Creative people

Inspiration comes from many sources.  Bloggers of any stripe are a fascinating group.
One of my favorite bloggers is FlowerLady's Musings. Click on Where I Create.

She is a wonderful photographer, which is what I like most.  She has a busy blog some subjects are not of interest., but then some are lovely. Haven't read all of her archives yet.
She also creates beautiful needle work. One of my passions as well. She has pictures of her workplace that cause me to marvel how she can create in such a tiny space.

I have been lamenting the clutter in my semi-organized computer/guest room.
When you live in a small house and have many interests, things can slowly get cluttered and look like a scene from The Hoarders TV show.
Clutter makes me twitchy and I get sidetracked from what I was originally going to do.
That said, this blogger took pictures of her space. It is 8x6 feet. Her house is about 700 sq. feet?  With shelves that go to the ceiling. Due to copyright laws, I cannot show the pictures here. You can see them on her blog. Where does she put her ironing board? Where is the printer and all the accumulated paper? Where does she pay her bills?

I am still learning the blogger dos and don'ts. I see other blogs with long lists of links, so I think this is ok.

My space is 9x10. My house is about 1200 sq.ft. While her space has shelves up to the ceiling and over desks and such.  They are all crammed with interesting mix of books, boxes, and decorator items.

In looking at the pictures of her space, I keep thinking maybe I could learn to live with my crafts and needlework in boxes on my bookcase shelves, along with books and favorite things.

This is a challenge I am not sure I can master. The main reason? I can become frantic and obsessively search for something and waste a whole lot of precious time. I want to be able to just go to the item, idea or what ever without digging through boxes without labels. Granted, having the whole stash all in one place may be better than under the bed and in closets.

I have tried different ways of storing things I do. have started, tools that were so clever for sewing or quilting. Take for example Christmas. I love Christmas ideas. Have tons of fabric in the closet. I have 2 boxes with Christmas ideas that migrate from one room to another, depending on where I stopped working on them. So, I know where these things are.  Well then, why do I wait until 2 weeks before Christmas to haul things out and start working to finish a project from last year?  This has been a yearly pattern. I have a Christmas quilt in a 10 year old magazine, I could work on piecing all year and still haven't started. I reeeely want to make this quilt. Right now, I don't have a clue where it is.

Her idea of having everything on bookshelves, in plain sight in plastic containers and such.  Everything is crammed on shelves in plain sight.  (twitch, twitch)
Right over her head. (twitch)
Oh well, maybe I could hang curtains over the stuff? Maybe have cabinets lining one wall (a lot of money to build) to hide the stuff? (twitch, twitch)
Sigh. In one of her photos, she is serenely doing needle work under a wall of stuff. (twitch.........twitch)
twi........................maybe not.

I don't want to think about it.  Not at all! Sigh.

Maison Decor8.blog

this is a blog that fascinates me and I love the name.

old windowcreations


This blog has great photos for building a conservatory.
I have dreams of making my own garden conservatory.  I can see it in my garden. Not that it will perch on a granite block as hers is.  Cinderblock? Concrete slab? Wooden shipping pallet?

The windows are for sale at my favorite flea market, Canton,Texas.  They are, unfortunately, more expensive (25$ a window)since I first saw them in this creative idea. At that time windows were selling for $5.00 with all the panes intact. I figure at 25 dollars for one window, 6 would cost $150.00. Need to search for cheaper windows.  "Good Luck"  What happens to a new creative idea is that sometimes it catches on and vendors at flea markets are aware of the "new kid on the block". They are selling a product to make money and I can understand that.


I first saw this idea done with broken china embellishment some years ago at Canton and cannot get the idea out of my mind.  The lady's blog has been closed down and now am searching for any information on how to do these creations.

when I came upon her booth at the flea market, i was blown away with the creativity.
I let too much time pass and am on my own.

I did a bit of searching and did find her work.  This is from a great web site I wasn't even aware of! Check it out.

