Update on Tomato Planters

Excuse the weeds, behind the fence is city property I can't do anything about that. The plants are doing really well. I was hoping that I could water them with the sprinkler as I watered the garden. You can't see in this pic but the garden is on the ground in front of the fence. On some of the jugs I cut the top opening large enough to catch the over-spray but most of them do not. So they need to be watered by hand. It's not a big deal, and with as much rain as we get in Oregon I won't be needing to do it often. This sunny warm weather is strange and unsettling. I'm so used to the rain, it feels more like August than May.

New Camera=More Pictures

Cooling off on a hot day








A rhody heart and the whole line of bushes.










Some pretty pansies along the front walk.

Rock Feature

The kids had dug a "river" in the back yard. It was a big fat mud hole. I was getting so tired of cleaning up all the mud. So I filled it in with the big pile of rocks that was in the backyard. So I killed a few birds with one stone, no more muddy mess, no more ugly pile of rocks and a pretty rock feature in the area of the yard where grass won't grow. It needs some fine pea gravel or sand to fill in but it looks a million times better.

Some Old Writing

I was just reading through some of my old stuff. Trying to get back into the right frame of mind, it's hard to write if you've forgotten in the meantime what you character was doing. But some of these are funny, sweet, or sensual. Just thought I'd share, as if anyone actually reads this. Hint-Ice Cream is not about ice cream, food can be very sensual.

The Porcelain God

I worship thee, morning, noon, and night.
I fall to my knees before you
Begging for reprieve.

Lost beyond control
Clinging tightly, afraid to fall
I give in to my body's demand.

How I try to stay away
No remedy can be found
I'm compelled to seek you.

So cold and hard
You stand unmoved
At my pain and tears.

Oh porcelain god,
How I long for delivery day!

Ice Cream

Round, milky
luscious
cherry tipped
cinnamon sprinkles

begging your tongue
to dance along
the curves
smooth and sweet

delicate lines
blueberry syrup
trickle down
pooling in the cleft

the warmth
of your breath
melting
into puddles.

Dancing in the Rain
Pelting crystals
Melting diamonds
Raining down
On glistening skin

Moonlight limbs
Starlight eyes
Dancing in the rain
Under night skies

Doorknobs and Pansies

So today I changed all the doorknobs on the outside doors so they all have the same key. But what really led up to me changing the knobs was a startling discovery. I went to let the dog out back this morning and discovered some of my plants knocked over, a door that was back there on the ground and foot prints-human and animal- all over. It scared me even if nothing was missing and no one tried to get into the house. So I put a lock on the door to the porch and changed all the other locks so that they match.

It was another nice day today so I mowed the lawn. My head is still stuffy and aching. I need to wear a mask or take a pill before I mow. My allergies are killing me. For some reason they are so much worse than last year.

Then Journey and I planted pansies along the front walk. It looks really nice now. I need an edger so that it's a clean line. Not on the top of my priorities right now though.

Sapphie is spending the night at a friends house. She was so excited. Don't you miss slumber parties?

Baking and Golf

An interesting combination....not that I did them together. I don't golf, my hubby does. He bought the kids some clubs awhile ago. There was one, don't ask me what, sitting in the back yard. Being so short I could actually use it. So instead of picking up the slimy ball to throw for the dog, I whacked it with the kids golf club. The kids thought that was hilarious. Mostly because I couldn't hit the side of a bus with the dang club and would have to swing at least three times before I hit the ball. I'm talking about a tennis ball here, not a golf ball. Yeah, hand eye co-ordination has never been my strong point. In fact any time I participated with any time of sport I have been injured, like breaking bones and needing stitches kind of injured. Still I killed several birds with one club, I exercised both the dog and I, and entertained the children. My day ends pretty good if I've made the kids laugh.

Now on to baking...it started to rain. So our outdoor adventures came to a close. I still had a little bit of bean soup leftover from the night before but it wasn't enough to feed everyone. So I added some tomato sauce, and corn, chili powder and cumin. Ta Da! Chili! The kids actually liked it better than the bean soup, and ham is interesting in chili. But you can't have chili without corn bread and since the oven was warm you have to make cookies. That's a rule right? So we made chocolate chip cookies and corn bread. No use wasting energy.

Miracle Diapers

Miracle Diapers is a nonprofit organization that provides cloth diapers to families in need. I have been sending off various seconds, out of season, pattern testers and such to them for quite awhile now. I just finished off a batch of diapers to send to them. It includes, a couple one-size pattern tester that I decided not to pursue, a few diapers that have been cut out but unsewn for a long time and various other fun things. I also still have a few of Journey's diapers laying around. So I'm filling up a large flat rate box and sending it off next week.

Milk Jug Tomato Planters

Okay you can't tell too well from this picture but I cute a hole about an inch square in the bottle corner opposite the handle.
Then I cut off the top, being careful not to mess up the handle.
Here's a tip that I didn't know. Your plants should still be pretty small. I had a larger plant and had to slice up the side to get it to fit in then taped it over. I don't know how well this will work in the long run. But we're experimenting here. So shake off some of the dirt around the root ball.


Now after practice it's easier to insert it from the top then it was to try and squeeze the root ball through the small hole at the bottom. Don't laugh at me, I'm sure other's have done that too. Just carefully thread the plant through the hole.
I cut up an old cotton sweater to help brace the plant. Other instructions have used either nothing at all or those basket liners. I didn't want to just leave it bare, the sides of the milk carton seemed kind of sharp. Plus it helped keep the soil in.

Here they are all done, I still have to hand them outside but it still gets a little chilly in the evenings. In another week or two it should be good.

Planting Tomatoes

Today I went to the local Master Gardeners plant sale. I bought a bunch of heirloom tomatoes, some herbs and peppers. I plan on making upside down planters with milk jugs. I will let you know how it goes, with explicit directions and pictures. I've read plenty of directions on how to make one but they don't have pictures.

Merry Beltane

Today was a beautiful day. Journey and I went for a walk to the river and threw rocks. This evening we had some friends over and made s'mores. Then the kids picked flowers, filled a basket and left it on a neighbors doorstep. She'd been sick and the flowers made her day. Now all the kids are asleep, it's raining and peaceful out. I'm going to curl up in bed with a book.