Weekend Wrapup
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 07:03amLong weekend! And now I feel like I’ve completely lost a day. I’m also taking off this Friday, so I only have three days to get all my work done. Yikes. But the weekend was fun and we got a lot accomplished, with time for drinking and eating as well. Some photos after the jump.
We have a small brick patio in our backyard (in addition to our regular concrete one), and the corners have started slowly sinking into the ground. So we spent Saturday taking it apart, adding more fill and a weed barrier, and putting it back together.
Here it is after we put the bricks back in and started spreading sand around to fill in the cracks.
We got these at Home Depot and they cracked us up. Sounds more like a feminine product to me.
Our rhododendron is blooming.
I planted a tiny little herb garden on the back patio. Click through for descriptions.
Last but not least! I made these to take over to my parents’ place on Sunday. The cake itself was great — very moist. I didn’t like the frosting recipe, though, and after I added the crushed oreos, it turned kind of gray. Yuck. I’ll make these again, though, with a different frosting.
Maggie on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:42 am
What the hell are those crampons for? And why is the bag in French? We tried to make head or tail, but couldn’t. I know it’s pour le jardin. But what are they?
Your rebricked area looks lovely.
I’m getting ready to go to the dentist. I feel like I’m literally going to be sick. SICK. My stomach is swishing.
freakgirl on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:11 am
They’re garden staples - you push them into the ground to hold stuff down (in this case, our weed barrier). The other side of the label was in English, but it wasn’t as funny.
freakgirl on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:17 am
Also - you will be okay at the dentist. You will!
Michael on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:33 am
Your clematis looks fine to me (dirty!). It takes a few years before those really get going.
Your patio turned out great. It begs to be a stage, doesn’t it? Freakniece Productions presents…..
freakgirl on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:47 am
Well, the clematis in the front of the house is a different one, and it’s gone completely crazy. It’s huge. We planted them all at the same time. I think it’s either a crappy plant (a friend has one too - she gave me this one - and hers isn’t growing well) or that area isn’t getting enough sun. I think I am going to plant another along with it.
That brick patio would be a great stage. Now, if I can just get the kids here when it’s warm outside!
Jen in Ohio on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:55 am
I need crampons! I’ve been looking for those damn things for six months.
The patio does look really good (so does your herb garden, so cute). Was it very labor intensive or hard to get it to look right? We are wanting to add either a second patio or a patio extension and we don’t really know what we’re doing.
Maggie, might I suggest that you take a taser with you to the dentist? It could help make you feel more secure to know that you have a readily available method of clearly communicating any displeasure you may experience.
Michael on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:59 am
If I remember right, clematis like lots of sun, but cool roots. If it’s already getting lots of sun, maybe plant something at the base of it to keep the roots cool. Or, like you say, it’s just not a great variety.
freakgirl on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:14 am
Jen, we didn’t put in the brick patio - it was there when we moved in. We just took it apart and put it back together. So that was easy, heh.
I’m sure the HGTV website has tips on putting in your own patio. I think if we ever end up wanting to re-do this one, I’d like to do something a bit more earth-friendly. I love a nice brick patio (our big one is concrete), and you can get recycled materials to build them with:
http://www.naturalhomemagazine.....BOLTS.aspx
Jen in Ohio on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:30 am
Even though we have watched many hours of HGTV, we are still hilariously clueless. If we can keep the process to one ER visit or less I’ll be impressed. We’re seriously considering pavers of some kind for a bunch of reasons, cost, environment, style, etc., and I love the idea of paths/borders comprised of stones-from-recycled-glass suggested in that piece you linked.
sandra on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:33 am
Are those two frogs having a go at it next to your herb garden, you dirty bitch you?
freakgirl on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 9:43 am
I know, they’re supposed to whimsically playing leapfrog, but it looks pretty dirty, eh?
Soosan on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Speaking of the dentist… I have my last appt today.. my last of about 4 that I’ve gone for cavity fillings! Yes ladies and gents, that’s as many cavities as it sounds like it would be.