Theres no one size fits all when it comes to gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The medley of microclimates here make for hit-or-miss conditions when planting the season’s garden. At my home, the beautiful… More
DIY: Tiny Memorial Garden
With Memorial Day right around the corner, I wanted do something to honor those that have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Every few years my birthday falls on this solumn day and this year happens to be the year. On the years I share my birthday with Memorial Day I am reminded that the celebration of birth is just as important as celebrating the lives of the fallen.
Here’s how I made this tiny memorial garden:
1) The second I picked up this rusted and battered old tin at our local transfer center I knew exactly what I was going to use it for. It was once part of an old movie theater popcorn machine but now it will be given a new life.
2) I placed small pots filled with stones (for stability) where my jars will soon go.
3) The I filled in the rest of the tin with potting soil.
4) I use worm castings for all of my plants. It’s nutritious, natural, and cost next to nothing for what magical properties it offers.
5) Sprinkled a good handful of it into the soil and mixed it in.
6) Gently remove your potted flowers and don’t forget to tease the roots if they look root-bound.
7) Dig little holes where your plants will go and place your plant of choice into it.
8) I chose red, white, and blue flowers just for the occasion. Make sure to design your planter with foliage that requires similar light and water requirements.
9) Place your jars in the garden, cover the exposed soil with mulch, and add some burlap ribbon to dress up the tin.
The candles in these vintage blue jars will wait to be lit for the big day. On that day my husband and I will enjoy a delicious homemade dinner with the tiny garden as a centerpiece on our outdoor dining table.
I can’t wait.
Do you have a Diy project that you want to share?
Farmer’s Market
There’s something sweet about our local year-round farmers market held in the heart of Santa Cruz, Ca. Theres nothing I love more than to hand choose freshly harvested fruits and vegetables strait from the farmer’s weekly harvest.
The people interlaced within our weekly Wednesday market are a part of something greater than just shopping for groceries. These people are supporting small businesses and choosing to eat the season’s offerings.
Despite the hustle and bustle feeling characteristic of the twenty-first century, the smiles, conversations, and the act of mindfully choosing produce perfectly capture a feeling of calmness and gratitude.
I gather the day’s treasures in reusable cloth bags, pack up, and head home to make a delicious salad from today’s picks.
With every bite, my husband and I internally thank the farmers for giving us the nutrition they grew for us from seed.
Thank you to all the organic family farmers out there who put the care and love into their harvest.
I can’t wait until next week’s market.
DIY: Rustic Crate Shelf
Never giving up on a task at hand is key to seeing the finished product. My home is full of old historically rich pieces and items that spark pure joy. Living in a small home is fun and has immobilized my creative juices for design and organization. The tiny entryway to my humble house needed a piece with a width no bigger than 10 inches, had an elegant but rustic farmhouse/industrial style, and provided enough storage for my plethora of gardening and health books. I finally came up with the plans for this piece and took a day to get the supplies.
I started with four wooden crates that you can find at Jo-Anns or at your local craft store. I fastened two together with a wooden support on what would be the underside of the shelf. (Update: Add more support if you are putting heavy items on the shelf)
The wooden pegs came next. I predrilled holes where I wanted the pegs, coated the screw on the peg and the predrilled hole with wood glue, and hand screwed them in.
Using a sheetrock shaping tool, I scuffed the edges of the crates and created some wear and tear, making the piece look well used and well loved. Then the staining began. I stained it with “Special Walnut” wood finish by Minwax, putting a little extra in the crevasses and scuff marks I created.
I left the top crates unattached to the two base crates for versatility.
Finally, after a day of curing they are ready to come in!
Done and good. See where a little determination will take you.
Do you have a DIY project you would like to share?
Determination
Creating hand made treasures from scratch relaxes me. This hand made wooden crate shelf sits elegantly in the entryway to my quaint and humble house as a reminder that I can do anything my mind is set on.
Whether it be a small daily task or a life changing move, you can do anything if you are determined. With a little determination, life can take you places that you only dreamed of. Having a dream, a set plan, and determination makes for the perfect recipe to satisfy your goals. Never give up!
We would love to hear your story of determination.
The Treasure Hunt Begins
I arrived at Tampa Airport at 5am after a long red eye flight from San Francisco, California. When I arrived I was pleasantly surprised that the weather wasn’t as humid and hot as times I have visited in the past.
It was a good transition from the cool Northern California air to the tropical south, however, this warming atmosphere soon lost its comforting glory to this thick blooded mountain girl. As the sun rose high in the sky, the humidity and heat prevailed as did the hustle and bustle of the town of Brandon on that fine Saturday morning.
When thinking of the state of Florida, visions of white sandy beaches, palm trees, retirement communities, and Spanish moss may come to mind. Vacationers often overlook the rich historical nuggets of the southern state and likewise, the phenomenal flea market and garage sale experiences.
The Journey Began on that Fine Saturday Morning
My sister, 5 year old niece, and I packed in the empty sedan that we knew would soon be filled with treasures from times past. We started route to a neighborhood well-known and advertised for its prime yard sales. Every other house in this community had open garages waiting to sell items that ranged from lightly used children cloths, clunky turn of the 21st century jewelry, and our favorite pieces screaming to tell a story.
Without its story this tapestry could possibly be yet another piece collecting dust in someone’s garage. Asking the owner stories behind historical pieces can seem a bit intrusive to some sellers but the risk is well worth it. Stories give life and depth to a piece that allow a personal connection to the past. Stories make the treasures come alive!
The History is Just as Important as the Treasure Itself
When this peacock tapestry was spotted in the beginning of our hunt that warm Saturday morning, this trio of history picking gals in the red sedan knew we found something special. The older woman who had sold it to us gladly shared its story. With what seemed like it held a key to her own life’s story she handed it off as much more than just an object. After hearing her heartfelt story, this hand-made tapestry will forever be remembered for its dawn circa 1940 when she and her late husband found it while stationed at a military base in Spain at the time.
The young couple was eager to come back home to the US with authentic cultural pieces that symbolized their time in Spain, and indeed they did. They came home with numerous tapestries, intricate painted pieces, and best of all, the memories of their exploration of a foreign country in their most impressional years. A half of a century later, the tapestry along with all the other Spanish treasures were being sold to buyers of that day’s yard sale extravaganza. Im not sure if anyone else that day had asked the stories behind these historically rich pieces, but we did.
Stories make garage finds into treasures. May history always be a practice of your treasure hunt exploration. Its the stories that help give the piece life once more.
I can’t wait to go back to Florida.
May your treasure hunt begin too.
Humble Tree Company 