Something old is new again with leftover lumber...

It has been awhile since I posted about something old becoming new again.   Last year around this time we bought some property out on the Belle Fourche River.  There was a pile of lumber left by the previous owner and I have had it in the back of my mind since we got the place.  I was certain I could make a couple of Aldo Leopold benches from these leftover scraps.   This weekend we went out to the property to plant a some plum trees.  I knew it was supposed to rain and snow again, so I grabbed up the lumber as we left.   I searched Pinterest for various plans.   None were very comprehensive.  I came across a couple that were helpful.  I liked this template the best.

http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/simplebenchplans.html

All I needed to buy was:

6 bolts 3 1/2 inches long

12 washers

6 hex nuts

8 exterior deck screws 3 inches long

Of course that is doubled, since I am making 2 benches.  I didn't need to buy deck screws, because we already have plenty.

The lumber was cut to size and the bench assembled.   The 3 foot and 18 inch boards are secured with three bolts.  The seat is secured to the 18 inch boards with two deck screws and then the back is attached.  One of the plans had a flat back and another kept with the original angle of the board. The original angle is by far more comfortable.  You can see both below.  

Sorry the photos are not the greatest.  It was raining outside.  I will take more photos when everything dries out and I can sand and stain them.  Still I am very excited.  Two benches for a grand total of $31 and that was just for the bolts.  

It was dry yesterday and we were able to go out and plant three plum trees in the orchard.  We planted a Toka, Pembina, and a Black Ice.  I am very anxious to see how my mountain and prairie orchards do this year.  Last year we had a late frost and there wasn't much of a harvest. This year I am sure it will be a plethora of fruits and berries.  At least I hope so.

There are a few flower photos at the end.  A little bedraggled after snow and hail, but beautiful nonetheless.

Does anyone else have some projects in the works?  

back in winter's clutches...

We are back in winter's clutches.   How silly of me to think that we could get out of this season so easily.    My only spring colors come from the birds at the feeder.

 Goldfinches and Pine Siskins 

 House Finches and Cross Bills

 Plethora of birds.

 A hungry House Finch.

 Sad little crocuses waiting for warmer days.

Hopefully, next week I will have warmer photos.

I had a chat with my roses...

In typical South Dakota fashion, we went from 33 degrees, to 76 degrees, and back down to 45 degrees.  Normal for around here.  The problem is the last three days high winds blew the cages off of my roses.  Therefore, the roses got a taste of sunshine and warm weather.  They are ready to leaf out.  We had a chat yesterday as I covered them back up.  I reminded them that it was only April and I normally don't unleash them until the middle of May.  In fact, we had about two feet of snow this time last year.  I don't think they are going to listen to me.  I understand the yearning for sunshine.  Going from 76 yesterday to a windy snowy 45 was a bit crushing for me.  

Maybe they know more than I do and we will have an early spring.  If they know they aren't saying anything.  

On a positive note, I did have a small group of evening grosbeaks.  They used to come to the feeders by the dozen, but they have been rare the last few years.  It was a pleasant surprise this morning.  

I enjoyed being able to garden this weekend, I just hope that the weather stays warm and the winds would calm down.  How is the weather where you are?  Is it spring there?

Hope springs eternal...

The tomatoes are thriving.  I wish it would warm up enough so I could begin to harden them.  It was warm enough to set them out today, but the wind would have blown them away.  I still have hope I can baby them to success.

I had an epiphany today on organizing my seeds.  Of course my brilliant idea came after a morning of chaos.  I had seeds scattered everywhere.  I planted a frustrating flat, because I couldn't find everything I was looking for.   

I found a small crate and then added three smaller crates inside.  Then I organized my seeds and clipped them with a labeled clothes pin.  I found out I really like to order peas and need to plant a lot of them this year.  I had pea packets everywhere.  

My lettuce and spinach are up in the greenhouse.  I am very excited about that.  There is nothing better than fresh greens.  Today was a good day to plant cabbage and carrots in the greenhouse.  I know it will probably freeze a few times after they are up.  It will be an experiment to see how tough they are.  I know the spinach and lettuce are strong.  I've planted them in the fall and had success.  When it gets cold they just play dead.  Then the next warm day they spring to life.

I planted a flat with peppers, parsley, tomatoes, broccoli, luffa, pumpkins, and ground cherries.  I found these neat Burpee labels in the store.  My delight turned to dismay when I watered the seeds and the marker washed right off.  I found a permanent marker and tried again.  I'm beginning to feel doomed about knowing what I plant where.  There is a nice diagram and everything is relabeled, so maybe, just maybe, I will know what I planted where this year.

