tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26891636995303156572024-03-20T04:25:24.445-05:00My 1929 TudorI own an 80+ year old Tudor house. This blog chronicles my joys and pitfalls, repairs and projects and my big adventure of home ownership in a fabulous creaky old neighborhood.Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.comBlogger433125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-62054340857294030502012-10-09T09:10:00.002-05:002012-10-17T11:06:23.423-05:00AnnouncementHave you ever felt compelled to do something? And you can sort of explain why you are compelled, but not entirely - you just know its what you have to do? I can't say that that has happened to me often; but it has happened to me this year.<br />
<br />
I'm finally telling everyone in my life about my big plans -- I'm over hauling my life! <br />
<br />
I have been in an intense career transition workshop since April. Lots of hard work, but I have learned so much about myself, and about what makes me happy. It's been an amazing journey, but its one that is just beginning.<br />
<br />
I'm selling my house....<br />
<br />
I'm selling pretty much everything I own (except my tools, a few dishes and my dog.... )<br />
<br />
I'm going to build and live in a Tumbleweed Tiny House. In wheels. Off the grid.<br />
<br />
House showings start this week....<br />
<br />
My big sale will be November 3rd.<br />
<br />
I hope to have a much lighter load in every sense of the word by the time I travel to my parents' in Minnesota for Christmas.<br />
<br />
I may post a few more times here, but I've started a new blog, documenting my transition. If you'd like to follow my journey, post in the comments, and I'll send you an invitation for the new blog. (I haven't published it to internet browsers yet.) I think several of my readers have already made the jump, and frankly I have no idea how many people have been reading this blog! : ) <br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-36017798528532990552012-09-04T11:17:00.000-05:002012-09-04T11:17:01.344-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxBPcbdKh4jDu9M4Thg7sCimfdYfk9SchzbHCPzSsB0GWBmZH2qQrXCgw-grEX9ethq4qMCL2yxsAhehbmCCVC7oElD8J60vPssRfuMAZ25hqA5cUdn6Hm1R_33IPsDj5Al7uDoXidVc0/s1600/150378075027647704_oJC50dDG_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxBPcbdKh4jDu9M4Thg7sCimfdYfk9SchzbHCPzSsB0GWBmZH2qQrXCgw-grEX9ethq4qMCL2yxsAhehbmCCVC7oElD8J60vPssRfuMAZ25hqA5cUdn6Hm1R_33IPsDj5Al7uDoXidVc0/s320/150378075027647704_oJC50dDG_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll be away for a while - I'm orchestrating huge changes. Thanks for stopping by.</div>
Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-29136091242658779572012-07-27T12:43:00.001-05:002012-07-27T12:47:46.771-05:00Bedroom Wall & BaseboardsHere's a project update on the wooden wall in my bedroom...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Going WAY back, when I moved in, I re-did all my baseboards to get rid of all the yucky paint and just have clean, stained wood baseboards. In pretty much the entire house, when the baseboards were removed, we found that the sheet rock didn't extend all the way to the floor. To remedy that, we "scabbed in" some supporting wood along the floor, and added about 6 inches of sheet rock, and then installed the new baseboards.<br />
<br />
You can read about that project here:<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2009/08/baseboards-before.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2009/08/baseboards-before.html</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2009/08/baseboards-progress-completed.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2009/08/baseboards-progress-completed.html</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fast forwarding to this current project, I removed all the sheet rock off one wall in my bedroom to reveal beautiful nail ridden original planks. Love.<br />
<br />
If you missed that post, it's here:<br />
http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/12/bedroom-wall-revealed.html</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
But now, of course, I have to remove the new baseboards and remove the sheet rock we added! Awww, isn't renovating fun?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last weekend I removed the baseboards, and pulled off the remaining strips of sheet rock. It's just as lovely behind them as I recalled! Because I knew I wouldn't be working on the project again for a week, I taped paper over the openings, to discourage anything from under the house paying me a visit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtFp611Q8y6OX9RHCon0f05Y5iVrrRCJkz2GOhO5OE4lhwmOpzRxnnZeOKPy848-1sTGQhsrB6c46YjjzudDZuOsarbntEKruN9-7j-k5wG6NZIyB396EHqr3iqD0dddyewKR4iT4DDNc/s1600/2012+07+24+left+covered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtFp611Q8y6OX9RHCon0f05Y5iVrrRCJkz2GOhO5OE4lhwmOpzRxnnZeOKPy848-1sTGQhsrB6c46YjjzudDZuOsarbntEKruN9-7j-k5wG6NZIyB396EHqr3iqD0dddyewKR4iT4DDNc/s320/2012+07+24+left+covered.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq36qTD4r5IQDkPtBLk_uOnC58m3zwv2oSNdYXNJkxLmQbvRP75u8GomTZEYlH6qFeOkoUlDm3_x8SOxRdiEx2-3lDrhSQxDRaHTGUL_rg-eQ8sysd257e7Y7e6AJZRnraDF4oQMY072q/s1600/2012+07+24+vent+bb+covered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq36qTD4r5IQDkPtBLk_uOnC58m3zwv2oSNdYXNJkxLmQbvRP75u8GomTZEYlH6qFeOkoUlDm3_x8SOxRdiEx2-3lDrhSQxDRaHTGUL_rg-eQ8sysd257e7Y7e6AJZRnraDF4oQMY072q/s320/2012+07+24+vent+bb+covered.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I've pulled it back for your viewing pleasure. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's to the left of the baseboard vent:</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQZtpW8gSmTrx6deUE_urdV19PPnFRbTSaSDiIVc2l54tZIKfdEDbFuuXXs0M9zinRhiYMN8ikMWEMe_sawuYzMLn7nvVxcSGVmZ5GfdU2uZqhnTJ-GPc8g_GYmWFwsMavwjYaRNVTOM9/s1600/2012+07+24+left+baseboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQZtpW8gSmTrx6deUE_urdV19PPnFRbTSaSDiIVc2l54tZIKfdEDbFuuXXs0M9zinRhiYMN8ikMWEMe_sawuYzMLn7nvVxcSGVmZ5GfdU2uZqhnTJ-GPc8g_GYmWFwsMavwjYaRNVTOM9/s320/2012+07+24+left+baseboard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(Ouch, <i>must replace</i> that white outlet cover!) Similar to what I found on the vertical door frames, it looks like a hatchet was used to rip the bottom plank... When you add the scraps of wood along the floor, not only do the widths of the pieces have to be really random to fit, but often there isn't anything behind them to nail them to... </div>
<br />
Here's to the right of the baseboard vent:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt-brjha9SzgTfAPvswDFxz8cl2sAi-f-r0KMCZ40WNEXCzxsO39ugxhbYyX5OKkiZD69Fahx7KUhBzR2xtniYC7qTQbqkno41sULih7s7OvpM4dz0LdKi7jn-mPK_rR_jo9_uqffHBas/s1600/2012+07+24+right+baseboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNt-brjha9SzgTfAPvswDFxz8cl2sAi-f-r0KMCZ40WNEXCzxsO39ugxhbYyX5OKkiZD69Fahx7KUhBzR2xtniYC7qTQbqkno41sULih7s7OvpM4dz0LdKi7jn-mPK_rR_jo9_uqffHBas/s320/2012+07+24+right+baseboard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The next step in this project is to sand off that white stripe that is parallel to the floor. I'm not exactly sure what it is -- glue, or sheet rock mud, or....? And some of it still has the linen vapor barrier fabric stuck in it. Unfortunately, the line falls about a half an inch <i>above</i> the baseboard, so it shows, and it must go!<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been sanding by hand, but hoo-whee it is slow going. I plan to try a Dremel with a sanding wheel next. I have an electric sander, but I am wary of sanding too much and changing the wood color just in that area. I do not want to end up having to sand the entire wall to make it all match...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When that is done, and I'll scrub down the whole wall with warm water and a stiff bristle brush. I did that on the narrow wall by my shoes, (see this week's earlier post) and while the wall didn't really look much different after it dried, the water in the bucket got VERY dirty.... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next, also before the baseboards go in, I need to figure out if I am going to oil the wall, and if so, what in the heck type of oil should I use? The wood is very, very dry. It doesn't need a stain - the color is gorgeous - but I feel like it needs some type of love. I don't really want to put on any polyurethane either, but maybe that is what it needs. I hate being the first person to put an unnatural coating on natural wood! I sent an email inquiry to a local renovation company, but so far I haven't gotten a reply. I've also surfed around on some wood working forums online, and done a bit of online research, but at this point I don't have any firm ideas of what's needed. If you have any ideas, please, share.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At that point I'll be forced to address the HVAC wall vent issue. The duct material at the opening is very old - probably original - not 1929 original because they didn't have central air back then - but original whenever it was added! -- and it doesn't exactly accept any of today's vents. As with many things in this house when I bought it, the vents were attached with caulk. Caulk with about 17 layers of paint over it. Gross! I sanded all the paint of the vents, but that doesn't make them straight (they are so warped!) and then - no way to attach them. And this is a problem in nearly every room of my house... I may have to go under the house and re-do the last bit of duct work coming up to the vent, and the end of the duct work that peeps up into the baseboards to accept the vent. May I just say there that I am trying to avoid all of that...? I'm also contemplating fabricating my own vents out of some time of screening and wooden frames. I don't need them to be louvered and adjustable like the metal ones are... Frankly, that is become a more and more appealing route to go.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then,<i> finally,</i> (are you still with me??) the new baseboards will go in. I'll be making new ones, because without the sheet rock
the baseboards will be just a hair too short to meet properly in the
corner. I already have the lumber, but I still need to stain and seal it. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'll install the quarter round vertically up the wall in the other corner where the wood wall adjoins the sheet rocked wall, and then crown moulding at the ceiling. I haven't stained and cut the new baseboards yet, nor have I purchased and stained the crown moulding yet. But I did bring a sample home, and I liked it, so I at least know what kind I am getting... I'll need to do the whole room... so I'll need to calculate that cost first and see if that is going to happen now or later. I need a money tree, even though it's too hot to be landscaping...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-56062407547846873352012-07-24T12:22:00.000-05:002012-07-24T12:24:34.968-05:00Bedroom Door Frame - finally some progress<div style="text-align: justify;">
Red and I spent a fair amount of time this weekend inside (outside it was 107!) working on the beleaguered door frame project. </div>
<br />
<em>How did we get here?</em><br />
<a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/08/interior-door-trim-and-door-frames.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/08/interior-door-trim-and-door-frames.html</a><br />
<a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/12/bedroom-wall-revealed.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/12/bedroom-wall-revealed.html</a><br />
<a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-y-weekend.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-y-weekend.html</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bedroom side of the bedroom door frame was done, except for missing plinth blocks at the bottom. The hallway side of the bedroom door frame needed sheet rock and trim. We made great progress -- in fact, pretty much all that remains on the actual door frame is the polyurethane coat alternated with a bit of sanding. (Considering that I started this project in <em>August</em> of last year...it's about time it neared completion...) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm out of practice on documenting the project steps as they happen, so all I can give you today are end product photos. Before photos were taken we cut and patched sheet rock around the door frame. We taped, bedded, (I may have Miss Collins, my junior high home ec teacher, to thank for my wrist action/cake frosting lesson...) textured (go ahead, as me about a rubber glove and a dinner plate covered in foil,) painted the sheet rock. (FUN - No, really, it was fun! I'm serious!) Then the wood trim went up. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-kEiJrhYAGwrhcLMNRgi8grh4RltNdC3HAvnz-CDoNk-E1xhXg2mkgamwq0dT75Cfrgy4DVZN63Tg2VhnWkwSEqWZ7SJh2rsIz5bpMFw4cW9GmOJShOA0x7xzXwtkOrGVN9uc52xWNmM/s1600/2012+07+22+hall+full.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-kEiJrhYAGwrhcLMNRgi8grh4RltNdC3HAvnz-CDoNk-E1xhXg2mkgamwq0dT75Cfrgy4DVZN63Tg2VhnWkwSEqWZ7SJh2rsIz5bpMFw4cW9GmOJShOA0x7xzXwtkOrGVN9uc52xWNmM/s320/2012+07+22+hall+full.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVHaNDlrh4Fxk8M-nGwuXWURsjNBXerxYucL950tFMesL1mV2Otnl4BkCGg4d1OrqBquxksz2UHd-iLRf0UqaA1BIKZki-QRWP7XnBpA1pY47FmFPGRLEjhQe_BcTRFenlJsUWOMPwedN/s1600/2012+07+22+hall+top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVHaNDlrh4Fxk8M-nGwuXWURsjNBXerxYucL950tFMesL1mV2Otnl4BkCGg4d1OrqBquxksz2UHd-iLRf0UqaA1BIKZki-QRWP7XnBpA1pY47FmFPGRLEjhQe_BcTRFenlJsUWOMPwedN/s320/2012+07+22+hall+top.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need to touch up paint above door with flat, not eggshell...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Inside this door to the right is the short part of the now exposed wood wall. There we got corner trim installed, and pulled off the baseboard to remove the sheetrock that was behind that. With the sheetrock gone, the baseboards were too short to meet properly in the corner, so we re-did those as well as the quarter-round that trims them out. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TZDiN8QRXqvW3AQul7QqpjTHOHwGs4YKOCqGqbkRnC2JnAB7zHCeLerA2kMxWmhUm2VCK5T_sWu54l6Kyui0dA4Lmk84K5VkVoQm3-lQUKlzFtZU6pxDAQokngnJdNZZFkM9pA-Bl_li/s1600/2012+07+22+shoe+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TZDiN8QRXqvW3AQul7QqpjTHOHwGs4YKOCqGqbkRnC2JnAB7zHCeLerA2kMxWmhUm2VCK5T_sWu54l6Kyui0dA4Lmk84K5VkVoQm3-lQUKlzFtZU6pxDAQokngnJdNZZFkM9pA-Bl_li/s320/2012+07+22+shoe+wall.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWAbtWRyjS1agc17xKdv4MAYd-p8FwARWqkiBQHKeWH9FONz5rasJRzOzdgQiNP4IjkNJyjYeFsS2zPN5jvDaim3sUmYxEzTFR6Vo4iM8e-xi-fURtMTtywAsTERhCEs89NJqtVC8A3Tz/s1600/2012+07+22+shoe+wall+ceiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWAbtWRyjS1agc17xKdv4MAYd-p8FwARWqkiBQHKeWH9FONz5rasJRzOzdgQiNP4IjkNJyjYeFsS2zPN5jvDaim3sUmYxEzTFR6Vo4iM8e-xi-fURtMTtywAsTERhCEs89NJqtVC8A3Tz/s320/2012+07+22+shoe+wall+ceiling.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
Isn't that wood beautiful? <br />
<br />
And then I finally got my "rigged" shoe shelves painted silver to match the closet doors: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJQqiJq8fqcMD2MXtf9Ue3xaOkTuc0DBqX1GJmjiR-Po7zv_D1hs0pwMQ44T_j7cRDZH56CfysfyPr6oVEF36cysCkP14Klb8aGbSPvRo_4pJQ-KtmNd1Z5MvMCp4m0kl8DIieHioZYz/s1600/2012+07+22+shoe+shelves+painted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKkJQqiJq8fqcMD2MXtf9Ue3xaOkTuc0DBqX1GJmjiR-Po7zv_D1hs0pwMQ44T_j7cRDZH56CfysfyPr6oVEF36cysCkP14Klb8aGbSPvRo_4pJQ-KtmNd1Z5MvMCp4m0kl8DIieHioZYz/s320/2012+07+22+shoe+shelves+painted.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm still working out this portion of my "closet." My winter coats and sweatshirts hang above the shoes. At the time that I installed the IKEA closet system to the left, I couldn't extend the closet here because of the swing of the bedroom door. Now that I have decided to put in a sliding barn door on a rail, this corner could become an enclosed portion of the closet. Work in progress... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's the plinth block at the bottom of the door frame: </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPblsa4kzkIqOorHOXpa4pOSW7Uwk2V6gabus3gTEoDI_2e1doNErUl4PIFjrcB67qPbUPzSfAT4FontAVUec3t8L2dHWCkoPqcNjWvkoqgM8R414QD-lhbbk_c3Y23EhmNsJWi3dkikk6/s1600/2012+07+24+left+inside+plinth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPblsa4kzkIqOorHOXpa4pOSW7Uwk2V6gabus3gTEoDI_2e1doNErUl4PIFjrcB67qPbUPzSfAT4FontAVUec3t8L2dHWCkoPqcNjWvkoqgM8R414QD-lhbbk_c3Y23EhmNsJWi3dkikk6/s320/2012+07+24+left+inside+plinth.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
I intended to use the old ones that were original. I removed them with care, and sanded them down (81 years of paint, people!) only to discover when I was done (with two) that they were too small for the new trim! I considered not using any at all, but I do like the look. I researched them - styles and periods - and ultimately just bought some at Home Depot. Boring. But they work... I also had to look at many photos about placement and size - and best I can tell this is indeed how they should be placed. So. There it is: the new plinth block. If I have counted right, ultimately I will need 28 more of those...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Next up? The removal of the sheet rock from behind the bedroom baseboards along the wall on the other side of the door, addressing the bane-of-my-existance HVAC vent, and possibly oiling the wood wall. Stay tuned.<br />
<br />
.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-86314203691329701912012-07-23T12:21:00.000-05:002012-07-23T12:38:03.161-05:00Kitchen WhitewashOne afternoon last week I had finally had enough* of the awful putty colored kitchen cabinets that remained on the fridge side of my kitchen. <br />
<br />
Here's the before:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaV0DpEhtzkCTUPEvlz4SagAqqruicJkFMofhawcinLP36g2QhpME5oinJgAPnuh-2gwPHAuPrnujCxCTnJ_o0b85puFWAUAs8TZO-5mpXSDsPGoB9Zw-8U8XoWNlqLuab7Q4mcgAD_xj/s1600/2010+09+19+kitchen+side+B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaV0DpEhtzkCTUPEvlz4SagAqqruicJkFMofhawcinLP36g2QhpME5oinJgAPnuh-2gwPHAuPrnujCxCTnJ_o0b85puFWAUAs8TZO-5mpXSDsPGoB9Zw-8U8XoWNlqLuab7Q4mcgAD_xj/s320/2010+09+19+kitchen+side+B.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
And here's the after:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGuM0qHAhZ5ve5KdlUocOKC_4-LzyWpn79NLzJQU7A7E98uzvXaS1A8GW89cmgMeQnYCkB8nL4jTFcY2JfVUBJ3WdasIqN4gPWY-Y1CNhc6YccA-WmO-WZ1iE8f18p5ZZsFH-sCGeSGUx/s1600/2012+07+12+kitchen+white.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGuM0qHAhZ5ve5KdlUocOKC_4-LzyWpn79NLzJQU7A7E98uzvXaS1A8GW89cmgMeQnYCkB8nL4jTFcY2JfVUBJ3WdasIqN4gPWY-Y1CNhc6YccA-WmO-WZ1iE8f18p5ZZsFH-sCGeSGUx/s320/2012+07+12+kitchen+white.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Are they REALLY white? Yes. Maybe too white? Perhaps. Did I mistakenly grab the interior "flat" bucket rather than the interior "eggshell" off the shop shelf? Yes. Do I care? Not really - it's still a major improvement in my eye.<br />
<br />
Bottom line is, it's brighter, cleaner, and it's a great base if I decide to do something else in there...<br />
<br />
<em>* Were you worried about where this sentence might end up? I was. But relax, it's only painting.</em><br />
<br />
<em>.</em>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-72446356788719710672012-07-02T12:06:00.001-05:002012-07-02T12:06:21.395-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiYgH4sCefIiPHrnvMZPnW6ROLz6nTPg54VEQobesF-Z72PpqZlihTCNn61lGu40sAjGNA8uvVjgHIJL7uC3GoIda8DpqLwOYQ6fRcEt-L1AA4rHAT-geS9fVnK869YJn73E2bWLE7tcz/s1600/2012+07+02+tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiYgH4sCefIiPHrnvMZPnW6ROLz6nTPg54VEQobesF-Z72PpqZlihTCNn61lGu40sAjGNA8uvVjgHIJL7uC3GoIda8DpqLwOYQ6fRcEt-L1AA4rHAT-geS9fVnK869YJn73E2bWLE7tcz/s640/2012+07+02+tired.jpg" vca="true" width="492" /></a></div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-29755959721661155592012-06-19T13:32:00.001-05:002012-06-19T13:32:30.787-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42t-a7pBRsacFabYEKYfSd303ZzB2zOHNxu548UKbBQMM9T4mAb3MNFRuZztWpfee-fGQXRhArErfWqAgMEfojoLnJNrlCDJimJuI1eDScP1xjv6YwlFpy23LblgG_PcV8U5uqvjdWllT/s1600/shit+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42t-a7pBRsacFabYEKYfSd303ZzB2zOHNxu548UKbBQMM9T4mAb3MNFRuZztWpfee-fGQXRhArErfWqAgMEfojoLnJNrlCDJimJuI1eDScP1xjv6YwlFpy23LblgG_PcV8U5uqvjdWllT/s400/shit+creek.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's chaos here. I'll try to have something fun to post next week...</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-66360992434715844602012-06-11T12:50:00.003-05:002012-06-11T12:50:16.082-05:00Another Privacy Screen<div style="text-align: justify;">
With all my posts about privacy screening projects, you may conclude that I try to hide from my neighbors! Not true. It's actually the opposite... I love to have my curtains open, and I am also outside on my porch a lot, and while I am not doing anything interesting (er, at least I don't think I am...) I worry that my neighbors are weary of seeing me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been struggling with the exposure from driveway end of my porch. The order of things is this: The short end of my porch, my narrow driveway, my neighbors' living room windows. They are lovely people. I could possibly call them friends and neighbors. But day or night, they never close their blinds. Now, I'll also say, I don't think they spend much time in their living room. But I spend a <em>lot</em> of time on my porch. And I've become a wee bit self conscious of all my porch sitting.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most often I crawl out there post-shower (but appropriately dressed, I promise) with a beverage after a full day of working on a project, prop myself up and try not to pass out from happy exhaustion. Wet hair, lounging clothes, my iPad or a book and an adult beverage. Or, I am out there really late at night in the dark, just enjoying the solitude of my porch/street. Or, it's Sunday morning, and I'm clutching my coffee and having my Sunday morning "cawfee tawk" (a la SNL) with my bestie in Minneapolis. Point being ... I spend an enormous amount of time out there. I. Love. My. Porch.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For many months I have been crafting in my mind some type of privacy gizmo for the very narrow space between the porch and my driveway. Here's the space I'm working with - I've angled my love seat in an attempt to shield the sitter... I used to have it backed up against the window...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtHcgZ-0IyeTbbNR8Cw6Vy2iDbvkeh3HLLa6zfN4ExO5wsCTEE8C-K9AWQ66Z_nHXFjvYZe04ASTmemsJzmHyfQ_jt9ukJEl1tOBwohsSmb3-gy3LKlIw534ZMZRGttF9mbhzFUvYuBOo/s1600/2012+06+11+porch+before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtHcgZ-0IyeTbbNR8Cw6Vy2iDbvkeh3HLLa6zfN4ExO5wsCTEE8C-K9AWQ66Z_nHXFjvYZe04ASTmemsJzmHyfQ_jt9ukJEl1tOBwohsSmb3-gy3LKlIw534ZMZRGttF9mbhzFUvYuBOo/s320/2012+06+11+porch+before.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I didn't really see planting plants directly into the ground here as an option for a couple of reasons. One, there is a lot going on in the ground right there -- sprinkler water lines, electrical wiring -- that I really don't want to disturb. Secondly, I already struggle with soil migrating from the bed into the driveway every time it rains, and I haven't been able to envision a type of edging that I like to hold it in place that could take occasional car tires... As a result, I was envisioning either a raised planter or some type of wall.</div>
<br />
I was going to do one of these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm35f-uzmoDFQNujYGZkz5Qkdinahh-moXym18ltiFqP0WGKbp_nndtsIqqCEfB8BZB_cVh_ySzzxKBRkMjryL-CYOvNKcO86wQQloBgeI_O-HacxdSzMSaD4FXEpxVsc5nC1TJDuZrtJ/s1600/2012+06+10+privacy+panel2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm35f-uzmoDFQNujYGZkz5Qkdinahh-moXym18ltiFqP0WGKbp_nndtsIqqCEfB8BZB_cVh_ySzzxKBRkMjryL-CYOvNKcO86wQQloBgeI_O-HacxdSzMSaD4FXEpxVsc5nC1TJDuZrtJ/s320/2012+06+10+privacy+panel2.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPfz8G_hqdDARKOsQgIxvFY017hBh7y79lO20H4ehH1W1iELOJotJ5jvp8YgLWszjqOzcHjczT7t6o3HxpOBrwYldsoMop3yC64ENLlrv3t1tf09TV5kTF1lte7_epYxANg2AMlyC586I/s1600/2012+06+10+privacy+panel1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPfz8G_hqdDARKOsQgIxvFY017hBh7y79lO20H4ehH1W1iELOJotJ5jvp8YgLWszjqOzcHjczT7t6o3HxpOBrwYldsoMop3yC64ENLlrv3t1tf09TV5kTF1lte7_epYxANg2AMlyC586I/s400/2012+06+10+privacy+panel1.PNG" width="195" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The concept of a wooden screen was attractive to me because it would be uber easy to build and instantly full height. Air would still pass through for circulation. The hardest part would be digging the post holes for the support posts, and setting the posts in concrete.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I showed these two photos to one of the neighbors next door, and she liked the second, more open panel best. She said she actually likes seeing me sit out there and that that one doesn't provide total block out of vision. But when I mentioned that I had although thought about a planter, she jumped on that idea. I pressed her about it and she said she'd rather have a view of greenery versus wood. I had to give her snaps for that. A planter it would be.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I still had some wood left over from my neighbor's deck demolition - and quite frankly was weary of looking at it stacked in my carport. I had used some of it to build a potting table (you can read about that here: <a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/06/ta-da-potting-table.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/06/ta-da-potting-table.html</a>) but still had some left, and I just couldn't bring myself to put it out in bulky trash.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I did some measuring - the porch opening with allowance for the outdoor electrical outlet would accept a 5 foot long planter. For width, I estimated that 12-15" would fit nicely. I wanted the top of the planter to be even with the floor of the porch. The similar height would help it blend in, I hoped.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sunday began by laying out all the remaining reclaimed lumber in my carport by type of wood and length to assess what I had to work with. Then I inspected the longer pieces for splitting and hard to remove nails. I was a little shy of how much I needed to build the design I had in mind, so I had to modify it a bit - I would have liked to have two planks for the bottom, making the planter wider - but it's okay. And I would have liked to have pieces that were a little less deteriorated for the legs - I really wanted to rip the leg planks and have two narrower pieces to wrap the corners, but I don't think the wood would have been strong enough to use in that way. Nonetheless - I'm pleased with the end product - although it looks a bit like a horse trough to me. (Recall the indoor buffet table* that I likened to a hitching post? Hmmm.. I sense a theme... lol)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDshFX9S4Ki09vZ3NZr3yR8Dl2d1N7NyOuYbTTStUvJR6etpRgV2oGgBH6Borwchxw9tU7H6QfnZxt_gIpIHAJKE3wAXa1pp8mF8KM5WUPRWBmO5PQNLrEu6LEMPEhdLIso6b4hAqDsvE/s1600/2012+06+10+planter+light.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDshFX9S4Ki09vZ3NZr3yR8Dl2d1N7NyOuYbTTStUvJR6etpRgV2oGgBH6Borwchxw9tU7H6QfnZxt_gIpIHAJKE3wAXa1pp8mF8KM5WUPRWBmO5PQNLrEu6LEMPEhdLIso6b4hAqDsvE/s320/2012+06+10+planter+light.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighter colored side<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIt2wnAyPas8P3BVvb9YFiVyYXaJfg5HacryifxrMAfFKLudkiat8a8cnAgQxzOJIe90-Wa2knmsCYXaqv3p52tLrbcPsVs5wvt3L1gGVb_fgyo64mnbhYNzgM50kGbA2CVduChAniPGz/s1600/2012+06+10+planter+dark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIt2wnAyPas8P3BVvb9YFiVyYXaJfg5HacryifxrMAfFKLudkiat8a8cnAgQxzOJIe90-Wa2knmsCYXaqv3p52tLrbcPsVs5wvt3L1gGVb_fgyo64mnbhYNzgM50kGbA2CVduChAniPGz/s320/2012+06+10+planter+dark.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The darker colored side </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The lumber, by virtue of having been part of a deck, has one side that was exposed to the elements and therefore is weathered and darker, and has one side that was the protected underside of the deck, and it is a lighter color. It's sort of hard to see in these photos. I built the planter so that one side is the light side (that matches my brick quite well) and one side is the darker wood - thinking that nobody can ever see both sides at once, and that the two colors give me versatility for placement. I used that same dichotomy of color with my hanging frames on my back steps. <br />
