Saturday, June 26, 2010

It's a hot one!


It's 6:30 at night and it's time to turn on the air. It's humid and my forehead is dripping! I know TMI for you!

Even though it has been hot we have accomplished quite a lot. I got my new little herb garden all planted this morning because it was suppose to rain this morning. NOT! I just need to edge it and get some more herbs to add to my first stash. Then I edged around a couple of trees out front and added mulch so hubby wouldn't have trouble mowing. Finally cleaned up around the front from everything that got dumped there this week so the curb appeal is to my satisfaction. No we aren't up for sale I am just anal about those things! LOL

Hubby has been finishing up the building of the barrelponics unit for the back yard. This one will grow (keep your fingers crossed) the big stuff and will be moved to the basement this fall. We are in the middle of water testing it. So far everything works great but we have a couple of leaks to fix. Now we can fill the other two grow beds and give it a rattle and roll. I have plants just busting at the seams to live in this unit! LOL He has promised me only one more unit and that is a single barrel herb garden for my kitchen for this winter!


Other than that it's kind of quiet around here, the girls are both camping and Todd is busy wrapping up his job in Creede. Busy Boy! I think I have Randy convinced that we need to do Papa Murphys Pizza tonight. YUM Good thing it's pretty close to healthy other than the thin crispy crust. But we will do it anyway it's our once a week treat!

More yard work tomorrow and it's suppose to be even hotter! So up early and work before it get really hot! I hope you are all having a great summer.....huggies all around for everyone!

Dilly

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A quick Fly By!!

Boy I have to pay more attention. Maybe it's just time is flying by can you believe we have already had the longest daylight day of the year now it's all downhill until December 21st! UCK!

Been on the road two days this week. We found some goodies but not a large pile yet. So the hunt will continue. We visited my favorite flower thrift store today and hit the jackpot as we did a couple years ago. There is a greenhouse that dumps piles of flowers at a Kalamazoo Christian Thrift Store and they sell flats, hanging baskets, made up flower pots for 5 for $10 OMG I spent 20 and came home with a van full! Yes, it's worth the wait! I missed it last year but this year the truck was actually finishing unloading as we pulled in. Talk about a frenzy of women just chucking plants into the back of the vehicles! I'll have to take some pictures this is really beautiful stuff!

I have decided to add putting in a herb garden outside. Then take some of the shoots and move it inside when it gets cool. Another project but so worth it! Now I will have to write a list because my goals for the summer are getting staggering! I think drink ice tea under the umbrella should be at the top of my list.

The girls are camping until Sunday and they are little farther away than we thought, so we are gonna let them have fun and stay home and get some projects done! I will miss seeing PLD, but he will be needing a Papa fix when he gets home!

OK, I gotta go make burgers for the grill and whip up some fresh asparagus for dinner. Have a great evening everyone!

Dilly

Monday, June 21, 2010

Wow Time goes fast!!!


Has it really been that long since I got on here??? Wow I wasn't having fun so what's up with that?

I did manage to have a very enjoyable day yesterday. Randy, Heather, Xavier and I took the 2+++ hour trip up to Randy's parents cottage and spent the day with them. It was what Randy wanted to do for Fathers Day. We made some great memories, including Xaviers first clothes pin fishing under the dock experience.

Shannon and Shawn got home safe and sound after a trip from Hell out East. No air, flat tire, 4 hour back ups, bee stings! So glad it ended up at My sisters house with good food, good family, hot showers, and a good nights sleep.

So no another week lies ahead. Who knows what will keep us on the run this week. I do know both girls are headed camping together for 5 days. Mini vacations for both! Randy and I are going to try to stick to our work schedule this week. I hope Todd's world settles down for him. Prayers and good thoughts to him and decisions he and Erin will have to make!

So I need to get off of here and go melt some glass, pull some weeds, and plant some plants. I think fresh green beans from the garden is on todays menu!

Huggies all around for everyone!
Dilly

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Jillian Michales it's all your fault!!

