Choosing a shade tree is a big decision. I had to consider, climate, size when full grown, leaf size, does it produce too much trash, bug resistance etc.


For example, I loved the shade my cottonwoods gave, but they dropped cottony seeds and sticky sap in the spring, twigs, piles of big leaves that had to be shredded before they could be mulched and limbs that broke off easily. Once topped, they rotted down the center.

After researching and asking experts for advice, I chose an autumn purple ash that is supposed to adapt to most soils including clay, is easy to grow, drought tolerant, diseases are not usually serious enough to kill them, long lasting fall colors, medium-sized leaves, grows to 70 feet tall, and is a relatively fast grower, up to two feet a year. It is exclusively male so it is seedless and is hardy to zone 3. Deer do not particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone. The canopy is relatively dense and medium in texture, and the leaves drop nearly all at once; perfect for one fall cleanup. They require little pruning to develop well. The biggest threat are ash borers.

After having two holed dug, I had Skyview Nursery deliver and plant two of them. Time will tell if I made the best decision . . .

Shade in the making.

Weeds, Weeds & More Weeds



Can you say, "Weeds!"

 To the east of my house between the curb and the street was a large patch of weeds. Spraying with weed killer just seemed to make them healthier. For several years, I had asked several contractors for bids to replace the dirt with gravel to help keep the weeds from taking over, but none ever got around to making bids. When the man came to grind out the tree stumps, I ask him if he knew of someone who could bring in gravel, and he said he could do it.

I had the weeds sprayed again! He excavated about 4 inches of dirt and weeds and replaced most of it with road base then topped it off with a couple of inches of pea gravel. What a difference! I will still have to spray it in spots from time to time, but I can at least stay on top of them.


Nice and clean with gravel!



Naked Victorian



Ouch. I'm naked.


With the cotton wood trees gone, my old Victorian house looks naked. The stumps will be gone next week along with the Charley Brown pine tree that never grew much because it had been planted in their shade and it was a rutting tree for mule deer. In the fall during the rut or breeding season, bucks assert themselves by backing at a tree and rubbing the velvet from their antlers. This activity can be territorial, and bucks return to a tree they like. My little pine didn’t stand a chance!

I have chosen two new shade trees that I plan to have planted when the stumps are gone and holes take their place. Choosing shade trees was more of a challenge that I first thought it would be, but they will not be cotton woods or Siberian elms!

Charley Brown's tree.

January 2012 - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This year started out good with a mild winter, yet occasional snow for moisture, but it turned bad when I found my two 100-year old cottonwood trees in the front yard had to go.

82-year old Floyd, using a chain saw with one hand.

Alas, I called in Floyd Bishop, a tree expert to diagnose them and after inspecting them, he advised me to have them cut down. Lightening had hit the one on the west sometime in the past. It had rotted down the middle to the ground. When we kicked the trunk it sounded hollow. I hoped to save the one on the east, but it had a crack from the crotch to the ground. One strong wind could have toppled half of it onto my house.

I grieved and grieved to lose them and the old rope swing that hung from a lower branch and that my grandchildren loved. With those trees gone, I knew my front yard would be bare and ugly.

Floyd Bishop is an amazing tree topper, felling trees since he in his thirties. He is 82 years old, has one hand missing (he lost it in a farm accident as a young man) and can out work most people half his age. On other’s recommendations, I hired him. WOW!!!



Fell right on the mark!

In a couple of weeks the trees were gone. Floyd waited until I was at home so I could watch the biggest one fall. He closed the street in front of my house and started to cut through the trunk. He had previously removed many of the limbs. After he hollered a warning, the tree fell exactly where he said it would. It was over 100 feet tall, and the trunk was about 6.5 feet across. 



Notice the rot in in the center of the trunk.

 

August's Table, Summer Beaches and Fun



Seashells and dragon flies, two of nature's wonders!


With summer winding down, I decided to celebrate water fun with its beaches, seashells and sand. I made a table runner in earth tones that pick up the colors in seashells and salt grass. I fringed the edges of the table runner, napkins and the bread-warmer cloth. I found a set of three glass candle holders at Bed Bath & Beyond that included sand and seashells. I scattered a few larger seashells around the centerpieces. They are fond reminders of beaches I have visited in my lifetime, from Hawaii to the Atlantic Ocean. I chose earth brown chargers and my versatile clear dishes. The many dragon flies in my yard called for dragon fly napkin rings to complete the decor. This table setting was a fun way to bring the out-of-doors inside!  

