Like the catchy blog title? Sorry - had to. In truth there's very little that's sexy about going to the dump to get free compost for the garden - but so much to feel good about anyway!
I went today with our old truck and it was so simple. I pulled up. Looked around and there was nobody around this huge pile of compost. It said to wait for an attendant, but before I could turn around, a great big front loader was grinding its way over to me. I was in and out in under 5 minutes! Since this was FREE COMPOST week, I just drove away.
If your local landfill doesn't have a composting program, suggest it! Ours has been around for years now. Every year we use it for all sorts of needs in our garden. Is it top notch soil? Well, its for sure not potting soil, but it builds up beds beautifully, and this year, I am going to use my free soil to even out our crazy lumpy bumpy lawn.
The compost is made from clippings from local residents that are picked up on the same day as our garbage. To this point it has been picked up every other week, with a break over deep winter. Then it changed to garden clippings being picked up every two weeks with no break over winter. Now it's picked up every week right through the year, all as part of our waste management program.
It's something to feel good about.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Going to the dump? For soil?
That's right lovelies, our dump is turning into a veritable paridise (or so it seems when I ignore the small mountain that is growing out there on the flats....)
I can get soil from the dump - a truck load for like $25. It's really silly. I am off to do that this morning. Then I have to deal with getting it out of the truck and onto our property. That's a whole other issue. But let me tell you - this could turn me into the svelte beach goddess that I was always meant to be, so whatever, I am all for it...
Anyway, I have also been given instructions from hubby about items to buy and do. Here it is:
- get two small rosemary plants
- rip out ugly hedging plants around fire hydrant (yes!!!! happy to...)
- find shade tree for hot side of house
- find out what those lovely red-bark bushes are and get them
- create "natural fence" with above-mentioned red-bark bushes
- level out lawn with soil
- seed lawn
There are actually about 500 other things - but this list has exhausted me already - so i am just plain old walking away so that I can cope with item number one.
I can get soil from the dump - a truck load for like $25. It's really silly. I am off to do that this morning. Then I have to deal with getting it out of the truck and onto our property. That's a whole other issue. But let me tell you - this could turn me into the svelte beach goddess that I was always meant to be, so whatever, I am all for it...
Anyway, I have also been given instructions from hubby about items to buy and do. Here it is:
- get two small rosemary plants
- rip out ugly hedging plants around fire hydrant (yes!!!! happy to...)
- find shade tree for hot side of house
- find out what those lovely red-bark bushes are and get them
- create "natural fence" with above-mentioned red-bark bushes
- level out lawn with soil
- seed lawn
There are actually about 500 other things - but this list has exhausted me already - so i am just plain old walking away so that I can cope with item number one.
The Garden Project
Well. It turns out that I mostly hate projects around the house. Who can stand them really? I have one major problem though: my husband (love him!) likes to create random garden beds around the house - but is far too busy to actually maintain them!
Grrr.... So this spring we are out in the garden trying to tackle the chaos. I should say that we live in a neighbourhood much like the Brady bunch neighbourhood. Hubby's wild English country garden plantings are not always appreciated by the neighbours.
Now we've been here long enough that I am not entirely sure that I can worry about making them all that happy but nonetheless - I don't want it looking TERRIBLE.
Of course, do I know anything about gardening? No. So this really is for those of us who look at pretty flowers and feel that there for sure is a giant magician in the sky -- oh wait, that would be God - who makes flowers so darn lovely, and well, invasive too....
I will let you know what we get up to as we go along...
Grrr.... So this spring we are out in the garden trying to tackle the chaos. I should say that we live in a neighbourhood much like the Brady bunch neighbourhood. Hubby's wild English country garden plantings are not always appreciated by the neighbours.
Now we've been here long enough that I am not entirely sure that I can worry about making them all that happy but nonetheless - I don't want it looking TERRIBLE.
