Back in CA, I enjoyed gazing out at my front yard at various plants friends had given me, helped me plant, etc. Each one reminded me of a special friend. I treasured the beauty of the plants but more, the beauty gift and joy of each friendship that the plant stood for.
I now have a FL friendship plant - from friend Nancy! -And it appears to be growing a little tiny flower bud after being transplanted into dirt for only 2 days! Wow. Friend Nancy was right when she said I can't kill Mexican petunia plants!!
So far I've mostly "planted" mulch - and it reminds me of a friend who happens to work where I purchased it. Well, I guess I also "planted" our sprinkler system - which this same friend wisely advised me to install before doing anything else to our yard. So I can smile at my mulch and sprinkler system too thinking of Cindy.
I've enjoyed friends' blogs which planted seeds for me to blog someday - so even this blog is a friendship garden of sorts! Thanks Tonya, Abby, Jen, and so many others too whose names will come to my mind as my blogging days go on... And thanks to my friend I've known since she was born - my youngest sister Karen - who encouraged me to blog on!
Wow, also -another life time friend who knew me since I was born - my oldest sister Linda, who has blogged for the Houston Chronicle regarding her yard and garden. She's "way off the charts" of accomplishment being a first born of six kids.. naturally..
anyway, her yard includes organic, raised garden veggies, herbs, birds, and lovely ornamental
everything...
Plus, my friend my second oldest sister Diane whose yard is like visiting a beautiful resort -- she even made her own stepping stones with molds and "concrete" type stuff! She sometimes buys older, dying plants cheap or free, revives them to radiant health and beauty!
My younger sister Carol has a nice yard including a fruitful veggie garden in her yard and a hubby talented like she is with such things!
Oh my.., I now realize I could go on and on with more friends and relatives who inspire me with wonderful yards and gardens! I will save them for another blog.
Thank you Lord, for the seeds family and friends have all planted in my heart that are now bearing fruit. They have given me the courage to "not give up" in this FL yard job!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Frugality regarding Time Use
Time is money goes the saying.
Didn't Ben Franklin say something like , Do not squander time- for that is the stuff life is made of?"
Sigh....I have a beautiful new day ahead of me with no urgent appointments, etc.
AND I have a "million" jobs to "catch up on" around the house for such a day.
Those jobs are "boring" and "tedious" (and they tend to involve papers... not people...)
SO..enter my handy timer timer (25cents at a garage sale)
I shall not set it for, say..umm..... 14 minutes and tackle a "dreaded" job.
I can do anything for 14 minutes!
Dreaded job, here I come!!
tick tick tick...soon I will hear "bing" and I can stop.
But in the past, I've always "reset it' and ended up sticking with dreaded jobs for a long time.
And a nice feeling of accomplishment!
Hallelujah for timers...
Didn't Ben Franklin say something like , Do not squander time- for that is the stuff life is made of?"
Sigh....I have a beautiful new day ahead of me with no urgent appointments, etc.
AND I have a "million" jobs to "catch up on" around the house for such a day.
Those jobs are "boring" and "tedious" (and they tend to involve papers... not people...)
SO..enter my handy timer timer (25cents at a garage sale)
I shall not set it for, say..umm..... 14 minutes and tackle a "dreaded" job.
I can do anything for 14 minutes!
Dreaded job, here I come!!
tick tick tick...soon I will hear "bing" and I can stop.
But in the past, I've always "reset it' and ended up sticking with dreaded jobs for a long time.
And a nice feeling of accomplishment!
Hallelujah for timers...
They matched Home Depot Offer
I had visited Home Depot for possibly buying 50 bags of eucalyptis mulch. Delivery would cost 79.00. I noticed online that Lowe's also charged 79.00 to deliver - 20 bags or 50 bags of mulch, same cost..hmm..
When I asked further about arrangements for delivery, the clerk voluntarily told me we could use their truck free for 75 minutes! That sounded great. I was impressed he volunteered that info! Go Home Depot!
