How to Keep a Dog Crate from Squeaking

First start by putting a piece of plywood under the crate, over the old uneven wood floor, to create an even surface.

Second cut out a piece of cardboard roughly the size of the pan for the crate.  This cardboard will go between the metal grate bottom of the crate and the pan, NOT inside of the pan.

Insert your cardboard noise buffer!

Insert crate pan and line it with a bed, matt, etc., for your favorite pooch.  And he didn't fight us on going into the crate because it didn't squeak!

He's Here!!!

Introducing Oliver, aka Junior!!! He's a labradoodle and at eight months of age weighs in at 75 pounds.

He is super affectionate, phantom kisses you never see them coming, and he's super excited to be here with us.  Today training began it's crate day.  So far we've been out on two short walks and have had meals, potty breaks (he's done both so I'm no longer worried about him - he got sick, really sick, in the transport crate yesterday on the ride up from Texas) and have had moments to explore the house and then it's back to his crate so he knows where his den is located and that it's all his.

I'm also still puppy proofing the house, turns out he can put his front paws on the fridge and pull food off the top of the fridge!  (eep)  When he sits next to the kitchen table he's tall enough to simply lay his head on the table, and that tongue, it manages to swipe everything within reach.

So I'm spending time cleaning and talking to him and Angel.  The cats want to know who the grey monster is!

Dog Transport eBook Special Sale!!!

Dog Transport eBook Special!!! 

 

I've marked all four of my Natural Dyeing eBooks to the special price of $3.99 to help raise transport funds for Junior the labradoodle from Texas to Iowa!!! 

He also needs to be neutered once we get him here to Iowa, he's eight months old and the cute wore off so now he's coming to live with me, we will  have many years of happy walks together!

 http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com/e-Books.htm

I will post a photo of the new pooch as soon as I have permission to do so, not everyone wants their images out on the net!

Hanging Pots 060213

Four done and eight left to go.

The rest of the mess that will soon become hanging flower pots!

Lilacs

I love how the blossoms droop on this variety.

A gift from the neighbor's daughter, they trimmed his lilac bushes back and she brought me this huge bouquet of blossoms! 

Spring has Finally Sprung in Central Iowa

The trees are finally leafing out, now to find something to plant in my hanging pots.

The neighbors crabapple is stunning this year, mine has lost most of it's blossoms already.

John tilling the east garden, most of which will be planted with native prairie plants that are useful for my natural dye plants.

Lettuce, strawberries, chard, basil, tom thumb peas, and arugula in this raised bed.

Various herbs along with three cabbage plants that I"m thinking of moving elsewhere, so I can plant more dill in this bed.

Homemade Spagetti Sauce and Meatballs!

John made his special sauce with meatballs for mother's day, well actually we will be having his oober wonderful lasanga tomorrow!

Six and a half quarts of heaven!!!

Mother's Day Flowers

Fancy Geranium from John and the furkids.

Robin Eggs

Snow!!!

Woke up to some snow this morning.

Well at least the raised vegetable beds are getting some much needed moisture.

My more tender herbs are covered by plastic buckets.

Traffic is moving slow enough that I was able to get a clear shot of the intersection during rush hour.

Livestock Tank as Raised Vegetable Bed

Got these lovely livestock tanks this afternoon from an old friend of John's.  They are delightful in their shape, patina, and the fact that they will keep my madder root contained!

In addition to the livestock tanks, John also got a yard of composted horse manure for our gardens.

He's beat from all of the shoveling and moving of topsoil and manure, but I'm thrilled to have everything in place for the growing season!  This weeks forecast is rain, rain, and more rain.

All three beds are now dressed with composted horse manure.

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Round two of off loading the amended topsoil.

 

Almost ready for the compost!

This raised bed holds a full two yards of soil. 

"I bettter get some pesto this year..."  I'm betting dollars to doughnuts that's what's going through his mind when I took this photo!

My babies!!!  All grown locally in a local greenhouse, and here I said I wasn't going to have a large garden this year... well this time we're gardening smarter by laying down cardboard and then mulching those areas heavily.

Filled and already sporting some plants.

So far two plantings of chives, one dill plant, two peppermint (with the dark purplish black stems) three jalepeno's and three purple cabagges in this bed.  The soil temperature is around 60 degrees.

All three beds need new bird netting, to be added this week, and will be painted a lovely color called Copper Pot, looks just like terra cotta. 

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!