Stitches and Stories

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing....

2009-07-11T20:25:00.002-04:00

Remember when Coke was a Coke? I read an interesting article in Garden and Gun about Mexican Coke. And then I happened into my local Fresh Market and there was a Mexican Coke in the refrigerated section. I just had to try it. It is made with the original recipe of Coke with real sugar and not artificial sweetener. It was in a glass bottle with the old cap. I saved it until I got home, put it back in the refrigerator and got it nice and cold and then savored every minute of it.

All I can say is if you have the chance to try it, it is like reliving your childhood on a hot summer afternoon, It is kids running through sprinklers and hula hoops, using a cloths pin to attach a playing card to the spoke on your bicycle, climbing trees and going crabbing, good!

Don't you justlove the smell of summer?

2009-07-09T19:09:00.002-04:00

What does summer smell like?

Flowers, my favorites are petunias. They are such a happy flower.

Is it just me or do you not love the smell of tomato plants in the garden?! I'm not sure I'd want it as a perfume, but it is so nice on a warm evening when you walk through the garden and can smell them.

This little cucumber will smell wonderful once it has been harvested and sliced! Cucumbers in the store dream of smelling as fresh and wonderful as this little guy.

Sunshine itself! The smell of sheets or blankets dried on the line! Nothing can beat that at the end of the day!

Coming up....
Mexican Coke and FO's

Happy Knitting!

July 4th, Freedom

2009-07-04T16:21:00.002-04:00

Many others have commented on our freedoms today, and how thankful we should be, and they are right! We have a lot to be thankful for in this country and we have a lot of people to thank for it. The reason we have the freedom to celebrate today, in the fashion we choose, is because of our military. I know, we celebrate them on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but today is just as imporant to thank them for keeping us all safe and free. And it is easy I think to say thank you to a large group of people that you do not know, but most of us know someone in the military or someone who has served so take a moment to thank them personally.

If my dad were here, I'd give him a big hug and thank him too!

This picture was taken in 1967, in my grandmothers living room. This was taken when he came home on one of his leaves. He looks handsome in his navy uniform.

Wish you were here, dad.

Thank someone today for your freedoms and get out there and celebrate our countries birthday!

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-03T15:25:00.004-04:00

I hope everyone is planning a fun, safe holiday weekend! Our offices closed today and so we are enjoying the extra day. We ran to the store to stock up on items for grilling (as did everyone else) But it was okay. You just have to know when you go to the food store the day before a holiday, you won't be shopping alone, and will keep to take a long a bag of patience in one of your reusable shopping totes.

I bought some huge portabella mushrooms for grilled portabella "burgers" tomorrow. Yum! Can't wait.

There is so much going on here for the holiday that I think I will stay home the rest of the weekend. The interstate was so packed and backed up today, and we had thought about going to DC today, glad we changed our minds.

Starting last night there will be fireworks somewhere every night through Sunday. We could hear them last night from the local racetrack. Today, I know they are having them at Bush Gardens. Tomorrow of course, everyone is having them, just about.

I enjoy watching the fireworks, but I don't like the kind people use at home, and I really do not like sparklers. We had some when I was four and my dad handed it to me and I grabbed the wrong in and burned my hand, I was four, that is my defense.

Anyway, I was searching for some nice graphic or photo from my collection to include here today, but instead I found this gentleman (click on his name to visit his webpage)
David Utting and his paintings. I instantly fell in love with them! Please check out his webpage. I hope you like them as much as I do!

So in the spirit of the holiday I'm including the Star Spangled Banner below. . .

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:

'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,

Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key

Happy Birthday America!

New Twist on an Old Favorite

2009-06-28T12:44:00.002-04:00

Around here a big breakfast consists of potatoes, bacon, biscuits and eggs. Sometimes grits depending on who was cooking. It has been that way since childhood. As an adult I saved that sort of special feast for Sundays. Now as an adult who prefers to be a little more health conscious, I have a new twist on this meal, that is so yummy, I won't mind the substitutions at all and since it is only once a week it is even that much more healthy by adding in the moderation factor.

