I wanted to be the first to tell you all that I'm finally moving the blog..... http://www.homemom3.com/ yes I know it isn't a major change but it should be easier to type in. :)
Can't wait to see ya over there.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Woodworking Wednesdays Link Party
Welcome to Grover Woodworks first weekly Link Party. I hope that you will share your projects with us.
I know I really enjoy seeing what everyone is doing.
The Party is open until Sunday 4/4/2010 at 11:59pm.
Here is a Coffee Table that I made out of 2x4s.
Here are the Rules:
1. Select any project that you created using any type of woodworking. If you cut, beat, sanded or just did something with wood consider that woodworking.
2. Add a link of you post to the party – This is a link to the actual post not the main page of your blog.
3. Give a description of your project so everyone knows what you are featuring.
4. Grab the button above and add a link to this party so that your readers can join in on the fun.
I know I really enjoy seeing what everyone is doing.
The Party is open until Sunday 4/4/2010 at 11:59pm.
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| From Grover Woodworks |
Here are the Rules:
1. Select any project that you created using any type of woodworking. If you cut, beat, sanded or just did something with wood consider that woodworking.
2. Add a link of you post to the party – This is a link to the actual post not the main page of your blog.
3. Give a description of your project so everyone knows what you are featuring.
4. Grab the button above and add a link to this party so that your readers can join in on the fun.
French Drains for Torrential Rains
Much of my deer resistant garden is on a slope. The slope was created by the construction of the house in 2005. While the builder tried to minimize the damage, the heavy machinery access required some scraping away of the topsoil as it turned and twisted to create a level building envelope. We were left with hard-packed white dirt that wouldn't grow anything.Had the slope grown grass (we tried), there might never have been a large garden on the slope.
Dump truck loads of good garden soil were delivered. The garden slopes down to the house. In 2007, when I began planting the gardens, I created an edging trench in the form of a small French drain (rock below the grass) at the top of the slopes to separate meadow from garden.
That worked well, but there was the occasional garden erosion during heavy rains.
In November 2009, I once again began cutting out a nice, sharp garden edge between the small, hidden drain of rock and the garden until...
My husband decided that we should add concrete edging. We did. But, the torrential rains came before the grass could grow over the backfill soil!
The small rock and the soil washed downhill with the series of winter rains. The garden had significant erosion and 8,000 poppy seeds were relocated somewhere outside the garden!
In February, we tackled the drainage issues again.
This time, we dug the trench out one foot wide and deep. We laid a 4 inch perforated pipe, covered in a sock to keep the soil out. We added sharp drainage rock where the pieces are one to two inches in size. On top of the drainage rock, we added more expensive decorative round rock.
A true French drain wouldn't have the pipe, just rock. But, we took liberties with the definition of a French drain to ensure that we won't have to redo the project again!
Since the French drain was completed, we've had several more torrential rains. There was no erosion at all. An added benefit is that the decorative rock packed down firmly on top of the sharp rock. The rock is stable enough for rolling a wheelbarrow and wide enough for one person to use as a garden path—and the lawn mower can clear the rock to mow the grass.
Sometimes, you do things three times before you get it right!
This article describes how we handled our drainage issues. We are not experts on drainage systems. Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel.
Signs of Spring in the Herb Bed
The herb bed is springing to life thanks to the beautiful sunny and warmer weather. I am excited to see good initial growth since the herb bed was put in just last year. The herbs will be transfered to pots for the move. I posted a picture of the thyme that is looking quite good a few days ago. A few days ago I noticed good growth in the oregano and chives.OreganoOregano is one of my
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Juicy Rewards Updates & a Contest
As ya'll know I'm a Tropicana Mom and have been buying a ton of Tropicana Orange Juice, unfortunately I tossed two of the big gallons in the trash this past week without grabbing the code. Akkk. That's okay, I'm sure the kids will drink much more juice to replace those points. (Currently have 47 points)
There is a contest going on that ends at the end of March. Tropicana's Monthly Contest:
There is a contest going on that ends at the end of March. Tropicana's Monthly Contest:
SNIPPETS
Everything is happening so fast!
