Monday, April 30, 2012

Up Where the Air is Clear

It's in the news, but it really isn't all that new. Urban rooftop gardening is an arcing trend for gardeners who are not as blessed with tillable green space as are we.


This very charming image shows early up-in-the-atmosphere plant education. A "kindergarten" perhaps?

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Act Now, Don't Delay

They're going fast.


Our new victory garden poster-inspired sign.

Yes, you too can grow peas this big in your own community garden plot. Get one while you still can.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Boy Meets Girl

Dapper, diapered, and revving along with a sweet ride.


Neatly coiffed, saddled-up, and hot to trot.


Made for each other.

30 years and counting.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Snowballs in April

Another completed UFO.


The fabric was in the stash so long that it has creases that will need to be worn down by use and washing. Ironing was not enough. Oops.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Use It Up

The stash isn't busted yet, but we are doing our best to use up the seemingly bottomless pile of yardage we have accumulated. These three twirly quilt tops went a good way towards our goal but the end of the hoard is not in sight yet.





Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without! - a mantra worth adopting.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Dairy Air

The particularly picturesque and very Wisconsin-like view from a friend's new farmhouse dining area.



Do you think they draw the blinds on steak night?

Oh wait, perhaps we can answer our own question by looking back at an uncropped photo of the same view.


Farmers are nothing if not pragmatic.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Formerly smokers' hill

No, you won't find it on Mapquest, but it seems one of our local landmarks has become an officially capitalized place. The fish-wrapper, perhaps only repeating usage from the police dispatch, has seen fit to legitimize the butt-strewn grassy knoll just across the street from the high school by using it as an official crime scene address.



Our initial intent was to mock this silly formalization of the well-known moniker for a notorius locale, and it is kind of funny, but noting that the activity of the restless youths has deviated from de rigueur rebellious underage tobacco use to incidents of a more disturbing nature, perhaps a tone of gravity is somewhat more appropriate. Is it possible we are endorsing bad behavior by acknowledging that there is a dedicated place for it?

Hmmm... we wonder what other infamous locations might get the official nod.

Will we soon be able to reserve by name, the park picnic shelter in the wooded area known as Bong Hollow?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Remember When...

We had blooming things, just last weekend?

It was fun while it lasted.





Pre-freeze photos by S. Plasch.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

RCMPS&P

These guys are in charge until we return from checking out what's happening North of the border.


We're hoping that the authoritative presence of the RCMP on the kitchen windowsill will have some influence on the tidying-up habits of those left to keep order on the home-front. Not that they need reminding mind you. They always manage to do-right before we walk back in the door.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Someone's in the Kitchen with NDL

This sweet kitchen utensil came our way at the Lutheran Church Ladies' annual "favorite things" birthday gift exchange. Spoons like these, and more, are from Talisman Designs of Minneapolis, MN.




Finally someone other than our self to mutter to while slingin' the hash.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Bunny Business Tip

Don't forget to count the eggs before you hide them.


Have a good day!


Image: The Graphics Fairy

Thursday, April 5, 2012

When We Win the Lotto

After we pay someone a million bucks to fix once and for all the broken kitchen cupboard door that drives us crazy, and then pay to keep them on retainer to make sure it stays in working order forever, we will have fresh flowers like these in the house everyday.

This is what $100 flower baskets look like.








We'd appreciate it if one of you could do the math and tell us how many we could have and for how long before the jackpot runs out. Thank you.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Hey There Freckle Face

Polka-Dot Plant, Pink Polka-Dot Plant, Measles Plant, Flamingo Plant, Freckle Face, or Pink Dot - no matter what you call it hypoestes phyllostachya is at home indoors or out.


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

It Happens Every Spring

Another season, another lovely as can be Bachman's Idea House.


Livingroom and sunroom.




Fresh flowers everywhere.



Architectural antiques.


Information at your fingertips.




Re-purposed hamburger bun baking trays as magnetic message board.


Clever faux faucet planter.


Birch branches and photos on canvas up the stairway walls.


Garden gate as headboard for a sweet girl's room.


Painted canvas headboard for the master bedroom.


Message boards perfect for our favorite three-part, above-the-toilet instruction seen long ago in a home with many boys: "We aim to please, you aim too please, the next guy might be barefoot.


Pretty bottles in the bathroom windows. So glad they steered away from yellow-toned water colors.


The view from inside out.


And outside in.


Fake, but fetching.


Real, cool-weather-loving pansies.


Real and unreal together for a stunning effect not possible in March with all natural material.


And the best idea of all...a short rest stop at the garden center pond for one tired migrating mallard.