Moon garden / Shade garden

So... I've a hill opposite the waterfall that I want to build into a moon garden. I'd like to be able to leave my windows open at night and smell to things blooming in the summer, or sit out on the porch and enjoy it in the late evenings.

Part of the problem rests in that it's really fairly shady, and it's kind of dry.  So I'm looking for fairly low water plants, though I suppose I can hand water.. and things that suite a short grow season for this moon garden. I can bulk it out with other stuff like hostas and ferns.

Moon Garden

-Lily of the Valley

(Convallaria)

-Fairy Wings

Epimedium

likes soil a bit loamy but will do well 

-Sweet Woodruff

(Gallium odoratum)

-Hellbore

Helleborus Ivory Prince looks nice

But it needs moist, so maybe on the waterfall side?

-Polygonatum odoratum veriegatum

fragrant in the evenings

-Night Flox

-Night blooming Jasmine

-Trumpet flower

-Moon flower

-Evening Primrose

-Flowering Tobacco

-Mock Orange

-Tuberose

-Lady of the night

(too tropical?)

-Datura

Part of the problem for the other area is that I'd like to stick with native species.. so I've ordered some things. But I also need things that are super shade tolerant, because we've heavy pine cover.  I'd like to add more that Rhodies, ferns hostas and salal.. and there is virtually nothing there now. I've blocked out the usable zone, and everything else gets planted up.. 

Shade Garden

Hosta

Fern

Mertensia

Caladium

Hydrangea

Wild Bleeding Heart

Lamium

Astilbe

Campanula

Coral bell

Wild Ginger

Rhododendrons

Salal (I've plenty to transplant)

Oregon Grape

Things coming in the spring: 

Red Osier Dogwood

Indian Plum

Snowberry

Evergreen Huckleberry

Coastal Gumwood

And I've about a dozen good cedar starts about a foot to 2 feet tall, ready to go in the ground, but I fear that just adds to the shad issue. However, I have a massive tree base that looks to have been cut about 10 years ago that's hollowed with decomposition, and I think I'd like to replant the cedars inside the hollow. It doesn't appear to have died of disease or pest, so I think it likely a storm took it.. if the cedar saplings don't make it, I suppose that's not a biggie, but it looks promising. If I watch them carefully I'm thinking I can weave them.. 

Around the back side of the yard, and the drive we have a runoff issue, so I'm also looking into rain gardens (hence the usage of coastal gumwood as well). I've a couple spots that get some sun, but mostly shady, and it turns everything into a mud pit. I've tackled the side of the house with drainage slopes, mulch, and raised bed gardens that give me growing space,   but have worked together to divert the water towards the growing things I want to thrive. I've noticed a significant difference so yay there! But there is a slope along the back fence that needs a rain gardenI think. The way the land lays it needs something.. 

But I'll work on ideas for that later. 

Also in my searching I found this neat terrarium/mini garden site

http://miniaturegardenshoppe.com/index.html

Closet Organizer set up

Pieces needed:

Base unit part 8 $144

Shoe rack $37.98

Extra bar $9.68

Drawers part 2 $49.48 each

Also:

Top shelf kit part 11 ( need 2) $26.98 each

Tea Recipes: London Fog

From The Spice and Tea Exchange

LONDON FOG

Ingredients:

From the TSTE

2 tsp TSTE Earl Grey Crème Tea 

1 tsp TSTE Lavender (optional) 

2 TBS TSTE Vanilla Turbinado Sugar 

1/2 tsp TSTE Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extract 

From the Grocer

16 oz filtered water 

8 oz milk (or to taste) 

Preparation:

HEAT filtered water to 212F. Steep TSTE Earl Grey Crème Tea and TSTE Lavender and for 4 mins. Strain. 

ADD TSTE Vanilla Turbinado Sugar and TSTE Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extractand stir until dissolved fully in hot tea. 

SIMMER milk over medium-low heat until milk is hot. 

WHISK briskly to create light foam. 

ADD hot milk to tea. STIR and enjoy. 

Serving Suggestion: SERVE topped with a small layer of foam. 

Yield: 2 drinks Total Time: 10 mins Prep: 6 mins Cook: 

Coupon List and links and General Savings

This is a pretty long post but it's most of how I plan for or save funds around here.