That is scrambled free range eggs, with fresh bell pepper, tomato, onion and smoked gouda cheese. Fried sweet potato using olive oil, smoked turkey bacon and 100% whole wheat bread lightly toasted with apple butter. I was experimented with the sweet potatoes and was surprised at how much I enjoyed them!

Two at a Time

2009-06-27T19:40:00.002-04:00

This has been such a busy week filled with all sorts of things. I am working on Christmas gifts this week because it will be here before you know it!

First, and you knew this was going to be here right? Socks!

Here's a close up.

These are so soft and yummy, the yarn is Cascade 100% Peruvian highland wool in Color Number 9404 (I think the ink is smugged) and Lot number 8768 it is a green/black blend.

They are being knit on size 4 circs. in men's size 10 with a ribbed cuff and stockinette stitch leg and foot.

Then is my first attempt at cables, I was so intimidated by them for so long they just "looked" difficult, well this is just a basic cable and so easy and fun I can't believe I haven't tried them before now! What was I thinking?! I have been missing out on all kinds of fun!

Naturally, that is a scarf, some people knit washcloths or other small items when trying a new pattern, I knit them into scarves.

I signed up for a summer reading club at the local library, anyone have any suggestions for summer reading fun? I tend to get into heavy historical types of books and while I enjoy them, they are not condusive to lighter possible fiction summer fun reading that I can read one a week. My favorite author doesn't have a new book out yet, so I am looking for new authors to try.

Happy Knitting and reading everyone!

Accessorizing

2009-06-24T19:31:00.002-04:00

I think it is important that your wardrobe and accessories coordinate, don't you?

Technical Difficulties

2009-06-23T21:23:00.001-04:00

Please be patient, we seem to be having technical difficulties here. For some reason I can not copy and past pictures into my blog today.

Please stay tuned we will have this resolved as soon as possible.

Continue knitting.

Letting the Days Go By...

2009-06-21T15:23:00.002-04:00

"Once in a lifetime" (Talking Heads 1984)

Ever been somewhere see something unexpected and simple and it reminds you of when you were a child? Yep, me too!
I was in the dollar store in the mall grabbing something to drink the other day when I saw something that suddenly reminded me of bright sunny summer days of childhood.

Does anyone else remember these?

How much did you enjoy those, with the Tang dripping down your arm!

Well these gentle reader are orange juice pops that have kept up with the times, because these yummy little treats are for adults only! YUMO!

So as I sit on my patio enjoying this tasty treat and the sun is hot and there are white billowy clouds. It could easily be a summer day from childhood with something containing orange juice dripping down my arm, "same as it ever was."

With a quick toast to David Byrne, Happy Knitting y'all.

Pedro Cottontail

2009-06-18T20:46:00.003-04:00

As you know I am working very hard to have some sort of success in the garden this year. We have cherry tomatoes, Better Boy Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, pole beans, bell peppers and hot peppers.
Recently, it has become apparent that the rabbits have figured out Lily's schedule and they know when the most fearsome rabbit chaser stays in and when she comes out, so they started eating my bell peppers. Wanting to keep these organic, I planted some hot peppers next to them because rabbits reportedly do not like hot peppers. Then I made a 30% solution of garlic, Texas Pete and water. I sprayed the bell peppers with it. The next morning I went out and the peppers had been eaten even worse! They chomped right on that garlic and hot sauce solution! The rabbits liked the hot sauce! So I relocated some of the peppers into a protected raised bed and put a fence around the others. They seem to be handling the move and even have tiny little peppers on them.

We have had a week of clouds and thunder but very little rain. It is in fact thundering right now with a tornado watch, but the isn't raining very much.

So I watered everything from the rain barrels tonight. I hope we get some rain to fill them up again.

2009-06-12T20:14:00.003-04:00

The garden is starting to take off, these were taken earlier this week.

We are starting to get cherry tomatoes and squash but so far nothing else is producing yet. But it is early yet. So I'm still hopefully.