May's Table - April's Snow Brings May Flowers

Royal purple with daffodils - almost spring!

I wonder if winter in Manti will ever end this year. At least the daffodils and tulips bloomed in profusion. I decided to dress up May table with purple, lavender and silver, and the bouquet of daffodils and purple tulips made a perfect centerpiece. I bought purple glass candle holders at Bed Bath & Beyond, a silver-colored pot and the light purple nakpins at a thrift store, made the purple table runner and a bread basket napkin. I had previously bought the purple tassels in the Los Angeles shopping district. When the tulips and daffodils fade, I hope to have irises and lilacs in bloom for the center piece and maybe some Iceland poppies.

Small Things That Make Me Smile.

Aren't I Pretty?

There are things in life that just make me smile every time I see them. For example: my grandchildren, the bubble nightlight at the top of my stairs, butterflies flitting around my flowers, deer sneaking through my yard, sleeping babies and my African violet. I bought the small African violet at a hardware store, took it home, watered and feed it. Nothing! For several years it did not put out a single blossom, but the leaves got big. When my other African violet died I took the newer one downstairs and put it in its place. At first it wilted and looked like it was going to die. Then “Viola,” it blossomed and has not stopped since, blooming almost continually. It is also a sporting African violet that has gives me different looking blossoms each time. I especially like the self-watering pot that makes tending it so easy. I love that flower!

I think May's table setting will be inspired by this flower, lavender, purple, green and accents of silver.

April's Easter Table - Where is the Lamb?



Where is the Lamb?



April is here with some beautiful sunshine after a long, cold winter. I started April’s table with some Easter eggs from Tuesday Morning and candle ring and candles from Tai Pan Imports. I looked for a matching fabric to sew a table runner and finally found one I liked at Joann’s Fabrics. The bad news was it was an expensive Ralph Lauren fabric, but I had a 50% off coupon that made it good news. I sewed the table runner and fringed the ends then used two scraps left over to trim a matching napkin for the bread warmer.

This month I used a pale yellow table cloth and my versatile Arcoroc tableware with chocolate-colored chargers.  I had some clear turquoise-colored napkin rings and pale yellow napkins. I put the eggs in a pedestal fruit bowl with some raffia and placed a stuffed Easter bunny on the top. When I looked at the display, something was missing. Easter is a holiday to celebrate the most important event in the world, the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and there was nothing on the table to indicate the reason why I celebrate Easter. I decided to replace the Easter bunny with a lamb. After all, Jesus Christ was referred to as a lamb 27 times in the Book of Revelations by Saint John and not once as God’s little bunny! With that in mind, I went out shopping and could only find chicks, dogs, cats, pigs, horses and cow toys, but no lamb. Before the month is over, I hope to find the perfect lamb for my centerpiece.

I visited my children in San Diego and while there mentioned my quest for the perfect lamb. My granddaughter happily gave me one of her stuffed toys. Her unconditional love and generosity makes this the “perfect lamb.” Besides it is very white and cute!

The perfect Lamb.

Green, Green, Green for March

Green for Spring

In honor of my few Irish ancestors and St. Patrick’s Day, I chose greens as the theme for March’s table setting. All the St. Patrick Day decorations I saw were glittery and cheap looking, so I made these center decorations of lemons and greenery from a garland I purchased at Michaels.  I bought three different shades of green candles from Tai Pan Trading. For the middle candle I took a copper pot decorating a window sill in the kitchen, placed a glass candle holder in the opening and sat the candle on it so it would be higher than the other two candles. I put foil-covered chocolate coins around the base of the candle in the holder and scattered a few around the base of the pot on the table and added a leprechaun. The brown chargers pick up the color of stems in the candle greenery. I selected green napkins with a leaf pattern and green napkin rings. I sewed a green table runner and trimmed the ends with dangling gold coins to add to the "pot of gold" Theme.

