The Kitchen Garden

The Kitchen Garden

uyguguygu   20.36   Comment  

Since I've been cooking seasonally more often I've been going through fresh herbs like crazy. My friend pointed out that a little potted herb plant was no more than than a dollar or two higher in price than one of those little packets of fresh herbs at the grocery store. 

She made a pretty good case for a small kitchen garden on my window sill and I decided to give it an attempt even though I'm a pretty middle of the road gardener. I had to spend a little time planning it, though - I knew that my cat adores chewing on my houseplants and I'm completely out of shelf space that's out of reach of the cat to put the indoor herb garden because my other (non edible) plants are up there. 

Luckily I looked around on pinterest and found these really simple, inexpensive mini greenhouses which happened to be sold at Ikea - totally doable, if not the greatest quality. If the plants were contained in something they'd be out of the reach of my cat who luckily has no opposable thumbs and can't open a miniature greenhouse. 

JR and I drove down to Ikea, picked one of those tiny greenhouses up ($20), grabbed a couple of pots ($4), stopped at Home Depot for organic potting soil ($5), and finally ran to Whole Foods for some potted herbs, which to my delight were on sale for two dollars a piece! I had to pick through some pretty sad looking plants to find some that looked like it would last the week, and I'm still not sure about the Basil, but I found four that looked okay: Parsley, Oregano, Basil, and Mint ($8).

JR and I drilled two or three holes in the zinc wanna-be pots I picked up from Ikea for drainage, loosened up the roots of the plants, and stuck them in the pots with some new soil. Then I put them in the tiny greenhouse. I've already used some of the oregano for my home made pizza last night and I have mint and orange slices in my water right now.  This project came out under $40.00 so I just have to use it...ten times...to make it pay for itself. I hope I can keep the plants alive that long! Wish me luck!

Ten things for 2013

Ten things for 2013

uyguguygu   15.22   Comment  

Here are ten things that are making my life lovelier this year. They are small things, nothing fancy, just little things I've loved having around in my life this January. 

1. Workbasket

Inspired by the idea of 18th and 19th century women's workbaskets I decided to corral many of my personal projects and things to do into a basket to be taken out in the evenings and worked on a little at a time. 

2. 2013 memory jar

I found this clever idea on Pinterest. I'm looking forward to opening it up on January first of next year and looking over all the wonderful things we did in 2013.

3. A stack of new and old favorites to read

I received a lot of books over the holidays and I've been utilizing paperback swap - there are lots of books to read around here and I've been curling up with them in the evenings. 

4. My planner

I purchased this last summer but it's still going strong, looks beautiful, and keeps me organized. I know exactly when everything is happening, I can jot down ideas in the blank pages and the book club book of the month on the top of each monthly calendar. There's even a spot for two lines of daily gratitude. I like to use Washi tape to block out larger projects, workflow, or time off. 

5. Our new couch

Finally, the wait is over. We have somewhere to sit!

6. Grey suede booties

I bought these in November in anticipation of holiday parties but they have turned out to be incredibly comfortable so I've been wearing them to work a lot. It's hard to find shoes that match my school's incredibly strict dress code, look nice, and don't make you want to soak your feet in a tub of ice after chasing twenty-six 8 year olds!

7. Letters to and from

I'm a dedicated letter writer and I look forward sending and receiving more of these dear missives from dear friends. 

8. French press

We've been long contemplating switching from our regular drip coffee maker to a French press coffee maker. We've been holding back because said drip coffee maker works perfectly fine. We received this French press coffee maker as a gift so there's no reason not to switch now!

9. Reorganized desk/workspace

The couch prompted a reorganization of our living space. I decided to move the desk behind the couch so I could look out the window as I worked, I cleared off a lot of random things that we really were not using, and I found some pretty things to hold supplies, pens, and stationary. We used the couch to split our living room into two distinct spaces: one for working and one for relaxing. It's been really great to have a better flow in our main living space. 

10. New Workout Clothes

January has been a bit of a wash for working out. I had a week in between bronchitis and an injury that's waylaid me to get my workout on but I know as soon as I'm cleared to head back to the gym I have some super cute clothes to wear while doing it! 

Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens

uyguguygu   21.36   Comment  

The roses in the garden are dying, they are frail pink, petals hanging their heavy heads. It's crisper now, and it's dark when I get up in the morning and most nights it's dark by the time I make it home around seven or eight. I can see my breath, even as the sun comes up to warm up denver.

It rained today, a steady drizzle that started as we were riding our bikes home from a ride we had decided to go on this morning. I'm thankful we left early enough to get two dozen miles in before the rain really came in. 

But I don't mind the rain - it was cozy today, wrapped up in this sweater, folding laundry, cleaning the house, organizing and re-organizing the scattered pieces of my home, restoring order to my domain. 

I've also been watching the second season of Sherlock and plotting things for a big summer trip and the holidays that are coming up (In order: Halloween, Mom's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas). Have you seen it at all? It's a great show - I love figuring out the puzzles and the humor is spot on. Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes is an insufferable man. I think I like John Watson best of all the characters. The show pairs well with tea. 

Sweater: H&M
Snowdrop Pin: Thrifted

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Leggings: I can't remember

Boots: I can't remember

Closet Change Up

blessings Brocante Closet Clothes coat daily wardrobe happiness House Life at Home making home Organization Vintage

Closet Change Up

uyguguygu   22.07   Comment  

We have two clothes closets in our house. One is a walk in and the other is a regular sized closet. JR has always held the walk in closet, using it to store all of our gear, kayak paddles, backpacking backpacks, and all of those things that we need for our outdoors adventures. We were able to re-organize and switch closets giving me an extra four feet of closet rod space. I was even able to get him to hang the closet rod six and a half feet off the ground so my floor length and trained gowns don't drag on the floor.

 

Before I had quite a few things double and tripple hung on hangers, tule gowns from the 1950's were getting squished in between cotton things, and my wool dresses were going positively flat. I think my dresses are enjoying the extra breathing room and are starting to fluff out again.

My little dress parade makes me happy! I have to be the luckiest girl in the world to own so many beautiful clothes. 

(A profile shot of some 1950's through Current confections in my closet...spot the new ballgown on the right next to the upside down crinoline?)

Three Days of Summer

Three Days of Summer

uyguguygu   15.18   Comment  

One of the gifts of summer is that we seem to have more time. People move slower. Things seem less imperative. Housekeeping and cleaning is only done in the cool hours of the morning and evening and the middle of the day is given to rest. We measure our time less - it stays light so late that I often forget if it's 6:00pm or 8:00pm

We've had time to look at book stalls with friends...

...time to enjoy teeny tiny little kittens...

...time to chase friends into dream blue houses in old neighborhoods...

...time to sit on creaky old porches in the shade...

...time to spend in magical overgrown gardens...

... and time to cultivate my home. 

What have you been doing with your summer time?

...

Dress: Thrifted (Gap)

Pinnifore: Self Made

Boots: Ariat

Socks: Target