she’s baaaack!

Tags

garden, home, home projects, life, Virginia spring flowers

I rallied. I overcame February and March influenza and pneumonia. OK! Enough!

As I convalesced and resigned myself to bed, my Smart Sony TV and YouTube became my go-to sanity. Thank heavens for channels which transported my weary body to the great gardens of Italy, England, and France, all hosted by Monty Don. Amazing Places on our Planet is another channel that convinced me I had become an angel, riding the back of a drone across continents. Brilliant videos! One can fulfill their bucket list on YouTube. Why spend one’s life in airports, lines, and crowed aircraft when in just a few clicks, one can visit the most beautiful places on our planet from the privacy of one’s bedroom? One day there will be smell-a-vision and I will be complete.

This month Swallowtail Cottage emerged with lush blooms, smothered weeds, departed needy plants, and as of yesterday eight tons of brown gravel that refreshed a tired driveway and paths. All events lifted my spirits to a new level of optimism regarding home ownership. Mother Nature missed my gardens with late frosts which ruin buds and spoil the essence of spring. I am awash with spring’s glory!

These tulips are new to my gardens. They are a rare heirloom which multiply! I lost most, but these seem to be happy.

The snowflake viburnum are awash in blooms. These three shrubs are sixteen years old! Peonies (on right) are chest high and loaded with buds!

The bridal wreath spirea is now lush with subtle fragrance. Brides order my Key Lime Pies, not my spirea!

This lone Lily-flowering Ballerina tulip is simply magnificent. I moved others and they vanished. I celebrate this single specimen the entire week it blooms. Planted in 2003… one of 16 bulbs from a cheap-o bag from Sam’s. Go figure!

Now, I admit from January-March I hauled/applied one hundred bags of pine bark mulch to all the deep shrub borders. The pine needle mulch experiment was a total bust allowing every rogue weed to propagate here. In January, one helper and I spent three hours on hands and knees ridding one peony bed of invasive Angelina Stonecrop (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’). It became very unhappy with all the rain 2018 delivered and soon turned a lovely, moldy, black patch!

If one gardens in Arizona or CA, perhaps Angelina Stonecrop would thrive. Not so in central VA.

Live and learn.

---

The heirloom peonies are now chest high and loaded with buds. During May I will deliver many bouquets to market to my ever loving customers!

The Fire Power nandinas, installed in the front bed behind the Morris buxus, were also a total bust.

Just lovely, eh? $250 worth of plant material lost. Fire Power Nandina, a total waste of time in Zone 7a.

They came from the nursery infested with an “insect they had never seen.” Nor had I. The first season I was forced to apply an systemic insecticide. Then the second year, the leaves were riddled with what the nursery identified as “fungal issues” and advised me to treat them again this season. OUT I SAY! I have no tolerance for needy plant material!  The owner of the nursery sent out a plantsman who removed all the nandinas (at no charge) and will give me a 25% discount when I decide what to plant in that space. Right now, I enjoy the minimal front bed. The bay window still appears to be a hanging chad, but for now new plant material will wait. Perhaps a 7′ wide planter under the bay filled with fern will be splendid. Wild ferns are popping up in the pebbles, so perhaps they can be convinced to live in a more civilized planter. What do you think?

Now that I hopefully wowed you, I will go to the nuts and bolts.

Fresh gravel. Future projects…

Tabula Rasa or Latin for “blank slate.” Nothing like a fresh coat of gravel to perk up spring! Carport project still great and serving Auto and moi well.

Long shot of drive. Leylands on the left are becoming a royal pain…too large and too expensive to maintain. Some Leylands are dying out on this row, with will require many dollars to remove and replace with additional privacy fence…LATER!! Notice the “Green Giant” arborvitae on the right, planted in 12/16. I have high hopes for this plant. Fast growing, heavenly scent, and great for privacy.

Now doesn’t the front path look nice and tidy! The wee Morris buxus (dwarf boxwood) are like pets that I pat every time I stroll by. And by the way, I do not fertilize my turf. The perfect conditions during spring create a lushness beyond words.

Today’s view of house front. Notice my hanging chad bay window? So glad to have calm in that bed. What do you think of a large planter under the bay filled with ferns?

