Easter Weekend

Monday, March 24, 2008

The Image above is a small collection of my Easter Thoughts.....

Family - Who gathered together!
Friendship - that are continuously growing.
Fun - is what we always HAVE at any given time.
Fellowship - Is always blooming.
Forever - is what we are and will be!

Fabulous weekend with family and friends. When we look at our relationships with others can you see how a healthy lifestyle helps form good relationships?

Now thats alot of F words! LOL


About me : I did taste test that yummy dessert up in the top left hand corner. That is my mocha triffle dessert that I have been making for some time now for family get togethers. NOT very healthy - but a taste on the holiday is ok by me.


I hope you had a HEALTHY and Fabulous weekend as well. Spring is on its' way. I can hear the robins singing outside my window on the snow covered bird feeder.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHAWNATONY 3/24/2008 3:14PM

Love you collage!! Sounds like u had a great Easter! love me Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURIEBIZ 3/24/2008 2:11PM

I sure hope spring is on the way. We had flurries this morning!!! Laurie Report Inappropriate Comment

Tomatoes in Containers and Cucumber Trellis

Friday, March 21, 2008

In the Image above are some of my Garden Thoughts I have been wanting to share with my SPARK friends. The top image is a snap-shot of one of the garden trellis' I put together last year. This one in the photo has a cucumber climbing up the garden thread I have laced on to the trellis made out of wood. These was eye catching and it completely functional! The second photo is a shot o the first tomatoes on the new patio kaboos' that we carried in the greenhouse for the first time. I would recommend this veggie plant to anyone who has a deck with plenty of sun to grow these on! YOU 'LL LOVE IT!

Container Ideas :
Sun. Container tomatoes, like those in the garden, need at least six to eight hours of sunshine a day to produce a worthwhile harvest. If you grow them indoors, put them where they'll get maximum sunshine, moving the container from window to window if you must.

Soil. For hanging planters and small pots, regular potting soil is fine. With larger containers, you may want to use a lighter-weight, soilless growing mix, such as Jiffy-Mix or Pro-Mix. It retains moisture well, which is important for tomatoes. Garden soil is okay to use, but needs to be lightened with peat moss, vermiculite or perlite to improve its drainage.

The Right Container. Almost anything will do. You can have a great crop from a plant in a five-gallon bucket or pot, a smaller hanging planter or even a bushel basket. Just be sure that the container you choose has holes in the bottom for drainage.

Line bushel baskets with plastic bags or old nylon stockings to keep the dirt in and retain moisture. Poke a few drainage holes through the plastic bags to help drainage. Three tomato plants in a bushel basket, supported by short stakes, look beautiful on a deck.

The Best Varieties. Dwarf varieties are the best ones to grow in containers. If you're trying container growing for the first time, try a cherry patio type such as Tiny Tim or Pixie II. They need little support (or you can let them trail from a hanging container) and they'll produce very early.

Container Plant Care Planting. Choose sturdy, stocky transplants and set them in the bushel baskets, pots or hanging planters up to the bottom set of leaves. For fall pot plantings, take six- to eight-inch suckers or "slips" from tomato plants in the garden (smaller varieties preferred), set them in a deep pot and water heavily for a day or two. They'll root in one to two weeks and start growing soon afterwards. When you bring these pots or baskets indoors and give them a sunny home, you can extend the tomato harvest for many weeks.

Water. Container tomatoes need watering often because the plant roots can't reach for extra moisture as garden tomatoes do. In the heat of summer, when the plants are big, water them daily.

Fertilizer. Mix a small amount of soluble, balanced fertilizer into the plants' water every week or so. Tomatoes like regular feedings of small amounts of fertilizer rather than infrequent, large doses.



