The most expensive tomatoes ever

All that I want is some juicy tomatoes off the vine.   My two tomato plants died after the cold snap a few weeks ago so I had to replant them.  I've decided to try 3 different growing methods:

Original Rona bucket.  I’m glad the plant died because I think it would have died anyway.  When I dug out all the dirt I discovered that the soil at the bottom of the bucket was soaking.  It would have drowned for sure.  I drilled some extra holes in the bucket to try to improve the drainage before replanting the new tomato plant.  

Initial observations re: upside down tomato plants – replanting a seedling in an upside down container is a heck of a lot more difficult than replanting a traditional tomato because you have to remove all of the dirt.  Hopefully I won’t have to do that too many times this season! 

Topsy Turvy.  My dad gifted me a Topsy Turvy planter so I decided to test it out compared with the Rona bucket.  I have planted the same variety of tomatoes in the Rona bucket and the Topsy Turvy (Celebrity tomatoes).  The Topsy Turvy  has several small drainage holes at the bottom (that’s how I got the idea to drill some in the Rona bucket).  The material of the Topsy Turvy is woven plastic.  I wonder if that improves the ‘breathability’ of the soil.  We’ll see how it goes.

Rona Bucket (left) & Topsy Turvy (right)

Traditional Pot.  I’ve planted one tomato plant in a traditional pot.  This won’t be a true scientific experiment, because I’ve chosen a different variety for this one - “Early Girl Tomatoes”.  I had some success with this variety last year, so decided to try it again. 

New knitting project

I’ve started a new knitting project. 

Check out the beautiful hemp that I’m knitting with. 

I won’t tell you what it is yet…it’s a surprise for somebody I know.  

New Westminster Tour

The Crafting Widower and I had a good trip to New Westminster yesterday, as part of our inaugural 'Jar of Fun' tours.  We took the seabus/skytrain to get there, which was quite easy.  Then we wandered about for a few hours.  

According to the City of New Westminster website, they are the oldest city in western Canada!  It is on the north bank of the Fraser River.  

Apparently they did some development around the Quay for Expo 86.  Check out the giant tin soldier at the Quay!         

We stumbled upon a multicultural festival at the Quayside.

And tried some yummy treats (Bosnian meat sandwich and Polish Cheesecake).

Then we wandered through Antique Alley.

Where we saw all sorts of interesting treasures.

(We resisted purchasing the black bear and the vintage the commodore 64 computer.)  

And we couldn't leave without having a pic taken with the tin soldier in the background!  

Yeah New Westminster!  

Artsy Sis

Check out what my Artsy Sister made!

I have two sisters – Crafty Sister and Artsy Sister.  Artsy Sister painted this for our newest niece.  Isn’t it sweet!  A lot of thought went into planning it.  You’ll notice that she painted the background, then added the colourful bits and after it dried she added all the black outlines.  Very tricky – e.g. placing green dots that eventually become the leaves.  Lucky me, surrounded by so many talented people!

Jar of Fun

After dinner last night, I told the Crafting Widower that I had a good surprise for him.  He was immediately cautious and commented that if I had to preface a statement saying that it would be a good surprise then it probably wouldn’t be a good surprise for him.  I assured him it would be.  He was hesitant. Then I did the big reveal...  the unveiling of the “Jar of Fun” or our “Discover Vancouver” Jar. 

Let me explain…

A while back, I was lamenting the fact that I’ve been living on the west coast for nearly 2 years now but there are still many neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver that I have never visited.  So, I suggested to the Crafting Widower that we should try to ‘be tourists in Metro Vancouver’ this summer.  Hence the inspiration for the creation of our very own “Discover Vancouver” Jar. 

I typed out a list of 28 names of different neighbourhoods and printed it off, then cut and folded the names and put them in a Jar.  My quick and easy craft.  Yes, I think that this counts as a craft.  FYI - in some cases, neighbourhoods have been split into more manageable chunks (e.g. Vancouver – Chinatown, Vancouver – Commercial Drive, Vancouver – UBC Area, etc.).

The Rules of our “Discover Vancouver” Jar:

1. One person draws the name “the Puller” and the other person plans the itinerary “the Planner”.
2. The Planner has the right of one redraw.  So, if the Planner isn’t pleased with the first neighbourhood the Puller draws, the Planner can ask the Puller for a re-draw.  There is only 1 refusal allowed per turn.
3. The Planner has to do the research and must include at least: 1 interesting attraction unique to the neighbourhood and identify two restaurant/cafe options.
4. Roles are reversed on the next draw. 

I volunteered to be the Planner on our first try.  So, after establishing the rules, the Crafting Widower made his first pull.  He opened it, laughed, and asked where I got my list of neighbourhoods from.  What did he draw?  Abbotsford.  (FYI – the Crafting Widower commutes to/from Abbotsford every day…a 140km round trip…and in his opinion, not the most interesting destination).  I decided to invoke rule #2 and asked for redraw.  Drum roll please………and the exciting destination for our inaugural “Discover Vancouver”, tourists in Metro Vancouver is ………

Yeah!  I actually cheered when he announced the destination.  It just seemed much more appealing than Abbotsford.  Let the planning begin!

FYI – The Crafting Widower agreed that it was good surprise.  Much better than what he was thinking…hmm…I should have asked what he was thinking. 

Garage Sale Find

I hit a couple of garage sales this past weekend when I was visiting my parents.  I couldn’t resist buying these games. 

Check out the fine print on the yard sale box.   

Too funny!   

Upholstery: Outdoor furniture

I’ve started my next upholstery project...

One cushion down, 5 to go!

Quilt Show

I went to Victoria this past weekend to go to a quilt show with my mum.  My dad’s cousin (or my 1^st –cousin once removed) had a couple of quilts in the show (one of a lighthouse).  She is also the same person who made us our beautiful wedding quilt.  