I figured I might bank this here in case someone needs it or I lose my favorites list ;) Plus, people keep asking me in the store how I do this when I use them.. I'm not one of those people who is psycho about it- if I have a coupon, yay! It'll influence me to try new things sometimes too, that I'd never pay full price on. And I don't argue about bills, or expired coupons, or savings. If I don't agree, I deal or I set it back. Easy peasy. I also plan out so that I cause as little inconvenience as I can.. mind you there are still some people who get downright nasty about being someone use coupons.

But seriously- like I told the snarky old biddy who tried to make me feel bad last week: I feed my kids, their friends, and academic/after school groups HEALTHY foods, AND I am able to have enough to donate to the shelters and food banks and humane society. I can bake for my neighborhood, and share things if someone runs out next door. I make sailor goody bags for deploying guys. I send stuff to school for more than just my kids teachers.. I do good stuff as often as I can with what I have and what I save. If I didn't use coupons, I would just feed my kids because I couldn't make it fiscally possible to afford the other things. My coupons make lots of lives just a little bit better, I'd like to think.

Use your coupons, and share your extras with those who need them. It saves you some coin, and it helps people and you wind up feeling pretty darn good.

I use a couple savings apps:

- Ibotta
- Checkout 51
- Store Apps (I.E. Cartwheel for Target, or the Safeway app, etc.)
- Retailmenot (which also has a web page)
- Coupons.com app
- JoAnnes/Michael's apps
- Passbook
- GasBuddy

I use a lot of websites:
www.coupons.com
www.smartsource.com
www.redplum.com
www.mambostrouts.com
http://coupons.target.com
www.allyou.com

Some others too:
http://3boysandadog.com/coupon-database/

Probably one of my favorites ever (they have coupon trains, tons of info):
http://www.hotcouponworld.com
especially because they have a list of bricks printable:
http://www.hotcouponworld.com/bricks-printable-coupons-list/

MyPoints: You view emails, earn points, trade them for gift cards (gas cards, hotels, JCP, store stuff) I vouch for this one personally: I have traded in for several $50 JCP cards here. Score one for school clothes!

Inserts schedule
http://www.sunday-paper-coupons.com/2015-coupon-insert-schedule.html

I also sometimes buy from www.thecouponclippers.com   when there are brilliant coupons that I know I will use a lot and are worth the cost. Not often but sometimes..

I get from our Friday paper (which has all the Sunday paper coupons but only costs me 50 cents after my free at home copy). Neighbors donate copies too if they don't use them. And I Sometimes buy Sunday papers.

I trade coupons with my family and friends all over the country, but also here at home and send expired coupons to military installations overseas, because they can use them up to 6 months past the expiration date.

I sometimes get involved in coupon trains. A coupon train is a group of people who send coupons to each other based on a list. i.e. Mary, Sue, Joe and Bobbi all participate. They cut their coupons, and take what they will use. They drop the rest in an envelope to their person- Mary sends to Sue, Sue sends to Joe, Joe sends to Bobbi, and Bobbi sends to Mary. When they get their envelope of coupons, they take what they need from it and dispose of expireds, add their own new coupons and send it along. Round and round you keep your batches of coupons floating to the next person each week- The benefit is that you get coupons from all over  the country.

Some stores/businesses offer a military discount. Ones I use a lot:
Home Depot
Verizon
Hot Topic
Micheal's
Fred Meyer (every 3rd thursday)

Some stores offer printable coupons or text coupons (you can sign up)
JCPenneys
Sally's Beauty Supply
BedBath and Beyond
Payless
Home Depot
JoAnnes

Some places offer apps that have coupons right in them- show your app, get your discount.
JoAnnes
Safeway
Fred Meyer
Micheals
Target

Some places have clubs and so on- earn point for rewards, etc.
Hot Topic
Petco
Safeway
Petco/PetSmart
Office Depot
Some brands too: i.e. MyCokeRewards

Some places will get you on a snail mail mailing list: Jo Annes, Sally's, Fred Meyer, Target, P&G, etc. I love getting coupons in the mail.

I also visit websites to check out brands- I get starkest coupons a couple times a year because I wound up looking for a sample, they sent a coupon  and I got on a list. Don't be afraid to report bad things either- opened a bag of cheese one day, a month before expiration, and it was gross moldy. I called Kraft- They made it right with not just one but 4 replacement coupons. Be honest though.. or it ruins it. I always take a picture and offer to send it along. Or visit a company site it you LOVE their product- Kasha rewarded me for telling them how much we love a couple flavors of their bars, and Banquet did something similar. I just wanted them to know I was pleased, but they sent coupons along to say thanks!