Winged death! Yes, I found this in the kitchen I know he probably came in the back door and was making his way back the stash storage area,well I had other plans for him! Sorry the picture is so blurry.

In knitting news, I have started a new pair of socks, pictures tomorrow. These have a deadline so I had to set the ragland sweater down temporarily.

Getting It Done

2009-06-06T20:06:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I decided after the typical household creativeness (mopping the floors and folding the laundry, as it was clear no one else was going to do it) I decided some spinning was in order.
My blogless friend Anna, gave me some of her home grown roving. It is 30% Kid Mohair and 70% Romney. This stuff looks soft and fuzzy, but don't let it fool you, it is strong as iron!

Also, check out the link for Madsen bicycles to your right. They are awesome, especially for those of you in city or urban settings that have the ability to use a bike. These are great for a day of shopping at the market, everything will fit in the cargo box, no more wimpy baskets! You can even put small children in there!
Rosie says it is the perfect size for a bulldog who is too tired to walk!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Oh to Pass the Time on a Summers Day

2009-06-05T12:32:00.002-04:00

It is cloudy and sort of yukky here today, if you had the mind for a bright sunny summer today in which to welcome pirates with; but if you are sort of person who is into gray, and clouds and the kind of stillness all around that is brought about by weather that keeps everyone inside, it is then a perfect day.

Days like this my creative mind runs wild, all is quiet, I have the house to myself the possibilities are endless, I could paint that room I've been trying to paint for a month now. I could relax with some knitting or spinning. I could clean, oh hang on, lost control there for a minute. A good book is perfect for a day like today.

And then I read a book such as this: The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brockett

And it makes me want to bake lovely cakes like she, and learn to quilt and sew and knit something extrodinary.

I know this book as been out for a little while and there probably aren't many people left who haven't read it, but if you are one, please read it, it is simply wonderful!

You can find Ms. Brockett's blog here: Yarnstorm
It does leave me with one question though, why doesn't my laundry look that good when hanging out to dry?

Excuse I feel the need to go art up something around here and take a picture of it.

How I plan to apPLY myself

2009-06-04T09:27:00.002-04:00

Today is Thursday, normally an average day, one day closer to the weekend, on the downhill slide from Wednesday. But this Thursday is special, because I have it and Friday off! I self made four day weekend! The house is oddly quiet, dogs are sleeping, neighbors and hubby at work. The possibilities are endless, I can do whatever I want today and not disturb anyone or create too much noise. What shall I do?

I will play with the spinning wheel. She is sitting there in the corner waiting patiently having spun all the yarn I gave her last week. Today I think she and I will ply some of that yarn.

A fun filled day with the spinning wheel!

Feeling Sheepish

2009-05-31T17:51:00.002-04:00

You just never know where something knitting or fiber related may turn up in your day. I know sometimes it is a stretch but still there is a connection. . .

Sales

2009-05-24T08:49:00.002-04:00

Not to take anything away from any holiday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, etc. And among the ceremonies, parades, cookouts and other celebration to pay respect for those for which the holiday is created (and rightly so) are sales!

Now, I am not normally one for going to big sale events in honor of a particular holiday, two reasons, I think the holiday should not be reduced to a mere commercial event, and second, I hate crowds and pushy sales people.

But this holiday is a little different. This past Thursday a co-workers son who spent 15 months in Iraq with a 15 man engineer unit embedded with an Iraq police unit, came to share his experiences with us. He had some very interesting pictures and even more interesting stories to share. He was only there 15 months but they were able to accomplish so much, he also received three purple hearts and one bronze star for actions during those fifteen months, because while he was an engineer and his job was to build schools and new infrastructure for the Iraqis with the Iraqis, he was also the gunner on their Humvee.
It was a fascinating reminder of the work our military is doing around the world and the sacrifices they and their families are making.

So please take a moment to remember them before you rush out to that big sale this weekend.

So with that being said, I paid my respect to this soldier and his wife after the presentation on Thursday.

And Saturday, I went to a Memorial Day Sale at Knitting Sisters and purchased these:

Close up of yummy sock yarn:

Enjoy the holiday and please remember it's true meaning.

