LOVE Readymade's wooden caterpillar pull toy - a DIY for sure!

Also check out Helping Little Hands' Double-Dino Tee. Again, if only I could sew!

In the meantime, I am trying to get into the CSU Extensions' Organic Gardening program (the Master's course is too long - but there are helpful items on Mountain Gardening Basics and Composting yard waste - as to not attract our neighbor bears!). Although my friends tell me the growing season here is *so* short that it's worthwhile only to plant flowers. And hardy ones at that. Well, I'll do half and half - half transplanted into our garden, the others in containers that we can bring in from the potting shed, if necessary, at night (case in point, tomatoes). Otherwise, hello Farmer's Market!

Summer Garden

I am inspired by the Crochet Dude's garden layout. I may borrow the ideas for our garden up here this summer. Provided it works at high altitude. We'll see!

Here are some inexpensive ideas I've learned so far:

• Staking Tomatoes: I remember watching Martha Stewart stake her tomatoes to bamboo dowels with an "old pair of nylons, Donna Karan" (who doesn't have $20 nylons!). I have used plain wooden dowels and cheap nylons and they work the same. I plan to do the same this summer.
• Aphids: Use 2-3 Tbsp dishwashing liquid per gallon of water, spray.
• Mulching: I will be using shredded, decomposable newspaper as mulch.
• Organic Matter: I haven't gotten around to starting a mini compost bin (or even super mini), so I'll have to think of something new to prep the gardening bed. Learn how to compost here and here. It seems best idea is to have one outside/in the "greenhouse" and keep kitchen scraps in a 5-gallon drum with lid or coffee can until ready.
• Sprouting: Start seedlings inside (click here for high altitude seeds - or better yet, dry your favorite tomato, zucchini, pumpkin seeds. You'll have to buy the lettuce, onion, etc!). Reuse old egg cartons (be sure to water those more often) or mini-yogurt containers that come in 6 packs to start the seedlings.
• Sprouting Micro-greens: If you prefer micro-greens, start in an old "clam shell" container (that lettuce comes in), poke holes in bottom, add organic soil and seeds and you're off! Remove the lid after they poke their heads up (so they don't rot) and use as the water catcher on the bottom. Click here for a microgreen mini-tutorial.
• Propagation: Some seedlings can be propagated once in the ground. You will have to research this. We have taken basil, cut below the branches, stuck in a glass of water, and they shoot roots within a week.
• Seed storage: Take leftover dry seedlings and freeze in their packets in a ziploc bag, to keep for the next year.
• Potting Table: I am using my old drafting table in our new revamped "potting shed" in our little enclosed area out back (new use for old space). Super warm during the day and enclosed, it's the perfect spot for the table, still covered in plastic wrap from moving. Hey, that protects the wood! Click here for other "upcycled" projects.

Other, more general gardening tips:

• Find your zone at USDA hardiness zones via zip code (mine is 5). High altitude instructions may be found here.
• Plan well. Especially at high altitudes, create microclimates to help more sun get to the garden.
• Check out Craftzine for other inexpensive ideas, including keeping animals away and reusing coffee grounds and banana peels, and using recycled materials for bedding, drip-irrigation and mini-greenhouses.

Yum Yum!

- Recipes: I am dying to try this lovely Zucchini Tarte. I love me some zucchini!

And, bizarrely enough, I want to try Gimme Some Ovens! Red Hot Jello, just for the sake of using red hots in classic jello. If you get to it before I do, let me know how it goes.

What's Old is New Again

After the trip back east, and talking with friends who are starting up a new business in taking reclaimed wood and making new, hand-created pieces from it (blog link to follow), I know I really like finding ways to make something considered trash into something new. Or close enough.

Such as:

- Kids: Instead of fancy diaper containers, we took and old wipe container. They contain up to three day's worth of diapers in a compact package, right at your fingertips. And fits nicely in the top of the changing table (which was a hand-me-down, repainted with one small paint can to match the crib - looking like a matched set. we didn't even sand it, and it looks great).

- Diapers: On the subject of diapers, we use disposable. Being in the hospital with a preemie, and then coming home on oxygen, going cloth diapers was the last thing on my mind. Besides, I couldn't due to the size of the diapers. Now my friend who is an engineer did a comparison study of cloth vs. disposables when her first daughter was born. The result? She found that using a diaper service (delivery and pickup) used the same amount of petroleum as disposable diapers. In other words, they were equally bad for the environment.

If you have the time and the inclination, and are not using a service, check out bumkins or other diaper systems on amazon or even craigslist.

- Cleaning: Instead of a fancy glass cleaner, I take an empty gallon jug, fill it with 2-oz of baby shampoo, 1 bottle of isopropyl alcohol, and the rest with water. Shake, shake, shake and refill your spray bottle. If appearances matter, then add a few drops blue food coloring. The clear stuff is really eco-friendly, inexpensive and lasts a long time. Especially the way I clean.

- Organizing: Use old coffee cans - as yarn holders (see above courtesy of do stuff!) . Or utensil organizers.

Do you have any tips? I hope to post more as I figure them out.

Design, Cincinnati-Style

- A week at Easter with the most glorious weather around, we headed towards Findlay's Market. Oh, I wish we had one up here in the mountains! Including the beloved Busken Bakery, Meat stands, fresh produce, seafood, and more, it's a treasure in the area known as Over-the-Rhine. The spice collections alone are worth the trip.

Then we headed for Ohio Bookstore. New, old, used, rare. 4 stories high. Drat, it closed at 4:45. Next time. Besides the normal restaurants, including Skyline Chili (the Greek Salad is amazing); and Graeter's Ice cream (thankfully now nationally distributed via Kroger/City Market!) we enjoyed Maribelle's on Riverside Drive, and the yummy Bangkok Bistro - so much bang for your buck.

Gaze at the amazing Cincinnati Public Library (downtown) - it's crazy to find little gems of architecture (either old or new) in the "Queen City". I look forward to checking out more of the sights, whether the Gwynne Building or the Union Terminal.

For other things to do, try BuyCincy for weekend events.