(<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-i-had-my-back-steps-designed-and.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-i-had-my-back-steps-designed-and.html</a>)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The finished planter is 5 feet long, only 11 inches front to back, 17 inches deep, and 24 inches tall; a funky size that I'd never find in a store, but it's the size needed for my space. I challenged myself to use only the reclaimed lumber - no supplementing with new lumber. Success! I love the character that came from having to piece two shorter boards together for the front middle plank, and that there is some red lettering stamped on one of the boards from its previous life. <br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I thought that marked the end of my day. I showered, but did my aforementioned post-project collapse in the living room, in the air conditioning. It was ... hot outside. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But after a respite, I mustered the energy to go buy the plants. I wanted bamboo, but the guy at the nursery said the roots will expand so much over time that they would literally blow a wooden planter apart. Um, not a goal. Then I wanted horsetail, but we determined that when it got tall enough to be a screen, it would flop over. Well that won't work. We discussed Nandina and this other shrubby thing (the name of which I don't know but I've never liked it anyway...) but decided they would both get too woody (i.e. transparent) at the base. And so... the plants are red tipped Photinias. Mind-numbingly boring, but they grow fast, can be pruned to shape, and will make an effective screen. And, I had two random Home Depot gift cards, which made my plants cost just half what they should have. Score.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My across-the-street neighbor was out watering when I got home, and I asked her to help me move the planter from the backyard to it's new home - it is ridiculously heavy. I had already determined that I was saving the actual planting for Monday morning, when it would be cooler outdoors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before setting the plants in, I laid in two layers of window screen (leftover from another project) at the bottom and partially up the sides of the planter to keep the soil from falling out the spaces between the planks. I added 3 inches of rock (a bag the previous home owners had left behind the shed) for drainage. On top of that, I added organic compost and organic fertilizer. I dropped the plants in, and filled in the spaces between the root balls with with organic potting soil. I watered it all in with water from my rain barrels (newly full from our rain last week - yay!) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
Ta-da! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-7U38ic-OC03YS0L_BuyHvF2INXa0vKfYz_2FlzGKJ39BuCoywO4ANPVvjykCvlQb0lqdVxWkWWZc9lAwNwrgLz5bRs5-ePU0U2PIX0QLP-04DiHyDgvH3jEIvu7g0vc-VkaqPHo0CV/s1600/2012+06+10+planter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-7U38ic-OC03YS0L_BuyHvF2INXa0vKfYz_2FlzGKJ39BuCoywO4ANPVvjykCvlQb0lqdVxWkWWZc9lAwNwrgLz5bRs5-ePU0U2PIX0QLP-04DiHyDgvH3jEIvu7g0vc-VkaqPHo0CV/s320/2012+06+10+planter.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSqWnF7-SiDRLtlsEj8To39TBMqqdQKyttYkSjtOVgXI6CNdQc6gPUegtcRKILs7PgaCxeBUDotFYF9IpCo-d9-vXIYNvxZ5QWCE1SaU2RR67HIVuLsntjlnvfyqrDz9DBVqOYOWD_ySA/s1600/2012+06+10+porch+after.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSqWnF7-SiDRLtlsEj8To39TBMqqdQKyttYkSjtOVgXI6CNdQc6gPUegtcRKILs7PgaCxeBUDotFYF9IpCo-d9-vXIYNvxZ5QWCE1SaU2RR67HIVuLsntjlnvfyqrDz9DBVqOYOWD_ySA/s320/2012+06+10+porch+after.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Grow! Grow! Grow!<br />
<br />
* Sideboard/hitching post: <span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/12/rustic-sideboard.html"><span style="color: purple;">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2011/12/rustic-sideboard.html</span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">.</span><br />
<div id="SmartSelectDIV" style="border-bottom: red thin dotted; border-left: red thin dotted; border-right: red thin dotted; border-top: red thin dotted; display: none; height: 0px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; z-index: 32768;">
</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-31403124518584117302012-06-04T11:39:00.001-05:002012-06-05T11:01:53.258-05:00M I N T Y<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have one of those old timey driveways where there is a strip of grass down the middle. Well, I'm sure the original intent was to have grass there -- I do not. It's a challenging area to landscape; it gets a bit of hard use - occassional heat from parked car engines, and it's not connected to the sprinkler system. It was just dirt when I moved in, and I personally had no intention of ever planting grass there. I do love that it's not a solid concrete driveway though - when given a choice I will always opt for green surface areas versus concrete or asphalt.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone (you know, "everyone") always talks about how invasive mint is. Over the years I have planted it in areas where it's difficult to get anything else to grow and had success. Once you get it to take, you are pretty much good to go. I thought the center of my driveway would be the perfect space for mint - it's contained from spreading too crazily, and it's a hardy plant. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Overall I've been very pleased with it there. Originally I planted peppermint, spearmint, and pennyroyal mint. I learned that pennyroyal won't make it in the summer heat. The other two - pretty happy. They (you know, "they") say that you shouldn't mix the types - that they will hybrid themselves - but do I care? Not particularly. It all smells quite heavenly wafting up through my car vents when I drive over it, and it's all the same when feet tromp through it and the minty smell floats in the air. The plants on the front third of the driveway are really happy. The back two thirds don't get enough sun and it's mostly died there. I need to figure out something else for that portion. I have one healthy thyme plant, but it's not exactly doing the job... I'd love some riverstone and ground cover...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have a make-your-own garden stone kit - the type where you can make garden stones with words stamped in them. Last year I made one that says, "minty" and put it at the end of my driveway, near the sidewalk. I hoped that it would let passersby know that it was mint there, and not weeds. Should I care about that? Probably not. Do I? Well, a little. And I do like plant labels.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But at some point "minty" cracked in half. I keep scooting the pieces together, smushing dirt around them to hold them in place - mostly in vain. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYKnNFDODc7yaaDlm6RCxJU_lDs3Mn17hrUTjEBA2gyi-bISAY_C23Fjq0IXCXG11_7J4BGIj_b7MemjK-T-dmjkRX_ILoPmQG8pH834f6m0ZFap2WxUOyn7ow7vSfGE_jdFtq0ZnFjv-/s1600/2012+06+03+broken1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYKnNFDODc7yaaDlm6RCxJU_lDs3Mn17hrUTjEBA2gyi-bISAY_C23Fjq0IXCXG11_7J4BGIj_b7MemjK-T-dmjkRX_ILoPmQG8pH834f6m0ZFap2WxUOyn7ow7vSfGE_jdFtq0ZnFjv-/s200/2012+06+03+broken1.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
And then I saw this on Pinterest:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDpLChWR84b1WKgHI5AwT7qMFe65xqgeYOHRTXqwh09X7fmBqKI-PRDp-ccTAnQi2glKQYULvfsQOd7fadcspo7WlmU_9RZihEt1nUdL-OQjziLyHCEnwcH6bZ2_UzcJ_f8gB1nIHBU9M/s1600/152489137352700518_SuGxj1Xh_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDpLChWR84b1WKgHI5AwT7qMFe65xqgeYOHRTXqwh09X7fmBqKI-PRDp-ccTAnQi2glKQYULvfsQOd7fadcspo7WlmU_9RZihEt1nUdL-OQjziLyHCEnwcH6bZ2_UzcJ_f8gB1nIHBU9M/s320/152489137352700518_SuGxj1Xh_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://littlewhitedog-ie.blogspot.com/2011/05/blooming-marvelous-garden-letters.html">http://littlewhitedog-ie.blogspot.com/2011/05/blooming-marvelous-garden-letters.html</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And as I turned the image over in my mind, I had an idea. I know. I was just as surprised as you are.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I went to several hobby and craft stores, looking for big cardboard letters. They never had all the letters that I needed at the same time. I wasn't willing to buy one or two, and then hope that I would someday find the remaining ones I needed; I have enough projects going without buying half the materials needed and to have them lay around the house, waiting. After several attempts to buy them in a brick and mortar store, I turned to ThirdShift on Etsy. The owner said they would let me know when they had all the letters in stock, and they did. In short order I had my letters. These are 12" inches tall.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPmX-NOd9nlE3YktWmNlnnJFAT005MTV_aawFUCoMtMBGyZUSqvBrui1Y6sT6Q-4PRktev9rjbiLTY5uKnbAWzpCH1yLBBWUYm3DN6uVXrBcgJvY5fC90cfCwwvsTmv9d2oFC-9QQdIBi/s1600/2012+05+01+cardboard+letters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPmX-NOd9nlE3YktWmNlnnJFAT005MTV_aawFUCoMtMBGyZUSqvBrui1Y6sT6Q-4PRktev9rjbiLTY5uKnbAWzpCH1yLBBWUYm3DN6uVXrBcgJvY5fC90cfCwwvsTmv9d2oFC-9QQdIBi/s320/2012+05+01+cardboard+letters.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93446926/paper-mache-letter-x-12-tall-ready-to">http://www.etsy.com/listing/93446926/paper-mache-letter-x-12-tall-ready-to</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Next I took a box cutter and cut away one edge of the letters, leaving me with a mold:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOCvO2oriEPhQtSmHwnoy1BUnEXfrOjMiLJkCs644CnXRLUKnRFxl8jMUaXnHEYTnQ9s8rqkLV0C0xDtzyZpEVjSiNLPp20AnzOPIUscIsicAus_mz-3LXiQiffaqTSzMAeEF_9qaQAaS/s1600/2012+05+01+open+cardboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOCvO2oriEPhQtSmHwnoy1BUnEXfrOjMiLJkCs644CnXRLUKnRFxl8jMUaXnHEYTnQ9s8rqkLV0C0xDtzyZpEVjSiNLPp20AnzOPIUscIsicAus_mz-3LXiQiffaqTSzMAeEF_9qaQAaS/s320/2012+05+01+open+cardboard.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(I found zig zagged cardboard inside them for reinforcement. I pulled that out and threw it away.) Next I sprayed the cardboard with an aerosol waterproofing spray from my tub of camping supplies. And then I lined the inside of the letters with aluminum tape for additional protection against moisture, and to give them a little bit of stability. That took considerably longer than I expected - but I did have a little bit of OCD about it... : )</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Planning to pour concrete into the letters, I cut up coat hangers and bent the pieces around into 3D shapes to use as rebar:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfJGVg7NpdMthacFjFVxT6Rdl8ZSNPfcvRmbCH5NXg5J9kR9-MNjNiyKqCJ0FT_1E78v5tNvlwzE6irNMccJNtz1DI9xn_9pgXXOjXQiYplM2tGw4WqMb6sqSZxG-RU6sS3N9ecs0f8Px/s1600/2012+05+27+rebar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfJGVg7NpdMthacFjFVxT6Rdl8ZSNPfcvRmbCH5NXg5J9kR9-MNjNiyKqCJ0FT_1E78v5tNvlwzE6irNMccJNtz1DI9xn_9pgXXOjXQiYplM2tGw4WqMb6sqSZxG-RU6sS3N9ecs0f8Px/s320/2012+05+27+rebar.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And finally, I mixed up a batch of concrete in my wheelbarrow, and filled the molds with concrete.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_bccy4SKQiWdGwsVbR4YD_M66dV8yuKil8fAr47SdYXwtQ_xzBwB09UVjna5rUrm-LfGcbtmSzkEYRGow3CXvI2z9vyY6r3pmZEvrlABB9wN2m39oVg30neDkkc2yNyaRdIM1ZB_jlDt/s1600/2012+05+30+poured+letters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_bccy4SKQiWdGwsVbR4YD_M66dV8yuKil8fAr47SdYXwtQ_xzBwB09UVjna5rUrm-LfGcbtmSzkEYRGow3CXvI2z9vyY6r3pmZEvrlABB9wN2m39oVg30neDkkc2yNyaRdIM1ZB_jlDt/s320/2012+05+30+poured+letters.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I left them dry for 6 days, and then carfully removed them from the molds:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE5g_uBwBxX35mY7atRhAffFdKch1mVESsGEJUMgTatm50OYeL4x9k7JSBVNuqgntK-U1wUKltltBbTGEEPfLUqNYfZJDfbl8T4ISSvEeP6oaSvcr6OKUdRyeXIGdAeYKXl7bfk-I7fJS/s1600/2012+06+03+empty+molds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE5g_uBwBxX35mY7atRhAffFdKch1mVESsGEJUMgTatm50OYeL4x9k7JSBVNuqgntK-U1wUKltltBbTGEEPfLUqNYfZJDfbl8T4ISSvEeP6oaSvcr6OKUdRyeXIGdAeYKXl7bfk-I7fJS/s320/2012+06+03+empty+molds.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And spray painted them a benign color:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6iiI2lRT9kPVAQEIa8zQmsvSm2KPv3yM9yGPHxiILW3ATC1xI1I20jcLhlyXfunmkcIYMRfRgPxHxJt3CzBiUMYsj_RrvkTFlYToZJ0-yiraFuFBAdR6J3RDAFnNQyMccDxd_ubBb0D4/s1600/2012+06+03+paint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6iiI2lRT9kPVAQEIa8zQmsvSm2KPv3yM9yGPHxiILW3ATC1xI1I20jcLhlyXfunmkcIYMRfRgPxHxJt3CzBiUMYsj_RrvkTFlYToZJ0-yiraFuFBAdR6J3RDAFnNQyMccDxd_ubBb0D4/s320/2012+06+03+paint.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then I painted over them with some paint that goes on clear, but it supposed to soak up the sun during the day and glow at night, but.... best I could tell, it doesn't glow. Maybe I didn't put enough on -- I'll try another coat. But -- they still look great in my driveway bed of mint!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIM6YDubnVXziHqAZJgslIDUWj88XW_5NKmyOtA0jGs00g4kfSmUkSukOpnS_X73sWgW2KIDQvRZ3eEva0E-2Bkkzdrgxeyh7cX7c_Evb8Wq-79Jn3Ofa0Nk-ziTn-8xQodWS2OVkJZvc/s1600/2012+06+03+in+place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" fba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIM6YDubnVXziHqAZJgslIDUWj88XW_5NKmyOtA0jGs00g4kfSmUkSukOpnS_X73sWgW2KIDQvRZ3eEva0E-2Bkkzdrgxeyh7cX7c_Evb8Wq-79Jn3Ofa0Nk-ziTn-8xQodWS2OVkJZvc/s320/2012+06+03+in+place.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Now... as long as nobody drives on them.. : )<br />
