Mint Ice Cubes

I couldn't help but share these mint infused ice cubes - especially in the 100+ degree heat we've got going on here as of late. The mint came from our backyard garden, was simply stemmed and placed into individual ice cube trays for the effect above.

While these particular cubes were made to go into the delicious mojitos for Tim's H&H Happy Hour series, I'm thinking they'd be such a clever compliment to so many other summer drinks (both spirited and virgin) like lemonade, iced tea, sangria, ginger ale, even an unexpected surprise in a tall glass of fresh water. Cheers to cooling off and staying creative while at it!

Porch Makeover in Progress

As previously mentioned, our plans for the long weekend primarily surround a grandiose DIY porch makeover undertaking: removing all exterior wooden slats, removing all 1960's (?) striped screen panels, scraping & wire brushing remaining wood trim & panels, painting remaining wood elements (interior & exterior), hanging new aluminum screen panels, and finally affixing new white vinyl slats for the finish.

Here's what we were working with to begin with: a screened-in side porch original to the 1956 house with what we think is original screen which has a striped pattern made at the time to add privacy (the idea being that it could be seen out of but difficult to be seen inside of) and original painted wood slats. All of the above was showing some age, wear and tear:

We (meaning Tim) began by removing all of the wooden slats from the exterior, then ripping off the screen panels one metal staple at a time. While Tim did much of the "heavy lifting" I started in on scraping, wire brushing, and wiping down the remaining wood elements that would need to be painted later.

As the screen continued to come down, we were both astounded at how much brighter the porch instantaneously became. By midday, we had all the slats & screen removed and had prepped all of the remaining wood in preparation for painting.

Detail of before and after chipping wood vs. smoothed down below. We heard time and time again when talking about this project how important it was to scrape and smooth down ALL chipping paint on surfaces we planned to paint - otherwise any new paint would simply chip off in the same way the old paint already was.

Basil, our supervising weimaraner puppy, wasn't quite sure what to think, but he kept the situation under control at all times with his curious nature trying to be right in the middle of everything. The funny part was - we were worried he might try to jump from the porch into the front yard now that the screen was removed (we don't allow him to run free in the front) but he actually stayed within the guidelines of the porch at all times. He enjoyed sticking his head outside where the old boundaries were with the screen but never once tried to leave the porch.

Tim hauled away all the debris to our local recycling bins since the old screen was aluminum - it was crazy seeing it all in once place once it had been ripped out:

At this point, we had met the goal we set for the day (removal and prep) but still had some momentum and energy left in us so we went ahead and cracked open the cans of paint to get a first heavy coat on the remaining wood elements. We used an exterior semi-gloss finish paint which claims to be a severe weather protectant and have a lifetime warranty - we shall see.

After taping off the porch, painting was the most fun I had during the work today. It was relaxing and one of those things that gives an instant feeling of gratification with the before and after effect.

So you can see we got further than we thought for the day - it feels great. Tomorrow we plan to touch up the paint in the morning, measure to make sure we know how much screen and how many slats to purchase and then head down to my mom's place on the river to spend some good old family time together. Monday morning we plan to get back to business by hanging the new screen and nailing in new white vinyl slats.

By the looks of it, our "supervisor" was pretty tuckered after a full day of work:

In case anybody is wondering - yes that is white paint on the side of his nose. He couldn't help himself. Any big plans for your weekend?

Taking on Basic Composting

Tim and I have been talking about composting our kitchen waste* for a few years now and it was finally time to stop only talking about it by taking matters into our own hands. We knew we wanted to do it ourselves and start out really basic so it becomes something we can lean into as we learn more instead of a huge project we get overwhelmed with - I always think when you start simple, there's always room for growth and improvement.

After researching basic tutorials, we decided to go with a ventilated bin process that we can add to and mix manually over time. The project basically consisted of drilling holes throughout the sides and base of a metal lidded trash bin with a power drill. The holes are there so air can reach the compost. Once drilled, we added layers of dry leaves from the yard, kitchen scraps, and more leaves. We lidded up the bin and placed it on wood planks - again, for ventilation. We plan to continue in this fashion, mixing the compost every week or so, until we start to get that dark rich substance we are hoping to cover the garden with in late spring/summer.

I'm more than thrilled we've finally found a sustainable solution for leftover kitchen waste* other than the garbage. I'm also nerding out a little on the idea that we'll have much less garbage not to mention the sustainable foods we buy and use today will transform into nutrients that will feed and nourish the food we grow months from now - and so the cycle will continue.

*By kitchen waste/scraps I mean: fruit, vegetables, plants, egg shells, and coffee grinds. I understand it's not good to compost meat, bones, dairy, or any processed types of foods. That being said, it's our first time taking on DIY composting, so any tips for success are more than welcome!

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P.S.
As an aside, Basil was intent on supervising the project from start to finish. Can you believe how much he's grown since we first brought him home and even over the holidays? He just turned 6 months old and is still all puppy - just bigger. I promise a more robust Basil update soon.

How To: Recycled Laptop Sleeve Project

My coworker and friend, Jay, asked me to make him a laptop sleeve for his new MacBook Pro. Having never made one before, I told him "Of course, I'm sure I can figure it out..."

So, that's what I did. Using vintage upholstery fabric from my collection and portions of a large coffee sack Tim brought me from Blanchard's Coffee, I fashioned my first laptop sleeve.

I went about it by ironing fusible interfacing in between the two layers of fabric to keep the sleeve smooth and durable. After a simple edging and right side out rectangle sewing through the trusty Singer machine, I attached a strap recycled from the fabric scraps and hand sewed on a couple of vintage metal snaps.

While I don't think laptop sleeves will be a regular thing for me, it was inspiring to try something new and rewarding to make a tangible reality out of a vision in my head.

How To: DIY Chalkboard Wall

With chalkboard paints becoming increasingly more available, it couldn't be easier to transform a small space, or large for that matter, into the inspiration board of your dreams. Tim and I have the perfect cranny of a wall space leading into the kitchen which we revamped into a full size chalkboard. It's been a life-saving hub for our grocery lists, reminders, dates to remember, random musings, and love notes.

This was a great weekend project that took about 3 hours total with a 24 hour drying period. Follow the steps below to bring new life and functionality to a space in your own dwelling.

Materials:

• Chalkboard paint: local hardware or craft store
  
• Paint brush
• Paint roller
• Paint tray
• Painter's tape
• Newsprint or paint tarp
• Chalk
• Optional: damp rag, spackle, sandpaper
  

step 1: Clean wall with damp rag. Wipe or let dry completely. Fill in any holes or cracks with spackle and smooth rough spots along wall with sandpaper.

step 2: Apply painter's tape along edges of wall where you plan to paint in order to create border and protect neighboring walls.

step 3: Apply 2-3 generous coats chalkboard paint along edges of wall with paint brush. Allow each coat to completely dry before applying next coat (or follow drying instructions on paint canister).

step 4: Apply 2-3 generous coats chalkboard paint to body of wall with paint roller. Allow each coat to completely dry before applying next (or follow drying instructions on paint canister).

step 5: Wait 24 hours before writing on wall with chalk.

step 6: Enjoy your new-found organizational solution and design sense.