Working together

Mar 3

• Flydaddeo and I put the attic stored stuff back into the attic. We had taken it all down to sort through and then Christmas happened and then life happened. Now we have reclaimed 15 sq feet of garage floor!
• We raked and bagged the oak strings and leaves in the street gutter in preparation for rain tonight (crossing my fingers for it - maybe I'll go wash my car for insurance).
• Prepped the bin of books and magazines going to ARGH for the swap.
• Flydaddeo sorted the cleaners and crate of misc from NC cleaning and determined what needs to go to the HEC drop off and stored the rest.

Yea Us!

A new March

Been a year since I posted last... where does that time go? Signed on to start my list for March and now I'm wondering if I should update or just move forward. I think I'll head on. I'll grab a cuppa and start my list.

Yesterday I started thinking about all the "house projects" and other things I've left hanging as I pursue other interests. And I realized that those things that I have left undone take energy even if I don't "see" them. In celebration of the Ides of March, winds of change, I'm attempting to SEE what is around me and DO something (create change) every day. And since I am a list maker, even to the point of doing something and adding it to the list so I can cross it off - yes in that order - I'm going to track the process here. What have I done so far?

Mar 1

• Mowed the lawn in freakin' 80 degree temperature on the 1st and a small amount weed-eating.
• Cleaned the pool filter to remove the pollen and oak string bits.
• Fixed the toilet seat that slipped. Yup small thing, big difference.

Mar 2

• Dug up the jasmine and climbers from the side fence where they were buried by the layers of traveler palms and j... trees (have to look up the name). Moved them to the white fence at the back of the yard, did I say white? I mean WHITE reflective vinyl fence. I'm hoping the trellises and the jasmine do okay, but I'm not above replacing as the roots didn't come out completely and I need a feeling of shade.
• Used the blower to push the oak strings and leaves off the lanai screening.
• Put away the camping gear that got sorted for Flydaddeo's trip to NC.

Perhaps I am ahead of myself by doing more than one thing a day, however I am sure there will be busy, less noticing days. And who knows, I might run out of things to do...

Settling into spring

After a long cooler than usual winter, we are having our Florida spring with leaves coming down as well as pollen. I suppose it gets it all over in one season!

We changed the front yard to native plants and pine (!) mulch. No growing ground cover yet as we still have to go after the strays bits periodically. But much less yard work in the front and we like it visually! Plus the wildlife should like it and we like butterflies, etc.

Left and right views of our back yard. Rubber tree stump is still there, but working on that. I think a lemon tree will go into that area. The banana tree on the right, far right, looks like it will produce again. We had bananas growing in October, but the frost of Nov/Dec put the brakes on that. The grapefruit tree produced this year and I am enjoying a fruit after yard work every day, trying to clear the tree so the flowers that are setting get their full attention.

Conscious Eating

I found a recipe that spoke to my soul. I had checked out The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper on the recommendation of a friend (thanks Laura) and was reading the recipes and side bits when

Coriander-Orange-Scented Red Lentil Soup spoke to me. (Coriander = Cilantro). It was SO GOOD!

Some of you might be familiar with Splendid Table on NPR. I enjoy it when I catch it. This book lets me catch it on my time.

Learning the craft of knitting (better)

Check this out! I have joined the ranks of "those sock knitters". I finished a pair and they came out relatively the same size (with a needle size change between the two). Grandmother W taught me (many) years ago and I dabbled in the back and forth making a few scarves. This winter I decided to take it further. I knit a few doily-type hot pads, and a set of training socks to understand the concept of the parts, then got to work. Kirk is enjoying them, says they are warm and comfy. A new set is now started on the needles... hoping they fit me :-)

Garden Update

I was out weeding and realized how long it has been since I sent a garden update. January brought freezing temps that finished our tomatoes and peppers, unfortunately they were loaded with vegies at the time. But the great news is that the radishes survived, along with the onions, carrots, garlic, oregano and garlic chives. So we have herbs to cook with, radishes in our salads and soon the onions and carrots.

This week I cleaned out the weeds and added new mulch. A few tomatoes and pepper plants went in (they are little so I figure I can cover them if it freezes any time soon). And beets and nasturtium seeds, along with trying my hand at growing garbanzo beans.

The sad looking potted plant is the gardenia, which really does not like temps under 60. It does have new growth, so I remain hopeful, as I love the flowers. The hibiscus also looks pretty sad, but new buds and I'm sure red flowers are just around the corner.

Happy growing!

Turtle Square 3

Here is my latest and last square for inclusion in the 2010 Turtle Breast Cancer (Bead) Quilts. Turtle designed by my mom Dottie using large beads and background is triangle stitch with bugle beads. If you are snowed in... got beads? Get busy!