Daily Improvisations: Recent Episodes
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The Crocheted Outer Bag The pattern: The crochet pattern for this bag is from Willow Crochet. (not an affiliate as of this date) Though the crochet stitch itself is simple and repetitive, keeping track of where you are in the pattern can be a challenge. Or at least it was for me. Fortunately, I have […]
My background and experience on which I base my conclusions: I have always been intrigued that the first planting mentioned after Noah got off of the ark was a vineyard. The narrative suggests that Noah had brought either seeds or cuttings on the ark, because the planting was intentional. He began to be a farmer. […]
Thirteen years ago I went shopping for my first Netafim supplies. Yesterday I hooked up a section of Netafim that I created about eight years ago to attach to a hose. I have used this particular double-line unit nearly every year since and it worked great yesterday. (Those are some grapes I started from cuttings […]
In keeping with the pencil case theme for grandchildren this year, I am making kitty cases or pouches for the girls. So far they are a big hit. This pattern is for sale on Etsy as Tiger Zippy Critter by Stubbornly Crafty. I have no relationship with this creator other than having purchased the pattern. […]
The grafting of trees and roses on other root stock has long been frustrating to me. I know people think they have their reasons, but I tend to think God knew what he was doing with the original plants. In support of my position are the troubles with rootstock suckers, as well as winter die-back […]
Your seedlings will have three main stages that affect how you water them: Their watering needs will vary according to: There are some basics: Happy planting!
Make your pattern pieces or decide to measure directly as you cut You can make your chicken from any size square, but I found I liked the 4 inch square size the most. Because I was going to be making several of them, I cut some pattern pieces out of my roll of manila pattern […]
Almost one year ago today, I made my favorite and very successful seed starting soil for the first time. Not only was it a fraction of the cost of pre-mixed potting soil, it was at least as good as anything I have purchased in a bag. I actually like it better than anything I have […]
I have been working on perfecting my pancake recipe for my whole adult life. I’m not saying it’s perfect now, as I am constantly surprised by learning new things. However, I am extremely satisfied with this recipe. It combines several things I have learned. Things like: Here’s my sour dough discard pancake recipe: Pre-heat griddle. […]
To get the full pattern for this shark pencil case, you will need to go to the Studio 7t7 website and sign up for her email newsletter. It is free with signing up. I am not associated with her. I simply found the pattern when researching gifts to sew for my grandchildren this coming year. […]
It was my husband’s idea. I had never heard of anyone growing sweet potatoes in Idaho. To inspire me, he found videos about growing sweet potatoes for us to watch together in our home dinner theater (aka watching from the comfortable couches in the living room). The southern accents and plant life in the videos […]
Perhaps you have tried to harvest an onion that overwintered in your garden, but upon digging it up discovered it felt mushy. Your first instinct was probably to throw it away. Nobody wants to eat a mushy onion. But there might be another option. The onion might not be mushy because it is rotten. It […]
My sourdough starter was losing potency, even though the method I describe in Basic Sourdough Bread Making for Ordinary People Part One had worked for several years. Basic Sourdough Bread Making for Ordinary People Part One So I read up about bringing life to it in The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast. However, after […]
Usually my allergies are skin allergies. I get intense irritation from even the slightest rubbing of things like sunflower leaves. I have had extreme skin breakdown from tea tree oil. I am very careful about what I put on my skin. However, this year I discovered blooming kochia will give me a full-blown upper respiratory […]
What are flambo beans, anyway? I grew the flambo beans and pumpkin in my garden, but not this year. That […]
Why a backpack sprayer works best for an acre I have been spraying weeds for many, many years with my […]
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Who is getting married this time? I have only made one other wedding dress in my life and I worked […]
There is no mulch like the present – Laura Blodgett The art of using mulch in your garden or landscape […]
If you’re like me, right about now you are scrambling to plant all the things. Garden beds are not as […]
What volunteer seedlings teach about cool season planting One of the best ways to learn what you can plant BEFORE […]
I had three main considerations when designing my new garden beds: They needed to give me as much growing area […]
If you have ever been intrigued by hidden wall safes, such as can be hidden behind a portrait, you will […]
Are mushroom plants from another planet? Mushrooms have always seemed other-worldly to me. So it was with mixed feelings that […]
Here are my all-time favorite gardening books, in no particular order. I am going to put a brief description of […]
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Here are the sewing tools and supplies that I find myself using all the time and/or appreciating more and more. […]
Why use horse manure Sometimes your options are limited. Like when dealing with a very complicated, multi-step moving/building project. That […]
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guest post by Stephanie Shepler Harren Different Kinds of Soaps In general there are four different kinds of soaps that […]
The trouble with evaluating data Remember the phrase two wrongs don’t make a right? This holds true when try to […]
My husband grew up playing pinochle. He taught the kids from a young age, but I am not a game […]
I estimate it took me 6 hours to complete the child’s play cape. That includes creating durable, reusable pattern pieces […]
Scrounging for fence posts Today, we have once again confirmed that I do not think like an engineer. Thankfully, I […]
