Ed Icionsub

This week has been producing some remarkable sunsets. We have a lot of clouds that make each day grey and a lot of rain – sometimes a bit of snow. A typical January for this area.

But rather than the clouds making each day gloomy, the grey has enhanced the natural colors, such as the bright red berries of the dogwood tree, the red cardinals, and the green grass that is trying to poke through the muddy lawn.

This sunset last night had a touch of pink and I happened to have my camera with me, so I got a nice shot. I think I should carry my camera with me more often. I like nice sunsets – especially when they do not involve an endless horizon of water. I think the dark tree branches make a nice frame and the darker hills in the background give the photo depth.

Tags: camera, lawn, sunset

Thanks for the article from Isaiah Gaines

I’ve got a Cincinnati home security system at my house and the kids keep setting it off. I don’t think they’re trying to sneak out because they’re only 8 and 10 but I put them down to bed and not 2 hours later they’re up at one of the doors or windows trying to get it open! I don’t know what’s gotten into them and I’ve been trying to work with my husband to get it all under control but you know, I guess it’s not the worst thing to deal with this now rather than when they’re 16. If they had boyfriends or something I would be worried but I think they’re just being kids and getting into mischief like kids tend to do and it’s really hard to get mad at them for that, you know what I mean? I love my children but sometimes they push my buttons too far when I’m at home – guess that’s what I get for being a stay at home mom!

Sorting through the junk room and trying to clean it out today, I had to go buy some new boxes for the junk. My plan was to buy some inexpensive cardboard boxes from the U-Haul store, sort and pack up the junk, then store it in the garage. Some of the junk needs to be stored until there is a need for it at a future date, and other needs to be stored until the weather is a little nicer and I can have a yard sale.

Well, as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men . . . when I got to the U-Haul store I was astounded to see the price of cardboard boxes. Every box was at least $5 and some were selling for as much as $30. That is just crazy for cardboard boxes! I can buy plastic tubs for less than that and not have to worry about water damage, mildew and rodents getting into the cardboard.

I went to K-Mart and bought 8 large plastic bins for under $35. After the yard sale this spring, I can still find a use for the plastic bins – they are almost a lifetime investment for storage whereas cardboard only lasts until it gets wet, torn, or starts to naturally degrade.

Tags: storage, tubs, yard sale

In all these years that my neighbor has had this swing, I have never seen her sit on it and actually swing. But we do have a lot of squirrels and birds who love this swing. I wish I could have snapped this photo with a couple of bright red cardinals on the swing with it sprinkled with fresh snow. I really like red cardinals and they look especially bright against the dark brown of wood and the white of a fresh snowfall.

Tags: snow, swing, wood

Most of the homes on my street are very conservative, plain and have very little landscaping. Only my next door neighbor and I have much interest in a natural and artistic look for our yards. I want to use some of her techniques to change the look of both my front yard and my backyard this spring. For example, she has a rustic wood arbor in her backyard, and a wood swing mounted to a board nailed between two tall trees beside her deck.

I’ve always like the idea of garden arbors and started investigating them online. I was surprised to find so many different styles and sizes available. I guess I need to start my search by deciding on whether I want a wood arbor or a vinyl one.

Of course wood can be painted, but I think the point of wood is to have a more natural feel. If you are just going to paint the arbor, you should probably get one that is vinyl and have it factory painted in the color of your choice.

Everything in my neighbor’s yard is a natural wood – I am pretty sure it is all cedar. Even the siding and roof on her house are cedar and the whole effect is very rustic. My house’s exterior is a red brick veneer, so it is not as rustic as hers, but I still like the idea of wooden arbors for a natural look rather than a color.

Tags: arbor, garden, neighbor, trellis, yard