Monday, February 15, 2010

Markers for our garden


I've been going back and forth about markers for our garden this year. But finally I had to give in. If you saw my list a few posts ago, there is no way I will remember where all those veggies and herbs went! I do draw things out in a notebook, but I don't want to always bring that with me out to the garden.
I looked at expensive copper markers with etching pens, found ideas on other blogs about using plastic knives and Sharpies, saw crafty markers done using small terracotta pots and hangers, decorative paint and a lot of time! Something about putting plastic into my carefully crafted organic garden seemed all wrong, and I really couldn't see myself spending on those nice copper markers. I wanted something easy, cheap, long lasting and nice looking.

Sean helped me come up with this handy neat idea, that will look great in our garden. We had some left-over marker stakes, the kind that you mark out construction projects with. At our Lowe's they sell them over by the construction wood in a package of 15 or 20. They are pointed at one end and are about 1 1/2 inch wide.

Sean then used a woodburning tool to burn in the names of some of the vegetables for our garden. I think it looks great. Not sure how they will hold up through watering, rain, southern sun and heat, but if not - they were pretty inexpensive. Thanks honey!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

When life brings you snow...


...we make snow lanterns!


Back when I was a child, waaaaay back when, in Sweden we used to make these snow lanterns when it snowed (which it did quite often). I always loved how they glowed so nicely, making the snow look warm and inviting.
We got a bit of the Southern snowstorm on Friday night, so I taught Sean how to make a snow lantern. Here's how:

1. Decide on placement so that you can see it from inside the house.
2. Make 6 snowballs about 3 inches in diameter. Decide where your opening is going to be for putting the tea light in there and for lighting purposes.
3. Place the 6 snowballs in a circle
4. Make 5 snowballs about 2 inches in diameter.
5. Place the 5 snowballs on top of the original 6, so that they rest in the cracks between the original 6. Place them a little bit inward so that they form a smaller circle
6. Continue making 2 inch snowballs and placing them on top of the others so that eventually they meet and form a roof.
(Tip: If it's not snowing when you make these, you can leave it without a roof. But if it snows, chances are the snow will kill your candle.)
7. Light a tea light and place it in the middle of your lantern.
ENJOY!

Our snow has almost completely melted now, but it was nice to spend a few moments looking at our snow lantern on the porch!