I tried, I really did…and I got my project 99% finished… but the sun was going down way too fast, I was searching for pictures of the way this was before, George needed to clamp something together for me, I need to “finish” the top…so I’m making an executive decision to wait until Tuesday to show it… I hope you don’t mind, and I hope it will be worth the wait…
However, lots was happening around here this weekend. Kristoffer was replacing his truck muffler, George and Rebecca were working on something… so I do have a few other things to share with you. No sewing was involved, but I’ll get back to that soon.
My daughter, Rebecca, asked her dad if he could make a stationary bike stand so she could put her bike on it and ride it in the house. She normally goes to a CrossFit gym almost every day, but since the businesses have all shut down, she has been restless and wanted something to exercise on. Since her dad is “MacGyver” in disguise, she knew he could do it. This is them in action…
The bike…
The pegs (that you use when someone stands on the back of the bike) to ride with you…were screwed into the wheel centers… and 2 x 4’s were used for the base… PVC pipe was used as the holders of the pegs…
A trial run….
In the house… giving it a try…
Well, after trying to figure out the resistance, (there was none…unless you held the brake on the whole time! :o( )Rebecca looked on Craigslist today and look what she found listed right before she got on there? A Schwinn Airdyne exercise bike… only 30 minutes away. She called about it, was the first caller, called her brother, he was free to take his truck and pick it up… A win win for everyone. She’s quite happy now… but MacGyver is quite sad! :o(
Next is what my hubby was up to when he wasn’t playing MacGyver…
He found these plastic crates at our recycle place a while back. They were used for Toyota car parts and were heavy duty and about 30″ square. He was wanting to do a raised garden to plant his tomatoes in… Well, he finally got around to it and here are some pictures of what he came up with. He spray painted them green, “to blend in with the grass,” he said. I think they look pretty neat and they are raised up about 10″ off the ground. He drilled holes in the bottom of them for the water to drain out.
Reuben was playing supervisor again…
He also bought some petunias for me today when he was at Lowe’s.
My Hydrangea was planted outside in the smaller frame section he made, but it’s not doing very well. I was thinking it should have taken off by now, but it’s kind of on the puny side, if you ask me.
So, here’s a shot of everything that’s been done lately…the petunia’s, the hydrangea, the fountain, and the tomato plants in the very back.
And for those of you who have to have a dolly fix everyday, Kathie shared a few of her Kewpie dolls… they are cute any way they are posed!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m sure, given enough time, George would have figured out the resistance thing for Rebecca’s bike stand, but….at least she has an exercise bike to ride now! And George got a little extra time to work on something else!
I like the idea of the raised beds for the tomato plants. I’m not much of a gardener, I’m afraid, but this does seem like a good idea, and hopefully the tomatoes will be a bit easier to pick, being raised that amount.
Ruben seems to take his role as supervisor very seriously!!
I wonder if someone in the garden center could advise you about your hydrangea? You know, maybe it’s getting too much sun–or maybe not enough. Maybe it needs a different kind of plant food. That kind of thing.
Kathie, your Kewpies are darling! I think my favorite is the little birthday girl on the box. Thanks for sharing!
HI Charlotte,
There’s no doubt in my mind that he could have figured something out…
Rebecca felt so bad for the time he spent working on the bike stand, that she went to town and bought him a “90% off” Easter bunny, a package of dark chocolate trail mix, and 2 kinds of veggie spaghetti noodles.
I’m not sure about the hydrangea…. I guess time will tell.. I was hoping to have it closer to my house, but he thought it should go out in the court yard. :o)
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, that’s understandable that you didn’t quite get finished with your project in time to show us this morning. We can wait, just more fun for us!!
I can’t believe all the things George is able to do! Where did he get the “know how?” From his father?
The yard looks great, and yes, veggie beds are really gaining popularity! It keeps those pesky rabbits out, plus is better for your back. They have those at the Botanical Garden, which, of course, is now closed for viewing.
Love seeing Reuben overseeing all the yard work! Does he ever run loose in the yard, or always on a leash? I see a pretty white house in one of the pictures, Is that yours?
So you are already planting flowers? We are still in the cleaning up stage, but now have Silver Maple “helicopters” to contend with! They are fluttering down at almost breakneck speed, and clogging up the gutters, and littering everything in sight around here. I’m just crying to keep up with it.
Oh, Kathie, your Kewpies are darling! I just love their sweet little expressions that are ever so slightly on the mischievous side! Love that lace background too!
Hi Linda,
The project is all done now, pictures are taken and you’ll see it tomorrow! Yay!
George’s dad really didn’t spend much time teaching him things, he just learned on his own and was always good at figuring things out. He says he might be slow, but he’ll get it figured out eventually.
I think the not bending over and breaking your back is the best feature of the raised beds. He’s hoping to not have to put any fencing around them…
Reuben is always on a leash… our house is too close to a road and he LOVES to chase anything that moves so he’s be a goner if we let him run loose.
Yes, the white house in the background is ours… that’s the back of it, but George calls it the front, because it has a sunburst porch on it, and he thinks it prettier.
My hubby cut down all our silver maple trees…he hated them…and there’s not too many trees he hates… the gumballs drive us crazy, but that tree just outside my kitchen window is huge and he would never tackle it. The silver maples were cut down when we first moved in here, 16 years ago.
Thanks Linda,
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
The Kewpie dolls are just darling. My favorite is the big one. Maybe I’ll get inspired to dress mine,although it’s nowhere near the quality of Kathie’s collection. Thanks for sharing it.
I recognize your house from the porch project. Glad to see more of it. George sure is inventive and talented with most anything that needs doing, no matter how complicated. Who else would have taken on that challenge, even with Rueben’s help!