<br />
<br />
.<br />
<br />Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-34198223395934726252012-05-30T12:00:00.000-05:002012-05-30T12:00:01.724-05:00Planted!I got my newly expanded front beds planted. Finally. Whew - I have to say I am relieved to be at this stage with this project. It was a doozy. I'm pleased with the end results though. <br />
<br />
Here is the right side:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdz2OnH0Sem8KS18yy-HUTm3UTg25WK4g64FUhmAxreotV9wo7hbs8QRM1AUIovkBZXOkxlHVUzxmaCI8Zr-Bct59Dk_f1dNY8Eesbe4laLweo6GlVClgGHiAtKlO04NEQF6yVgwSl-o0/s1600/2012+05+30+right.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdz2OnH0Sem8KS18yy-HUTm3UTg25WK4g64FUhmAxreotV9wo7hbs8QRM1AUIovkBZXOkxlHVUzxmaCI8Zr-Bct59Dk_f1dNY8Eesbe4laLweo6GlVClgGHiAtKlO04NEQF6yVgwSl-o0/s320/2012+05+30+right.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plants are small now, but they will fill in. I've learned the hard way to let them look sparse at first to allow for growth. Some of the plants I bought at the semi-annual butterfly plant sale, and some are transplants from the backyard. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I know that you can't distinguish plants in this photo, but on this side I planted a Butterfly Bush, two Horsemint for a blooming groundcover, 2 types of milkweed, and pentas. Pentas is an annual, and I am a perennial girl; but the butterflies love it so much that I relented. It's also pink - which I do not do - but again, to draw butterflies... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Already in the bed were Lamb's Ear and Turk's Cap. Lamb's Ear - I can take it or leave it. It is a variation in texture, and that's always good to have - but it doesn't really offer anything else. But it is well established so I left it there. And then the Turk's Cap; that's the tall green on the far right. It gets covered in little red blossoms that are loved by hummingbirds. It was also well established before I moved in, and I'll allow it to thrive.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And here is the left side:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In this front peninsula, my yellow echinacia is finally blooming. I added two milkweek in the right hand corner, and a type of daisy in the front left corner. The daisy is dead - but I'm leaving it there for now in hopes that it drops seeds. Along the front edge I have planted poppy seeds that a friend collected for me. I have tried to grow poppies before with dismal results, so I am hoping this time I have better luck. The bright green large plant that you see is a Flame Acanthus and it will have a ton of red blossoms for the hummingbirds. You can see the frosty Artesmisia poking out on the right hand side. Hidden from view entirely are fennel, Butterfly Weed, Cosmos, Calendula and a yellow daisy whose name escapes me...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYAuwB6gU5OaSMIuoWeaGvQUFdUUdebiiVE42Ub8VsZaMUsVU6_qmvbo4ouNyPMhCXarPb9OHa27JpvpyGmHJoujd6PEJzgK5ejPQcr0ZkT1LlEI3zNWe513yR_N2Fo9zMfqY6sLD_J16/s1600/2012+05+30+left+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYAuwB6gU5OaSMIuoWeaGvQUFdUUdebiiVE42Ub8VsZaMUsVU6_qmvbo4ouNyPMhCXarPb9OHa27JpvpyGmHJoujd6PEJzgK5ejPQcr0ZkT1LlEI3zNWe513yR_N2Fo9zMfqY6sLD_J16/s320/2012+05+30+left+front.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Moving up the edge of the bed, just a red pentas there that is new. It's alongside Russian Sage</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5UuC-t1nn1qud1vZpISpwlqyLA9la27R8ypXvf5bTClLuk1zstYrbQT6nTdBJ6_KVkqPV_LJib8GS_KYx_wFX7S69s-3AuXR1vf2w9m6_O5FlyW3_bNoOS713d3Dw5Rvdte_epjUKJ-F/s1600/2012+05+30+left.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5UuC-t1nn1qud1vZpISpwlqyLA9la27R8ypXvf5bTClLuk1zstYrbQT6nTdBJ6_KVkqPV_LJib8GS_KYx_wFX7S69s-3AuXR1vf2w9m6_O5FlyW3_bNoOS713d3Dw5Rvdte_epjUKJ-F/s320/2012+05+30+left.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then turning the corner... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Left to right I have another Horsemint groundcover (it's cut off in the photo). Then an agave plant. This was in a pot but I knew the pot was too small. There was no way to get it out of the pot and leave the pot intact, so I hit the pot with a hammer and split it in half. The agave had started a few new plants in the pot and I separated those out. I planted the larger 3 in this bed, and planted several tiny shoots in the backyard beds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Next are some onion chives from a neighbor (planted those this morning!) 3 Goldenrod, one Pacific Daisy (fall blooming) another agave, two Rattlesnack Masters (a succulent that blooms) and a purple blooming Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda Citriodora) that blooms purple. It's blooming, but it's hard to see in this photo.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnRzH3wFN_PtwoJLB_O02NwqsL0oeH2MZHNYV5FJpU2E23BvvGjJmechnUDmO0k_QPcgjY7h0-RebEqTLS3apMojoJ51QBdoGvsTg9shMg2oadm7WsEcBhVHJoqfRC63Ci2sv6vEfHRFj/s1600/2012+05+30+left2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnRzH3wFN_PtwoJLB_O02NwqsL0oeH2MZHNYV5FJpU2E23BvvGjJmechnUDmO0k_QPcgjY7h0-RebEqTLS3apMojoJ51QBdoGvsTg9shMg2oadm7WsEcBhVHJoqfRC63Ci2sv6vEfHRFj/s320/2012+05+30+left2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So what remains on this project? I have some seeds to put out on the left side - marigolds, for the remaining portion of my marigold seed trial that I am participating in; Dill, and .... others, but I can't remember sitting here now what they are.<br />
<br />
For the right hand side, I need to switch out the mulch around the tree to match the rest of the bed. I need to re-do the fountain* reservoir dig up and repair some sprinkler heads, and did up the spigot to repair the leak. None of those sound like much fun, but all of them need to happen...<br />
<br />
* Long post, coming soon...<br />
.Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-71506163132335406002012-05-30T11:13:00.000-05:002012-05-30T11:13:31.449-05:00Honeysuckle for Privacy<div style="text-align: justify;">
Did I tell you the honeysuckle plant on my first privacy trellis bit the dust? And that I had a bit of a "dust up" with the nursery from whom I bought it? It's too long of an uninteresting story of frustration that I prefer to leave behind, so suffice it to say that I had to go buy another honeysuckle. I did not return to the same nursery...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So the new one looks like it is going to have both yellow and coral blossoms on it - I swear I saw both on it when I bought it. That would be really cool. I planted it on Sunday, and re-strung the lines that I had to cut to pull out the old honeysuckle.</div>
<br />
Here it is in place:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZm26XWO-PbrJ0nUI9SAketa6m7Nceos1J0JtDX5m_AhgLL20m_L9peWNk_PPOeXoHnJg7tSVJzp1NqGwrupvj2JfDFayrPtHO589Hi_8Gco1FTN1vvSXX4UVMPHcPfm6h9CZN39VUw9a/s1600/2012+05+30+honeysuckle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZm26XWO-PbrJ0nUI9SAketa6m7Nceos1J0JtDX5m_AhgLL20m_L9peWNk_PPOeXoHnJg7tSVJzp1NqGwrupvj2JfDFayrPtHO589Hi_8Gco1FTN1vvSXX4UVMPHcPfm6h9CZN39VUw9a/s320/2012+05+30+honeysuckle.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's sort of hard to distinguish it from the shrub behind it...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
And here it is, between the poles. The wires (fishline) are blissfully invisible. Blissful, that is, until you forget they are there, and you almost walk into them. Not that that has <em>happened</em> to me, but it could be cautionary tale.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBnO3NKkkyqKHqRV8C8IEIOg0FWLvSYfff4dXE_sqYi5KzEzmkNxhypFcYZBBuT3brIN5cgBCDgC3SQH_SSvWeusckqlsaOb4tFTFZX5jV57ac4o0trbgo3T-2ocomCRxO4VkPfQP8Yhr/s1600/2012+05+30+honeysuckle2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBnO3NKkkyqKHqRV8C8IEIOg0FWLvSYfff4dXE_sqYi5KzEzmkNxhypFcYZBBuT3brIN5cgBCDgC3SQH_SSvWeusckqlsaOb4tFTFZX5jV57ac4o0trbgo3T-2ocomCRxO4VkPfQP8Yhr/s320/2012+05+30+honeysuckle2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's gotten a late start compared to the passion flower vine, but I have high hopes. It gets great morning sun. I looked at it this morning, and it looks like its getting ready to put out a bunch of new blossoms. Happy.<br />
<br />
<br />
.Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-4246390668231602282012-05-30T10:59:00.003-05:002012-05-30T10:59:41.782-05:00Gulf Fritillary<div style="text-align: justify;">
On my morning garden walk today I went to check on my privacy trellises. Every few days I like to check the vines and encourage the little tendrils to reach up to the next row of wire. This morning on my passion flower vine I spotted two caterpillars!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUK7VaT1JNiM-zdTFt-lYPAu-2wjkNINM4lqaBttfn90Fi3Tsa93kIDme2xoFWZug92GUO2X4oP6xclkYnX659_2QsBYnFN7EciUnbOFXo_XGpKTcZykyI7e4HOlaCN1BL7d9ucQVOYX5/s1600/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+caterpillar1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUK7VaT1JNiM-zdTFt-lYPAu-2wjkNINM4lqaBttfn90Fi3Tsa93kIDme2xoFWZug92GUO2X4oP6xclkYnX659_2QsBYnFN7EciUnbOFXo_XGpKTcZykyI7e4HOlaCN1BL7d9ucQVOYX5/s320/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+caterpillar1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxjsOY55ArB-QKu_t9T9-VmQ6CyAzKhetiAyP5aqTozJIKxgbqqBw6HoZojIJvYVpN-RY4aa5TL3IdCbPssPR4W_IT-Gp0Aup1BobnvaFT2qFwBMWtGUQ6IuUAxCyfvSClFQUDDQ7flNa/s1600/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+caterpillar2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxjsOY55ArB-QKu_t9T9-VmQ6CyAzKhetiAyP5aqTozJIKxgbqqBw6HoZojIJvYVpN-RY4aa5TL3IdCbPssPR4W_IT-Gp0Aup1BobnvaFT2qFwBMWtGUQ6IuUAxCyfvSClFQUDDQ7flNa/s320/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+caterpillar2.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I looked them up in my butterfly reference book* and found out they are the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar, which dines on the passion flower blossoms. (I think that even though the shades of orange are a little different, they are both the same type, just at different maturities. I "think.") I also found a photo in the book of what the butterfly egg looks like, and went back outside to see if I could see any one the vine. Yes! I snapped a few photos, but they are too tiny to photograph.</div>
<br />
Here's what it will look like as a butterfly:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KD8LMQ4mzbvxAKOEPwma-rR2mKYrBLJ1bCPd0oTWI0IzaS6oF44-7OUKR-c2YBaqFCpv73ajEMrMOa8gWO_DZWNJQrXxRvGkQaVUdiENiih9CXkoE91Du0IQuxEN9CtRDRlcbghbQUOX/s1600/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+butterfly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KD8LMQ4mzbvxAKOEPwma-rR2mKYrBLJ1bCPd0oTWI0IzaS6oF44-7OUKR-c2YBaqFCpv73ajEMrMOa8gWO_DZWNJQrXxRvGkQaVUdiENiih9CXkoE91Du0IQuxEN9CtRDRlcbghbQUOX/s320/2012+05+30+gulf+fritillary+butterfly.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love that the butterflies have found this plant already - they were one of the the reasons I chose that plant. Happy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
* Here's the book I have: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Cycles-Butterflies-Maturity/dp/1580176178/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338393078&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/The-Life-Cycles-Butterflies-Maturity/dp/1580176178/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338393078&sr=1-1</a>#_<br />
<br />
.Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-32866664523746738682012-05-29T15:10:00.003-05:002012-05-29T15:10:58.323-05:00Privacy Trellis - It's Growing!Hi! I just wanted to show you how the privacy trellis vine growth is coming along.... the passion vine is really happy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jiAiXKM-S095sgGx3mJO0vtPgV3xb-UffnynLBo3JRzAuLxstZCfGuhrjhKRT7F0xkgJxwv4AO3e5I-AhPaJWNU2xrz9wWtYEdoVI99I4p1pkOdvLZXKPtcmy3HVdUa54CIfnGyOIPm0/s1600/2012+05+28+passion+trellis1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jiAiXKM-S095sgGx3mJO0vtPgV3xb-UffnynLBo3JRzAuLxstZCfGuhrjhKRT7F0xkgJxwv4AO3e5I-AhPaJWNU2xrz9wWtYEdoVI99I4p1pkOdvLZXKPtcmy3HVdUa54CIfnGyOIPm0/s320/2012+05+28+passion+trellis1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88aOMSuyp33zUnfKaNxyd36gOtH6ngEG-5-r9YS5-qle3Cz5LFP13OmbWfEkt5zbP4GBfDmIRZ5COKGgieqHZHMqFOkYqWz36YmR__V7yiEBUq4yla6ElzO5fCrZT_EvCdL25E2OfBRWe/s1600/2012+05+28+passion+trellis2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88aOMSuyp33zUnfKaNxyd36gOtH6ngEG-5-r9YS5-qle3Cz5LFP13OmbWfEkt5zbP4GBfDmIRZ5COKGgieqHZHMqFOkYqWz36YmR__V7yiEBUq4yla6ElzO5fCrZT_EvCdL25E2OfBRWe/s320/2012+05+28+passion+trellis2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The vines are already almost as high up the wires as I am tall! I do love it when a plan comes together.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>How did we get here? Read the four prior posts on this project:</em><br />
<br />
<em>April 2nd </em><br />
<em>http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/privacy-trellis-construction-begins.html</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>April 2nd: </em><br />
<em>http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/trellis-post-caps.html</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>April 24th: </em><br />
