After 5 days of work in the 100 degree Denver summer I have completed my fifth bedroom....the vegetable BEDroom. I now have three 32 square feet raised beds, irrigated by a soaking system connected to my sprinkler system in which to try my California hand at gardening. I have also invested in 2 apple trees which I plan on espalier-ing along the fence. I am so proud of this project. But there is still a little more to do. I must plant seeds and garlic bulbs (not yet ordered) and then there is a space to the right of the sidewalk, about 5ft by 15 ft which will be a neat a tidy "green" zone. Included will be my recycling area, a compost bin and a barrel to collect and re-use rainwater. For a person raised in the 60s and present to celebrate the very first Earth Day I am over the moon excited about this whole new room. Let's hope I am lucky enough to have a "green thumb" in Colorado.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Fall in the Garden
I am so excited about planting a real garden in my new yard. In Aliso Viejo I had very little space with very little direct sun to grow much at all. But here in Denver I have a pretty big lot for the city and PLENTY of sunshine....at least in July. Man it's hot here.
After taking a "fall planting class" at the Denver Botanic Gardens I planned my space, ordered my wood and assembled my raised beds this weekend. There are three. This is as far as I got. Since there was one sprinkler head in the middle of this space Ryan and I decided we would try a soaker system for watering. That is the soaker tubing in the front bed. As soon as we get that installed I will be ready to plant. Hopefully I will have broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots and lettuces in the fall. Maybe I'll try onions and garlic too.
P.S. I am exhausted and have miles to go
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The princess room
I have 2 bedrooms on the main floor. This one is the princess room...not my room. We call it the princess room because after I ordered a new mattress set and it was delivered I was shocked that the top mattress was 14 inches high! By the time it was placed on the lower mattress and on the bed it was too high to reach. The only way anyone can get on the bed is with a footstool! Remember "The Princess and the Pea"? That's why we call it the princess room. (The butterfly room is now downstairs)
My recurring color is blue. You may see it again as I share the inside of my new Denver home.
the court
and here is my wall of lovely princesses....oh yes and one "Queen". Aren't I lucky to have 4 such beauties?
Bathroom
There is only one bathroom on the main floor. It is a good size with an old cast iron tub and a huge window. No mirror up yet to get ready by but who needs a mirror when your 60+ I would really like to re-do the floor in glass tiles but that's another phase, too.
dining room
Not much is new in the dining room except the rug (yes it is blue). I didn't think I was going to use this buffet and hutch again but it works well in this room. Sea glass in the vase, my "Save the Beach" graffiti art poster, Margaritas on the buffet.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Beachy Denver
You can take the girl away from the beach but you can't take the beach away from the girl. Ryan and Whitney have been working hard to help me get settled. I can say that this room is finished. I plan on reupholstering the green chair to a creamy white but that will be the next phase.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Back in the kitchen
After 3 weeks of unpacking, rearranging, adding pantry units and shelves I am ready to cook again. I can't be happier. Last weekend I started with ice cream: classic French vanilla, fresh strawberry and my favorite--chocolate gelato. I used only egg yolks so with 10 egg whites begging to be used I decided to make an angel food cake today. This light a fluffy cake is so perfect for fresh berries and so easily found in grocery stores but you haven't tasted the real thing until you've had one fresh from the oven. I wish you could be here to taste it. Here goes the process:
I used Martha Stewart's Baking for the cake and Ina Garten's gelato for the recipes, both easily found on the internet.
angel food cake, chocolate gelato
The final result: a warm piece of cake and ice cold chocolate gelato
Monday, July 5, 2010
What? Rain on the 4th of July?
Are you kidding? It doesn't rain in California on the 4th of July! We had plans after our bar-b-que to watch the fireworks at the Denver Country Club. It was pouring with thunder and lightening at 6. We waited it out and decided the worst was over. We took chairs and blankets to the DCC and it was still raining....but only a little. The entertainment started at about 9:30. As we all either put our chairs back or lay on the blankets looking up at the sky, surprise! raindrops....big ones in our face and our eyeballs. We stayed to the end......lots of fun but we were soaked! Happy Birthday, America!
Freedom!
The family gathered at 2:00 at my house for the 1st annual 4th of July parade in my neighborhood in Park Hill.
Changes in latitudes.......
Here is what it took to get my belongings from California to Denver. I refused to leave my favorite plants behind so they needed a hitch of their own. Ryan drove the u-haul. I followed behind in the car with Sophie. It took from noon on Saturday to 7pm on Sunday to get there. Southern Utah was beautiful. We stopped at rest stops and view points to break up the trip and get out to wiggle, etc. This stop had native American vendors of handmade jewelry. We made it without incident. I am getting settled in and will catch up a little at a time. Denver is so far great. I'm starting to feel like it's home.