Piles are looming.............landscape designs.............interior designs............phone calls..... a gazillion details.......time wasted searching for things; keys, cell phone, files....... And I miss reading my favorite blogs and commenting.
Laura Slatkin, creator of NEST candles has an autistic child and Laura has developed the 'Blue Garden' fragrance, a refreshing burst of spring with scents of Blue Hydrangea, Hyacinth and Forget-me-nots with fresh green notes. BUT...........100% of the proceeds goes to Autism Speaks!
Join us in the launch April 1st and April 2nd at the shop. Refreshments, extended hours (until 7pm) and Scentimental Gardens will be donating 10% of our sales to Autism research.
But I am excited to share some news........we are opening our third shop in Chicago. Preparations are fast underway and there IS SO MUCH TO DO as we hope to open in May! But until further updates save June 18th for our grand opening party......and I cannot wait to reveal who our special guests are once all the details are finalized.
Opening at the same time, next door, will be my good friend Julia Edelmann of Buckingham I.D. and the Chicago blogger of Material Girls.................Oh do we have plans!
Some of our conversations;
Me; "If I need a bathroom break will you stop?"
Him; "Of course, I am retired now!"
Me; sigh.........
Him "I will help you buy"
Me: "Ok, so....you will learn about antiques?"
Hin: "No, I will watch what you are spending".
Me SIGH..........
Debra
Porch Idea #7
Scour thrifts stores, yard sales or flea markets for old tables.
Paint them bright colors and repurpose them for tables, buffets or potting benches.
First Robin of 2010
First RobinMarch 24, 2010A few days ago I spotted the first robin of 2010. That's a sure sign of nicer weather to come so now it's time to get excited. Spring is always a fun time of the year in the garden. This one will be just a little bittersweet with the upcoming move. I'm sure everything will work out well and I'll be able to report not only on this garden until we move but the new
Monday, March 29, 2010
Women In Woodworking
Everywhere I turn I see nothing but men involved in the art/craft of woodworking. This hobby/craft/profession seems to be a male dominated one. I’m not sure I totally understand it especially after introducing my wife to a miter saw during one of our recent projects a Shutter Mirror. For all you men out there if your wife even remotely expresses an interest in woodworking I HIGHLY, is that emphatic enough, recommend you taking her out to the shop and letting her try her hands at any of your hand or power tools. When I showed my wife how to use a miter saw to cross cut some boards for the project I have not seen a bigger grin and sense of excitement. I was amazed at how much she enjoyed using it. In her words “It cuts like butta". In talking with my wife one thing I want to really try and do is introduce women to the art/craft of woodworking. I know there are women woodworkers out there I am going to highlight three that I have found in the blog world later in the post. I just feel led to do something to not only help my wife become more comfortable with woodworking but all women. This is where you ladies come in.
I really need some ideas of what you might be interested in. It can be anything. Now you will have to forgive me but being a man and married man at that I have come to realize that sometimes men and women don’t speak the same language.My wife and I are working on our translation book. So in an effort to make sure I make things clear my wife has agreed to help me edit my postings to make them less Grover and more universal. All this meaning if you have no experience with woodworking I want to make sure I can clearly express my thoughts.
Please make sure to comment on some of the ideas, concepts, projects you would like to see get help with or even contribute to.
Three Women Woodworkers – These are just Three of the Women I have found so far that have amazed me.
Kari Hultman @ The Village Carpenter
Kari primarily works with Hand tools and has an amazing video on YouTube on hand cutting dovetails. I know I am going to use her technique to start teaching myself how to cut dovetails. Kari has been a contributor in many of the Woodworking Magazines.
Julie @ Follow Your Heart Woodworking
I have been watching Julie’s blog postings on building a Buffet Hutch. She is a furniture maker and has a site dedicated to that as well. The hutch she is building is going to be outstanding. It doesn’t hurt that she builds furniture that is country/primitive which is what I really enjoy.
Carole Rothman @ Scroll Saw Bowls
Carole has written at least one book on making Scroll Saw Bowls. Her bowls are truly works of art. I have played with a scroll saw a few times and started to get pretty good at it but I can’t wait to give one of her patterns a try.
These are three amazing woodworkers. I highly recommend you take a look at their sites. I can’t say enough about their abilities as woodworkers.