A Good Day for.....

2009-05-17T11:58:00.002-04:00

Today is such a stark contrast from yesterday. Saturday started with light rain, but soon turned sunny and warm, dare I say hot. Skies were blue and bright, birds were chirping.
And today we have this:

And it has been like this since about 9 o'clock this morning, nonstop. My veggies are all on the ground, the patio is flooded, and it is only 59F. It is a good day for this:

Or even some knitting, spinning, painting, laundry. Well lets not get carried away. I mean who could work on a day like this, these days are meant for:

Clearly Miss Tiger Rose has the right idea, relax. But maybe I'll do some knitting or spinning.

Make the most of your day, whatever kind of weather your having!

3rd Annual Spin-In

2009-05-16T20:21:00.005-04:00

Today I went to the 3rd annual spin-in sponsored by Colonial Fiber Arts it was at the Riverwalk in Yorktown. We had this nice little courtyard with tents set up at first to protect us from the light rain in the morning and the sun in the afternoon. There were wheels of all types, and some very very talented spinners. Kromski was well represented with a Minstrel and a Mazurka. There was my Ashford Kiwi and a Traditional, a Frick and a couple of others I didn't identify. There was even an Indian Charka wheel. And a few drop spindles.

I only had a minor mishap getting started as usual, I went to lift the wheel off my little hand truck and knocked the bobbin shaft and all off. Then I put it back together I didn't have the whorl on all the way and didn't realize it and with the first push on the treadle, the wheel basically exploded, whorl, bobbin, tension went flying. Needless to say, the desire for a huge wave to come from the river and drag me out was overwhelming. I hadn't met any of the other spinners before, they clearly were much more experienced than I as not one of them had a wheel in five pieces on the ground.
But somehow I managed to pull myself from the depths of embarrassment and get it going again. After a while I did manage to spin something that didn't look like rope and even kept my wheel from exploding. Some of the other spinners wondered over to chat. I began to feel a little better, very nice lady, Cathy, has a beautiful Kromiski Mazurka that has a blue stain finish on it, and it is gorgeous!

Let me tell you there are some very talented people there and I felt so inspired when I left. I learned quite a bit today from those other ladies and made some new friends.

We all received a swag bag with 1 ounce treasures inside:

One of the fun things at the Spin-In, is that there is a fiber challenge, each person who wants to participate receives 2 ounces of washed, dyed and uncarded wool to do with what we will. The entries will be judged the entire month of June and winners announced on July 4th.

I also bought myself a new pretty little drop spindle:

We all had a wonderful time, and I learned so much and was so inspired by those talented ladies, I am going to sign off here and go get back on my wheel!

The Garden

2009-05-14T22:51:00.003-04:00

We are still working on getting the garden started this year. We are in a mad dash because we are starting to get behind the curve. Last weekend we built another garden box with a trellis.
The trellis will act as a frame in the winter, which we will cover with heavy plastic to convert to a mini green house. But this summer it will be home to pole beans, peas and zucchini.

These should be happy dinner companions with the tomatoes, squash and bell peppers already taking up residence in the other two garden boxes.

Now the shade garden is a different matter all together. They are already going rogue over there under the oak tree at the end of the patio. They are having a huge party all week long to welcome the new hosta that relocated from next door. The zinnias with their colorful party hats are keeping the party going. The garden gnomes are trying to keep order but the petunias are running around getting into everything. I think I heard them singing this morning when I let the dogs out, it sounded something like:
“Shade Gard-en part-y part-y”
“Shade Gard-en part-y part-y”
And I think the petunias broke into a chorus of scat. “scoobie de doop. Scoobie de doop part-y part-y”

I don’t think we are going to be able to rent out the frog house until things calm down in there.

The Knitting Basket

I left the house today without knitting today on purpose! I feel like I left a part of me at home. It is like those terrible dreams where you’re standing in front of a large group of people and realize you’re not wearing pants, that is what it feels like to leave all you’re knitting at home.