It  sounds like the snow isn't over.  I will leave you with the snowmen made by my students.  It was the carpentry class, and they made sure he had a hardhat, tool belt, and work gloves.  The kids told me that the other snowman only has one eye, because it wasn't wearing it's safety gear.

Have you planted your seeds yet?  What do you plant in flats and what do you plant in the ground?  

My spring flowers...

I know it isn't April Fools yet, but the joke is on me.

March came in like a lamb and out like a lion.  Hope everyone had a Happy Easter.

Back to the grind...

Well, it is snowing again.   I'm back to indoor tasks like cleaning house, re-organizing the pantry, and planning the garden.  I enjoyed watching the deer.  They don't seem any happier about the snow than I am. 

I did get one project done.  My two wayward  tomato plants were extracted from the rosemary plant and are now snug in their own little pots.  They are getting huge.  I am anxious to see if they will make it to see the summer sun. They didn't have much of a root system, but I buried them deep and they seem content.  

I hope everyone is enjoying better weather.  We are supposed to get more snow on Wednesday.   

Food and fun...

Ok, the food part is true; fun is in the eye of the beholder.  I actually enjoy cleaning the flower beds and raking the yard.    I cleaned the pine needles out of the rose bed.  Despite the 60 degree weather I will not unleash the roses until the end of May.  

 The veggie beds are cleaned.  The onions look good and I see the garlic peeking out.  I have big plans for this year's vegetables.  Last year I let the slugs get the upper hand.  I will be better prepared this year.  There was also the small issue of confusion about seedlings.  I still haven't found a good idea for labeling seedlings.  Any advice is appreciated.  

My German Chamomile is already making progress.  I keep it in an old wash tub in the greenhouse during the winter.  As you can see below, the temperature in the greenhouse is a balmy 80 degrees.  Last week I planted lettuce and spinach.  I think the lemon thyme (a zone 5) made it.  I'm not positive, but I thought it would have a good chance in the greenhouse.  

My flower beds look good.  So far it seems like everything survived.  My only concern is my Miss Kim Lilac.  I tried to re locate it into the new raised bed in front of the house.  It isn't looking positive.   

 I also spent a lot of time in the kitchen this week.  I found some great recipes on pinterest that I was anxious to try.  One is a copy cat Texas Roadhouse Roll recipe.  I ate there for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love with the rolls.  I couldn't wait to try.  The recipe was perfect.  I am a sucker for bread.  I honestly love it more than chocolate.  The other recipe is a Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta.  Another good choice.

 Texas Roadhouse Rolls

2c. milk

3 T. butter

1 T.  active dry yeast

1/2 c. warm water

1/2 c. sugar divided

1/2 c. honey

7 1/2 c. flour

2 eggs

2 t. salt

butter

-Heat milk in sauce pan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil and remove from heat.  Allow to cool slightly.  Melt 3 T. of butter and cool.
-Combine yeast, warm water and 1 T. sugar in a mixing bowl and allow to bubble.
-Add remaining sugar, honey, milk, and 3 1/2 c. of flour to yeast.
-Add melted butter, eggs, and salt.  Mix well.
-Add additional flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough begins to separate from the sides.  
Let rest.
-knead dough for about 5 minutes.

-Add dough to a greased bowl and let rise until it's size has doubled.
-After it doubles, punch it down, roll out into a big rectangle on a floured surface, until it is 1/2 inch thick.
-Fold it over onto itself so it is about 1 inch thick and roll a bit more.  
-Cut into 2 inch squares and place in greased baking sheet.  Allow to double in size.
-Bake at 350 degrees for  15-20 minutes.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta

1/2 lb penne pasta cooked

8 slices of cooked bacon

1 T. butter

2 chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces

2 T. flour

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

2 c. milk

1 c. shredded cheddar cheese

-Cook pasta as directed.

-Cook bacon, drain, cool, and crumble.

-Use fat from the bacon and use it to brown the chicken.

-When the chicken is cooked add flour and ranch dressing.  Coat evenly then stir in milk.  Cook until thickened.  Add cheese and half of the crumbled bacon.  

-Heat until cheese is melted.

-Serve with remaining bacon crumbled over the top.

Both recipes were perfect.  It made for a wonderful Sunday dinner.  I also bottled my Prairie Chokecherry wine.  We also took our traditional spring Sunday walk.  We were lucky enough to see the bighorn sheep.  They weren't close enough to get a good photo, but they were fun to see.  The weather is supposed to get cold again, so we enjoyed the outdoors as much as we could this weekend.

Do you have any weekend traditions?  How do you label your seedlings?  What is the best thing you have cooked or baked lately?