Pregnancy and Gardening Frustration

So I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant and have had a rough time with morning sickness- like didn't see the sun or my gardens this summer... it was rough. But, now I'm trying to deal with letting things be outside - basically because I'm not supposed to do stuff because you know I'm pregnant and all (and I injured myself lifting something that was too heavy, ugh). Pregnancy is all about telling me not to do stuff, not to eat stuff, etc. Not for me I can tell you that, my parents haven't been able to tell me what to do since I was 5. But I digress....

The other problem is that all my hard work outsides seems to be pointless because I live by the Pine Bush Preserve. which if anyone knows the capital region in NY they know that it means sand, not just sandy soil but basically a beach, and really acidic sand at that.




I didn't have the heart to post a sad picture of my yard so here is the sign for the preserve.


I love my white pines esp. in the long winter when I really need something green but, could do without the havoc it causes on my soil. I have successfully planted an acidic shade garden under the one pine (something everyone said was impossible and has been challenging but, I feel we are on the right track). But getting vines, split perennials and grass to thrive has been challenging to say the least. If I wanted moss, omg I'm great at growing that , or nothing at all, loose sand, perfect, but a nice green garden and grass forget it.

OK well if anyone reads this and has advise I'm all ears. if I come up with a solution I'll post it. otherwise another year I have to learn to live this a sad yard....

Autumn has arrived!

 

This weekend I decorated for fall. its  a bit early for me to do that but the weather has cooled off and my father was up helping me secure my interior staircase which was really in scary bad shape (later post will talk about that). So while I had our storage closet torn apart I decided to go ahead and start to decorate. Last year I lost a bunch of my ceramic pumpkins to my dog and one to my cat.... I was very upset and learned a lesson, don't leave this down low even if you don't have kids.

So this is this years arrangement. I don't like to overdo it just make it look festive and seasonally appropriate. (please disregard the lighting, it was late and I just wanted to snap a few shots.)

 

 

A Big Suprise

I haven't posted in a while and that's likely because I have been so sick, morning sick that is. Yes, the impossible apparently was possible, the infertile fertile. I am unexpectedly but still happily pregnant. It was quite a shock to both me and my husband. I probably wouldn't even of known had I not gotten so sick and my office mate, and truth be told "work husband", kept telling me that I looked like I had morning sickness not a flare up of my condition, endometriosis. (He knew what it looked like since he has three kids).  He was right, and it only got worse. I spend most of my summer trying not to vomit everything I ate, every time I moved, which was as little as possible. Because of my PCOS (poly cystic ovarian disease) my first trimester was high risk (though I was 2 months into it before I knew and ironically had done everything wrong I probably could have done including falling down a large flight of stairs during that time). 

So I made it through and at my 30th birthday party instead of enjoying birthday margaritas I announced the big news to those who had not figured it out (when I am being social and don't have a beer its a give away). Don't let me pretend its been roses and butterflies. I have horrible morning sickness, migraines, my depression and anxiety as real as ever and I feel betrayed by my own body because everyone keeps telling me "don't do that" when I try to start one of my many projects on my to do lists. Apparently paint thinner and moving heavy things are frowned upon. I keep telling myself its only one summer lost, but it still stinks...

So despite my DIY pity party, I officially will have it all. A great career, a pretty beautiful home (still need work outside but lets pretend), my committed husband, my supportive family, my 'baby' dogs and kitty, and now a baby. I know, your gaging. I am too to be honest. But so it goes. So I may have some new adventures to post but I will continue to keep in the traditions taught to me. Hopefully I can pass down the values of a love of the outdoors, do it yourself mentality that I have been taught, without driving my technology based husband crazy. 

Gardens are good for your Health!

BBC has this fantastic article in which it talks about the proven value of spending time in diverse gardens! It helps you reduce stress, improve mood and creates less anxiety- things us gardeners already knew!

"What was very important was that the gardens had to have biodiversity - a variation of plants,"
 "Evidence showed that concrete gardens had no effect at all, so you had to have green gardens."

 

Picture taken from BBC website

 

To read the SUPER interesting article visit here: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26871970

Spring is Springing

Well its official Ive seen green!!!!!!!!
While I was down visiting my parents, 100 miles south, I saw my first sign of spring, the snowdrops (common double snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno') I planted in their back garden just off the deck (strategically placed so that we can see our first flower right away from the house!) Usually they are up the second week of March so things are clearly behind this spring. I love these flowers because they are the first sign of spring and my flowers to come.

I forgot to grab a picture, this is what wikipedia had as their picture.

