Christmas Wish Lists

I haven't heard from everyone, but I'm putting what I want out there (nothing new about that, right?)... Send me your lists and I'll post them here for all to see.

I will also include a list of "personal items" so mom can tell Santa and George (the Elf) what we might want to get in our stockings.

Becca's Wishlist
- Hungry Girl cookbook: these are available in a lot of places (Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, etc.)
- Origins Smoothing Souffle (whipped body cream): this is available only from the Origins counter at department stores or online; I really like the Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins line, too (with mushrooms)
- beverage / mug warmer: there was one in the Bed Bath & Beyond circular for $5
- electric (cordless) kettle, something similar to this would be great
- socks: I need thin, but preferably cotton, brown or black socks; I'm not opposed to patterns, but would like them to look good with dress pants.
- iPhone 4s kickstand case: it is a case for the phone that has a prop similar to tabletop frames.
- Giftcards: Old Navy, iTunes, Macy's, Target, ZAGG (where I could make my own iPhone4s case with any image I want!)
- Wii games
- Wii nunchuk
- Weather Station
- tripod (Gorilla Tripod) - I guess I would need the Gorillapod Original for my little camera or the Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM to hold Brian's nice camera that I use a lot...

Will's Wishlist (Christmas and Birthday)
- toolbox and tools
- non-fiction book about The Titanic
- work bench
- RCB Cordless Drill
- Remote Controlled Vehicle that can do stunts like flipping over
- telescope
- camping gear: mess kit, flashlight, fork/knife/spoon combo, sleeping pad
- hi-hat cymbal
- sports clothing: Nationals, Capitals, Ravens, Orioles

Mom's Wishlist
- plain dishclothes
- wind chimes for the front porch (not big, medium-sized)
- slicing knife, like to slice a roast
- outdoor flag for Christmas
- earrings that dangle, but not too long

Hank's Wishlist
- Quality long underwear
- Wool socks
- White fish t-shirts Guy Harvey or Joe Tomellari
- Tackle bag
- Seat for John Boat
- Hunting bibs
- Insulated pants for hunting
- Music: Keith Whitley (Don’t Close Your Eyes), Emmylou Harris, John Anderson, Don Williams, Don Edwards, Cory Morrow, Tracey Lawrence, 80’s rock (Guns and Roses etc), Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, The Harwell Grice Band (not A Million Miles(I have that))

Bo's Wishlist
- Duluth Trading Company: XL- Trim fit for undershirts
- Duluth Trading Company: long tail tees, 2XL tall for shirts-flannels
- Duluth Trading Company: size 40x30 for Ball room jeans
- Kitchen things that would be restaurant quality that he could use at work......

Sarah's Wishlist
- black cotton crew socks
- cardigan sweaters (lighter weights as the heat in the office is HOT compared to home)
- money towards a new computer
- Crabtree and Eveylyn Nantucket Briar

Sally's Wishlist
- Fancy perfume by Jessica Simpson
- Jewelry box (in white) or this one (also in white) There was another one I saw too, similar to these two, but I can’t find it right now.
- Earbuds or these
- Earphone cord wrapper thingy
- Pajama set – pants and top (if sold as a set go for Mediums. If sold separately, go for Medium top and Large bottom)
- Kitchen Items:
- http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/holiday-cookie-stamps/?pkey=cbakware-christmas
- http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/holiday-stamp-style-cookie-cutters/?cm_src=hero
- http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-192566/Chicago-Metallic-Pie-Mold
- http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-563726/Nordic-Ware-Nonstick-Ebelskiver-Pan

Brian's Wishlist
- Gift cards (Sears, Walmart, Game Stop, Best Buy)
- Good Leather Belt with removable buckle (size 44-46)
- Root Beer Making Kit (available at Bed Bath & Beyond)

Sarah's Stocking Items
- Sure unscented ...though I have quite a bit (BJ'S big pack)
- St. Ives Apricot Face scrub....blemish and black head control....orange label
- Pantene Mousse' for Curls
- Pantene or Suave Color care Shampoo and conditioner

Bo's Stocking Items
- Old Spice- Original ...Original Scent deodorant
- Dove -bar- unscented (soap)
- Shampoo....he uses any type...daily care or moisturizing....light scents...
- Melaleuca- Whitening with fluoride toothpaste

