Run Lori Run!

Where I've Been

So are you getting any sunshine your way?

We've had a few days of beautiful sunny weather recently so I've been running around like a crazy woman starting projects left and right.  During the gloomy months I lose all motivation but as soon as the sun comes out I am doing twenty things at once. It makes no sense.

So I've started growing microgreens.  I had no idea you could grow microgreens year-round which will be great-- I need something to grow during the winter. Microgreens are basically lettuce (or broccoli or mustard) greens which are chopped off when they're only a few weeks old. And nutritionally they pack a big punch for their little size.

I've also got some kale, basil and cabbage started. Otherwise the garden is still waking up. I see some of the daffodils are getting ready to bloom and it will soon be time to start some greens outdoors. Finally!

And indoors I have this going on.  This is our office/art room which is a complete and total mess. But it's getting a complete overhaul: reorganized and painted. At least the closet now looks like this:

It looks so organized doesn't it!  But then you turn around and see this:

Holy hell.  What was I thinking?

Summer To-Do List

I am a list-maker. I get immeasurable joy by crossing something off my to-do list. I add easy stuff (laundry) just so I can gleefully check it off the list.  Once, in college, my roommate mockingly gave me a to-do list with the very practical reminder to...

Wait for it...

*

*

*

Breathe.

So here is my summer to-do list. It has some old stand-bys and some new things I'd like to try this summer.  

:: Pick strawberries (Hoods baby!)

:: Mt Hood Meadows alpine slide

:: Make ice cream for rootbeer floats

                                                                 Martha Stewart

:: Picnic

:: Back yard movies

:: Make blueberry salsa

:: Make a red, white and blue treat for the 4th of July

Martha Stewart

:: Weekly trips (not monthly) to the farmer's market

:: Oregon State Fair 

::Clean out the shed. Again.

:: Refresh my high school French (we're going to France and Italy in December!)

::Find something more creative (and healthy) to do with zucchini OTHER than zucchini bread.

What's on your summer to-do list?

For When The Sun Comes Out

If I have to have a baby blue house for awhile then I better make the most of it.

This is what we had until recently: a baby blue box. (And a compost pail.)

The back of the baby blue house. And the infamous baby blue wall:

I cannot decide what to do with this wall. Every time I consider putting some lattice and vines over I think this might be a better idea.

I can absolutely see myself parked out back with some margaritas (still in cinqo de mayo mode) and the fire pit and a good movie on the wall. 

We shall see...

 

Pimp My Coop

As many of you know I want chickens. Well not roosters like this bad boy. I want nice little lady hens to lay me some eggs. And I will walk out my back door and gather them all farmer-like.

And I think this would be the most awesome chicken cook ever: my tool shed.

So I found this website and have been trying to convince my husband that this is a perfectly realistic thing for us to do.  We live in Portland- having chickens in your backyard is like having a dog.

So I've been doing research and have found some interesting designs out there. People take this coop thing seriously.  

Maurice, the car chicken coop.

The urban coop.

  The mansion. 

Cluckingham Palace.

The A Frame.

And this is kind of what I envision, with the chicken run enclosed and attached to one side.

I know some of you have chickens, so what do you think?  Is it a high maintenance endeavor?  Is it worth it?  Any coop ideas? What do you think?

New Year, New Way to Put 20 New Holes In the Wall

The is how we spend New Year's Eve. Every year:  fireplace, movie (The American) and bellinis (peach).

Then I start planning for the new year... Home improvement, gardening, decorating, organizing...

I have been wanting to organize our wall hangings in our bedroom like this for a long time.  Ever since I saw this post. She provides a detailed strategy, a logical process for arranging your photos...which I of course completely ignored and just started hammering.

Feels good to have one project down.  37 to go. I informed my husband last night that we need to build a root cellar in our basement..... Better keep the hammer out.

What are your projects or goals for the new year?

These Things Make Me Happy

A beautiful card sent to me by the very talented  Sally Magundy.

My very cool husband painting the shed a more beautiful shade of blue.  I have some plans for this shed and I will share photos when the transformation is complete!

My Silpat Mat. Seriously, nothing sticks to this thing. That makes me very happy.

And sewing makes me happy. But as you can see I have no photos of any sewing projects because I NEVER HAVE TIME!

Spring Chickens

I love Pistils Nursery. I love this place. They have a nice enough array of plants but I go there to obsess over urban chicken keeping.

The Metro Coop.

Wouldn't these look great in my back yard?  I wonder if the baby blue shed could be converted into a chicken coop? Brilliant!

_{The chickens roam freely around the nursery,} 

_{nibbling here and there. But this one is waiting for} 

_{someone to let him the shop so he can get to the} 

_{bins of chicken feed!} 

Well my husband will be happy to know that no chickens were purchased today.  I fought the impulse-- did you see those cute chicks? What will power, supreme composure!

Do any of you have chickens? Are they high maintenance?  Do you think they'd get along with neurotic, medicated felines?

I Can't Tell You How Bad This Smells

 This how we spent our "lazy" Sunday...

And by "we" I mean Bert.  Bert ripped up the smelly, pet stained, baby blue carpet.  I stood by and held the camera. 

And lo and behold, there was nice a Fir floor underneath. 

But...

We have Fir in one room and Oak in another. 

And they aren't going the same direction.

As some of you know, we've done quite a bit of renovation work in the two years we've had our house.  Ripping out the carpet was our first priority but other projects got started and now we're finally getting to the floors!  This is the before picture of the kitchen.  YIKES!  Yes, that is NEON GREEN Formica! 

This is the after picture of our kitchen. Big changes!  

Our house was built in 1928 and remodeled in the 1980s, hence the baby blue everything. Paint, carpet..

We remodeled our bathroom too but that's another post. :)