSCuyeqFBv7rgCOXFYw9Lbxgkyy0n8BnGOzasSoONN_qkx-hs9SOk8yw9ZNy3ANV0NXe4HkG5jP8/s320/Air+plants+hanging.JPG" /></a></div>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-2434088224620282302012-02-23T13:36:00.010-08:002012-02-24T13:57:44.961-08:00California Vacation!I'm back from a wonderful week in LA! It didn't start out so great, considering I missed my flight by 1 minute. Literally, 1 minute. I had checked in, printed my boarding pass, and paid for my bag online the night before, so I thought getting there an hour early would be fine. Wrong. It took Alaska Airlines 40 minutes to accept checked bags, which was exacerbated by the fact that they kept pulling people from the First-Class line instead of from the Regular Schmucks line that I (and everyone else) was in. There were about ten of us that missed the 6:50am flight to Orange County that morning. I had to wait another FOUR HOURS to get the next flight to John Wayne airport. While I waited, I decided to have a really nice breakfast to pass the time. It helped<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioUwnUtnUEQr5c7ZdqChdGUJEyIjPOhqt1wqIoxKLkXR-SQaeV5bmAPOPKdDbsly_vuGtW_FQ9EZfgMevP55o7riC1lLIFC1tQURb48Y9-g1YRNgC_cQxRCCMFag3r1wHVGZ3taQQfpo/s1600/Breakfast.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjioUwnUtnUEQr5c7ZdqChdGUJEyIjPOhqt1wqIoxKLkXR-SQaeV5bmAPOPKdDbsly_vuGtW_FQ9EZfgMevP55o7riC1lLIFC1tQURb48Y9-g1YRNgC_cQxRCCMFag3r1wHVGZ3taQQfpo/s320/Breakfast.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479591476013170" /></a><br />So did this...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmodHJnNHW58WCAA8FB58UjHH-V-YcWn_Sdu4JjmENzDZuXZ3jbRPPmVA471i2_L4a2ZdEi8CxgjbNnOBDyUebYK4t3JqP-azI_kE-7DuVDe3k0GJPV72IJw8L96M7Xpe9BpeJQyDk5f4/s1600/Bloody+Mary.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmodHJnNHW58WCAA8FB58UjHH-V-YcWn_Sdu4JjmENzDZuXZ3jbRPPmVA471i2_L4a2ZdEi8CxgjbNnOBDyUebYK4t3JqP-azI_kE-7DuVDe3k0GJPV72IJw8L96M7Xpe9BpeJQyDk5f4/s320/Bloody+Mary.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479600139740434" /></a><br />Anyway, once I actually got into Orange County, everything went splendidly. Mom picked me up and we went to have high tea at the local tea shop. Then, we went home to see Dad and Steven.<br />The next day was Disneyland! I'm afraid I was so busy having fun that I didn't take that many pictures. The longest line we waited in was only 25 minutes! We went on all the big rides including Space Mountain, Star Tours (twice!) Pirates of the Carribean, The Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and the Tiki Room. We also got on the Submarines, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan in between waiting for our fast passes to be eligible. We had such a good time and our lunch at the Blue Bayou was wonderful! I'd always wanted to go and finally made a reservation this time for 2:20. Who knew you could have goat cheese stuffed salmon at Disneyland!<br />Anyway, here's a shot of Tomorrow Land from the Star Tours line<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-6Hu9ANzfdfhv4LHLuPwO0DTVo4kieTMuT7nQDh04IfigfVyhf9ySdIlbPoX0uJaFvNRJ94spXzXkDjynTNm92GbQByMfoZC6lDFok628HQ0cy7hy7wNASmvCunHmxHwM4A7nu31rzo/s1600/Tomorrow+Land.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-6Hu9ANzfdfhv4LHLuPwO0DTVo4kieTMuT7nQDh04IfigfVyhf9ySdIlbPoX0uJaFvNRJ94spXzXkDjynTNm92GbQByMfoZC6lDFok628HQ0cy7hy7wNASmvCunHmxHwM4A7nu31rzo/s320/Tomorrow+Land.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479585168226466" /></a><br />Mom saying something that Steven doesn't approve of...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCi98aOLS3aZOuarNzuD8ANb7tcJPEtfS-8B5uFfXw8EXxaLuDINoyYb5quRmFrfuFsNRW2MwsAXSjJnVlRiksoRxzxmH8j6o-I6kfF29mIpCLuUok4eEIKbiRAuCH05IXQ2joHuKAfA/s1600/Steven+and+Mom.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCi98aOLS3aZOuarNzuD8ANb7tcJPEtfS-8B5uFfXw8EXxaLuDINoyYb5quRmFrfuFsNRW2MwsAXSjJnVlRiksoRxzxmH8j6o-I6kfF29mIpCLuUok4eEIKbiRAuCH05IXQ2joHuKAfA/s320/Steven+and+Mom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479576928133170" /></a><br />The next day, Mom and I went to Tevana tea and a French bakery in the Cerritos Mall, then followed that with an impromtu stop at two antique/ salvage places. I got some great finds at both places and a great idea for some vertical gardening.<br />All you have to do is silicone some canning jars to a piece of wood and paint labels with chalkboard paint. Easy! I'm sure you could make numerous variations on this idea- add more or larger jars, wire the jars onto the wood instead of gluing them, etc. But the idea itself was really neat, I thought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaigo5aZqqzbdgBeVoO7kS-HAOKpZs50F3jWlnb-yB72FyS-0VzAo970nIU0QdQKJ6IHpQkwlO6-30XIsdtmKEEO2-2aCPcyokCzJR_3_RBnX5taCuPxXDiqlBd3d3qJFp-GayFakXa8/s1600/Herb+jars.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaigo5aZqqzbdgBeVoO7kS-HAOKpZs50F3jWlnb-yB72FyS-0VzAo970nIU0QdQKJ6IHpQkwlO6-30XIsdtmKEEO2-2aCPcyokCzJR_3_RBnX5taCuPxXDiqlBd3d3qJFp-GayFakXa8/s320/Herb+jars.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712472211907167282" /></a><br />I also found a metal basket which I plant to put little terra cotta pots in for display as well as a metal feed scoop (for the chicken feed), and an egg-gathering basket! I've been tempting fate by putting the eggs in my pocket each morning; it's only a matter of time before my luck runs out there...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_61Kb_uCmKsvHho5ld9RJ3AYfqph8mxRnAUN1nCRyj3Xndby5B3sGIMu7R7P8p2Xz4PqCFuITcIEHKCjaqgO-KMPxddfdvtF2DV6Qu2VUj0aWxVADrXQR8yglB962Y6wIKVHVwJy5ijs/s1600/Antique+finds.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_61Kb_uCmKsvHho5ld9RJ3AYfqph8mxRnAUN1nCRyj3Xndby5B3sGIMu7R7P8p2Xz4PqCFuITcIEHKCjaqgO-KMPxddfdvtF2DV6Qu2VUj0aWxVADrXQR8yglB962Y6wIKVHVwJy5ijs/s320/Antique+finds.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712472196174962258" /></a><br />I also found this adorable bird bath that I thought would make a great drink stand.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBtbOuUYZnIr5i2z_dBadF9iCLQsjtVxjuCQyy1XMIRspgA4FCFN_wrvjTfBwfiyFqv-0pwJfDawp-fsxtn5Aoq6OmQdKFPdGV1exZ69UOy1CubdPcj-OcW3Me_kol5ESKGtAh747Ujc/s1600/Bird+bath.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBtbOuUYZnIr5i2z_dBadF9iCLQsjtVxjuCQyy1XMIRspgA4FCFN_wrvjTfBwfiyFqv-0pwJfDawp-fsxtn5Aoq6OmQdKFPdGV1exZ69UOy1CubdPcj-OcW3Me_kol5ESKGtAh747Ujc/s320/Bird+bath.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712472191125728882" /></a><br />Mom and I tested it out over the weekend and it worked great. Mom kindly offered to bring these things up with her in April, since I couldn't fit them in my suitcase :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4FcDIGTegJoNkX7BXjXxsG5_u9phmhkpYE6BTv3gQkpbdQK-fOJE-C-ajA2s4eTdsoV5iuINpXditL1qAlJtb2NU59trFU6rZ2cY_1DSjr6MOxoQN0tc4mtRcdvkHHMM0OH6MQUOlu4/s1600/Bath+and+Chairs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4FcDIGTegJoNkX7BXjXxsG5_u9phmhkpYE6BTv3gQkpbdQK-fOJE-C-ajA2s4eTdsoV5iuINpXditL1qAlJtb2NU59trFU6rZ2cY_1DSjr6MOxoQN0tc4mtRcdvkHHMM0OH6MQUOlu4/s320/Bath+and+Chairs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712472184195174802" /></a><br />The next day, we decided a stroll around H&H Nursery was just what we needed. The weather was blissful and we very much enjoyed looking at all the plants they had available. A tour of their greenhouse produced these beautiful orchids in full bloom:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr-u_itjVqD7mFRVBpxy3TOrfybjrDka6WsB0a30HrBcc5-o6RbF9kWh0vSbylSv0J35LwzzOME14haMH2g0kk-oPdIhUGMkYpe8DgtxbMRYJ02qbj1o7n2DfDgLKqkysY01zB-vbZFI/s1600/White+Orchid.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsr-u_itjVqD7mFRVBpxy3TOrfybjrDka6WsB0a30HrBcc5-o6RbF9kWh0vSbylSv0J35LwzzOME14haMH2g0kk-oPdIhUGMkYpe8DgtxbMRYJ02qbj1o7n2DfDgLKqkysY01zB-vbZFI/s320/White+Orchid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479568760276578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9JrOTgGWjF1K7OURAHm_wcFOi77DEN_93hLbm_jOoeS3zcKeQhoXN2Q7Rs1y6namlV0FIuLgVoGxb-k3rhuGDvXKpE_S4VAFtr0_2MzbceBwREqGXLakT4A8LkBs-cY2Wf078Ky9NZk/s1600/Purple+Orchid.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9JrOTgGWjF1K7OURAHm_wcFOi77DEN_93hLbm_jOoeS3zcKeQhoXN2Q7Rs1y6namlV0FIuLgVoGxb-k3rhuGDvXKpE_S4VAFtr0_2MzbceBwREqGXLakT4A8LkBs-cY2Wf078Ky9NZk/s320/Purple+Orchid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479261394899426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmr0KPhJqFXG8udP3W-e-olaFjNlp9IAnZtq2kkEe80EJtilYkG8zFRWZnHxctR5SR4hwQZBNShluo-J8u-34DbcNLDjTKpvx7b5wqkWWkSmas2nSANn0mLl-34wYcyYisymF0a9k_pA/s1600/Peach+Orchid.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmr0KPhJqFXG8udP3W-e-olaFjNlp9IAnZtq2kkEe80EJtilYkG8zFRWZnHxctR5SR4hwQZBNShluo-J8u-34DbcNLDjTKpvx7b5wqkWWkSmas2nSANn0mLl-34wYcyYisymF0a9k_pA/s320/Peach+Orchid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479251844810706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKseuJ8AbPpnquAGj8mLqgfRyNwlZqg2OikFDHpnm2q7EHyzPcfsx4hmaH4lI8HW5rteeyh69O25W1CFkJkER-Id2fopeQFPQPIZxb443r_8xIHxKYZ8clqhVR0LM0sBd2PAFb8vXgxQ/s1600/Orange+Orchid.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKseuJ8AbPpnquAGj8mLqgfRyNwlZqg2OikFDHpnm2q7EHyzPcfsx4hmaH4lI8HW5rteeyh69O25W1CFkJkER-Id2fopeQFPQPIZxb443r_8xIHxKYZ8clqhVR0LM0sBd2PAFb8vXgxQ/s320/Orange+Orchid.