Category: Home and Garden

A Little Construction Project

Post author By Dre
Post date July 24, 2008
10 Comments on A Little Construction Project

There’s always a little something going on around here. In fact, when we finish a project there are bets taken among our friends as to how much time will pass before we start the next one. What can I say? My husband has an active imagination, and the tools to carry out his ideas.

I love a good construction project – even though, with two kids around I don’t get to do much of the manual labor anymore. The best part about working on projects with my husband is the view. And can I just say to the two men who read my blog: I’m sorry. Focus on the tools, OK, and be glad he didn’t have his shirt off.

There’s just something about my man wielding a power tool that gets me all clammy.

Don’t even get me started on the forearms, the calves…

the booty.

To top it all off, he cleans up his messes when he’s done with his work.

The broom might even be sexier than the power tool. Well, no. It’s not. But close!

The “finished” product? A saw-cut “tile” dining room floor, which I will be staining in weeks to come. Stay tuned for that, it should be interesting!

Home and Garden Life in general

Where there’s Smoke, there’s Fire

Post author By Dre
Post date July 13, 2008
2 Comments on Where there’s Smoke, there’s Fire

If you’re from California, I don’t have to tell you that we’ve been hit with one of the worst Fire Seasons in our state’s history. You already know all about it, since you’re probably hacking up a lung.

During the previous fires, the sky was gray and dark here on the ranch, but the air was breathable. This time, we’ve been warned to stay inside. I’ve occasionally heard helicopters flying overhead this week. But I can never see them. I ventured out in the early morning a few days ago, and snapped these photos of our skyline.

This is our view to the East, where we normally see a mountain range in the distance. Those are houses, about a half mile away.

The sun looks like a dim bulb. I don’t think we’re getting our money’s worth on the solar paneling, these days.

I stood there wondering if our Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was having flashbacks to that movie he was in, Total Recall. You know the scene, where he and his leading lady are exposed to the air on Mars and their eyes bug out? Weeks of horrible air quality made me realize what my true worst fear is: that the air we breathe will become a commodity, just like on Total Recall (even if we aren’t on Mars). People around here have been hospitalized for breathing this air – and as the environment continues to deteriorate, will our air become unfit for human consumption? Why yes, I am an anal retentive worry-wart, why do you ask?

I do see improvement, though. Today we played outside for the first time all week, and I caught a picture of the moon.

Now, would you look at that. The sky resembles a shade of blue. And the moon? It isn’t red today.

Home and Garden Ranch Life

Gardening 101, a Tutorial

Good points to think about when picking a location for your garden: sun exposure, soil quality, access to water, drainage, competition from existing plants, and protection from foliage munching wildlife.

Every year, we’ve planted our garden in a different, “better” location, hoping to actually have some vegetables to harvest. The first year we didn’t grow squash, we grew squat. Come to find out, we planted right next to our septic tank’s leach field. Not a good idea. Each successive year, we’ve tried new spots with new fancy techniques, and still: nada, although sometimes: meh.

This year, Jeremy used his extra smart brain and super strong muscles to build a raised platform with lots of good garden dirt, complete with chicken and cow poo. Next, he enclosed it with lattice to discourage wayward goats from eating our sproutlets and hung a leaky hose across the back fence, a “drip system” if you will.

Once the space was ready, we had our very own seed-planting experts come in and do their thing. It’s interesting, really, how many pumpkin seeds two four-year-olds will plant, if given the chance. We weeded and poked and watered. Before too long, we had some growth.

Then we went on vacation, and came back to find this:

Which led to lots of these:

Does anyone know how to cook pumpkin? Because all I know how to do with them is make jack-o-lanterns. Not very tasty.

It’s a shame, too, that you can’t find cucumbers like ours in the grocery store.

So, let’s review:

Pick a good spot. Prepare the soil. Plant the seeds. Weed and water. Go on vacation. Harvest. Eat salad!

Home and Garden

Brutally Honest Monday

It’s my first time participating in Mrs. Flinger’s Brutally Honest Monday. Leave me a comment, and be brutally honest! (Rachel, I’m looking at you). FUN!

I spent the weekend moving Alison into Blythe’s room and Blythe into Alison’s room. Why? Mainly because I like to drive myself crazy. Anyway, I had to make an *emergency* trip to Target to buy a rug, and I’m not sure I made the right decision.

I was looking for a tan color, but Target only had brown or cream. I went with brown based on the whole stain factor. Now that it’s on the floor, I’m just not sure. Is there all together too much brown for a little girl’s room? Should I return it for the cream one?

Blythe’s bedding ensemble is brown, pink and camel.

What do you think?

Home and Garden Products and Reviews

Lowe’s vs. Home Depot

In true Father’s Day fashion, we paid a visit to a home improvement store today. The conversation went something like this:

Me: We need to get some closet doors for Blythe’s room. Let’s go to Home Depot!

J: Let’s go to Lowe’s.

Me: But I know where everything is at Home Depot. I like Home Depot.

J: Just try it. You’ll like it!

Me: That’s what they ALL say.

I must admit, I’ve been converted. And it has nothing to do with the whole Lowes vs. Home Depot marital dispute. It has everything to do with this:

I think as the summer wears on, we’ll be taking trips to Lowe’s just to ride around in the cart. That Lowe’s lady sure knows what she’s doing!