***TRY STICKIN' SOMETHING in the DIRT ToDAY!
((HUGS))

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KELLZIE 3/25/2008 9:47AM

Thanks for the tomato patio suggestions. I plan to have tomatoes in my garden, but I also want to have a tomato container nearer my house for easy access. I love your cucumber trellis idea. You are such a fountain of gardening information!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BEACHIN*JEN 3/23/2008 11:59AM

Oh I cant wait to run to home depot ...I will plant and then take pictures of it and share with you. HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY Report Inappropriate Comment

NITAINMN 3/22/2008 3:51PM

I miss gardening so much! I loved looking at your tamato and cuke plants. I can't plant anything either living in our condo with so little space facing north. As Jen mentioned, do plant some for me too!! Thanx! Sprig is already hear on your page:) WooHoo!! NIta ;-) Report Inappropriate Comment

TANNEB 3/22/2008 11:13AM

A container garden of tomatoes is in our plan. Yesterday we still had ice on our windshields so I'm waiting a little longer. Great tips! Report Inappropriate Comment

BGGARDEN 3/22/2008 10:57AM

Laurie - OH I CAN"T WAIT TO WEED in my yard! You inspire me to think positive .... spring will be here soon. We are shoveling snow this morning the day before Easter Sunday. Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURIEBIZ 3/22/2008 10:04AM

Ohhh.... I hadn't thought of cucumbers.... I love cucumbers. I'll put that on my list for our garden! I spent an hour yesterday weeding the garden :) Hope you are doing well. Laurie Report Inappropriate Comment

JENSFITJOURNEY 3/21/2008 10:57PM

I just love seeing your post!!! I would try stickin' something in the dirt today but over here there is no dirt - just ice and snow :( So plant some for me today! jen Comment edited on: 3/21/2008 10:56:13 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

Enjoying my Progress!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Green - Green - Every Where! This is what I have been up to. Photos from the greenhouse. 3/08



Progress- That is what I have been making. Every day I am getting stronger and healthier and feeling better about myself. The weather outside is horrible wet and cold but I am just full of sunshine.


Diet Notes:
*I am addicted to Bran Flakes, blueberries, strawberries and a pinch of almonds covered in 1% milk. YUMMO!!!!
*Steamed Veggies are a staple in my diet DAILY. Not a big bread / noodle and rice eater these days. That might explain the weight lose.
*Had subway the other day and had to buy a pop to complete the coupon deal. WELL.... had to pass the diet coke onto Hubby be
cause it tasted yucky over not having it for a while.


Sorry so boring today.... sooooo tired that I know I wanted to write but couldn't remember what I wanted to say!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KELLZIE 3/25/2008 9:49AM

I fell of the healthy wagon over Spring Break so I need the encouragement you are handing out with your progress update. Your blogs are always a joy and encouragement to read. Report Inappropriate Comment

BEACHIN*JEN 3/20/2008 9:21PM

never boring always endearing. thanks for sharing healthy tired note of the day! ITS SPRING HOOORAY! do you do much with organic seeds or heirloom plants? they are new to me and one yoga friend said she killed her expensive organic tomato with organic fertilizer LOL time for me to take care of my self again... raising my little hand shovel to you! jen Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURIEBIZ 3/19/2008 7:40PM

Yummy subway... love it loaded with everything and so sloppy you have to use 10 napkins and eat by yourself so you don't gross your DH out! Glad to hear things are going well in the green house.... the stinky Bradford Pears are still blooming. Allison heard birds this morning and said they were all snoring because they were still sleeping because it was still dark outside! What an imagination. Have a good one. Laurie Report Inappropriate Comment

Getting Caught Up

Friday, March 14, 2008

Here is my picture for the day - I always have my fuji in hand.


Thanks to everyone for the kind messages the other day. I sure do miss my internet pals while working hard in the dirt. Staying up a few hours later then usual to get caught up on all my emails.

OH Shawna I love the fun flower page at :http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.
swf


I followed everyones advice and put my pedometer on while working at the greenhouse. Can you believe I got up to 10,233 steps just at the greenhouse yesterday. I didn't set my weight so I have no idea what the calories were... but isn't that LOADS of walking? That isn't counting all the heavy things I am carrying while I am doing the steppin! Next week I will have the weight entered so I can see what the calories burned are.

Diet - Feeling Great these days. It has been very easy to stay clean this week. I don't know what it is..... just not feeling like eating what will not be good for me. Today was crazy - rather then stopping at a fast food place for lunch we enjoyed a nice dish of steamed veggies at a local Chinesse restaurant. YUMMO!!!! My daughter ordered noodles and ended up eating off of my dish. I love rubbing off on my love ones!