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479249255143874" /></a><br />We also marveled at the sheer number of succulents and cacti they had available. It was a terrarium-makers dream!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HQlckZwNYNf2VhZMdU_ebo7pG6eUBH3L4PD0qO75mgfBRpod_KQhzKcqbDfKLoUMFmRr6buooJ3M2Bco3Sb8ozBFpXqX_PHjIoXd9eQhnQeb6jqESikR6obJUwy7n_pDZK1nkFg-y6I/s1600/Succulent+trees.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HQlckZwNYNf2VhZMdU_ebo7pG6eUBH3L4PD0qO75mgfBRpod_KQhzKcqbDfKLoUMFmRr6buooJ3M2Bco3Sb8ozBFpXqX_PHjIoXd9eQhnQeb6jqESikR6obJUwy7n_pDZK1nkFg-y6I/s320/Succulent+trees.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479238946156274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu23RaFjKqd_qpos_8Bg24s1btqv-Q4BCn2BVMuW486fQgiLknv5K9WGlYIdcK_iaOTRRJ2b-cMSwcMXFdJqk0Saq972r2n19WxvZBSqVqjZDeKR_vAj4nGuw2gGfBCB6eQz3w8uE8zg/s1600/Succulent+Table.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwu23RaFjKqd_qpos_8Bg24s1btqv-Q4BCn2BVMuW486fQgiLknv5K9WGlYIdcK_iaOTRRJ2b-cMSwcMXFdJqk0Saq972r2n19WxvZBSqVqjZDeKR_vAj4nGuw2gGfBCB6eQz3w8uE8zg/s320/Succulent+Table.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712479227662509010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd9cyEBWgl3b6yCEK9Ix2Scd80x_lkk7tNqPP_96aO2ZEFhLTYj4F6B4SKYJ_IRIHNklvrRxt6YBRLr3QHnI32u4UBoTaFM-lb7mGA9wIt7ShtJpyfelKQNUAm9Gpg2bfZ9ZqCVgRcV8/s1600/Succulent+Table+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd9cyEBWgl3b6yCEK9Ix2Scd80x_lkk7tNqPP_96aO2ZEFhLTYj4F6B4SKYJ_IRIHNklvrRxt6YBRLr3QHnI32u4UBoTaFM-lb7mGA9wIt7ShtJpyfelKQNUAm9Gpg2bfZ9ZqCVgRcV8/s320/Succulent+Table+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712478824398649874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK62C7o9ntNgT9ljs_x3QjyuurjZENQ7AjraPCKQvVtpcmPHLQcZhJKGLItemllKmIrhRsJ0R6WlPBpMKdvO5Qc1o55qFUmsFJyE0fS9ldOUmiQOzXJEYSWd0wLqrrQe7nJMXON-afsE/s1600/Flowering+succulent.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXK62C7o9ntNgT9ljs_x3QjyuurjZENQ7AjraPCKQvVtpcmPHLQcZhJKGLItemllKmIrhRsJ0R6WlPBpMKdvO5Qc1o55qFUmsFJyE0fS9ldOUmiQOzXJEYSWd0wLqrrQe7nJMXON-afsE/s320/Flowering+succulent.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712478817332038866" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gIhMhGxHfiMwqBsiE_TlqINXyCt6xrsmVhy6wMGpG9dvco9p0nzsljGrQ85O_QvAkWCZO4rxeYnhkgJ56Rw0PZ9wSixo4u5L_e4p_XW8wWoAYZVS6k9VbwEv1HDMG0a0UHlXQvzrQHk/s1600/Big+succulents.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gIhMhGxHfiMwqBsiE_TlqINXyCt6xrsmVhy6wMGpG9dvco9p0nzsljGrQ85O_QvAkWCZO4rxeYnhkgJ56Rw0PZ9wSixo4u5L_e4p_XW8wWoAYZVS6k9VbwEv1HDMG0a0UHlXQvzrQHk/s320/Big+succulents.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712478807666434914" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneXCnMYxi7YRQJ2SSdGBN8tHNPyKSi6hA0LZauo7FinfBMNWUEj_H9Q4-V3ENDSRoVFBEEJQDnR-h2SRt1Z4XeocTRFZcWmuvN6eN27Mc5VSkA76rixt5p1nFO1DGjac5EmQ4zrrVe8A/s1600/Baby+toe+succulents.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneXCnMYxi7YRQJ2SSdGBN8tHNPyKSi6hA0LZauo7FinfBMNWUEj_H9Q4-V3ENDSRoVFBEEJQDnR-h2SRt1Z4XeocTRFZcWmuvN6eN27Mc5VSkA76rixt5p1nFO1DGjac5EmQ4zrrVe8A/s320/Baby+toe+succulents.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712478800968190002" /></a><br />While at H&H, Mom bought some ladybugs to spread in the yard to combat aphids on her roses. They were still a bit cold when I took this picture, huddling together for warmth.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBpaIf8Bk5O14b8VJFwXshLjKbrcn71Cx4ufZ80Cx1pFqE0agi0Bj3p5DOoQF8jS6i74N0wxkzKYnewoHyZ2c81OcTwJKcxpvYL1F33UNzfygL6r0fb0Poiuan02fWkIEBFDjEwqWllM/s1600/Lady+bugs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBpaIf8Bk5O14b8VJFwXshLjKbrcn71Cx4ufZ80Cx1pFqE0agi0Bj3p5DOoQF8jS6i74N0wxkzKYnewoHyZ2c81OcTwJKcxpvYL1F33UNzfygL6r0fb0Poiuan02fWkIEBFDjEwqWllM/s320/Lady+bugs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712478794123274322" /></a><br />The next day, we went to the Huntington Library with family and had a wonderful tea at their tea house. Alas, I was again so busy enjoying myself that I didn't take any pictures! The next day, Mom and I decided to do some dying in the morning. Here was the set-up:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFekm1p2AuDH0KGiM_yvuNgmGLDHTg1ww7r6VPRgrWqv7XpmvdXz_kAvuvJZp-w5K8rnUq9x-q3-w0dcLbM_Wz0KvyT1pHwnzmmKLUaYkX9dqn6nCzeK1viCd4k5eAywWpEPo9pYy8Uic/s1600/Dye+set+up.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFekm1p2AuDH0KGiM_yvuNgmGLDHTg1ww7r6VPRgrWqv7XpmvdXz_kAvuvJZp-w5K8rnUq9x-q3-w0dcLbM_Wz0KvyT1pHwnzmmKLUaYkX9dqn6nCzeK1viCd4k5eAywWpEPo9pYy8Uic/s320/Dye+set+up.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712450627984275778" /></a><br />Soak the scarves in water and citric acid first.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6vNqaqXugw-0eAuWOnJ7inAi0rUS-WxM_m720j-Yk3pj5ht1UD85blr_uCd0otU553cuEpWDhDy6tFcP-gQbNoO2TNlGaoDFGcXjMVDSi76HwXgu40vvaeT-qeXKMlnsK9ADNy8AZ_E/s1600/Mom+soaking+scarf.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6vNqaqXugw-0eAuWOnJ7inAi0rUS-WxM_m720j-Yk3pj5ht1UD85blr_uCd0otU553cuEpWDhDy6tFcP-gQbNoO2TNlGaoDFGcXjMVDSi76HwXgu40vvaeT-qeXKMlnsK9ADNy8AZ_E/s320/Mom+soaking+scarf.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712450601790473218" /></a><br />Then, you can apply the dye.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTusEZBJ6JDStmppoxvrd7EkYYe3H4x74RjVySPPAgGii2J-KZXZTnB-mH3N90h8iE-q9e0Z2WbaBmKfWxQmP1hZya8csUAlliaBrlQe11sl5r6rRvuLwAbb0KjMeI3Wy6Wxj99QJ_Kg/s1600/Mom+scarf+dying.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTusEZBJ6JDStmppoxvrd7EkYYe3H4x74RjVySPPAgGii2J-KZXZTnB-mH3N90h8iE-q9e0Z2WbaBmKfWxQmP1hZya8csUAlliaBrlQe11sl5r6rRvuLwAbb0KjMeI3Wy6Wxj99QJ_Kg/s320/Mom+scarf+dying.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712450558655527634" /></a><br />Here is my shibori scarf all dyed before I took the rubber bands off.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwcdu2NEvem5Bd5Y3qOu8jViYh61COs1uSK3iTNrUNMNch5KXLM55j5Jx98FrEkhVpPKJmrqIRjJYXL4x1pJjPptx3Stre8YYs1oSpki4T_zybqyOy5jVdLwRJY37tbktvjc6bDYkhHc/s1600/Becky+scarf+dyed.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwcdu2NEvem5Bd5Y3qOu8jViYh61COs1uSK3iTNrUNMNch5KXLM55j5Jx98FrEkhVpPKJmrqIRjJYXL4x1pJjPptx3Stre8YYs1oSpki4T_zybqyOy5jVdLwRJY37tbktvjc6bDYkhHc/s320/Becky+scarf+dyed.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712450539398036050" /></a><br />And here's my scarf drying on the aprium tree. After 20 minutes, it was ready to wear.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvMFXmLqkK4c9N8wmhuovWl5ee77jcs14_G5mzkPMn1Z1K2ByUBl5OsGnkA6B3aIsMK55dN_NC92mmgUQ5A1BNW5psHjKdWhKkacelJoeD7xh-n8U1DhyfzfG3bmNbNoFH6_c-PPTUv4/s1600/Becky+scarf+drying.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvMFXmLqkK4c9N8wmhuovWl5ee77jcs14_G5mzkPMn1Z1K2ByUBl5OsGnkA6B3aIsMK55dN_NC92mmgUQ5A1BNW5psHjKdWhKkacelJoeD7xh-n8U1DhyfzfG3bmNbNoFH6_c-PPTUv4/s320/Becky+scarf+drying.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712462097026045858" /></a><br />Mom's scarf drying:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaynAiJuXN91dQyeeHqrXjXUcPcMlr49IoHpbJqi9gC54oi2GdTwMoi1HlTeEON2qlRe6wbBqOrhg3NwujE1ubZvRW67XjXV8szInEdXFuMRAwXV3Kzb2A-X-ftFaF7-3Rx9YbHw1hGRE/s1600/Mom%2527s+scarf+drying.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaynAiJuXN91dQyeeHqrXjXUcPcMlr49IoHpbJqi9gC54oi2GdTwMoi1HlTeEON2qlRe6wbBqOrhg3NwujE1ubZvRW67XjXV8szInEdXFuMRAwXV3Kzb2A-X-ftFaF7-3Rx9YbHw1hGRE/s320/Mom%2527s+scarf+drying.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712448770650920818" /></a><br />After we were finished dying, we went on an adventure to Little Tokyo in LA and wandered around a Japanese grocery store. I couldn't even imagine how you would prepare sea squirts- don't they look hideous??<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenWYIjVWRlmrUPhzwe5XqQGNRqa56iCte1PxFDftQ-PbyOX9oIU_5m8ucaGpJCie19JCDK1WewrQdOhD8aeiN_U6KeRsUw1Q19TxcBLXc75DoSYaifrXCIwSCYaOdKBEBZ_SK5HTM-hI/s1600/Sea+Squirts.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenWYIjVWRlmrUPhzwe5XqQGNRqa56iCte1PxFDftQ-PbyOX9oIU_5m8ucaGpJCie19JCDK1WewrQdOhD8aeiN_U6KeRsUw1Q19TxcBLXc75DoSYaifrXCIwSCYaOdKBEBZ_SK5HTM-hI/s320/Sea+Squirts.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712448753143377410" /></a><br />After lunch in Little Tokyo, we went to the LA Farmer's Market which is open 7 days a week. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbk1TyCU0kkxqIcZ3pirhuUxNqhcy1EBgQZl3WLMzOdYhnOI-V3894ZvMZtLN2KwimmgztOI_QV296YjYtuIg9j2-1h8BS9seIaaN8igmIDDRmL14ahft7a6RW41VnjXGv9eMYogDztQ/s1600/LA+Farmers+Market+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbk1TyCU0kkxqIcZ3pirhuUxNqhcy1EBgQZl3WLMzOdYhnOI-V3894ZvMZtLN2KwimmgztOI_QV296YjYtuIg9j2-1h8BS9seIaaN8igmIDDRmL14ahft7a6RW41VnjXGv9eMYogDztQ/s320/LA+Farmers+Market+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712448740245342018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66XHwBMy4tUdAHNk34jJGuUwt5EzPTDIAFPHaoMeQjDg3eTPCadftBmwvSjK5CHYE4VlzPiEMVoD2RLOBxmlsUh9XDTCtXlW1vcnzEty9V1tbGv014JkYYl465lpdbTn-XR2LQKFp-68/s1600/LA+Farmers+Market+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66XHwBMy4tUdAHNk34jJGuUwt5EzPTDIAFPHaoMeQjDg3eTPCadftBmwvSjK5CHYE4VlzPiEMVoD2RLOBxmlsUh9XDTCtXlW1vcnzEty9V1tbGv014JkYYl465lpdbTn-XR2LQKFp-68/s320/LA+Farmers+Market+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712448728182515906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu0OcBJuUDJHfw5Z44HMK8HIBXpmQ-piXIS3PuQW3mn43viIVjXGIuy0AXerYhRkcjeQr_Tso3tjGa3l7htmYbeAZ9gKUv8Wuehr401xa3wQFnwX4lgxQP-D8ox_Z6jd4qWaSPrvHPFE/s1600/LA+Farmers+Market.