Category: home improvement

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Skunks in my Yard!

baby_skunks

Last night I smelled something bad when I went out to get something from my car. I looked around to see what was going on and I saw something moving from my yard and across my neighbor’s driveway. At first I thought it was a cat – but she does not have a cat. And then I saw that it was three things moving – not just one. And when they walked under her side door light, I could see that they were black and white and they were really skunks!

I was shocked! I have never seen a live skunk before. All the skunks I have ever seen have been road kill and they were stinking up the road. So I didn’t know if these skunks were going to see me and spray my car or what! I didn’t even want to close my car door and make a loud noise to get their attention. But I didn’t want to leave the car door open and have them get into my car, either!

So I closed the car door as softly as I could and then I ran as fast as I could to my front door and went back into my house! This morning when I looked outside I could not see anything moving around and I didn’t smell anything bad, either. So I hope they were just traveling through and don’t come back.

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Learning to Grow Watermelons

It is April 1st and a beautiful, sunny day.  The temperature has dropped a little bit, but it is still warm enough to do some work on the garden.  I am feeling adventurous so I have decided to start planting watermelons.  I have all day so I think I am going to get on-line for some advice before starting my new adventure.

Advice is what I was seeking and wow did I ever get some.  The first thing I learned is that watermelons are suppose to be planted in the Fall.  At first I was disappointed but then as I read further down it mentioned that you can begin to sow watermelon seeds indoors.  I thought I would give it a try.  The directions called for using peat pots, which can be planted in the garden with minimal transplant shock.

The other interesting thing that I learned was that you should always give a little more time then the seed packet suggests to reach harvest.  The typical number of days for maturity can range from 80-90 for baby bush varieties, and 90-100 days or more for the larger variety.  I love learning new things and I can’t wait to plant these peat pots in the garden.

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The Home and Garden Expo

With the weekend slowly approaching I decided to buy a paper and see what is going on in and around the city this weekend.  I noticed a Home and Garden show was being held at the Expo Center. Although I hoped to spend some time outdoors I also knew that missing the Home and Garden show was not an option.  With my new home and new garden I knew they would be selling things that I could use.

I think by planning ahead and deciding on what I really need before heading out there is the best thing to do.  I have also decided to take $200.00 and work with that.  This is a big step for me since planning ahead and spending only so much money does not come naturally for me. With the new home and being on a budget I am starting to realize how grateful I am for what I have.  Being able to spend time at the Home and Garden show and pick up a couple of things means so much more to me now. In the past when I never had a thought about money I didn’t appreciate things as I do now.

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The big, beautiful, yard

I know I had mentioned earlier how big the yard is.  I think we have about 2 acres with beautiful trees surrounding the house. The thing I forgot to mention was the fact that this yard belongs to us which means the upkeep belongs to us as well.  Which means another purchase from the Home Depot or Sears.  This yard calls for a large lawnmower and I don’t mean one that you push either. For a yard this size you need a lawnmower you can ride on.

I decided to get on-line to see the different brands of lawnmowers and the different price ranges.  Sears seemed to be the only site that offered reasonable prices and a huge selection of lawnmowers. I chose one that was roughly $2000 with an extended warranty.  I figured you usually get what you pay for.  I made a good investment and I’ll have the best looking lawn in no time.

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The Neglected Garden

It’s the first day of Spring and I just realized that I have been neglecting my garden.  I haven’t looked at it in over a week.  Life just takes over sometimes and a week can go by with it feeling like a day or two.  Gardening really is like having another job that you work when you have the time and energy.  For some reason I don’t seem to have much of either one lately.

Besides gardening I’ve become interested in a whole new project too.  It’s not home improvement either.  It’s eating healthier and working out more.  Living a healthier lifestyle has become really important to me lately.  I think the garden has played a part in this, as well as, the new neighborhood I’m in.  I’m excited about taking walks and meeting the neighbors.  I’m feeling this need to spend time outside either relaxing or gardening.  I’ve also met one of my neighbors who sells Mary Kay.  I invited her over for lunch and she is going to give me a free makeover.  I really am loving this area.

