Eightymillion

A DIY craft and photography blog. Dogs included.

DIY Fall Inspiration: Recycling Cement Bricks Into Flower Pots

Are you looking for an easy DIY project to celebrate Fall? Do you enjoy gardening? Then keep reading.
The weather here in the Midwest has been absolutely gorgeous! So, I’ve been using my time wisely outdoors splitting and transplanting plants around my yard.
I have these cement bricks lined up along the edge of the sidewalk in an effort to prevent my dogs from jumping off the ledge. I usually plant a spring flower in them, but this year I didn’t. Truthfully, they’ve sat empty for a couple of years. The last time I used them was here.
This week I decided to plant some mums in them. Perfect for Fall and you can’t go wrong with mums. Instead of buying additional dirt, I recycled some from a planter that was no longer in use.
I lined up where I wanted each plant to go.
Using a garden trowel, I loosened the dirt that was left in the bricks. After placing the mum in each spot I added some additional dirt as needed. Tip: Give them a good drink of water when your done.
I LOVE HOW THEY TURNED OUT!
The boys watched from start to finish. I guess you could say this is there smile of approval.
Until the next project…

Gardening Tips & Ideas: Part 2 of 2

On last week’s garden post, I shared a few tips and ideas that were used with this year’s garden.  If you missed that post click here. I’m happy to report everything is doing awesome!  Please excuse the color variation from photo to photo.  They were captured with different cameras throughout the days of documenting the garden’s progress.
Patiently waiting for crops.
Once the plants started to grow, cages were placed around them.  As you can see the tomato plant on the left has a stick in the center of it.  It was growing way to big for a cage, but needed some additional support. Actually, it was an old broom stick I had in the garage that wasn’t being used. (recycling tip)
After the cages are in place keep an eye on the plants.  You’ll want to make sure as it grows to keep the leaves on the outside of the cage.
The tomato plant continues to grow.  As you can see in this photo the first support stick is invisible, so a second one was positioned according to what branches were the heaviest.  Then I cut up a t-shirt (recycling tip) into strips to be used as a rope.  You want to use a cotton t-shirt that way it’s soft against the stems.  A robe may cause it to break.
Keep an eye on the straw in the garden.  If the newspaper starts to show through, add another layer. The birds are having a blast stealing pieces to build their nests with.  I don’t mind sharing with the condition that they stay away from the vegetables.
This has been the biggest tomato plant ever.  Perhaps it’s because I opted not to place a cage around it. The photo shows another support stick, but at present time there are three sticks supporting its branches.  Lots of tomatoes!
My favorite part of the garden is the recycled pallets.  The leafy vegetables are doing well in them. Snipping off what I want and more comes in right away.
The collard greens have their own section in the garden.  Adding the strip of straw down the center has proven successful.  No weeds anywhere!  And it makes a nice walkway in between the plants.
Have you ever harvested green peppers?  It’s super easy.  Click here for the details.
I captured this photo a couple of days ago and shared it on my Instagram account.  They smell as good as they look.
So, I ask you.  What’s in your garden?

First Day of Summer

First day of summer and it’s 92 degrees outside.  It could be worse (snow) so I remind myself to keep the complaints to a minimum.
These photos are from the garden.  They were taken 10 days ago.  Cherry tomatoes and banana peppers.  YUM!

All of the hot weather is helping everything grow so fast.  I would truly appreciate some rain to help water the garden.  
I love to watch the garden grow from day to day.  So thankful for the dog kennel that I got from the neighbor.  Recycling at it’s best!  Although the dogs would love to get in and eat everything up.
Enjoy your day!
Until the next word…
~Jennifer

DIY Garden Inspiration: Recycled Dog Kennel

Last year we scored a handful of dog kennel panels from a neighbor and recycled them to serve as a barrier around the garden. I say barrier because that’s what we need to keep the dogs out of the food source.  Something tall to prevent them from jumping over. We grow a lot of tomatoes and onions which aren’t good for their belly.  Chicken wire wasn’t doing the job, so we needed to try something else. 
These were perfect! 
It took us a couple of weeks to get the dirt ready to plant.  No rototiller here.  We use a shovel to turn the dirt.  It’s very relaxing and a great stress reliever. 
Almost ready.
Every year I use the fabric landscaping in the garden.  Love this stuff!
This collection of plants and flowers was my Mother’s Day gift this year.  I like using starter plants for the tomatoes, green peppers, various hot peppers, cabbage, and broccoli.  The spinach and collard greens are started from seeds.  There is limited space inside the house and three nosy dogs who would probably dig in the pots if we would attempt to start everything from seeds.
While we were planting Disco was having fun rolling in the grass with his football.
Our neighbor allowed us to chose the panels that we wanted.  We found a gate in the pile and it works great.  Adam positioned the plants according to their height and away from the door.  In previous gardens we were stepping over plants to water other plants and realized we didn’t leave ourselves enough leg room.  Another benefit of using the fabric landscaping.
Everything is growing except my spinach.  I’ve had trouble with this in previous years.  Not sure what I’m doing wrong, but oh well. Next year I’m planting kale in it’s place.
I’ll be sharing more pictures as the garden progresses.
If you have dogs and need a solution to keep them out of the garden, look for a kennel.  Check your local paper, recycling center, or Craigslist for a used one.  Some use the kennel to contain them in one place.  We’re using it to keep them out of one place.
So, do you plant a garden?  