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu0OcBJuUDJHfw5Z44HMK8HIBXpmQ-piXIS3PuQW3mn43viIVjXGIuy0AXerYhRkcjeQr_Tso3tjGa3l7htmYbeAZ9gKUv8Wuehr401xa3wQFnwX4lgxQP-D8ox_Z6jd4qWaSPrvHPFE/s320/LA+Farmers+Market.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712448707163071970" /></a><br />I got mustard seeds for pickling, several types of tea, and some goodies to bring home on the plane. It was a wonderful trip and filled with lots of fun. I can't wait for the weather here to be as nice and to see Mom and Dad when they come up in April!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-30085078067404327042012-02-14T11:53:00.000-08:002012-02-14T11:57:13.077-08:00Bye Bye Velvet...Velvet's owner came and claimed her last night. Our aquaintence was short, but sweet. I hope the next time a cat comes into my life, I'll be able to choose them instead of them choosing me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgq2q7bxWMbp0uQDekxaCiNAzNz_volCxUBlxq0WD3yJAYVRwczSBhx4_coyrShKJn1i-AzhqAMiZZs7ZOyCwHQaEG_YHEZIzj-TjOXf1ZHoSZPdqkfLmDrShfLRCjkXLack_vmGkpvk/s1600/Velvet+on+bed+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgq2q7bxWMbp0uQDekxaCiNAzNz_volCxUBlxq0WD3yJAYVRwczSBhx4_coyrShKJn1i-AzhqAMiZZs7ZOyCwHQaEG_YHEZIzj-TjOXf1ZHoSZPdqkfLmDrShfLRCjkXLack_vmGkpvk/s320/Velvet+on+bed+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709082796049443506" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-66822619615709825692012-02-13T14:35:00.001-08:002012-02-14T11:53:39.139-08:00Yet another new skillHomemade lotion! This recipe is from Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts book and includes the following ingredients:<br />Coconut oil<br />Almond oil<br />Lanolin<br />Aloe Vera gel<br />Vitamin E oil (from a gel tab)<br />Rose water<br />Beeswax<br />Rose essential oil<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3wOfX2q8W0kz8wClpPvC0lc1cilLVQK31zgZw8e5WQBlDJwkXdjvMDXtT0Iu3LpKbmlEdfyIHCvS3aXEs7IKNbaUEplARPr93F_8VIIds1xf_PsRw0FfzX7ppQQ3OdfzWO0-sipdhyo/s1600/Lotion+ingredients.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3wOfX2q8W0kz8wClpPvC0lc1cilLVQK31zgZw8e5WQBlDJwkXdjvMDXtT0Iu3LpKbmlEdfyIHCvS3aXEs7IKNbaUEplARPr93F_8VIIds1xf_PsRw0FfzX7ppQQ3OdfzWO0-sipdhyo/s320/Lotion+ingredients.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709072259911109954" /></a><br />Since I like the scent of Lavender much more than rose, I did some substituting. You melt the coconut oil, almond oil, and beeswax together, then let them cool to room temp. Mix the water, Vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, and Lavender essential oil in a separate bowl.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbr1EeZ6aCe6eBsELhp70efwifgrPPoAWSc2szF56cPITIA_cR-HW_rIzjXD5PMAddzaeUCpNGYWWHlQZGrh2bB5RlezyTYcUpE54alzK6jiqj3jJadyIAycuoMlFQShYIzcDam7jwSc/s1600/Lotion+batches.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbr1EeZ6aCe6eBsELhp70efwifgrPPoAWSc2szF56cPITIA_cR-HW_rIzjXD5PMAddzaeUCpNGYWWHlQZGrh2bB5RlezyTYcUpE54alzK6jiqj3jJadyIAycuoMlFQShYIzcDam7jwSc/s320/Lotion+batches.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709072241378712578" /></a><br />Once the oils are cool, mix the two batches and whip with a stick blender. It takes mere seconds for the ingredients to whip together and voila! Homemade lotion. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRkaxN1PVTr4RmQgZIMeyK7ysNbURjBUmHB-B-Ia7n9fFKZyH1e3Bmtxt17RFmOjsmCR-gBKpGgke-dLXCGkQzRSZcMtBdqI5p-2ku6ZsbAq1k7lIS_z-dtLwFeF6CYAvmVHwdn_aF6g/s1600/Whipped+lotion.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKRkaxN1PVTr4RmQgZIMeyK7ysNbURjBUmHB-B-Ia7n9fFKZyH1e3Bmtxt17RFmOjsmCR-gBKpGgke-dLXCGkQzRSZcMtBdqI5p-2ku6ZsbAq1k7lIS_z-dtLwFeF6CYAvmVHwdn_aF6g/s320/Whipped+lotion.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709072233518018434" /></a><br />This recipe filled two large jam jars and one small jam jar. The "hardest" part was shopping for the ingredients!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Uzbuwu7b4DPTuUdAoeredn5Bb9eQAiBqxa3KYod0TdMS7mN_kP-X1CsNUNALggv3AnchEuLeHRkYrTMaaA87UozB9F8UXywGeFQBeF8k-LmHvbPs1QRbj-SX6mwEZRY3yJqwwOYftM/s1600/Filled+Lotion+jars.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_Uzbuwu7b4DPTuUdAoeredn5Bb9eQAiBqxa3KYod0TdMS7mN_kP-X1CsNUNALggv3AnchEuLeHRkYrTMaaA87UozB9F8UXywGeFQBeF8k-LmHvbPs1QRbj-SX6mwEZRY3yJqwwOYftM/s320/Filled+Lotion+jars.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709072226114170498" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-58697541463027256262012-02-09T14:21:00.001-08:002012-02-09T14:35:02.434-08:00I've been adoptedI awoke last Friday morning to meowing coming from underneath the house. I went around the outside of the house and this is what emerged from the crawl space:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LoIPaDYIBsMNiBTRuG4g1IKTy7rvBrEIAK2FQ2F9okB9XVwkWQAeSA_Q_t-ym3tgzy9qhhkijvED3mMyGko39VlwUfU3BP_ZaJB8oPjWoFWh6Juw8HIpIVLSzNJ8C4GXsFZhZgNzwnE/s1600/Found+Velvet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LoIPaDYIBsMNiBTRuG4g1IKTy7rvBrEIAK2FQ2F9okB9XVwkWQAeSA_Q_t-ym3tgzy9qhhkijvED3mMyGko39VlwUfU3BP_ZaJB8oPjWoFWh6Juw8HIpIVLSzNJ8C4GXsFZhZgNzwnE/s320/Found+Velvet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707265002920460162" /></a><br />It was quickly apparent that she was not a stray, since she wound herself all around my legs and expressed (loudly) her relief at being found. There haven't been any lost kitty posters around the neighborhood and she seemed disinclined to leave the backyard to go home, even though I left the gate open. I tried to check with the local kitty adoption lady, but it was a no go.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwqB122COzCuiG-Phvew8bbSs5S2PwpwHnuW4qYVrRNdCFwG00hlJuxeP5MtNSeNNXexjLbgG1kL6Z9tRT72z_6EJOKVtDBbLcXYCX8SvyE7YkT24LnVWoPXflsz0LxDvVQVHNSBAouQ/s1600/Velvet+with+Matt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwqB122COzCuiG-Phvew8bbSs5S2PwpwHnuW4qYVrRNdCFwG00hlJuxeP5MtNSeNNXexjLbgG1kL6Z9tRT72z_6EJOKVtDBbLcXYCX8SvyE7YkT24LnVWoPXflsz0LxDvVQVHNSBAouQ/s320/Velvet+with+Matt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707264994786376306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2bNT_ugJZ2ZhB5stgVjIySDmGbWCkp_CYM9Zp1X6IyWKCzrC9yGEDPSdt8g_Njpgx83RaUd7D3gQ-Swebg4CwFSMptJiisNXwGeMAxuUIY60P5EI0WvGssJIhuDuRPxP3ejpBgxONH8/s1600/Velvet+on+couch.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2bNT_ugJZ2ZhB5stgVjIySDmGbWCkp_CYM9Zp1X6IyWKCzrC9yGEDPSdt8g_Njpgx83RaUd7D3gQ-Swebg4CwFSMptJiisNXwGeMAxuUIY60P5EI0WvGssJIhuDuRPxP3ejpBgxONH8/s320/Velvet+on+couch.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707264985345544962" /></a><br />Apparently, "Velvet" is here to stay.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXedfPzfiJ-TpATnPppFohNFABUuRCdamMcxH6H725wyukWkfrDTzftAlLrdSlo1h6NOZpJg8n9aXEItFkRAZXVI7MuM_hMhZFvbuy__pU_J5gNpGxUWExC3vRFdtVZVLW6piRCY6by8/s1600/Velvet+on+bed.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXedfPzfiJ-TpATnPppFohNFABUuRCdamMcxH6H725wyukWkfrDTzftAlLrdSlo1h6NOZpJg8n9aXEItFkRAZXVI7MuM_hMhZFvbuy__pU_J5gNpGxUWExC3vRFdtVZVLW6piRCY6by8/s320/Velvet+on+bed.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707264981627802658" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-1648103012086015992012-02-06T10:01:00.000-08:002012-02-06T10:33:27.751-08:00Spring? Is that you?Well, Punxsutawney Phil just said there's to be six more weeks of winter, but my garden begs to differ. And, frankly, I'd rather believe my garden. I've been noticing in the last week or so that tiny bits of green are popping up everywhere- definitely a good sign that warmer weather is on it's way.<br />The clematis is sending out new vine buds...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn6uo_ClUTwJ1pHMdrsWcNwKAQwFur5TVPVyKGo9DBkPjMACzZ4k9KkCy_YHWRygZxRTvb7KNg8NeXeTHeMziMAgY4DeR5ipeFXXtJzlEIgirXR-o4DfxDtL5D-zh-tP1Tj6kAjuLEE4/s1600/Clematis.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn6uo_ClUTwJ1pHMdrsWcNwKAQwFur5TVPVyKGo9DBkPjMACzZ4k9KkCy_YHWRygZxRTvb7KNg8NeXeTHeMziMAgY4DeR5ipeFXXtJzlEIgirXR-o4DfxDtL5D-zh-tP1Tj6kAjuLEE4/s320/Clematis.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706085506830724610" /></a><br />Hardy chive spears are coming up...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtVNHu97omPiTNX9X8iFUbC-x02iAHAu1Onh165ZjckTdkUPD7_F2k4zQcqE9IdsP6VUvDsQ0H5vRYr7hYeBzUEZclJnylwHes1j5-1T8vuvei2bwN-fpKb4T6Y8QsuThnZ9-ke3TBQ4/s1600/Chives.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtVNHu97omPiTNX9X8iFUbC-x02iAHAu1Onh165ZjckTdkUPD7_F2k4zQcqE9IdsP6VUvDsQ0H5vRYr7hYeBzUEZclJnylwHes1j5-1T8vuvei2bwN-fpKb4T6Y8QsuThnZ9-ke3TBQ4/s320/Chives.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706084962105207938" /></a><br />Dutch irises have a very good headstart...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIeN9-epTvwbS1uSBVFOZ714ZpUMZH7z8EOvQuJb1l_VWc2XRWWuJTh4FKFbklPFyD5i3R2nLzWMQ5M9GL5M7ncWQ7UhuvFPLJLvbRPA2AitmfM99-INcv1VaozG5AoL3s75TemjLMB4/s1600/Irises.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIeN9-epTvwbS1uSBVFOZ714ZpUMZH7z8EOvQuJb1l_VWc2XRWWuJTh4FKFbklPFyD5i3R2nLzWMQ5M9GL5M7ncWQ7UhuvFPLJLvbRPA2AitmfM99-INcv1VaozG5AoL3s75TemjLMB4/s320/Irises.