(African Village - wedding quilt)

The show was very inspirational.  Here is a sampler of some of my favourites. 

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to my crafty sister!  Here's to another year of fun, wonderful adventures, and lots of crafty inspiration!

Other good news - my camera has been recovered.  

Skiing in Sunshine with my artsy and crafty sisters!

Looks can be deceiving

You'll see from my post about upholstering my patio furniture that we don't have the most scenic of views. We are on the 2nd floor of a 3 storey condo and we look out to a back alley.  So, while on first glance it doesn't seem very scenic, it does have it's pluses:

- Our unit is south east facing.  So, lots of sun for my veggies and plants.  

- We have a peak-a-boo view of the Lions Gate Bridge (ignore the other condos and hydro poles and imagine it in the distance just below where the drain pipe is coming out of the ceiling).

But the best view is if you look down from our railings.  

Not too shabby, for a back alley!

And keep in mind that these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago, 

so the view will only get better!

The mother of all knitting projects…a sweater

I started a new knitting project.  I’ve been working for months now on a scarf.  

My progress has been slow since I’ve been sewing more than knitting as of late.  I also think I have attention deficit disorder (ADD) when it comes to knitting.  I start a project and get bored, so I toss it aside.  I thought that maybe a new project would inspire me to knit more.  So, I decided to start a new project from that fabulous grey cotton that I bought.  I am making a cardi to wear in the summer over tank tops or sleeveless dresses, particularly in my air conditioned office.    

I don’t really have an obsession with grey.  Both were on sale, and I figured that neutrals are a good way to go.  


Aside: The background is a close up of my floral patio chairs...very girly.  

New upholstery project

I've got another upholstery project lined up.  Check out my girlie balcony furniture.

It's a bit tough to see the pattern...but think pale blue and yellow roses.  I purchased this pre-the Crafting Widower coming into my life.  I figured that it could use an update...something brighter and more  fun.  Check out a sample of the fabric that I purchased from IKEA this weekend.  

Mountains, trees and goats, oh-my!  OK, there will still be some flowers, but isn't it fun!  I probably won't get around to starting the project until the weekend...it's a busy week for me with lots of extra-curricular activities.  

Seedlings

I'm trying to grow a few things from seed.  Some I will sow in pots outside, but I decided to start some lettuce and basil inside.  

I picked up a "professional greenhouse" from Rona when I was in there buying my tomato buckets.  It comes with these little peat-moss pellets that you soak in water and they expand into little pots.  Then you plant a few seeds in each one.  

I figured that it was worth a try.  Let's be honest, I don't have the greenest thumb and I want successes in my first year so I'm open to trying "gimmicky" things.   

Day 0: April 29th - 11pm.  Seeds are planted.  

Day 3 : May 2nd - 1pm

From Left to Right: Baby Green Lettuce, Siam Queen Basil, Red Sail Lettuce, Arugula

The Arugula is doing the best...and no signs of the Siam Queen.  

Day 9: May 8th - 10am

Siam Queen (basil) makes an appearance.  The rest have sprouted like crazy.  

Hmmm...when to transplant to a bigger pot?  I think I might pot them inside, and wait a few weeks before moving the pots outside, after my failed tomato experiment.  

Upholstery Experiments

Check out me modeling our new bedroom window seat! 

The review:

Things I’m not so happy about – My zipper experiment was a bust.  I decided to add a 2.5 ft zipper to the back.  I’m not planning on changing the cover very often but I thought that it would be good opportunity to try sewing in a zipper and it would also be easier to zip the cushion in place than to try to sew it in by hand.  Well, the zipper was a total failure – it is sooo wavy.  The zipper is just not lying flat.  Check it out.

I’ll have to do some research into what I did wrong.  Maybe the tension of my sewing machine?    I also have to make a couple of adjustments to the front corners…a trapezoid probably isn’t the best choice for a first upholstery project!   

Things I’m happy about - Luckily, the zipper is on the back side so you don’t really notice those ugly bits unless you are looking for them.  Overall, I’m quite pleased with the results.  It’s nice to finally have a cushion on our window seat and I think it looks pretty darn good.  And, it’s a great place to relax and to flip through my crafting books!

I’ll have to get a few more throw cushions.  Our couch is looking a little bare without those pillows.

Gardening Update: Lawsuit averted

The good news - The Crafting Widower replaced the hooks for my tomato plants so that I don't have to worry about them falling to the ground and killing somebody.  


The bad news - it has been very cold and windy in North Vancouver for the past 2 days.  My tomato plants and basil are looking very sad.  I'm not sure if they will make it. 

Gardening Update: Avoiding a "Death by tomato plant" lawsuit

The Crafting Widower is back from his business trip - so I am using his laptop to download photos I took on his camera.  Yeah!  I have been itching to post some photos of my gardening.  This qualifies for a crafting post since I was so creative with my upside-down tomato plants .  And, I'm just really excited about starting a garden.  So, without further ado, here's my upside-down tomato plant in the making:

there's a hole in my bucket dear liza, dear liza...

Crafting to camouflage the ugly Rona logo.

Pushing the tomato plant through the coconut liner.

Then I filled the bucket with dirt and hung it from the hook.

Above is the coconut basket liner that I cut apart. 

Ta-dah!

One week in - so far, so good.  The bucket has not yet plummeted 2 floors down and taken out our 70+ year old fellow resident as she works in the garden.  Phewf!  The Crafting Widower said he would check the structural integrity of the hook for me, so that we don't have to worry about a "Death by tomato plant" lawsuit.  


I also found out that my cousin-in-law (and fellow blogger), is also trying to grow tomatoes upside down in a bag she bought from Target.  We'll have to compare notes.