One of my favorite table accessories is a basket with a cloth napkin and a pocket that holds a flat terra cotta stone. The stone is heated in a microwave or the oven and placed in the napkin pocket and it keeps rolls, bread or tortillas warm throughout the meal. I made a matching green napkin for the basket. I found several styles of these baskets on line. I bought my Keilen bread warmer and basket from Amazon.com and another one at T.J. Maxx.

Green, green, green is for spring.

February - Love, Hearts and Valentine

Valentine red, hearts and flowers.

I chose the traditional Valentine theme for February’s table setting. I purchased tulips, red, pink and pale pink roses with an accent of flowering grasses at Michael’s, placed them in a vase with red glass hearts and clear crystal marbles. Heart-shaped candles sit on clear glass holders with a floral heart ring circling the bottom. I used cherry red chargers, red linen napkins, silver and red napkin holders and clear plates, glasses and dishes. Each place setting has a miniature shakers filled with natural salt and fresh ground pepper. As I have mentioned before, I love rich red and silver together.

January's Blue - The Color of Winter





Blues, silver and white add shivery elegance.

Now that Mother Nature has Manti grasped in her frozen fingers, I chose blue as the main color for January’s table setting since that cool color reflects the chilly hues of winter.

On New Year’s Day at about 7:00 AM, I found myself gazing out at a beautiful sunrise bursting forth in all directions with light blues and pinks above a glittery snow-covered landscape and knew blue was the right choice.

The centerpiece is a large brandy snifter filled with several sizes of silver and blue glass bulbs and topped with a silver glittering butterfly. On either side, a blue glass holder flickers with a tea candle. Crystal reminds me of winter’s ice so I chose cut crystal stemware and napkin rings that look like they are made from ice chips and circle dark blue linen napkins. Blue and white English china sit on silver chargers. Serving dishes and bowls are crystal clear or deep blue. I particularly enjoy the crystal gravy bowl and ladle I bought at Linen 'n Things. As the winter sunshine streams in on this table setting placed on a stark white table cloth the decor looks shivery but elegant.

December - A Holiday Setting

Red and silver, one of my favorite combinations.

I wanted to have some added fun when I cook dinner each weekend for friends. I bought some dishes from a friend and decided to be creative in setting a theme for each month. I love chargers because they add such a wonderful touch, especially with this clear and etched glass dinnerware. Here is December's table. I found the angel in the centerpiece and the red napkins at Tuesday Morning. The silver napkin rings are from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Chargers are my friend

November - Thanksgiving Already?

I struggle with my Thanksgiving table setting. I am still looking for a centerpiece I like. The one I purchased is too big and dwarfs the table setting. Hopefully I can find one I am grateful for before November is over.

October's Halloween Funtastic

Halloween is a holiday I have always found to be entertaining and fun. I spent weekends for the last couple of months working on a project making Grim Grinning Ghosts busts for my son who decorates his yard in Southern California with fantastic props that pop up, fly through the air, glow eerily in the windows or stands around adding to the spirit of Halloween. Here is the link to my other blog describing my project to help make his yard a real treat for trick or treaters. http://halloweengrimgrinningghosts.blogspot.com/






Not too spooky to make guests lose their appetites.

 

Fall came too quickly this year. Here is October’s table setting to help set the mood for the holiday. While at Michael’s I found this Halloween centerpiece on sale. The price was right, and I like the color combination of purple, orange tones and black. I added a couple of orange butterflies I had bought several months previously. I purchased two spider-shaped candle holders from Michael’s, purple napkins, black with silver trimmed napkin holders from Bed Bath and Beyond, black chargers and orange candles from Tai Pan Trading. I made a purple table runner and bread basket liner. I found the purple and black tassel for the table runner in the shopping district in Los Angeles. I previously purchased over 100 pieces of Arcoroc dinnerware from a friend. The clear glass with an etched wheat pattern is easy to decorate around, and the numerous pieces add a variety of possibilities.





September's Table - Sunflowers Inspire Me

Silver and blue,
elegant and calming

When I was driving to work one day, I was inspired to decorate August/September’s table with sunflowers. It had been a wet spring and summer and sunflowers grew profusely along the road in full bloom. I took my blue and white English china off the shelf, bought some sunflowers, other flowers, some silk butterflies and blue candle holders. Since most retail stores have limited colors for home decor, I bought the dark, blue napkins at a thrift store. Bed Bath & Beyond is a great place to find napking holders. This cheerful table setting makes me smile.