<em>http://www.my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/sideyard-privacy-trellis-project-done.html</em><br />
<em><br /></em><br />
<em>April 17th: </em><br />
<em>http://www.my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/privacy-trellis-progress-update.html</em><br />
<br />
<br />
I had to replant the honeysuckle, and re-string the lines for it - I got that done on Sunday. Another post...<br />
<br />Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-48889270674153216772012-05-21T14:45:00.001-05:002012-05-21T15:44:10.053-05:00Finally -- Ready for Planting!<div style="text-align: justify;">
My newly expanded front beds are ready for planting! That was my number one goal for this weekend - and despite a rather <em>reduced</em> weekend time frame, Red and I got it done on Sunday. Yay!!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Friday night we stayed up much much too late - and Saturday morning we set the alarm for 6 to be at Living Earth Technologies by the time they opened at 7:30 a.m. Translation: Great efforts were made to be there before a line formed (fail) and to get a jump start on supplies for the beds. (Fail.) I had called LIT on Friday about pricing for bagged compost and mulch. The lady was very patient, giving me tons of prices, and very informative about what the types were. Unfortunately, she failed to mention that they were sold out of all bagged product. Yes - we got up early, drove, waited in line, only to be turned away. I was unhappy. Okay, I was really grumpy. Should I have asked if they had it in stock? Perhaps. But in my defense, their website said it was available, and well -- if I were answering the phones, looking out the window at the supply yard -- I would have mentioned that the item the customer was inquiring about wasn't currently available. But hey - that's just me. I obviously do not work there. : )</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway -- I did some competitor supplier research, and Sunday morning Red met me at Redenta's with his truck. Redenta's carries the LIT products that I wanted to buy. Now the prices are a little higher per bag, but I get a 10% neighborhood discount and if you buy more than 20 bags, the price drops $1 per bag. And it's less than 2 miles from my house, not 12. So in the spirit of really wanting to finish the project, and continuing my efforts to support local, independent businesses, I was happy enough to buy what I needed there. And, they were able to sell me some soil amendments to fix my alkaline soil issue. And so 32 bags later...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWJeUT5fKYH53XYNi8uab26fkyhCNPZ60mWAheXN25Mvy7oQ9NNJb0hGUeSR3_gdSshyphenhyphenoLrv6-GYGSgpRjup-FbUW5KJhTI7PZ5LrfOS6MmzkUpmBrtf6aSIcxxbf7ymFVMtecWR6mTlB/s1600/2012+05+20+Amendments.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWJeUT5fKYH53XYNi8uab26fkyhCNPZ60mWAheXN25Mvy7oQ9NNJb0hGUeSR3_gdSshyphenhyphenoLrv6-GYGSgpRjup-FbUW5KJhTI7PZ5LrfOS6MmzkUpmBrtf6aSIcxxbf7ymFVMtecWR6mTlB/s320/2012+05+20+Amendments.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soil Amendments<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr8ydQ7BZtqicMM3HJZfxF7JtR6AxA6zAjk9vGF9muBJjBZaT0T8-tGNEmUzUlbxm-3qJZw1HPdIX1sqowMGE0k1EvgVGUARaJ3Lw0xi3RtIhSlMeRabDspfZH5CptlAiWnUGhPx0YfvG/s1600/2012+05+20+piles1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgr8ydQ7BZtqicMM3HJZfxF7JtR6AxA6zAjk9vGF9muBJjBZaT0T8-tGNEmUzUlbxm-3qJZw1HPdIX1sqowMGE0k1EvgVGUARaJ3Lw0xi3RtIhSlMeRabDspfZH5CptlAiWnUGhPx0YfvG/s320/2012+05+20+piles1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nhld9Q3XrnIwtnMGCSbjk242stXLbz4NUh0fNweEm0wNiP15KCLWk2l9hH9bbjGlavuGKhMhqbS0K6uNrrhwANZMie3_K_vGqOJi18eUzJWiVkgr6CdA-sGXM8TmbysQgBNN4g1UIymA/s1600/2012+05+20+piles2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nhld9Q3XrnIwtnMGCSbjk242stXLbz4NUh0fNweEm0wNiP15KCLWk2l9hH9bbjGlavuGKhMhqbS0K6uNrrhwANZMie3_K_vGqOJi18eUzJWiVkgr6CdA-sGXM8TmbysQgBNN4g1UIymA/s320/2012+05+20+piles2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eTqiftWRhQpmDbvsvCXYdC_26ZNQsMcrjs7FdIYjqTKUAMbxpX1b1Z09Yu4H9CM9VEQ64GaMyclYMTsFGfMhTvMxzVPL_uhKyNHrMAKbmBeadhYXv9xmzBObPrk2WFsTl51ShuNc6Ps0/s1600/2012+05+20+piles3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eTqiftWRhQpmDbvsvCXYdC_26ZNQsMcrjs7FdIYjqTKUAMbxpX1b1Z09Yu4H9CM9VEQ64GaMyclYMTsFGfMhTvMxzVPL_uhKyNHrMAKbmBeadhYXv9xmzBObPrk2WFsTl51ShuNc6Ps0/s320/2012+05+20+piles3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Almost immediately after unloading the truck we went to get lunch. : ) (I have a bad habit of getting caught up in projects on Sundays and not eating. Thank you to Red for reminding me that food really should be a priority - especially with the amount of labor we were facing...)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We tilled. We sprinkled. We raked. We bagged. We tilled again. We hoisted bags, emptied bags,trimmed trees and shrubs We located elusive sprinkler heads (without damaging any!) And, we did not encounter any snakes. And finally, we mulched extensively.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don't know how many hours that took... but it was several. Then I edged and mowed... and...</div>
<br />
Here's the left side:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG2ulSLneckZ3Tbi3qMIqDYPdxeSpmA_-wf5Wl9Xsj6XcwUnRsfgU6LjcNAgf4SI1jMhKn3mR_LwzrdhfKgMyQnt28cg2IDsB18WfvBo4qHAquRBgkwKi4cTzuT2ugePCetBtyqR8lu3I/s1600/2012+05+20+left1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG2ulSLneckZ3Tbi3qMIqDYPdxeSpmA_-wf5Wl9Xsj6XcwUnRsfgU6LjcNAgf4SI1jMhKn3mR_LwzrdhfKgMyQnt28cg2IDsB18WfvBo4qHAquRBgkwKi4cTzuT2ugePCetBtyqR8lu3I/s320/2012+05+20+left1.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2cXTpU5diYawGC176hrSlVJyvVOU9DBsPCXYHFRXoGb36RcCwUETi7YM0btXzpIe0U_63KvJiumItz84WYI8SBYpzch5Obv8sYTDMwBhWmPg7Cdg1kmX06tQlXWL9Pf_HdvT08SyY546/s1600/2012+05+20+left2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2cXTpU5diYawGC176hrSlVJyvVOU9DBsPCXYHFRXoGb36RcCwUETi7YM0btXzpIe0U_63KvJiumItz84WYI8SBYpzch5Obv8sYTDMwBhWmPg7Cdg1kmX06tQlXWL9Pf_HdvT08SyY546/s320/2012+05+20+left2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's difficult to see in this photo, and once again I neglected to take before and after photos, but I "raised the canopy" on that row of shrubs. I also did sort of a poor pruning job on that big rosemary bush...</div>
<br />
And then here is the right side:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzQNnQYUbqGvD9EBqG1xWFeU-IZhEENlZqZpWVO7lD_1vhgFeoXqy8R47MCFCkgllWwqrWVfAYsSkuRJWgxDM1H9lraC_VuzbAGGpQfOm1tyhkAY2FXMU_ssLoLNKYavh8WDRQ5Wta2r-/s1600/2012+05+20+right2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzQNnQYUbqGvD9EBqG1xWFeU-IZhEENlZqZpWVO7lD_1vhgFeoXqy8R47MCFCkgllWwqrWVfAYsSkuRJWgxDM1H9lraC_VuzbAGGpQfOm1tyhkAY2FXMU_ssLoLNKYavh8WDRQ5Wta2r-/s320/2012+05+20+right2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8T1YlLDhk-izWIJwiUIwza0iV3xxQEEIAfbqpcMubQQ7tK19ng-8v3fkX4en9AwhQhMHgcBM-C-vrRXl8Nd1ksBAdBf7JZS85Pt7eJE-FUy-l0xqL__C3feP6pzoyocDFL8EZN41LIX4J/s1600/2012+05+20+right1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8T1YlLDhk-izWIJwiUIwza0iV3xxQEEIAfbqpcMubQQ7tK19ng-8v3fkX4en9AwhQhMHgcBM-C-vrRXl8Nd1ksBAdBf7JZS85Pt7eJE-FUy-l0xqL__C3feP6pzoyocDFL8EZN41LIX4J/s320/2012+05+20+right1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've since decided that I need to put the dark mulch around the tree base as well. I was going to leave it as is, but... no.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's hard to describe how liberating it was to finally till and weed the back part of this bed. I'd been wanting to spiff up this bed for many months, but I knew that there were lots of pieces and parts to the project and that it would require substantial time. But it feels so. much. better. And the trees and shrubs will be so. much. happier. with the soil around them aerated and fertilized! There is still some hard work on this side remaining: I have a couple of sprinkler heads that need to be unearthed (see those 2 red flags?) -- they are both almost a foot below dirt level! And I still have the leak in the outdoor spigot pipe - that's under the window there. And, some labor but a fun end result -- I need to dig a hole for the water resevoir for my fountain! It will go somewhere in this bed. Okay, so I bought the fountain in OCTOBER. But I have changed my mind several times about where I want it -- backyard, frontyard, etc. -- so it's <em>probably good</em> that I didn't put it in place immediately! (Queen of Rationalization Crown firmly affixed.)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I really wanted to get plants in the ground as well, but I just plain ran out of daylight. And then I wanted to at least set them out in pots, staging them where I thought they might go, but honestly, I was worried someone would steal them. I know... that's irrationally crazy... but it's true. And really, I need to write down what plants I have, and their sun requirements, and how tall they will get so that I can give them their best placement. I hope to do that list today, and plant tomorrow evening. Theoretically the planting should go really fast because the soil is recently tilled and ready to go. Just make a hole, and drop them in. SO. EXCITED.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also bought some supplies to make some really cool plant markers that will LAST. But that's another post. : )</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This morning dog and I set out for our morning walk, and I'll admit: Stepping out into the front yard was akin to returning to the scene of the crime. But it sure did look beautiful out there -- and smelled yummy like great soil. : ) GEEK. Happy.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-10649881775576174412012-05-21T14:05:00.001-05:002012-05-21T14:05:36.013-05:00DIY Soil Testing<div style="text-align: justify;">
This past weekend I was ready to amend and till the soil in my new beds in front. I read about a DIY soil test to determine if my soil is alkaline or acidic. (I'll give credit where credit is due: <a href="http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85637370.tip.html">http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85637370.tip.html</a> ) </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can follow the link and read for yourself, but roughly the technique is this:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Scoop up some soil and put it in 2 cups. (If you want to you can scoop from topsoil and from a few inches below the surface and mix them together.)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To the first cup add 1/2 cup vinegar. To the second cup add 1/2 cup baking soda, and then a 1/2 cup water.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the vinegar one fizzes, your soil is alkaline. If the baking soda one fizzes, your soil is acidic.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I did the vinegar one first, and went to my pantry to get the baking soda. Before I got back, the glass with vinegar had fizzed over the top like a souffle, and all over my counter! (Note: conduct this test outdoors... lol) I guess I got my answer...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWYhJVeMz8tdTRCP4zj-sD-16OM-BzWeWqzsfaWxavexQYjf3nbRF_vgZy_SxA4vf8Fnb_ekfg_TgNuSGZnRSMyqIF-EQJa9hU8s-WY3P4kzoyKAnNmRi9i6YL2nJ0uzMUG8K-y1AbfxA/s1600/2012+05+20+soil+test.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWYhJVeMz8tdTRCP4zj-sD-16OM-BzWeWqzsfaWxavexQYjf3nbRF_vgZy_SxA4vf8Fnb_ekfg_TgNuSGZnRSMyqIF-EQJa9hU8s-WY3P4kzoyKAnNmRi9i6YL2nJ0uzMUG8K-y1AbfxA/s320/2012+05+20+soil+test.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Nothing at all happened with the baking soda glass.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-70636657784444296582012-05-14T12:28:00.001-05:002012-05-14T12:28:17.988-05:00More Flower Bed Progress<div style="text-align: justify;">
I had an amazing day in the yard yesterday! The weather was so comfortable for mid-May that I had to pinch myself and wonder if I was really in Dallas... </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I finished digging up the sod on the left half of the front yard, and gave a sidewalk full of tidy squares of beautiful sod to a neighbor in need. I had no expectations of finishing the left side, but I surprised myself. I think it was due to easier digging because of our recent rains, and the moderate temperatures. I even got my tiller out and tilled the bed when I was done! I was pleased to realize that with some redistribution of the soils in the bed, that I really am not short that much volume. I think I can just amend the soil a bit and have plenty of depth for planting. I will need quite a bit of mulch, though.</div>
<br />
