Every last inch...

Spring in almost done springing here in the Cleve. I decided to do a quick overview of the stuffs I've got growing. I rent a duplex and have free reign of the yard and back deck. I also have a community garden plot across the street from my house at the Edgewater Hill Victory Garden.

I just got done adding all of my new snapshots to flickr. Wow - yay bigger pictures! So glad, the flickr peeps finally did a redesign. Click on any of the photos to gawk at more on flickr.

I'll go into the backstory soon, but I'll show, not tell, for this round. In a nutshell, I'm trying to use every last inch of my small urban space to grow something beautiful or edible.

So let the tour begin...

The Friendly Front

The Back Deck

The Plant Room

Sunflower Garden

Gnome Stump

Side Patch

Asian Herb Garden

Der Garten Blondkopfchen

(Community Garden Share)

Mudroom to Plantroom

For the last three years the run down mudroom at the back of my house has been a junk collection spot for various outdoor equipment, camping gear and grilling accouterments. I would cringe every time I took the dog out back looking at the various plie of stuff that really should be well organized in the basement storage. 

Here is the completely EEEK-worthy before shot of the room. 

This was taken in early April when I had trays full of vegetable seedlings crawling over every surface and well, other piles of "treasures" that needed to find a proper home. 

Given the south-west location and the massive amounts of sunlight I knew this room would make a great makeshift potting shed/plant room.  Taking into account my growing obsession with growing things, I knew I needed a game-plan and decent space to work in before Spring was in full bloom. 

Nancy-dude helped me move a wayward vintage vanity (that has been sitting in my garage for the past year) into the space after I sorted and cleared most of the junk. 

So here is the new space:

Much improved! 

It is still a work in progress as plants continue to rotate out and into the ground. The vanity needs some new knobs and a good polishing. I have been using the cutout portion of the vanity as a herb drying surface or tabletop as needed. I found the unused glass top in the basement and it fits nicely over the top to make for added plant surface. 

Repurposing things is a grand! These unused dog crates make a perfect flat-rack while allowing as many layers as possible to soak up some sunshine. The clippings above are nesting in a fruit box lined with a an unused dog piddle pad. (good think the dog no longer needs either...)

The lattice wall rack is perfect for hanging various tools and chords. I added some smaller hooks for smaller objects across the top and s-hooks loop nicely into the lattice to create more wall storage as needed. 

I'll post more pictures as things continue to change in the space. I love transforming forgotten areas into something a little more grand than their current state. 

Now, onward to the next space to remake!

Double Whammy!

Day 6 Giving my thanks

I's over 60 and sunny in Cleveland today. I've spent most of the day outside cleaning up the yard. Technically this isn't my responsibility since I rent, but the leaves are out of control this year from frankenstorm and I needed the exercise.

I raked for two hours, added compost to Cat Lady and Good' Ole Boy's garden, and while I was laying down the vile smelling mix of rotting waste,  a strange dude came up and asked where the neighbors were. He was apparently good ol boys' son-in-law and needed money for a bus pass.  In the end up giving the dude $5.

Apparently the universe is helping me along in my quest to help others by hand delivering people in need. And how odd it is that I randomly found $5 while cleaning tough some receipts this morning...

Friday Freebie

I think my supervisor gave me vertigo. Maybe not, but I'm feeling funny and can sense some bug brewing. My ears keep popping.

Regardless, my daily giving goal continues on. We're at day 5 and going strong.

I did the upstairs neighbors a solid and brought their recycling bin off the front lawn to the back of the house while I collected mine.  They get home late and hauling cans in the dead of night is a pain in the ass.

Ride Share

Day 4 - Giving my thinks project

(No. I did not give someone my car. )

115, 000 miles and counting and the Mom-Mobile is still rockin' down the freeway.  The mighty rolling  promotions closet has multiplying nicks and event war-wounds, but steadfastly delivers.

I had a rehearsal-free Thursday night and my friend Berry called for a lift to pickup his car. I told him I was free as long as he didn't mind listening to my (beyond hideous) Pioneer Plays demo CD  for the 10 minute ride so I could learn lyrics.  I was otherwise occupied by a script and and needed to pickup some cold meds.

So no only did he get a free ride - he got an amazing preview of the show I'm in.

Ok, not really. I wouldn't have the heart to subject anyone to the cringe-worthy demo music (and I use the term "music" gingerly). I am pretty confident he would have never called me for a ride ever again . While I have plenty of people I would do that to on purpose, he is not one one of those people.

Pass the compliment please!

day 2 - giving my thanks project

I have worked with a lot of amazing supervisors (and some not so amazing) since the start of my career. One of the best lessons I learned from one (amazing) woman I worked for is the power of the "passed-on compliment." She had this knack for always mentioning when you were brought up in a conversation or praised by another person.  It's like a double compliment - knowing someone though enough of you to mention you and someone else thought enough of you to pass along the praise. I realized a while ago that I adopted that behavior from her.

At my check-up dentist appointment yesterday I re-affirmed how little mentions can build further connections between people....

Conversation 1 (about a month ago) -
Periodontist: Your gums are healing beautifully.
Me: Great. So I'm back to Dr. H now? He said you do great work so he didn't expect any complications.
Perio: Dr. H- said I do great work? (smiling)
Me: Yep, I told him of my not so thrilling experience at the other clinic so he sent me to you because he knew your work and knew I wouldn't have an issues.
Perio: Hmm, well that's great to know!

And the conversation yesterday while getting a crown refitted...
Me:  It's too bad the original temp didn't want to stay in my mouth. The resident assisting Dr. G though the temp crown was the real deal. Dr. L-  told her you do an amazing sculpting job on your temps.
Dentist: Really, Dr. L- said that?
Me: Yeah, he said you were one of the best at getting a lifelike tooth structure with less than ideal materials.
Dental Assistant:  (chuckling) We'll,  that two more patient referrals for Dr. L-!

Yep, just passing my time in the dentist chair building bridges in the dental community. And they need all the help they can get considering the high suicide rate for dentists. I'm so not kidding about that - Google it...

Bloemenmarket Beauty

day 3 - giving my thanks project

I had some extra time before rehearsal tonight and my plan of going to the coffee shop and memorizing lines and slurping a latte was thwarted. Dude, what happened to the nice Arabica across from the Cassidy Theatre? It's bathed in neon and a partial hookah bar now?!?!  I ordered a latte and promptly left after realizing the green glow of the obnoxious neon was making everyone look alien. 

On my way to the theater I passed a flower shop and knew immediately I wanted to wander in.  I spotted a dozen roses and they just looked like Christmas with their bright red and green stems.  I knew exactly who needed to enjoy them. 

The bouquet was delivered with a smile and a hug to a friend going through some rough times. Sometimes we need to be reminded there is beauty in the world and it can show up at unexpected times and places.