Dining Room Blinds Version 4.OhMyHead

One kid ago I set out to make dining room curtains.  I was motivated to make them myself instead of buy them because:

• I could choose whatever fabric I wanted
• I could choose the style curtain/blind I wanted
• I thought it might save some money (fabric coupons go a long way)
• I don't remember the other thoughts because when I started it was awhile ago

Initial post beginning this ridiculous and unnecessary curtain journey:  Ladies and Gentlemen A Curtain

Here are the curtain versions if interested in:

1.0

Lesson learned- this tie up curtain was cute but wanted something I could raise and lower in seconds.  It was lowered every evening to keep sun out of eyes while at the dinner table.  Plus the fabric needed some help not looking bunched and messy when quickly tied up (probably my somewhat heavy fabric choice to blame).  Would maybe be better in a room where it did not need to be raised and lowered so much.  I also decided I wanted cleaner looking lines.

2.0

Lesson learned- you can't just put loops and strings on the back of any fabric square and it will look good when raised and lowered.  This design when raised would just bunch up into a mess at the top.  I had to create the folds by hand to make it look somewhat normal when in the raised position.  Again, not what I wanted in a curtain I was raising and lowering daily.

3.0

Don't have a picture because it was ugly.

4.0

The current shade (roman shade).  Still not perfect when quickly raised.  Fabric still will  fold backwards when raised (instead of forward creating the nice over lap folds in the front).  I am happy enough.... for now.  

Just for reference this is what the back looks like.  Tube tape, dowels to keep things from bunching and string threaded through.  If it worked great I would share more tips, but I am still in need of some tips myself.  Like I said, for now it is good enough.

Overall lessons learned- lots learned.... so I consider the overall process a gain for the brain, but was not the way I preferred to spend my 'free' time.

Saturday progress on the basement, ceiling is up.  Thankful for friends help.

This weekend hubby and I plan to put up some walls.  Don't worry, not figuratively speaking.

More details in another post on the over all construction/progress of this basement that used to flood every rain storm.

Springing My Thoughts Forward

The past few weeks have shown promising signs that spring is actually coming.  The snow is starting to melt!  We still have at least 1.5 feet on the ground, NOT counting the drifts and banks, but slowly we will get there.
As is my usual custom on sunny days I went out and looked at the garden.  Though I don't want to disturb muddy soil, I am considering shoveling the raised bed box and an area to start the spring crops....

and also the asparagus bed.-

Yes, I have a patience problem!  (I said that even before you got the accusatory thought through you head.)

We're also planning on what to plant.  I want to focus this year on things that can be preserved easily into the winter.  Such as root vegetables and items that can be canned: such as beans, tomatoes products and pickle worthy products.  I suddenly hear these peoples voices-

Portlandia episode: We Can Pickle That

I am happy to share that I am STILL cooking with tomatoes from last years garden.  It is extra work at the time but has been worth it to have those summer garden tomatoes for meals throughout the winter (I use mine instead of store bought canned crushed tomatoes and also to make tomato soup).

I am still working on perfecting my sweet potato growing operation here in the north east.  It is very doable, Victory Garden does it all the time.... maybe it's that regal sounding intro music they like.  Sweet potatoes like warm soil (typically about 120 days of warm soil) so I attempt to speed up the soil warming by mounding up the dirt and covering it with a black tarp in the beginning of the season.  Tarp has to be taken up shortly after vines are in so they can put down additional roots.

Short season varieties have done best for me.  The past few years I have been planting this lovely heirloom variety that was graciously shared with me by the Seaton family in Tennessee.  These potatoes have been passed down through many generations in their family.  They yield huge tubers and LOTS of vines and greenery (did you know that sweet potato leaves are edible).

My kids like digging for them, it's like an easter egg hunt.  We even enrolled a friend.

The Seaton's heirloom variety is different from what you find in the stores and, do I even need to say it, taste much better.  There's a lot of special things about an plant variety passed down through the years; specifically the history and the care it takes to keep it going.  Makes them more special to me.  I think I will name them the Seaton Sweets. :)  I was able to grow some slips (seedlings grown from a tuber) from last year's crop, I hope they will make it to planting season.

I promised last summer I would make a post about biochar, what it is and how to make it.  This is one of Jonathan's things he is proud of.  He claims it is why we get such good tomatoes, maybe he is right.  I will try and make a post on that still.

A few other notes from last year's garden.
Little man is looking forward to picking off potato bug larvas this year, well at least give them a guilty stare.... if only looks could kill.

Little lady will enjoy playing in the dirt again I am sure.

Looking forward to seeing more pigtails, BOTH kinds-

I'm also looking forward to doing more pickling and food preserving experiments.  Lime pickles, an old recipe from my grandma (who I miss), was a hit this year.

One of Jonathan's friends gave me a quick lesson on how his grandmother cans tomato/pasta sauce, the way they did in the Old Country.  Old Country is Italy for those not sure, old country to me is something sung by Waylon Jennings or David Allan Coe.  Oh, the things I am learning.

Enough daydreaming for now, I am getting both tired and excited just thinking of it all.

The Snowman That Will Not Go Away

We once built a snowman
That was a pretty fun day
But he has started to wear out his welcome
That snowman that will not go away

We giggled after the second snowstorm
Seeing his new skirt and pretending he liked ballet
He was still fun to have around then...
That snowman that will not go away

After the third snowstorm he caught my eye one morning
He seemed to be swimming laps as if to say
Don't worry I'm enjoying myself here
Because I am the snowman that will NOT go away

He even is a little nosey
Peeking in at us though out the day
It seems we have a squatter!
It's that snowman that WILL NOT go away

Now he is nice and cozy
Settled in and seemingly here to stay
Maybe in the spring when we see him again and laugh
At the thought of the snowman, who would NOT go away

(Our yard guest was originally built about 3.5-4' tall, but he keeps getting taller.  The elements are definitely in his favor.)