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706084953890696530" /></a><br />The garlic I planted in October has got a nice firm grip on the soil and will start to make bulbs soon...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHHtLhQIv4LGBsLjJVKAcVohZZhm2sveLI2ayTBJhslEHFnRkeSoBxqDOXP1I7N0M7bssOxQgAQFtKrPW8IreifK_ctHuthXKo2FDki9VPEZziwLj_OzVoswJt5lZ3pruZfVOkctVeFI/s1600/Garlic+Bed.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHHtLhQIv4LGBsLjJVKAcVohZZhm2sveLI2ayTBJhslEHFnRkeSoBxqDOXP1I7N0M7bssOxQgAQFtKrPW8IreifK_ctHuthXKo2FDki9VPEZziwLj_OzVoswJt5lZ3pruZfVOkctVeFI/s320/Garlic+Bed.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706084945296815826" /></a><br />And one of my favorite spring flowers: Daffodils are starting! It will be another couple of weeks before the flower spears are ready to bloom, but the leaves get taller everyday!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd81LHUfyJrJh8FqQcxANEnkGCBznjN6LbdqxlN-aDDt4rh0pfAa2sYqA6XJn5RGFOO_llQmc67f70tAz6hkR1_nLKasH498kGVROQ5eO_z5dFPxueEpR7T0v_glwR00NKGpyuC3saNw4/s1600/Daffodils.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd81LHUfyJrJh8FqQcxANEnkGCBznjN6LbdqxlN-aDDt4rh0pfAa2sYqA6XJn5RGFOO_llQmc67f70tAz6hkR1_nLKasH498kGVROQ5eO_z5dFPxueEpR7T0v_glwR00NKGpyuC3saNw4/s320/Daffodils.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706084937152696818" /></a><br />And this week the Ameraucanas decided they were done moulting- I got three green eggs in one day after three weeks of nothing. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWIsB8xJYYRRUFyn5Fm33UXS0-9XwlwA3YI3ZIcHRP3g8TIg55qttjoB8IeAysD4od8PPB9Lyjsv6HFXjko7aEUg0Kgpob85AZYIREgope2QXDZ7mxMP5Y8zn1a99a7Pp7ymnXMKktNA/s1600/Eggs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWIsB8xJYYRRUFyn5Fm33UXS0-9XwlwA3YI3ZIcHRP3g8TIg55qttjoB8IeAysD4od8PPB9Lyjsv6HFXjko7aEUg0Kgpob85AZYIREgope2QXDZ7mxMP5Y8zn1a99a7Pp7ymnXMKktNA/s320/Eggs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706084927500915650" /></a><br />Between the clues given by the chickens and the plants, I'm hoping for an early, warm spring this year (or at least a better spring than last year). Also, soon I'll be planting seeds in the greenhouse and then there will be lots of fresh growing green things to watch!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-45928482951173435932012-01-23T13:43:00.000-08:002012-01-23T16:02:27.187-08:00Weekend RecapJust a quick recap of the weekend:<br />Got my seeds from Territorial on Friday! I ordered leeks, several different kinds of onions, french radishes, cucumbers, pole beans, and broccoli. I'll be starting some of these in the greenhouse soon and some will be going directly into the raised beds. I also got some PVC clips that I'm hoping will work better than the Velcro for the raised bed grow houses. To complete the order, I bought a salad spinner (finally). I've been wanting one for a while, but was always surprised at how expensive they were. This one wasn't too bad and is collapsible- a bonus when you have a small house.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsjviEWuGLLYB2nEbUkHVr1Z2BxgtYnSCLvnENXiKETRnEKGIILWnNDEhSsriC5oLnmHUw8tOgZbmMK-oshwwIJrheKr5mTuOizC8XxgJHVH6cvEsVrH4Rsfdp8lb68IhrJVVEaaRpYE/s1600/Seeds.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsjviEWuGLLYB2nEbUkHVr1Z2BxgtYnSCLvnENXiKETRnEKGIILWnNDEhSsriC5oLnmHUw8tOgZbmMK-oshwwIJrheKr5mTuOizC8XxgJHVH6cvEsVrH4Rsfdp8lb68IhrJVVEaaRpYE/s320/Seeds.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700958126883401282" /></a><br />On Saturday, it was back to Cara's house for more soap making! It's been about six weeks since we did our first two batches and we wanted to try some other recipes. We made more lavender soap as well as oatmeal/ eucalyptus and rosemary/ honey castile soap. Here's Cara pouring the Lavender batch into the mold.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ84O2uXfkdX4_COwC8a4_QGbN3ptMgDiIa_8buDpXo1XsoPDHfFT1uGIz7W-RkIUGevu0NODPSrz8RJlIDQys4SxpRysJQPLb053AdMrmJhP4pXa3-sYTKNp-iigonjGXtvSpEAZ1ZkY/s1600/Pouring+soap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ84O2uXfkdX4_COwC8a4_QGbN3ptMgDiIa_8buDpXo1XsoPDHfFT1uGIz7W-RkIUGevu0NODPSrz8RJlIDQys4SxpRysJQPLb053AdMrmJhP4pXa3-sYTKNp-iigonjGXtvSpEAZ1ZkY/s320/Pouring+soap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957848492279074" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hxKWygDkRMA0E4WIDRMe9m9SbN0LSMPwQ8XVd_IsvhewC_-qbxGVQljuGvWozy74BJUarR8kvWGyVCma93s6hyW_PrylOXOdCCAp-PHM-psFHCnbANUY0Qmter0I0bTuwCBD4qzEKCs/s1600/Soap+in+mold.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hxKWygDkRMA0E4WIDRMe9m9SbN0LSMPwQ8XVd_IsvhewC_-qbxGVQljuGvWozy74BJUarR8kvWGyVCma93s6hyW_PrylOXOdCCAp-PHM-psFHCnbANUY0Qmter0I0bTuwCBD4qzEKCs/s320/Soap+in+mold.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957842171029186" /></a><br />And here is the castile soap cooking away. Castile is olive-oil based and ends up a nice, organic brown color when cooled into bars.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfdMELqrdhpL35TDw2uP8dMe4epurNpnJTGSBw00FJ-V9ZMbyx7ncFyJDTroQfB4f1kDhRpguZ9JxmxsZl9A3bzMcamWiJivKddwpwEQEu2zxB7LJquKIX_6zjcIxALxijhxyeemmkLo/s1600/Castile.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfdMELqrdhpL35TDw2uP8dMe4epurNpnJTGSBw00FJ-V9ZMbyx7ncFyJDTroQfB4f1kDhRpguZ9JxmxsZl9A3bzMcamWiJivKddwpwEQEu2zxB7LJquKIX_6zjcIxALxijhxyeemmkLo/s320/Castile.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957856324629362" /></a><br />Now that the bars we made six weeks ago are cured, I got some pretty hand-made paper from Cost Plus and wrapped them in neat little packages, ready to give away as gifts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5lL2Ml1ZOBY7IQCpvxsua3t-_tHWPCthawf1xlOqBEFAMepqfmQmSkK-8Se278uCua8DpuQXrAfGqO9gfY5dptb0lPtG7jhCaS9knpI7SIUF1JsfUHTi3fwrweN8TobH9PSehROERds/s1600/Wrapped+soap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5lL2Ml1ZOBY7IQCpvxsua3t-_tHWPCthawf1xlOqBEFAMepqfmQmSkK-8Se278uCua8DpuQXrAfGqO9gfY5dptb0lPtG7jhCaS9knpI7SIUF1JsfUHTi3fwrweN8TobH9PSehROERds/s320/Wrapped+soap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957832772211746" /></a><br />Sunday I made more butter and remembered to take some pictures of the process this time.<br />First, I start off with regular heavy whipping cream...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4wIovqTBES6zrU7Z1mjDAoAJSxzemyK9oCnd8hlM10fSesmJ9-j1_zZj5I3pIVwbn7H9lrR5CR2r93CPlQlInOOn4avPMyx3y4JuiT5u3_7egUDcO8lgFl0h1Huhl9Bbr_7NEi_iIMw/s1600/Whipping+cream.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE4wIovqTBES6zrU7Z1mjDAoAJSxzemyK9oCnd8hlM10fSesmJ9-j1_zZj5I3pIVwbn7H9lrR5CR2r93CPlQlInOOn4avPMyx3y4JuiT5u3_7egUDcO8lgFl0h1Huhl9Bbr_7NEi_iIMw/s320/Whipping+cream.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700981019931123730" /></a><br />After about 10 minutes, the hard peaks start to break down and start to turn yellow in color.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy15ixjbr523ax1-bmyhdLv3-JFg1uBX2ROZXuzKyivUW8GZ1EkpmZ3w1M1yAdOSXfEx9oR4hTMW62ymmZIWmfbVhHl4sXXfg9ohhrks5CT25m3W4LeJxOwr4NUhz_cq711Tzpdpaov3k/s1600/Butter+whipped.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy15ixjbr523ax1-bmyhdLv3-JFg1uBX2ROZXuzKyivUW8GZ1EkpmZ3w1M1yAdOSXfEx9oR4hTMW62ymmZIWmfbVhHl4sXXfg9ohhrks5CT25m3W4LeJxOwr4NUhz_cq711Tzpdpaov3k/s320/Butter+whipped.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957372476104386" /></a><br />It then starts to turn grainy...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOX9hJQKkUL0NHePvVzXJjCrnxNPwxc-2xw5kYogxtSiywiPNgEHODPWWazY6YPbgHew1Bltf4yX2yD_X2KkbzUyS171NIU5ky2DppCya4XMNjngY4M2UgmNWmWyQSEpH766xs0JAGds/s1600/Butter+grainy.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOX9hJQKkUL0NHePvVzXJjCrnxNPwxc-2xw5kYogxtSiywiPNgEHODPWWazY6YPbgHew1Bltf4yX2yD_X2KkbzUyS171NIU5ky2DppCya4XMNjngY4M2UgmNWmWyQSEpH766xs0JAGds/s320/Butter+grainy.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957364837411778" /></a><br />...and finally separates in to butter and buttermilk.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0MW8GAb4H5Z4_kezoU90PBPDeA7mU_CQ0S_pr0xTYhMpQw8dVHDYDR1gqorepdpiw_tU7xloCZbeaLdiZDsH8l9gZ6jXi3KZaQlUe1vaI5knizjR2G6Wsr96bfLvV1fiLFdR6P6z1UM/s1600/Butter+separated.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0MW8GAb4H5Z4_kezoU90PBPDeA7mU_CQ0S_pr0xTYhMpQw8dVHDYDR1gqorepdpiw_tU7xloCZbeaLdiZDsH8l9gZ6jXi3KZaQlUe1vaI5knizjR2G6Wsr96bfLvV1fiLFdR6P6z1UM/s320/Butter+separated.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957359968342578" /></a><br />You let the butter drain, then massage it together while squeezing out as much buttermilk as you can.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICMhxYz2x1rblrQe7PdB0FvyCQ43TNYV-7DPeWfd3ZR0fTvKlnym8Df7-DH86YcGPXvVwQEhG84g61b_hHZzYROt2O6MYp67ep1wm6eqmBLQFJIs3FkVW0L0nrJL5oXbOtsDgwCSiHb8/s1600/Butter+strained.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICMhxYz2x1rblrQe7PdB0FvyCQ43TNYV-7DPeWfd3ZR0fTvKlnym8Df7-DH86YcGPXvVwQEhG84g61b_hHZzYROt2O6MYp67ep1wm6eqmBLQFJIs3FkVW0L0nrJL5oXbOtsDgwCSiHb8/s320/Butter+strained.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957347806476834" /></a><br />Then, add whatever seasonings you want. This time, I added dill and lemon zest for an extra kick.