Have a Great Day!
I really need some ideas of what you might be interested in. It can be anything. Now you will have to forgive me but being a man and married man at that I have come to realize that sometimes men and women don’t speak the same language.
Please make sure to comment on some of the ideas, concepts, projects you would like to see get help with or even contribute to.
Three Women Woodworkers – These are just Three of the Women I have found so far that have amazed me.
Kari Hultman @ The Village Carpenter
Kari primarily works with Hand tools and has an amazing video on YouTube on hand cutting dovetails. I know I am going to use her technique to start teaching myself how to cut dovetails. Kari has been a contributor in many of the Woodworking Magazines.
Julie @ Follow Your Heart Woodworking
I have been watching Julie’s blog postings on building a Buffet Hutch. She is a furniture maker and has a site dedicated to that as well. The hutch she is building is going to be outstanding. It doesn’t hurt that she builds furniture that is country/primitive which is what I really enjoy.
Carole Rothman @ Scroll Saw Bowls
Carole has written at least one book on making Scroll Saw Bowls. Her bowls are truly works of art. I have played with a scroll saw a few times and started to get pretty good at it but I can’t wait to give one of her patterns a try.
These are three amazing woodworkers. I highly recommend you take a look at their sites. I can’t say enough about their abilities as woodworkers.
Have a Great Day!
LinenKids Winner
Random.org picked #30 as the winner! The winner is Secret Life of a WAHM.
Secret Life of a WAHM said...
I LOVE the Winged Linen Dress.Congratulations! Please email me at homemom3@gmail.com with your mailing address.
Secret Life of a WAHM said...
I LOVE the Winged Linen Dress.Congratulations! Please email me at homemom3@gmail.com with your mailing address.
How to Make Organic Soap Using Soapwort
There are a number of great concoctions for using soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), and you can find many recipes on the web. When I was in college, my Godmother shared her recipe with me. She lived in California and kept lots of herbs on her property. She used her soapwort liquid soap solution to clean her lace tablecloths and lace curtains, much the way her mother had done before her.
Controlling Garden Insects Effectively
Yesterday I wrote about the reasons why electronic bug zappers should not be used in the yard or garden for insect control. One of the biggest problems with these devices is the do not distinguish between harmful and beneficial insects. In one evening they can easily kill 10,000 insects effectively destroying the balance in your yard. Less insects mean less insect predators giving other more
Sunday, March 28, 2010
5 Drawer Dresser Makeover/Refurbish | Painted and Knobbed
I finally got back to the dresser I was restoring and refinishing. I am a little spastic when it comes to projects. I like to have too many going on at once. In an effort to reduce the number of projects outstanding and make my wife happy by providing the furniture she has been asking for I am focusing on a few quick wins. The Dresser being the first.
I spent some time on and off today in the shop and was able to get the dresser in some color. It is called Java Brown it’s an interior latex from Lowe’s.
Here you can see the Java Brown color and the 3 Drawers that I have completed sanding and painting. I have some final sanding that will need to be done after the final coat is put on, I will use 220 grit sand paper this is eliminate any orange peel that I get from using my sprayer.
My wife found some knobs at Hobby Lobby that she liked so I took a couple of minutes to put them on to see what she thought. She likes them. I don’t know if she is 100% on them. One thing I should note here is, originally this dresser actually used two hole drawer pulls. The other holes had been filled by the previous owner. It’s hard to tell from the pictures but the current ones look slightly off since they are pushed so far to the outer edges. They should actually be about an inch or two in if you are going to use single pulls. She is thinking she might have me drill out the holes and move to a wider drawer pull.
Once I have the other two drawers sanded and painted we will move it to its new home in one of the guest bedrooms.
ALERT ALERT FURNITURE REPAIR TIP ALERT ALERT
Okay here we go. If you have an older piece of furniture or even a newer piece of furniture with drawers that ride on wooden rails then over time you will find that they become harder to open. One thing that you can do to ease the friction of the wood to wood contact is to apply some petroleum jelly to both the bottom of the drawer and to the rails inside the piece. I have also heard that you can use a bar of soap and accomplish the same thing. I have not tried the bar of soap so I can not attest to it effectiveness. I might have to give it a try on this dresser and compare the two methods.