 

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My Plumber

Have you ever wondered what life must have been like when only outdoor plumbing was available?  I don’t know about you but I feel as though I get up once or twice in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.  I wouldn’t be too happy if that trip included putting on shoes, maybe a jacket and walking out behind a shed or garage in the dark in order to use the toilet.  I think at that point the tub would have looked pretty good instead.

The reason that I’m bringing this up is because I had to call the plumber this weekend.  I accidentally flushed one of my small lotion bottles down the toilet.  It was the middle of the night and I was sitting on the toilet.  I grabbed my lotion that was on the tank lid, used it, and threw it back over my head.  Instead of landing on the tank lid it went right down the tank!  I mean I flushed the toilet because I didn’t even realize it landed in the toilet and down the the tank it sailed.  The plumber practically had to take the whole toilet out to find that lotion bottle.  Oh the lessons in life are sometimes like the little things that make you go hmmmm.

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March 12!

I think I just figured it out.  Monday morning came around too quickly and I am off to work again. The day I had yesterday was amazing with the warm, sunny weather.  I was trying to figure out what was wrong with that day, and now I have.  It went by too fast and now it’s cloudy and time to go back to work.  I wish there was a job out there that I could do only when I felt like it.  Sort of like working on my garden.  I will do a little more today after work, but only if I feel like it.

My plan is to stop and pick up more bluebonnets along with seeds to plant tomatoes.  I want to make salads and start eating healthy too.  It must be that warm weather coming in so soon. After I do some more planting and work on my garden I will keep you updated on how things are going.  In the meantime I’m headed off for a full week of work.  Don’t you just love Monday mornings?!

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New Home

Although the move was tough coming from the South and ending up on the East Coast.  I have to admit I am really loving it here.  Besides the beautiful weather and the amazing garden that I have started, just the peace and quiet of this area I have fallen in love with.  You hear so many things especially before a move.  Such as oh the traffic is going to drive you crazy.  The cost of living is 3 times as much as it is in the south.  You’ll be back.

With so many opinions and so much help even prior to the move I freaked out a little.  I mean a new area means new friends, a new home, new furniture, a whole new lifestyle.  Speaking of furniture I miss my old chair that I use to fall asleep in.  I miss my neighbors as well, but my life on the East Coast has turned out to be more pleasant than I had experccted.  Maybe walking into it terrified from the horror stories have made it so much more beautiful than I had expected.

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Starting a Garden

For a while now I have been thinking about starting a garden.  With the warm weather coming so early this year I guess my thoughts have been on flowers and gardening.  On my way home from work last week I stopped by the home and garden center to see what they had.  I knew there were a couple of things I had to take into consideration before starting up.

I wanted to start up with some flowers that would bloom for this season.  I didn’t want to wait  a whole year before seeing the results.  I also wanted to plant some fruits and vegetables as well.  I was thinking about tomatoes and watermelon.  I wanted to do a whole bunch of things but knew that as a beginner I had to take it slow and be patient.  My patience has paid off.  I noticed the bluebonnets that I had planted have already begun to come to surface.  They are the same flower that First Lady Barbara Bush had planted around Texas.  I was surprised and shocked at how easy it was and I am ready to run out to the home and garden center again for my next purchase.

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Spider Killer Needed

Sometimes I think the only reason I miss having a man around the house is when I am alone and have to deal with a spider. I don’t know what it is about spiders that terrify me. After careful thought, I don’t remember any childhood dramas involving spiders. But I really do freak out when I see one.

I don’t care if the spiders see me or are just going about their own business. When I see a spider anywhere inside my home or even outdoors in my yard, it must die. It is so much easier to just yell for a man to come kill the damn thing. If I’m alone, I have to find a weapon, prepare the execution area, and strike quickly to make sure it does not get away.

And sometimes the worst thing happens – I miss and it gets away. Then I have to go around all day and night worrying about the spider that is still lurking somewhere and I won’t be satisfied until it is dead.