Of course, do I know anything about gardening? No. So this really is for those of us who look at pretty flowers and feel that there for sure is a giant magician in the sky -- oh wait, that would be God - who makes flowers so darn lovely, and well, invasive too....
I will let you know what we get up to as we go along...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
How does a new shower make a person so much happier???
I can tell you the answer to this question: it's the mold-freeness of it all. We had all our showers (2) and our old tub (1) ripped out and they were replaced today. Nothing fancy - just lovely and clean. Oh - and not caramel marble coloured. The shower in our ensuite made me literally afraid before. What the heck could make little spots of black just appear on the walls of the dang thing? Mold - and it's gone gone gone!!
Seems to me the whole point of a bathroom is getting clean - and we're that much closer to fulfilling those obligations. Thank you fiberglass insert.
Did I choose tile? No. Why? Well, eventually tile grout gets creepy. AND it seems to me that it gets creepy sooner rather than later. Go ahead make the walls all pretty and fancy. For instance, we spent a small fortune on vanities, and faucets (why so much for them I wonder???).... But the actual bathing area is sparkly white and squeaky clean.
We also got a tub for the main bath that is oh-so-deep. No jets. Has anyone ever REALLY enjoyed the jet experience? As far as I know - no, but I am willing to be corrected on that, just not in my own bathroom. Ours will just be a lovely soaker. I so call dibs on the first soak!
Love it, love it, love it.
Seems to me the whole point of a bathroom is getting clean - and we're that much closer to fulfilling those obligations. Thank you fiberglass insert.
Did I choose tile? No. Why? Well, eventually tile grout gets creepy. AND it seems to me that it gets creepy sooner rather than later. Go ahead make the walls all pretty and fancy. For instance, we spent a small fortune on vanities, and faucets (why so much for them I wonder???).... But the actual bathing area is sparkly white and squeaky clean.
We also got a tub for the main bath that is oh-so-deep. No jets. Has anyone ever REALLY enjoyed the jet experience? As far as I know - no, but I am willing to be corrected on that, just not in my own bathroom. Ours will just be a lovely soaker. I so call dibs on the first soak!
Love it, love it, love it.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Workmen - life is better than fiction...
The restoration company has finally arrived on our doorstep to begin making things much worse before they plan on making them better. The first day the trucks were out front of our home and as I walked toward our front door I distinctly smelled skunk. I should know, my sweet baby boy was sprayed with one - but that is another crushed-tomatoes-up-the-wall disaster story for another day; however, you can't mistake that smell. Actually, you can. Skunk, and it's close cousin skunk weed, while they have entirely different effects have entirely the same smell. You can imagine Project Mama's surprise then when out of one of the vans rolls our new drywaller literally in a puff of smoke. Awesome. This weed man is going to piece my house together again?
Well, I have since learned something new. It seems as though weed doesn't affect a drywaller's ability to make a ceiling stunningly smooth, or put a room so that it looks better than ever before. So Project Mama is happy. What it does affect is the ability to have instructions actually register in the drywaller's brain. For example we had a too-long discussion the other day on just what "trim" was: doors, heat registers, and window ledges. Drywaller/Painter (turns out he's our painter too) nods when he hears instructions or answers to HIS OWN QUESTIONS but Project Mama really has no idea why since he certainly can't mean "I completely understand and will absolutely make sure it is done that way."
We now have not ivory trim on the heat registers but a rather dark "bluff" shade. Make that dung brown. Looks modern and cool on the walls. Looks like dung on the registers. Drywaller was a bit dazed when we discussed that, but I feel confident he will bounce back. He says, "man" a lot. Oddly, Project Mama has a soft spot for pot smoking drywaller/painter. He has an old t-shirt he wears all the time that has been clumsily sewn back together in 2 spots. It might make Project Mama's heart ache.