Another thought..... I am enjoying my pants being lose on me. Looking forward to getting out those spring wardrobe

Happy Weekend!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHAWNATONY 3/15/2008 7:05PM

you are welcome! and whoo hooo for loose pants!!!!!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Thinking of y'all!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Hey Gang - Sure do miss being active on my Sparks Daily. I knew this day would come. (sad) Being a GREENHOUSE / Garden Gal this time comes each year. I will be able to do more come July when things are planted and everyones gardens are smiling! Working on getting wireless in the greenhouse but we are just too busy planting to run wiring!

I wish you all could come and visit the greenhouse. Me and the other six ladies have been working so hard to get things pretty for opening day in April. Everything is sooooo green in the first six days. We didn't get the heat on but two weeks late and we are still a head. I think it is because I have so much energy this year eating better and exercising before the greenhouse work began. It's awesome working in GREEN conditions and SUNNY weather makes the greenhouse like the sunny south even when it is 30* and snowy out! I actually got sunburn on Monday and had to wear sunblock Tuesday. The biggest 'problem' I am facing is the ladies like to COOK and Eat! We have pot luck Fridays and all the ladies bring in home dishes. IT is like a party because the word got out... The UPS man even brings the boxes at lunch time on Fridays! LOL - Load of fun! This is my solution : My dish is a HUGE HEALTHY LEAFY Salad packed with totally clean yummies! The older gals who are use to meat and potato dishes gave it a double take - going back for seconds. Maybe I have started something! I need to find something to bring to put in place of the home baked cookies everyone keeps enjoying at the end of the say when we sit to chat about office work. I feel like my friend thinks I am being rude to her for not eating one. I almost took one and hide it in my pocket to toss later just so she would stop asking me ' Take a cookie hunny!' :-( I don't want to be one of those' persons who are on a 'crazy diet'. I don't talk about food - unless asked. WE ALL Know someone who is totally focused on them selfs that all they do is talk about THEM SELF - just lining themself up for failure. Change lifestyle!!!!


Excited to get in the garden - my good friend from Italy brought back some fabulous tomato seeds that can only be found in Italy. YEaaa...... can't wait to get them going in the garden. We still have a few months before we can get things in the dirt outside. I will share them with you all when I get them in the ground.

ENOUGH Garden Talk - If I haven't inspired you to try because of my excitement I am sure I have made you never want to turn on the HOME and Garden channel again! LOL


Off to get some of my running done. Hope to find a pedometer to day.

BIG HUGS - I miss you all! Please keep in touch!!!! I do stop in daily at least to check my spark mail.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SHAWNATONY 3/14/2008 6:52AM

Hey Sunshine! Miss you too! Keep up the great work with green houses and what sounds like, some killer workouts while your at it! Great job on bringing the healthy food to the table.. and LOL about the cookie! I had to do something like that last year.. but It was cake. One bite and then I tossed the rest in the garbage. SOmetimes others can be very pushy with food.. and its hard to stress how important it is to them that your not on a diet..just trying 2 b healthy! I know your busy, but I got this link in an email the other day and thought of YOU right away.. if you get a chance.. check it out.. cute! Love me! http://www.procreo.jp/la bo/flower_garden.swf Report Inappropriate Comment

KELLZIE 3/12/2008 3:08PM

It sounds so lovely in your greenhouse. You will have to let me know how your Italian tomato seeds work out. Italy is my dream place I would love to visit one day. I, for one, have been greatly encouraged by your garden talk. It has inspired me and I am working in between the rain to get mine ready. I will be starting seeds indoors very soon. Don't let them bully you into eating something you do not want too. Just simply say that you are eating healthier and would not care for one right now. You don't have to discuss it. Ask them a question and direct them into another conversation. You could bring a healthier dessert of strawberries and a non-fat yogurt dip. Hang in there! Report Inappropriate Comment

NITAINMN 3/12/2008 1:06PM

Hey:) Sounds like a lot of fun and exciting to welcome spring even before Mother Nature does! LOL. Enjoy your salad and meet dishes. I had this same problem when I went to my post - rehab fitness. I suggest bringing in a bag of baby carrot, celery sticks with peanut butter, appetizers that are interesting, creative and tasty and last but, not the least whole wheat crackers like Trader Joe's Ak-mak crackers with 50-75% fat free variety of Cabot cheeses that are sooo yummy!! Enjoy your green house. Love your photos as always!! Thanks for a uppety up, hoppety hop blog ;-) Hugs, Nita Report Inappropriate Comment