Ta-da! (Look, my little pecan tree is still alive under it's wire protection!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkKhmqKXa_uM5AscIoZk7d7wMgr8LIurBiWIehMyR3Pb1j2_M7OUYFd6yKOD24krLFcMoN2SfcweAW8fCWvHY_XcvUnbbzvLqrhsmb6n2P3sP3ilBYCmCtJFufnJiyGZERABXHTwIZatn/s1600/2012+05+14+one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkKhmqKXa_uM5AscIoZk7d7wMgr8LIurBiWIehMyR3Pb1j2_M7OUYFd6yKOD24krLFcMoN2SfcweAW8fCWvHY_XcvUnbbzvLqrhsmb6n2P3sP3ilBYCmCtJFufnJiyGZERABXHTwIZatn/s320/2012+05+14+one.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_5zNocgYI47NHf6-PYCJuB9HvPqqqFyXhLm1uRrTRiGPWCDaHMx_vrskA8LqR-Arbjc71-CeqEJzmEtIS9yJIjMUEsB8gHestEPeZM8q8ez_jRxIKWLrLTLuQCYTXUYbnLRSg92pn8WZ/s1600/2012+05+14+two.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_5zNocgYI47NHf6-PYCJuB9HvPqqqFyXhLm1uRrTRiGPWCDaHMx_vrskA8LqR-Arbjc71-CeqEJzmEtIS9yJIjMUEsB8gHestEPeZM8q8ez_jRxIKWLrLTLuQCYTXUYbnLRSg92pn8WZ/s320/2012+05+14+two.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZRgVuF1jFgYg9UNnEIMG1GhVOX_7rCIswRbT9hj-pRDKahraqejrlVUwCphOQHNvJ3zOjLf-wAzKuvwn2HP2lq-MniNRwdA33Fx_ZT7ixq4crewcAU2V8OL_Fnzr2vltxkm-hSh1VahK/s1600/2012+05+14+three.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZRgVuF1jFgYg9UNnEIMG1GhVOX_7rCIswRbT9hj-pRDKahraqejrlVUwCphOQHNvJ3zOjLf-wAzKuvwn2HP2lq-MniNRwdA33Fx_ZT7ixq4crewcAU2V8OL_Fnzr2vltxkm-hSh1VahK/s320/2012+05+14+three.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I still need to give the existing shrubs some love - thin out the trunks down below the canopy (can shrubs have a canopy, or is that just trees? Anyway, I need to prune them to show their legs. Call that what you want....)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm starting the fun part now - thinking about what plants I can relocate to this bed! This side of the front yard is the sunny side. The right hand side is mostly shade. I know I have a couple of things in the backyard that are not getting enough sun, and I'll move those. And I have marigold seeds remaining from the marigold seed trials I am participating in - those will be planted. I also have some onion sets from a neighbor that I may try - although it might be too late for those... I also have seeds that I've harvested from my cosmos and my calendula - certainly I will have room for more of those. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I volunteered at The Butterfly Plant Sale at Texas Discovery Gardens this past weekend. I forced myself to leave my debit card in my car to reduce temptation, and I managed to not buy a single thing - astonishing. My beds weren't ready, so I used that to rationalize my good behavior. However.... all of the inventory didn't sell, and we are having a follow up sale this Saturday! And gee... now my front bed IS ready... tee hee ha ha. So I'll likely pick up a few things there. I mean, prices will be reduced, and, well... look at that beautiful bed! It will be good to let the soil rest for a week before planting, too...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also plan to flip through some of my garden books and figure out some plants that will bloom or have pretty foliage throughout the year - not just in the summer - so that my entire bed doesn't die back in the Winter. I've never made those considerations before, so that will be new territory (pun intended) for me. I'd love any suggestions you may have. I'm in Zone 8. And I have pretty decent soil...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will start digging up the right hand side this week. It will be easier than the left side was for a variety of reasons: (a) It's a smaller area. (b) I don't have to get on my hands and knees under existing shrubs to be able to reach all of the grass. (c) Boy, do I have the technique down to a science!</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-77182104319622631542012-05-14T12:02:00.001-05:002012-05-14T12:05:57.325-05:00Mother's Day Garden Bouquet<div style="text-align: justify;">
I hope everyone had a relaxing Mother's Day yesterday - even if you aren't a mother! My mother lives across the country, so I wasn't able to see her. I did pick some flowers from my garden for a special person in my life, though, and put them into an arrangement:</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wOuAQG-QqRpMo0Gl7X_6ILzKuMqC-nFe7bebqa2SxCfWvNckYUOtT1tfszyz7GpxTmiAy3FFNxS1Z2VdhNHAGn2wBWC1UlW7rp8Jt2F7o1k70-RfuukgUvSISL2MxCBa8oVLrg8eRHsg/s1600/2012+05+13+Mothers+Day+bouquet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wOuAQG-QqRpMo0Gl7X_6ILzKuMqC-nFe7bebqa2SxCfWvNckYUOtT1tfszyz7GpxTmiAy3FFNxS1Z2VdhNHAGn2wBWC1UlW7rp8Jt2F7o1k70-RfuukgUvSISL2MxCBa8oVLrg8eRHsg/s320/2012+05+13+Mothers+Day+bouquet.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It includes Blue Spires Sage (a salvia), Bachelor Buttons, Black Eyed Susans, Lavender, Bog Sage, and Brazilian Verbena. I'm not sure which was more fun - choosing and harvesting the flowers, or delivering the finished bouquet! <br />
<br />
<em>2012 Manifesto statement #21: Grow flowers and give them away.</em></div>
<br />Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-21652040388430641252012-05-07T14:11:00.000-05:002012-05-07T14:11:05.148-05:00Flower Bed Expansion Project Progress<div style="text-align: justify;">
After having a posting on Craig's List for nearly 2 weeks offering "free St. Augustine sod - you dig it up, it's yours" without good results* I set out with my shovel on Sunday to tackle it myself.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Saturday I had a brain spark that I should make a sign reading, "FREE SOD" to put in my parkway as I dug it up, but frankly I was too lazy to actually do it. I got up Sunday, had my coffee talk on the porch with friends, and started digging. I lined up the squares of the (beautiful, healthy) sod on the sidewalk, with really no plan of what I would do with it but somehow assured that it would all work out.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-dchH9cljbWNXA66ezTgqUnUeocLdXCJtUUVA6sD9ZKtPqx-50TAhgxoV0Jg7mNmejW2o4FGdXADEHF7uz7xvEe_tPxZj4DdB6QAw2t-vpn8UbwZ1hSxIzspzv6IT_T_pQoiQ3kfMLQp/s1600/2012+05+06+squares.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-dchH9cljbWNXA66ezTgqUnUeocLdXCJtUUVA6sD9ZKtPqx-50TAhgxoV0Jg7mNmejW2o4FGdXADEHF7uz7xvEe_tPxZj4DdB6QAw2t-vpn8UbwZ1hSxIzspzv6IT_T_pQoiQ3kfMLQp/s320/2012+05+06+squares.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I had dug up two squares and laid them out on the sidewalk, the voice in my head became too loud to ignore. With a heavy sigh I put down the shovel, peeled off my gloves, took off my hat, shucked off my work boots and padded into my house in stocking feet to make a sign. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Came back out, reassembled my work attire and unceremoniously stuck the sign into the ground in my parkeway. Picked up the shovel and resumed the fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0FFxlZV8PCiwgGscqOeJSkVeuNldMMhkmY7LJFh6XkHbJyE2UvLs7cWSdivu2q0fmKfqzAMCzg7M3TbH4n36VXT3ZYWFKTZkyV_t8ve-BjO-hVv9MJpmabDcUmCWGoLtVX5bswqeSspc/s1600/2012+05+06+new+sod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0FFxlZV8PCiwgGscqOeJSkVeuNldMMhkmY7LJFh6XkHbJyE2UvLs7cWSdivu2q0fmKfqzAMCzg7M3TbH4n36VXT3ZYWFKTZkyV_t8ve-BjO-hVv9MJpmabDcUmCWGoLtVX5bswqeSspc/s320/2012+05+06+new+sod.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Literally less than 15 minutes later my neighbor from up on the corner was strolling my way, asking what in the heck I was doing. I explained that I am steadily chipping away at my front lawn, abolishing it bit by bit. She looked at the yard, looked at the sign, and said, "I want it." Sweet! I offered my wheelbarrow for transport and kept digging. She stopped me, and pointed. "Pull up that sign. I want ALL of it." Seriously? It turns out between our rain, her many dogs, and hosting a neighborhood Easter event, her sod was shot, and she didn't have the cash to replace it. I'm so glad I made the sign! Win/win, I say.<br />
<br />
Also, I will cite my 2012 Manifesto, statement #6: <em>Listen to the voice in your head; it may not be your own.</em><br />
<br />
Digging up sod in tidy squares is not necessarily difficult, or hard work, but it is sort of slow. I worked for a couple of hours - not exactly sure how long - and got enough squares cut out to fill two wheelbarrows heaping full. But really, it wasn't as much coverage (uncoverage?) as I would have anticipated. Behold, the new corner, with the new placement of border stones:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiP_6vOCZhOS4HlaYcBqpN7C6STwYhtjhoPzwNwL48UR7mS_SEXC2e2bnI9GPWaHCYajc8AOEe4V8usTqkNJGAG6WW0obEy-M4rgfQ5lhGSzcL6lg8h8ZWdLse177Sw6xYIK36W0ikDvG/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmiP_6vOCZhOS4HlaYcBqpN7C6STwYhtjhoPzwNwL48UR7mS_SEXC2e2bnI9GPWaHCYajc8AOEe4V8usTqkNJGAG6WW0obEy-M4rgfQ5lhGSzcL6lg8h8ZWdLse177Sw6xYIK36W0ikDvG/s320/photo1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And I also dug up along the inside of the "squiggle" portion:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE9NiD7yJBXR5kncwcl_jZVhwufzwbQ78LqjeEdHbWKSJZbamMw4uk6zu_wCAfKF8ApuRcfODQhn0P3GHetY5dH6bGBFKjyHpdIvEEw-z2TC_XsC4NDhV5JeBH3JLTEuccu8EZi6ICdCl/s1600/2012+05+06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghE9NiD7yJBXR5kncwcl_jZVhwufzwbQ78LqjeEdHbWKSJZbamMw4uk6zu_wCAfKF8ApuRcfODQhn0P3GHetY5dH6bGBFKjyHpdIvEEw-z2TC_XsC4NDhV5JeBH3JLTEuccu8EZi6ICdCl/s320/2012+05+06.JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
I knew pulling the grass out from the behind the border, allowing the contrast of the soil vs grass would give a big change visually, and I was looking forward to seeing it - i.e. validating all the hard work of rearranging the border stones 2 weeks ago! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdfHtO-flk0DYzIoG4hky1_YBQ4QE2jBwyX11XRkhPSn_nnGVZKzxIyV7Pf09xe-ZARu1IbHyoO6Quqeewn90lqdS6qtWkaq_pM7zIJBYAM3o4kGE7IN1oEUzUx-WWhEG8u0enb8DNN1Y/s1600/2012+05+06+new+corner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdfHtO-flk0DYzIoG4hky1_YBQ4QE2jBwyX11XRkhPSn_nnGVZKzxIyV7Pf09xe-ZARu1IbHyoO6Quqeewn90lqdS6qtWkaq_pM7zIJBYAM3o4kGE7IN1oEUzUx-WWhEG8u0enb8DNN1Y/s320/2012+05+06+new+corner.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For this left side of the yard, here is the portion that remains to be dug up:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeusPQu_WJoYVJLTkEc0lnXxWwIbkEV2MhOy9g6QHKV-ys2-_F1R3DrG55kc1D-9_mFTeATZXu2p4zQs1s9V1nmpev8owIKTCdvOk4_xM7e3WTPQrQsEtsQL3aNhKC-iBqn-lLY0iFbpa/s1600/2012+05+06+remaining.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNeusPQu_WJoYVJLTkEc0lnXxWwIbkEV2MhOy9g6QHKV-ys2-_F1R3DrG55kc1D-9_mFTeATZXu2p4zQs1s9V1nmpev8owIKTCdvOk4_xM7e3WTPQrQsEtsQL3aNhKC-iBqn-lLY0iFbpa/s320/2012+05+06+remaining.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I MIGHT be a third of the way done with just the left side. What you can't see in the photo is that the grass extends a few feet to the left, underneath the shrubbery... Who needs a gym membership? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The good news is, (or is it good news? Perhaps not...) I am not under any deadline to finish it, other than the peer pressure of an unfinished project in my front yard. Oh, and this Saturday is the Butterfly House semi-annual butterfly plant sale... hmmmmm. : )</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
* Five different individuals wanted it, asked for and received photos. Some even got as far as asking for my address. One actually showed up, but didn't bring a shovel, promised to come back with help... None of them ever followed through...</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-51652366483737449812012-04-25T12:00:00.000-05:002012-04-25T12:00:03.664-05:00You'll Never Finish if You Never Start...<div style="text-align: justify;">
I took the plunge on Saturday and started re-working the configuration of the beds in the front of my house. It was a daunting project for me to begin, and I stood in the front yard with the shovel for quite a long time, consulting my neighbor (okay, procrastinating) before I mustered enough courage to pull out the first border stone. I knew that once I started I was in for a major project.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most of my yard work up until this Spring has been concentrated in the backyard. Last year in the front I had removed some over-crowded shrubs, and in their place started a butterfly garden. But the butterfly garden is only the peninsula portion of one bed - a small piece. And I'd tucked a few herbs in along the front of my porch, where they are sheltered -- but you really can't see them. I'm the only one who even knows they are there. So, the front yard is due for some attention.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been wanting to take on this project for a couple of reasons. First, the beds were just chock full of 90 degree angles. To my eye that isn't pleasing; the edges are sharp. And hard angles are not good Feng Shui...how can the good chi flow smoothly with all those sharp edges? :::grin::: Logistically, too, the hard corners presented challenges for mowing, and coupled with that is my intense dislike for the weed eater. And lastly, I harbor a dislike for turf. For needless grass. And so I'm hatching plans to abolish my lawn, little by little.<br />
<br />
Here are two shots of the right hand side of my front yard. The first one, I have the stones laid in the new border, but you can see where the old border was. That misshapen "T" area of grass is the area newly included in the bed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt5e46t2ghhir2RIuwXdCfekw8CziHzU7ZKTfGg1GvY4zFcGXBVI05_OYiSySRZpgnG_s9tiFXYY84FrOcT57ai1rgtUT518OgfVgUrXldFAn7h8U8Dsr4Vo25gKIeZxEtAFKmDCiYHKb/s1600/2012+04+24+right+before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt5e46t2ghhir2RIuwXdCfekw8CziHzU7ZKTfGg1GvY4zFcGXBVI05_OYiSySRZpgnG_s9tiFXYY84FrOcT57ai1rgtUT518OgfVgUrXldFAn7h8U8Dsr4Vo25gKIeZxEtAFKmDCiYHKb/s320/2012+04+24+right+before.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Here's a view from the front, with the mulch circle around the tree that I added a few weeks ago. I wrote about that project just a few posts back... I was afraid I wouldn't have enough stones to enclose the circle, but I did - with more to spare. (Can you tell that I did not excel in Geometry class? It's too close to math. Again, put me in your spelling bee...)</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvQ-m8z0NPruNhw_kTQSXs3i4sDf9NB940ez_Xk3l7uDxFXF621s2SU9IfAk5J8ucjcfaXnGjFK36sl3p1mhWSbdb036RE6Sl_rIHNDdsJuQ9uwTEn9-bLRX0AiL0NLVeMdAujR_0Juip/s1600/2012+04+21+right+before3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvQ-m8z0NPruNhw_kTQSXs3i4sDf9NB940ez_Xk3l7uDxFXF621s2SU9IfAk5J8ucjcfaXnGjFK36sl3p1mhWSbdb036RE6Sl_rIHNDdsJuQ9uwTEn9-bLRX0AiL0NLVeMdAujR_0Juip/s320/2012+04+21+right+before3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />My intent was to just do one side of the yard at a time. However, a neighbor who was also working in his yard all day was kind enough to give me a consult (he designs for a living) said that "we" really needed to do both sides at once, to see how they play off of each other. At that point I had already dug up all the stones on the right hand side, and was clearly committed (or, ahem, should BE committed, as in, to the Nut Hut) so I went along willingly to the other side, and yanked out those stones too. I don't know how long the borders had been in place; certainly a very long time. Original? As in 1929 original? I don't know. But they pulled up fairly easily once you wedged the shovel tip underneath one. But I'll tell you: they are heavy little buggers. I think they are gorgeous though, and I'm pleased to have so many to work with.