Robomargo (for the china creativity site)


The link at the top of the page (old window creations) gives good instructions and pictures for basic building.  I don't know if I can ever replicate the broken china designs of the first designer/builder...............nice to dream about.

with my garden now sort of established...........................barring moles, heat, drought, age (mine), money, and sources for supplies, I yearn to make at least one...  Maybe I should put this idea on my to do list for the new year.
I should print off a picture and put it up on the wall as a reminder of what I think would be a wow factor in  my garden.

Now that I have found one or two of her creations, I will print them and put them on my wall for inspiration for the new year.

OK, cannot stop here; looking for one thing always leads to new places.....This blog is wonderful.
Dishfunctional Design 
Arrow down through the great pictures of her ideas until you see one of an old shovel against a picket fence.  To the right of this picture is a list of Popular Posts of other bloggers.
Well, gee, I didn't intend this to be a post of recommendations of other bloggers.  It just took on a life of its own.

I don't know if I will continue sharing Blogs and web sites, but it is such fun.

More Rain due Yay!

Wednesday More Rain

This year's rain in comparison to the last two is great.  Hopefully, not a portent of summer drought as in the past two years. I found a graph of rainfall for winter of 2011. We are way ahead of that gloomy forecast.

This is the first time in a long, long time that real rain has fallen and continues in the forecast.  Two and half inches so far. The rain tote on the south of the house that never fills in completely in fast, hard rain and  is full!

We have 4 of these. Purchased a few years ago for about 50 dollars each.  Quite a bit more expensive now. This is on the south side of the house and never filled completely.  Something to do with the angle of the rain gutter. The one on the north side fills very fast.

These are the other 2. We transfer water from the full totes to these.  Slow work to fill, but welcome in dry summer. I used nearly all of the water from the tank on the left.  Really frugal with this water. By the way, the trees here are some the bountiful peach trees from this summer.

This is the area I have been clearing.  Looks quite a bit different than when we started. We still have a huge area to clear.  Not looking forward to it either.  It has a monster climbing rose through out. Ouch!

These are a gardener's friends.  I use them for everything.  Right now, these and about 7 more are catching precious rain.  I drop a rock in the bottom when they are empty to keep them from blowing around when it gets windy.  I set these buckets in strategic spots with water and a cover (mosquitoes) until needed.  Not a lovely garden ornament but very handy for a bit of spot watering.

Much as I would prefer to be out cutting down the dead plum thicket, I will do "inside stuff" and be grateful.

It is obviously too wet to burn as well.  It is all in the timing for gardeners.  I have seen beautiful winter pictures of blogger's gardens.  I would love to do a calender of the photos.  "hmmm, maybe?"  As beautiful and even peaceful these photos are, I am happy to only be inconvenienced by a couple of rainy days.

RAIN.WHOOPEE

Today is Tuesday
It has rained off and on all day. The forecast is for heavy rain tonight.  That is ok as the hours of soft rain have "opened up" the soil to absorb more.  Bet there is moisture under the wet on the top of the powdery dirt in my yard. 

It has felt more like a Sunday. I went to the fitness center for my daily (mostly) 2 mile walk.  Coming home, was rained on hard for a bit.  This reminded me I had leaves all over the porch and sidewalk that could be really messy if they got wet.  Had to make a stop to get some leaf bags (the paper kind) to corral this mess. Have been putting it off too long. 
Got the leaves in the bags.
Too nice to go inside.  So, got my newly sharpened lopper and pruner and attacked the dead plum thicket again.  This is going to be a long siege.  I am only good for about and hour and a half and everything hurts. Plus those d---- plums have thorns about 3 inches long and HURT.

I took this picture in November.  Just getting started.  The colored leaves are oaks! Many of them are too spindly to grow upright. The leaves are all gone now, thankfully, I still have the pink tape on them.  Everything is just gray twigs.  I have cut away all the grayish brush to the right.  Many, many vines.  A lot of yanking.

We are still under a burn ban so just piling stuff far enough from the peach trees to not scorch them when I finally burn it all. Two years ago, we had horrific grass fires all over the whole state.  No rain for months (70 or so days at one point with no rain at all) and temperatures in the 100's.  It was also the year I seriously decided to convert the bluebonnet area into gardens. 
My plan is a small pile at a time (as opposed to hubby's burn the whole 6 foot by 16 foot pile). So he spends a whole day, where as, I spend an hour or so and can quit.
 
The biggest problem with the whole thicket is it is covered up with vines.  They hang in my shoes when I walk, they hold that dead tree I am trying to pull away from the whole thing. I am more concerned about tripping  and falling on thorns than anything. Great exercise, when is is 40 degrees and drizzling.  I thrive at this temperature. Always have.  Could it be that I grew up in Minnesota?

So, the rest of the day has been spent with aleve, a heating pad and a good book.  It is supposed to rain again tomorrow.  If not, lots of raking of dead limbs and vines.  May try to burn...................or not...

Oxeye Daisy perennial

The oxeye daisy is a Pest? How can that be?  Nurseries carry it?  OK time for a bit of research.
I love researching stuff!

Gardeners love to dig in the dirt, plant something and hope it grows.  That said, I am becoming more aware, all be it a bit late, that gardeners are really stewards of the land. We need to pay attention to perennials in particular.

These 2 sites are in reference to this daisy, but wonderful resources as well.
invasives Montana

invasives Texas

I have tried other sites for invasives and not as easy to link as these. 

I had no idea the perennial recommended by my favorite nursery is considered an invasive plant.  There are numerous "garden" plants that can be/are invasive.  I just called them a pest....................

Another that comes to mind is the lyer leaf sage.

 I planted this "perennial" on the recommendation of my favorite nursery.  I truthfully cannot remember if I got any advice as to the invasive nature of this lovely, fall blooming plant.  Hence, I am STILL pulling it out of beds!!!

visit this site to see this beautiful "pest"
lyre leaf photos








Another "favorite" I have attempted to "corral" in one bed for years.

Obedient plant photos

The obedient plant blooms and blooms and blooms lovely lavender flowers on a stalk much like the lyre leaf. I could/can always count on them blooming in late August and all through September. This is a time of year when flowers are slowing down and not much in bloom. In my garden anyway.

At this point, you have the idea.  Lovely, yes. Invasive, yes.  Therefore my need to share with others what gardeners need to know.
I absolutely love the sites such as obedient plant photos, lyre leaf photos for their beauty.  Better than holding a heavy book with all these pictures.  What a feast for the eye!

You can type in any flower you love along  with the word photos or images on the same line and visit a world of beauty in seconds instead of having large coffee table type books.

I say again "I LOVE MY COMPUTER"

Florian tools

The florian ratchet pruner and the lopper are my choice. I am all for colored handles that keep tools from getting lost in the garden or grass.

florian

OK, so I am not fond of their web site-- too busy or something. I am also surprised at the price.  I paid around 30 dollars in the 90's.  I would purchase one without hesitation for any friend and not quibble at the price. 
That being said, I find that the ratchet hand pruner (mine is yellow)
but the same as pictured in pink. I visited the reviews and really was surprised that these have been sold for over 30 years.  I bought my first pair in the mid 90's.  If i wrote a review it would be the great handling of the pruner. Others mentioned the ease of clipping with this tool. Not to mention, the fact that it can be sharpened over and over!!!

This pruner is a gem.  I bought my first one years ago at a garden show. Have not looked at any other since.
The one thing I  like, other than the wonderful cutting ability is that they have a nice return policy.
The  original price is a bit high for what you get..............until you start clipping branches off.  Believe me, I have never experienced such a quick cut. I have smallish hands and the other ratchet pruners are bulky. Too much for my hand.
The plus; you can return if it breaks or you just want a newer cleaner looking one.........................with a check for 12 dollars you get a new one..................
So, say 5 years down the road, you have purchased several (cheaper) ratchet pruners and they just never quite got there..................You cannot return these and get another. If they break and you kept the receipt you might get a refund.
Or, you pay the initial price and if you need a "newer" one, it is yours for 12 dollars (may be higher now with inflation). You just return the pruner with the check and they send you another.
I did this, once or twice.

I am sure my "logic" for not blanching at the need to "pay again" for the pruner seems high.  However, if you consider postage charges, plus handling, I bet you are paying for postage.......................................So, if I purchased on line, the (gulp) 48 dollars + postage.................................. 

Then, "my brains grew in" and I remembered that I had also purchased a honing tool at the same booth. I vaguely remember the lady demonstrating sharpening my yellow pruner.  So, I purchased it.

REVELATION
Years later I am now the owner of sharp, sharp pruners, loppers, and scissors and kitchen and pocket knives.  I kid you not.  I have the best, best tool for sharpening ANYTHING with a blade.......!!!!
I bought a lopper when I bought the pruner and love it as well.  It had gotten dull and took a few extra honer strokes to do the job. Now, it is sharp, sharp.

The Florian people do not offer this tool at their web site, but the tool has a name on it.
Dia-Sharp and it is made in the USA.


My tool has a red handle about 5 inches long with the honing edge about 3 inches.
This tool is my friend for life!!!

When the silvery part  looks sort of black, I wash it and go on about my business.
My husband is most impressed.  He prides himself on sharp pocket knives and when he checked it out was quite surprised at the ease.  The Dia is for diamond.  It doesn't fade/or wear  away with use so far as the other "grinding or honing tools will". The whet rock doesn't wear out as the honing tools will.  The problem is they don't fit the angle of the blade of my yellow pruner,

So, look for these Florian  tools and stop buying new pruners.They have a web site and catalog which is the best place to find them.

earth to dr spock

This has been a story rattling around in my head for a number of years. Trying to describe this place to someone not familiar with odd architecture gets complicated.

Our son lives in NM, hence my travels there. When I visited him in Albuquerque years ago, he showed me a home in his neighborhood that made a long lasting impression on me.

 OK, I found the photo on line.
If this is the same house and I think it is, it is at least close! This picture came from another web site, so hope I am not infringing on copyright?
When I saw it in about 1992, it was pretty well hidden by shrubbery and trees.

Albuquerque unusual house

I found this in my stash of NM pictures.  Took this in 1992. This is of the other end of the house.  Looks a lot like the picture I used from the Web. This is in a residential area in Albuquerque.

Limited funds allow only a certain number of trips a year. NM is one of them.  I look so forward to the aspens, the great food places my son knows about, the aspens, the vistas, monument valley, Mancos, the aspens, the drives to neat places he is fond of, the aspens.....

So, this is a story of  the drive home to Texas.  There are several routes to take from Farmington to Fort Worth.  On 2 occasions I have gone the Taos route.  Taos is actually a city approximately 1 mile north of the Taos pueblo. It has become as commercialized as many other small towns  and art colony towns in NM.  Like the commercialization or not, these little communities attract the tourist dollars and are still alive and worth a visit because of it.

The Taos route is on highway 64.  A very nice road and lots of scenery and less traffic. About 8 miles out of Taos,  you drive past  odd grouping of "houses" to use the term loosely.  It is a development (I think that is what you would call it?) of homes you or I have not seen or much less been inside of.
I have learned that some of these homes are for rent by the night or week or what ever. I am sure out of my price range.
For some reason,  I am not finding good pictures of these homes to use here.  I have spent quite bit of time searching for just pictures of these homes and only find professional sites. They could be on facebook or some such. 
One thing I have found is that these homes have been  popping up all over.

On my search line, I have just typed in the words earthship homes and found many, many interesting sites. I have come away from these web sites with a different feeling toward "the greenies".  The creative use of trash and things we would not want in our yards, landfills, on the side of the road,  much less our house, is awesome.  Sure, one would say they are way too expensive...................but "Are they"?

So, if you have the time and curiosity, visit and enjoy.

This web site is just of Taos area homes.
Earthship homes on hw64

This site is mostly dialog and advertising, but worth a read.  Not for everyone, these homes.....................
Rental of an earth home

Topics like these can keep me searching and reading for hours and hours.

A New Year and new dreams

39 degrees and light rain this morning.  We are hoping to drive to Canton for trade days/flea market.  Should be a balmy 46 this afternoon.  This is Friday, so we still have a shot for Saturday.  By Sunday I am sure the vendors will be packing up.

The weather has been pretty chilly for weeks now and not much yard work. This fresh new year is a good time to followup on a couple of projects I am attempting.

One is the winter grass and the other is nut grass (sedge).  Both have products that are aimed at only one issue as opposed to the broad leaf weed killer, and of course the ubiquitous "weed/grass killer will kill ANYTHING.

Gordon's Ornamec is an over the top grass herbicide.  I have used it for years and it is slow acting, but gets
the job done.  I know it will not kill bluebonnets when I over spray the winter grass.  I was mainly concerned that it wouldn't do as well when the temperatures cooled.

So, tried it out on the gravel paths in my garden. I was curious to see if it would kill (actually kill) out bermuda grass. Good so far. Should be a lot easier to get the roots out.

This is an example of the grass killer vs. broad leaf. Sprayed this whole area

This is winter (my name, don't know grass name) grass  about 2 weeks after spraying. The weather has been cold for most of this time.  Looks promising.

Now, I have to spray the grass in the front that is taller already than the bluebonnets. The main thing to remember is that you shouldn't spray any herbicide when rain is due within a few hours.  The spray has to have time to be absorbed by the plant.
The one thing to watch the label and understand, doesn't work when grass is much over 3 or 4 inches tall.
This grass will get 4 feet tall!!!!!  Need to do that



 A parting shots on a wintry morning. Grey overcast sky makes a perfect backdrop. I get antsy and eager to roam our neighborhood in weather like this.  Never fail to find something magical to take a few pictures.

Persimmon bounty for some critter

I used to feed the horses in this pen. They love persimmons

One of the reasons I don't enjoy walking in my neighborhood anymore is dogs. Everyone seems to have barking dogs, some 3 or 4. No peaceful amble with all the noise.

Another Blogger with a great camera!

How do I describe this blog, other than I can only aspire for such gorgeous photos.

Odd name, and for me off putting as I detest grackles.............................but well worth a visit over and over.  OK, she does explain her reason for the name, makes sense in a way. I still don't like the little beasties.

The Grackle click here


It would be so neat to meet this lady.  She seems to think as I do.

When I started this effort, all I wanted to do was just have a place to write my thoughts on my adventures and misadventures in my garden.  I have now evolved into a camera in hand roamer.  I "see" with the blog in mind all the time.
The one blessing of my struggles of learning "how to blog" is that I have nearly completed sorting and sifting through my years of garden photos.  Over time, had so many duplicated (by the computer not me) pictures stashed in various picture places and even on an external hard drive and thumb drives...  CRAZY MAKING.

Nearly there and feel so smug I just know the computer will crash and those pesky duplicates will all reappear!!!

Keeping the good thought, I will practice my goal of using a CD-RW to store blog photos ONLY.

Have a happy new year all and may we gardeners be blessed with vision/dreams, strength, and a little help now and then to greater achievements in our gardens.

This is what I mean.  This is just a twig of an oak tree discovered as I was clearing out the dead plum thicket.  This is why I need the camera in my back pocket. Once the sun comes out.....................the frost is gone.  Talk about a Kodak moment. Actually, Sony moment. Took this with my new Bloggie camera. Still working out bugs, but takes great pictures.

 

Just a bit of vine