Brian Jr's Stocking Items
- Old Spice- High Endurance...pure Spot...or Ocean Breeze..... hard to say because he uses whatever he has in the cabinet, which is what ever we give him throughout the year!
- Shampoo....again whatever
-Mentadent toothpaste....but we bought a giant pack at BJ's a couple of months go and he has quite a number of containers....you could just come get one out of the bathroom closet and give it to him again
- Body wash.....only he knows he has used many varieties, but I am not certain he has a preferance
- Soap...he has been sticking with Ivory, as he appeared to have an allergic reaction last year to the Irish spring...it may have just been that he was washing, but we have to be careful

Becca's Stocking Items
Face Wash: I like Neutrogena Deep Clean Face Wash but usually use the generic one from WalMart, Target or CVS (be wary, there are Acne Face Washes that are the same color)
Lip Balm: I've been into Blistex Medicated Lip Balm (teal color) lately, but always appreciate Lip Medex (small blue tin)
Powder: Gold Bond Ultimate Comfort Body Powder
Deodorant: Degree Invisible Solid Shower Clean
Shower Gel: St. Ives Renewing Collagen Elastin Body Wash and I can always use a new poof
Moisturizer: Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15 Formula
Toothbrush: Spin Brush (I can always use new heads)

Sally's Stocking Items
Neutrogena Deep Clean Scrub (face wash)
Neutrogena Naturals purifying pore scrub (face wash)
Neutrogena Naturals facial cleanser (face wash)
Venus Breeze Cartridges (razors)
Degree Ultra Clear Deodorant (Pure Rain)
Hand Lotion – any kind
Biore Pore Strips
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Trees – cause reese’s peanut butter cups taste better when they are in any shape other than a cup.
Burt’s Bees Chapstick – I usually go with plain, but I suppose I could/should branch out every now and then.

Delicious!

I was finally able to enjoy more than just one or two items. Yesterday I returned to the garden after a week's vacation and found quite a few of the grape tomatoes had turned red. I picked 'em off and popped them into my mouth. Delicious! I never understood how my mom could just eat a tomato from the garden like an apple from the tree, but with these little guys you really can get the flavor burst.

I've got nothing new on the bean plants and the cucumbers aren't producing anything, but the watermelons are starting to form. Maybe I'm only good at spherical produce? My peppers are turning, but they aren't that big. Here are a few shots...

tomatoes:


watermelon:

one bean at a time

Just about a week ago, I noticed that my one bean plant had one bean on it. I was ecstatic! I waited until today to pick it. I enjoyed it fresh from the garden on my way around the plot while I checked on my other veggies. Here's my one bean - the first of my produce to be enjoyed (by me and not by bugs or other critters).


This is how my grape tomatoes looked about a week ago.


Here they are this afternoon!! Getting some nice redness on them. I think this week's temps will really have them shining by Friday.

thank you to all the waterers out there...

It seems that regular watering helps things grow. My stuff is starting to flourish (although not as well as other people's stuff). Here are a few shots of my stuff...



full size tomatoes


















crooked pepper


















grape tomatoes

Progress

OK, so we've set up a watering schedule that leaves us in charge of watering everyone's plots a few days each month. I think that this is responsible for any progress that I've seen. Consistency isn't my strong suit, especially when it comes to watering a garden that I do not see each day (meaning it isn't on my way to or from anywhere so I often drive right by without remembering to water my garden).

I've got a few plants that are growing and a few that are not. I decided to just accept that not everything will flourish (damn it!). Here are a few shots of progress...















Lettuce




















Tiny Pepper















Bigger Pepper


Biggest Pepper


my only bean plant


watermelon plants


cucumber plants

watering and waiting

So others have been watering my plot and I have been watering my plot. And we even have a hose hooked up now to make watering easier. I'm loving it. I have even gotten some sprouts from my seeds - yeah!!

beans (i think)


watermelon (with lettuce in the distance)


cucumbers


time:
5 minutes here or there

money:
$5 towards the hose costs

Small steps

OK, I stopped by the garden on my way home on Tuesday and put in the tomato trellises. I wanted to just get them out of the car and I know that it is very early to have them over the plants. Additionally, I know that my smaller grape tomato plants do not need 54" trellises, but that is all that was available. The good news is that the plants were still there and it didn't appear that the deer had discovered them yet.