Well, I have since learned something new. It seems as though weed doesn't affect a drywaller's ability to make a ceiling stunningly smooth, or put a room so that it looks better than ever before. So Project Mama is happy. What it does affect is the ability to have instructions actually register in the drywaller's brain. For example we had a too-long discussion the other day on just what "trim" was: doors, heat registers, and window ledges. Drywaller/Painter (turns out he's our painter too) nods when he hears instructions or answers to HIS OWN QUESTIONS but Project Mama really has no idea why since he certainly can't mean "I completely understand and will absolutely make sure it is done that way."
We now have not ivory trim on the heat registers but a rather dark "bluff" shade. Make that dung brown. Looks modern and cool on the walls. Looks like dung on the registers. Drywaller was a bit dazed when we discussed that, but I feel confident he will bounce back. He says, "man" a lot. Oddly, Project Mama has a soft spot for pot smoking drywaller/painter. He has an old t-shirt he wears all the time that has been clumsily sewn back together in 2 spots. It might make Project Mama's heart ache.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Project Mama lessons for the Christmas Season
I so love that it has been 20 days since my last post. Ha! Turns out a little bit of water in a house can really affect your lifestyle....
Anyway, we had that giant flood in our house and we have been all but turned upside down. Project Mama is not all that pleased. So now with one bathroom not functioning, one bathroom with only a toilet working and the other bathroom taken over by workmen - Project Mama is not feeling so festive. However, I have learned a TON of interesting things that I feel need to be shared with other project rookies.
#1. Get a Costco card. My friends are all addicted to Costco - but here is why I remember my love affair with Costco. I renewed my membership on the urging of my sister-in-law and a few darling friends. The day I went in I should say that my youngest spent a good while lying flat out on the concrete floor (Project Mama had to use her kindest, most restrained voice...), but we survived as a family. Anyway, as I was wandering in that special Costco haze, I found a single vanity for my destroyed ensuite. Espresso wood, 3 drawers, and a granite counter top. All I have to do is find the tap. All that gorgeousness for $350! I know this sounds high for my talented friends who could make the same thing out of egg cartons and wax candles - but this is a smokin' deal for the beginner who wants a good quality piece at a reasonable price.
#2. Don't do any sort of project that requires outside help over the Christmas season. Just don't. No one is giving any love away over Christmas. Everyone is busy, and most people seem to be trying to get previously started work done in time for Christmas. Every person has called me back (oh Merry Merry!), if only to tell me that they will get in touch with me in the New Year. I am currently expecting about 15 calls on January 4th.
#3. When you have a big disaster in your house and you know NOTHING about these kind of things, start asking questions. Lots of them. Ask your mom, your neighbour, your friend. Mention your question at the grocery store. So many people have very helpful things for you to consider - from the cost of flooring, types of paint, what to do with your stuff, even how to cook while your house is a disaster (barbecue). It amazes me the amount that everyone else other than me seems to know about home restoration/renovation. Really. It's impressive and the resource shouldn't be ignored.
Well, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. I am going down to throw some food in front of my children (playing the Wii) in the hopes that those little wild animals might smell it enough to throw some of it in their wee gullets.
Blessings to you.
Love,
Project Mama
Anyway, we had that giant flood in our house and we have been all but turned upside down. Project Mama is not all that pleased. So now with one bathroom not functioning, one bathroom with only a toilet working and the other bathroom taken over by workmen - Project Mama is not feeling so festive. However, I have learned a TON of interesting things that I feel need to be shared with other project rookies.
#1. Get a Costco card. My friends are all addicted to Costco - but here is why I remember my love affair with Costco. I renewed my membership on the urging of my sister-in-law and a few darling friends. The day I went in I should say that my youngest spent a good while lying flat out on the concrete floor (Project Mama had to use her kindest, most restrained voice...), but we survived as a family. Anyway, as I was wandering in that special Costco haze, I found a single vanity for my destroyed ensuite. Espresso wood, 3 drawers, and a granite counter top. All I have to do is find the tap. All that gorgeousness for $350! I know this sounds high for my talented friends who could make the same thing out of egg cartons and wax candles - but this is a smokin' deal for the beginner who wants a good quality piece at a reasonable price.