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi-zvFEAsKxzgNII9YdYu-EHt43JOdg1NIsyoe9BWz-Z6NRwHjTnQ-9H7Bw-c-InPXWiUkr9pkrBDKANopOeOE_H2IDC5DSZ_xDfL0pbyCksQE2vrc_K3vmeosJf3bBMFhUX2ldMY0yI/s1600/Compound+butter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi-zvFEAsKxzgNII9YdYu-EHt43JOdg1NIsyoe9BWz-Z6NRwHjTnQ-9H7Bw-c-InPXWiUkr9pkrBDKANopOeOE_H2IDC5DSZ_xDfL0pbyCksQE2vrc_K3vmeosJf3bBMFhUX2ldMY0yI/s320/Compound+butter.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700957342922131922" /></a><br />Ta Da!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-66625111730693035202012-01-18T15:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T16:42:16.380-08:00I've Done It!I finally made a half-way decent sourdough loaf! One that kind of looks like the loaves I see in the grocery store! And I owe all the credit to my new Romertopf! I got it for my 30th Birthday and it worked perfectly! You soak the clay pot in warm water for 10-15 minutes...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwXL2F8aNms4z2oiXPrWHH4WOqLATAw_SEYYOZqFoaIq-VEvOVmtCn9SDGrmY3rOhpjnjP5qHgCQyaDqmjBq64g6ZFa7bi-zfveQVbBrKjVVLIoum4o-LiEaCr_N8C7mwe5mNFjE6tFM/s1600/Soaking+romatopf.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwXL2F8aNms4z2oiXPrWHH4WOqLATAw_SEYYOZqFoaIq-VEvOVmtCn9SDGrmY3rOhpjnjP5qHgCQyaDqmjBq64g6ZFa7bi-zfveQVbBrKjVVLIoum4o-LiEaCr_N8C7mwe5mNFjE6tFM/s320/Soaking+romatopf.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130925354921570" /></a><br />Then let the loaves rise in a warm oven...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_LKQB_mOzX265JnzTuNEr_LJqTwiY4J-VE_TVtykQuP-ch8HT7i4qjV2o2x7PmnTcCNZ60w5ytan4oOOt61SDassVMkA3R5fpl0D-Ci0i19K7kltcAUY_w8P9LvWjY7goxVD4Yhd-4o/s1600/Loaves+rising.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_LKQB_mOzX265JnzTuNEr_LJqTwiY4J-VE_TVtykQuP-ch8HT7i4qjV2o2x7PmnTcCNZ60w5ytan4oOOt61SDassVMkA3R5fpl0D-Ci0i19K7kltcAUY_w8P9LvWjY7goxVD4Yhd-4o/s320/Loaves+rising.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130916342488386" /></a><br />Brush the loaves with cold water, score, and bake! Here is the loaf that I made in a conventional sandwich loaf pan:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRjzSaBoeFDWp5_yB0OI-m4Kl46ms2ztf46rnZVOIgmfH7ZvcDUxmSZsCbJ4BiAKsKso5HtSDeMAbVuTSkjrG4dYpTHfEfafIFmVbnn0d7rdSijvRNWOH2qlDEnY0qBMszGaobfY5E8E/s1600/Sandwhich+loag.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRjzSaBoeFDWp5_yB0OI-m4Kl46ms2ztf46rnZVOIgmfH7ZvcDUxmSZsCbJ4BiAKsKso5HtSDeMAbVuTSkjrG4dYpTHfEfafIFmVbnn0d7rdSijvRNWOH2qlDEnY0qBMszGaobfY5E8E/s320/Sandwhich+loag.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130913320835170" /></a><br />And here is the Romertopf loaf! Golden with a glossy, chewy crust. Yum. The steam from the Romertopf creates a cooking environment much like that of a professional steam-injected bakery oven. I had resigned myself to the fact that without a professional oven, I'd never get results that even came close to a professional loaf, but I was WRONG!! Thankfully...<br />Now, I just have to improve my crumb and make the loaf less dense in texture. I will continue my mission to make a truly great Sourdough loaf!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwH4GX-eNL1KejAic-DwRAIKj9x3ZbY1q0D9odnQKxL_MSLHsLo3dO0OwEO6lveoC3PjT5OuQQVZ7QXZCT5P2-yI5ueKUfyXM8HassvE2-g-vvqttYW2_ivMSqnYPMjMxPYJsWYnicGU/s1600/Good+loaf.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwH4GX-eNL1KejAic-DwRAIKj9x3ZbY1q0D9odnQKxL_MSLHsLo3dO0OwEO6lveoC3PjT5OuQQVZ7QXZCT5P2-yI5ueKUfyXM8HassvE2-g-vvqttYW2_ivMSqnYPMjMxPYJsWYnicGU/s320/Good+loaf.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130907691080946" /></a><br />Another first for me this week was BUTTER! As in I made my own. It's so ridiculously easy, I can't think why more people don't do it. Literally, the recipe goes like this:<br />Buy heavy whipping cream. Pour cream into electric mixer. Whip the cream until it turns into butter. Drain buttermilk. Enjoy.<br />Now, I won't say that making your own butter is cheaper than buying it, but I will say that it's a heck of a lot of fun and it tastes great! Not to mention that the satisfaction of making your own is enough to offset the cost of the cream. It's totally worth it. Matt and I decided to make compound butter with herbs from the garden.<br />Here's the buttermilk. It's not sour like the cultured stuff in the grocery store. It's actually very mild and is less sweet than even 2%. Perfectly acceptable to drink with cookies. Or save it and make buttermilk biscuits. Or pancakes. Or custard. Get the picture? It's good stuff.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC5K0usOkHSoxDOZIiHBimRt8xJwJJB04ZjJ1FWJjpTmE0oHoQ4pF-q8yToEW0iN4dHt73tcm6yiJZ5t0zSR8q8tA_7pVfcA0ldYZwcW6zPAiZKbzSASO3zpEKJL_jGOVmmGWxELXzvA/s1600/Buttermilk.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWC5K0usOkHSoxDOZIiHBimRt8xJwJJB04ZjJ1FWJjpTmE0oHoQ4pF-q8yToEW0iN4dHt73tcm6yiJZ5t0zSR8q8tA_7pVfcA0ldYZwcW6zPAiZKbzSASO3zpEKJL_jGOVmmGWxELXzvA/s320/Buttermilk.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130905504213042" /></a><br />Here is the amount of butter made from three pints of heavy whipping cream- approx. one pound! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpdOPf3UNVO0dukiKS-3601hFgkXlNbRJgCpTpq-ziIVE6UcFilOofDjBEVeHcN8TefR90EgW2bCoNCilo6lMhPAEico8DJEHjKTy2AuG9px7Q4MXQuXJb7Ie1bZjhLDd7y6F8CuXXvs/s1600/Plain+butter.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpdOPf3UNVO0dukiKS-3601hFgkXlNbRJgCpTpq-ziIVE6UcFilOofDjBEVeHcN8TefR90EgW2bCoNCilo6lMhPAEico8DJEHjKTy2AuG9px7Q4MXQuXJb7Ie1bZjhLDd7y6F8CuXXvs/s320/Plain+butter.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130527267944514" /></a><br />After I massaged most of the buttermilk out of it, we mixed in about two teaspoons of sea salt as well as rosemary, sage, and thyme from the garden.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNe1Om5Ou8iJlpyuivVV-LbCR81NedDCbeJyUE9xchhvwfaPeXkZx_ExhSFgZ4sk2-SIYZ-iX8-mOTHjSKwwPCT00DBhx4FhT3eCU7GUqyicM2bQDL7htuwHpE9L7MSUY4NMfxPn3qx8/s1600/Matt+chopping+herbs.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNe1Om5Ou8iJlpyuivVV-LbCR81NedDCbeJyUE9xchhvwfaPeXkZx_ExhSFgZ4sk2-SIYZ-iX8-mOTHjSKwwPCT00DBhx4FhT3eCU7GUqyicM2bQDL7htuwHpE9L7MSUY4NMfxPn3qx8/s320/Matt+chopping+herbs.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130516891637586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Im-AWZ-PxSLjdHL1F1R3bQMPjIeqFulHRmaJqXSnvqj83aDyyA2ZadqXiPZpbaqR87Lj3wIxv7N3yKOS30vaNieSGqYAGxemSC8LfRUUbnLg7-zKpNI7aPMfpufhScEieNfpA_asCQI/s1600/Matt+mixing+herbs+in.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Im-AWZ-PxSLjdHL1F1R3bQMPjIeqFulHRmaJqXSnvqj83aDyyA2ZadqXiPZpbaqR87Lj3wIxv7N3yKOS30vaNieSGqYAGxemSC8LfRUUbnLg7-zKpNI7aPMfpufhScEieNfpA_asCQI/s320/Matt+mixing+herbs+in.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130513641839554" /></a><br />Here's the compound butter on wax paper ready to be rolled. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEwgiX-4_cudxqdEO2gRsDwUbek6_G5iPzPMrFNUiNex8TrHnQQjHIS-BEknYW5IBO5PvIrsFMxD7vmlaPiSpzBFv0X5Okv36msYea5pDy9a3Zi-8sNiz3EX6tMJ58FAmW4VF3lOAY6w/s1600/Butter+ready+to+roll.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEwgiX-4_cudxqdEO2gRsDwUbek6_G5iPzPMrFNUiNex8TrHnQQjHIS-BEknYW5IBO5PvIrsFMxD7vmlaPiSpzBFv0X5Okv36msYea5pDy9a3Zi-8sNiz3EX6tMJ58FAmW4VF3lOAY6w/s320/Butter+ready+to+roll.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130501122538386" /></a><br />Ta Da! All finished. These rolls will last at least 6 months in the freezer and up to a month in the fridge (if you don't eat it all first). It's great on bread, steaks, fish, chicken, the list goes on and on. You can also make sweet compound butter with pecans and brown sugar that's great on biscuits or scones. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_07YjutmFr1WhvhVQXb4fhr5t97XxCEPUMsZxqiSOOr1hzrqn08d4Fgy_pvCMp7LMuMlJejAG0nvOxqZjNMtmRXu_fKg5AN2RMQ1mkI002Vv87u9rTTGBOVl4q_dVw3sBGCiURzq3wU/s1600/Butter+roll.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_07YjutmFr1WhvhVQXb4fhr5t97XxCEPUMsZxqiSOOr1hzrqn08d4Fgy_pvCMp7LMuMlJejAG0nvOxqZjNMtmRXu_fKg5AN2RMQ1mkI002Vv87u9rTTGBOVl4q_dVw3sBGCiURzq3wU/s320/Butter+roll.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699130497287125586" /></a><br />The whole process took about 20 minutes from start to finish. What freedom! I'll never have to buy butter again!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-55292783638365410982012-01-03T14:12:00.001-08:002012-01-03T14:41:00.322-08:00A Very Quiet New YearCompared to the weeks before it, the New Year weekend was very quiet. Thank Goodness. After a trip to LA, then to Beavercreek, I was ready for some at-home R&R. Matt and I spent a restful, yet productive three days at home. I did some end of the year garden pruning and trimming while Matt cleaned out the chicken coop. I took down the tree (which always makes me kind of sad) and carefully packed away my ornaments. We finished the first season of Heros which Matt got from his grandmother and I read <em>Cleaved</em>, given to me by Val.<br />I also managed to finish knitting Matt's socks which I had started at Jan's house over Christmas. Mom sent me some Fireworks (since his favorite color is black), which I knitted double to make some very thick, sturdy socks. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVIT7NjacJBw5PWay5noebyAKZqMktnXvNX7RQs9GjnW5aoqNlSREHvM5aPSYa_fyI1HVsSJbRYioqSLThPrUbdesmt_hHfexvrxWQonWUU1NJE5DPgcVETXfIz6Zhr8o3cXbPDfWohw/s1600/Finished+socks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVIT7NjacJBw5PWay5noebyAKZqMktnXvNX7RQs9GjnW5aoqNlSREHvM5aPSYa_fyI1HVsSJbRYioqSLThPrUbdesmt_hHfexvrxWQonWUU1NJE5DPgcVETXfIz6Zhr8o3cXbPDfWohw/s320/Finished+socks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532834773726338" /></a><br />These are the second pair I've ever made. Ever. I'm afraid one of Matt's legs will be an inch warmer than the other. Sigh...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEieGsIYbgywq-qbvkRuKRA9QzkQXnjOQt_U4vUy8zg1_RomtW-PYQtjQLje0ccwEa92epqBf1YTJesZjsI4GDaLAeynITc-XWtpqehmOxnMWeFyhXKqf_Iywe78ve4-59-IT33JIi70/s1600/Oops+sock+longer.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEieGsIYbgywq-qbvkRuKRA9QzkQXnjOQt_U4vUy8zg1_RomtW-PYQtjQLje0ccwEa92epqBf1YTJesZjsI4GDaLAeynITc-XWtpqehmOxnMWeFyhXKqf_Iywe78ve4-59-IT33JIi70/s320/Oops+sock+longer.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532610038624322" /></a><br />I was really sweating it by the time I started to decrease for the second toe. There was about three hours there where I was convinced I didn't have enough yarn, yet I continued. This was how much I had left from the two balls:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNWSlV0JLnUs03rYo4Rn81JPHU5x1CwPzPlU5ixpdWNzjN8JbPfW1zCnw5iula6JLQSkOjPMZHWlj0kzaNs9SzbCUuxoLNnZsowmwRtUXS5553YFr-luMMXum1i2iyVFgomLL7r67RE0/s1600/Leftover+yarn.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNWSlV0JLnUs03rYo4Rn81JPHU5x1CwPzPlU5ixpdWNzjN8JbPfW1zCnw5iula6JLQSkOjPMZHWlj0kzaNs9SzbCUuxoLNnZsowmwRtUXS5553YFr-luMMXum1i2iyVFgomLL7r67RE0/s320/Leftover+yarn.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532600613142610" /></a><br />I was blessed by the yarn gods. <br />After that project was finished, I moved to the kitchen for another. Val sent me four silicon tart pans for my birthday, which totally got me craving mincemeat tarts. I had meant to make some to take to Jan's for Christmas, but the Lemon Meringue pie used up all my kitchen stamina that day. So, last night I made a double batch of dough and used up all the odds and ends of jam in the fridge as well as most of the jar of mincemeat I'd bought.<br />Rolling out the dough and fitting them into the pans:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX9Iktfkqjr1C8xsj87HUhBRCO7_UljQ7zclW-cMe4RpdYvmIid8lWs04Rb5JyR-pdMcfupY6Oqg9_pEXNrHJhpZUtRFKwCn4AU_CKB2IvHRVKI9b_D4OCrMctFAq5ZIJb7KY4CnmVxc/s1600/Tart+dough.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX9Iktfkqjr1C8xsj87HUhBRCO7_UljQ7zclW-cMe4RpdYvmIid8lWs04Rb5JyR-pdMcfupY6Oqg9_pEXNrHJhpZUtRFKwCn4AU_CKB2IvHRVKI9b_D4OCrMctFAq5ZIJb7KY4CnmVxc/s320/Tart+dough.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532595093309474" /></a><br />These are plum and strawberry tarts made with my own jam.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gguB64S2qqv6tIxRxu1U9deFzUO3HGmNe7_kjNiYXoWJbUf_ZG_Ya8aUL2mVlvHBmUUS0RcahyiuPu8z5vOERx1d0N_oVRiwft9QQoNdEacCVlsQAd2t3D_SyAmfKCXLfNN_kRW3cJk/s1600/Uncooked+tarts.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gguB64S2qqv6tIxRxu1U9deFzUO3HGmNe7_kjNiYXoWJbUf_ZG_Ya8aUL2mVlvHBmUUS0RcahyiuPu8z5vOERx1d0N_oVRiwft9QQoNdEacCVlsQAd2t3D_SyAmfKCXLfNN_kRW3cJk/s320/Uncooked+tarts.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532580866785586" /></a><br />Here are the finished tarts! 33 in all and delicious! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYuxqdJDzTql9wArp_P1x6Fphgl77tgmqmy34KQXcGRj3N25NpYapBPZ2JdTC9Rn2RqRtGDWGtrQFy4VfzOkFUa4IDa2_Au7Zprb_RG_aK-bzDPR-O20j-jtjjtDR0iEmlhL3QRZAd4k/s1600/Finished+tarts.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYuxqdJDzTql9wArp_P1x6Fphgl77tgmqmy34KQXcGRj3N25NpYapBPZ2JdTC9Rn2RqRtGDWGtrQFy4VfzOkFUa4IDa2_Au7Zprb_RG_aK-bzDPR-O20j-jtjjtDR0iEmlhL3QRZAd4k/s320/Finished+tarts.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693532576257217682" /></a><br />Next time, I plan to roll the dough even thinner, since they took much longer to cook fully than the recipe said. Also, the strawberry jam was too wet- it made the dough underneath soggy. I've already promised an encore perfomance for Mom when she comes up next week.<br />Hello 2012!Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-6509844435839140872011-12-29T13:55:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:09:32.641-08:00Impromtu California Trip and Christmas!Hello, hello everyone! I hope we all had a wonderful Holiday Season! This happens every year- I mean to blog real-time and the pics just don't make it to the blog until January. Oh well, better late than never!<br />I had to make an unexpected quick family trip to California before Christmas, but before I left, I got to make soap for the first time with a friend of mine.<br />Behold: my first homemade soap!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEica8x09RHUe2rI5cfQja8-hw36AS5ezxtOxfYMKTYCMNxrzBQPNg-AAypghA57NV_awcTs9Ult9OmykHY2tgqIdVj_BVSadBbh4l7DOZ0mfPUQVaYIElm-kJXd0YDtmzCoU4SVIrpVwKc/s1600/Soap+bars.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEica8x09RHUe2rI5cfQja8-hw36AS5ezxtOxfYMKTYCMNxrzBQPNg-AAypghA57NV_awcTs9Ult9OmykHY2tgqIdVj_BVSadBbh4l7DOZ0mfPUQVaYIElm-kJXd0YDtmzCoU4SVIrpVwKc/s320/Soap+bars.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673340648940770" /></a><br />Here is the cold-processed lavender soap, stamped with the image of a thistle. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTk-dBxgFGIk8anfEoC_WnzDypbaXob75lGLdaEXhAsDSrEvEajNvdYPxDlqhu7QNgYsX03iXRaF7D7OOyjO_yDufOWzaJj0-1NJiNXJjYE6u-HF2YFHDz64nvwFfSmlBFLbIoITi1z4/s1600/Stamped+lavender+soap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTk-dBxgFGIk8anfEoC_WnzDypbaXob75lGLdaEXhAsDSrEvEajNvdYPxDlqhu7QNgYsX03iXRaF7D7OOyjO_yDufOWzaJj0-1NJiNXJjYE6u-HF2YFHDz64nvwFfSmlBFLbIoITi1z4/s320/Stamped+lavender+soap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673330921156018" /></a><br />Here is the Oatmeal Honey Castile soap stamped with a dragon! I got the stamps off the internet (what can't you find on the internet) and had fun whacking each bar with the rubber mallet. Both these soaps need to cure for about six weeks, so they should be ready by January 27th. Next year, I plan on making soap around early November so it will be ready to use by Christmas.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q-OadbEFp_wal2puRAa3CHoZ9kF3kYUDZZmZV8G7Joinv8obpmdknaMDG7uVsd-17HoD3uQWr14koDtpWDlV_2wUxyPsOFW4rUTd94BIa34ZopQmwYLyh7bslNP-bpdwts7IDebHNOo/s1600/Stamped+Castile+soap.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_q-OadbEFp_wal2puRAa3CHoZ9kF3kYUDZZmZV8G7Joinv8obpmdknaMDG7uVsd-17HoD3uQWr14koDtpWDlV_2wUxyPsOFW4rUTd94BIa34ZopQmwYLyh7bslNP-bpdwts7IDebHNOo/s320/Stamped+Castile+soap.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673325754947058" /></a><br />Then, it was off to LA! The reason for the trip was, unfortunately, the sudden passing of my grandmother Dori (Delores). There was no memorial or funeral, instead we had a swinging Christmas party and a great White Elephant gift exchange. Nana was always up for a good party and we laughed as a family while flipping through picture books. It was a great way to honor her memory. <br />The bright side of the trip included getting to spend time with Mom on her birthday. Steven and I got her an asian-styled teapot and warmer, which she can use for herbal tea before bed and Dad bought her an incredible succulent wreath. After presents, we went to see Sherlock Holmes 2 with Pete and Val, then had a wonderful dinner at the Crab Pot in Long Beach. It definitely felt like I had stolen time with my family and it was great! <br />While there, Mom had me work on a project- starching some tatted ornaments. Mom had been at some crafts fair with Ms. Audrey and there was an ancient craftswoman there selling these for only $3 each!--and none of them were selling. Spinning, knitting, and weaving have enjoyed a re-emergence lately and have become quite in vogue thanks in part to the new green/ sustainable movement, but (heart-breakingly), fewer and fewer people have (re)learned to tat and the skill is quickly disappearing. Apparently, the woman who made these ornaments is practically blind and knots these patterns from memory. The fact that these tiny pieces of handmade art were going unappreciated was unacceptable to Mom and she bought them all. After some internet research, we bought some extra-strength spray starch, saturated them and pinned them to dry on wax paper-covered cardboard.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwKL353NqYL5_yZCLKKOhJUGtZ6klYMqgPkWs5QMIqgtV1bCyYjKRA75JkfF1GPmVfMcwE-fmsZtFL2i7lDuJtWAOycL15752O6ZLbm3kWlwYcgQ2XJxzD0q238LpVnyBM1HvNcrQdME/s1600/Pinned+ornaments.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwKL353NqYL5_yZCLKKOhJUGtZ6klYMqgPkWs5QMIqgtV1bCyYjKRA75JkfF1GPmVfMcwE-fmsZtFL2i7lDuJtWAOycL15752O6ZLbm3kWlwYcgQ2XJxzD0q238LpVnyBM1HvNcrQdME/s320/Pinned+ornaments.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673319156257858" /></a><br />It really only took a couple of hours to pin them all and by the next morning, they were dry and ready to hang on the little rosemary tree Mom had bought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTmeRD1cjjUVuULm_749k1bIsovE3HrRRpk3VtyrBWwFHJLAe1fopNWR-5ZaACc5miH6TRhNZ9-maRmBoi_S1u5jUB3KL3tHp5JTvWQbXIS0p49UeSYow3ljFd4UlUaaWfoXX31t6eXw/s1600/Pinned+ornament.