Yes I need to blame this frustration on someone and I figure she started this mess so I am a blaming her!! In December we watched a PBS special on Jillians Metabolism busting. Since I was at a stalemate of loosing weight and hubby was way over what he had ever weighed, we paid attention. It's really good information and it made sense. Even though I had lost 60 lbs I didn't feel any better and actually felt worse. So we bought her book and cleaned out the cupboards and went mostly organic. It is 6 months later and we are 98% organic....sorry I won't give up my coffee and some veggies I can't get local organic ones. But, it's pretty hard to hit 100% unless you can produce all your own food!

So back to why I am blaming Jillian for our frustration. Yes her program works, very well indeed, hubby has dropped over 50 lbs, I took off another 20 lbs. It's all the other stuff. You know the saying one thing leads to another....well once your turn green it's all down hill after that! LOL First it was growing sprouts, we still do mung beans and red clover regularly. The rest was Uck and a lot of work.

Then it was juicing. We had tried juicers and they were more work to clean up than making juice. We finally got an auger style juicer, YES it is great and we juice every day, mostly for breakfast. Well that led to a pile of fruit or vegetable garbage. So next came the composter, which hubby built a wonderful tumbler style. Yah, well it really doesn't work very good, we can't get the temp up and it's a beast to tumble that stuff weighs a ton. Plus you can't put that much fruit goodies in there it has to be a proper mix to make it work. So we either build a different style or go back 40 years and just make the compost piles that worked for decades!

Well since we really wanted tomatoes and the price was horrendous this winter, we decided we would get set up to grow our own next winter. We discovered aquaponics, so we built the unit for the dining room. Frustration with it running through it's cycles, we need to change the siphon over to one we can control. We finally have plants that are growing, but the lettuce keeps bolting, the peppers have blossoms, the basil is SLOWLY growing and the Arugula is a waste. Next!!!

Now it's time to put in our outdoor garden, so hubby is a peach and builds me a wonderful double rainbarrel system. I have 110 gallons of water, but it keeps raining so what the heck do I need that for!!! LOL

In the mean time we have built a second aquaponics unit upstair under natural light. This one is built out of 2 liter pop bottles. We also have 30++ talapia that will grow and provide us food in about 6 months. The talapia provide the plants their food and the plants provide the fish their food. It's a complete eco system and very cool. But that means I get to kill fish!! This system is working better, but the stinking lettuce bolted in that too. Time to hit the greenhouses and find a different lettuce! The rock wool I have started seed in creats a spindly sick looking plant that doesn't look like it would grow into crap!

Now we still have all this fresh goodies that we really don't want to dump in the garbage. So hubby find Vermicomposting. Now we are the proud owners of 2,000 red wigglers, Yah that means worms! They live in a flow through composter in my basement that hubby built. They eat our garbage and provide compost that is suppose to make my garden look like Eden! Of course hubby stressed out over the fact that they were hidden and he couldn't tell if they were eating!

Finally hubby is now building a third aquaponic unit with barrels in the back yard. This unit will grow tomatoes and be moved to the basment this fall for growing more goodies. I can see the work in that coming down the pike. Pretty soon there will be enough light and heat in my house this winter that the drug helicopters will pick us up on radar and they will come busting through my front door just to eat tomatoes! LOL

I have also moved up to the recycling of everthing else, that means cleaning cans, jars, plastic, keeping my box's, newspaper etc. You know these new cans they make you can't cut the bottom off of. So squishing them is a macho foot stomping process. But each week I carry my orange container to the curb I know I am being good. But I wish Jillian was here to clean the crap out of the cans and jars!!

Yes, Jillian Michaels it is all your fault, I am healthier, my skin is glowing, my finger nails are growing for the first time in my life, and I weigh 20 lbs less than I did when I got married. I am enjoying all this silly stuff we are doing and we are having fun. Frustration levels get up there on a regular basis, but that probably just gets my heart pumping better. I am still blaming you and Thanking You for changing my life!! I really should send this to her site!

Have a great day, huggies all around. My juice is ready, the fish need to be fed, the worms need a load of garbage and the garden needs to be weeded, and it is still all Jillians fault!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

OMG June is halfway done!!



How the heck did that happen???? I gotta enjoy this summer more!

