Author Topic: Current Projects  (Read 12295 times)

Chez Miriam

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #975 on: June 16, 2020, 04:55:51 am »
STiG, what a massive undertaking!  I'm sure it will be wonderful when you have finished.

I'm still at the "concept" stage for our raised beds [I'm holding out until we can afford to get the ground levelled, because I think that will make life so much easier for the rest of our gardening lives], so I'm loving hearing about your progress.  My husband thinks "scaffolding boards", but again, I've got my eye on chestnut railway sleepers, so that's another delaying factor.

May I make a massive hint for pictures?  Or even a separate thread?  [I miss Mel's Adventures in Aquaponics, so if there was a STiG's Crazy Half Acre thread, that would be a joy.]

You probably already have the soil/compost situation sorted out, but I came across this video on YouTube, which shows tips for saving money, and offers a sort-of hugelkultur option for filling a bed.  We know from neglected piles of chippings/brash [too much to do, never enough time], that all manner of "rubbish" will make lovely compost.



I don't know how I came across the video [I think it was googling], but if you already posted that upthread/somewhere else, and I've just recommended back to you your recommendation, I'm really sorry. :-[  [Sometimes lasting side-effects (memory loss/inability to reliably form new long-term memories) are the price one pays for life-saving medication. :-[ After six years off the meds, I don't think it's going to improve any, but it can make me feel like an absolute dimwit, so I'm hoping it wasn't you.]

"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

STiG

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #976 on: June 16, 2020, 08:14:38 pm »
Massive undertaking is an understatement!  We got the bed finished today; DH is currently using the tractor to start putting soil in it.  I'm sitting here on my duff because I am knackered!

We'll finish filling the bed tomorrow and I'll plant it tomorrow evening when it cools down a bit as it is supposed to be quite hot.  So I'll water the soil in the afternoon, water in the plants and hopefully the cooler night to set before it starts heating up again.

I didn't post that video but we will be putting in a community garden at our church so we may try some sort of lasagna method with newspaper or cardboard and soil and hopefully compost from the township.  Originally, it was going to be a circular spiral with an opening in the middle, with a bench to sit and contemplate.  But when I looked at the space with the minister, the back side of the circle gets some shade in the afternoon so now we are thinking about having a labyrinth with the contemplation area at at back of it, in the shade.  All the herbs will go around that part, for the smell.  The rest of it will get planted with mostly vegetables, with some flowers thrown in.  The hope is that there are some community members willing to give a hand and/or donate supplies.  If we can get it done by the fall and plant in the perennial herbs and things like rhubarb then get it up and running next spring.

Chez Miriam

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #977 on: June 17, 2020, 05:29:17 am »
Wow; well done - it must be great, knowing you are mere "inches" away from being able to plant it up.

The church community garden sounds truly lovely, and I'm thinking Ontario is warm enough that people who want to sit and contemplate will be glad of some shade during the summer months?  Way back when, someone recommended a book on permaculture to me, so I watched a few YouTube videos about that, and was surprised at how many veg-garden plants don't need full sun, and I was reading recently about which herbs do want full sun, and which are quite happy to be in partial shade.  I suspect you will be able to find a lovely balance and it will be a great source of happiness [or solace] once established.

I'm looking forward to your post detailing what you have planted in the new bed. :)
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

Mara Jade

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #978 on: June 17, 2020, 03:00:41 pm »
I just learned how to do loom-less lattice beadwork. It was surprisingly fun.
We love our family, which is why we work nights, weekends, and major holidays, because that's when families should be together. Veridian Dynamics. Families. Yay.
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STiG

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #979 on: June 17, 2020, 08:31:30 pm »
It took all day and into the evening to get the bed filled with soil.  So I only got the zucchini, pumpkins and gourds planted.  I'm going to plant tomatoes down the middle of one arm, peppers down the middle of the other.  Beans on both sides in one and tomatillos and cauliflower down the other.

Once this bed is planted, I will try to take pictures of everything and post them.
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #980 on: July 04, 2020, 06:08:36 pm »
Today's current project is cake decorating. Tomorrow I will be the hit of our 3 year old grandson's birthday party! I made a Bob the Builder cake, using the Wilton cake pan. I've given him curls to match our grandson's, but no other changes. I'm currently taking a break before putting the icing scallops around the bottom. I don't know how many years I will be able to make his cakes, but I'll do them until I'm no longer able. Little guy still talks about the cake I made for his last birthday.  (Wiping away a tear.)
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STiG

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #981 on: July 04, 2020, 09:08:58 pm »
^ I do cakes, as well so I feel you.  No grandkids yet but hopefully soon!

I did get the biggest compliment from my son-in-law tonight.  I was busy watering out front but DH took them out back to show them the pergola he has built over one bed for cucumbers to climb on.  And he saw the garden and how well - read CRAZY - that bed is doing.  He told DH, 'There are people with green thumbs and then there is THIS.'  They have just bought a property that has three old hoop greenhouses on it.  They'd planned to restore one of them but after seeing my garden, he thinks he should restore all three!  He is co-owner of a landscaping business and I think he's hoping that I can help them out with having plants for the business.  Or if they have a place that they are taking plants out of, they can keep them and have them for another job.
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gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #982 on: July 05, 2020, 10:58:25 pm »
STiG, if you do cakes, then you do understand!

The cake was a huge success and our daughter posted a picture of it on her Facebook page, with the comment that it might have been the best one yet! I ended up putting a saw in Bob the Builder's hand, which was an inside joke, as DD had sent her brother (our DS) a picture of DGS holding a play saw and he sent back one of himself at work, holding a real saw. All the grown ups had a good laugh when they saw the saw. (See what I did there?)

The party was outside and we sat apart from each other and wore masks when we weren't eating. Still it has been a while since we all got to be together and it was lovely seeing our children and their children.
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Chez Miriam

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #983 on: July 06, 2020, 11:31:20 am »
I just learned how to do loom-less lattice beadwork. It was surprisingly fun.

That looks lovely.  I almost wish you hadn't posted a photo: words = "hmm, I'm glad you found a new craft"; pictures = "oh, that looks fun, I wonder..."  I. Must. Not. Start. Any. New. Craft.  I'm already (strongly) resisted the lure of needle felt.

My current project: I'm (glacially slowly) using up the non-good* yarn so that I can start on the good(ish) stuff; when that's gone, I aim to only buy really lovely wool, and knit it all up before buying more.

Yeah, I know, I know; good intentions! ;)

* Not bad yarn, per se, but cheap stuff I've accumulated :-[

STiG: your garden sounds awesome!!

Gmatoy: ooh, cake! ;) ;D
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

STiG

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #984 on: July 06, 2020, 09:11:16 pm »
So DH and I have been off work since November for medical reasons.  He goes back next week; I'm still waiting for diagnosis and treatment that has been stalled due to Covid.

We were busy with the lead up to Christmas but made a 'To Do' list with his, hers, our tasks.  We've scratched off quite a few things.  But it seems that for every thing we scratch off, we add 3 more.   ::) 

My list is comprised of crafting, purging, gardening and canning.  DH's is comprised of vehicle repairs, mostly.  And the ours list is outside work that isn't specifically gardening.

It's nuts!  And we keep coming up with more projects.  Can we win the lottery, please?   ;D
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Chez Miriam

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #985 on: July 07, 2020, 08:27:54 am »
I, too, think that the only way to get my "To-Do" list completed is a lottery win!!  So may I join you in wishing that? ;) ;D

I realised that's I've used (most of) 10 balls of yarn.  Let's gloss over how many balls of yarn are in the two boxes of to-be-used-up stash, shall we?

I'm now torn between "use up every last scrap" and "be sensible, the moment you do that, you'll finally get around to the plan of trying Fair Isle knitting, and small amounts of different colours will be a godsend".  Headbands: so quick to knit, so little yarn needed, and stripes on cuffs of mittens, and, and, and.  I may need small bits of yarn...

The Tidy-All-The-ThingsTM part of me wants "closure"; the 'sensible' part knows that such an action would lead to more yarn purchases...

Darned if I do; darned if I don't.

[With apologies for extremely poor yarn-related pun. ;)]
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

STiG

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #986 on: July 07, 2020, 11:27:41 am »
I realised that's I've used (most of) 10 balls of yarn.  Let's gloss over how many balls of yarn are in the two boxes of to-be-used-up stash, shall we?

Rookie!   ;D  I have three dressers full of yarn, organized by colour, a large basket of chunky weight, plus a bin or two in the closet of the spare bedroom.  Not to mention other various crafty type stuff.

When I do something, it seems I go whole hog.  I have oodles of boxes of canning jars, too.  I will use many of those this year and if I have extras, I will probably be able to sell them for a pretty penny; I have a feeling they are going to be in short supply later in the summer when all the people who decided to try gardening for the first time also decide to try canning for the first time.
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Kimpossible

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #987 on: July 08, 2020, 08:41:09 am »
I just found out that my friends are having a baby. I'm pretty excited. This has given me a desire to try making some baby items. The baby isn't due for a long time, and I'm not sure if they are having a boy or girl yet. This gives me a chance to practice using my knitting loom. I do need some advice about yarn selection for baby. Any suggestions?
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Chez Miriam

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #988 on: July 15, 2020, 10:59:10 am »
I realised that's I've used (most of) 10 balls of yarn.  Let's gloss over how many balls of yarn are in the two boxes of to-be-used-up stash, shall we?

Rookie!   ;D  I have three dressers full of yarn, organized by colour, a large basket of chunky weight, plus a bin or two in the closet of the spare bedroom.  Not to mention other various crafty type stuff.

When I do something, it seems I go whole hog.  I have oodles of boxes of canning jars, too.  I will use many of those this year and if I have extras, I will probably be able to sell them for a pretty penny; I have a feeling they are going to be in short supply later in the summer when all the people who decided to try gardening for the first time also decide to try canning for the first time.

I read "A Stash Of One's Own", and realised that I needed to knit up all the non-good stuff, and then the good stuff, and then...

I can go out a buy quality stash!!

I, too, have canning jars!!  I occasionally move an box, and it clinks, so I then realise I have more jars than I realised.  That's not including the boxes [and boxes] of jam jars...  I plan to be brutal, but this year is so up in the air, I'm reluctant to let stuff go until "normal service is resumed".

Kimpossible: I am using up [slowly, see posts above] some baby yarn that was described as "layette"; it's very nice - 4-ply???  One thing I would say is that there are some lovely patterns on Ravelry [why would I need to know about pointed hats?  Just because?], and some even used chunky wool, so I think you could use anything you liked.

One friend [before I started knitting again], was really pleased when I gave her baby daughter some clothes: I'd bought the next age (or two) up from "newborn baby", and had included some non-pink items [think: purple, aqua, pale green/blue] - she said she had so many newborn clothes, but no next step, and pink was coming out of everyone's ears by that point.  Just an idea, to make a change from white or "blue for a boy, pink for a girl"?
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."  - Julian of Norwich

gmatoy

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Re: Current Projects
« Reply #989 on: September 07, 2020, 02:47:31 pm »
I have made two blankets for my grandson. I've given him the first one and he loved it. Today we get to watch him while his parents go have a "date" lunch. So, he will get the second one today. (I jokingly told DH that "If you sew it, they will come!")
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