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I took a stab at laying out the shape of a the new borders. Lots of stooping and lifting. (Red later told me he heard a tip about using a garden hose for that - it moves around easily and you can eyeball what the new border will look like. Alas...) Then I went and got my neighbor for the umpteenth time, to evaluate my efforts. (He was far enough along in HIS project that he had a glass of wine. Undoubtedly making him even more creative....) We scampered around the lawn, moving stones, stepping across the street to survey the changes and coming back to rearrange. I'd rearrange, and he'd look. (His whippet, Butler Matthew, would lounge inside the new border...) Then I'd step away for a better view, and he'd rearrange while I looked. It went on and on. But I was so grateful for the second eye. I'm good at the execution, but creative design is not always my strong suit. <em>(It's Just That My People are Nordic.)</em></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you've no doubt noted in previous posts, I often forget to take enough "before" photos -- and this project is no different. I didn't take one single "before" shot of the left side! But it is easy enough to see in the photos where the old border was. And I didn't take one single "in-progress" photo. So just close your eyes and pretend, and here are some 8-hour time lapse photos... lol.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The right side:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInH9f0UppQHNkRG8E4q5uwX1IOExwWRX4wiF1PPFkB1DmN8yRS1NLE1Ul5q5rKkVzd_CdJsvJpHKzNTjOmK9mDamu92Elv0VPDxsKmoD9eXUIX4I46ZEx_HLAJreqdHy80YmXBKZJFHtR/s1600/2012+04+21+right+new+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInH9f0UppQHNkRG8E4q5uwX1IOExwWRX4wiF1PPFkB1DmN8yRS1NLE1Ul5q5rKkVzd_CdJsvJpHKzNTjOmK9mDamu92Elv0VPDxsKmoD9eXUIX4I46ZEx_HLAJreqdHy80YmXBKZJFHtR/s320/2012+04+21+right+new+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
There was much discussion about if the border should hug the mulch circle around the tree, or meander down diagonally to the front right corner of the yard. For now, hugging the tree (Tree Hugger!) prevailed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMBGs8C7Nkn2-NhHrzckQ3EFhg9qUJS-Uif7cL0rpJgULN5T1l2EgSdc9ICmFXunEohlrN1Vl3KO3tOTqDcksTezkzxI_GCLXUNM2Nphyphenhyphenzcs4CYCbhIjyXSX7JBI-THqvRJGGroCSM-Iu/s1600/2012+04+21+right+new+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMBGs8C7Nkn2-NhHrzckQ3EFhg9qUJS-Uif7cL0rpJgULN5T1l2EgSdc9ICmFXunEohlrN1Vl3KO3tOTqDcksTezkzxI_GCLXUNM2Nphyphenhyphenzcs4CYCbhIjyXSX7JBI-THqvRJGGroCSM-Iu/s320/2012+04+21+right+new+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
All of that grass to the right of new swoopy border will get removed... (Daunting Task #44) I'm working on giving it away - it's healthy - and it's too much to go into my compost tumblers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And the left:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAsTM_e2CImQFq0T22bpD-rYJkc-uInqdkDBKC8FHfoosLXmL1kSIudUGKn1yBpBS8CCPojPQ3O20BxOZrgNmxxBd_gW0Ix_sOhvwwqmmK9YdtCGeMNEmnPqBV43MCBbkEOKctspXgna5/s1600/2012+04+21+left+new+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAsTM_e2CImQFq0T22bpD-rYJkc-uInqdkDBKC8FHfoosLXmL1kSIudUGKn1yBpBS8CCPojPQ3O20BxOZrgNmxxBd_gW0Ix_sOhvwwqmmK9YdtCGeMNEmnPqBV43MCBbkEOKctspXgna5/s320/2012+04+21+left+new+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
To the left of (behind) the new border -- all that mess is just the turf I dug up to place the stones. The previous border was tucked up under the shrubs, against their trunks. (No room there to use the shovel to get the stones pulled out - I literally crawled into the shrubs on my hands and knees with a trowel. I told my neighbor to come and look for me if I didn't make it out... ) The old border made a hard right at the rosemary, by the gazing ball.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvncLB0WClg4NeIav3afOuDG0MT66J5yAjZPfiZNTbdcoKchqXZprgLwzHlYL8Gxja8YbWpqcp1IUd0Cqo73BN9Ja1PP7uLKjP1Jrz6mREMMc5YZaltYOLj0OJkY654_Z2xxL3SBRo_6R3/s1600/2012+04+21+left+new+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvncLB0WClg4NeIav3afOuDG0MT66J5yAjZPfiZNTbdcoKchqXZprgLwzHlYL8Gxja8YbWpqcp1IUd0Cqo73BN9Ja1PP7uLKjP1Jrz6mREMMc5YZaltYOLj0OJkY654_Z2xxL3SBRo_6R3/s320/2012+04+21+left+new+3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
And this is standing on the sidewalk, looking up towards the house. That's the edge of my butterfly garden. I <em>love</em> how the border makes lazy curves like water.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That part of the border used to look like this - photo from 2011.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmYppuDBeT2EZjnxdrN1An-mTA7GCQ7YKOSgWUjmgcGHf2nMFOGoFqPcjM2QD0znPxQk-fjnxrAwUdmbsldrdYr3fsapFZhGzWOgoLc8s85R2afnOQsZjgDKsDEzfuDMK5jLbxJc2nYGq/s1600/100_1166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmYppuDBeT2EZjnxdrN1An-mTA7GCQ7YKOSgWUjmgcGHf2nMFOGoFqPcjM2QD0znPxQk-fjnxrAwUdmbsldrdYr3fsapFZhGzWOgoLc8s85R2afnOQsZjgDKsDEzfuDMK5jLbxJc2nYGq/s320/100_1166.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oy. Rigid.<br />
<br />
Here's a Painted Lady enjoying a calendula bloom:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA_PdyOuOlNq_6hYsadcazoItiBTEgQY-iT8XPtInCHOky8TCdvzdHvThGW1gf-dJ14R9zFmhrOpRilP1-WJTZcznhMxyQxzF8qIk5AS7LQxieT-M_BvkJWwzYuEZxEoUgq564JT4EB3g/s1600/2012+04+24+painted+lady.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtA_PdyOuOlNq_6hYsadcazoItiBTEgQY-iT8XPtInCHOky8TCdvzdHvThGW1gf-dJ14R9zFmhrOpRilP1-WJTZcznhMxyQxzF8qIk5AS7LQxieT-M_BvkJWwzYuEZxEoUgq564JT4EB3g/s320/2012+04+24+painted+lady.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My next step will be to pull out the lawn, and start working the beds for planting... I think that work will be much more taxing than pulling and laying the border stones. But, as I said, I knew I was tackling a large project. Onward and upward.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-28307746089358901982012-04-24T14:16:00.000-05:002012-04-24T14:16:16.085-05:00Sideyard Privacy Trellis Project - done!<div style="text-align: justify;">Yippee! The privacy trellis project is complete! Red and I finished it several days ago, but I've just been too busy to pull a blog post together. I am several posts behind... Spring is busy. That's my only excuse...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We got the trellis wires strung, the plants planted, the weeds pulled, and the mulch spread. I even planted a packet of seeds that were touted to be a "shady mix" that I had on hand from last year. I am so pleased with how it all turned out! For your viewing pleasure...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here is the path leading out of my pedestrian gate, towards the street:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbQ1SiNbFfCDo8HiufXVzoCD5LkQ5-UnYXK8vWHW2gqKqVkNJwUXtU5XZKEkJMfaNHORFRobmH0mSw-i5Nmw35CVlmd7ZLveB7O2gZPXh4BzJ7LDRgY5gxhncpPTOCy0jQRqziMw9EoMk/s1600/2012+04+20+path2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbQ1SiNbFfCDo8HiufXVzoCD5LkQ5-UnYXK8vWHW2gqKqVkNJwUXtU5XZKEkJMfaNHORFRobmH0mSw-i5Nmw35CVlmd7ZLveB7O2gZPXh4BzJ7LDRgY5gxhncpPTOCy0jQRqziMw9EoMk/s320/2012+04+20+path2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the far left of the photo you can see the Amaranth at the base of the tree -- planted by someone before me. A bit further on you can see one of the 5 Yew shrubs that I planted last fall. Bright green tips tell me that it's really happy - all 5 are growing really well. Yay! And on the right are the yellow and white iris from my friend over in Tarrant County. They have done their blooming for the season. And then those 2 little bumps of green sticking up along the curb are the passion flower vines, before they were spread out and twist tied to the wires.</div><br />
And here is the view of the path a little further on, (taken a few days later) still walking towards the street:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4km0i7FM6rMEneQYe3tIR98e1NERwvr-yF_efgJ9EmMdhlSNaR9r9j4SF5RoSZZrpw1PQuK2aplNbZM5he9fTiZwLxjsdC4EtV0VWt7tfbaBPq32I0rzBJsYlsn2xtlQ3Ie-RUtCwJiH1/s1600/2012+04+20+looking+down+path.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4km0i7FM6rMEneQYe3tIR98e1NERwvr-yF_efgJ9EmMdhlSNaR9r9j4SF5RoSZZrpw1PQuK2aplNbZM5he9fTiZwLxjsdC4EtV0VWt7tfbaBPq32I0rzBJsYlsn2xtlQ3Ie-RUtCwJiH1/s320/2012+04+20+looking+down+path.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Isn't it a pretty little walkway? In the forefront of that photo you can see the backside of the trellis with the purple passion vine on it - here is a photo of the front side - standing in my neighbor's driveway:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECAT1Krd48Tsb4O_n5XPk43FvjC-jbulbyqmcWbehBqUSDC0sr3scGDT1Ef23fW3fSQCgnya5VMc3bZudgmHE8UPqjn04sSbteKdjPfhTnVwzO50MhL9T_T4iRtOApq4LBUAGslqRBM2d/s1600/2012+04+20+purple+vine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECAT1Krd48Tsb4O_n5XPk43FvjC-jbulbyqmcWbehBqUSDC0sr3scGDT1Ef23fW3fSQCgnya5VMc3bZudgmHE8UPqjn04sSbteKdjPfhTnVwzO50MhL9T_T4iRtOApq4LBUAGslqRBM2d/s320/2012+04+20+purple+vine.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>In this photo you can see that I've spread the vines out, and twist tied the first tendrils to the wires. It is already starting to reach up to the next wires! By design, you can't see the wires, but they are every six inches, all the way to the tops of the poles. The vines also have the added (immediate) benefit of shielding my air conditioner from view. An unanticipated bonus for everyone...<br />
<br />
And then as you are facing that trellis, to your left is the honeysuckle trellis:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYmp_p9QTMpiDZprdiDUAwGdz11Pxg3VLBLSkCTr9_wVXIyRqj0VwTLvnLH-XR4H4hOdLyujEQqQYqYRuXwhHxGRz2aHWqeAHDbCUVD6DHgoO2jXDITul19lKitincUneHFQMzXpD9pB9/s1600/2012+04+20+honeysuckle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYmp_p9QTMpiDZprdiDUAwGdz11Pxg3VLBLSkCTr9_wVXIyRqj0VwTLvnLH-XR4H4hOdLyujEQqQYqYRuXwhHxGRz2aHWqeAHDbCUVD6DHgoO2jXDITul19lKitincUneHFQMzXpD9pB9/s320/2012+04+20+honeysuckle.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That is all one big plant - it is over 5 feet tall. It is a little sad looking in this photo, (and the lighting doesn't help any) but it is starting to perk up. I called the nursery, and I think in my attempts to really pamper it, I over watered it. They advised to back off on the watering, and if it doesn't come back, they said they will replace it. (But I bought their last yellow honeysuckle, so I'm not sure exactly what would happen. Hopefully we won't have to find out, because I really don't want to have to un-trellis it and dig it up!)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">My neighbors whose driveway runs alongside this said they liked the new look, and among other things that it looks like a "secret garden." That's exactly what I was going for - a path to a secret space. Wasn't that kind of them? I really am glad they like it, because they drive past it several times a day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It feels good to have stepped up this side of my house. Other than adding rain barrels and planting the yew last year, I really hadn't done much over here in the nearly 3 years that I have been in the house. I still want to add these - in an amber color, back in the corner; they will address some feng shui deficiences by adding some light:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTYI7rzRRLUOQuv9Nkycvg-wKFtewwU9QiZvBNYGdUmh_elc84jh9TbY_PdX29PPHuVebNPkHYMSPEUvpCRBS8LK17lruE2XWPR-Z_Z75bVQIfle65CXLl9XDMbd4sPbzFDN_kjm60n18/s1600/glow+globes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTYI7rzRRLUOQuv9Nkycvg-wKFtewwU9QiZvBNYGdUmh_elc84jh9TbY_PdX29PPHuVebNPkHYMSPEUvpCRBS8LK17lruE2XWPR-Z_Z75bVQIfle65CXLl9XDMbd4sPbzFDN_kjm60n18/s1600/glow+globes.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo/idea credit: <a href="http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/glowing-orbs/">http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/glowing-orbs/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">So now I'll pamper these little vines -- hand water with rain water, and feed them, and help them reach for the next rungs of wire... and wait for the butterflies to arrive.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-48578456397039385552012-04-18T12:49:00.000-05:002012-04-18T12:49:44.890-05:00Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHkzRBQ4x0B8mwZybz8cCqIiapHsKEZZV94TkUbIMHYhOeh0gz28EWwb4ylq2ZZsNt-3uSfnlsuKM7r7nv7TJPD8pCtx6p42LgjeUOW1MoqIxoTpNz-kuZRq-rHOOPtNxoDvle02thS7d/s1600/2012+04+18+Happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHkzRBQ4x0B8mwZybz8cCqIiapHsKEZZV94TkUbIMHYhOeh0gz28EWwb4ylq2ZZsNt-3uSfnlsuKM7r7nv7TJPD8pCtx6p42LgjeUOW1MoqIxoTpNz-kuZRq-rHOOPtNxoDvle02thS7d/s640/2012+04+18+Happy.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-50408868121000748442012-04-17T12:15:00.000-05:002012-04-17T12:15:44.519-05:00Privacy Trellis Progress Update<div style="text-align: justify;">Red and I got the trellis poles set in the ground last week. I went out this morning and tried to wiggle the posts and they feel pretty sturdy despite the height and diameter of the pipe. Yay!<br />
<br />
How did we get here? Read the two prior posts on this project:<br />
<a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/privacy-trellis-construction-begins.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/privacy-trellis-construction-begins.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/trellis-post-caps.html">http://my1929tudor.blogspot.com/2012/04/trellis-post-caps.html</a><br />
<br />