And definitely if there is a free club card, sign up. I have a key ring filled with keyfobs to scan, big discounts a lot of times. You can also use the KeyRing app, scan your cards and carry a digital, search able list right with you. Plus some of them connect with online ads and extra coupons!

Really, a great idea is to google the place you want to shop and the word coupon or promo or discount. Everything from wigs (arda.com) to clothing to hotels- shop around, and search out the savings.

Also, it helps to learn the sale cycles- certain things go on sale more at certain times- November is baking supplies. Also, November is good for home decorator stuff, blinds, etc, because they want to entice you to upgrade for holiday company. Baby specials come a couple times a year. Ice cream starts in April or May.. Local stores also have cycles- my favorite cheese goes every 4-6 weeks. So I buy enough at the low price to last a while, till the next sale. Canned goods are the same.

Last but not least: Combine your sales if you are able: Sears had my freezer for 300, Best buy wanted 325. They price matched plus another 10% under so it was 270. I have Best Buy Rewards. And if you order online you can pick up in store free. They have a 5 minute rule- if its not in your hands in 5 minutes from when they greet you at the desk to get it, you get $ back. Its only like $5 or something, but hey- it counts. And I turned around and had enough points for a double points event that I got a free video game for my kids. My stove too was a black Friday price match and Home Depot did the military discount on top of it for me because they rock hard core. I LOVE Home Depot. The salesman was a really sweet retired vet, from another department and spent a lot of time working hard to help me and find answers to my every question- I got my black friday deal (it was on a Saturday though- they ran it the week) plus the 10% less than Lowes price match guarantee plus my military discount. I got a Gallery stove for half price, and turned around and had enough to buy other goodies for my hubby's workshop then..

I admit that I said to myself: I will only get a smart phone if I can use it to save the cost of the data plan on other things. And I definitely do. Smart phones can be a huge help, don't be afraid to utilize them, or an iPod if you have stores with free wifi. Or screen shot your coupons when you are using wifi, and take the pics along.. I don't think I've paid full price at JoAnnes in years that way LOL

It looks like a lot, but after a couple decades of this stuff its second nature, and easy to pick up. Just look for deals. Even my hubby and kids check in with me: Is that on sale and do you have a coupon? If not, eh, no biggie. Its about making things easier, not micro managing till you go insane.

Recipe: cold pressed coffee

So cold pressed coffee is a big deal in our house, but at 4 to 6 bucks for about 12 oz. it wasn't purchased often. So for hubby's birthday I decided to figure out how to make it, and it's really pretty easy once you get a method down.

1. Double layer cheese cloth cut in a big circle. This one is damp, and coffee stained- I wash and reuse it because I make a new pitcher every 2 to 3 days:

2. Grind coffee coarsely.. And heap in the center of your cheese cloth. I used about 1/3 bag beans (and at $6 per bag I can get about a gallon and a half out of it, so a buck a quart) a good ratio seems to be 1 part coffee to 3 or 4 parts water:

(We dig Peet's but any works. If you have preground it's okay too but might filter through the cheesecloth a bit)

3. Now gather it up around the edges like a bag, and use a rubber and to secure the top. I've used kitchen twine but it's a pain to tie up:

4. Place bag in a pitcher, and cover with ice:

( see it's there at the bottom :)

5. Fill with filtered tap water:

6. Let it sit out till the ice melts then throw it in the fridge. Let it steep about 36 hours. We tested steep times and our tastes ran to the 36 hour steep- but try it out at 18 to 48 hours to see what you like. We pour it into ball jars so he can grab and go to work, or into a lidded pitcher, etc.:

If you get sediment from too small a grind on the coffee, you can use a regular coffee filter inside a sieve or fold the sides together so you can hold it over your pitcher/cups. 

And enjoy cold! 

Note: I use the post steep coffee grounds in my garden. 

I also discovered that you can use a ball jar, lidded cup or whatever you like that won't spill and some empty tea bags ( like $2 for 100) and fill them up with coffee for individual servings. Steep 24 to 36 hours in the fridge. Pre ground works great here.. I use these a lot with my teas too. They do make re-usable but mine are compostable and disposable, so that's what I do:

Coat rack built in: notes (updated)

Planning to build a built in coat rack/shoe rack combo behind the front door. stain it Bombay mahogany to match the other stuff we're doing. 