I should name this photo “naked gardening!” Need more river pebbles and that planter, gushing with ferns…yes?

Any hew, I am up and making things happen around here. I still relax with YouTube daily. And I failed to mention…I gave up sugar and refined carbs…going Keto this month and one week in, I feel good and body fat appears to be melting away. No longer guilty about eating bacon, butter, and meat. My market neighbor this season is a sustainable farmer who raises heritage beef, pigs, and chickens. Check out his web site…www.harmonyhillfarm.net  to learn more about sustainable farming.

Living well and upright. 😉

Now back to my Spring 2019 Honey Do List:

Replace RO system, pump septic tank, level boulder at back door, replace 8 casement windows! Time for the sale sign?

Love to hear from you. Drop me a line in the comments section. Happy Spring!

 

Copyright © 2019 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

Jonas ~ beauty or the beast

Tags

Charlottesville, garden, home, Jonas, life, neighbors, Virginia, winter storms

At 10:30 AM last Friday, Jonas made his entry into central Virginia. First the flakes were fine and light. Then for thirty-six hours, snow fell continuously.

When Jonas finally departed, taking the 30 MPH winds with him, I measured 19″ in my backyard. Deeper drifts fill the front yard, so much so my tallest boots vanish in the stuff. Folks in the real snow belt may shrug at this, yet here in central Virginia, this storm broke all weather records.

this is the view from my back door, over the herb garden.

Since my narrow driveway won’t allow a plow, snow must be moved by hand. With few behemoth snow storms over my fifteen year residency, I never felt it necessary to own a snow removal machine.

So with much optimism, every few hours on Friday, I dressed and shoveled my driveway down to the gravel. By nightfall, everything appeared manageable.

Saturday was another story. The snow continued all day.  I repeatedly shoveled a path around the terrace to the wild bird feeders and heated water bath. The temperatures were in the 20F, not counting the wind chill.

by Sunday morning this is the view out my backdoor

a view of the back yard, over the herb beds and terrace this morning

I was grateful that the power remained on throughout this blizzard, as my only alternative with this all-electric house, was to shove food into coolers and hike to a home down the road where there is a generator and wood stove. Once again, with few catastrophic storms, it is not cost effective to install either a generator or stove here.

front yard cypress trees along the driveway

By Sunday I faced an overwhelming task of snow removal…

view of the front walk and my new foundation planting completed in November

following 1.5 hours of shoveling on Sunday, I made it to the deer fence near the mouth of my driveway. This view is looking from the road back up my drive.

to give readers an idea of what I face at the mouth of my driveway, this is a road view of the snow wall left by VDOT

this is the view of the highway connecting to my road; clear sailing for those who can get out of their driveways

Presently, VDOT has no idea when or if they will return with plows to make a second pass on my road. I hesitate to dig the wall, as one pass from that equipment will sock me in again with another wall. Quite the dilemma.

In the meantime this storm taught me a lot about my immediate neighbors. There are seven other houses on my road, and this morning all those driveways are open. As of this writing, nary a person offered to help me dig out. This speaks volumes.

by adding an archival photo of more pleasant days, I end this post knowing that this too shall pass and perhaps there are new roads for me to travel, where I will find kinder, more thoughtful neighbors in a milder climate

How did Jonas affect your home? One thought frequently pops into mind: all things are temporary including this home, garden, life.

Copyright © 2016 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

in with the new ~

Tags

fence design, garden, home, home improvement, in the winter garden, life, privacy fence

The landscape is forever evolving here at Swallowtail Cottage.
I moved here fourteen years ago, (brother how time flies) and have lived to see the initial plantscape mature to the point of necessary major editing. Last summer numerous spent shrubs were removed, leaving considerable voids to fill. This winter, the back row of cypress had declined to the point of intervention. At least with board fencing, this problem will have an instant solution. Not so in the front garden, where I must wait five years for the new shrubs to mature.

the rear row of Leyland Cypress branches began to die from too much shade, exposing my property to light pollution, road noise, wild critter invasion, and nosey neighbors

with a little elevation pruning by me, the rear row of cypress became the backdrop for the new fence

fabulous Joe Phillips crew at work — day one

nothing like the right team with the right tools…

L.O.V.E a perfectly dug hole. These professionals made digging look effortless!

promising piles of things to come

progress

ahhh, the good stuff

Joe Phillips is the MAN for fencing projects in central Virginia

everything in its place. Two 16′ boards at a time, each crew member carried material (on their shoulder) to the rear of the property, carefully avoiding dormant perennials. All supplies were hand-carried to the project area. What a considerate crew!

ready, set, go…notice the amateurish built fence by my neighbor a few years back. Rotting boards (not pressure treated) will soon fall down. Perhaps they will hire a professional fence builder next time…my fence will outlive me.

thirteen 4X6 posts placed, leveled, and tamped. Varying heights were necessary to comply with the terrain

placement of the boards begins…

finished fence…11′ tall at low-end and 7′ tall at high-end…pine needles make a nice mulch in this area, raked from the school grounds around the corner

view from the lawn side of the deep shrub border

back side of 90′ long fence with room to return with solid stain later in the year. Weeds should remain at bay too.

time to take the gloves off and enjoy another completed project. Winter is a great time for such outdoor schemes, sans ticks and other biting insects that plague central Virginia nine months of the year. Bracing morning air was invigorating too, keeping me from hibernation mode.

this morning’s view from the rear terrace, across the turf. The shrubs really pop even when dormant and have improved light and air for their growing seasons ahead

Another successful home improvement project is under my belt.
Since 2001, projects here, both indoors and out, require my full attention — the reality of owning an older home with a needy landscape.
Applying my design and communication skills, employing a sense of humor, and being somewhat tolerant of budget overruns, keep me honed and motivated for the next solution/design project. Furthermore, as the designated primer/painter here at Swallowtail Cottage, this homeowner stays in shape too.

Next up, the much awaited pergola at the rear terrace. Now that will be a much welcomed addition. Will I ever say UNCLE??

Stay tuned…

Copyright © 2015 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

does home ownership lead to a Cinderella complex?

Tags

Behr DeckOver, Cinderella complex, home challenges, home chores, Olympic Solid Stain, summer projects

All summer long, I heard from friends and clients who recounted enviable trips abroad, long strolls on some distant shore, or another bucket list fulfilment. This summer, I was tethered to home…once again, only this season outdoor chores raised their shaggy heads without end. Once I began one paint/stain project, another surfaced.

gloves of Cinderella

In my last post, readers saw my newly designed/constructed carport. A long-awaited structure, now nearly complete. It awaits Cinderella and one final coat of paint.

not bad for three guys and a truck and a gal with a vision, heh?

This week I took on the challenge of the lower patio/deck. Retaining walls stand at each end and troubled pressure treated deck boards, alas, needed removal or restoration. Since I spent a pretty penny covering this ugly concrete slab patio back in 2007 (although since troubled by improperly installed boards), I decided not to remove them. With a new deck board product, DECKOVER by Behr, I decided to take one more stab at preservation/restoration.

aging deck boards following a good scrub…and screw down

new product ~ a cure-all for ailing decks…I hope.

following two applications of DECKOVER, voila!

This application was not without challenges. First, the product was thick as molasses in January. Second, it required application without direct sunlight. Third, I chose a dark hue, and of course a few nudges appeared on the light foundation wall— necessitating a new coat of paint there…eventually.

high retaining wall received two coats of Olympic solid stain in Oxford Brown. This product is super to work with.

the only thing holding this ancient railroad tie wall up is paint…I keep it because pretty skinks reside here and what a mess to replace!

this old wall also makes a great display area for found items from the Potomac River. Let us hope DECKOVER gives new life to this outdoor area

long view of restored patio space ~ I should use it more often…

As I had much think time while I stroked, rolled, and blotted this summer, it became clear that indeed home ownership leads to a Cinderella complex. While friends vacation and play during the summers, I toil away around my Needy Box (aka home).

When all outdoor projects come full circle, and nary a brush stroke required, perhaps Prince Charming will sweep me away to dreamland. Ya think?

Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

 

May’s DIY project ~ the big dig!

Tags

Albemarle County, back yard birds, Central Virginia, DIY project, garden, home, landscape design, life, nature, sustainable living

Uncanny, how vistas change in a wee season and projects present themselves abruptly.

This month, the wild bird bath waved its copper flag at me from across the turf…hey lady, this shrub is toast and I need a makeover. How about it, NOW!

Ok, I concurred. This winter was very hard on a few residents of my landscape, and this small feature became an eyesore overnight.

my little ugly duckling in full view from the rear terrace ~ winky-wonk copper bird bath…

the original circle was topped with pea gravel and river rock, and the holly was a volunteer, seeded by a fly over wild bird

I can do this! One small shrub cannot be that hard to remove…ha!

after the holly was sawed off, I raked the largest stones into the wheelbarrow and reused the pile in the lower garden

once the deck was clear of most stones, I pondered on the stump…it could not remain, as the bird bath needed centering, or so I thought…

on both knees, I began to chop, chop, chop with my little Swedish hatchet

as moments passed, I realized this “small” root was not. The bin began to fill and numerous trips were made to the shed for additional tools…as I hacked, forked, and picked at tough roots, thoughts of the great pyramids and the tedious excavation of Pompeii trickled through my brain, keeping me on task. I can do this!

This bugger took ages to excavate; close to an hour. I considered calling my digging man, yet this simple DIY lured me to finish in ONE morning!

I pushed on and somewhat leveled the rich soil. Paver sand was in the shed from another project, and I hope the effort makes a difference. The old aggregate step stone has served me well and once leveled, I discovered a 1994 quarter. Not a coveted arrowhead sometimes found in these parts…drat!

1994 quarter-dollar. When I carried it to the shed, it slipped from my gloved hand and is now lost again somewhere in the shed. Guess that coin enjoys being lost…

after a trip to town, twenty pavers completed the circle and mulch top dressed the project. I swear the bird bath is centered…hmm.

This is certainly an improved look, don’t you think? While I contemplate what plant material should go around the bird bath I will heal my wounded self. I admit my body ached from head to toe for two days following this DIY, and I am rapidly succumbing to future assistance from hired labor. No pain, no gain?

You go girl, cooed the garden ornaments…

The following week I added three plants around the stepping-stones…

those tiny plants are Munstead lavender, in honor of Gertrude Jekyll ~ an easy start to a great plant, if they are happy here. Time will tell.

this is the bed in May 2015. Munstead is doing very well, despite the very cold winter.

Check out my other DIY project at https://dianelasauce.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/the-thing-about-renewal/

Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

mower tune~up, from a woman’s perspective…

Tags

Charlottesville Power Equipment, filter, home chores, home ownership, lawn mower maintenance, mower tune-up, NON-Ethanol fuel, spark plug, spark plugs, spring chores, Toro lawn mower, Virginia

Last week I decided it was high time to spend real time with my 2008 Toro lawn mower. It was a splurge back then, as I chose the Personal Pace with electric start. After all, I am a single gal who is not getting any younger…ahem…and mowing commences here in central Virginia by April Fool’s Day. Back in 2000, I reduced my turf size to 3000 SF, and although a small patch, it requires weekly cuts taking about 15 minutes. I-CAN-DO-THIS! It’s about time, Toro moaned!

This year’s mower tune-up began by rolling the machine out of the shed, hooking up the charger and cord to the battery…the oil was drained last fall, and fresh synthetic was added this day.

my little powerhouse with wheels…

While the mower charged, I decided that the filter and spark plug needed changing too. Simple task, yes? Way overdue grumbled Toro!
Now I am an intuitive gal, and the filter was straight forward; a screwdriver was required to loosen the fastener, which required a trip to the basement for that tool. Easy-peasy. With filter in hand, I drove to the home improvement store where dazzling mowers are proudly on display. I did not have the special tool required to remove the spark plug, yet I thought surely the guys at the store could walk me through this step and sell me the plug I need. Hah!

what is it about spark plugs???

Without assistance, I found the filter, yet the spark plug was another story! Once I hunted down a salesperson, we both scoured the shelves of spark plugs. While scratching his head, Mr. Sales Guru headed to the computer for assistance, where hundreds of choices appeared on the screen! Hundreds! Still scratching, the man confessed he could not help me, and without the original plug, I was out of luck. Ahem…
This gal resides in a utopian countryside, and I was not willing to retrace my steps, and add twenty miles to this venture in order to retrieve the plug! Instead, I drove down the by-pass to a great little spot named Charlottesville Power Equipment. Why did I not know about this place years ago??? I drive by it often on the way to the bank, yet this store’s inventory never lured me to it’s entrance…until this day! WOW-ZER!

this place is alive with all kinds of mowers, cutting tools, phew, a man’s mecca! They should serve Man-ville Coolers here!

I was the only gal in sight!

The day I strolled into this hot spot, I was exasperated, I will admit. Why should a little-old spark plug be so difficult??? Within minutes of entering the store, I had both counter personnel laughing out loud — loudly — as almost falling on the floor laughing. Once composed, the two men decided which plug I should take home. $2.95 please.

Then the topic of fuel came up… “I always use Shell”, I proudly announced. Furrows quickly appeared on both men’s brows… “Ethanol is ruinous to mowers, ma’am” one man offered. “It eats up your engine…mowers are not designed for Ethanol…ma’am…”  OMG! Here we go. My poor little, hardworking Toro! I am slowly killing it! It’s guts surely dissolving before my very eyes! My hard-earned dollars melting away with each electric start! OMG!

After the second set of laughter quieted, these gents handed me a list of five places where I could find NON-ETHANOL fuel within a fifty-mile radius! OK, now field trips are required for filling my little gas can…yippie! I was instructed to pour the old gas into my vehicle, and go find the nearest NON-tank of the good stuff. Another day, another errand added to my full spring schedule.

Once home with my filter and spark plug, my generous, super-human neighbor who-has-every-tool-imaginable, loaned me his super-duper spark plug extracting tool.
I CAN DO THIS! In a flash, filter and plug were installed. Finally, chirped Toro.

By now the battery was charged and all that was left before Toro’s 2014 maiden voyage across the turf, was the trip into the hinterland to find the NON-ETHANOL juice.

not a pretty destination, yet where the good juice is found…

By now, you are yawning or laughing. I admit I learned a lot from this exercise — not that I needed to know all this trivia — yet days like this are only the tip of the iceberg where home ownership is concerned. Just like I know more than I ever wanted to know about septic tanks, surface water, and the size of gutters…

Happy Spring chores to you too. 😉

PS: Today when I fueled the van, I asked the Shell dealer if there is Ethanol in the regular gas (87). So glad I asked, as regular Shell is Ethanol-FREE! So no more trips to the boonies for the other pump. So glad I took the minute to ask! 😉

Copyright © 2014 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

doin’ what comes natur’lly ~ one woman’s relationship with her garden

Tags

garden, garden chores, garden paths, home, humor at home, landscape design, lifestyle, popovers, Virginia

Instincts are magical. Intuition is a driving force. Little voices that inspire can be subtle or hit us over the head.
I cherish the kitty head bump instincts and have finally learned to hire muscle when I need to address the larger-than-life projects. As Gershwin wrote, “you can’t get a man with a gun”, yet a few hundred dollars and a three hours of man power can create memorable landscape transformations.

plain Jane garden path entrance and dormant turf

The little voice hit me over the head last week when I strolled the winter garden and gazed down the front path—a path that has been in place since September 11th.
This voice whispered “too narrow” and I replied “OK” and proceeded to tack string outlining the sod to be removed.
Editing lawns is one of my favorite garden chores, as I loathe any tasks associated with it, especially when forced to mow during high humidity and triple digit temperatures. Virginia is not the place to have turf and I have given in to most any weed that thrives there.

other end of narrow path

pathetic attempt by moi to remove dastardly sod

hired muscles at work

wider path

finished path, hurray!

After my hired muscles finished this simple path, I lead them around to the side yard to install/reuse the hideous black plastic edging from the front project. This is my gazillionth attempt to conquer the slope dramatically eroded by recent heavy rains—

Ouch! following heavy rains

ongoing attempt to soothe Mother Nature

OMG!

rock is the solution

two small boxwood and blue princess moved

burning bush transplant nearly broke backs

Following the muscle departure, I raked, watered, and tidied the disturbed areas. Next week I must don my mulchqueen hat and tuck these shrubs in for the their next chapter.

As a reward, this morning I treated myself to a carb/maple syrup/buttery pop-over breakfast before I dressed for my morning stroll.

quick Sunday breakfast

comfort food

What garden accomplishments are you most proud?

