Office Garden

My co-workers usually tease me about my organized desk and I admit that I am a bit OCD in that area… but I felt that if spring is in the air… green should be in the office.  So, I relaxed my OCD ways to invite a few plants into my space. 

The kits were found at the Christmas Tree Shops and purchased because the galvinized buckets just seemed like fun.  The seed kits are Lobilia, Mexican Marigold and Alyssum.  Soon we will summer color!

So, while New England might be getting a frost tonight… at least some of us can get some gardening in!  Plus I get lots of visitors to my area of the office and it is nice to see them smile at the little garden.

Patterns - Organized

Being the 3rd or 4th generation knitter… I have a lot of patterns!  Some still have faint notes made by my Grandmother who died when I was young.  She never knew I took up the knitting needles myself!  Many of these patterns were thrown in an trunk or tucked in several places around the house.  Years ago, Mom and I decided to put them in one place and with the best intentions filed them.  But as you can see, this created an organized mess. 

 

So, as I look for new projects on line… or even through these folders… I try to organize and protect these heirlooms.  I have several 3-ring binders; one for knitting patterns and another one for cross-stitch patterns.  With this system, I can add binders to expand my collection.  Binders are easier to look through then digging in folders and what is better, each pattern is safe in a clear plastic pocket to ensure many more years of use.

Happy knitting!

   

Bathroom Makeover

As with many rooms in my home, the last time they received any attention was in the 1980’s.  When a leaking faucet forced me to look at replacing it, I decided to do a makeover. 

I removed the wallpaper using Dif but you can also use by very hot water with vinegar in it.  To make the most of either of these remedies, it is necessary to score the old wallpaper to allow the product to soak into the paste beneath it.  A scoring tool is an inexpensive time saver that can be purchased at any hardware store. 

The walls needed repair so spackel, sanding and primer were next in line.  The ceiling shouldn’t be ignored either… a fresh coat of ceiling white made the bath look three times larger.  The wall color I chose was Serendipity from C2.  Usually green is not a good color for a bathroom since it can make you look sallow in the mirror and affect how you put on makeup.  However, I wanted a spa feel so I kept the color and softened it by using a great shower curtain which just so happened to have a matching border.

The window was formerly covered by dark curtains to allow for privacy in the bath.  However, the room is so much brighter with a privacy film which can also be purchased at a hardware store.  It is so easy to install!  The product I used surface tension rather than adhesive. 

Other ammenities such as towel hooks outside the shower and a towel rod for guest towels were finishing touches.  I am very happy with the results.  Total project time was 3 weeks.  2 weeks prep and 1 week to coordinate the plumber for the sink and electrician to move an outlet.  I did the rest! 

    Old Bath                 New Bath

           

         

           

Camping - Maine Style

My friends have a camp in Maine on several acres of land.  What is great is that they invite me along with them when they go up for a weekend.  Thankfully we can truck into camp without a long hike.  Unfortunately we have to wait until the mud season is over and the road is passable!  They never have to ask me twice to go… I mean, where else can you open your tent and take in this view?

A successful camping trip takes the following ingredients: Good Friends, Good Food, and the right camping equipment.  I suggest a home made tomato, onion, cucumber salad which gets better with marinading.  Another great idea is packaging vegetables sliced with spices and butter in tin foil so it is ready to throw on the grill.  The less prep time, the more fun time you will have! 

In keeping with my Earth Day theme this week… just remember to leave nature the way you find it and take your garbage and recyclables with you when you go. 

A slice of Haiku, anyone?

Haiku is one of the most important forms of traditional Japanese poetry.  Strictly speaking, the history of Haiky begins only in the last years of the 19th century or more precisely around 1892 when it was establisted as a new independent poetic form.  The two traditional elements of haiku are the diision of 17 syllables into three groups of 5, 7, and 5 syllables and the inclusion of a seasonal theme.  

There are two further proposals that can be included.  One, haiku would be truer to reality if there were no center of interest in it and two, the importance of the poet’s first impression, just as it was, of subjects taken from daily life, and of local color to create freshness.  In Japanese, the rules for how to write a haiku are clear.  In foreign languages, there exists no consesus in how to write haiku poems. 

What do you write about? Haiku poems can describe almost anything, but you seldom find themes which are too complicated for normal people’s recognition and understanding.  Some of the most thrilling haiku poems describe daily situations in a way that gives the reader a brand new experience of a well-known situation. 

Try it… get inspired.  Happy Earth Day!

