Feskens Spring Recap

Over-due! The biggest understatement I've heard in a while.

We have been BUSY this Spring. Lately it feels like we have had no weekends without a birthday party here, a get together there... a day outing, or working in the yard. Well... there is always working in the yard. That is sure as rain in Washington in our household.

Let us share what we have been up to...

We spent a glorious day in Mt. Vernon visiting the tulip festival fields. If you've never gone, you aren't worthy of calling yourself a Northwesterner. You have to go to see the simple beauty of mass color and uniformity at its finest. You'll never forget it!

 

Remember those planter boxes Ryan worked so hard on? They are done and IN! Two of them anyways. There are more to make and install, but the ones so far are doing fabulous. And they are full of veggies growing like mad.

Getting them in place...

Lining them and filling with compost...

Ryan stomping it in there (he loved that I included this one... heehee)...

Planted them up...

Looking good... lots of work still to do!

We've also spruced up what we like to call our Shade Garden Oasis. The north side of the house used to have a big over-grown tree near the path to the back yard gate. Ryan pulled that out last Spring and we have been working on it little by little ever since.

We hosted a Mother's Day Brunch for our lovely Mom's and my Grandma! It was a perfect day, sun shining and warm. I made a yummy brunch including mini quiches, scones, fresh fruit, apple-sausage patties, and mimosas. Yummm... making me hungry for a Mother's Day repeat. We were glad we could treat them to a relaxing morning with their (awesome) children! ;)

Just a couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Ryan's 25th. Old man! I surprised him with an outing to go brew his own beer. We met a few of his friends there, and had a fun time learning about the process and tasting some yummy brew... plus, their VERY yummy rootbeer. My fav! We have to go back soon to bottle it up. And then we will be sure to have everyone over for some, because it makes 132 12-oz bottles!!!

Until next time!

DIY Weekend Project: Planter Boxes & Spice Rack

We had quite the busy weekend! With Saturday slated for not-so-great weather, we decided to tackle the planter boxes for the back hill, which is cleared out and ready to go on one side (will post about Phase 2 of the wall re-build/hill clearing next).

We borrowed a saw from my Grandpa's "Rent-It Center" to cut the wood. Ryan was in hog heaven, let me tell ya!

He bought some wood from the lumber store, then we went on to inspect each piece to make sure it matched the others it would be placed with. They all have a little bit of a different color and look with the grain.

Ryan put his mad CAD skills to work for him last week, and made a quick sketch of the look and general scale of the boxes.

With plans in mind, we laid out out the wood in preparation to assemble the boxes.

As Ryan worked to get things going, I came up with a project for myself! I asked Ryan to grab me some wood for a project, and he came back with a single plank of 1x2". At first I was thinking... "that's it?"... but then I realized I could make do. It didn't matter anyways. The only thing that did matter was that I got to use the saw!!!

So I decided to make a spice rack. :-)  I measured my cabinet space and my wood, and got to work!

I also got to use the nail gun! What joy! Can you tell that I loved wood shop in Middle School?

And now my little creation lives happily in my spice cupboard. The End.

Well, not quite the end. I forgot about Ryan... out in the garage... slaving away on the boxes. His pride and joy...

He was hard at work!

Prepping...

and measuring...

and cutting...

And then, before I knew it, he was assembling and constructing! What lovely craftsmanship hun :-)

Pretty soon it was almost all done. And lookin' good! Just have to make the sides and then put in the hill. We are going to be growing machines in no time!

One down... ready for this? Are you sure?

SEVEN to go! Get to work babe!

Baby Greens

My little baby greens are doing very well! Some of them have emerged and are thriving in their little peat-pot condos.

A month and a half until planting season!!!

Parsley...

Sage...

Broccoli and Cauliflower....

Wall Re-Build: Phase 1 - Deconstruction

It needed to be done. Not all things in life are fun. It needed to be done.

That's what I kept telling Ryan. He knew it deep down, but he didn't want to come to terms with it. But... it needed to be done...

The dreaded "wall re-build".

Last weekend there were no excuses available. It was sunny and warm(er) and we had no plans. And the Spring planting season is coming up fast! We need to be ready. And with plans to make the hill a garden oasis, the only thing left to do was to re-build that blasted wall. It needed to be done. And so he started in...

His arsenal of tools at hand, he started in. Look at that enthusiastic face!

This is our lovely wall before we started.

And this is the primary reason for the re-build... notice the not-so-lovely lean in the middle of the wall. It would really not be lovely any more if it ever fell over.

So let the digging begin!

And more digging...

And more digging...

Needless to say, Ryan needed a back rub that night. And I claimed I did too, since I moved all of those really, heavy, bricks. I didn't get one. Maybe because I really only helped out for about an hour.

But I was really impressed with how much Ryan got done in one day! My little guy is such a diligent worker.

It doesn't look like much now, but after some more work this weekend (and maybe with some laborers persuaded with the promise of a free lunch), we can hopefully get it back to the point where we can actually start the "re-build" phase of our "re-build" project.

Over and out!

TGIF!

A couple of my friends write posts like these and I just love them! They are simple and just a little glimpse into their day :-)  I felt like doing one today, so here I go...

.... Outside my window....

A beautiful, sunny Spring afternoon!

.... I am thinking....

About all the things I want to do out in the yard this weekend

.... I am thankful for....

A great group of girlfriends that I love going to lunch and spending time with :-)

.... I am wearing....

A long periwinkle cardy, jeans, and grey chunky heels

.... I am planning....

A road trip down to Cali in May or June with my Hubby

.... I am reading....

A Time Traveler's Wife

.... I am hoping....

We have enough saved up soon to start looking for more furniture for our home

.... Around the house....

My wonderful little indoor garden... already starting to sprout!

.... One of my favorite things....

Taking a walk with Ryan around our neighborhood at dusk (which I hope we do tonight!)

Have a great weekend all!! Enjoy the sun!

Call Me Crazy

Call me crazy... but I am already starting to get ready for Halloween! Fall is by far my favorite season, with the Harvest and Halloween being my favorite parts about it. The first two Halloweens Ryan and I have been in our house, we have had parties. We have embraced the scary haunted house type theme, but this year, I think change is in the air.

I have probably been influenced by my Mom's outragously cute Vintage Halloween theme at my parent's house, but never really thought of decorating like that myself... until now. I have recently become... well, basically obsessed with the Vintage Halloween look. Ryan is probably getting tired of it already, but I love the charm and old-world appeal of the vintage look.

If we have another Halloween party this year, I will definitely be using the Vintage Halloween theme. I can't wait to decorate!

Little Sprouts

Hey Kids! It's finally time to start your indoor seedlings. I'm going to try using egg cartons this year. They are the perfect size for the first phase.

Things to start now...

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Lettuces

Cabbage

Herbs

Flowering ground cover

Leafy annuals

This year, we should be able to start things outside a little earlier since there is not as much danger of frost. We're looking forward to a longer growing season!

Happy gardening!