Garden Redo

Four years ago when we moved into this house, the landscaping was horrible.  Clean fill over pieces of rubble, sod in places and a partial fence. The plants that were not dead were well one the way or over grown. Needless to say we went to our local greenhouse, had a plan made and had the outside given some attention. The photo below is what the space looked like before plants when in.

One of the mistakes that we made was to put thyme around the pavers in the front flower bed. When it was weed free and blooming it looked great, but when looking scraggly, running errant not so much. Since the hubby wasn't making weeding his priority at least once during the month we did a 20 hour marathon to get the beds back to their weed free state.

We bought at least 60 bags for mulch, many of which we refilled with weeds once we has a rhythm going. Did you know the bags weigh 30 lbs each which is the same weight as the sandbag lift that is part of the Force test for work?  Yup, even got my exercise in while weeding.

Five beds in total were weeded, dirt added and mulch put on making the front yard at least the talk of the neighborhood once more.  Now if only the puppies will stop digging the grass out and killing stuffies on the back lawn, the back will be equally enjoyable to.

Potato Towers

The produce in our little veggie garden is finally producing.  Considering some of the things were planted early May, they should be a bit further along than what they are but what is ready now are pea's, onions and potatoes. 
Back in late May or was it early June I saw online at Sunset magazines an interesting way to grow potatoes. For weeks I watched, watered and waited for something to happen.  My neighbors thought I was a bit strange putting these strange contraptions in my garden but I have done stranger things. 
So today I decided that I would open one of my two towers and see what was going on.  Much to my surprise I have a hill of potatoes with out the hilling and other stuff involved in a normal potato patch.  I got about 9 spuds which wasn't too bad.  Now if it had been a bit hotter earlier on June, perhaps I would have more, but I think that's pretty good for my first try. 

Next year my plan is to put in four towers.  Three in the garden and one in the corner of the flower bed.  We should be raking them in this time next year!

Ah, The Weekend

Well for me the weekend is over and it was much too short.  Sunday begins a new work week and hopefully 7 days full of wonderful surprises.  As the extra day I took from my banked holiday time whiled away, I found myself longing for the sewing machine. While I take great pleasure in digging in the dirt and planting things, I will be glad when its all complete and I can move on the just weeding or maintaining as a old parishioner used to refer to her weeding time. I guess I just haven't found the balance between all the stuff that needs to get done in the weekend time frame with the quilt project list.  In order to get some of the Christmas quilts done I have to make sure I keep on pushing along on these quilting items.
Today is a rainy day as will be Monday so perhaps I can get some indoor work done after the regular job hours are over.  The husband is chomping at the bit for me to sort through some stuff in a corner, so we can make the space into more workspace of my ever expanding hobbies of scrap booking and quilting. We purchased a lot of paint from Benjamin Moore on Friday, which means we now have no choice to paint two bedrooms, one bath and a large living room.  We also have some outdoor painting to do, so I foretell a summer with lots of rolling around.   

Hugs and Kisses

New fabric

In the meantime I pulled an UFO out of the closet, thinking that if I finish this up, I would have a bit more space for some other items that are taking room in the workroom.  I also think it would make a great Christmas present for a 4 year old if I can get it done and to the long arm quilter, Arlene, its going to be one more thing off the list of things to do.  Its bright, cheery and fun. 
I also have some new fabric, actually got it a few weeks ago,took the picture and forgot to post it.  Its full of some lovely linens ( at the bottom), a whole bunch of bolt ends, roughly 4" high with 14 assorted pieces and 9 fat quarters.  All this from The Fabric Shoppe.  Oh the projects that are calling me to start them... But alas, I have to restrain myself, for today at least!