HI Susette,
Thanks for sharing the Kewpie article…it was very interesting and I think the ones who read it really enjoyed it. I hope you find something to dress yours in.
Thanks for the compliments on my talented hubby. He truly is a keeper! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Starting backwards today. Those Kewpie dolls are very sweet. Thanks Kathie.
As to the Hydrangea, here in northern CA, most are in shadier locations. I think we have six, propagated by my dad, all along the fence and partially under a Silver Maple tree shade. They are often seen as foundation plants too so they have some protection and shade. But, I’m no expert.
Glad to see Reuben in his supervisorial role. Good boy! Love the anticipation of a giant tomato crop with those towering props. Hope you are able to get a photo later on in the season. Yum.
I know it’s hard to fit in exercise when you’re working, but the new bike should do the trick. Out here, we have a bike coalition who have lobbied for trails and paths. So many are into biking to work or over to the coast. Guess this reminds me that we need to pump up the tires and try out the bikes in our garage. Definitely can use some exercise.
Thanks so much for sharing the fun photos today even though I am anxious to see your finished latest project.
HI Joy,
I’m glad you enjoyed the Kewpie dolls too… I think everyone did.
I’m thinking the Hydrangea plant needs to be in the shade too. I usually see them around peoples houses… not out in the open.
A few years ago, his tomato plants were taller than him… 6’4″ and they yielded an abundance of tomatoes. It looks like expecting the same thing this year! :o)
You’ll see the project tomorrow! It’s finally all finished! What’s next? Who knows…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I have questions. 😊 What is the purpose or advantage of raised beds? Does your daughter get to ride her bike outside? How did Reuben get so cute?
Kathie, I love your Kewpies. I just know a search will start on eBay!
Hi Julia,
I’ll answer your raised bed question. The advantage of raised beds is they prevent the soil from becoming compacted, they drain excess moisture faster so your plants don’t sog and drown, and they act as a barrier from slugs and other pests. One of the best reasons is that they warm up more quickly in the spring so, with a higher temperature, the veggies get a head start.
We have them down on whole length of the yard (about 70 feet). They are great to plant specific things in each one with just enough room to walk between.
We have non leaching plastic ones, but you can also build them yourself out of cedar. Do not use treated wood around food items as it leaches arsenic and other harmful chemicals into your food. We grow everything organically. If you put a handful of eggshells in with tomato plants, they calcium helps them. Just safe your hard boiled egg shells or boil shells from cracked eggs a couple of minutes to sterilize them.
I like this couple’s videos. Here is the one on raised beds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FAPzTvKUSo
There are a wealth of helpful videos.
Have a great day,
Laura
Julia, I’m not Jeanne or George, but I can tell you several advantages of raised beds. First, you get to put in the exact kind of soil you want and need. We have pretty much clay soil, so hard to dig and grow anything in, so if you buy garden soil, it is much better. Next, you don’t get rabbits or other rodents in there as much. Third, it is much easier on your back for planting, picking, checking things out! There may be more advantages, but I think those are the big “3”!
HI Julia,
Well, I certainly don’t have to answer your question about the raised garden beds… Laura did a superb job!! Thanks Laura! :o)
We really don’t have any bike paths around her and the road is too narrow and dangerous to really be safe riding a bike on it. We are out of the city limits, so no sidewalks to ride on when a car comes. She likes her new Airdyne bike and used it to work up a sweat this morning.
Reuben was BORN cute! We just gave him a haircut last Tuesday… :o)
Thanks Julia,
Blessings, Jeanne
George sounds a lot like my grandfather. I could have told him most anything I wanted as a child and, given the materials, he would have made it.
Great that Rebecca found an exercise bike to use. We have a treadmill in the sunroom, but I don’t get to use it as often as a used to.
Your backyard looks very nice. I’m surprised you can plant tomatoes so early. We have to wait well into May. Reuben is a good supervisor and I think he approves of how you have spruced up “his” yard.
Kathie, your Kewpies are darling Thanks for sharing them
HI Laura,
First of all, thank you for your wonderful answer about the raised garden beds to Julia. I really appreciate your answer!
I haven’t tried out Rebecca’s bike yet, but she said I was welcome to. I’ll have to move the seat down several, several notches…she has really long legs and the seat is sitting very high!
Reuben LOVES to go outside when my hubby is out there, and just lay in the grass and watch everything around him. :o)
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne,
I love seeing Reuben “in charge.”
The raised planters are a great idea. I hope that there are dozens and dozens of tomatoes.
Kathie’s Kewpies are so sweet.
Four more days until May!
HI Dorothy,
4 more days till May!!! Oh dear, I better think of something fun to celebrate it with!!! :o)
My hubby is hoping there are dozens and dozens of tomatoes too… he LOVES tomatoes… and can’t ever seem to get his fill of them.
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a busy weekend! It feels good to be doing thongs again around here…mostly outside.
Ok….I guess we can wait one more day for the unveiling. 😉
The raised tomato beds are going to be wonderful! Julia…it is easier and when you start with new soil that isn’t full of weed seed and other tomato diseases from years of planting them it is a great fresh start. I see George has them mulched already too which limits the weeds..if there are any.
Thanks for the nice Kewpie comments…I didn’t realize I was way off kilter…you can hardly see their faces! If you look for the one like the Kewpie in yellow she is a inexpensive doll. The name is Cameo. Have a good week!
HI Kathie,
Thanks for sharing your Kewpie dolls with us… we got just enough dolly fix to hold us over till tomorrow!
Now to just wait patiently for about 2 months and the tomatoes will start ripening up! He can hardly wait!
Thanks so much Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne