there's no place like gnome.

Things are growing!

So far, the straw bale garden has been a fair bit of work.  I conditioned/watered the bales with fertilizer for about two weeks to get the insides cooking.  As things cook, the bales get hot inside.  One of the bales reached 120 degrees!  (You shouldn’t plant in the bales if they are over 105 degrees; I had to wait many days for that bale to cool down before it could be planted!)  Other bales never showed temperatures of much more than 15 degrees above air temperature.

I trusted the process and started planting.  Here’s the list: (deep breath) tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, carrots, lettuce, shallots, sunflowers, cucumbers, snap peas, pole beans, acorn and butternut squash, herbs a plenty, and, as of two days ago, sweet potatoes.  A little bit of a lot of things!  Many of those things are planted on the tops of the bales but those veggies that trail – winter squash and sweet potatoes – I planted on the sides so they will vine on the ground.  (I’ve read conflicting reports on the sweet potatoes; supposedly, they are best on top of the bale.  Top bale real estate was limited when I picked the plants up at the store on a whim a couple days ago.  What the hay – get it? – it’s a $3 sweet potato experiment.)

Right off the bat, quite a few of the plants died.   I’m not quite sure what that was all about.  Maybe the bales spiked in temperature and it was too hot for them.  Not all of the fertilizer washed into the bales and perhaps that burned the plants.  However, most of those things that died (cucumber, squash, and pepper) I’ve replanted with success so far.

In the midst of all of that, I installed a soaker hose on top of the bales and trenched the garden hose that leads to the garden into the ground.  (No hose to move when I have to mow!  It’s the little things that make me happy.)  The soaker hose is on a timer and so everyday, twice a day, it waters for 10 minutes.  This was how I was able to plant before leaving on vacation – the watering was taken care of!

It was also super exciting – I came home from vacation to mushrooms!  Cue the band!  Release the balloons!  Mushrooms (the not edible kind) are a great sign that your bales are decomposing as they should to be good “soil” for your plants.  Mushrooms are littered all over the bales.  And Lindsay rejoiced.

Things are growing and soon the rest of the trellis system will need to be finished.  In a couple photos, you can see the fence posts at the end of the rows.  A 2×4 will be attached to the top and then wire strung tightly between the posts every ten inches.  The wire will act as the trellis as things begin to grow and need support.

I’ll continue to keep you updated!

Clockwise: landscape fabric down; bales arrived and my dinner plate border added for fun and whimsy; soaker hose installed on top of bales; upon arriving home from vacation and seeing green things still alive and bigger than when I left!  (The decomposing bales don’t look super pretty so since that photo was taken, I added some extra petunias in the sides of the front bales!)

We returned to MN four days ago and this is the first moment I’ve had to consider sharing a bit of our adventures with you.  (And, let’s be honest, I shouldn’t even be blogging right now … I should be finishing a sermon …)  Here’s the story:

We set out for Duluth.  Two nights.  Summary: Canal Park + barge + lift bridge = coolest thing ever.  Lazy river.  Checkers.  Yummy food.

From Duluth, we were UP bound.  The plan was to camp for a night but the weather was icky and the air was mosquito-filled.  We stayed a lovely night in Escanaba after eating a pastie for lunch.  The weather remained icky so we went to a movie and then ate deli sandwiches in the motel room while watching Harry Potter.

Escanaba > Mackinac Bridge > Tunnel of Trees > Petoskey, a town on Lake Michigan I would recommend to any and everyone.  We hopped wineries/breweries, explored downtown, and sat by the water.

From here, the trip shifted from exploring on our own to seeing friends and family.  We spent a day in East Lansing, with The Boyfriend showing me his school, Michigan State, via bicycle.  We spent a few days with his family in southeast Michigan, throwing in some flea markets, canoeing, and bike riding.  From there, it was to southern Wisconsin for a couple low-key days with my mom and Jeff.  Oh, and a few horses that showed up in the yard one night.

We returned Wednesday morning and since then, it’s been church work and yard work non-stop.  A garden update will come soon!

The straw bales are here!

They took a bit longer than I had hoped to arrive in my garden but last night, just as the sun was setting, my straw bales arrived on the back of an atv.  But let’s back up –

First, I had to cover the existing garden with landscape fabric to prevent the weeds from growing up into/through the bales.  And that existing garden plot?  It was FILLED with weeds.  Pretty thrilled I won’t have to be pulling them through the summer.  (The green things poking up through the fabric are strawberry plants I planted last year.)

Next, while waiting for the bales to arrive, I began to add my garden border of plates.  Estate sales, Salvation Army, and the Re-Sale Store in Austin have added to my supply.  But I need more.  The border is not quite complete.  Meanwhile, people think it’s weird.  (But it’s colorful and reusing and I like it.)

Last night, the bales arrived.  First came six.  The Boyfriend thought I needed two more so he hopped on the atv with Pete and fetched me three more.  I’ve got me nine bales that will become a home for my veggies.

So for the next twelve days, I’ll take turns fertilizing and watering.  Hopefully, on day twelve-ish the bales will be ready for planting!

Mabel got to keep all of her toes!  (phew.)

I picked her up yesterday afternoon.  She remained a little crazy/loopy for the evening, with a little separation anxiety thrown in.  It wasn’t until I stayed in one place that she finally fell asleep.  She continues to be on pain meds so hopefully the paw isn’t bothering her too much.

Of course, she can’t lick the stitches/wound so that’s been interesting.  As long as I am home, she seems to be okay.  If she licks, telling her no will get her to stop.  She went to the office with me this morning, I’m working from home now, and she just may go to confirmation tonight.

Because if I’m not home with her … it’s the cone of shame.  I put it on this afternoon as I had to go to Austin.  She was not a happy camper.  Immediately, after pushing that thing over her head, she looked sad.  So sad.  Defeated.   I know it’s for the best but we’re going to try and avoid that one as much as possible.  I’ll continue to baby my 98 pound baby as much as I can.  🙂

That’s the Mabel update.  Thanks for your concern!

Tomorrow will be a first for Mabel & I.  I will drive her to the vet clinic and drop her off around 8am.  I will leave.  She will have surgery.  I will pick her up later in the afternoon.  Then, I will make her homemade dog treats to ease the stress of it all.

I discovered something on Mabel’s paw a couple weeks ago.  Some sort of growth that she was licking constantly.  Some days it looked like it was getting better, but then the next day it would look worse.  I called the vet.  Took her in.  Antibiotics issued.  Surgery scheduled.

It’s a tumor of some kind and the vet said that tumors on dogs’ feet can be bad news.  They easily spread and the best course of action is to get it out of there.  Mabel’s been on antibiotics to hopefully shrink the infection that was heaped on top of the tumor.  If it has shrunk enough, she’ll get to keep all her toes.  If not, well …

I’m hoping all goes well and she comes home with all her toes still accounted for.  Tonight we’re spending some time outside and we’ll cuddle on the couch (for as long as she will tolerate it).  She usually gets a small bone when she comes in from outside; tonight ice cubes will have to suffice as the treat.  No more food tonight.

Cross your fingers and your paws that Mabel gets to keep all of hers.  I’ll keep you posted.

Then he says: Here‘s what I would do – plant your garden in the soil.  What you’re talking about makes no sense.

What were we talking about?  Gardening in straw bales.

Last week, I went to the library to hear a speaker.  The speaker was THE straw bale garden guy.   I went intrigued and left sold.  I told Dave I no longer needed a rototiller.  I just needed six or seven straw bales.  (And some fence posts and wire and fertilizer.)

Fast forward.  I bought this gentleman’s book and we started planning.  Dave used his pinball-farmer contacts to get some phone numbers about who might be able to help us secure some square straw bales.  Turns out farmers don’t so much do that anymore.

He has this one farmer on speaker and I hear it all go down.  I hear him laughing at us.  Here’s what I would do – plant your garden in the soil.  What you’re talking about makes no sense.

No sense?  Okay, fair enough.  It’s a little wacky but it’s gaining in popularity.  And it actually makes a lot of sense.  My garden is basically weeds.  I can keep up the first couple weeks but then I go away on vacation or get super busy at church and I can never catch back up.  Straw bales = little to no weeds.  They don’t require getting on the ground or bending over as much (which is appealing to some).  It can help with rabbits eating your green beans.  (Grrr.  I’m still mad about that from last summer.)  After the bales are treated with fertilizer to get them “cooking,” you can plant earlier than you can in the ground.  (Not that I’ll be on the ball enough to make that happen.)  It’s got a lot going for it and we’re going to give it a go this year.

I found a congregation member who can get me bales.  He won’t even let me pay for them.  Once I have a chance, some landscape fabric will be laid over the current garden plot, the straw bales arranged, and eventually, some trellises of fence posts and wire built to hold the climbing veggies.

I’m pretty excited about it all.  I’ll keep you posted on the project and, if you are one who thinks this makes no sense, maybe I’ll show you some positive results that will have you rethinking that.  (Fingers crossed.  Or maybe it will all completely fail.  I have no idea what will happen.  And, frankly, that’s what makes it all kind of fun.)

Throw in some beautiful weather and it has been a pretty darn delightful week.  A good week definitely includes time swinging in the hammock too.  Check.

Update: As of this morning, the dead bird on the patio door steps is gone!  My wish was granted that some animal carry it off in the dead of night so I wouldn’t have to touch it.  [But now there is a suspicious amount of animal hair spread in a concentrated area just feet away from the steps.  Connected events?  A scuffle?  An animal brawl?  An attack of birds on the animal that dared to carry their dead friend away?]

Also: A prescription for a good week according to Lindsay DOES NOT include loss of internet service.  We’ve been offline at church/the parsonage since Tuesday afternoon.  [I write this post from the place to which I’ve been exiled if I wish to be connected: the library.]  I’m supposed to call tech support tomorrow if it doesn’t miraculously return.  Enter the third evening of no television with many shows to catch up on and no wifi with blogging to do … #tinyviolin.  [I know.  There are much worse things.]  Expect no Friday Favorites this week.  Sad face.

Here’s hoping your weekend is lovely!

Sing, dance, and shuffle around the bathroom to Walk the Moon as you get ready for the day. (Favorites: Portugal and Sidekick.)

Spend a solid 20 minutes singing as many classic Disney lyrics as you can remember with your significant other.  (Be our guest!  Be our guest!)

Paint those wooden spoons.  Dream of the garden they will go in. 

 Treat yo self … to No Name salmon fillets.  (I haven’t bought them in years; still delicious.  Remember those, Mom?)

Attend a women’s lunch where they color.  (It was a BYOCB – bring your own coloring book – event.) 

 Make significant progress on The Boyfriend’s tshirt quilt.  Wander aisles of fabric with him to find the perfect backing. 

  Wake with the sun-ish.  Go for a walk before breakfast.

Sit in front of the patio door and watch the birds gorge themselves on birdseed.  (I’m pretty much on an every-other-day fill schedule.)  Continue to ignore the dead bird on the steps just outside the patio door because you don’t know what to do with it/you don’t want to touch it/you really hope some animal will just carry it off in the black of night.

The Mindy Project is back!

Continually watch the tracking data for a bundle of new fabric you ordered.

Make bacon-wrapped-goat-cheese-filled dates for book club.  Seriously yum.

Get invited to eat birthday cake with one of my favorite 2 year olds.

(This goes back more than a week but) Meet up with family in LaCrosse!  Eat lunch and shop.