I Love Bacon!

Three facts about me:

1.  I collect vinyl (classic & new).
2.  I am a vegetarian (since 1985).
3.  I love bacon (in reference to vinyl).

If there are any fellow vinyl collectors out there who are reading this, you’ll know exactly what I’m speaking of. When I say that I love bacon, I’m referring to the sounds you hear when an old record is playing.  They resemble a pan of frying bacon.

A couple of weeks ago I was in Best Buy and saw that they carry vinyl.  Cool, but then I read the manufacturer label and it said………….the classics, digitally remastered for excellent sound quality.  The album cost $19.99.  The same record is in the used record shop up the street for $15.00.  I will be going back for the used one.  Not because it’s cheaper, because I want the original version.  I want the bacon!

Alright, back to fact #2.  The garden is growing so fast.  I’m compiling my photos to share the process with you.

P.S. One more fact.  It is Tuesday, but still feels like a Monday.

~Jennifer

What’s On My Plate: Stuffed Veggie Potato

When it comes up in conversation that I’m a vegetarian the first question asked is, “What do you eat?”  After a little chuckle I simple say, “Food.” 
People have also asked me for recipes.  I don’t use a vegetarian cookbook.  Mainly because when flipping through them I see that they use a lot of tofu, goat cheese, feta, mushrooms, etc.  A whole lot of items I dislike.  I have texture issues (you may laugh).  I find myself eating the same meals when I use to eat *meat* only with some variations.  I’m a big fan of all the green (leafy) veggies, so that helps.  Warning:  I consume a lot of carbs.  I’m in no way stating that my recipes are low-fat, but I do try to keep them healthy.  
Therefore, I’ve decided to share what’s on my plate.  
Have you ever visited Pizzeria Uno’s in Platteville, Wisconsin?  Love this place.  My first visit there was on a Tuesday for their pizza.  Delicious! Then I found out that it was Tater Tuesday.  I went back next week just for that.  They had this menu full of different combinations of stuffed potatoes.  My work schedule has now changed and it’s difficult to get away on Tuesday evenings.  So, I make them at home.
At first when I saw that they put roma tomatoes on top of the veggies my eyebrows raised.  Now, I can’t eat one without them.  It’s a simple meal and cost right around $6.00 for two servings.  Two baking potatoes, California mixed veggies (bag of frozen), sliced cheese, and roma tomato.  I skipped the butter and just added veggie pepper and a dash of sea salt.  I buy all of my seasonings from The Calico Bean Market, located in Dubuque, Iowa.  You can order online as well.  They are my favorite one-stop shop for everything!  

DIY Instant Flower Pots Using Recycled Cement Bricks

Here’s an easy recycling project for you to do.  These are the bricks that I got from a friend last year.  I don’t have much knowledge in regards to flowers, so I just pick what looks good together and go with it.  This year I chose begonias and dusty miller plants.  I thought I was paying attention to the sun requirements, only to notice that one of them requires full sun.  The bricks rest on the sidewalk where there is part sun.  Oh well, hopefully they’ll survive.  (Update, yes they both did well)
After weeding out what was left in the bricks from last year I added some additional top soil and then the plants.  Going with an every other pattern placement gave them an interesting look.  

The First Bloom: The Pink Lily Flower

I took this photo today.  Bird’s eye view, my favorite angle.  Call me a garden geek but I check my plants everyday waiting for the first bloom of the season.  There are so many buds on this plant that I lost count at 25.  I have a total of three lily plants.  This is the pink one.  The yellow and burgundy rest in the same area.  I’m tempted to get another for the other flower bed.  They were planted last year and it amazes me on how thick and hardy (no pun intended) they came back this year.  
I keep finding new outdoor projects to work on, but I promise to share what everything looks like very soon.  I’ve incorporated recycling in every one.
~Jennifer

Mother’s Day Tradition

Every year when Mother’s Day comes around I find myself searching for something she will enjoy.  It’s quite difficult.  The same goes for Father’s Day.  “I don’t need anything.”  Is what my dad says every year.  I’m happy to say that I’ve figured out a pretty cool gift for him already.  No hints, cause he may be reading this.
This year I decided to start something new.  My mom would take her mom to the store and pick out new flowers to plant in her flower garden.  My Grandma is now in heaven, but I’m sure she would be pleased to know that I’m starting her tradition with my mom.
I believe the flowers she picked out are the purple/white ones near the center.  There are a couple other plants around them.  They look a bit sad. Hopefully they’ll pull through.  Notice the birdhouse in the center?  My dad made that.  He recycled a piece of tin ceiling for the roof of the birdhouse, added an old faucet, and some white enamel pans to create the waterfall.  It’s pretty cool. 
Do you have any traditions you do with your parents for their holiday?  Please share in the comment section below.
Another Monday is fast approaching.  Ready for the work week?  Personally, I could use a few more Sundays.
~Jennifer