2011 - A Year of Sharing

2010 slipped by with no posts to this blog. It wasn't really intentional. Life simply filled up with so much 'stuff' ... some not so good, along with LOTS of good ... that I didn't take the time. I resolve in 2011 that I will share! Posting is good. Knowing I want to get at least one post a week in means I have to really focus on a project or other share-worthy accomplishment. And I've got a ton of things on my 'want-to-do' list that I hope to share in 2011!

For starters, how about this sweet, vintage, front door monogram? Hubby's parents had those wonderful storm doors with their surname initial that were so popular in the 1950s-60s. The doors are long gone, but this monogram has found a new purpose...
I dismantled the old storm door to get this off, and my dear husband removed a couple of pieces that were still riveted on that I didn't care for....and voila! A wonderful vintage piece perfect for hanging next to our front door to welcome guests to our home. For Christmas/Winter I've added greenery and pine cones. I'll update the look for spring and other seasons/holidays - stay tuned for those!

Linking to my first-ever linky party over at Beyond the Picket Fence!

Hollyhocks in February

Ok, so I'm a little overanxious for spring to arrive. Especially when a February day feels like an April day - today was fabulous! As I wandered around I noted there is green growth already amongst the old leaves of the Hollyhocks - isn't that neat!? Of course, too much mild weather right now could be disastrous if the trees and flowers start budding, so I'll enjoy the moment and hope things get back to normal soon.


I celebrated the warm day by sowing seed - indoors and outdoors. I started a few oregano and pansy seeds in seed cells in the house. Outside I worked up the soil in my black tubs and moved 3 of them to a spot where they can make the best of any sunshine that might break through. I then sowed Arugula, Endive, 2 types of Kale, and Komatsuna. I covered 2 of the tubs with glass panes and, for lack of more glass, I used clear plastic sheeting on the 3rd tub. I did this last year and had good results, because basically these work like a coldframe, absorbing the sun's warmth and keeping hardy seedlings warm enough to survive and even grow.

I smile to think of how popular re-using, re-purposing, and living a more frugal life has become. And I'm a huge advocate of that. It's just that I've done that most of my life and suddenly it's cool! My black tubs once held mineral-lick for my brother-in-law's cattle. The glass came from an old storm door. I saved the Komatsuna seed from last year's crop and traded for all the other seed using various other seed I still had from last year. And the soil is a combination of the dirt that was used in the tubs last year + compost created from our yard and kitchen waste. Oh, and the plant markers? Cut from old vinyl mini blinds, of course!