One big game of Rumor There is a lot of doomsday talk going around. Anxiety, worry, panic. Fear. It would […]
Call it gathering your thoughts or letting the dust settle, but everyone needs to regroup on a regular basis. Sometimes […]
Putting haircuts in perspective I have cut my husband’s hair for about 95% of his haircuts over the course of […]
The most expensive children’s book ever My husband started calling it the $1000 book. This is not because of material […]
Homesteading versus Subsistence Living What do you think qualifies a modern homestead? I think we all have ideas in our […]
Here are some misconceptions about sourdough starter: it needs to be refreshed every few days it dies if left untended […]
Seeds and plants are very forgiving. There is not a lot we have to understand in order to encourage them […]
This title sounds panicky, but it is really just to answer a direct question asked of me. Besides, isn’t it […]
Problem solving lighting for indoor seedlings All of my greenhouse shelves are already being used for garage and shed storage. […]
If you really want to be prepared for an increased level of self-sufficiency, you need to consider both open pollinated […]
What should you think about first if you want a garden full of fresh produce this summer, in spite of […]
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I have a 20something year old plumeria tree in my kitchen in southwest Idaho in the middle of winter. It […]
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Part of the agreement with getting me to move to a new homestead was that I could have a horse. […]
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How many fly traps or repellents have you tried? I have tried everything except the putrid ones. I can’t bring […]
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Mulch is like mayonnaise. How much you put on and how you spread it are important for a satisfactory result. […]
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If you had only known There is nothing quite as disheartening as watching transplanted seedlings die in your spring garden. […]
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It was supposed to be a fishing trip. But when we heard someone’s canoe had capsized just a bit down […]
Why Your Last Average Frost Date is Important If you live where it freezes anytime during the winter, you need […]
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It all started when we went to live in Taiwan for a while. Blogging as a internet phenomena was still […]
What is the best time of year to make sauerkraut? Technically, that depends on when you have fresh cabbage available. […]
Do you want a glimpse of the Starbucks Roastery in Milan? I am not gardening or sewing today because I […]
Where can you find the fabric store on Ambergris Cay? Look for an orange door, on Back Street (also called […]
Why I collected seeds off of my driveway I just collected Heavenly Blue Morning Glory (HBMG) seeds off of my […]
What makes a machine a robot? I’ve seen the movie I, Robot. I know what the future holds. But right […]
My husband introduced me to my first self-coiling hose Several years ago, my husband got me a self-coiling hose as […]
What should you be doing in the garden in autumn? Autumn or fall? Which word I choose depends on the […]
A simple classic bag to sew This is at least the second version of the Elva Bag that I have […]
Why aren’t there more pockets in the world? (if you want to skip to the video about sewing a perfect […]
Does that photo tell the whole story? Great photos of well tended gardens can sooth the soul or create despair. […]
Inside out ravioli? My husband really likes my homemade spaghetti. It is kind of ironic that I seem to make […]
What is a CAL? CAL stands for ‘crochet a-long’. The Alchemy sweater CAL was put on by lovecrochet.com and there […]
Fairly boring wild buckwheat When is bindweed not bindweed? When it’s wild buckwheat! When wild buckwheat is vining up through […]
How are rocks like musical instruments? Rocks are like musical instruments: They are just dead weight in the hands of […]
Do schedules wreak havoc on humanity? Apparently Aldous Huxley, author of A Brave New World, would be appalled by my […]
Problem solving my crochet pattern needs Sleeves are forever getting in my way. This is especially true when I am […]
The basics about growing tomatoes If you want actually get yummy red tomatoes to eat before winter, there are some […]
Why did I just plant 5 year old pea seeds? I just planted 5 year old pea seeds and I […]
Do you know how to read a seed package? How much difference can seed packaging make? In some ways it […]
How you can have a green thumb Having a green thumb is a combination of good plant care habits and […]
My husband accidentally took me to visit the Maui Quilt Shop this past week. After returning snorkeling gear, he decided […]
Why cardamom waffles? Have you ever had to scramble for your favorite waffle recipe the day before Christmas? Then wonder […]
The essentials of pantry organization A new, but smaller walk-in pantry is being built in my basement for me right […]
What are the mechanics of a garden? If you could do anything you wanted to do make your garden work […]
A good option for designing your own children’s patterns If you have ever wanted to design your own children’s clothing […]
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Chocolate or Coffee Shop? I am rarely frustrated while in a chocolate shop. But why was I waiting in line […]
What is a microclimate? If you want to utilize microclimates, you need to understand the variables they are defined by […]
This if off the beaten path for me, but I had a hard time figuring out how to do this […]
The Zen Sweater has several things going for it. I really appreciate the raglan style sleeves. They make fitting less […]
How are grape vines like banyan trees? Grapes are some of the most forgiving plants I know of. The downside […]
I have been gradually crocheting each of my children their own blanket. Possibly you may think I am a little […]
It seems like in the late summer to early autumn everything needs to be done in the garden. The weather […]
What are the real facts about bees dying? There has been a lot of concern about bees dying. Some bees […]
How to identify insect trouble The heat of summer seems to be prime time for insect populations to invade the […]