I have been having a great time making more jewelry and getting it up on my Etsy site. Todays new item are necklaces in pewter and copper and I learned how to age the metal using a boiled egg rather than that nasty liver of sulphur stuff! The copper turned out with a beautiful patina!

Time to be adding in some more pewter. Won't be long and I will have to heat up the little cast iron pans and pour the plaster for more goodies. The necklace I put up today was an old casting of a tree sculpture I did. After 20 years it's still one of my favorites, but I have always been partial to trees!

With the regular rain and heat the garden and the flowers are going to town. I need to bring up last years photos and compare I know we are way ahead of schedule. I have blossoms on the tomatos and a baby acorn squash growing. Randy almost has the 3rd aquaponics unit ready for outdoors. I will have to take photos of the first two units. We have been adding lettuce into our sandwiches from the LSB. The plants being grown in natural sunlight upstairs are doing very well.

Now I have to figure something out for Fathers Day for hubby. I am not sure what, and I couldn't say on here because he does lower himself occasionally and read what I waste me time on! (His perspective of course!!!LOL). So off to work on some glass in the studio I am sure we will be off and running tomorrow!

Huggies all around for everyone!
Dilly

Monday, June 14, 2010

A new week begins!


How are you enjoying your summer so far??? Mine is doing well and I am making strides to make the most of my days.

Saturday I joined Heather, Kirk & Xavier and attended the Worlds Longest Breakfast table in downtown Battle Creek. Thousands of people will come out if you offer them free food! It was a good start to the day and the cereal, milk, bananas, juice and Pop Tarts filled the bill.

I have been playing with a lot of different jewelry lately. Loading up my Etsy Store for some sales. Sunday I went off the deepend and came up with some recycled designs.



I enjoyed every minute and I enjoyed smiles and laughs to boot. I did a bracelet out of a yogurt package and stamped stainless steel, plus a pair of earrings out of cascading water bottle pieces.

Today I need to dip mandrels and get back in the melting frame of mind! I hope you all are having a great beginning to your week and enjoy each moment as it comes at you!

Huggies all around for everyone!
Dilly

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Rainy & Hot and Melting Glass

A few days around the house are scheduled and I am so looking forward to it! More jewelry, more listings, more beads and I won't be able to work outside to screw it all up!

Hubby, I and Xavier made it to Courtney Kiefts graduation open house last night. PLD was super, and it was nice to see Brig, Angie, Gordon (Angies new hubby), Sandy, Doyle, and the rest of the family! PLD got his cake so he was a happy camper.

This morning I am going to try to attend the Worlds Longest Breakfast Table in downtown BC with Heather and family. That should be fun as long as the rain holds off!

I have been making jewelry, and making beads, even some beads made specifically for jewelry. We will see how it goes!

While doing my mornng check of Face Book, I ran across a pile of photos from the theatre group in Creede. There was a beautiful photo of Todd's latest set. Check it out, the realism with all the goodies is great. You really think you are in the Gym. It's the Putnam County Spelling Bee set!]

I am off for my second cup of coffee! Have a great day and huggies all around for everyone!

Dilly

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

If this is Wednesday it must be trash day!

That might be the highlight of my day! But heck first the trash, then the yardwaste and finally the recycleing truck. Wednesdays are always busy!

Been busy working on some things. I hauled out the pewter, put some stuff in the tumbler, reworked some pieces and updated it to todays jewelry styles. I don't think there were many French Wires for earrings when I cast some of the earrings! LOL I told Todd what I was up to and he said he remembered helping me with it. Heck he was only 6 back then!

I got a great new cookie jar, a present from Xavier and Heather. Now I must figure out something good to put in there. Not, tooo good Grammie will eat them all!

We celebrated Miss Kylee's 2nd birthday on Sunday. I can't believe she is already 2!! She does keep us from slacking and for the most part is a joy to be around. She does have her moments! LOL

I am off to have my granola, melt some glass, make some jewelry, and maybe cast some pewter! The temps are suppose to get warmer so that will be good too!

Dilly

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Assistant Fish Wrangler signing in!

