As much as I love living in Alaska, one of the things we have had to give up is good produce. Beware; our grocery store produce is subject to change. When you do buy, best to eat it within a week or it’ll be bad. Up here we have green and then brown, not much… Continue reading Growing Vegetables in Alaska
Category: home + garden
DIY projects for the home and in the garden. Projects that reuse items are my favorite!
How to Make Awnings
Keeping a house cool in the summer can be expensive. Awnings are a great way to keep your home cooler while not increasing your electrical bill. Anytime you can create a barrier between the sun and the outside of a window, the inside of your home will stay dramatically cooler. We had a retractable awning… Continue reading How to Make Awnings
How to Fix Outdoor Chairs
I’m always on the look out for chairs that no one else wants. Chairs that have torn seats, missing parts or wobbly legs are easy to find. Sidewalks, garage sales, and second-hand stores are wonderful resources for broken down chairs. If you’re willing to do a little sewing, oiling or putting a fresh coat of… Continue reading How to Fix Outdoor Chairs
Growing Vegetables from Saved Seeds
Remember the seeds I saved from our vegetable garden last year? The seeds that I kept in these little bowls with high hopes of planting them this year and watching them grow? Well, I’m pleased to share that growing vegetables from saved seeds is going quite nicely. Pumpkins, squash, and arugula have all come up.… Continue reading Growing Vegetables from Saved Seeds
Goodwill Finds For Backyard Decorating
Look at how pretty this is. My friend, Maria, sent me these photos. The charger plates, vases, and table runners all came from, “The Bins” and were purchased second-hand. This is a great example of decorating with used items to create a beautiful lifestyle. You don’t have to spend lots of money on decorating and… Continue reading Goodwill Finds For Backyard Decorating
How to Turn a House Into a Home
One of my neighbors recently moved from a rental house on our street into her own home. She and her fiancée are getting married soon. She called me recently to ask for some advice on how to turn a house into a home. When I arrived at her sweet home, we reviewed her goals. She… Continue reading How to Turn a House Into a Home
Fixing Items at Home
Fixing items around your home, rather than getting rid of them and buying new can really save. By fixing what you have and not buying new, you’ll save money, resources, and time. Each of these fixes took very little time. The supplies used to fix these items are all simple items that are good to… Continue reading Fixing Items at Home
Estate Sale Finds: Vintage Wrapping Paper
One of my favorite items to purchase at estate sales is vintage wrapping paper. Not only is it inexpensive to purchase but it is classic and funky. Add a pretty ribbon and you’re ready for gift giving. This package of vintage gift wrap was purchased recently at an estate sale. Grand total? $1. I especially… Continue reading Estate Sale Finds: Vintage Wrapping Paper
Notes From the Class You Missed
Did you miss the class last month on “How to Shop at the Goodwill Outlet Store” or more commonly known as “The Bins?” If so, here are the notes from the class you missed! We’ll do another one soon. We doubled the number of attendees and had fun. Matt Buxton, from “The Oregonian” newspaper missed… Continue reading Notes From the Class You Missed
DIY Flower Arranging
Let me go on record here: I am not a floral designer and up until this project, I had no experience with fancy flowers. My expertise is in easy, cut from the yard flower arrangements. I am a “Do It Yourself Type of Gal” especially if it involves saving money! When a friend asks for… Continue reading DIY Flower Arranging
Go Gingham 