Butterflies and sunflowers brings cheer to the table

Where Have All The Flowers Gone? Frozen!

Another cold winter has grasp Manti in its frozen finger (-29 degrees already), but I never feared, because I had insulated my attic with battings of 30R insulation. What a difference that made from previous winters. The bats of insulation were on sale so a grabbed or rather hefted 10 rolls home. My two dear friends volunteered to help me install it. After climbing through the small access opening in the ceiling and looking around, I almost hollered "uncle!" What a mess. There was old batting under blown-in insulation that was heaped around where workers had pushed it aside to install lights, heating etc, leaving bare spots and bits of trash discarded everywhere. I had to bend over to work and crawl through a small opening to get from one section to another. My friend cheered me on, and we got started. I cleaned up much of the mess and handed down a box of trash. My younger friend (in her 70s) cut the batting as I yelled down the measurements. Her sister (about 80) stood half way up the 10-foot ladder and handed insulation up to me through the small access hole (she insisted and there was no talking her out of it). To our suprise, it only took 3 hours to finish the job.
I have a new appreciation for anyone who installs that itchy stuff for a living.... .

Year 2008 Winds Down

Time kept ticking away and so many small projects were unfinished on the entry doors to the house. I think the projects were neglected because I thought it would take more time than it did to complete them so I procrastinated a little.

As fall 2008 came to an end, I finally finished this much-needed work on the outside of my house. I thank God for giving me warm weather that lasted until the week after Thanksgiving. I also thank two of my friends for their help to get these projects finished before the snow began to fly. We scraped, sanded and painted the outsides of all the entry doors and door frames. I painted the bead-board ceilings of all three porches and the master-room balcony. I sanded and painted the other screen doors and had the screens replaced. I also replaced two transom screens and some doorway trim. I used metal screen in the south porch and balcony door to keep the integrity of the house. Since the climate in Manti is so dry, I do not have to worry about the metal insect screen rusting.

What I difference new screens, new screen moldings, cleaned hardware and fresh paint made. Instead of the entry ways that were worn and shabby, they now look fresh and inviting.

Something is Rotten in the Town of Manti

This is not a phrase describing the political hierarchy of Manti, but a sad statement about the state of my west porch that was being consumed by DRY ROT!

Dry rot is the weakening of wood by one of several species of fungus. The fungus digests the parts of the wood that give it strength and stiffness. The weakened wood is somewhat dry, hence the name “dry rot.” Dry rot usually results from too much moisture in contact with wood.

The dry rot on the trim and posts on the west porch of my house was depressing. Rain had run off the roof and rotted the trim. It had splashed on the floor of the porch and had started rotting the bottoms of the posts. Some of the turned posts were missing and the porch rails were in bad shape and coming apart. What an eyesore! I had to do something soon to prevent further damage.

I rolled up my sleeves, took out my checkbook and got started. I bought new trim at Crossroad Mills. I hired Tom’s Woodturning to turn me 24 new posts. Tom had previously turned some Newell posts for this porch, and I had bought hand railings when I repaired the front porch. Dave, my favorite handyman came over, bringing his tall ladder to start the repair job. He replaced and painted the trim then started on the porch.

When I returned from a trip to San Diego a week later, I drove in the driveway and was excited to see the porch posts were repaired or replaced and painted. What a difference! Of course Dave’s work made the rest of the porch look shabbier. I pulled out my 8-foot ladder, a bucket of oil-base primer, bought some Dutch Boy Extreme Adhesion paint and went to work. I filled in dings, sanded and painted the outside door casing, the porch ceiling and window casing. I removed the screen door to have its screen replaced. If I had known how cheap and easy that was, I would have done it sooner. I repaired, sanded and painted the door before I rehung it. I also took down an ugly shelf that was a junk collector, wondering why I had not removed it sooner.

I am planning to have raingutter hung to prevent this dry rot problem in the future.

What is that smell?