I hopped over to Lowe's to compare mulch - lo and behold they had the "chunky" eucalyptus mulch where Home Depot had the "stringy" type only. I preferred the chunky. Also Lowe's had in stock and assembled, the tumbler type , barrel composter I'd been wanting!
I asked Lowe's about using their truck for free . They said no, $20.00 for 75 minutes.
Seems in this economy stores are open to "matching" competitors offers, so I mentioned Home Depot's free truck offer.
Lowe's said they had heard of that special offer - did I have the coupon for it? Home Depot did not mention a coupon so I didn't. Lowe's called Home Depot to confirm their offer.
Lowe's said Home Depot also required you to pay for the purchase with their card, which Home Depot also had not mentioned to me.
So, Lowe's said if I applied for and used their card for the purchase over 100.00 they'd match Home Depot's free truck use! No problem - only took a few minutes. I'll pay off the card immediately since frugal moms try to avoid interest and late fees.
Everything worked out great!
Total savings at Lowe's: two expired coupons - 35.00; free truck - 20.00 = 55.00
Hubby said why didn't I ask for a quanitity/bulk discount on the 50 bags of mulch!
Oh well, next time I can do that!
When I asked further about arrangements for delivery, the clerk voluntarily told me we could use their truck free for 75 minutes! That sounded great. I was impressed he volunteered that info! Go Home Depot!
I hopped over to Lowe's to compare mulch - lo and behold they had the "chunky" eucalyptus mulch where Home Depot had the "stringy" type only. I preferred the chunky. Also Lowe's had in stock and assembled, the tumbler type , barrel composter I'd been wanting!
I asked Lowe's about using their truck for free . They said no, $20.00 for 75 minutes.
Seems in this economy stores are open to "matching" competitors offers, so I mentioned Home Depot's free truck offer.
Lowe's said they had heard of that special offer - did I have the coupon for it? Home Depot did not mention a coupon so I didn't. Lowe's called Home Depot to confirm their offer.
Lowe's said Home Depot also required you to pay for the purchase with their card, which Home Depot also had not mentioned to me.
So, Lowe's said if I applied for and used their card for the purchase over 100.00 they'd match Home Depot's free truck use! No problem - only took a few minutes. I'll pay off the card immediately since frugal moms try to avoid interest and late fees.
Everything worked out great!
Total savings at Lowe's: two expired coupons - 35.00; free truck - 20.00 = 55.00
Hubby said why didn't I ask for a quanitity/bulk discount on the 50 bags of mulch!
Oh well, next time I can do that!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
God's Abundant Provision of Beauty
A dear friend, Nancy, gave me Mexican Petunias from her yard in June. Her yard is ablaze with their delightful color. She assured me they make lots of babies easily and are simple to grow and keep alive.
In Florida, I've killed some purchased plants so have not planted much lately.
Recently was forced to transplant an old azalea bush - which did not survive.
(It was comforting to later learn that they are among the most difficult to transplant successfully.)
SO...the above gift of Mexican petunias stayed healthy for two months in their pot placed inside a large bucket of water.
Ignored them - been traveling -- been busy -- been too afraid to touch them lest they die on me but they've been fine! (except no flowers yet) The bucket of water kept them well watered with no work on my part for two months! (except once I did change it for freshness...:) )
Need to research online tips to succeed with these. They are called "invasive" but I love that!
Their colorful flowers are lovely. I like invasive! It means "frugal choice, hard to kill etc!"
Yes - bring on such invasives any time.
(I planted them in a space bordered by my garage, stepping stones, and mature bushes. Those boundaries should help the "invasive" problem..
Just like with people - boundaries help us not invade other people's spaces and vice versa..
And, similar to gardening boundaries, they may need tweaking, studying, revising, etc..but that's ok -
there is joy in the journey and in the process, not merely in the goal or final destination.
In Florida, I've killed some purchased plants so have not planted much lately.
Recently was forced to transplant an old azalea bush - which did not survive.
(It was comforting to later learn that they are among the most difficult to transplant successfully.)
SO...the above gift of Mexican petunias stayed healthy for two months in their pot placed inside a large bucket of water.