 

The Power of a Woman

Just to do something a little different… here is a poem a friend gave to me.  I do not know who wrote it, so if someone can let me know I will definitely give them credit! 

            The power of a woman lies within her heart,

        with her capacity to touch others with her love,

              and within the quiet resources of her soul.

 

The power of a woman - just one woman -

can lighten the burdon of one who is suffering

or stir the hearts of millions and change the world.

Just one woman can make a difference

when she believes in her god-given powers

and makes an effort to use them.

 

Within each woman is the power to give joy to others,

to live her dreams and to love with all her heart.

This kind of power kindles hope, inspires faith,

and keeps the spirit alive within all of us.

 

The power of a woman is in her inner strength and character,

and the sum of who she is as an individual;

it is her values and the ways in which she expresses those values.

It is also in the way she perceives herself in the world;

how she carries herself, responds to others and conducts her life.

 

Others will always be drawn to the woman who is certain who she is,

who is unafraid to freely express her true nature.

This is the power of a woman.

Kitchen Cabinets - Do Over!

Another friend of mine was moving to a new home and wanted to update her new digs with some color… She picked a great Alegro Blue for the kitchen.  The color was hip and modern but her cabinets were anything but!  So, she decided to buy all new cabinet doors and paint the cabinets white.  Well, to me this was throwing good money away.  Especially since the cabinet doors there were solid wood!  So, I suggested that I take on the refinishing project and sand, prime and paint the doors that she already had.  Just look at the difference!

       

Tools needed:  Small cutting in brush, Small paint roller w/ foam roller, Palm Sander, 150 grit sand paper, tack cloth, bent nose pliers, wood chisel, putty spatula, primer/ sealer and semi-gloss finishing paint in the color of your choice.

First, I took the oh-so-70’s center panel off using the chisel and bent nose pliers to remove the staples.  Then I used the palm sander and 150 grit paper to give a good sanding to all sides of the doors.  This removed the smooth sheen so the primer would stick.  Then, I used wood putty to fill in the nicks, dings and holes with the putty spatula.  It is very important to sand again to make the putty nice and smooth and ready for paint. 

For painting I wanted to use a small brush to get into the small crevices and the small smooth foam roller to keep the finish smooth (no brush strokes).  Armed with these tools I applied 2 coats of primer/ sealer which blocked any of the stain from seeping through.  Plus, going from dark to light is harder and therefore 2 coats was a must.  Then 2 coats of a semi-gloss finishing paint. 

I am happy with the results and I hope she will be!                   

It’s Tea Time!

Now this is one of my favorite things… high tea in Boston!  I wanted to make a friend of mine feel as special as I once did when an Aunt took me to high tea.  Of course I was a little girl and it was my first time in the big city… back then it was the Ritz Carlton.  My friend and I are a bit older and the bright lights of the city may not be so magical but the new Park Plaza just finished a huge multi-million dollar renovation. 

Appropriately named the Swan Room as the hotel is adjacent to the Public Gardens and only a short walk from the Swan Boats it still holds the magic of a bygone era.  

Well, we both got dressed up and donned our best hats and off to tea we went… as you can tell, she was very happy with the event.  This is a great way to let friends know just how special they are to you! 

For more information, check out their website:

http://www.bostonparkplaza.com/swanscafe.shtml

Decorating Dilemma

My Mom made curtains for my bedroom.  I had picked the material because of the great color combination and she worked her magic.  Well, what happened next was a decorating dilemma.  I could not find a duvet cover that would match.  What I was missing was a fresh perspective! 

A friend recommended I take a color that would match an existing color in the room… well, the furniture is brown… and viola!  I now have a great duvet that even has an accent color that is in the curtains.  Paired with a new pillow with my favorite puppy picture on it and it is an set - Perfect! 

Spring Has Sprung!

About this time every year, I get spring fever.  Can you blame me… rain, snow - it is supposed to be spring!  To remind me that spring showers bring spring flowers… I just have to have some sort of bright color in the house.  In keeping with my usual protocol, I bought some tulips to bring a little bit of spring into the house.

This lasted for about a day and finally I had to give in and start scratching around in my gardens.  There is nothing like a bit of earth on your hands to make you thankful that there is a spring… and look what I found under some leaves - Hyacinth! 

Many of my other perennials are also peeking through including my day lilies and columbine.  I sure I can find a crocus or two in the front lawn… but I am still waiting for the spring cleanup crew to come on by the house… Happy Spring!