7QT - Green Things, Fun Things, and New Things!
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Haven't posted in forever, but I've been up to all kinds of stuff! Planted a lot of things, in the front flower beds and in containers on the back deck. I did a fairy garden, too!
I planted a few succelents in it and left them a little room to grow. One or two of them are doing good, but the neighborhood stray cats have dug up one or two of the others.... (I think the fairies are not doing their job very well.)
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We planted tomatoes and cucumbers in the back. The cucumbers don't seem to be doing well at all. The tomatoes are doing a little better. We have harvested four and seem to have two or three more growing, as well as a lot of flowering. We'll see...! (The plants are quite a lot taller now; this was when we first planted.)
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| These were the first two tomatoes. |
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One of the front flower beds:
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| Includes lavender, c...I can't remember this one, but it starts with a c, blue mirror delphinium (which have since died), and ivy in the planter. I've always wanted some ivy! The other bed has a rose bush (which is not blooming right now because it was severely cut back early in the spring), a planter of marigolds, and my fairy garden. |
And I did this. Let me tell you about this.
I read somewhere that you could put down newspaper around your plants to keep weeds from growing up, and the newspaper just turns into fertilizer, and yada yada yada. Now, there's a good chance I did it wrong. I am no green thumb. But I don't recommend it. The top soil moves and the now-brown newspaper shows through, and, worst of all, the weeds still come up. Those boogers find their way through the cracks and all around. But I tried. Bless my heart, I tried.
Another tip I picked up along the way was to plant marigolds to keep the bugs at bay. Maybe it works if you plant a lot of them, but I only planted a few, and I think the bugs have not deterred one bit. However, the butterflies like the marigolds, so it was worth it :).
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Speaking of green stuff, this is my new favorite salad recipe:
I chopped up some spinach and bok choy (just the leafy part of the bok choy; the rest I put in the freezer with some stir fry veggies). Added those little cherub tomatoes from the grocery store that are delicious, and some dried cranberries and sliced almonds. These almonds happen to be coconut flavored, but they would be fine unflavored, too, I'm sure. For the dressing I drizzle a little olive oil and a capfull of apple cider vinegar, with salt and pepper to taste. It is so good!!
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We also moved, into a house G's brother bought and remodeled for us. It's a small two-bedroom. We're finally getting to the last remnants of the unpacking (basically, the office). We built shelves in both closets over the weekend. Measured and went to Lowes and got the wood cut and everything...so proud! We're using those instead of dressers to save room. I think I like it.
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Been keeping up with my 2014 Life List reading goal of at least one book per two weeks. Did a couple other things on the list, too, like attend a play (at Missouri State University's Tent Theatre; Fiddler on the Roof, and it was fantastic!),
and attend a Springfield Cardinals (minor league) baseball game.
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| Shared cotton candy with the dogs when we got home. |
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| The following week we let them try roasted marshmallows. :) |
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Started a second job this week as a preschool assistant at the local developmental center. I love it!! Aaaand my plans for the future have changed. I am going to go to Missouri State University through the post baccalaureate department and become a high school history teacher. I'm excited about it!! And I'll be starting next month.
Have a great week, everyone!! For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!
Regarding newspapers around plants, have you observed if it makes a difference which newspaper you use? Is The Washington Post better than Pravda?
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
I would love to see Fiddler live! I've had good luck with marigolds in my vegetable garden, but I do plant them around and in the center of the garden. We still get earwigs, though. Blech.
ReplyDeleteI believe the newspaper is put down flat against the ground and the top soil or potting soil is then poured on top of the paper (or plastic or cloth barrier if you choose). Then you set your containers or plant your seeds-flowers, whatever, in the soil. The paper prevents the weeds from growing up from the ground and in your soil. :)
ReplyDelete;) You needed a lot more paper and a whole lot more soil on top. I promise it does work.
ReplyDeleteSo bury the paper deeper. Maybe I'll give that a try next year!
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