Water recycling herb garden!

After 2 semi successful garden seasons and lots of lessons learned, we have added an herb garden to our list of home projects.  This is not your ordinary herb garden either.  We have built in a water conservation idea into it, and it really works too!   It all began with the idea to recycle the 25 gallons of backflush water that our carbon filter expels every two weeks.

KEYHOLE GARDEN SUCCESS!

Two weekends, a lot of STUFF and we have a garden.  The idea for our "Keyhole" garden came from a work friend of Flip's.  An article about these garden adapted for our Texas climate was enough for us to give it a try.  We started with a 6' circle in the yard.  1-After moving a half a ton of rock around we dry stacked an 18" high circle to surround our garden. 

2-The next step was to line it with 2 layers of corrregated cardboard.

3-In the center we anchored a 12" round and 3' high chicken wire basket. 

4-Our first layer of about a bushel of tin cans- these will add air pockets and iron to the soil as they deteriorate (we used ones without the coating on the inside.) Also added here a dozen oyster shells which will add calcium to the soil.

5-A 3" layer of large sticks

6- A "green" layer of cactus pads

7- A 3" layer of leaves.

8- A 5 gallon bucket of wood ash.

9- Two 2.1 cu ft. bags of manure

10- A 3"  "green"layer of grass/weed clippings

11- 3" of shredded newspaper & another 3"  "green" layer of grass/weed clippings

A little help from a puppy packing it all down!

12- Another 3" layer of leaves

13- The last layer is 4" of soil- We mixed 4-5gallon buckets of good dirt with 2 bags of peat moss. 

 14- 10 days after planting- we have seedlings of spinach & beets!

New Friends & Some New Fun Too!

Five months later, we are feeling like we're fitting in, making friends and becoming a permanent fixture here in Texas!  Both Flip & I are finding our way around the city with ease now.  Wev'e settled into our schedules at home and work now and we're making some new friends. 
Last weekend, we took in our first hometown minor league baseball game with the Shafer Services family and some new friends.  Highlights included lots of laughter, fun, some dancing (by Monica chicky) cheering for the home team and a great time had by all. 
I am looking forward to many more fun times to come. 
Oh and did I mention, we're well on our way to having a new home too!

Just For The Fun Of It

Have you ever, well I should say do you often, do goofy stuff just for the fun of it.  Think about that.  Welll sometimes you just have to, at least that's what I think.  Now I know you're thinking that this concept goes against my Type A, organizer personality.  But I think my children would tell you that I've got some of this in my blood. (I think it's a little of my grandad Axthle in me really.) 
When I think back on the years as my children

One Step Closer

We've officially began the journey closer to our new home.  After our weekned trip to Port A, we plotted out our next few months activities of choices and exciting progress as we see our new home come to life. 
Last week's trip to New Braunfels was the first as we chose our stone- Cherokee Chocolate Chop.  Shingles and exterior paint colors.  After nuch debate we did finally make our decisions.   With no work-Easter extended break for Flip- we visited the cabinet maker and appliance dealer today to pick out our appliances.  Full of big wishes and ideas and a not so big budget, we now play the search game for the "hottest deal" to get what we want.  Cabinets- I did really have an idea of what I wanted in my head, it just didn't translate well as I tried to explain it to poor Joe-our cabinet guy.  He was oh so patient and eventually, with Flip's help I think we settled that question and made some good decisions there too!  Next weekend is a busy one as we're off to yet another unsuspecting sales person for the faucet & lighting debates.  We'll keep you posted.

A Job with GREAT PERKS!

I had never in a million years thought that I would find myself working for a Air Conditioning and Plumbing company.  NOR would I have ever thought that it could be fun and rewarding.  The fun started the first week.  Everyone in the new workplace is great that the personalities are very colorful. Our dispatcher calls us staff from the land of misfit toys- it's really quite fitting actually.  It's very entertaining

Port Aransas Texas- SANDFEST!

Last weekend April 15, 16, 17 2011 made our way to the coast for the first time.  Scored a great little Guest House rental which was an excellent spot for the two of us and our two dogs.  Spent lots of time walking on the beautiful white sand beach.  Early morning walks in the sand with the dogs.  Soaked up