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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

How to Make an Upside Down Tomato Planter

For the past 2 years I have been intrigued by the upside down tomato planters I have seen in the stores. I have a pretty serious squirrel problem...they love to eat my vegetables! The planters in the stores are a bit pricey, so I decided to make one of my own with items I have laying around my home.
First, find a large plastic hanging planter and a tomato plant. I reused an old hanging planter from last year. The tomato plant I chose, produces medium sized fruit. (I was afraid if the fruit was to large it may pull itself out of the pot!)
Drill or cut a 2" hole in the bottom of the planter.

Place a piece of fabric over the bottom hole, inside the planter. I used a piece of reminant fabric. This keeps the dirt from washing out the hole in the bottom when you water. Cut throught the fabric a couple of inches...enough to feed your tomato plant's roots though the opening.


Feed the tomato plant through the hole, upside down of course. Hold the plant in the bottom of the pot with one hand, while you use your other hand to fill the pot with potting soil. Lightly tamp down the soil around the root ball to secure it into the pot. Water the plant from above, and hang on a shepherd's crook.

For a finishing touch, plant herbs in the top of your pot. You could use oregano or parsley or just about any smaller herb. I hope this strategy keeps the pesky squirrels hungry!



Wednesday, April 7, 2010

My List

I am not one to make a big "To Do" about New Years Resolutions...and you may be asking, why is she talking about that when it is clearly April!? Well, with a new season everything seems to refresh itself and Spring speaks to me louder than the dead of winter.
So, I have decided to make a list of things I would like to do this spring and this summer.

My List:

1. Start exercising regularly.
2. Sew some things for my home, myself, and my family.
3. Have my sewing machine "tuned up" so sewing will be less of a chore.
4. Visit family more often.
5. Plant my veggie garden and actually "tend" it!
6. Preserve some of the bounty of my garden.
7. Plant a wildflower garden in the "way-back" of the yard.
8. Learn to take better photos.
9. Brush up on my Spanish
10. Be more organized!
11. Spend "quality" time with my family.

Most of the items on my list are enjoyable to me. A few are more or less ambitions. I guess the theme of my list is to live my life simpler. (if that is a word) Instead of buying everything, I would like to be more self sufficient in my own home.

I am excited to start on my list and I will keep you updated on how I am doing. Wish me luck!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Morton Arboretum

Friday, the weather was 81 degrees and breezy. My son Nicky and I decided to take a field trip to the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL. A mere 5 miles from our house. The expansive natural area makes you feel as though you are in the middle to the most secluded part of the country...certainly not the Chicago suburbs!
This season's attraction is the Steelroots sculptures. There are 15 dramatic sculptures of abstract root forms set amongst the 22 -acres of Conifers. You can touch them, picnic amongst them, and enjoy the beauty of them up close.


This is one of the largest Steelroots sculptures at the Arboretum. Notice the "little one" running under it. The sheer size of these scultures make you realize the wonderful network of root systems under the ground keeping our trees and shrubs healthy.

Other "upcycled" scultures make use of old pipes and sprockets. This one my son named the sea anemone.

Nicky likes to check things out up close and personal.
Here he nearly slips and falls in the creek.


These little blue flowers were EVERYWHERE in the park. Beautiful!

The magnolias were blooming early this Spring as well.
We were oly able to see a fraction of the Arboretum in the 4 hours we were there. I know we will return to explore more of the hundreds of acres throughout the summer.







Saturday, April 3, 2010

Shoppe Update

I haved added to my etsy shoppe!
Beautiful spring inspired pieces that will update your look.
Stop by and check out my newest listings!