If you would like to know which works better, comment at the bottom and I will take on this very scientific project and report my findings.
Coming up……
I am excited that I am bringing this project to a close. Once this project is complete I will be working on Four Custom made Ink Pens for a Wedding, as well as finishing up the Jelly Cupboard build. I have decided to use two different colors of Milk Paint. The exterior of the cupboard will be Sea Green and the interior is going to be Light Cream. It should be interesting.
Have a Great Day!
Growing Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Growing soapwort may be a very nice way for you to incorporate some eco-friendly cleaning practices into your household chores while inviting an attractive and low-maintenance plant to your herb patch. When you press this useful herb into service as a mild detergent to clean your lace tablecloths, wool and silk, it's an economical choice too.
Back before phosphates, people used this nifty
Back before phosphates, people used this nifty
Controlling Bugs
While the weather is still cool soon it will be time to consider insect control for those pesky insects like mosquitoes and the damaging insects in the garden. In many urban residential areas folks turn to using an electric bug zapper. The premise is the insects are drawn towards the light then are electrocuted effectively serving as insect control. However, bug zappers are one of the worst
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Remodelaholic
I just found a great new site that you should check out if you don’t already know about it. It’s called Remodelaholic. They seem to have it all over there. Remodeling, revamping, reusing. As the header stats Reduce – Reuse – Recycle – Repurpose – Remodel. It’s the 5 R’s. I couldn’t agree more. That’s probably why I have an every growing box of scrap wood. I never know what I might be able to use it for.
I hope you will take time to jump over to Remodelaholic and peruse all that the site has to offer. I know have been spending sometime over there.
Make sure to especially check out her Link party, I try and join in on as many of these as I can as either viewer or contributor it is just amazing to see what people can come up with and I get inspired continually.
Have a Great Day!
I hope you will take time to jump over to Remodelaholic and peruse all that the site has to offer. I know have been spending sometime over there.
Make sure to especially check out her Link party, I try and join in on as many of these as I can as either viewer or contributor it is just amazing to see what people can come up with and I get inspired continually.
Have a Great Day!
Sylvania Halogen Blog Tour
How many of you change your lightbulbs every month or once every two months? It gets crazy right? I have four kids, each one tends to run through a room and leave on a light no matter how often I tell them to shut them off. With that being stated we are constantly having to replace lightbulbs faster than most. When MomCentral asked if we'd like to review "Sylvania Halogen SuperSaver light bulbs"
Just A Reminder of What the Growing Season Holds
TomatoesJuly 2006Just a little reminder of the upcoming growing season. Can you tell I'm gearing up for this summers's garden? Oh I am so ready! Even though we are moving I am still biting at the bit. The new garden promises to be a good one :)Happy Gardening!Garden Gnome©2006-2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Phlox on the Rocks
For a blanket of dainty spring blooms grow moss pinks! As a bonus, the evergreen foliage of the moss pinks (phlox subulata) keeps a little color on the ground year round. And, this phlox is low-maintenance and requires little water (xeric), making it a great plant for hot, sunny locations such as a rock garden.
I grow a deep pink, but there are also other shades of pink—as well as white, blue and lavender phlox subulata. A creative gardener could mix several colors to grow a stunning patchwork quilt of blooms.
Suitable for sandy, average and clay soils, phlox subulata grows well in zones 3-8b. It grows only 4-5 inches high, but spreads to around 20 inches wide. Shear the plant back by one third after the blooms finish.
While I am using a sun-loving phlox, select a woodland phlox (P. divaricata) or creeping phlox (P. stolonifera) for shaded gardens.
Save Water and Time with Xeric Garden Plants
The narrow bank of my sunny stream is a difficult space, so I am converting to xeric plants to save water and save time.When rearranging the garden in fall 2009, I moved a few clumps of the phlox from my outer gardens to the streamside rocks in my cottage garden. No shade. No irrigation. Sunshine all day long on every sunny day of the year.
The phlox is happier, loaded with buds and beginning to bloom with great exuberance!
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The color scheme is based on blue, purple and pink blooms from spring through fall—a cottage garden look with xeric plants!
Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel.