Update: half the the rack done. Decided to separate it into two sections a tall shoe rack and a a coat hanger/shelf. I've finished the rack.. 

Now on to the coat rack. 

Fence replace/upgrade notes

I need for custom fence pieces 8 to 15 pickets, 2 - 2x4s, 4 side brackets at 1.50 each, screws, nails, and a package of L brackets at $3 each. 

5/8" x 5 1/2" x 6' Fence individual Pickets are $1.94

2x4 (treated)

These too look possible, is simple. I could cut them down if needed. 

I kind of hesitate to switch now, because we started one way, doing it custom. But keepers it would make life sooo much easier :(

Lowes has this nifty fence door/gate for $41.. Would need 3, or 4 if we add a gate in back

  

But this is also an option, depending on size. It is a more expensive option though:

Also looking at post caps: 

Plain for most of them.. 

But there are cool solar ones I want for the garden space. 

These are my favorites.. 

Halloween: skull wreath

This year we hit up the dollar store to make an LED skull and web wreath.. Super easy. 

8 LED foam skulls

1 metal edged spider web

Duct tape

Sewing pins

Removed big plastic spider from the web. Ick. 

I taped the skulls equidistant around the web, and anchored the tape with sewing pins (nothing wants to stick to glitter coated skulls very well) 

And done. Thought about adding ribbon or raffia, but I like this plain and simple. 

I will probably go back and add some super glue under the tape though. Love to super glue lol

Here's lights on first 

 then lights out, LED on (they strobe different colors)

We're going to hang it outside on Halloween for trick or treating :)

Garden 2015: Grape vines

I'll admit I know squat about grapes.. I bought two nice vine that have come along well.. I think.

Last year they spent all their effort putting down roots, I think. Almost no growth up top but they were growing, albeit slowwww. 

This year the one vine that grew like 6 inches last year has sprouted up to my knee. The other, hardier vine is like a friggin wild bush! It's monsterously big..

So I started digging around and found this info. Shouldn't expect output for a while but it's all good- I get grapevine this fall when I prune.

http://m.almanac.com/plant/grapes

I'll upload pictures of my out of control grape vines later.. It's too dark now, and I'm probably fit for grape shaming lol I should have investigated sooner, but at least now they have a solid root base, and I was able to mulch well this spring so they were able to weather out the drought this year like champs. 

Notable link: great info on processing and canning:

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FN_2005_Harvest-11.pdf

Skyrim bathroom 008: there be dragons here

So you can't do Skyrim without dragons, because..

DRAGONS!!!

So we opted to go two ways: 

-Canvas for Alduin for the ceiling

-Sculpture/bas relief type for Paarthurnax to go over the door like he's watching the Throat of the World/High Hrothgar. 

There will be 3 canvases total: 2 sky (sm), one dragon (med). They are painted to look like the ceiling with 'comes the dawn' as a base coat, like walls/ceiling. I used 'homestead resort' and 'gossamer wings) to make clouds.

Paarthurnax is made of sculpey 3 clay, painted with acrylics and clear coat. 

-Alduin-

I used plain white canvas, penciled in my dragon body, and started painting around him with base coat. 

Base coat done, dry overnight. Smaller canvases are just solid base coat. 

To make clouds I used the tried and true, cheapo method of paper towel blotting :)

Clouds added:

Dragon detailed:

And the cloud panels:

Canvases hung up ( yay for command Velcro -soooo easy!):

Meant to look like he's circling the light.. 

-Paarthurnax-

I started with plain old white Sculpey III and started shaping. Body first, then adding some spikes and so on. The block is 2.5" x 2.5" if that gives you an idea of his size. Really it was trial and error, and this is what I got:

Not much change after I baked him for 2 hours at 235 (convection oven), but he's hardened like he should have. Yay!

Test fit on the door- discovered an issue. My measurement was off. Ugh. His wing broke at the joint, but it's all good.. Super glue before paint, so the wing sits at an angle so he fits. The door he's sitting on is in a corner, and my wing was slightly too long. 

But what's super cool- he's got a glow in the dark eye . DD was making glow stars for her Doctor WHO room with me while I worked on this, so thank you kiddo for sharing your sculpey and giving me the idea!

Wing fixed back on.. Paint next!

Base coat paint, after sanding a little:

Details- mind you I'm not the best painter, but he's not too bad:

Installed: