Driveway Old & New

We recently had our driveway asphalted and it is so much nicer now in so many ways. DH was often saying he'd like to get rid of the crushed rock and have it all paved. His pet peeve was the rocks getting onto the concrete and having to constantly sweep them off. I (as the main snow clearer) hated when the snow would melt in the spring and there would be rocks all over the grass from a season of clearing snow off the driveway. The kids, I'm sure it goes without saying, did not like riding on the rock, falling and nursing their scrapes. Therefore when a young man came to the door and offered to give an estimate on asphalting the driveway ....I was ecstatic. - As opposed to my usually annoyed response to telemarketers and door-to-door sales persons. Below is a picture of my driveway before with the crushed rock and concrete and another picture of the after/now product. What do you think of it?

BEFORE

AFTER

Tales From The Laundry Room

It all started last week when my neighbors dryer apparently bought the biscuit and she asked if she'd be able to bring her wet washed clothes over and use my dryer.....SURE! I replied. Little did I know that on Friday while I was doing laundry, when I went down stairs to put my clothes in the dryer and start another load as this one should have be done for some time now. I lifted the lid on the washer to find a tub full of water and clothes. Oh no, did the button get pushed off....nope, is the dial stuck...nope, breaker blown....nope, I couldn't seem to find a simple solution. Seeing as how this was Friday evening and we wouldn't be able to get a repairman to come and look at it till after the weekend, we emptied the washer with a wet-dry vac. Can you imagine how that much standing water would stink after sitting for 3 days. Good thing my dryer still worked and I could dry these wet clothes sitting here. As I looked down at the days of laundry unable to wash any of it, two words came to mind - JOYCE, HELP! (that would be my neighbor). You can imagine with three young children and two nurses that wear a different uniform everyday and then change into street clothes after work that I need to do laundry about every other day. Well good thing we are good neighbors, for the next 5 days until out new appliances were delivered I used Joyce's washer and she'd use my dryer. :) We had figured that it was probably the pump that was gone on our washer and hopefully it could get fixed relatively inexpensively. Think again we were told, by the time we paid for someone to come out, look at it, and fix it, we might as well by a new one. So we did, we upgraded our top loading washer AND dryer (which was starting to make squeaky noises and we figured it's days were numbered) to a front loading pair...pretty! :)
washer


















dryer



















My laundry room is actually also the storage room/ utility room so I had to clean out the room of the boxes, totes and bookshelves with books so the delivery men could actually get the old ones out and the new ones in. As I look as the room now with everything out, it looks so roomy and so much more like a laundry room. As I was moving all this stuff out, there was alot of stuff I thought "why do we have/keep/or need this?" and definitely don't plan on moving it back downstairs. Having to move stuff is a good way of making yourself go through stuff and clean dust bunnies you never seem to get to. Here are a coupe pictures of the room and a close-up of the "laundry area" as it looks now. Just looking at it gives me visions of how to "finish" and decorate it. Also it reminds me of a conversation with a friend and gives me inspiration to put up some shelves, lay some mats/flooring and splash a bit of paint.

My Lilies

As many of you who know me well, know I like lilies. Aren't they beautiful!?...

Some Progress (see May 19, 2008)

My house from the street. Now the apple tree is in full bloom. The edging still isn't up around the tree yet....THe flowers are starting to grow more now.







Now it (the edging) is! :)
















Another shot of the house from the side as I was walking around the block.

This is the bed at the corner of the driveway (Wynn's garden). In the center the lilies are starting to grow...finally.


This is the bed at the opposite side of the front lawn (Autumn's garden). The big bushy plants on either side are delphiniums. They are beautiful. When they are in bloom, the big purple flowers are the first thing you see as you round the corner onto our street.


My tulip bed (Liam's garden) in full bloom. This was taken a couple days ago so now the tulip petals are starting to fall off and the lilies in the center are getting taller. I'll have to get some colorful bedding plants to put in here once the colorful show from the tulips is gone.

My garden after I finally got it cultivated and the beds raked and raised. I bet those of you who saw the before pic don't even recognize it as the same place.