How to Train Your Dragon Movie & Toys
How many of you will be hitting up the movie theaters this weekend to go see, "How to Train a Dragon"? I wasn't really sure about this movie when I first started hearing about it because I hadn't watched any of the previews and just kept hearing the kids talking. Now it only sounded like something really cheesy to me and it hadn't been made into a cartoon so didn't sound like anything exciting.
Easter Line Up
Easter is just one more hop away. Are you ready for April 4th, which is when the bunny should hop on by your house? Whether you are or are not your children are probably bouncing off the walls by now waiting to do something. So, here's a list to help you out!
Easter Craft Ideas:
I have a Growing Easter Bunny Print you can do that I've done ever since my first was a baby. I'd love to see pictures
Easter Craft Ideas:
I have a Growing Easter Bunny Print you can do that I've done ever since my first was a baby. I'd love to see pictures
~♥ Thank you...♥~
to Gooseberry Patch for spotlighting my blog and to my blogging friends who have been so faithful in visiting me. As a token of my appreciation, I'm having a giveaway! Please leave a comment and you'll be entered into a drawing to receive the book, "Recipes for Kindness." The giveaway will be held on Friday, April 2nd, 2010.
♥ Kim
Popularity of Urban Edibles
In a recent post I discussed briefly urban gardening. Urban gardening and landscaping has always been a popular except now the focus is turning towards growing edible plants. Growing urban edibles is now becoming quite popular as folks realize they can grow a variety of flower, herbs and small vegetables in small urban spaces. Why is growing urban edibles becoming more popular?The idea of
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Cayanne Pepper in the Eye
Fooling around with spices a bit today and ended up getting Cayanne pepper right in my eye and all I'm saying is it HURTS. Have you ever done that? Of course I'm the type of person that can't even deal with watching a Visine commercial due to having sensitive eyes. So imagine me trying to wash it out with the stuff, I can't allow anything near my eyes, I don't even put mascara on because of it.
Disney Family Fun Easter Crafts for the Kids
As ya'll know I have four kids and something you may or may not remember is I love almost every single holiday that comes by. So it shouldn't surprise you that I have been craft mad lately and will be posting crafts and how to make them in the next few days since Easter is around the corner. (I also have a holiday mom blog)
Have you seen the Family Fun Magazine yet? It has a ton of Easter crafts
Have you seen the Family Fun Magazine yet? It has a ton of Easter crafts
Small Gardening Water Features
All gardens whether they are traditional row gardens, raised box, container or any combination thereof really need some type of water feature. Why? Water features attract beneficial pollinators, insect eating birds and bats. They extend your growing possibilities to beautiful aquatic plants, some of which are edible. They also add to the aesthetics of the garden. Water features do not need
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Porch Idea #5
Find whisical ways to display your fresh cut garden flowers.
Try using a large veggie or olive oil can with colorful graphics.
Hershey's Better Basket: Blog Hop
Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop
Hershey's has some great new Easter products being sold exclusively at Walmart. The basket pictured above includes many Hershey's goodies that are available only at Walmart.
I was given a virtual Easter basket by Nancy at Southern Blessings to join Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop! Hershey is going to donate $10 per blog post up to a total of $5000 to
Hershey's has some great new Easter products being sold exclusively at Walmart. The basket pictured above includes many Hershey's goodies that are available only at Walmart.
I was given a virtual Easter basket by Nancy at Southern Blessings to join Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop! Hershey is going to donate $10 per blog post up to a total of $5000 to
A Pink and Purple Pulmonaria Bloom Bouquet
Dainty pink and purple bells of blooms grace the frosted foliage of a new pulmonaria. A mass planting of this lovely perennial makes a perfect deer and rabbit resistant ground cover for a shaded or woodland garden. Pulmonaria 'Silver Bouquet' is a 2010 introduction from Terra Nova Nurseries. I received four small plants in September 2009 to trial in my gardens. My plants have not been pampered and are blooming the first season! In fact, these are the first spring flowers in my garden this year.
The beautiful foliage remained evergreen throughout the winter here in my zone 7b garden. Planted on the east side of my house under a sweetbay magnolia, the silver foliage shines brilliantly in the understory. My plants receive dappled morning sunlight and are growing in average, well-drained soil. Grooming is simple—I removed a few of the older leaves beneath the fresh spring growth.
