Hi all...just posting updated garden pictures (I need to weed the garden)!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Raised Garden Bed Update
Hi all!
My garden is still going strong! I harvested some Roma tomatoes from my potted plants and had so many extra peppers that I took some to work to share with my co-workers (I hate I didn't take a picture of that harvest). I've included a few updated photos of the garden. Thanks for looking!
My garden is still going strong! I harvested some Roma tomatoes from my potted plants and had so many extra peppers that I took some to work to share with my co-workers (I hate I didn't take a picture of that harvest). I've included a few updated photos of the garden. Thanks for looking!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Items In My Raised Garden
So, I promised I would let you know what I planted in the four raised garden beds that I planted a few weeks ago.
Bed 1 - Big boy tomato, patio tomato, husky cherry red tomato, golden jubilee tomato, Roma tomato, mr. stripey heirloom tomato, parsley, cabbage, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage, basil & oregano.
Bed 2 - Nastriums, redina lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Nevada lettuce, mesclun, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, spinach, Simpson lettuce, chard, yellow squash, eggplant & arugula.
Bed 3 - Jalapeño, big Bertha bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, poblano pepper, muskmelon, sugar baby watermelon, cantaloupe, radish, carnations, shallots, wild flowers, mini carrots, marigolds, sunflowers, chives & onions.
Bed 4 - Cucumber, broccoli raab, lavender, delphiniums, African daisies, dwarf dahlias, cow peas, mixed green beans & corn.
Pots - Bell peppers, banana peppers, Roma tomatoes and strawberries.
I am constantly amazed at the amount of plants I was able to fit into my small garden! The books I found most helpful were " The New and Improved Square Foot Gardening Method" and "Small Space Gardening". These books helped me decide what to plant, which plants are beneficial to each other and which ones should not be planted together (e.g. corn and tomatoes -- because they share the same potential for worm infestation).
I hope this post has been interesting/helpful! See below for a picture of the first harvest from my potted plants!
What have you planted in your garden? What are you most excited about?
Bed 1 - Big boy tomato, patio tomato, husky cherry red tomato, golden jubilee tomato, Roma tomato, mr. stripey heirloom tomato, parsley, cabbage, rosemary, mint, thyme, sage, basil & oregano.
Bed 2 - Nastriums, redina lettuce, Chinese cabbage, Nevada lettuce, mesclun, Bibb lettuce, radicchio, spinach, Simpson lettuce, chard, yellow squash, eggplant & arugula.
Bed 3 - Jalapeño, big Bertha bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, poblano pepper, muskmelon, sugar baby watermelon, cantaloupe, radish, carnations, shallots, wild flowers, mini carrots, marigolds, sunflowers, chives & onions.
Bed 4 - Cucumber, broccoli raab, lavender, delphiniums, African daisies, dwarf dahlias, cow peas, mixed green beans & corn.
Pots - Bell peppers, banana peppers, Roma tomatoes and strawberries.
I am constantly amazed at the amount of plants I was able to fit into my small garden! The books I found most helpful were " The New and Improved Square Foot Gardening Method" and "Small Space Gardening". These books helped me decide what to plant, which plants are beneficial to each other and which ones should not be planted together (e.g. corn and tomatoes -- because they share the same potential for worm infestation).
I hope this post has been interesting/helpful! See below for a picture of the first harvest from my potted plants!
What have you planted in your garden? What are you most excited about?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Raised garden beds
Both of my grandfathers were farmers and my brother has made his career in agriculture. While I do not aspire to have a working farm I do love fresh vegetables and flowers and feel a great sense of accomplishment when I can pick them from my personal garden...which brings me to this post.
Last month I purchased two raised garden beds from Sams club and bought the dirt, seeds, landscape fabric and other items from Walmart (I work for Walmart) and Lowe's. I decided that since my space was so small that I would use the square foot gardening method. This would allow me to plant more items in a smaller space.
After thirty five bags of dirt and countless plants and seeds I got everything planted and have been bitten by the plant bug! I have been checking on the garden daily to be sure no little critters eat the plants and veggies before we do!
I will share the list of what i planted and more pictures soon, but for now here are some pictures when the garden was first installed:
Do you garden? If so, what do plant? If not and you would like to, what is keeping you from starting?
Talk to you all soon?
Last month I purchased two raised garden beds from Sams club and bought the dirt, seeds, landscape fabric and other items from Walmart (I work for Walmart) and Lowe's. I decided that since my space was so small that I would use the square foot gardening method. This would allow me to plant more items in a smaller space.
After thirty five bags of dirt and countless plants and seeds I got everything planted and have been bitten by the plant bug! I have been checking on the garden daily to be sure no little critters eat the plants and veggies before we do!
I will share the list of what i planted and more pictures soon, but for now here are some pictures when the garden was first installed:
Do you garden? If so, what do plant? If not and you would like to, what is keeping you from starting?
Talk to you all soon?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Flour's Banana Nut Bread
I bought the new Flour Bakery cookbook and decided to try their banana nut bread recipe. Their method of whipping the eggs makes for the lightest and most moist banana bread I have ever made. I haven't made anything else from the cookbook, but i have been hearing nothing but great things about it! What quick bread recipes are your favorite?