Recently a visitor asked me, “What’s that smell?” This question could be bad or good, depending on the odor. The ambiance of a home not only comes from décor and tidiness, but can also be enhanced by a pleasant smell. I had transplanted some herbs from my garden to indoor pots before the first frost of the season. I placed the potted herbs in rooms throughout my home. The smell my visitor was enjoying was cinnamon basil.

I use several other methods to bring pleasant smells into my home. When the weather turns cold, I place an old teapot filled with water and a few cinnamon sticks, mint leaves, sprigs of lavender or drops of essential oils on my wood-burning stove. This not only adds humidity to the air, the faint odor of cinnamon or other herbs waft through the rooms. At Christmas time, I place pine oil in water in the teapot to add to the season spirit. I have scented candles placed throughout the house and sometimes use an essential oil diffuser.

Home cooking adds warmth and pleasant odors to the home. There is nothing like the smell of a pot of spicy soup or baking bread. Yum! Unlike the original owners of this house, I am fortunate to bake bread in a gas oven rather than a wood stove.

Here is my favorite dinner roll recipe.

REFRIGERATOR POTATO DINNER ROLLS
(dough can be stored in refrigerator for about a week)

1 cup milk, scalded (or warm powdered milk)
1 cup hot mashed potatoes (I mix up some instant potatoes)
½ cup oil or shortening
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tablespoon granular yeast
½ cup lukewarm water
2 beaten eggs
5 to 6 cups flour

Combine milk, potatoes, shortening, sugar, and salt in large mixing bowl; let stand until lukewarm. Add yeast softened in the ½ cup water and eggs. Add 1½ cups flour and beat well. Cover and let stand in warm place for 1 hour or until full of bubbles. Stir in 3½ to 4½ cups flour to make a fairly stiff dough. Knead until smooth on a lightly floured surface (I use my KitchenAid bread mixer with a dough hook). Return to greased mixing bowl; oil top of dough; cover and chill in refrigerator (or you can let it rise immediately until double in bulk, shape into rolls and let it raise again [about 30 minutes] and bake­). If you store it in the refrigerator, about 1½ hours before serving time shape desired number of rolls; place on greased pans; let rise 1 to 1¼ hours or until doubled in bulk. Bake in hot oven (425°) about 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly brown on top.
Punch down unused dough and store in refrigerator. Makes 3 dozen medium-sized rolls. Also great for making cinnamon rolls.

Cutting Cinnamon Rolls Easily















See my helpful hints on baking bread under Helpful Hints and Tips on the right side of this blog.­

A Tisket, a Tasket, I’m in Love with Baskets . . .

Baskets are my friends. Baskets can help organize and clear clutter in every room in your home and create the appearance of tidiness while adding interest to your decor. They come in all shapes, colors, sizes and materials. In my old house, things related are sorted and placed into baskets on shelves in the laundry room, closets and cabinets. A decorative basket filled with incoming mail is better than a pile of papers sitting on the counter. A small basket in the bathroom filled with sample-size shampoos, conditioner and lotions is great for guest's convienence. A basket in the bathroom filled with magazines and reading material helps contain clutter. I used lots of small plastic baskets in the bathroom cabinet by the sink for out-of-sight storage. Plastic is good for things that leak or spill or need to be washed from time to time. All toothpaste, dental floss and extra tooth brushes are in a small basket, hair items in another, makeup in another and so on. I rolled towels and wash clothes in a square wicker basket with brass-colored handles in the guest bath by the sink for decoration and easy access. Since I have the habit of kicking off my shoes when I enter the house, I have shallow square baskets near the outside doors just for shoes. They also help coral guest's shoes. I never use baskets that are too large or deep where items are hard to see and can get lost.

Plastic boxes, decorative boxes and plastic drawer units also come in handy. I bought a plastic drawer unit with wheels and used it for my sewing items, placed my portable sewing machine on top and rolled it into a closet out of sight.

Manti is located in a somewhat remote area so I often buy in bulk. In my basement where my extra food and supplies are kept, I sorted everything the same way a grocery store is organized, sauces together, soups, fruit, dry goods, spices, packaged food, soap and paper towels all in their own areas on the shelving units. Many smaller items like spice-mix packages are stored in plastic containers with lids or flat baskets. When I go down to find an ingredient for a recipe, it is like grocery shopping.

DEUTERONOMY
CHAPTER 28 Verse 5
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.