We* dug the holes 20-21 inches deep on Tuesday, and then mixed the concrete and set the poles on Wednesday. We learned in an unfortunate way where the sprinkler line runs -- can you guess what that means? (And then I got a short sprinkler line repair lesson. That will come in handy since I had attended a workshop on that which was a "fail" and my system definitely needs some love.) As a result of that encounter, we moved the poles a foot further away from the house - now they are up against the cement wall or "curb," which is sort of where I wanted them anyway...so I guess that worked out all right.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We mixed the concrete one bag at a time in my happy orange wheelbarrow. Then we put a handful of stones in the bottom of each hole, put a glop of concrete on top, and stuck the poles in. We used a level to get them straight in both directions, and topped off the holes with concrete. We also strung one line of wire between each set of poles as a guide for sinking them the same depth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we finished we agreed that it all went a little too smoothly, and wondered what we did wrong... LOL</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aeLqXtp7Hw5YsBFkob9jVnMjPmnoV52KynkfT7kpcaOSqEOFl7E6HujLXe_XoILkn4w-6GLfzVpyxegg7eLKSPHTUI2wq9Z4uah8VS9hPy8yeVtXPoVREzqDHEClYbAPwku463XAh_jA/s1600/2012+04+17+LR+trellis+poles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aeLqXtp7Hw5YsBFkob9jVnMjPmnoV52KynkfT7kpcaOSqEOFl7E6HujLXe_XoILkn4w-6GLfzVpyxegg7eLKSPHTUI2wq9Z4uah8VS9hPy8yeVtXPoVREzqDHEClYbAPwku463XAh_jA/s320/2012+04+17+LR+trellis+poles.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livingroom window trellis poles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> It's difficult to tell from this photo angle, but the poles are set in a width that is one foot wider than the set of windows. And then they go a foot taller than the middle of the window. My house sits quite a bit higher than the neighbors' house, so I literally look down on them; that's why I gave the trellises such extreme height -- 11 feet!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7uWdO-2PvlJoUzGEJeYVDK15TL0qUORoh3ULCEYLqxhnEojfcIVnCw45UXCnn6UzXmGd7W6HKgmT53oZSvrzNQyXwehLOC0ptmeT6WVE-5hyphenhyphenhRdU-7h-K4DKgev_M86zTaEE2y_Uzb4-/s1600/2012+04+17+DR+trellis+poles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7uWdO-2PvlJoUzGEJeYVDK15TL0qUORoh3ULCEYLqxhnEojfcIVnCw45UXCnn6UzXmGd7W6HKgmT53oZSvrzNQyXwehLOC0ptmeT6WVE-5hyphenhyphenhRdU-7h-K4DKgev_M86zTaEE2y_Uzb4-/s320/2012+04+17+DR+trellis+poles.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room trellis poles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">In the photo above, if you look closely at the height of the foundation, you can see the orange string tied on the one guide wire. I thought we'd better mark it so that nobody strangles themselves with it before the rest are added and they are more obvious! (Also in this photo: Unfortunately you can see that I need to clean the brick in the outcropping corner - it got discolored from rain, pre-gutters. Waaah.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am really pleased with the color of the poles - after trying two different paint colors my goal of matching my gutters was met...</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JyNjhyphenhyphendLS_rTQOUgtYlbDF0AgKa2rmAOnfXtKO0_DqF0VLYi_pOgu0VqYzqzOukwFqmLcTSNTOjTXo_Jhzg0vAianVgxaCdfd_qOgwSAbFXpHlmuI2dTRveK7oKgOaLBsBsQ2DyQk8Us/s1600/2012+04+17+wire+supports.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JyNjhyphenhyphendLS_rTQOUgtYlbDF0AgKa2rmAOnfXtKO0_DqF0VLYi_pOgu0VqYzqzOukwFqmLcTSNTOjTXo_Jhzg0vAianVgxaCdfd_qOgwSAbFXpHlmuI2dTRveK7oKgOaLBsBsQ2DyQk8Us/s320/2012+04+17+wire+supports.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First vine wire attached as guide wire</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The lines for the vines to grow up will be attached by wrapping around these bolts, and then we will tighten the bolts to hold it in place. Which way we'll wrap the wire (which is actually braided fish line that will support 65 lbs) is up for debate. We talked about alternating it front and back, and not alternating it at all, and we talked about not going around the pole... I guess I won't know for sure until it's time to string them... I plan to get that done this weekend, along with prepping the new beds between the poles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am going to <u>try</u> to remember to do the bed prep before I string the bottom lines - otherwise I'm sure I'll mess up the bottom lines with my shovel and pitchfork. I could use my tiller, but I am afraid of the aforementioned sprinkler lines... even though now I do know exactly where they are and how deep they are. Theoretically it would be safe to till.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And then the fun part - the planting! I have emailed with Randy Johnson at The Butterfly House at Texas Discovery Gardens, inquiring about vines that are green all year round and that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. He suggests these two, with an aside about crossvine:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><u>Passiflora caerulea (passion flower)</u>: an evergreen vine that hosts the Gulf and Variegated fritillaries. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv76J1wuQ5zfiE-Zw5U6BRcK-ph9nP43QBtb817CGqFuiE_gou1KqpC1JYsZgCLJFdhXrF4m2WG6h5RixI5pJ10npaQiYQu1lzvHoj-_RkuAU-JMmvo96hbN4fHi6SkpZhyZ5sg99EXTF/s1600/passion+vine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv76J1wuQ5zfiE-Zw5U6BRcK-ph9nP43QBtb817CGqFuiE_gou1KqpC1JYsZgCLJFdhXrF4m2WG6h5RixI5pJ10npaQiYQu1lzvHoj-_RkuAU-JMmvo96hbN4fHi6SkpZhyZ5sg99EXTF/s320/passion+vine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo206219.htm">http://www.treknature.com/gallery/photo206219.htm</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<u>Lonicera (honeysuckle) both the coral and yellow</u>: attract hummingbirds and are evergreen. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z98pfIitV4FTQEEepzkA4ZnjFaGLhhZYTmpXsOSZCrsd5RybTKP55qMPNTVgkfmjOws5AQYjWZZWth6ic1E9Oz0sPmUx5sg7cBnTjvxOfwWmYsvK1za93ao-mCxErK4aAoE7HgsQ3e8w/s1600/Coral+honeysuckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-z98pfIitV4FTQEEepzkA4ZnjFaGLhhZYTmpXsOSZCrsd5RybTKP55qMPNTVgkfmjOws5AQYjWZZWth6ic1E9Oz0sPmUx5sg7cBnTjvxOfwWmYsvK1za93ao-mCxErK4aAoE7HgsQ3e8w/s1600/Coral+honeysuckle.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/2012/01/honeysuckles-are-lonicera-love-them-or.html">http://allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/2012/01/honeysuckles-are-lonicera-love-them-or.html</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1_8TxiLou6FqYDHFLg13hyphenhyphenFnjArogx3hGQYFqBkaZgC5tTc7hVpWaSSPNFONziEjmGKsUiFJdjRMgFQgBMfkI_Spob8szb-SEEI7OYElLH-JqBqQdcwnpvrhpiae9rvKsCNT8fPHD8yi/s1600/honeysuckle+yellow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1_8TxiLou6FqYDHFLg13hyphenhyphenFnjArogx3hGQYFqBkaZgC5tTc7hVpWaSSPNFONziEjmGKsUiFJdjRMgFQgBMfkI_Spob8szb-SEEI7OYElLH-JqBqQdcwnpvrhpiae9rvKsCNT8fPHD8yi/s320/honeysuckle+yellow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://elmostreport.blogspot.com/2008/05/yellow-honeysuckle-lonicera-flava.html">http://elmostreport.blogspot.com/2008/05/yellow-honeysuckle-lonicera-flava.html</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<u>Crossvine (trumpet vine)</u>: it is evergreen and hummingbirds like it but it can get aggressive. <br />
<br />
I am definitely skipping the crossvine - I've dealth with it before and indeed -- aggressive is a good word for it...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I also thought about jasmine - because it is evergreen and the blossoms are so fragrant; but it doesn't attract butterflies or hummingbirds, and I have it in my backyard in two places already anyway... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ironically, before I looked up the common names of the two suggested vines (which I did just now), I had asked a friend for some slips from her passion flower vine -- not knowing I'd be in the market for it this weekend. She came over last night and brought me 5 cuttings... how's that for fortuitous timing? And another neighbor/friend has an alley fence covered in yellow honeysuckle -- I'll ask her if I can take a few slips from that. I may buy a few established plants as well -- I'll price them and weigh my impatience... :::grin::: I'm really excited to learn that I can continue my front yard theme of blue/purple and yellow/orange blooms <em>and</em> follow Randy's recommendations. I think the passion flower is just gorgeous!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Once planted, these vines are going to be the most pampered vines in my yard - they have a daunting task ahead of them. I'm extra happy that I have a rain barrel close to each of the trellises: bonus. Realistically I don't expect them to even reach window height this summer, but who knows? Maybe they are really fast growers - I don't know. Time will tell.</div><br />
<br />
* Okay, so it was mostly Red. He told me I was wimpy with the post hole digger. But hey! At least I <em>own</em> a post hole digger, right??Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-82209117861852368132012-04-16T10:05:00.000-05:002012-04-16T10:05:39.237-05:00Run for your Life!<div style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend Red and I were working in my backyard on a project (yes, I know, this story is beginning like many others do...) Not unlike the Yellow-Crowned-Night-Herons that attempt to take up annual residence in my neighbor's yard, I heard it before I saw it. My head whipped around, my eyes frantically searching for what was making the sound before whatever it was found me -- and I spied it, flying right for me -- eye level, bottom heavy -- I shrieked and ran, tripping on a loose brick on the way -- and then it landed in my wet paint:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1ya8aFKHT92Out6sRM7I7LL9xHaUB7BrjeXcqPztSfpvy6GZOvlUxsv0_xVwWnvGMGfnEW7Loi2smR95aq98ZaH4U9iDnOQ3gvzlOQrPSe87sCPl3J5-WPhg1NnldH5OSvLZ2D67WvYe/s1600/2012+04+07+beetle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1ya8aFKHT92Out6sRM7I7LL9xHaUB7BrjeXcqPztSfpvy6GZOvlUxsv0_xVwWnvGMGfnEW7Loi2smR95aq98ZaH4U9iDnOQ3gvzlOQrPSe87sCPl3J5-WPhg1NnldH5OSvLZ2D67WvYe/s320/2012+04+07+beetle.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was as large as my thumb - clearly nearly too bottom heavy to fly horizontally, and perhaps too large all together to be airborne.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tentatively circled it. Stared at it, got brave and moved closer and photographed it. Wondered what in the heck was in my yard now?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I emailed the photo to Randy Johnson at Texas Discovery Gardens. He fowarded my email to John Watts (Insect Specialist / Entomologist) at the Gardens. And here's the reply: </div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is a Eyed Elater, Alaus oculatus, a type of click beetle. Adults may take some nectar and plant juices. The larvae are predatory, eating grubs of wood-boring beetles like cerambycids (longhorns). They are active from April till June.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">He makes it sound so benign.</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-74329621290879640652012-04-16T09:51:00.001-05:002012-04-16T10:06:05.866-05:00A Bit of Functional Fun<div style="text-align: justify;">Spring is here, and Summer is definitely coming. The yard work sun hats have made their reappearance for the season. Last year they spent the whole Summer lounging all over my house as though they had no place to be -- and well okay, they didn't - I should be so lucky!</div><br />
This year I have corraled them:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyCHQ3TaOAoZ8moGGXKSJVwtnd9VU3M8ziUAGBWahXD-m-c7-6PXJ9xOlWO1-xYROhcFAzOqxgh0nN6VRuqKyFJLgTyMcor-XqW3Shw2L1AL5egpUTjFg99X7CZd9Ju66DCNDHHR5Diuw/s1600/2012+04+11+hat+rack.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyCHQ3TaOAoZ8moGGXKSJVwtnd9VU3M8ziUAGBWahXD-m-c7-6PXJ9xOlWO1-xYROhcFAzOqxgh0nN6VRuqKyFJLgTyMcor-XqW3Shw2L1AL5egpUTjFg99X7CZd9Ju66DCNDHHR5Diuw/s320/2012+04+11+hat+rack.png" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I put a small nail in the crown molding near the ceiling and looped a piece of twine over it. Then I added sun hats with clothespins... slightly overlapping them over each other to hide the clothespin - well, except for the very top one. Wa-lah! Tidy hats and some fun color for a neglected slice of wall. The whole thing makes me a little more giddy than it should. I do love simple solutions!</div>Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2689163699530315657.post-28996376131397055182012-04-16T09:47:00.000-05:002012-04-16T09:47:00.784-05:00I Know! Don't Faint.This post is a week past due - but things have been crazy busy...<br />
<br />
Don't faint, but I got the door frame for the inside of my bedroom installed:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ64i603BsEvEvpeNuVXrXN8-cIeqs5_JYGRHuWsRuMTn2c1UIq_uufWrPAsSMI5FqSf8hSDoyp6Fz87yV7hrzTMBOGX2gIE1ArQLg7xE1goMYfSASGTHYbr4cAAvT1dFGVJ4uSDoNbakU/s1600/2012+04+08+door+frame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ64i603BsEvEvpeNuVXrXN8-cIeqs5_JYGRHuWsRuMTn2c1UIq_uufWrPAsSMI5FqSf8hSDoyp6Fz87yV7hrzTMBOGX2gIE1ArQLg7xE1goMYfSASGTHYbr4cAAvT1dFGVJ4uSDoNbakU/s320/2012+04+08+door+frame.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Ignore all the peripheral items in the photo...<br />
<br />
I am so pleased with how it looks - to me, after looking at raw 2x6s for months, it makes the doorway just disappear. Next up is pulling the baseboards off, removing the sheetrock behind them (you can see the strip of white at the top of the baseboard in the photo), adding a strip of crown molding at the ceiling, and finishing out the corners where they meet the sheetrock. <br />
<br />
Oh -- and ordering the $500 sliding door hardware... there is that... but hey! Progress!Project Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05665602754141742967noreply@blogger.com0