~*Garden Good Things*~

Like so many others over the past week or so,

we have been playing in the garden.

For the past several years,

I have collected old rail road spikes

with the intent of using them as garden markers.

(Even though I had no garden)

We had a garden last year,

but I guess I just forgot about them.

This year I remembered:)

I wiped off the top,

used craft paint with a very fine brush to write,

then sprayed a clear sealant over it so it won't wash away.

It simply pushes into the end of the row 

and

I don't have to try to read something that has washed or worn away,

or try to revive and make sense of a popsicle stick 

that is already decomposing. 

Mr. LB is having entirely too much fun.

After he had raked through one of the plots,

he went and got the wheel barrows and screen.

He said, "I want to see how many rocks are in here."

The soil is looking just beautiful.

There really weren't too many rocks in this plot.

I had amended it with bunny poo, 

and sending it through the screen breaks it all up,

smooths it all out, and sifts any weeds or roots.

And last but not least,

I FINALLY figured out something to organize my seeds.

I had them in a regular little recipe box that was way too small.

I have had this keeping box for some time, 

and just like the light bulb lighting in the cartoons,

it came to me.

I used the alphabetical cards from the little box

and glued them between two larger index cards

with the lined sides out so I can add notes.

I did have to trim the cards about 3/4 inch in width

so that they fit in the box.

 There is now plenty of room for seeds of all kinds.

So far it is working splendidly.

(never mind my red fingers from humming bird food:)

And the last bit of garden information I would like to share:

I hear different accounts and advise all the time as to when one should begin planting,

depending upon what zone and moon phase to specific dates.

It never makes 'real' sense to me.

What I recently read came from an old-timer who was interviewed back in the 70's.

The advise was:

Plant underground things like beets, radishes, carrots etc. when the daffodils bloom.

Plant squashes and legumes like cucumbers and beans when the apple blossoms fall.

Transplant tomatoes, melons, eggplants etc,

when the locust trees bloom.

These things make sense to me.

Nature knows when it is time far better than a calendar

that was made by man and has changed a number of times.

If you have any similar advise, 

I would love to hear it.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

A Frugal Idea as Old as the Hills

I needed a little rug for in front of my sink

soooo....

I had a couple sets of sheets that were

just for wrapping furniture or 

'just in case' moments.

I cut them into strips,

sewed the strips together,

then rolled the whole mess into

a bowling ball:)

The next part was the best part.

I gave it to my mother who crochets.

It was returned to me in the form of a rug.

How perfect is that?

This rug was made with 4 queen bed sheets.

The strips were cut about 1.5".

The finished rug measures about 17"X40".

I do have another one that is round so

your options are not limited to squares and rectangles.

If you crochet, this would make a 

great Christmas gift.

I try not to decorate other people's houses,

but these are to be walked on so

if it is getting muddy by the back door,

you know it's working.

One other tid-bit,

if you can find all cotton sheets,

you can dye them.

If they are cotton/poly,

the dye won't take so you should find

a color that you like as is.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches