We're still hangin'!

It's been a loooong time since we've posted...too busy adventuring lol :)


Worry not, all is super well at the cabin...old pets have moved on over the rainbow bridge...new pets have been adopted...the landscape has been improved(?) and loved...And now we have a SECOND floor! Well, sort of...we've cleared the loft area and hired artisans to construct a ladder to said loft. It's cool!  The hubby is gardening this year...I foresee a lot of yummy tomato sammies in our future!


I've taken up painting and am moving away from the more fiber-based endeavors.  You can see my painting gallery here: www.FilomenaJackStudio.com


Thanks for hangin' in here with us...more info will be added more often, promise :)

 The "wee cabin" above is still chock full of creative ammo and spiders :) #sheshed

Thinking about: Hyssop for the Garden

Watched an episode of Gardening by the Yard that discussed the wonders of Hyssop. Great for upping the butterfly and hummingbird activity.  I like those activities A LOT!

This type, Agastache rupestris, with it's tube-like flowers are great for the humming birds

and Anise Hyssop - Agastache foeniculum is great for the butterflies. AND you can eat it and make tea with the leaves.  Super good! I heart anise.

There are some "blue" varieties that are especially alluring to me and some with a bit of orange that Mr. VCA will enjoy.

Oh, and they said the deer don't like them.  Win!
(picts from UnderWoodGardens.com)

Fall Bulb o'Rama!

Just ordered a bunch (um, 165) bulbs to plant this fall!

I know, I know tulips are usually deer food...but I am hoping the allium will deter the deer (and I'm sure our new adopted doggie [teaser!] will help with that too). I couldn't resist the double petals.

The white-ish daffodil is called "White Lion" (HAD to have that! I will tease my hair in celebration!)

The white tree lily is called "Pretty Woman" and eventually will be taller than me.

I've grown the large purple allium (Giganteum) in the past and they are a-maze-ing!

I picked orange daffodils (really, who can resist?) since Mr. Vegan Cabin Adventure is partial to that shade. We planted some "normal" yellow ones last year and the chipmunks/squirrels/groundhogs/deer were kind enough to allow like 5 to grow to maturity. Daffodils are deer resistant but bulbs are almost always up for grabs. This year I will add cyan pepper when planting.  And say an extra prayer to the bulb gods.

That little blue thing (of which I ordered 50) is new to me. Siberian Squill or Scilla. It's blue! Or at least it better be :)

Composters

I have been researching which composter to invest in. Currently I think we're going to go with this one:

(Photo from the Urban Garden Center website.)

Less than $200 with a 10 year warranty. 

Any suggestions?  Do you have a composter that you love/hate?

The composter needs to be covered, easy to turn and be able to stand up to our long cold winters.

I have also been looking into composting cat (and eventually) dog waste in a separate area. Oy vey. 

Seed Savers Exchange

Just read an interesting article on Etsy about The Seed Savers Exchange.  I'd never heard of this amazing organziation before and look forward to purchasing a few seed packs next spring. They promote education, seed preservation and community spirit.

[these lovely ladies are from our own wild patch, not from SSE]

Their catalog is gor-gee-ous and makes for a mouth watering page turner.   Check them out, become a member and donate to the cause if you can!

Mail boxes and a Rose Caper

First off...

How do you order a mailbox if you don't have a mailbox to ship it to?  (this is the type of question that would explode a robot's head)

We've been so proud to not have a mail box up at the cabin for a long time...but now that we're making the move to full time Cabin Adventure it's time for a proper mail box.  Once this baby arrives (from Home Depot online only) we just need a interesting looking jug/container and some quickcrete.

Second off...

Someone has been nipping our roses! What the what!?! I haven't been able to inspect the (crime?) scene yet. The hubby reported that the roses on one (luckily not both) of the bushes have been cut off. Not nibbled off...but cut off a la Morticia Adams. Hmmm...a mystery is afoot! 

Stay tuned for (hopefully) an answer to the question: "Where the heck my roses at?!"