We moved the little tilapia today. All 34 mostly caught in the net one at a time. I think I did one double catch and Randy might have done two, but it was a slow process. Those are quick little buggers! We lost a few so that is what prompted the moving them on up to a larger tank. We knew getting into this whole Aquaponics thing we would kill us some fish, even before we did it for food. So now the little fishies, which have doubled in size already are swimming in their 20 gallon bottle-ponic unit! I hope they like their new home.

I stopped at the pet store when we made a trip to Charlotte this morning. I picked up some cuttlebones to mess with and try my hand at casting pewter again. I did this almost 20 years ago when we lived in Port Huron. I actually took a class at the local community college and I have a entire ingot plus more pewter that I have moved several times. Yes Randy there is a reason I keep hauling all this crap all over! LOL

Right now we have severe thunderstorm warnings out with 1" of rain in an hour being forecast. So time to batten down the hatches and make like a duck! The only thing we have to worry about is water making its way into the studio. We are probably 100 +++ feet above the Kalamazoo and BC rivers, so no worry for us on that count!

While we were at the pet store we picked up some goodies for Miss Kylee who will celebrate her 2nd/14th birthday tomorrow. Either way she is either in the terrible twos or a teenager so we are in for a wild ride with her! LOL

So off to move the lawn furniture around and help hubby mow the yard. He mows and I move the stuff I have in the yard so he doesn't piss and moan too much!

Big Huggies all around to everyone!
Dilly

Thursday, June 3, 2010

A beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Only in the mid 70's a slight chance of rain...I am loving it! Because of all the rain everything is emerald green and the plants and garden are growing like crazy!! I even had a couple of fresh ripe strawberries off the vine.

We do have a doggie under the weather. Tail between the legs, head down and only comfy sleeping straight down. She must be feeling better she ate OK, and now she is laying all sprawled out! We are keeping a close eye on her!

Nothing much new around here, the talapia are growing, the worms are composting, the plants in both Aquaponic units are growing very well! Time to build the 3rd unit that is a barrelponics set-up for outside. That will really get us ready for the big set-up for the basement this fall!

I will be potting up some seedlings today. I found a wooden thingy (the best I can describe) that you use to make plant pots out of newpaper for seedlings. I am not all that thrilled with the results from the rock wool pots. Everything seems to be scrawny and stringy with it! Always ready to try something new!

I'll probably run to Horrocks to pick up a few more annuals I have been slowly adding them to the beds around the yard. Maybe some more impatients for my wooden wheelbarrow! Then spreading more mulch and digging out the area under the smoke tree for mulch. There you have my daily menu of things to do! LOL

Have a wonderful day and Huggies all around for everyone!
Dilly

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Rainy Days and Tuesdays always get me down!!! Not really

Yup it's raining out, but that means the humidity is down and it's only 70. For me that is just perfect. Plus I don't have to water the gardens! Call me happy yippy skippy!!!

Sorry I haven't been on here lately lots of new things to report though!!! We had a great Holiday weekend. I got Phase #1 done of my front yard landscaping. I just need more plants and to install my pretty little fence once I get it painted! Such an improvement over what we moved into only 2 years ago!

I ended my weekend by riding up to the Ludington area with Heather and Xavier to pick up their new puppy. Yup Heather finally came to the decision. I am so happy for them such a cutie too. His name isn't decided on but somewhere between Dude and Buttons! He is a 14 week old Affenpinscher/Poodle mix.

We finished our 2-Liter Pop Bottle Aquaponics set up and it's working great in the upstairs back room with the sliding glass door supporting it with natural light. The broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce look like they are doing great! Next a big tomato set-up outside to prepare us for the winter when that entire setup will move to the basement. We certainly have learned a lot, actually more than we ever thought!!

Meanwhile the LSB down in the dining room is finally got it's PH levels under control with larger plants, fewer fish, vinegar baths and removal of a green worm. Who knew that my gardening duties would be many! LOL

The summer looms ahead with lots of work on the house. We must resume painting the house, continue with Phase #2 and #3 of the front yard! Plus manage to enjoy ourselves but that is pretty much covered with spending time with Kylee (who will be celebrating her 2nd birthday on Sunday) and Xavier who always makes our day even with his new LOUD voice!!

Have a great day everyone and huggies all around!
Dilly