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
Oh My Goodness! I made homemade mozzarella cheese this evening and it was so easy! Had I known how easy it would be I would have made it along time ago. There are several websites that give the directions on how to make it, but I used Eat. Drink…Better’s instructions. I did not see the measurement for salt in the recipe so I just eye-balled it…probably less than ½ tsp. There are two items that you probably don’t have in your cabinet…citric acid and rennet, however, I found them easily at Whole Foods Market. If your store doesn’t carry the products both of them can be found via the internet.
Anyway…Here’s a quick rundown of the pictures.
1. Citric acid and the rennet.
2. What the milk looks like when the curds separate from the whey (the whey is the almost clear liquid underneath the white curds).
3. The curds and a small bit of whey after I scooped them out of the pot.
4. Curds after the first kneading.
5. The finished, shaped mozzarella balls.
Making homemade cheese was an awesome experience and has fueled my desire to try more projects that were everyday practices for my ancestors. Cheese made at home…in 2010…who would have thought!?
Toodles!
Anyway…Here’s a quick rundown of the pictures.
1. Citric acid and the rennet.
2. What the milk looks like when the curds separate from the whey (the whey is the almost clear liquid underneath the white curds).
3. The curds and a small bit of whey after I scooped them out of the pot.
4. Curds after the first kneading.
5. The finished, shaped mozzarella balls.
Making homemade cheese was an awesome experience and has fueled my desire to try more projects that were everyday practices for my ancestors. Cheese made at home…in 2010…who would have thought!?
Toodles!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Burda Style Sewing Book - New Read
I just got the new Burda Style sewing book for Kindle and am so excited! It looks like it is packed with ideas for beginners and advanced sewers. It also has great examples of pattern modifications.
Have you bought this book? If so, what do you think?
Angela
Follow me on twitter - @blueturtle97
Check out my blogs
www. seamsfabulous. blogspot. com
www. Habitualcreator. blogspot. com
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Copy Cat Show and Tell
Soooo, it has been a while since I posted the Michael Kors scarf that I wanted to copy, but I finally finished it and had time to complete a quick post.
The copy cat version is hot pink cotton knit with a metal jean zipper (I could not find one exactly like the one on Nordstrom.com, but I think it still works).
Basic Instructions: I cut a double layer of fabric 8 inches wide and approximately 32 inches long. I then cut one of the rectangles in half to make two 8"X16" pieces. I folded under about 1/2 inch on 1 - 8" side and pinned to one side of the zipper tape. I did the same with the other 8"X16" piece (on the other side of the zipper tape). After which I pinned the 8"X32" piece to the zippered piece pinning along the top and sides. I then sewed the pinned areas. I un-zipped the scarf, turned it inside out and pressed the seams. Although I did not end up making an infinity scarf, you can see from the second picture that it can be styled to look similar to one.
Thanks for looking!
The copy cat version is hot pink cotton knit with a metal jean zipper (I could not find one exactly like the one on Nordstrom.com, but I think it still works).
Basic Instructions: I cut a double layer of fabric 8 inches wide and approximately 32 inches long. I then cut one of the rectangles in half to make two 8"X16" pieces. I folded under about 1/2 inch on 1 - 8" side and pinned to one side of the zipper tape. I did the same with the other 8"X16" piece (on the other side of the zipper tape). After which I pinned the 8"X32" piece to the zippered piece pinning along the top and sides. I then sewed the pinned areas. I un-zipped the scarf, turned it inside out and pressed the seams. Although I did not end up making an infinity scarf, you can see from the second picture that it can be styled to look similar to one.
Thanks for looking!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Copy Cat Possibilities
Soooo, I've been looking at lots of websites lately to see what the new fall styles will be. In my search I found this Michael Kors infinity scarf (on Nordstrom.com) that includes a zipper. I already have fabric in a very similar color so all I have to do is find the zipper! I'll post a picture of it in when I'm done, but here's a photo of the designer version. Thanks for looking and check back soon to see how I did!
Blue Turtle
Friday, September 23, 2011
Vogue 8717 - Denim Slacks
Pattern Description: Pants with high waist, straight legs, front stitched pleats, front and back darts, side seam pockets and back zipper. See pattern here.
Pattern Sizing: 14-20
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, except for my modifications.
Were the instructions easy to follow? The instructions were very easy to follow. I glanced at them a couple of times, but I didn't really need to.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really liked that the pattern was an easy one. I also liked that, if one weren't looking closely, the pants almost look like a long skirt.
Fabric Used: I used a black denim fabric that had a slight metallic thread running through it.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I didn't make a muslin, so when I tried the pants on the were a bit tight in the waist (I guess my vanity took over because I refused to cut a larger size--silly...I know) so I took out the pleats and left in the darts. I also don't really care for "butt zippers" so I used an invisible zipper instead of the regular one recommended in the pattern instructions.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might make these again in a lighter weight fabric, but no promises! I would recommend this pattern to those who like something a bit different.
Conclusion: I wore this with a white button down. Again, a very quick and easy pattern that could be made for a variety of occasions and depending on the fabric choice can be casual or dressy.
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