Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all! A lot of new things coming up for next year and I can't wait to get them started. Stay tuned...

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

More Catalogs

Came home today to a surprise.... more catalogs.




 I must say that I was not expecting these to come in, except the Gurneys catalog. I did order from them this past year and was quite happy with the products I received. Even got myself a hat! Anyway, received catalogs from aforementioned Gurneys plus Burpee and Henry Fields. Now, everyone knows of Burpee. They cover every Lowes and Home Depot from coast to coast and I have to admit it was my primary seed source last year. There wasn't a week that went by that I wasn't browsing their life size, colorful display of
packets galore! But this year will be different! You can order most of your seeds online, get greater quantities at cheaper prices. Just don't buy the garden tools, light stands, etc. from the mail order companies. This will cost you an arm, leg, and part of your frontal lobe. This is why the ex computer cart will be the new light stand. Burpee has a "Deluxe" two tier Glow 'n Grow Light Garden Cart, which will hold 8 plats and rolls around on 4 wheels. All for the low price of $460.95. But it is for the serious gardener. Which is why I'm not getting one. Let me get you a picture of this Guinea Pig for you.


I figure I can get 3 plats on a bottom level and 3 plats on a mid level. Not as big as I thought it was. Doesn't look like much but it's heavy enough. The top measures 20" x 35 3/4". Figure on each plat being 10 1/2" x 21 1/4". A little overhang on the ends but I can live with that. I will have to take out the posts in the middle- right but I will find a way to mount the shelves on the outside. And find a way to mount casters on it. I did use this desk this year to help with my plantings so I need to find a coating for the top as it is starting to bubble. Next is design phase which will take a few days. Will keep you updated.

Waiting on spring.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope that you're holidays are bright and merry.

I have started a strictly garden- only blog.... tossingdirt.blogspot.com. I am looking forward to a productive year. A lot of things to try and change!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Catalog

Well, unexpectedly I received a new seed catalog this year from Territorial Seed Company in Oregon. I did look at their products last year but did not order from them. This year I believe I will since they are being proactive with their products! They do have a good selection and are worth taking a look at.

I will be building a cold frame soon and I have an old computer desk that I am going to turn into a seed cart for growing my spring vegetables. Stay tuned for this adventure! 2'-0" x 4'-0" lights seemed to be the hard thing to find as I don't want to spend the department store price. We have a Restore here in town but I never seem to catch the lights I want there. I'll keep looking but only until the first of February; that's when I start the majority of my seeds.

Well, Christmas Eve is upon the family and supper is being served. Talk at you tomorrow.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Swift Kick in the ...........

     The wife reminds me today, "you need to update your blog you know." I know and it has been a while. Things seem to get in the way but I promise more effort will be put into this. I did rejoin Facebook but having been on it for a while, I believe I may just deactivate it for good. Nothing but the same comments from the same people. So now I sit here on the love seat, the WOF snoring in her new Christmas bed and An American in Paris on TV, I write. Type actually but you get the drift.
     With the holiday season quickly approaching there are a plethora of movies and "specials" being shown on every TV station. I normally don't mind sitting through a few but the new ones really want to make me throw up. It's like they cookie- cutter them from one main idea; Old flames reunite in their hometown, not looking for anything special but get together anyway on Christmas Eve! There's only so many ways you can tell that story. This holds no interest for me. I do like watching the old classics and have reminded myself that we do get TCM on our TV. I watched a great story this morning, a movie called All Mine to Give. The wife was shopping so I sat down with the intention of watching my standard Sunday fair of This Old House, Ask This Old House, America's Heartland, etc. I know, an exciting, riveting schedule of TV bliss to be sure but somehow I couldn't turn away from it. Very  good story about a young boy doing what he could to help his younger siblings find homes after his parents died. Here's a link if you are interested in it http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050112/. Not exactly a heartwarming, feel good holiday movie but you can't stop watching. This will a purchase after the holidays for sure. And if that wasn't enough, The Shop Around the Corner came on next. If it's got Jimmy Stewart in it, I watch it. I have seen this one a few times and it's worth watching every time. Both of these reminded me of a movie I happened across last year with Edward G. Robinson called Our Vines Have Tender Grapes. Another purchase after the holidays. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037963/ I know, old movies, old movies, etc, etc. I am just a big fan of the older black and white classics. So with that being said I have decided to do a movie review for every post. The movie will be a classic venture, black and white if possible (although there are a few good colorized films.) Just as I say this State Fair from 1945 comes on. And tell you my opinions on it. There will be some that I know but I will throw caution to the wind and pick ones that I have never heard of before as well. I have to admit that I searched ahead on TCM's schedule and tomorrow they are running about five Cary Grant movies in a row, and I have set the DVR for two of them. Another actor I will not miss. Maureen O'Hara is another. Audrey Hepburn........ :) I think I am living in the wrong time. Things seemed simpler back then. No I Phones, email, internet.
     I keep tabs on a webcam from Cran Sur Sierre, a resort in Switzerland from time to time.
An image from 11-27-2011. This is the latest I've seen up here that it hadn't snowed.

Last two images show before and after the snow. These views are over the eighteenth green of the golf course, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen to play. I hope one day to get the chance to play there. 

Here's an image looking over the small community at the resort. If you're interested, here's a link to the resort, webcams listed on the right. http://www.crans-montana.ch/

     The wife was offered free tickets to the UNC basketball games a while back so we took the boy and one of his friends and had a great time. Not so much fun getting there but fun non the less. Many thanks to the benefactor. 
Even wore blue in support of the home team. 

     Holidays approaching and we are getting close to getting the house in order. More cleaning and straightening to be done but that's it. I actually broke down and cleaned out the fish tank. Also managed to kill the three fish we had but at least the tank is clean now. And you know the old saying, clean tanks makes for fish. Maybe not. Anyhow here's a shot of the main tree and a partial shot of the Santa collection. Sorry if it's blurry but it is what it is. 

WOF of the Week. Taking it easy on Sunday. 


I will post later this week as I can't sit here for three hours at a time writing. Typing. Whatever.