Lazy Lola Wishes You a Happy Friday

Our Bogart "The Great"

Photo courtesy of Christopher DiViccaro /DVC Photography

How Does My Garden Grow?

Rapidly, I'd say.

It's amazing, this being my very first veggie garden and all, how well all the plants have done and the amount of fruit they continue to bear (I just sent more cucumbers and squash with Ron to share at work). Next year my garden will be a bit more organized. I hope to be in a studio and won't have the flexibility of stepping out to do garden chores at any given time in the day.

I have added two new sections to the existing beds. Next Spring I will enclose them with garden fencing in order to keep the dogs from exploring too much or stealing my tomatoes. The fence will go from the privacy fence out and wrap around the front beds, with a gate at the front. I will mulch or pave a path in between the beds (where the pots are now) leading to the compost bin behind them. The rest of the space I will fill with potted veggies and herbs.



Here's the veggie garden at the back of the house (not raised).
Earlier this summer when our pumpkin vine started taking off:


Now:

In a week or two I will begin planting Fall crops.

Back in the Studio

Between family visits, the garden and a myriad of other distractions, it's been quite a while since I've put a in a full day of dedicated studio work. Today I managed to spend most of the day focused on small abstracts and collages.

I'm currently seeking studio space. Creating artwork from home can be wonderful and convenient, but I find myself sidetracked too often. I need a space away from chores and computers...and dogs that want out every couple of hours, just because there's someone home to let them.

You Say Tomato, I Say...

HOLY CRAP, we have a LOT of them!!!

I have delivered bags of fresh veggies from our garden the neighbors next door, the ones behind us (I just hang bags over the fence for them to find) and the family across the street. I have sent bags of tomatoes and cucumbers with Ron to share with his co-workers. I have sent family and friends home with care packages from our garden.

The tomatoes are still coming!

I'm not complaining. Yesterday I brought out the slow cooker and stewed a whole bunch. I bagged and froze a few bags for later use.

The Garden So Far

I have to say that the pickings from my (mostly grown from seed) veggie garden have surpassed my expectations, especially this being my first ever attempt at growing anything edible beyond a patio tomato. It has been mostly trial and error, and I did over-crowd the beds a bit, but I've not lost much in the process. Not even to bugs or critters, which I feared I might, choosing the organic route.

The pictures below are what I have been harvesting, on average, about every two to three days.
The third photo was taken this afternoon.

Queen & Guard

Lola, Queen of the Hill.


Our faithful guardian, at his post.

The No-Shame-In-My-Game Chronicles

What to do when the ice maker quits making ice and you're in the midst of preparing your second (maybe third) pitcher of vodka mojitos?

Garden Geekery

The garden is beginning to yield great organic home-grown goodies!

Last night we had our first zucchini squash of the season tossed with some freshly picked greens in a light vinaigrette. Every time I pick something I've grown from seed (or seedling) and bring it into my kitchen I feel all giddy and proud inside.

I do realize that this makes me a big geek.

A Little Weekend DIY

Saw this old record table at the thrift store this weekend and couldn't pass it up.
It is now a magazine rack/side table in our living room.

-Table $10
-Spray Paint $4
-Cork Contact Paper $10

Welcome To Myhammy Beach

We set up a mini-beach out back and named it Myhammy Beach.
Much time will be spent there this summer. Let the vodka Mojitos flow!





Our floats have cup-holders...life is good.



Yes, my cup says "Princess" on it.

Happy Monday

Tristyen (Mr. T) and I are revolutionizing the modeling industry.
Forget the couture hunch, that is soooo last year! It's all about the nose pick now. Werk!

Easter Weekend Gardening

Easter weekend was spent out in the garden. I set up tomato cages and trellises. I put most of my seedlings in the ground. I planted cucumbers, beans, corn, tomatoes (Roma, Big Boy and Yellow Pear...21 plants in total and still have some extra seedlings in a pot), eggplant (regular and white), red peppers, green peppers, oregano, basil and cilantro. I don't think I've left anything out, though it's entirely possible.



Little broccoli blooms decided to show up this weekend. Aren't they cute?