But I didn’t carpool this morning so I did not arrive to work early, so no knitting time this morning. At lunch I plan to get my hair cut, no knitting time there, and after work there is a work related function, that includes a tour of a new sports complex and a BBQ so no knitting can be done there. Then it is straight home, where my knitting waits for me.

The knitting in question is the sweater that has been ripped to within an inch of its nonconforming life, and reincarnated into an EZ raglan sweater. Thankfully the yarn is very forgiving. And then there is the ever present sock project; which I cannot go into detail just yet. Suffice it to say it is a gift.

Both are at home at this very moment plotting their revenge, I just know it. They are unknitting themselves into some sort of dropped stitch fiasco that they will hide from me until I am nearly finished with them and they will stick that little dropped stitch out like a tongue and taunt me.
All of this is happening at the same time I am running the risk of a bulldog or basset hound becoming curious and sniffing out the wool fumes and drooling all over the knitting basket and its glorious contents.

If I could only teach them to knit instead of sit up and beg...
oh well.

Happy Knitting!

Spring/Summer Rain and Contest

2009-05-10T19:32:00.003-04:00

Hi,
I want to tell everyone that Knittinggin is having a contest for a beautiful bracelet she made, plus you have to see the necklaces she has made as well, totally awesome! Go here: Knittinggin

Don't you just love how "green" everything is after a rain in the summer time? We had rain in one form or another everyday last week, some days it was serious storms others just a nice shower. Thursday was a nice shower near the end of the work day, so I snapped this picture while waiting for my carpool ride.

Everything is wet, green and in some cases muddy.

This little bowl of mud is actually brownie batter waiting to be baked into a nice yummy treat.

The weekend has been gorgeous and much gardening has been done. I'll post pictures tomorrow of the new garden trellis we built for the beans to run along. I think it is a pretty good job, and it is designed so that in the winter, we can put heavy plastic over it to extend the growing season.

For everyone celebrating this weekend, Happy Mother's Day!

Molly, CGC, TDI 1996-2009

2009-05-08T20:36:00.001-04:00

Our Molly left us today after a battle with Lymphoma. She was thirteen years young. We rescued Molly from the local SPCA shelter, she was turned in because she would get car sickness, she was only about six months old. I imagine, they hadn’t worked with her to help her get over her fear of riding in cars. She did eventually learn to enjoy car rides and has traveled with us to visit family in Tennessee an eight hour ride with no problems.

She was a playmate and later nurse for our German Shepherd Dog, Shelby, who had epilepsy. Molly would alert us to Shelby if she was having a seizure then stay with her laying nose to nose until Shelby had returned to normal.
Molly has guarded our house and been a wonderful walking partner, she never enjoyed playing ball or anything with rolling or flying objects, I attribute that to one of the mysteries of her past life, but she loved to play tag. She would run and run chasing one of the other dogs. She was intrigued by sheep.

She had mothered Rosie our bulldog, trying to clean her wrinkles and ears.

She has been a constant clown for us, making us laugh. She was such a free spirit, she was nine when she obtained her Canine Good Citizen and her Thearapy Dog certification.
Among her training accomplishments, she won a contest for a 10 minute down stay!

She brought joy to many at the nursing home she visited, her soft fluffy Golden Retriever/Chow coat, was stroked and petted by many, some who didn’t desire interaction with anyone, but would sit and pet Molly. She was happy to have her head stroke and ears rubbed and would nearly fall asleep in the sheer enjoyment of it all.

One of the things I will miss the most is her excited bark when we arrive home it starts as soon as our feet hit the steps and doesn’t stop until the door opens. Then she runs to get one of her chew toys and bring it to us as a welcome home gift, before running out to the backyard for play time.

Molly you will be missed.

Spring Flowers

2009-05-06T21:12:00.002-04:00

Croc Puppies

2009-05-02T19:02:00.002-04:00

I found a real bargain today, while out on a yarn/craft crawl.

Only $10! I think Lily makes a wonderful shoe model don't you?

We had lots of fun today, bought sock yarn, cotton yarn, yarn for shawls and lap blankets. Books for knitting sweaters and more.