Ignored them - been traveling -- been busy -- been too afraid to touch them lest they die on me but they've been fine! (except no flowers yet) The bucket of water kept them well watered with no work on my part for two months! (except once I did change it for freshness...:) )
Need to research online tips to succeed with these. They are called "invasive" but I love that!
Their colorful flowers are lovely. I like invasive! It means "frugal choice, hard to kill etc!"
Yes - bring on such invasives any time.
(I planted them in a space bordered by my garage, stepping stones, and mature bushes. Those boundaries should help the "invasive" problem..
Just like with people - boundaries help us not invade other people's spaces and vice versa..
And, similar to gardening boundaries, they may need tweaking, studying, revising, etc..but that's ok -
there is joy in the journey and in the process, not merely in the goal or final destination.
Composter - for frugal, healthy yard fertilizing!
Composting made sense to my frugal healthy mindset - to recycle kitchen scraps and yard waste instead of buying artificial chemical fertilizers for the yard! Wow, made me happy just thinking about it! (and a happy heart is good like medicine - so chalk another one up for happiness too!)
But: which type composter will be a joy to use a year from now? Cannot stand to throw away money or time with a frustrating machine that doesn't work well.. Need one that uses minimal time and energy on my part, long-term..... Hmm..what's selling well on ebay? Surely more experienced gardeners have researched and know which type works well...so....
Browsing on ebay revealed that many bids were being placed for one type: a big "barrel" that has a handle for turning. Cost was around 90.00.
I almost bid on one, but waited...and viola!! Lowe's had one very similar in stock, and assembled- YES!
PLUS, Lowe's honored their expired coupon they sent me months ago that I had frugally saved in my "coupon" bin..so the price was a bit cheaper than ebay. A Lowe's clerk patiently helped me understand how to use it. AND this wonderful clerk xeroxed Lowe's guide to composting which had every detail for successful composting.
Hmmm-- there are details to follow to avoid odors, and pests etc...definite requirements to me.
SO...just now dumped in the 75% by volume of "Browns" - carbon rich stuff - (dry leaves and twigs), followed by 25% by volume of "Greens" - nitrogen rich stuff- (green yard clippings and kitchen waste). God sent some gentle rain which added needed moisture while I was filling it.
Gave the crank a few hearty turns.......will turn it daily and....wait and see! I'll likely have some "learning curves" to endure and things to troubleshoot, but the handy dandy guide sheet should help tremendously...
I thought I had saved "too many" kitchen scraps over the past month in my freezer, but
I used them all up and the ratio was fine between "greens" and "browns".
Brew.. brew...dear compost -- decompose.. do what God created you to do. How it all works, is one more evidence of His amazing grace and provision for His creation.
God gives us richly all things to enjoy...He is Our Provider...creation declares His praises and shows forth His wisdom and design --including how He even designed nature to recycle itself into useful fertilizer for growing new things.
But: which type composter will be a joy to use a year from now? Cannot stand to throw away money or time with a frustrating machine that doesn't work well.. Need one that uses minimal time and energy on my part, long-term..... Hmm..what's selling well on ebay? Surely more experienced gardeners have researched and know which type works well...so....
Browsing on ebay revealed that many bids were being placed for one type: a big "barrel" that has a handle for turning. Cost was around 90.00.
I almost bid on one, but waited...and viola!! Lowe's had one very similar in stock, and assembled- YES!
PLUS, Lowe's honored their expired coupon they sent me months ago that I had frugally saved in my "coupon" bin..so the price was a bit cheaper than ebay. A Lowe's clerk patiently helped me understand how to use it. AND this wonderful clerk xeroxed Lowe's guide to composting which had every detail for successful composting.
Hmmm-- there are details to follow to avoid odors, and pests etc...definite requirements to me.
SO...just now dumped in the 75% by volume of "Browns" - carbon rich stuff - (dry leaves and twigs), followed by 25% by volume of "Greens" - nitrogen rich stuff- (green yard clippings and kitchen waste). God sent some gentle rain which added needed moisture while I was filling it.
