Raised Vegetable Beds 042713

Perinneal Leek and Garlic bed getting more topsoil, next up is a layer of compost and worm castings.

Topsoil layer is finished.  The top round of wood is the cover for the bed, this week John will reinstall the pvc pipe hoops and I'll help with the bird netting. 

John loading the middle raised bed, otherwise known as my salad bed, with topsoil.

Just a couple wheelbarrows more and this bed will be ready for compost as well.

We saved money by purchasing the amended topsoil locally and by picking it up from KCI Landscaping, we save even more by not having it delivered.  So far we've purchased two yards of the amended topsoil. 

My herb and kale garden, still needs topsoil and then a final layer of compost.  I'll probably tuck some beets, parsnips, and carrots in between the rows of kale in this garden.  I'm dreaming of a fresh sun kissed salad!

Chicken and Broccoli Fettuccine in Alfredo Sauce

I'll post the recipe later, John helped me make this tonight and it was by far the best I've ever tasted!

Daffodils

I need to get these in the ground and desperately so!

Raised Vegetable Beds

From this, which was about ten inches deep...

To this which is about 18-20 inches deep; we need more soil though because...

The first thirty seven bags of organic top soil wasn't near enough to fill the box!  I will be planting leeks, garlic, parsnips, and a few other yummies later in the week.

Foot? What Foot?

Angel, my studio assistant, sitting on my foot while I work at my sewing table.

Snow!!!

Unexpected snow, we were supposed to get an inch of the white stuff, if that, instead some six inches fell.

Frozen Pumpkin

It finally started to decompose so I put it out on the porch this past Monday, the flesh is rather cool looking as it starts to break down. 

 

 

Pepper being Silly

Found out I have mono, which explains why I've been so tired of late, on top of a sinus infection and a pulled hamstring.  Sometimes life seems to pile up and in a big fashion.

Cheesey Scalloped Potatoes

 

 

 

 

I put some mild blue cheese, about a quarter cup, along with a half cup of smoked gouda cheese, and one cup regular gouda cheese in with the white sauce.  I have to say that this was one of the best batches of scalloped potatoes we've made ever!

 

Eggnog French Toast

An old friend was talking about this delictable dish on her FB page and I just had to have the recipe because I knew John would LOVE this, and I was right.  Above is the extra slices, cooling so that they can be frozen for breakfasts on the go.

Ingredients
8 eggs
2 cups eggnog
1/4 cup Imperial Sugar® / Dixie Crystals® Granulated Sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or rum extract
20 to 26 slices English muffin bread (I used Texas Toast)
Confectioners' sugar, optional
Maple syrup

Directions
In a bowl, beat eggs, eggnog, sugar and extract; soak bread for 2 minutes per side. Cook on a greased hot griddle until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired. Serve with syrup. Yield: 8-10 servings.

Raised Beds Under Stress

This one just flat out collapsed and has taken on the appearance of a bathtub.

The bed to the far right is starting to lean.  The one in the middle has been over engineered so should stand up to the snow with no issues.

Thomas

Am hoping at some point he'll decide it's actually winter and will grow in his winter mane and ruff.

Snow!

Tomatoes anyone???

Neighbors crab apple isn't doing so hot this morning.

That's a five foot tall burning bush under that snow, or it was anyway.

My beloved red oak, the branches are nearly touching the ground when they should be up another ten or so feet in the air.  It's this tree that I'm the most worried about at the moment, hopefully the wind doesn't bring it down!!!

Oh Christmas Tree!!!

Now some wool batting around the base to protect my vintage fabrics and lace.

A vintage slip (pettifore) that I found in the first wifes stash of yummy fabrics that I split up one side and draped over the wool batting.

Very pretty, and delicate!

Some crochet vintage panels draped over the vintage slip, I may rework this tomorrow but right now my raging head cold is saying "go take a nap"!

Yes the tree is in my studio, aka formerly known as the living room!

We will put the ornaments on the tree this Sunday, which will give the cats time to adjust to the tree.

Waiting

Angel waiting while I work on a sketch.

Bat Catching Device

We had a couple of bats fly through the rooms formerly known as the dining and living rooms this evening, aka my studio.  We were sitting in the family room, formerly known as the "library" watching the dog show on NBC and out of the corner of my eye I spied two bats flying gracefully past the family room door. 

If you use a fishing net to catch bats make sure to purchase one that has the ultra fine nettting so as to not harm the bats!

You Can't See Me!

Thomas nesting atop John's Carhart jacket, somehow he thinks because he's three feet from the ceiling we can't see him.

Smoked Turkey

John smoked the turkey on the grill today, it took about eight hours for a 17 pound bird. It's cooling on the stove, the juice will soon be poured off and the fat removed for tomorrows gravvy, the bird cut up, deboned, and ready for tomorrows dinner and for a large batch of turkey and noodles!

Thomas Again

Barely a year old.

Thomas

Summer coat, no bib, no mane and no ear tufts, almost a medium haired cat at this point. August of 2010

Winter coat, mane and bib and all fluffed out.  February of 2011.  He did grow his ear tufts back in and longer, much longer ear hairs, but alas the little bugger won't sit still for photos.

 

These are his feet in August, they are way hairier in the winter!

Thomas

What do you mean you can see me??? 

Pepper

Pepper being himself~!