My lilies are really starting to sprout up everywhere (:D) here in my perennial bed in the backyard and it is really starting to fill in.


Finally, my shade garden in the back, it to is starting to come alive finally as my hostas and ferns are sprouting out of the ground.

A Work In Progress

Gardening season is finally here and I'm so happy to be able to get out and "play" in the dirt. I've had some requests to see pics of my gardens. At first I thought, "not yet!" but each stage in the the growing season is so beautiful and this way I can show you what I hope to do and you can see the "after pics" once it is done (hopefully :)). As you will see in some of the pics, not all my plants are planted yet but just sitting where they are to go as we just got back from the greenhouses. So on with the tour:


This is a pic of my front yard from the road. The tree you see is an ornamental apple and in a couple weeks will be adorned in beautiful white flowers. I have a taller wood edging, that I painted the same color green as the trim on the house, that I'm going to be puting around the cedar mulch at the base of the tree.


This is the other side of the driveway. The plants at the side of the house are Black-eyed Susan vines. In the garden infront of the fence with the trellises are clematis vines. In the center of the tulips is a large lily but it still hasn't come up.


Another (closer) view of the clematis garden. I am planning on putting the black scalloped edging around it like I have around the other kidney shaped gardens.













By the front door. The pink lily is a plant I got from Cliff & the kids for Mother's Day. In the frog planter is a passionfruit vine. I didn't plan on getting this plant but once I saw the flower (see next pic), I just HAD to get it.

Passionfruit flower (see above).

[WEST]Now we are in the backyard. This is under the pine tree that is infront of the deck.

[WEST]This garden is immediatly to the left of the deck and adjacent to the flowers pots in the previous picture. I made this garden last year as this was an area that the grass wasn't growing well and is kind of in a corner of the yard that we weren't sure what to do here. So I moved some perennials from the the other garden that were needing dividing and voila! Not much is growing here yet, guess they are later bloomers.

[EAST] I took this picture of my perrenial bed (original one that was here when we got the place - I've made all the others) standing infront of the above picture/bed. Much of this bed is lilies so still too early for them to be up. Infront of the shed is a shade garden - hostas, ferns, and a few other things. Again, it's too early for them yet.


[NORTH]My rock garden at the back of the yard. On this chainlink fence is a vine (Virginia Creeper) that the neighbor behind us planted. It is very nice in the summer when it is full and green, completely covers the chainlink.

[SOUTH]This is the deck and back of the house. Oneday in the future, I'd love to build a pergola over the deck. If not the entire length, than atleast halfway (from the steps to the edge of the back door).

[NORTH EAST Corner]Last but not least, my vegetable garden. Currently, it is mostly strawberries (3 rows) and weeds as I have yet to cultivate it. Once I've cultivated it I'll plant tomatoes, carrots, peas, and beans. There is a rhubarb plant in the far back corner and some perrenial green onions at the back adjacent to my perennial flower bed.

Those Wascaly Wabbits!!

I have 5 flower gardens in my front yard and two perrenial gardens in my backyard. Four of the front gardens have tulips and other spring time bulbs in them. It is not unusual to see rabbits running around our yard, and even our neighborhood. And as I'm sure you can guess, rabbits + tulips = bad news. Well, I have never been a real pesticide oerson, rather I prefer more natural mathods of control. Up until now the rabbits have maybe eaten the tips of of my tulip leaves...annoying yes, but not terrible. However, 2 days ago after coming home from taking Wynn to school, I lost it! I looked at my garden, and where there were 9 grape hyacinth plants growing and flowering beautifully, there were now 9 green little stubs sticking out of the dirt!!!! I was livid, that's it...now I mean war! Many people have mentioned putting moth balls on their gardens to control rabbits so I thought I'd give it a try. Conveniently, I was already making a trip to my local Walmart so while I was there I picked up the biggest box of moth balls I could find. It rained all day yesterday so I figured I'd spread them on the flowers today as the rain had stopped. First I went onto the 'net to figure out how exactly to apply these (whole, crush, sprinkle...) and that's when I read something that I hadn't realized or "put 2 and 2 together" so to say. Moth balls are very toxic just google "moth balls toxic" and you will see what I mean. Well, I defenitly don't want them in my house or even on my flowers where my children can get at them. I'm returning them ASAP and going to get some other rabbit deterrent. In my searching I read many ways people suggest of controlling rabbits from fencing, trap & release, pepper spray, and motion detectors. On one site I read, someone suggested planting chives around the flowers and someone else mentioned placeing branches from their Russian Sage bush around the flowers. These last two I prefer and may try. Have any of you had problems with rabbits eating your gardens? If so, what works for you?