 I have planted some at my house in Albany, NY but, they haven't come up yet. However, yesterday next to a pile of snow I saw the crown of a hyacinth! Which means- its happening things ARE coming back to life even hear in the 'tundra.' As a result I went right in and got my spring wreath for my door and climbed over the snow pile (only the piles are left) and hung my spring garden flag! Then last night my parents neighbor posted a picture of a crocus, see below.

 I didn't get my crocus bulbs in last year with the new house and the wedding but i will be getting them in this year so i can enjoy them next spring. I'm so happy. Really. So. Happy. I couldn't take any more clouds and cold and snow.

Snow Snow go away

I am convinced that the snow will never melt. I'm in an eternal winter. Or at least that's how it feels. I am so desperate for spring that I keep checking the status of my spring hill nursery order almost daily and bought myself some new pretty pots for when the weather breaks. Sure I have things to do inside of the house, but they are much easier when I can use the yard (like my recycling can- gross and painting furniture). So I wait, and wait, and wait.


Today, while I was on a pointless lunchtime walk that I decided was for nailpolish since Im trying to avoid sweets, I saw potting soil in the Rite Aid. Now, yes it was probably overpriced but, it was the right size bag to carry back to my office and it was there. I have been collecting plants at my office, which I tend to all winter to keep from going crazy. I mean I tend to them in the summer as well but you get it. Anyway, some of my plants  were in need of soil. I also had some splits from other plants that had gotten to big that were still in water.  So I bought a bag,  cleared my back desk and went to work. I made a mess but it was better than looking at my computer screen. And now since I still have to look at my screen, I decided to write this quick post to document my first true act of touching dirt this season.

Ohh please let the warm come soon. Otherwise I might convert my extra desk into a greenhouse... and I don't think my boss would approve.

A wreath made with love!

Last fall my uncle presented me with a wreath made from grape vines from my grandfather's (Pop-pop) vines. My uncle now lives in my grandparents house which I love because everytime I step in the yard I remember my childhood. I loved the wreath but hadn't decided what to do with it. A little Pinterest later and a long trip to Michael's (my favorite craft store) and I had a vision. 

Luckily, I had some shows I wanted to watch on my DVR and Netflix and with no end in winter in sight I made a Saturday afternoon out of my project. I will say that I burned my hand a few times because the hot glue goes right through the burlap but I was determined to get the look I wanted.

 I put a wooden letter on the wreath for my married name (side note I'm hyphenated legally but use my maiden name more because I was already an established attorney) but changed the color three times. I started with a light blue but worried it would clash with my aqua flower pots and that I wasn't being true to my signature color so I changed to to a turquoise and that clashed with my flowers.

I ended up painting it a natural nude color and I have to say I am very happy with it! 

As you can see I had to shake the table cloth off outside after. I can't wait to hang this on our front door (which I've decided to paint watch for a post)!

Weight and See...

I am an active person. I am constantly cleaning my house, reorganizing, working, researching, DIYing, gardening, landscaping, playing with my dogs... you get the picture. But weight has always been a struggle. Yesterday a co-worker made a comment about my weight. Now, he prefaced it with you seem like someone who isn't sensative about it, and in that aspect I take that to be a compliment becuase he thinks I'm stronger than to be sensitive. But in reality I am sensative. Weight has always been an issue for me. I have been yo-yo dieting since the 5th grade and have lost 30, 75, and 90 lbs, of course gaining it back inbetween. Always to the same weight. Its very frustrating.

Reality is having been though this, I know how different people treat you when you are thin versus when you are heavy. Noone sees blonde hair, blue eyes, white straight teeth, or four degrees earned all before 28. They see weight. Its sad but true. Well I felt bad about it for about 12 hours and then I realized that this was the wake up call I needed. I cannot accept this any longer. Its time to start to fight again. This will be my lifelong battle but I refuse to go through life hating myself and resenting myself and food. Yes, I am a naturally bigger perrson. I gain weight easier than other people and I have some bad eating habits (I eat all my feelings from happy to sad) but thats no excuse.

I must fight! For myself, for my pride, for my family.  So I know I will have to work hard and it will take time but just you "weight and see!"

Refinished china cabinet

So last summer I had borrowed my parents old mini van and I had to take advantage of this vehicle. With a new china set on the way as a wedding gift I knew I needed a china cabinet but didn't want to spend a lot. I found this cabinet on craigslist for $100 but we had to move it out ourselves (and it doesn't come apart) which was rough but, my husband and I got it in the van and back to our garage where it sat for about three months until our wedding and honeymoon dust had settled. Then I went to work. I decided I wasn't up for a total stripping and refinishing project so I decided to try the rustoleum furniture refinish kit ( I'd been dying to try it). We agreed on the expresso finish. Overall I'm very happy with it! I didn't really want to invest in new hardware in case I ended up hating it so I just painted the existing hardware with the rustoleum brushed nickel (TIP: if you are using this on something and notice that the metallic in the paint starts to pool on the item then spray the paint onto a plate ( or fast food lid like I did lol) use a cotton ball for application- that evens it out and prevent excess paint which I found to cause the pooling and sliding. The process did take three weekends and some sanding during the week but, I like to do it right. Below are my before during and after photos. I get tons of compliments and my friends can't believe I did it all on my own!

The hand me down table and chairs, which you can see in the last picture, are on my list for this spring. I'm thinking white chairs and table bottom with a matching expresso table top but we'll see.

Third times the charm!

So first I called it 'Aim to Organize', but i found the name too limiting and felt like I could only write about house stuff. Then after some major changes in my life I tried "Mrs-Esq" which is who I am a new Mrs. (who would have thought) and an attorney, but somehow it just wasn't inspiring me. Then this morning, while I was putting on my makeup in my bathroom decorated with botanical prints (which I found here: http://www.adailysomething.com/2013/03/free-printable-botanical-prints-01.html for free and I love them),  it hits me, a new name, that accurately reflects me and my passions "A Gardener's Granddaughter". A perfect opportunity to open the window and talk about my passions: my family, gardening and my home. General enough to still leave it open to talk about DYI and home improvement and life in general. Lets hope this name sticks, I'm over changing it but I want to feel inspired!

 

A history of my Gardeners Granddaughter meaning: "I grew up sitting under fruit trees, listening to my Grandfather's stories, helping him tinker with his latest project, garden and learning about the world around me. Now as an adult, I've brought the lessons I learned and the values I gained into my own home, garden and life.

Finding time to meet the demands of my career as an attorney, decorating our home, landscaping our property myself, taking care of our beloved dogs, a new baby on the way and spending time with family and friends can be challenging but, I'm up to it!"

NOTE:1-27/15 it still wasn't right, so again have changed it. One of these days I will figure out what I want to write about. But, I have decided to use old names to categorize entries. That way if anyone does read this blog, they will see where it all comes from!

House of Horrors

We bought our house last March and moved in the first weekend in April. It was completely redone and i love it. I cant wait to do the landscaping but inside.... its getting to me. We had some plumbing problems and had to rip out some sheetrock (frozen pipes that were properly insulated by a bathroom vent and a leaky tub drain). So sheetrocking had to be done in the laundry room ceiling and the downstairs bathroom ceiling. Luckily my brother and sister came up, with a truck, and helped me get the supplies to the house. So the bathroom looks great- amazing- like nothing ever happened. And it didnt hurt that the contractors left the paint so there was no issue matching colors.

BUT the laundry room repair got out of hand. what started as a 10x 10 inch hole turned into a 3x4 ft hole!. the patch doesnt match up and we tried taping and spackling and spackling and sanding and spackling and sanding on and on and on.....

so it looks terrible...

once we get a different vehicle im starting over!

ohh and during the cleanup i broke a beer bottle (we store our alcohol on a shelf in there) and cut my hand made a mess and got glass in my foot and and my dog tried to lick it up and then pooped on the floor,..... it was BAD

And to make things better my broken stair that just keeps braking (despite my tyraid of nails- 23 to be exact) is broken becuase the main frame of the stair is cracked.

Maybe i should just quite my job and be a contractor.....
Ugh

Gardening Obsession

While my winter is filled with sheetrock repairs from frozen and leaking pipes and some quality closet and drawer organizing, I can't help but dream about my garden. Last year I convinced my husband that the old OLD bushes in front of the house need to go and that i will replace them with something more leasing (and that leaves more room for flowers!). Well while I was traveling for work, mindlessly surfing the internet for gardening tips while I rode the train, I came across a site that talked about app for your ipad that help you plan your garden!
Of course I couldnt resist and decided to downloan iScape. An app that allows you to design your garden by slecting a picture of your house. To say im obsessed is an understatement.
Heres the picture i stated with (yes my garland is still up - its been like 0 and the snow hasnt melted)


See the ugly bushes! there were more coming out at an angle from the house that ive already ripped out. Im saving the rhonodendron- yes its a little thin, but it blooms a gourgous color and with enough plant food and pruning i think it we make something of it ohh and Im saving the winterberry on the other side of the house, i prunned it hardcore last year so its not a pretty this winter as it can be but give me time...

ok so this is what i will have (ps the house faces north and is heavy shade)


all of the plants i've picked can handle the sandy acidic soil we have with heavy shade (well the sypress shrubs i have here will probably have to be american holly but i didnt like the picture they had of the holly).

OK im a dork but im obsessed and it will help me plan what i need to buy/split! hurry up spring!!!!!!