I'll post pictures of all the other fun stuff a little later.

Earlier today we planted some flowers in the front yard and I noticed our Mr. & Mrs. Hawk are back this year, and they have a young one. He was trying out his new wings today. I didn't have my camera handy but it was fascinating to watch him flap around a bit and then glide, squawking the whole time.

Now we are having a thunderstorm, the sky is so dark and it makes the trees look that much greener, I love it when it is like this. We were coming back across the water today and could see the storm coming down the bay, it wasn't close enough to rain yet and I love to watch the storms roll in. It sounds like cannon fire out there.

I have to go comfort Molly she hates thunder.

Happy Knitting.

This Doesn't Even Make Sense

2009-05-02T06:37:00.002-04:00

...because I am so tired that I don't think stringing a sentence together is my strong suit at the moment. I've been up since 5am, on a Saturday morning. I was supposed to get up at 5am to check the weather and make a final decision as to whether or not we were going to drive the four hours to the Maryland Sheep and Wool. It is supposed to be rainy there all day and we were trying to decide if we wanted to make the drive to slog around in the rain; knowing of course that here at home it is not raining and we have ten pots of flowers and seven tomato plants that need planting. Mulch to spread and a variety of other gardening projects, that I will not bore you with. But clearly I am not in the car headed to Maryland, because, the hour by hour says it will rain starting at 11am just about the time I would get there and rain the rest of the day.
Also, another reason I am up at 5am is that Rosie had what refer as an "ear spasm" Rosie has bad ears, they are wet ears and a constant problem for her. We have medicated wipes, ointments and flushes, but even with all of that she has these spasms where her ears start to run and she gets all uncomfortable and starts shaking her head and rubbing her head on whatever she can. So up I am with medicines, ointments and washclothes to try and stem the tide in her ear. The bad part is that this causes her to start breathing very heavy and we aren't supposed to let that happen because of the whole larynx thing. So we are trying relieve her discomfort and calm her down at the same time. All of this commotion wakes up Molly and Lily who now have to go outside.
So what happened? Well, Rosie finally calmed down and went back to sleep, allowing the medicine a chance to work. Hubby and Molly are sound asleep, Lily is asleep in the chair next to me snoring and dreaming about something that is make her growl in her sleep.
And me, I'm here, lamenting the fact that I am not on the road to Maryland, that I am missing a great time even if it is raining. And hating my garden chores, house chores that will get done today instead.

I thought of having my own fiberfest by working on this sweater but it is giving me a fit. I don't like the way the pattern is written I find it very confusing and not making sense to me I have read it and re-read it so many times I've lost count but I still don't understand why it wants me to join up at this point when the two sides being joined do not have the same number of stitches, so one is shorter than the other. I can't figure out that I have made an error, I have followed the instructions to this point to the letter.
well it is too early in the morning to fight with the sweater.
I need coffee, lots of coffee. Oh look the sun is up, Hello sun. Want some coffee, you know it is too early for either of use to be up on a Saturday.

Well, I'm burning daylight.

DIY Rain Barrels

2009-04-26T07:20:00.004-04:00

Well our spring has sprung and summer is here, it is 90 degrees this weekend and the ten day forcast doesn't have anything lower than the 80s here next week. Which is pretty typical, we don't have long springs here normally, we go right from cold to hot.
So this being our first warm weekend, we couldn't pass up the oppoturnity to things ready for this season. So after two trips to the hardware/garden center store, we built two new garden boxes in the back yard for square foot gardening. (we plan to build two more), hand tilled the area and added some rich top soil. We planted two trees, cut the front and back lawns and built to rain barrels.

We are very fortunate here to have a store that sells 55 gallon olive barrels. They are made of a very hard durable plastic and have two piece tops which are perfect for converting two rain barrels.

We bought four, and got the supplies for the spouts at the hardware store plus a roll of screen. And in about 20 minutes we have two wonderful rain barrels for less than $28.

Next, we will get our veggie plants in the ground and have our garden started.

Stay tuned....