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTmeRD1cjjUVuULm_749k1bIsovE3HrRRpk3VtyrBWwFHJLAe1fopNWR-5ZaACc5miH6TRhNZ9-maRmBoi_S1u5jUB3KL3tHp5JTvWQbXIS0p49UeSYow3ljFd4UlUaaWfoXX31t6eXw/s320/Pinned+ornament.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691674722286089954" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXH4B-Pj9NOWjlKMuGp_V7qdWuzzuZtj3ufUjR4xASzH5eYt0tfZpfW5Bg442nuOU-opABhBtCmUCsOEgIXeXKxpRD2aXP1virdBNegzwH-Ykve2P6geDbjfNTHoiGdeiJKbGdfz2Fn0/s1600/Tatted+on+Wax+Paper.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXH4B-Pj9NOWjlKMuGp_V7qdWuzzuZtj3ufUjR4xASzH5eYt0tfZpfW5Bg442nuOU-opABhBtCmUCsOEgIXeXKxpRD2aXP1virdBNegzwH-Ykve2P6geDbjfNTHoiGdeiJKbGdfz2Fn0/s320/Tatted+on+Wax+Paper.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691672913613329794" /></a><br />Once I returned home, I added the ornaments to my own tree. They were SO worth the time and effort.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mMBIyWLviqxmcv9EaQmdpXu6mvzEauHl44i5iCuNMvMzFhpPEw4AuTT5iy9ab8guk4y-GOAhyphenhyphenzfVNZoEkm3g3K_lRSaRV4ujdSG7zhFh6R5YZnPbPi0Paau4HkgRppvDHBRQ8DVWRtQ/s1600/Ornament+on+tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mMBIyWLviqxmcv9EaQmdpXu6mvzEauHl44i5iCuNMvMzFhpPEw4AuTT5iy9ab8guk4y-GOAhyphenhyphenzfVNZoEkm3g3K_lRSaRV4ujdSG7zhFh6R5YZnPbPi0Paau4HkgRppvDHBRQ8DVWRtQ/s320/Ornament+on+tree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691672893024556050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_N9OXbCSqq5QYdW7ztVdegzM3TXcKr41CSnPPWxtCul_eGywfIn_iJBXCR6xgR6itnpsc4tA7XVV13dSKPAOEll-rSjkTUuWQLwG6O4pDGfdkqLHhpOf64IcZhsMVrZDRxypVQhNxg0/s1600/Ornament+on+tree3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_N9OXbCSqq5QYdW7ztVdegzM3TXcKr41CSnPPWxtCul_eGywfIn_iJBXCR6xgR6itnpsc4tA7XVV13dSKPAOEll-rSjkTUuWQLwG6O4pDGfdkqLHhpOf64IcZhsMVrZDRxypVQhNxg0/s320/Ornament+on+tree3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691672883906053586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjYrWdpDvpG8l3OlIJ3iHbxbGx47Lge1wJ36advQLT1oDebNEU0IhLetUUF04OIm3dRWeeCdqeaDj4ydfCgL_CplBSWk0diW-zt0Bf97D4lMoxQaCfrBcAfWCxtcepBVK3hee66IevLw/s1600/Ornament+on+tree2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjYrWdpDvpG8l3OlIJ3iHbxbGx47Lge1wJ36advQLT1oDebNEU0IhLetUUF04OIm3dRWeeCdqeaDj4ydfCgL_CplBSWk0diW-zt0Bf97D4lMoxQaCfrBcAfWCxtcepBVK3hee66IevLw/s320/Ornament+on+tree2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691672879751676706" /></a><br />I got back home just in time for the Christmas Holiday. Matt and I filled the chicken feeder to bursting and headed up to Beavercreek for a few days. Matt was a true champion since he took the 3am lamb checks and let Jan have two nights of uninterrupted sleep. My a fluke of timing, nothing happened lamb-wise while we were there, but we enjoyed watching the lambs that had already arrived.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUl3YDYPwN8CGV0qJr3FSFk49pktZ4z_dp-XjVeJlBga1Gr4sJGMczW4CBuiLnhrSVW2i6RqjSBa5henwvUkwOuMFnVnI24V6VSgkmG1oT1J6_eZPSpDcJ7sw9_GuA3sozf5R1XaqJbk/s1600/Ram+Single.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUl3YDYPwN8CGV0qJr3FSFk49pktZ4z_dp-XjVeJlBga1Gr4sJGMczW4CBuiLnhrSVW2i6RqjSBa5henwvUkwOuMFnVnI24V6VSgkmG1oT1J6_eZPSpDcJ7sw9_GuA3sozf5R1XaqJbk/s320/Ram+Single.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673799010088338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouWMHB0iW1c1MgfJCV8l7sYN3KSXVGILIRIiuga5SCGDE8L0Ua2m2K4mjjtmzgMzxo-H1yya5NROd3JWYt-2PexjFR7r9Q1krlil2bvn7qK51pN_naZywmzNPC0iG5x7qGQxzyWwr5bk/s1600/Triplets.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouWMHB0iW1c1MgfJCV8l7sYN3KSXVGILIRIiuga5SCGDE8L0Ua2m2K4mjjtmzgMzxo-H1yya5NROd3JWYt-2PexjFR7r9Q1krlil2bvn7qK51pN_naZywmzNPC0iG5x7qGQxzyWwr5bk/s320/Triplets.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673787627248210" /></a><br />Matt and I were in charge of Christmas dessert and opted for a lemon-meringue pie. Lemon is a popular favorite (it's so rare to find a dessert that everyone likes) and I had brought back several huge pink lemons from my trip to LA. Combined with the fact that after five days of no collecting, I was also drowning in eggs, it was a no-brainer. Matt and I followed a recipe out of Cooking Illustrated and managed to make this beauty:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g2Pvyr6aCypjlDjJhHzwp-uAu08oYQSHdlahv2vCpv0UrorxqIaA4NIpkV2jBb2Zl7ht7QCLMDPbMtzWONW9SccHsXMZRTHSz1qW0NkdgkoM104nDsQ0_5jBVhbA_MdqAdoxRCXIPzE/s1600/Pie.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8g2Pvyr6aCypjlDjJhHzwp-uAu08oYQSHdlahv2vCpv0UrorxqIaA4NIpkV2jBb2Zl7ht7QCLMDPbMtzWONW9SccHsXMZRTHSz1qW0NkdgkoM104nDsQ0_5jBVhbA_MdqAdoxRCXIPzE/s320/Pie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673349586185026" /></a><br />It. Was. Good.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdUevKRz92V1-1arkF4-gW5leJ8gPs5ujs2aGOnhM49t80mRO-azcMKZ_lGPMfYxwBx-2BO1wHvhEusnDWwswvs5eNI0VarfghF6-UJKdWtZuKJs0PNXPbTe3wvX6dHim-uHl-yuVRB0/s1600/Lemon+pie+piece.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdUevKRz92V1-1arkF4-gW5leJ8gPs5ujs2aGOnhM49t80mRO-azcMKZ_lGPMfYxwBx-2BO1wHvhEusnDWwswvs5eNI0VarfghF6-UJKdWtZuKJs0PNXPbTe3wvX6dHim-uHl-yuVRB0/s320/Lemon+pie+piece.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673781448214194" /></a><br />Matt and I also took up "Farmopoly", which is a farm-inspired Monopoly game, and played with Jan and Neil on Christmas night.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZImTjGWRaoE2RKvIf9W8ncJ9x3QtcVyxWWSNg2NhCGOVPtFLBwpjhr_eGXIYo4y2lSoK_AaDT4HYLHiXL1lXLlHJmXDSkyeQDeqdAXCRTOmMPX_1vWc-IDBtZ8MCWOuQTO5cVYWCUHlE/s1600/Farmopoly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZImTjGWRaoE2RKvIf9W8ncJ9x3QtcVyxWWSNg2NhCGOVPtFLBwpjhr_eGXIYo4y2lSoK_AaDT4HYLHiXL1lXLlHJmXDSkyeQDeqdAXCRTOmMPX_1vWc-IDBtZ8MCWOuQTO5cVYWCUHlE/s320/Farmopoly.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673824093427794" /></a><br />Jan totally mopped the floor with all of us- check out her Pile-o-Money!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLZEDB05BKpQ9Z279AfU_09hEY7w8kMzC8mcYQi_iWPUbrk0i-Ck5jKN_oYhPxHVckAOQ9k9XHcbRWC0ewazmo6Ofd_w1q2qG0LcMxaFzpQfslwtj8K5020Yq-oGIou_AA8KIdpzoN0M/s1600/Jan+wins+farmopoly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLZEDB05BKpQ9Z279AfU_09hEY7w8kMzC8mcYQi_iWPUbrk0i-Ck5jKN_oYhPxHVckAOQ9k9XHcbRWC0ewazmo6Ofd_w1q2qG0LcMxaFzpQfslwtj8K5020Yq-oGIou_AA8KIdpzoN0M/s320/Jan+wins+farmopoly.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673996252473410" /></a><br />We also opened gifts that night and Jan made Matt a complete chef's outfit! Now he doesn't need to wear one of my "loin-cloth" aprons when he's grilling. :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZMr86SiTzXQO7h8uVnIuxnbwrgA4B7UZZS3UYop2fha9sQeQWRTdaM_MbQsl6ktLH9rmGYQe5BuYad1MKqQnoqQR0PmbONWvZdAC82J7GM6QN2ehlYtGw1vo9c0_JVQzOYWUfSOCvK4/s1600/Chef+Matt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZMr86SiTzXQO7h8uVnIuxnbwrgA4B7UZZS3UYop2fha9sQeQWRTdaM_MbQsl6ktLH9rmGYQe5BuYad1MKqQnoqQR0PmbONWvZdAC82J7GM6QN2ehlYtGw1vo9c0_JVQzOYWUfSOCvK4/s320/Chef+Matt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691673808675175106" /></a><br />Here's Chef Matt breaking in his new outfit- homemade hamburgers and champagne was our New Years Meal!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6v7pAL9B0LwubTviK-fmRYKXhn7LJyoRrKIidd3isSLIIvSWfCfIHMKo9Clk8ICwzVez9ym2N35kcUBYRy8X0IHxo5PRqgJopIcegGZq4OAo18JrirpgLUJZl-_Bx4lyus8MUmdXugc/s1600/Chef+Matt+cooks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6v7pAL9B0LwubTviK-fmRYKXhn7LJyoRrKIidd3isSLIIvSWfCfIHMKo9Clk8ICwzVez9ym2N35kcUBYRy8X0IHxo5PRqgJopIcegGZq4OAo18JrirpgLUJZl-_Bx4lyus8MUmdXugc/s320/Chef+Matt+cooks.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693516529365839074" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-74156624906604012072011-12-08T11:30:00.001-08:002011-12-08T11:46:39.780-08:00It's Christmas Once AgainThis Christmas year, it's all about learning new skills. Nicole's cousin teaches wreath-making classes and we both signed up (for $5 including materials, how could I say no?) We got set up in her garage and after some brief tutoring, I went to town! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PFLYpPLffmm1as6Bpaq5SKYKke9U1Mx5N9w26INEeWc5YPHdvxDHfpkCSrR3V1uNMCWT35ywT7Arl8JEYANs7rtQsZ6M2CNI7kdNvdt1iYmEfHgiF1KSlrc0uck0sx-CjIfSCgZ_ocI/s1600/Wreath+making.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-PFLYpPLffmm1as6Bpaq5SKYKke9U1Mx5N9w26INEeWc5YPHdvxDHfpkCSrR3V1uNMCWT35ywT7Arl8JEYANs7rtQsZ6M2CNI7kdNvdt1iYmEfHgiF1KSlrc0uck0sx-CjIfSCgZ_ocI/s320/Wreath+making.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842957220216258" /></a><br />I chose fir and cedar branches for my wreath, then added some gold accents and ribbon I got at Michael's (on sale, of course). I never knew how easy it was to make wreaths! I'll never have to purchase another one again! I've got lots of ideas for a dried herb wreath or maybe on made with succulents! I shall start potting shoots off my succulents now that I know how easy it is...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tOiQDgPDmAtZhjebMC1JLuxUkaFHVSBKpkI6kO29iVTthjTuhP8gbkH9EIkPcJYrxkJaC_3O4iiJ-Y0EWvKUlxIuuxHOgeFJ1IyAOKg68O1Zj8R3mAM2Q8GCDxw6JKZsmt44ZzODp9c/s1600/Wreath+in+progress.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tOiQDgPDmAtZhjebMC1JLuxUkaFHVSBKpkI6kO29iVTthjTuhP8gbkH9EIkPcJYrxkJaC_3O4iiJ-Y0EWvKUlxIuuxHOgeFJ1IyAOKg68O1Zj8R3mAM2Q8GCDxw6JKZsmt44ZzODp9c/s320/Wreath+in+progress.