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

 

the impulse

Tags

bird cage, fresh coat of paint, garden ornaments, impulse purchase, P Allen Smith, whimsy

the bird cage

detail during clean up

door detail

three nice doors that function!

While minding my own business Friday, running errands, I rounded the corner near a”junk-tique” shop. On an endless quest for a footstool, I decided to stop and browse. There it sat on the sidewalk. NOT a footstool—a giant bird cage—and the price was right—the perfect sense of whimsy for the garden. The universe was in alignment for the impulse—buy!
A bit extravagant for a garden ornament, yet this piece spoke to me loudly. Impulse purchases for me are rare, yet this time I did not hesitate—not knowing how I would transport this bulk home, I claimed it anyway.
Upon returning home, I made a few phone calls and found one neighbor who was willing to take his truck to work the following day and bring my treasure home.
It now temporarily resides at the rear of the garden shed, awaiting a facial scrub and fresh coat of paint.
Today was the perfect day to begin. Sunny, dry, and mild I began the restoration with various tools and freed the cage of numerous dangling chains. Overall it is in great shape, having been clearly ignored for decades. Only one solder failed over time, leaving a slight gap between two lower bars. Since I envision placing small pots of wandering sedum in the former feed/water rings and perhaps planting a romantic, fragrant vine to climb throughout its structure, this charm is on her way to making a new statement. Wonder where P Allen Smith would use this?

tools for the task

free the bird ceremony

Sage ceremonies are highly important for spaces and acquisitions. I began by blessing the cage, freeing the bird spirit, then proceeded around the entire yard and finished up inside the house. As I completed my turn, I noticed a sparrow hopping about the cage, investigating the new arrival. This time the bird was free to fly. A good omen, indeed.
Have you ever made an impulse buy of this nature? Do tell.

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

january home and my 100th post

Tags

home, humor at home, IKEA, Japanaese soaking tub, Jennifer Aniston, P Allen Smith, sustainable living, water conservation, winter projects

This is my one hundredth post—a first for this blogger. For many bloggers, this accomplishment is a yawn. I believe most many bloggers power through topics as if they were swatting a mosquito. I instead, carefully scribe essays to support my mission and I postponed this post hoping for an Epiphany—a topic that would rock your world—an announcement I have anticipated since summer.

My epitaph should read, “kept waiting.”

No word from afar that will send fireworks into the heavens. Rats! I am tired of seeing my Christmas post staring back at me, so here goes—my 100th entry for all of you—my dear, dear followers.

Happy New Year!

Personally, I detest being idle, sans creative juices. During January, the garden sleeps, my life is content, yet projects at home never cease. As I rattle around indoors during cold winter days, the house whispers. All major renovations are complete, following 6.5 years of effort, yet there are the little details that remain, like the itch in the middle of my back—small yet difficult to ignore.

The kitchen’s butcher block counter tops could use a fresh coat of Behandla. The basement workbench is a wretched sight, following years of abuse by former male hobbyists. And for the past two years, I have lusted after some type of soaking tub for my master bath. Are you braced for the outcome?

Tackle #1: Having considered new surfaces for the workbench, I settled on a good coat of paint instead. While shopping at Lowe’s, I happened upon a cart filled with rejected paints. There sat an unopened quart of a high tech pricy paint in just the perfect hue for a basement workbench. Instead of paying $18, I paid merely $2.50 for this sexy liquid. I love finds like this. After a thorough vacuuming, the counter tops were ready for their makeover. A three-inch roller and sponge brush were all that I needed to complete this facelift. The following day, I applied a second coat and voila, a mini transformation that only I will appreciate.

  So goes the masterpiece at casa LaSauce!

Tackle#2: As far as the soaking tub for my master bath—well that is a horse of a different color! I considered a custom Japanese tub made by the Alaskan company who supplied Jennifer Aniston. Yes, a gazillion dollars. Then I found a brilliant copper soaking tub online. P. Allen Smith ordered one of these babies for his summer porch—yup, another gazillion dollars. I then visited Southern States and eyed animal water troughs—too big, too small. Then I showered in my basement’s stall shower all summer. Why is this so hard? The basement is now too cold to visit, especially when naked, so I put this home challenge on my back burner to simmer.