In addition to the lovely blooms, the foliage forms a nice, clumping bouquet that will be twenty inches wide at maturity. I can already see that the foliage growth rate will be fast. 'Silver Bouquet' is suitable for zones 4-9 and is heat and humidity tolerant.
While I would grow this pulmonaria for the foliage alone, I adore the spring blooms of pink and purple—perfect colors for my garden!
Words and photos by Freda Cameron, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel. Plants courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. All company or product or patented names mentioned are registered trademarks/copyrights/patents owned by those respective companies or persons.
New Tool Kreg Deck Jig
Kreg Tool just announced a new tool/jig yesterday for the DIY’er. It is called the Kreg Deck Jig. It looks pretty interesting.
It allows you to drill concealed screws into your deck board and also comes with spacers so that you get even spacing between your boards. I think it might have some merit.
To learn more about the jig check out Kreg’s Ning Site
Here is a video from Youtube on the site
The MSRP is $99.99 on this Jig which isn’t to bad. If it is a time saver and secures the boards better then I know it would be worth the money. I don’t have any decks planned in the next 12 months so don’t know that I will be purchasing this to review it. If that changes you will know. :)
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Kreg Tool Company I am just a DIY’er who happens to use and enjoy their tools.
Have a Great Day!Wordless Wednesday: 1st Day of Spring?
This was our "official" first day of Spring according to news reports. I say someone slept through their alarm clock. This isn't Spring, this is still Winter. Happy WW!
Read other WW posts at WW, 5MinutesforMom and 7ClownCircus.
Read other WW posts at WW, 5MinutesforMom and 7ClownCircus.
The Silent Bodyguard Application
Have you heard of the Silent Bodyguard application for your iPhone? This is one of the best applications I have heard for the phone. I'm not sure if my friend knew that I was stalked before when she let me know about this new mobile application but I think this would definitely make someone feel a little bit safe while walking around on their own in a new place.
See I lived in a small town in
See I lived in a small town in
Crocuses
CrocusesMarch 19, 2010A few days ago the weather was so gorgeous I took a walk around the yards just simply enjoying the beautiful sunshine. Tucked into the corner of a rock bed we had intended removing I spotted this pretty clump of purple crocuses. They weren't there last year so the squirrels must have been busy moving a few of the bulbs around. Crocuses are one of spring's colourful
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday Giveaways
Here at "The Life of a Home Mom" I'm giving away the following: (Make sure to click on the links to go to the actual giveaway/contest page):
- Motherhood DVD ends 3/31
- Kids Linen Blue Bath Time Waffle Collection Giveaway ends 3/25
Always remember I'm willing to host giveaways for a company but do ask that you ship the item to the winners. I can be contacted at homemom3@gmail.com
Win one
- Motherhood DVD ends 3/31
- Kids Linen Blue Bath Time Waffle Collection Giveaway ends 3/25
Always remember I'm willing to host giveaways for a company but do ask that you ship the item to the winners. I can be contacted at homemom3@gmail.com
Win one
A Gravity Fed Self Watering System
Keeping container plants sufficiently watered can be a problem especially on hot days or days you are away from home. I found this great video from a permaculture designer. The balcony garden plants water themselves, using 2,000 year old desert technology. The water travels from a rainwater collection tank through tubing to buried unglazed terra cotta wetpots via gravity then is distributed to
Monday, March 22, 2010
MY HUSBAND........CAN NOW BE YOURS!
Corporate by day...........master carpenter........ as time allowed.
BUT, I have been terribly selfish..........terribly
The vast majority of his craft has been for me and my ever expanding list
Translate...................(we can get someone younger and cheaper)
So girls............here is your chance!!!! Remember those past posts, the one's that showed his handy work and all of you that wrote saying "I sure wish I had a Steve in my life!"
Let's review his projects with minimum commentary and "impartial" enthusiasm
Having always heard "couples that hang wallpaper together go to court together."
Wait, I just remembered.........I need shutters on the house in high gloss black, the real kind that open and close, with shutter dogs!
xxo
Debra
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