Gave the crank a few hearty turns.......will turn it daily and....wait and see! I'll likely have some "learning curves" to endure and things to troubleshoot, but the handy dandy guide sheet should help tremendously...
I thought I had saved "too many" kitchen scraps over the past month in my freezer, but
I used them all up and the ratio was fine between "greens" and "browns".
Brew.. brew...dear compost -- decompose.. do what God created you to do. How it all works, is one more evidence of His amazing grace and provision for His creation.
God gives us richly all things to enjoy...He is Our Provider...creation declares His praises and shows forth His wisdom and design --including how He even designed nature to recycle itself into useful fertilizer for growing new things.
Healthy weed killing
After reading and googling online for info, I tried "solarizing" to kill weeds before laying down the mulch.
The patch of yard was somewhat bare dirt already which surely helped.
After a rainy day (which frugally saved my using the garden hose and adding to the water bill) to wet down the area, I placed opaque thick plastic sheets on the spot. They were left over from my wonderful husband's Boy Scout Leader days when they used such stuff underneath tents. Yes! Just waiting in the garage for me to frugally use!
My wonderful husband (WH) knew exactly where they were and quickly produced this treasure from the camping supply section of the garage.
There was a nice quantity brand new plastic sheeting in the box, to easily lay out! I anchored it with large stones/bricks I had on hand. I also used some of the plastic pre cut in a tent floor design, which was partly brittle and fell apart, but others worked fine. (I pitched the brittle stuff! I"m not that frugal!! ha ha ha)
So far - no money spent at all!
God provided nice sunny days a lot this week, which helped too. Ideally I think you are to leave it on the yard up to 30 days, but it was too unsightly.. SO....I removed it today after one week -- and many weeds had turned brown underneath! It did rain yesterday so it was easy to dig out with a shovel all the brownish weeds, etc..
Money saved also includes: - no gym fee to get fit! - (lots of reps in bending, shoveling, carrying, lifting, stretching, etc!!)
The patch of yard was somewhat bare dirt already which surely helped.
After a rainy day (which frugally saved my using the garden hose and adding to the water bill) to wet down the area, I placed opaque thick plastic sheets on the spot. They were left over from my wonderful husband's Boy Scout Leader days when they used such stuff underneath tents. Yes! Just waiting in the garage for me to frugally use!
My wonderful husband (WH) knew exactly where they were and quickly produced this treasure from the camping supply section of the garage.
There was a nice quantity brand new plastic sheeting in the box, to easily lay out! I anchored it with large stones/bricks I had on hand. I also used some of the plastic pre cut in a tent floor design, which was partly brittle and fell apart, but others worked fine. (I pitched the brittle stuff! I"m not that frugal!! ha ha ha)
So far - no money spent at all!
God provided nice sunny days a lot this week, which helped too. Ideally I think you are to leave it on the yard up to 30 days, but it was too unsightly.. SO....I removed it today after one week -- and many weeds had turned brown underneath! It did rain yesterday so it was easy to dig out with a shovel all the brownish weeds, etc..
Money saved also includes: - no gym fee to get fit! - (lots of reps in bending, shoveling, carrying, lifting, stretching, etc!!)
Friday, August 27, 2010
frugal landscaping
Doing the yard ourselves so far..saving big bucks. May need to hire part of it, but what we can do ourselves, we will.
Had to read lots of "stuff" - best source may be County Extension - free, abundant advice and publications.
Bought 50 bags of eucalyptis mulch which repels insects!
Measured out the areas to mulch.
Mulch comes tomorrow from Lowe's.
Also composter comes tomorrow from Lowes - a "barrel" that I can turn via the outside crank. Wanted something easy to use so I do use it long term.
Had to read lots of "stuff" - best source may be County Extension - free, abundant advice and publications.
Bought 50 bags of eucalyptis mulch which repels insects!
Measured out the areas to mulch.
Mulch comes tomorrow from Lowe's.
Also composter comes tomorrow from Lowes - a "barrel" that I can turn via the outside crank. Wanted something easy to use so I do use it long term.
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