In order to satisfy my winter itch, I invited a pal to take a day trip to IKEA—a two hour drive from home. If nothing else I could check out the kitchen department and finally add Behandla to my inventory. Much to my dismay, IKEA is no longer the fascinating place to shop— they have sold out to China. I now prize my IKEA purchases from 2000, when the made in Sweden stamp prevailed.

Nearly empty-handed, my pal and I approached the end of our IKEA tour when we discovered the clearance department. I found a 4-pack of light bulbs (.99) and then EUREKA! there sat a stack of black, half-priced tubs. My pal nearly fell over laughing when I pulled one down to the floor and stepped in and sat down. An absolutely perfect fit for this gal’s Japanese soaking tub! I was a happy girl! As I raised up to exit the tub, its roller feet began to carry me across the showroom floor, and both my pal and a gasping IKEA employee ran to my rescue.

For a mere $7.50, I finally had my soaking vessel. One more stop to the plumbing department at Lowe’s ($11.45) and a visit to my neighbor for the installation of the spout (a few homemade cookies), and this gal is in business. I actually photographed myself IN the tub, yet will refrain from publishing these images online. What you see below is a sleek, efficient, water saving, up-to my-neck soaking spot. Hurray!If I fill my conventional bath tub, it consumes over 40 gallons of water to reach my chin. This black beauty tub requires merely 10 gallons, as I displace half of the area with my five-foot-five frame. Up to my chin in bubbles and a big smile, I now look for my next project about the house. Stay tuned for the unveiling of my bio-ethanol, free-standing fire burner for the bay window! VERY green.

And I still hold out for the great news to come in February for my next blog. Keep your fingers crossed! Cheers!

PS Please remember to visit my seasonal essays by month. This drop down menu is found in the left margin…the menu by category is located lower left margin. Every essay is packed with information, inspiration, and local photography. One hundred heart-felt posts await your exploration!

Copyright © 2013 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved

cauliflower love

Tags

baking with julia, blueberry muffins, Bluebirds, cooking, cruciferous, crunch crunch, farmer's market, food, photography, vegetarian

Who says we cannot get excited about a vegetable?? When I spotted this beauty at the farmer’s market Saturday, I thought, “come to mama!”

If ever you grow this cruciferous veggie, you will quickly learn this is not an easy process. I only purchase these, as I have not the time or patience. But OH how I love thee! Every time I opened the fridge on Sunday, I admired my prize and contemplated how I would devour it. Too pretty for soup…

This morning I could no longer wait, so I broke off a few florets and placed them in my trusty steamer. Piping hot, and with a healthy splash of olive oil and a light sprinkle of sea salt, down the hatch it went—crunch, crunch, crunch.

Sunday I had a few folks over and decided to break my rule of not cooking blueberries. My three bushes are loaded this year, therefore armed with Baking with Julia, I whipped up eighteen muffins, that turned out lighter than air.

Not huge or gorgeous, these melted in our mouths, or rather—were enhaled by my guests. I saved a few back and enjoyed two for breakfast at room temperature. YUM! The only thing that I would alter in the recipe, is REDUCE the salt to 1/2 teaspoon. I forced myself to freeze the remaining four and test how they handle the cold. Yeh, right!

The following are a few additional snaps from Saturday’s market—too beautiful to omit. Enjoy!

Bluebird Update

This morning the bluebird pair returned with their two chicks in tow. Both babes look wonderful, freckled, and still begging for food, as mama begins rebuilding her second nest for the season—in the same box. I fear the third fledged chick did not survive in the wild, yet I must focus on the success of the remaining two. How adorable to witness one chick mimicking mama by picking up a pine needle!

I awoke this morning to find both bird feeders toppled by some large critter, I presume the marauding raccoon. It will be a challenge for this new BB nest cycle. Have not seen the likes of the black racer since Sunday week, yet it too will be a risk for nesting birds—until I can capture/release it. Gulp!

Now back to the chores of this homeowner. The pressure tank begs to be replaced. Where is that plumber?

You all have a great week and please visit your local farmer’s market and fall in love with a veggie!

😉

Copyright © 2012 by Diane LaSauce All Rights Reserved