Sunday Bits#18 (potagers, totes, wreaths)

Things were going along with the reno so swimmingly, I was getting so excited about getting my house back. Yep, past tense. Things were going along so nicely that I told the ladies at the neighbourhood coffee klatch how we were right on schedule, might even finish early at this rate... and boom, the very next day, it completely fell off the rails. Boy did I ever jinx things!

The flooring (confirmed back in October!) is still sitting in Vancouver so nothing is going to be happening here for the next two weeks. With the flooring install delayed, they cannot go any further with anything, cannot finish the baseboard install, trim, or get the painter in for the last touch-ups, nothing. Absolute and total stop. Just when I thought I was in the clear. I am so very sad, you guys! Trying to keep a stiff upper lip, look at the positives of all the things I can accomplish in the mean time. Trying real hard to make lemonade...

So, onwards and upwards. I have actually started a few seeds indoors, finally. Now that I am 12 weeks out from the last frost, I have sown my onions, peppers, eggplants, and celery. Will see what the weather has in store for us in March, the most unpredictable of months.

My Potager Garden

Potager gardens are my gig, I absolutely love growing food in pretty gardens. I first came upon potager gardening when we were posted to Germany in the early 90's. Of course, I had no idea what it was called back then, I just knew that I liked the look of it and have been growing food in a potager ever since!

Potagers are organic, happy, thriving, pretty kitchen gardens. You grow flowers with edibles for organic pest control, companion planting, and is lovely to have cutting flowers for the home, too. Check out this article about planting up a potager garden. They even give you a link to a companion planting guide if you want to read more about it.

I was at the dollar store the other day and saw lots of these clear tote bins in all sorts of sizes. These totes make great little mini greenhouses and are light enough for you to use for anything and everything. Put your seedlings inside, pop them outside in the part shade location to not cook them, pull them in at night. This will keep your seedlings from stretching out as they will get more natural light and it is cooler outside than it is inside your home. You can even stack the totes on top of each other, like a tiered mini greenhouse or shelving unit.

I plan to get a couple and cut out the bottoms. Now wait, here me out. I will then use it as a cold frame for an earlier start for my cucumbers. Will put the tote out, without bottom, for a few days to warm up the soil. Will then pop in my cucumber seeds. As they start to grow, I can vent the top by opening the lid a little, or a lot, as needed, and close it up again at night. Inexpensive coldframe that I do not need to wait for hubby to build for me.

Deep watering less often gives you healthier, stronger, happier veggies, here is how to set up a drip irrigation system in your home garden.

Have you ever tried to grow your own peanuts? I've tried it twice, just grown a couple of plants to see how they grow. It was fun, I got a handful of peanuts, would happily do it again.

Check out this fabulous potting shed/she-shed made from recycled materials. So pretty!

This is kind of like the garden trends post I used to put out each year in January. Is all about what we want in our gardens in the year 2023.

This article helps you figure out what to grow, can, freeze, and put in your pantry to keep you in groceries during the upcoming year and time of shortages. I would add pasta and rice to the list, as well.

This article for trends to try in 2023 is fun with new and interesting ideas for us to grow and try. Different ideas than from the trending link I gave you above. I like # one, think I will do up a small garden devoted to mixology! Maybe make it into a culinary and bevie bed?

Decor Bits

For us people getting up there in age, or with limitations... many of you know that I have mobility issues, have a balance disorder and need a new hip, so we have been making sure our house is set for me (both of us) to age in place at this new (to us) home. Here are some really great ideas on how to Age Proof Your Bathroom. We have done many of these things in our new sauna bathroom, in the picture above.

I wanted no tub to step into but instead a walk in shower. If, at some point, I were to require a wheelchair, is easy to wheel right in there. No glass doors to keep clean either, hah! Plus a bench for me to sit on while I wash up with both a rain shower and a hand held one, should I need it. That teak shelf works as a grab bar, too, as it is solidly screwed into studs. Super easy to keep clean tile floors. We are going to cut that bench in half this summer so that it tucks up at the back of the shower to take up less space, but this will do till then.

Not sure what is going on but this post came a couple of days later about making a kitchen ready for aging in place at home. We are in the midst of a kitchen reno and have done most all of these things listed here, except the rounded corners. Cannot wait to share my new kitchen with you all. The cabinets are in place and the guy was here to measure for the counter tops so just a couple more weeks and it will be ready!

Why I Chose My Historic Home - Town & Country Living (town-n-country-living.com) I love old homes! My dream, when I was younger, was for the military to post hubby to Kingston, Ontario, where we would buy one of those gorgeous old brick houses with tons of character.

The gorgeous storage areas in this small kitchen.

How design will make you more productive in your home office. Some nice ideas here! Oddly enough for an avid gardener, I am not big on houseplants. I do, however, have a real love of Swiss Cheese Vines (Monstera adansonii). Even in my low light office, this lovely plant thrives and grows, with little to no special care.

Is your week crazy, getting out of hand and not sure how to organise it so that you do not lose your mind? I thought this post had a lot of great ideas for how to make your week easier... but then again, I love making lists and checking them off ; ) Check out some of her other organising ideas on the blog, too. So many great ideas.

Spring Bits

These lovely spring wreaths! Easy and inexpensive to make!

This sandwich cake is very easy to make and looks fabulous. I love sandwich cakes, they were at many of the family get togethers in Sweden. Elevated sandwiches. I have pinned it to my Easy Entertaining board on Pinterest. Can't wait till spring comes!

And these yummy Oatmeal Raisin cookies! My favourites. You can make them with dried cherries, blueberries, or cranberries, if you are not a fan of raisins.

My Cutting Garden started with tulips and hyacinths in a riot of colours each spring.

Happy Sunday!

Wishing you a lovely, happy week ahead~ Tanja