The Squash Tree

Yes, that really is a squash growing in the pine tree.


Now, if we could only figure out how to grow money on trees ...


The squash/pumpkin plants were threatening the other plants in the garden so we had to pull them outside of the fence. They obviously didn't seem to mind ...




We have some sad looking tomato plants this year ... early blight has taken it's toll. We are, however, quite lucky compared to those that are dealing with late blight (i.e. certain death for organic tomato farmers).

It is rumored that the price of tomatoes will be double that of last year because of this.

The Big Vegetable Garden - July 2009 Update

Non-typical rain in May led to some worrisome days in late June/early July. But, it seems we're doing OK now. It doesn't look like we'll beat last year's crop but it also doesn't look like it'll be a wash out either. Whew.

The list for this year:

• tomatoes
• potatoes
• purple beans
• green beans
• eggplant
• tomatillos
• hot peppers
• sweet peppers
• chard
• sorrel
• fennel
  
• squash
• mystery vegetable (see picture below)
  
• basil
• parsley
• rosemary
• thyme
• sage

Anyone know what is pictured below???

The Great, Long Kitchen Remodel

Finally the stars have aligned and we have a fully functioning kitchen again!

We choose Wood-Mode cabinets that were produced with some amount of thought given to the environment - not quite as 'green' as recycled or made with really sustainable wood (i.e. bamboo) but it was better than some of the other choices out there. The cabinets are cherry and are really quite beautiful. The functionality that they bring to the space is a dream come true for our small kitchen. :)




For countertops, we wanted Icestone but it was going to be significantly more expensive for us due in part to our layout and the amount of cuts that would be required. And, we would have had at least two seams in the countertops. Now, don't get us wrong, we still LOVE the idea of Icestone but it just didn't work for our space. So, we went with 'galaxy black' granite ... it's sparkly and beautiful and from Canada (and if I was greenwashing this blog I'd say that Canada is kinda local compared to the other locations that granite comes from). In the end, no matter how we look at the granite it's not really environmentally friendly. boo.


The picture above shows a white wall ... there will be a tile backsplash installed one of these days (when I get around to it!!). The tiles ARE environmentally friendly: recycled glass tiles that were leftover from our friends' remodeling project.

Flooring was an interesting adventure. We ordered beautiful bamboo flooring from a very environmentally sustainable company (Green Elements Design placed the order for us with Eco-Timber). So, what's the problem?

Well, if you know your flooring that is not bamboo installed in our kitchen. That is hickory. Why? Well, the bamboo just didn't look right up against the cherry cabinets. Tears were shed and hickory was purchased. Drama! The bamboo is waiting patiently under the spare room bed to be installed in another part of the house (probably the hallway and master bedroom, when we get around to it).


What's next, you ask?

• install the recycled glass backsplash
• finish the trim moulding
• finish painting
• install cherry (hand-crafted by John's friend) breakfast bar counter top
• install some window moulding
• COOK, COOK, COOK!
  

The Great Kitchen Remodel - update

Work, work, work ... but, finally some progress!! These pictures don't show the pain and trials that were endured to get the walls and ceiling in acceptable shape ... but that is all behind us now!

Cabinet-installer extraordinaire:

Shaping up:

Finally, the appliances are back where they belong (minus the stove hood which still needs a good cleaning).

Next up: installing the remainder of the base "L" on this side of the kitchen and some top molding ... then the eco-friendly bamboo flooring! After that, we'll be able to put in the other "L" ... then we need to decide on a countertop material.

The Vegetable Garden 2009

So, we had a successful garden last year - for sure. And, yes, we actually still have some frozen veggies from that harvest (which we have vowed to eat before things start blooming this year). But, we just can't be stopped there ... and so the garden is being expanded.

Not the greatest photo since there isn't much to show the scale ... but this was one massive stump that had to be removed.



To increase the probability of really good vegetables, one must "double dig" the garden. All 350 sq ft of it (an area that is larger than our kitchen!) I gave that chore a go this year and accomplished about 3/8th of the total area - not too bad for a girl that hates shovels. KP: you'd be proud!



A few more weeks and we'll have some little seedlings in the massive garden. Some seedlings have been started in the house and are currently residing in our bedroom. Yes, that's right, in the bedroom ... it just happens to be the room with the best light. :)

The Kitchen Demolition - that is taking FOREVER!

What can I say? We're busy people ... too many irons in the fire.
But, we have a deadline now: the new cabinets are supposed to arrive the first week of May.

This was the gorgeous wallpaper hiding behind the beadboard - wow! I'm excited to take a sledge hammer to this soffit!

Progress ...

New cabinets under the new breakfast bar in the dining room. These will get trimmed out eventually ... and a new countertop is in the works.

This is now the view from the kitchen sink ... you can see all the way across the great room to the TV. Might be time for one of those new fancy flat screen TVs ... ;)

The Kitchen Demolition

So, before I can rightly post about the kitchen renovation I feel that I must share some of the before pics as well as some of the demolition pics ...

Before:


It's hard to understand just how inefficient this kitchen is from the photos ... but, trust me, it is.





I will not be sad to see these cabinets and drawers go ... though, some of them will be repurposed in other parts of the house (storage room and maybe the garage). And the beadboard: buh-bye beadboard!!!


Have you ever taken a sledgehammer to a wall? Wow, what a great feeling ... just don't miss or hit the studs too hard. ;)





This will be the pass-through/breakfast bar area ... you can see clear through the dining room and into the living room. This alone makes the kitchen livable.





The big hole in the wall from the other side ... new cabinets will go on the bottom and then a new countertop will finish off the breakfast bar area. Yay - more storage AND more counter space!


Next up: Add the header and jack studs in that big hole so we can take out the normal studs. Then: pick new cabinets, countertops and floors ... lots to do!!

The List of Things To Do

It's already the middle of January and I'm just getting around to making my list of the 'major' things to do for 2009. Let me start off by saying that I love lists ... love, love, love, love them!! I make at least one a day ... sometimes way more than that depending on how many times I need to change course. ;) I prefer to use scraps of paper for these lists ... finding these all over the house when I do the weekly clean-up is pretty funny but it also saves a bit of paper - who needs to use a new piece for something that is just going to get scratched out (and possibly lost)?? However, you'd think I'd be better about keeping track of my beloved lists!

A list for me is more like an announcement to the universe of the things I want to do. The more I vocalize these things, the better chance they have of actually getting done. ;)

So, the list for 2009:

1. Do more yoga and lose a few pounds/inches. Lucky for me, I was gifted a series of yoga classes at a local studio!
2. Eat less. (easier said than done when you live with an amateur chef.)
3. Travel! On the agenda this year: New Mexico, Minnesota, Colorado, Utah and the Bahamas.
4. Increase the size of the organic vegetable garden and therefore have a larger harvest. We're still debating adding a second plot but it might be that this year we just increase the size of the original garden.
5. Renovate the kitchen - as eco-friendly as possible. We already have the recycled tiles for the backspash and are probably going with the eco-friendly recycled glass countertops. Cabinets and floors are up for discussion still.
6. Get educated on how to start an animal sanctuary. The Utah trip will take me to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for this very purpose!
7. Write more blogs. ;)