DIY Plantable Seed Pots

I am officially over winter but, no where close to being ready for summer. Let's just stay spring all year long, ok? OK!

I got my big packet of seeds from Henry Fields really quick - and now I cannot wait to get those babies started... but I can't just yet.

A couple of key pieces of info are important for deciding when to set out plants. First, I need to know approximately when I want to set out my plants... aka, when can I actually dig the holes in the garden to plant the plants. A quick look at the 2011 Farmer's Almanac predicts the last frost for my area around April 1st - so I have to plant after that.
I know from planting a garden for the past couple of years that planting around Easter seems to work best for me - its still cool enough that my lettuce doesn't wilt in the summer heat but also warm enough that the tomatoes start going and I'll have some great fruit by early summer. Easter is April 24 this year so somewhere in between April 1 and April 24 will be best. A good hard and fast rule for planting is that you want the ground temperature to stay consistently over 50 degrees - even overnight.

Most of the seeds I ordered suggest starting them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before planting. Starting them indoors where its warmer and they still get sun or artificially get light through grow lights (yes, think Weeds season 4) is ideal. Working backwards from April 16th, my targeted plant date, I determined that I would start seedlings on February 19th.

So between now and Feb. 19th I really need to get on prepping the new homes that the seedlings will be growing in until they are ready to go live in the garden. I've used seed pods and seedling trays before but, this year, since I am cheap and also plan on growing A LOT of seedlings to give away and really have a prolific garden - again because I am cheap - I needed this to be a DIY project. There are several great options out there including recyling toilet paper or paper towel rolls cut in half but I am going with the newspaper option.
WHY you ask? While the toilet paper roll option would be much quicker and less work, I just don't think there is anyway I can save up oh about 100 tubes in the next month. We just don't go that much. sorry.
The DIY seed pots made of newspaper seem to be really easy - basically you take a strip of newspaper (black ink only) and make a little "cup" - using a flour and water paste to seal the deal. This seed pot can be planted right in your garden or easily peeled off when planting.

Eric and I are going to have a little seedling pot making party soon - we need to churn out about 100 of these babies over the next month. I'll be sure to let you know if I plan on ever doing this project again afterward. Has anyone else done this?


*photos from Farmers Almanac, Re-Nest and Chicago Tribune - links in text

Splendid Minta Annual Report: House Projects

It's that time again.

Time to revel in 2010's accomplishments and I think it's safe to say, our house has come a long way baby.
without further ado, 2010's DIY projects:
a) installed a medicine cabinet in the master bath; b) the front yard got a haircut; c) painted the paneling and trim in the den; d) up-cycled 5 thrift store lamps

a) refurbished a set of vintage bouncy patio chairs; b) removed the pergola-thingy blocking the den windows; c) painted our wrought-iron fence; d) built our spindle-leg farm table

a) removed lovely floral wallpaper in our master bath and installed a new light; b) ripped out the old closet and installed a more efficient system in our master closet; c) painted the front door glossy black; d) turned the ugly 80's brass chandy into a showstopper

a) painted our found (in the attic!!) twin bed frames; b) painted the hallway a moody smokey grey; c) gave our kitchen a major face-lift with paint; d) pressure washed all our sidewalks, siding and patios - MAJOR GROSS!

a) built our own hutch/sideboard; b) chopped down the monster Lady Banks Rose bush; c) built a raised bed garden and had a bumper crop last summer; d) painted the dining room 3 times, yes, 3 times - this shows color #2 and color #3 is the cut in color - much better.

WOW.

We did a lot. In total we probably spent about $600 on all the projects above - most of the cost being for lumber and paint. Lots and lots of paint. I cannot even begin to tell you the amount of man hours spent. I am overwhelmed thinking about it all.

Looking forward to 2011 - the house projects will be scaled back a bit while I am in school but I do want to accomplish the following:
- painting the moulding in the ENTIRE HOUSE, all the same color of course
- giving the pink bathroom a free (or mostly free facelift)
- possibly moving the laundry facilities from the kitchen to the soon-to-be mudroom/laundry/craft room.
- stripping and re-caulking & painting the windows on the outside of the house.

Cute cute cute.

this house is so cute it is ridiculous. to quote my bff rachel zoe "I die." If I were living in some coastal town and single (don't get me wrong, "real men wear pink" but eric would never want that much pink) this is how my house would look. and I would invite you all over for pink lemonade. and yard games.
and look-y here... I'm getting better about saving sources. Images from House Beautiful.

I love you a bushel and a peck

I bought a peck of peaches about 10 days ago. There are 2 left. They were really good.
To further cement my place as the queen of freezer jam I made peach preserves and peach/strawberry jam. I cannot wait to taste a little bit of summer in the cold of winter (and I mean cold, it gets down to 40 here in SC during January). Don't be jealous cause its been 105 for the past 3 months with 80% humidity.

Upcoming crafty pursuits:
the quilt - to be perfectly honest, it won't be the first quilt I've made - the first one I made was a t-shirt quilt for Eric back in college. (it's not rectangle at all)
actually canning - I mean using the processing in boiling water method. For some reason this totally scares me.

27 with Dave

I know that my birthday was over a month ago but my birthday present was last night. Eric took me back to college days with a DMB concert in Charlotte!
Don't be jealous of how gorgeously sweaty I am here. Just hanging out with 10,000 of my closest friends.
My mantra all night: "Please play the old stuff, please play the old stuff." Dave did not disappoint. Satellite, Lover lay down, Lie in our Graves, Don't Drink the Water and more. Thank goodness.

BONUS: Tim Reynolds was there too!
Thank you honey for keeping me young.

Icebox Pickles...yum!

You wanna know how good these pickles are? This is the second time I've made a double batch this summer. We're talking 8 quarts of pickles people! (no, I am not craving pickles but I sure do love them). Best part - no processing, they pickle in the fridge, er... icebox.

Without further ado:

Slightly Sweet Dill Icebox Pickles
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
2lbs med pickling cucumbers, scrubbed, cut into 1/4 in slices or spears
1 large bunch dill, coarsely chopped, stems included
1 Tbs yellow mustard seeds
2 tsp whole white peppercorns
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
3 Tbs coarse kosher salt (I find it best to cut it back to 2 Tbs)
2 tsp dill seeds

Divide sliced onion between two 1-quart wide-mouth glass jars (I like 4x 1 pint wide-mouth better). Pack slices horizontally or spears vertically. Top each jar with dill.

Crush peppercorns and mustard seeds together. Place crushed spices in medium saucepan. Add vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and dill seeds. Bring mixture to boil over med-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.

Ladle mixture evenly over cucumbers. Leave jars uncovered and chill 24 hours. Cover tightly with lids. Can be made 1 week ahead. Keep refrigerated.

recipe from epicurious