Christmas At Our Place

Voila our Christmas tree! The decorations are mostly Disney characters and also some homemade ones by the kids as well as "special ones" to represent specific special occasions.









My nativity scene. I love Precious Moments and since I didn't have a nativity scene(until this year), my mom thought this one "had my name all over it" and I needed it for my collection.







Our stockings hung by the fire with care.












I got a garland this year and it matches the candle holder (pic coming up). Looks much nicer in real life than the pic does here. :( Peacock feathers and gold fruit -very pretty.








View of candle holder from the top










Candle holder from its spot on top of baker's rack.










Christmas advent picture that Wynn got from Sunday School. Cut out one picture per day up to Christmas and stick it on the big picture. On Christmas see "Who Is Coming?"










Another craft Wynn made at Sunday School. "Each evening after prayers are said, Take off one link and hop into bed. When only the star is left to shine, Then you will know it's Christmastime!"

Refreshments are served. I have so many recipes that I like at this time of year. But have narrowed it down to 3 that are specific to moi. First I'm going to share our brunch with you -

Potato Picante Pie (make the night before)

5 eggs
2 1/2 cups frozen (shredded) hash brown potatoes
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monteray Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup picante sauce (salsa)
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 tsp. salt
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

In a bowl, beat eggs. Stir in hash browns, cheeses, sauce, onions, and salt. Pour into a greased 9" pie plate. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degreees for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until center is set. Serve with additional picante sauce if desired.
Makes 6 servings

During the day, many appatizers and dainties are available to munch on. One of my favorite and very simple to make is called -

Surprise Spread (serve with crackers)

1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Mix above ingredients well and spread on a pizza pan or glass dish the size of a pizza pan.

1 cup seafood sauce
2 - 4 oz tins broken or cocktail shrimp
2 - green onions (chopped)
1 - tomato (seeded and chopped)
1 - small green pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 cup marble cheese (shredded)

Spread seafood sauce on cream cheese. Layer shrimp, green onions, tomato, pepper, cheese.
Serve with crackers & Enjoy!

[OK, one more appetizer that we just love to eat, many of you probably have your own recipes as it is so popular but here is the one I use -

Mushrooms Neptune

1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese

1 can (113 g) shrimp, drained

1 can (113 g) crabmeat, drained

2 green onions, finely chopped

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp lemon juice

dash hot pepper sauce

30 large mushrooms

In large bowl or electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add shrimp, crab, green onions, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce. Beat until fluffy. Remove stems from mushrooms. Spoon cheese mixture into mushroom caps, filling generously. Place caps onto cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. Serve immediatley.

Yield: 30 mushrooms]

I love shortbread and eggnog at Christmas time but since I moved out to Manitoba (about 11 years ago) I have developed a new holiday favorite -

Vinarterta

Dough layers: Filling:
1 cup (250 g) butter 2 pounds (900 g) pitted prunes
1 cup (250 ml) sugar 1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar
2 beaten eggs 1/2 to 1 tsp (2 - 5 ml) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
2 tsps (10 ml) baking powder
4 cups (1 L) flour

Dough layers:Mix as cookie dough - cream together butter and suger. Add the eggs.
Sift dry ingerdients together. Gradually blend in to butter and sugar mixture. Chill well.
Roll dough into 6 flat cakes 8 to 9 inches (20 to 22 cm) in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Use pie plate or dinner plate to cut circle. Poke with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 8 - 10 minutes.
Filling:Boil prunes until well cooked. Add sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Spread between layers. Let stand 24 hours
Vinarterta may be iced with butter icing.

For more Christmas Tour of Homes go to Boomama's blog.