#2. Don't do any sort of project that requires outside help over the Christmas season. Just don't. No one is giving any love away over Christmas. Everyone is busy, and most people seem to be trying to get previously started work done in time for Christmas. Every person has called me back (oh Merry Merry!), if only to tell me that they will get in touch with me in the New Year. I am currently expecting about 15 calls on January 4th.
#3. When you have a big disaster in your house and you know NOTHING about these kind of things, start asking questions. Lots of them. Ask your mom, your neighbour, your friend. Mention your question at the grocery store. So many people have very helpful things for you to consider - from the cost of flooring, types of paint, what to do with your stuff, even how to cook while your house is a disaster (barbecue). It amazes me the amount that everyone else other than me seems to know about home restoration/renovation. Really. It's impressive and the resource shouldn't be ignored.
Well, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. I am going down to throw some food in front of my children (playing the Wii) in the hopes that those little wild animals might smell it enough to throw some of it in their wee gullets.
Blessings to you.
Love,
Project Mama
Friday, December 4, 2009
Craig's List? Love it? Hate it?
I have to admit - Craig's list freaks me out. Hubby and I once bought a new wall oven (well - new to us) that NEVER worked. Never. What did we do about it? Well, we're Canadian. We did nothing - of course. Instead, we went out to Sears like we should have in the first place and bought what we really wanted and paid for it a year later.
ON THE FLIP SIDE.... I have recently been converted to being a seller on Craig's list. It's super recent, but people will buy anything - and they shouldn't be faulted for doing so. Here's why: there are people in the world who are way more talented than me. They can take something that I will never use - like the coffee table that I am just about bloody well finished with and turn it into some shining piece of glory. Honestly, I know that this aged wonder will be turned into a piece of art.
In the future - that will be me (of course....) - but until then, things that are grinding me down are destined for the Craig's list chopping block.
Here's what I started with. I got rid of a big bag of toy clutter. I put up three old Leapfrog leap pads that were just festering in my house - and you know what - it was about 2 hours before someone wanted them. 2 of them ended up not really working, so I sold 1 and gave a questionable one away. The one that is really fried will be discarded. I might even see if I can recycle it - go green! Yay! It wasn't much, but it was my addictive start.
My kids are even on the bandwagon. You should see one of my boys - now that he knows cash is involved - he's pretty excited to sell just about anything.
I was intimidated to set up the account - but it was just about the easiest thing I have ever done technology-wise.
If if keeps stuff out of landfills, if it makes my home more clutter-free and peaceful, if it buys a few new cans of paint - then Project Mama likes.
If I can do it, you can too.
Project Mama
ON THE FLIP SIDE.... I have recently been converted to being a seller on Craig's list. It's super recent, but people will buy anything - and they shouldn't be faulted for doing so. Here's why: there are people in the world who are way more talented than me. They can take something that I will never use - like the coffee table that I am just about bloody well finished with and turn it into some shining piece of glory. Honestly, I know that this aged wonder will be turned into a piece of art.
In the future - that will be me (of course....) - but until then, things that are grinding me down are destined for the Craig's list chopping block.
Here's what I started with. I got rid of a big bag of toy clutter. I put up three old Leapfrog leap pads that were just festering in my house - and you know what - it was about 2 hours before someone wanted them. 2 of them ended up not really working, so I sold 1 and gave a questionable one away. The one that is really fried will be discarded. I might even see if I can recycle it - go green! Yay! It wasn't much, but it was my addictive start.
My kids are even on the bandwagon. You should see one of my boys - now that he knows cash is involved - he's pretty excited to sell just about anything.
I was intimidated to set up the account - but it was just about the easiest thing I have ever done technology-wise.
If if keeps stuff out of landfills, if it makes my home more clutter-free and peaceful, if it buys a few new cans of paint - then Project Mama likes.
If I can do it, you can too.
Project Mama
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