Sunday Snippets 4/30/23
This morning in Sunday Snippets 4/30/23, I went outside and took photos of my neighbors’ yards to see what’s growing.
My yard looks pretty sorry up next to theirs, but I’m going slow these days and hopefully with get there.
The first guy I hired didn’t show up to clean up the yard, so I’m calling another guy Maria told me about. A landscaper. We’ll see what happens with him.
I’m hardening off my perennial and herb deliveries. I may plant the herbs today, as I have pots with soil already in them for those plants.
And I let them stay out overnight last night, but under the patio roof.
I should receive an Amazon delivery of potting soil tomorrow for the big blue pots.
My Yard:
I know my yard doesn’t look anything like my old patio. But I’m slowly getting it together, planting perennials, etc.
It will take time because I just can’t move as fast as I once did. But like you all are always telling me: Slow and steady wins the race.
This yard and patio is harder to design for a number of reasons. There’s the odd layout, no place to hook up my water hose, and it’s mostly shade.
I’m having to take a completely different approach to this yard and patio.
My Ankle Progress:
I’ve been doing good this week with my ankle, but it’s still good one day and so-so the next. But I’ll take that. It’s progress. Right now I have my ankle wrapped up in a heating pad.
Greg yesterday showed me how to properly use the cane I ordered. I would have thought with the right ankle being the bad one, I’d be using my right hand.
No, he told me, you need to use your left hand to balance things out. So I take one step with my right foot while putting the cane on the ground with my left hand. I think I have that right anyway.
I’ve getting around with the walker, and walking some on my own as well. So now we’ll see how I do with the cane part of the day. One day at a time.
YouTube Shows:
Yesterday I watched three of my favorite YouTube shows. They are The White Cottage Co., Lone Fox, and Xoxo McCenna.
One of you told me about The White Cottage Co., and I thank you. It is about a Mennonite woman, Mary, who transforms junk. And she’s very good at it.
Her family also have an Etsy shop. I’ve got my eye on what you see below and it’s in my cart for later. Mary also makes soaps and aprons.
It is a family operation. Her husband John makes items they sell as well.
Most of you know that my two favorite herbs are lemon verbena and pineapple sage. The scent of both of them are wonderful.
I have both of these herb plants to plant in containers out on the patio, maybe even today.
The Cottage Cottage Co:
Mary’s YouTube videos are not like those shows where someone brings new life to something and everything is perfect. Mary is very down to earth, you see what you see, and that’s why I like to watch her.
The show I watched yesterday had her son going to thrift stores and choosing this and that for her to make over. Sight unseen, she had to figure out what to do with each item.
Lone Fox:
I’ve been watching Lone Fox for awhile. Drew, in LA, is really into decorating. Now he’s purchased this old Spanish home and is going out to thrift stores to find things to decorate it with.
Before this I watched him fix up his apartment.
He recently took two Ikea bookshelves and made them look totally built in. I watched him show the finished project and it is amazing.
You need to see it. It’s one of his last couple of videos.
Xoxo McCenna:
The other show I watch on YouTube is Xoxo McCenna. She’s 34, and she and her longtime boyfriend, Romeo, have homes both in LA and in a small town in Texas.
They are not rich; they just work their butts off.
She worked in the corporate world before her videos caught on and started bringing in money.
They paid cash for one home and have a mortgage on the other one.
The cottage in Texas is near her parents. She and her mother are very close and there are videos of them thrifting.
McCenna built all the kitchen cabinets for the Texas cottage herself. I think there were 42 of them altogether. She also enclosed their refrigerator with cabinetry and it is beautiful.
She has learned to build most anything and it’s a treat to watch her. McCenna learns as she goes.
McCenna obviously doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty. While Romeo is in LA working, she is often at the cottage by herself getting the old farm house into shape. He goes to Texas to help her whenever he can get away.
If I can’t move around like I use to, at least it’s fun to watch others do what I can’t.
I may not post tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know in case I don’t.
I have so much to do! I work on this blog many hours each day and I’ve got to find time for projects to create new content.
Happy Sunday!
I also enjoy the three YouTube channels you mentioned. I’ve been following your blog for over 12 years. We are around the same age, so I thought maybe a good topic for your blog might be to address things that help make life a bit simpler as we age in place. This might be things that can be purchased to help do some of the tasks we now find not as easy as they once were. I love my long handled shoe horn and grabbers to reach things up high or down low. Maybe even address some garden tools that are more ergonomically helpful for the older age group.
Garden answer is truly my favorite YOUTUBE video. Laura is awesome and full if information!! she gardens in Oregon. check it out. I drink my coffee every morning with Laura.
You should watch Canterbury Cottage on YouTube. Sherry does very creative flips and crafts. My husband calls her Lady MacGyver. I have watched all the ones you mentioned with Mary being my favorite of the three.
Glad you are having better days with your ankle. That is great progress. I have gotten some of the white cottage company candles and they are so nice. Have a good week.
Your garden is coming along nicely. The one you had created at your former apartment wasn’t done in a few years, it took many years, and was a very different space. You’ll get to where you want to go, just not as fast as you’d like. I’m still in the cleaning up the garden beds from last winter stage. We’ve had rain the past 2 days and may get some “winter mix” tomorrow, I hope not, yuk, but it depends on what our temperature does. I have the front garden and the two beds on either side of the house cleaned out, but a larger bed on the other side of the driveway still needs a good cleaning. When we had a stretch of days getting up to 80 and 81, I was out on my stool clipping dead foliage, raking and spraying weeds, but there is still much to do. I’ve been concentrating on getting the front and back lawns into shape. This past winter was hard on them, I had a lot of snow mold damage. Raking (endless raking, it seems) is good for my abs, LOL. I’ve done second cuts on both lawns, weed and feed has been put down and Friday evening I went out and over-seeded by hand. What a chore, but I knew the rain would come Saturday and right on schedule, there it was. I hope it works. I pace myself and take lots of breaks, especially when I’m shoving the lawn mower around. I’m one of those perfectionists who does “cha cha” mowing (back and forth, back and forth until I’m satisfied with the row I’ve mowed). Don’t be hard on yourself. I enjoy what I can still do without risking my neck, and leave the heavy lifting to others for hire. It all gets done eventually.
Please don’t compare your patio/yard to others! Soon you’ll have your patio looking lovely, as well. I do the same thing with my hobbies and such – why can’t I stitch, sew, quilt, crochet, etc as fast as so and so? When I try to do as others do I end up unhappy and the journey is not fun. I keep telling myself “you do you, Darlene”. So today I’m going to say “Brenda and Darlene you do you”. Enjoy the process because it’s fun, as well.
Spend a little time in your beautiful and delightful craft room – make something easy and fun. Set aside a couple of hours, one day a week to just make a mess on your cute yellow table. LOL
Big hugs, Brenda!
There’s one quote I’ve found especially appropriate for me, and helpful to remember as we age…Don’t focus on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do.
Since you love plants and gardening so much have you ever watched Garden Answer or Gardening with Creekside? I’ve been following Laura and Jennie for years and have learned so much from them.
I am happy to hear that at least you have some days you can do things!! We are like that too. We also watch youtube shows…we enjoy ones of young families who are building their own homes or other such…as we once did. Hard to believe we are already old…it came quite quickly for us!! Glad you have neighbor yards to enjoy and those who you have more in common with than at your previous apt…wish we lived in a similar type place. Enjoy!!
Isn’t that funny about using the cane on your opposite side? I learned that a few years back, when I was having some hip pain. I was told the same thing- use it on the opposite side. I thought that was so weird. Your garden might have it’s difficulties, but I think you’re up for the challenge, and I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Maybe the landscaper will have some good suggestions. I’m sure your garden will be just as lovely as your neighbors. I’ve watched a few YouTube videos of the first lady you mentioned. Mary. She is pretty amazing. I also checked out her Etsy store. I’ve never heard of the other two you mentioned. I’ll have to check them out. You’re still my favorite! 😋 I’ll miss you tomorrow, but have fun crafting!! I can’t wait to see what you make! Maybe you could start an Etsy store! Just a thought.
Brenda, I think you’re doing so well. Yes, slow and steady is best.
Your herbs look beautiful! I have a curly leaf parsley and a basil and my old rosemary which is now two years old. I started it from grocery store rosemary that is sold in those little plastic clamshell containers. Such a thrill to watch grow. I sowed my portulaca moss rose seeds in early March and they need to be transplanted into pots for the summer. Soon time to leave the windowsill.
Thanks for the blog tips – they sound good.
I love Drew at Lone Fox. The floors he installed himself are AMAZING!!! The other 2 aren’t familiar to me so I’ll have to check them out.
Happy to see you’re getting outside with your camera. The garden pictures are beautiful Your plants are really coming along and look so healthy. That hosta is getting big so quickly! I just started a dedicated shade garden last year and see a few small shoots. Supposed to get 3″ of snow tonight. Hope it melts quickly and spring continues 🤞 Have a fun Monday creating!
Your next day so-so ankle is a good sign (I think!) – your muscles and tendons need to slowly regain strength and flexibility so using them a lot one day will be felt the next day! That’s why it’s good to not overdo things as you are more prone to injury as you bring the strength and flexibility back. You will grow accustomed to your cane in a short time I think:-)
I think your patio/yard will be wonderful w your potted plants. Love the herbs! Question: is there a way to connect a long hose and keep the section that reaches your patio on a hanger or in a pot that you can just reach for? You would need to keep the water turned on but you can turn it off at the nozzle. A lightweight flexible hose might work well. Just wondering:-) That would make watering plants so much easier for you.
I follow Drew at LoneFox on IG – I love his new Spanish style home! I am going to look at McCenna too- I may be building some cabinetry for my primary closet (we will see if I actually do!).