Do not let the sixth grade music class intimidate you while subbing.  (aka Yell for them to pay attention until your throat has to recover by coughing for a minute.  Point – Red sweatshirt!  Move to the chair in the corner!  At minute 22 of a 25 minute class, just give up.)

With every passing day, summer grows closer (though it is hard to believe some days).  That means gardening season will soon be arriving too. How cute are these wooden spoon garden markers?  I ordered spoons on Amazon.  (12 for $6)  They’ll be here tomorrow.

Friday night at home calls for Chinese food.  I made this tonight and it was pretty darn delicious.  I have a whole weekend at home so tomorrow might call also for these (meatballs to freeze in small batches) and these (a small sweet treat to keep in the freezer).  I also have a lemon and an opened carton of sour cream so this.  (If I didn’t use those things in the fridge, that would just be wasteful.)

I bought a couple bird feeders to join the suet cakes in the backyard.  Watching the birds while I wash dishes is my favorite.

Favorite TV show: The Americans on FX.  (If you have Amazon Prime, you can stream the first three seasons.)  The main characters are Russian spies who live as a seemingly normal American family in the 1980s.  It’s a bit slow at times but the premise as a whole keeps me engaged and watching more.

So The Boyfriend is gone for the weekend.  (At a pinball convention.  Of course.)  In preparation for a whole weekend at home, I got movies.  (Three that The Boyfriend would never want to watch willingly.)  I got groceries.  I got wine.  (My favorite: Francis Coppola Claret.) I got projects.  (Oh, boy, do I have projects.  Thread spool garland.  Magazine clipping organization.  Quilts.  Embroidery hook thread holder.  The spoons mentioned above.) I got four loads of laundry already done, and my pressure-cooked eggs and oatmeal in the fridge for the upcoming week.  Sure, I miss The Boyfriend when he’s gone geeking out with other pinball enthusiasts, but by golly gee, I get a lot done.

That’s all I got.  Okay.  Bye.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in the sewing room.  It was the age of many sewing projects, the age of ironing a lot.  And I recently learned that I was doing it all wrong.

Say hello to Vintage Sunbeam.  She comes with this awesome wrapped blue cord.  It’s the cord that sold me on it.  I stole borrowed it from the boyfriend who had scored it for $2 at Goodwill.  (In exchange, I gave him my newer, steam-impaired Sunbeam to use the one time a year he uses an iron.)

Vintage Sunbeam and I.  We were happy together.  Ironing wrinkles and folds.  Ironing sewn seams.  We were a happy pair … but, it turns out, only because of my limited iron knowledge.  I didn’t know how much better I could do.

My friend, Sabrina, opened my eyes.  She had bought a new iron.  She researched and landed on a Rowenta … with 300 holes on the plate.  300 holes!  I witnessed its power and steam, I went home, and I counted the holes on Vintage Sunbeam’s plate.  36.  36 holes.  My face fell in disappointment.  The seed of discord had been planted; our relationship only went downhill after that.

I bought new curtains for my bedroom.  Clearance $6 curtains.  (Target aisle-end-cap score!)  I wanted to iron them and hang them up as soon as I could.   But I soon learned that Vintage Sunbeam wasn’t up to the task.  Try as she might, she couldn’t adequately iron the folds out of the curtain.  I had to wash them and let the dryer do the work.

From that point, it was over.  We had to break up.  I needed a new iron in my life.  And it was only after a new 300-hole iron arrived in the sewing room that I realized ironing didn’t have to be so hard!  With Vintage Sunbeam, it was work to iron.  With Shiny New Rowenta, it’s a breeze.  (Can you see all the holes?!  >>>>>)

My relationship with Vintage Sunbeam was no longer making me happy.  She still sits in the sewing room because she’s pretty.  But as long as Shiny New Rowenta is working, she will be the one on the ironing table.  I am hopeful that our relationship will be long and happy.