I've also started a compost bucket at home to add to our bigger compost pile at work. So now, in addition to transporting manure, fertilizer, implements, etc., I'll be taking compost back and forth to work.

time:
Tuesday, 5/24, 5 minutes

money:
$7

I have never been happier to see a worm...

Last night I decided to purchase my plants so that I was forced to plant them today. I knew if I waited, I wouldn't have gotten the plants and done the planting on this gorgeous day - I would have found another way to occupy my time.
I bought 3 small grape tomato plants, 1 regular tomato plant, 4 pepper plants and then seeds for lettuce, cucumbers, green beans, and watermelons. I also picked up organic plant food.
After my duties at the Board meeting, I mentally prepared myself to spend a few hours in the sun. I also slathered on the sunscreen since it is the first fully sunny day we've had in over a week.
Here's how the plot looked when I got here.

I was pleased that there wasn't too much ponding in my plot since last week it was squishy, very squishy. I went to work turning the soil a bit just to get the dry parts wet and wet parts not so wet. While turning the soil, I saw some worms and was so happy to know that the soil has recovered from its dead state of a week ago. After that, it was just a matter of deciding where to plant what.
I've a row of tomatoes, a row of peppers with lettuces in between.
The next row is watermelon seeds and my last row is bush beans and cucumbers.
Also, the other members of the community put up a fence last week - I'm not sure if it will keep out the deer, but at least they will have to work a little harder to get in.


time:
Saturday, 5/21: 120 minutes

money:
$41

Black Thumb goes Green (hopefully)

So I've been making a lot of changes recently and I decided that I could handle embarking upon a new endeavor - gardening. Some great folks at school have made it possible for us to have plots in a community garden space on campus. There will be a some start up costs to us (fencing, hoses, etc.) and then basically we are on our own.

I chose a 10' x 10' plot because I didn't want to be too ambitious (and because I'm scared that I can't even take care of 10 sq. ft.). If I'm honest, I've barely kept a shamrock plant alive since March - that's only 2 months, so my track record is slim. Our garden plots are behind the stables at school. I'm not sure what, if anything, was here previously, but the top soil that is there now was brought in from another spot on campus.

I went out last week to chose my plot from among the many that had been staked. I chose one close to the woods (welcome deer!). It turns out I also may have chosen the wettest plot available. It rained a small amount on Friday night, and then mostly drizzled with some heavier showers on Saturday. This photo was taken on Sunday morning when I arrived at my plot.

My plan for Sunday was to turn over the topsoil (and maybe go down about 6 inches) to see what life, if any, I could find. I wanted to add in some manure, too, to help add nutrients to the soil. It was a muddy morning, but it could have been worse, I suppose. After about 2 1/2 hours, I had spaded most of the soil, added in manure and moved it around with a cultivator. The top soil (which had been brought to the site and then tilled) was relatively loose, but underneath there was some thicker, clayier soil that really took some work. I found a variety of stones, rocks, tree limbs, roots, landscaping plastic and even part of a tiller disc, but almost zero signs of life. The only bugs were the gnats flying around my head and I felt sort of like WALL-E when I found one tiny little sprout of grass in the topsoil. Here's what the post-turning soil looked like:

Here's another shot with the slight berm on the high side of the plot.

I'm hoping to dig some trenches just outside the plot to direct the water around and not pouring through my soil. I've also dug a ponding trench on the far (lower in elevation) side of the plot to capture the water and hold it until it gets absorbed back into the soil in the plot.


Now I'm going to sit back and wait a few days to see what happens. There are storms predicted all week so I'm not sure if I will really be able to plant anything until next Sunday. My predicted crops: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, watermelons, and green beans. I eat most of these and can make zucchini bread with the extra squash.

I'm going to put a time and money tally at the end of each post to show what I've spent on creating this garden...

time:
Thursday, 5/12: 30 minutes (chose plot)
Sunday, 5/15: 150 minutes (turned soil, spread manure)

money:
implements & manure: $46