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842792536880402" /></a><br />Voila! Here it is hanging brightly from my back door. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I'm also pleased about learning something new for only 5 bucks!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVNwsNjq4Fw9-ZpKEYooB1fUnQ3UTNjgWulCu2gnqoOFFM6YQw2nKuVa3mPGkVW1DD4gjahdwmDPlFYg7gbXeIr2bVVjwqfPJ2iNw9mQFWmjRt7bz7HD76N2pAmzo6hKWqSFANAIABa0/s1600/Finished+wreath.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVNwsNjq4Fw9-ZpKEYooB1fUnQ3UTNjgWulCu2gnqoOFFM6YQw2nKuVa3mPGkVW1DD4gjahdwmDPlFYg7gbXeIr2bVVjwqfPJ2iNw9mQFWmjRt7bz7HD76N2pAmzo6hKWqSFANAIABa0/s320/Finished+wreath.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842784142121250" /></a><br />Last weekend, Matt and I went over to my friends' farm where they grow Christmas trees. We picked a Grand Fir out of this lot:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhfjdWXVNsYOkpkxxEOSe5ryCeF6RHyPmW13eZbuInXpIWXzcQDQPWnvm17qufaiu2WENpOIeIf-kQGycUv0cbsidg3yDQqjOLPfkwG44OSpww-cml2rYA2biuWqRFhQokrDkkGkiMxY/s1600/Tree+lot.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhfjdWXVNsYOkpkxxEOSe5ryCeF6RHyPmW13eZbuInXpIWXzcQDQPWnvm17qufaiu2WENpOIeIf-kQGycUv0cbsidg3yDQqjOLPfkwG44OSpww-cml2rYA2biuWqRFhQokrDkkGkiMxY/s320/Tree+lot.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842769473593682" /></a><br />Matt and Richard loading it into the truck...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKPk31ezOI_vmgUZP8QhKZlSBbchY7-2HUAbp3QpQXnTu3plyZXoIQw69-6xCeJx5jfre0XLmo9z-jjJ-IcBO4yGmfGb69KtE420DkbyiiHnyjRo3gtqq-7PSTmTuoSEekoTOxKa6j8k/s1600/Tree+Picked.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKPk31ezOI_vmgUZP8QhKZlSBbchY7-2HUAbp3QpQXnTu3plyZXoIQw69-6xCeJx5jfre0XLmo9z-jjJ-IcBO4yGmfGb69KtE420DkbyiiHnyjRo3gtqq-7PSTmTuoSEekoTOxKa6j8k/s320/Tree+Picked.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842756767136706" /></a><br />For me, the Christmas season really starts when I decorate the tree. I dig out all my Christmas movies, including some classics from my childhood and sing along while stringing lights and hanging ornaments. It's a yearly tradition that gets me in the Christmas spirit. Between the cold, frosty weather we've been having lately, making my own wreath, the Silverton Tree Lighting ceremony, everyone putting up their Christmas lights, and the manger-esque feeling of the chicken coop at night, I'm starting to get excited about the holiday season!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaRWeJPb3TEhNU_ubfZMmmUlcU3WtVePT2YKzyKYrFBfcgM3pXcDdz1xWwBxhhgk0qAIMFD1NoFZVdKDGaABbUBfOFGrrj-SymwIRiAWdA1rJYlZ3ag_l-z0684RnBLxc8FuXW_RmCYo/s1600/Finished+tree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaRWeJPb3TEhNU_ubfZMmmUlcU3WtVePT2YKzyKYrFBfcgM3pXcDdz1xWwBxhhgk0qAIMFD1NoFZVdKDGaABbUBfOFGrrj-SymwIRiAWdA1rJYlZ3ag_l-z0684RnBLxc8FuXW_RmCYo/s320/Finished+tree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683842750930662050" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702693719056681669.post-50033844738560205292011-12-08T10:57:00.000-08:002011-12-08T11:24:06.625-08:00New Bathroom- sort of...Ah, things keep progressing at my house, both intended and unintended. About a month ago, the toilet started leaking. At first, I was terrified that the dripping I heard was coming from behind the wall, but (THANKFULLY), it was just the old toilet telling me it was on it's last legs. So, over my vacation/ birthday/ Thanksgiving break, Steven and I went to Lowe's and picked out a fancy new throne! It's dual-flush, has an elongated bowl, and is about two inches taller than the old toilet. Matt always complained that the old toilet made him feel like he was waiting for a bus, so I made sure to get a toilet that would be comfortable for anyone who would visit.<br />Rob (my handyman), came over the day after Thanksgiving and replaced the old toilet with the new one. Apparently, the old toilet had been there so long that both the bolted gasket and the wax seal had long deteriorated- the only thing holding the toilet down was it's own weight. By the shock on Rob's face, I realized that I had narrowly avoided some kind of bathroom plumbing disaster, for which, I am still thankful. <br />Behold, the disaster:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLItLXVH8vsTbbMQNnhdgfim_17eRwEUK3dBeWy-1nqtcN95iZgEMWeuopeJ5ACJcmRDLciwUiK7i9MH4YHhXGgA_7YUEavRc9aKnV-Xe87ZdPpo9bUNVIr6jr-N2lMlD4qrhxoNJbB4U/s1600/Toilet+hole.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLItLXVH8vsTbbMQNnhdgfim_17eRwEUK3dBeWy-1nqtcN95iZgEMWeuopeJ5ACJcmRDLciwUiK7i9MH4YHhXGgA_7YUEavRc9aKnV-Xe87ZdPpo9bUNVIr6jr-N2lMlD4qrhxoNJbB4U/s320/Toilet+hole.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834689170362642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJnQ1BKFSS8V2pf-xGNoDvURsfbkCW1nqIj6ICZm6nS8Id3hyHuOOwZXIbDjV0LjsM9_lkxjnr6Q5aw-dwJz3yCITr4EGfVeL77QGKNHO_QT1tM1V_A2349176SRWzlnDc-KhQnpMiA/s1600/Bathroom+WIP.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhJnQ1BKFSS8V2pf-xGNoDvURsfbkCW1nqIj6ICZm6nS8Id3hyHuOOwZXIbDjV0LjsM9_lkxjnr6Q5aw-dwJz3yCITr4EGfVeL77QGKNHO_QT1tM1V_A2349176SRWzlnDc-KhQnpMiA/s320/Bathroom+WIP.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834686677371954" /></a><br />I figured while I was at Lowe's, I might as well get some new hardware for the bathroom. I took much pleasure in ripping out the faux green marble and brass accessories and throwing them in the garbage! I picked simple brushed nickel replacements:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5W05lZFKKEa7AChvrgWgO8Muv_Vqh3BZia6voQ9h1Q2UajTalPrqE-N-AHwkUtfWrc_i9WPJEGHNrXIa2VDgZiJtmJ5_vXbQ_E4vg-hm9eytkLsVpA60Fn1HPsuP7sHO1I2J1f6qUaQs/s1600/New+bathroom+hardware.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5W05lZFKKEa7AChvrgWgO8Muv_Vqh3BZia6voQ9h1Q2UajTalPrqE-N-AHwkUtfWrc_i9WPJEGHNrXIa2VDgZiJtmJ5_vXbQ_E4vg-hm9eytkLsVpA60Fn1HPsuP7sHO1I2J1f6qUaQs/s320/New+bathroom+hardware.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834135154460338" /></a><br />Since Rob was coming to install the new toilet, I had him put in the pedestal sink that's been sitting in the garage for over a year (I bought it off of Craigslist long ago). Two birds- one stone! We ripped out the old vanity and replaced it with a clean, classic sink.<br />Here is Matt installing the new brushed nickel faucet.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6REoT-h2RZUz-A0wSGTOaBU44IkdgpkYwX9s1beis9OvOX3c8OrCMRysZO3nRL35gtcmZq1bwPqlaiFCxdYrgA24rzYxaPlyvY7e6mbXhLXoAZxHlyfXFL2yNUK0ZgQHYIvh4cGhfCc/s1600/Matt+installs+faucet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6REoT-h2RZUz-A0wSGTOaBU44IkdgpkYwX9s1beis9OvOX3c8OrCMRysZO3nRL35gtcmZq1bwPqlaiFCxdYrgA24rzYxaPlyvY7e6mbXhLXoAZxHlyfXFL2yNUK0ZgQHYIvh4cGhfCc/s320/Matt+installs+faucet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834126221834018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KxUNKvrTZIl4RV-5tsX7FB6aY23_Urhh27-bYxVbswbnafj9aA0JKtttadcEj6eSMEXNTGndhvHrDxb6xWARSWfifo9CI4C4UxbJlLKTW2y70EDv8Rs_5bIbExA2rq0-RFECmfs00UI/s1600/New+faucet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KxUNKvrTZIl4RV-5tsX7FB6aY23_Urhh27-bYxVbswbnafj9aA0JKtttadcEj6eSMEXNTGndhvHrDxb6xWARSWfifo9CI4C4UxbJlLKTW2y70EDv8Rs_5bIbExA2rq0-RFECmfs00UI/s320/New+faucet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834121558471058" /></a><br />Ta Da! What a difference just a new toilet, sink, and hardware make! Next on the list is a new light fixture and, eventually, a new shower and floor.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrTPeybtpn4vw4mrr99T8T7-w2MFEhtsq8-sLnZa-CesiB_qPm7RBxzArU0AksGT6Rdg0r4d_J8fYCLQYFt-xMHlOMSetuYJAgIgXwCvwNtv2Gft3HQu36tLyC4XiNfKz1XRl50Vhyphenhyphen0/s1600/Finished+toilet.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCrTPeybtpn4vw4mrr99T8T7-w2MFEhtsq8-sLnZa-CesiB_qPm7RBxzArU0AksGT6Rdg0r4d_J8fYCLQYFt-xMHlOMSetuYJAgIgXwCvwNtv2Gft3HQu36tLyC4XiNfKz1XRl50Vhyphenhyphen0/s320/Finished+toilet.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834114349689746" /></a><br />A before and after-<br />This is what the bathroom looked like when I moved in over two years ago:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bSXSW9vDWyyiQJ71kgFclKbJpQm9Xek76-1_c9yxZ9WWCe8D3bWKvJRuJ3_Jt6D38-S2EipAF17JUwHuIcA89bIyiUDJpVIj2lMj2w4g3rDC0bO6MjSUTbzt7c-YquHsEKXEq4_nKMk/s1600/Old+bathroom.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bSXSW9vDWyyiQJ71kgFclKbJpQm9Xek76-1_c9yxZ9WWCe8D3bWKvJRuJ3_Jt6D38-S2EipAF17JUwHuIcA89bIyiUDJpVIj2lMj2w4g3rDC0bO6MjSUTbzt7c-YquHsEKXEq4_nKMk/s320/Old+bathroom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683835422545252466" /></a><br />And here is what it looks like now! I'm totally loving it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuxx_wHDjqm15hB_9wGo-B1jfQ0yTx6Ug8EJ73a5V9hhGrFuzGBGVL7O-EOM0ckkEBmHuh__WWGfzSlbauDRSIzCQyh7YI2XJTVVL7iNgDb2ERRecJBx5XiSyqk3uecjDx0CbXpT25to/s1600/Finished+sink.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuxx_wHDjqm15hB_9wGo-B1jfQ0yTx6Ug8EJ73a5V9hhGrFuzGBGVL7O-EOM0ckkEBmHuh__WWGfzSlbauDRSIzCQyh7YI2XJTVVL7iNgDb2ERRecJBx5XiSyqk3uecjDx0CbXpT25to/s320/Finished+sink.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683834106639476130" /></a>Becky Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01714713966417843041noreply@blogger.com3