Playing in the mud: Cement!! I was anxious to complete the project.  Well, truthfully, I’m some distance from completing the Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato planters.  But I’ll be able to erect the support soon. Furthermore, in a day or two, I’ll put the Bluebird house at the edge of the woods.  Now I hope Bluebirds will adopt the house so I can watch them come and go.  Who knew (almost two months ago) how the wrought-iron posts would eventually be used?? ~~ I love working on the patio and in the backyard. I’m able to breathe without coughing. Am I allergic to something in the apartment?? I’m eager for Spring and Summer so I can have doors and windows open!! I loved those months living in my tiny teardrop trailer because I always had lots of fresh air. The trailer was seldom closed up tight.

Pails were free. Posts were free. 40 pound bag of cement cost $2.68.

I'll add planter soil at the top for flowers or veggies.

Looks like it might not be sturdy enough!!

In the woods I'll add more weight.

Postscript, Sat. March 3rd, 2012: Almost–but not quite!!

More weight. That Bluebird house & pole should withstand a tornado or hurricane!!

Trying to find a fairly level place for the weighted base.

If at first I don’t succeed, try, try again!!

Hopelessly crooked!! I need an appropriate size wedge on the downhill side.

Moved to another location; still crooked!! I need an appropriate size wedge on the downhill side.

The view from the apartment. I still need to level and straighten the weighted base.

Actually, 12 noon, Sunday March 4th, 2012. I want this blog to follow… because same topic.  The fact remains, I am obcessive-compulsive when it comes to completion of projects.  (Oops, except the “downsizing” project!!) ~~ Sadly, the pole is not exactly straight. I did my best, and tried various possibilities. NOW, the Bluebird house can withstand a strong wind because it is resting against a tree limb. Furthermore, an “S” hook is securing the black wrought-iron pole to a limb.  I don’t need the extra weight of the cement blocks. ~~ OK, I can move on to another backyard project!!

Actually, it is 2 o’clock, Sunday, March 4th, 2012. I didn’t expect to be back with more comments, and more pictures, regarding the Bluebird house. I’m very, very weary of this project!!! A fifteen mile per hour wind shifted the unit that I thought was solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. (I just checked the Weather Channel for Waxhaw, North Carolina, and learned it is fifty-two degrees with 15 mph wind.) This is so frustrating!!! What will I do next?? (More about my resolution when and if I find one!!)

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Comparisons: Left at 11:12 AM, right at 1:41 PM..

Actually, 3 o’clock, Sunday, March 4th, 2012.  I’m a seasoned RVer.  An indispensable accessory (for camping and RVing) is a Bungee cord.  The Bluebird house, and pole, is secured to the tree with a Bungee cord!!

Walmart to sell Monsanto GMO corn this summer.  “Walmart is set to sell a new form of genetically-engineered (GE) sweet corn as early as this summer. Monsanto’s Bt sweet corn contains three GE traits that have never before been consumed directly by humans, and have not been subjected to thorough safety testing. There will be no labeling whatsoever indicating that the corn is a genetically modified organism.”  Please read the entire article.  CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

Squirrel insanity this morning!!  They are bold and brazen–and determined to get to sunflower seeds in feeders hanging from the eaves or shepherds hooks!!  ~~  I think I need to upgrade my camera so I can take a video of the antics of the squirrels.  ~~  Sadly, this is a cold and windy day and I will be forced to work on projects indoors.  We had tornado warnings yesterday and the bluebird house withstood the wind.  But I’ll stabilize that pole in the near future (when the weather is warmer). Note several more Goodwill purchases. I couldn’t resist the Topsy-Turvy upside-down strawberry planter for 99 cents.

“Yes,” I definitely have better things to do!! But it is more enjoyable to watch the squirrels, and birds, and attempt to get some good pictures!!  ~~   I know you are tired of my obsession with the squirrels and birds!!   (By “cropping” pictures, I have more detail.)

Eleven reasons to stop eating dairy.  

I have!!  Will you??  

Cows don’t make milk.

I’m in so much pain, I am cross-eyed!!  I’ve been going to a chiropractor and I am confident that I will eventually experience renewed health.  But this weekend was miserable!!!!  I couldn’t garner enough energy this Monday morning to drive twenty-plus miles for my appointment.  I didn’t have the desire to take my dirty clothes to the nearby laundry room!!  As the morning grew bright and sunny, and warm, I felt compelled to spend time on my patio.  (When I am working on a manual labor project, I forget the pain.)  I evaluated the “stuff” I could use to support an upside-down tomato plant.  I had a lot of odd “stuff” under a tarp… and I needed to spread the items to see what I could use.  Change of plans: I could use those heavy-duty plastic pipes as a prop against the eave.  Actually, the upside-down container is attached to the pipe so there isn’t any weight on the eave.  Well, there isn’t any “weight” right now because I have yet to put soil in the container.  ~~  I still have that galvanized pipe for another (yet to be determined) project.  Furthermore, I also have a lot of PVC pipe that might be useful.  

(A blog can be frustrating because it’s like reading the back of the book first. On Feb. 11th I asked the question: Enough!?  On Feb. 16th I wrote about Lorraine’s garden.  On Feb. 18th I wrote about One Track Mind and Doing Research re: Tomato Plants.   Today’s blog shows you where the earlier thoughts brought me.)

Postscript, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012: Change of plans!! Now I think I will set the plastic poles in a large container of freshly prepared cement. Then I can move it around (if necessary). I don’t want to risk damaging the eave!!

You’ve heard that old saying: “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Today I made potato soup because “life” gave me a bag of potatoes with one-third rotten!! I just purchased that bag a few days ago–from Sam’s Club. Potatoes have been so-o-o-o expensive, I almost never buy in quantity. Now I know why those potatoes were reasonably priced.  I’ve peeled potatoes until my wrist aches!!  Later, when the soup cools, I’ll move from the big four-quart kettle to single-serving size containers–and freeze.  It tastes delicious (IMHO)!!  Simply potatoes, onions and garlic in vegetarian Better Than Bouillon.   ~~  I love the smell of food prepared in my kitchen!!  When I was traveling with my tiny teardrop trailer, I was deprived that luxury.  The kitchen (in my T@B trailer) is extremely tiny and the refrigerator is small.  There is a tiny freezer (big enough for a couple of ice-cube trays) but things (even ice) won’t freeze.  ~~  It is a dark, gloomy, rainy day so very nice to work in the kitchen.

I never cease to be amazed by the skill of my fine furry friends.  From the kitchen I could see the birds and squirrels enjoying their buffet.  Suddenly I see a squirrel on a sunflower seed bird feeder where he is not supposed to be.  I went to the patio door and scolded–with a polite “no.”  Minutes later he was back!!  I had to remove the feeder from the eave of the roof.  The squirrels are blessed with an abundant supply of food but they go after things that are not theirs.  FYI: About fifty birds on the grass of the back yard scratching for seeds.  (The picture on the right [above] is cute but I can’t claim credit for it.  THANKS, again, to blog viewers who send pictures.)