Our first little strawberry showed up too.



While doing mowing we discovered that there is mint coming up all over where the vegetable garden was initially supposed to go (we're going to set up the pool there this summer instead).
The folk who lived here before us must have planted the mint directly in the ground and now it's spreading. I'm happy to save some in pots, but I need to find a way to get rid of it before it spreads to the rest of the yard. Any suggestions?






I also had much help from the pups:

Fashionably Late

Just when I was about to give up on this tray...Hello!



Still waiting on the peppers to make an appearance.

News From The Garden

It's been 16 days since I planted these seeds and just as I was about to give up on the whole tray a cucumber sprout decided to make its grand entrance! I've only gotten a few (2, literally) lettuce sprouts from this tray so far. I guess I'll give it another week before trying new seeds in it.


Lots of herbs are sprouting as well!




Outside, in one of the raised beds sprouts are beginning to also appear.


In other garden news, I made a bed using some found bricks by our side entrance and planted a hydrangea bush along with some salvia pants and a columbine.

I'm A Dirty Boy

I worked in the yard all day today. The raised bed I ordered from Ebay arrived yesterday and I was, of course, in a hurry to assemble it. How long do you think it takes me to assemble a simple rectangle (with instructions)? You really don't want to know the answer to that.


An untrained monkey could assemble this faster than I managed to.

After preparing the first bed I decided to keep the momentum going so we ran to Lowes and picked up a second, smaller, bed. I am officially a fan of Suncast raised bed kits. They are super simple to assemble. I was filling it in just minutes after opening the box. I will definitely add a few more next spring.




Cool weather crops: Broccoli and Romaine.
I also planted spinach and radishes by seed.


Just keepin' things real in the garden.

Today I tilled dirt and turned sod, filled in beds, did a few plantings, dug a small trench for drainage out back and even helped Ron put down new flooring in our sun room. It was a packed day and a great way to kick off the gardening season. Too tired (or lazy) to cook, we ended the day by filling our bellies with some Afghan take-out.

I'm covered in dirt and every inch of me hurts (in a good way). As soon as I finish uploading this post I'm taking a shower and then soaking in a hot bath. I love Spring!

Sowing Seeds

Well, here we go...



I've decided to garden using both seeds and transplants. I will use raised beds as well as plant directly into the ground. As this will be my first year doing any kind of vegetable gardening that extends anywhere beyond a container tomato plant, I want to cover different bases and ensure that if one does not turn out terribly productive then the other will. Hopefully both will yield plenty of fruit, in which case the combination will simply add versatility to my garden. My ultimate goal is to expand beyond a few traditional beds and create an edible landscape.

I also now can't get this damn song out of my head:

Domesticated Diva

I am devouring this book at the moment as if it were a suspense page-turner.
You see, we're finally living in a home where I have a large and sunny yard in which to create the vegetable garden I've been wanting for 13 years!



I also picked up one of those seed-growing kits today and am calling Home Depot tomorrow about renting a tiller this weekend.
Oh, I mean business.

This year, when anyone asks what I want for my birthday I will tell them that I will gladly accept gift certificates to Home Depot or Lowes so I can spend them on plants and gardening supplies.

Stay tuned.

Happy Weekend!

I will be cooking a hearty Puerto Rican dinner for friends tomorrow.
Looking forward to an evening of cocktails and laughter.

Wishing everyone a great Saturday Night Experience!




Saturday Night Experience
from Jody Watley's Midnight Lounge

The New House So Far: Den & Bedroom

We have been working on home projects and painting walls since we moved in. Last weekend we finished off our bedroom and we are now done for a while. Spring will be here soon and we'll have a long list of outdoor projects. For now we will sit back and enjoy what we've accomplished so far.

Den:
before


Now


Bedroom:

We have been putting this look together for a while now, picking up this here and that there. Our goal was "masculine glamour" with a touch of Deco. The touches of "Manhattan" sort of came about on their own. Even in the paint color we used which is aptly named "Manhattan Mist".





My side:


Lola's side:


The Man-ity:


Master Bathroom: