Midwest Gardening 2018

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No Spring? Straight to Summer!

Well, I guess it's safe to talk about our weather extremes here in Chicagoland, sans expletives!

And do a GREEN post. Yes, it is finally time for the garden.

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We had freezing temperatures past Mother's Day, and then in one day jumped to the 90's. Rounds of storms, dampness, cloudy misery or blinding sunshine and heat caused everyone scurrying around like ants to get yard work partially accomplished before the next weird weather wave.

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This morning, despite our yard NOT being done, or even picked up, I scurried around to take photos before another storm hit and then blistering heat.

Our plants have barely had time to grab hold. Many seeds aren't even up. My front yard perennial beds are fairing better, (above). Everything Spring was short lived. Tulips, Daffodils, Iris, Peonies, were all POOF with the heat or pounded with the rains.

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Our Iris were beautiful but shriveled up in the the high temperatures within a day. 

Now, Sedum and Tiger Lilies are looking lush and waiting to burst into blooms.

Crossing my fingers, and ready to dash out for pic opportunities...lol.

I need to REDO the paint on my birdhouses...but that has to wait until the yard is done!

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The Hostas loved our all-time record rain for the month of May. 

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This is the third year for this area. I lost one Canterbury Bells, and three Tearose bushes from the corners, because of our meager snowcover and freeze/thaw patterns last winter. I transplanted some creeping sedum to fill in the front of this bed. I will have to plant some more where the roses failed.

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Despite having a new greenhouse up this year, we didnt' even get our plants into it, until after the last freeze. I never even started marigold seeds, and with extra medical bills this summer, we cut back on plants and projects. I still planted some pots with annuals, but they are still small. I love the blue Lobelia for as long as it lasts.

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The geraniums were bargain ones at the local grocery store, and are so brilliant. This is the actual color. We plant Peppermint in pots as bee deterrents, a GREEN thing to do instead of poisons. I'm severely allergic to bees and wasps. So we plant the peppermint in pots anywhere there is seating or main working areas. Those pots are dumped into the burn pit, rather than the compost pile as peppermint is invasive. 

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On the porch I have herbs and a few flowers in the pots. The Basil is looking great and my Rosemary is coming around. I may have to transplant that to a bigger pot before I bring it back in towards Fall.

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The porch is set for an occasional sit down. Facing south, the porch is hot except late in the afternoon. Our overhang will keep the coleus planter in the shade. 

I will move it soon for something more exciting on the table.

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This is a cozy spot, we have a table and umbrella here also. 

Down the stairs we have a small bed of flowers.

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The cute? garden critters are gifts from my kids. I move them around where interest is needed.  Everything was pretty much dead in here, except for one (lower left) multicolored greenery. I planted Sunflowers and Zinnia seeds, here. We will see if anything comes up.

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My tall plants from seeds in the big pot, haven't come up? I have dahlias in lots of pots and they are just started to leaf out, promising flowers soon.

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My peonies were very few this year, big, and then exploded in the heat. I had one bouquet on the table. I will try and get in there to trim and pull weeds this afternoon, after the storms.

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Variegated greens and some bright annuals in a long planter will pump up this area. 

Yes, that is some sort of invasive creeper trying to swallow the rocks.

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I have lime or grape colored sweet potato vines planted in to fill areas around my pots. 

Next post will be the side and back yards and the vegetable garden, which is doing great!

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NEW OLD addition to the side, an old chair rescued from the clay shop redo---I had enameled two of these in the 1970's and we have used them all these years. Now it's designated as a pot holder and the flowers are doing great here.

How is the Gardening in your neck of the woods?

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

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Craftroom: Moving In

Good weather finally hit in Chicagoland, so we were outside. I'm not fully moved into the basement craft room, but it is beginning to look like a real work/play room. This is just a preview, as with all new spaces you have to make 'friends' with it. Everything will eventually find it's 'space'.

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The huge table is the BEST for sorting items. I did get tired of walking around it for two days while I moved things around in circles, LOL.

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The sink still isn't hooked up, saving that for a rainy day. 

We added two IKEA corner tables for work stations. We opted for the tables for their work surfaces instead of cabinetry. The left one will be for painting, small assembly, and paper work. The right one will be for power tools, (dremel, sawing, jewelry, and hot gluing.) 

During this photo, I'm still sorting.

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The pegboard rings hold plastic pots on the wall for storing pens, pencils, brushes, etc. I do have some for sale in my Etsy shop. They take a 7 1/2"-8" pot. IKEA has some perfect white metal pots that fit, but they are $5.99 each, so I'm making do right now with Dollar Store pots, and a couple of my own ceramics. 

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I will eventually put up hooks for all my tapes, adhesives and small tools. A few pretties have been added. The bag was from a TJMax/Homegoods store. Just love the photo....great for a backdrop or I may frame one side.

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I really had a lot of stuff to sort through and organize. I couldn't believe I had stuff stashed everywhere.

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My Etsy Shop storage is below. Five of those bins are full of goodies I have to list.

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Here is my collection of baskets, I probably have 7 or so more of these. 

They will be used for storage and eventually specific projects. Labels are temporary until I decide of something more attractive. The baskets will slide under the tables for easy access. 

This little corner to the left will be slotted for a permanent Vickie's Vintage 

and the new second floor addition. 

I hope to install shelves above for standing doll display, if I ever find my doll stands.

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We've found that the doll houses aren't sitting level despite propping up here and there on the small tables. Everything is wonky and wobbly---as the floor is uneven, mostly higher at the walls. So, some rainy day the empty doors (raw wood you see), will be secured to the wall by sitting on an installed small ledge. Then the front will be on supported by adjustable legs so we can get the entire surface plumb and level.

The Grand (she's five now) Moved everything back into the houses. And she designed the back yard. 

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(Seems the old garage was taken down during the move...so now the yard is larger.)

We have yet to reinstall the decks. I will wait and do that when we redo the support doors. All the clothing and accessories have been sorted and labeled in bins below.

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Vickie's townhouse was enlarged by a second matching house I found for $4.99. This will be fun to rework, paint and really decorate. The garage will be enlarged when the new bases are finished.

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The pegboard above will be flexible for storage and/or display. Quick shelves can be put up for lighter items. 

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Here is the holding corner for projects. The lower shelf left is the stranded on the island set, above will be Joe's apartment. Parts of Vickie's Vintage shop, the bowling alley, the cabin in the woods, the bar setup from the Halloween setting, are all here along with extra dolls.

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This eight foot long banquet table will be perfect for setting up temporary dioramas, having art/craft parties, and sorting through my antiques for the Etsy shop. Come on over and have a cup of coffee or some iced tea and have fun with me.

NEXT: Plumbing and Lighting

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties-with ads not in the middle of the blog (I'm going to try and see if this is possible)
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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

Sandi

Craft Room part 4: Final Bits!

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Hi! Last week and weekend were very busy. 

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We used an insulating foam layer on the floor. I can walk around barefoot in the basement, now. It's really warm, will be easy on the knees, too. 

I had to hang a picture, print on canvas....from thrift store.

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Click and lock, vinyl flooring. We will eventually have this in the whole house, one room upstairs to go. Love the clean up--and 18 months, and no issues anywhere.

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Cutting is done with an exact knife. So if you dont' have tools, this is the flooring for you!

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Gap at the end of the wall will be covered by trim and cabinetry.

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Last piece and the guys are done!

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This pattern almost looks seamless!

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Trying to figure out the shelving.

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Trim and electricity done.

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Next repainting the pegboard and all the trim.

And always clean up!

My next post will be moving in.  All cabinetry and shelving won't be up and the sink will be later

We finally have decent weather and need to work in the yard.

And, we have exceeded our budget at this time.

The rest can be done--here and there. 

Besides, I like using a space before determining exactly what I need. 

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions,

 posts, or any products shown, or anywhere I shop.

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties-with ads not in the middle of the blog (I'm going to try and see if this is possible)

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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

Sandi

Craft Room part 3: It's a Room

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Okay, it's been a little over a month---and both of us having the flu for over two weeks---to get this far. Post Three, but maybe---5 weeks or so.

Entering the NEW craftroom, on the right we have standards up, some electrical showing. We chose this light colored wood paneling, with pegboard for most of the room.

This wall continues for 16 feet---my goodness, my first impulse is to counter this whole wall. But, we are holding off until I decide what I really need the space for. The plan is to have all moveable pieces on locking wheels. So I can configure the room in multiple ways. 

Down at the west end is the 10' wall where a sink will be---plumbing is already there. We will be using an ejector pump to get the waste water to go UP and out. Our sewer pipe is really only a few feet below outside ground level. Originally, in the clay shop we we ran a pipe sixty-feet into the sump pump well. We aren't allowed to do that anymore. 

It's a good idea to follow codes---a GREEN thing to do.

This niche corner is all paneling. I think it may be a great location for Vickie's Vintage 

or a photo area, for closeups.

The two sides facing out of the room. are also all paneling with heavy duty standards for shelving. 

My OLD geniuses, hubby and friend checking out the heavy duty standards for NEW storage shelving. Their week's plan: flooring and preliminary plumbing. 

I will keep organizing and take some photos of vintage for my Etsy shop.

The new standards hung in the shipping room wall. 

I removed the huge plastic shelving in here. I had become a 'packaging hoarder'! 

Here is the scaled down version of boxes and packaging.

Now under control---my packaging shelf is now by the desk. I downsized everything...but still hoard small boxes, the work horses for shipping online. My GREEN thing is trying to reuse bags, boxes and clean paper. I'm careful to save any packing envelopes and reuse them. 

In this day and age, we all need to reuse or recycle mailing refuse.

My work shipping station is almost clear. There are still two jewelry boxes that will be put in the craft room for a REDO.  My goofy OLD vintage lamp---which just makes me smile--has been rewired. I will probably use that in a corner of the craft room, for mood when overhead lights are off.  I'm anxious to use some of my own 'collection' pieces in there for decor.

The shipping room wall is a work in progress. 

Sometimes you have to live with a space for awhile, before deciding on a final configuration.

 I have another wrapping station to hang at the other end. 

Miscommunication---between 'Mars' and 'Venus' led to hubby 

hanging the big standards all the way across. 

The space underneath the shelves will be for only the bins I am working on. 

Plan for this week:

New floor in the craft room. 

Electrical. 

Look at lighting---I'm happy with what is there, 'Mars' isn't. 

Work on at least two bins for listing in my Etsy Shop. 

HOW are YOUR projects going!

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts, or any products shown or where I shop.

Please do not use my photographs without my written permission--Thank you for your cooperation. 

 Sandi Magle

Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties-with ads not in the middle of the blog (I'm going to try and see if this is possible)

Talk of the Town
The Scoop
Celebrate Your Story
Wonderful Wednesday

Sandi