Squirrel Feeder, Patio

Another how-to today! This one is great if you have a lot of spare wood from previous projects.

Squirrel Feeder

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1x4 wood

stain

3" screws

1 1/2" screws

screwdriver

squirrel corn

1. cut your wood so that you have 1 big piece (a little less than a foot should do)

2. Cut another small piece (around 4-5 inches)

3. Screw the pieces together so that they are perpendicular to each other, but place the small piece of little further down on the big piece. You will probably want to drill pilot holes first. Use the 1 1/2 inch screws.

4. Screw a 3" screw in the middle of the small piece facing upwards. Yes, it should be sticking way out of the wood. This is where you will mount your corn.

5. You can either hang it just like that, or stain and poly coat it for durability.

6. Screw it into a tree with 3" screws.

7. Place the corn on the screw. I used the new compact-type corn. A little more expensive, but lasts MUCH longer.

Though it seems like a lot, this whole project should only take 10 minutes or less, unless you are staining it. It will help keep the squirrels out of your bird feeders, and with how easy (and FREE if you already have the spare parts, which most people do), you can make tons of them!

On another note: I've been working tirelessly on my new patio. Here are some progress pictures. So no, I'm not forgetting about all my yard project how-to's, but I'm consumed by this project.

There will be a how-to on a recycled concrete patio soon!

1st day of project-----

2nd day of project-----------

I've been super-busy every day, more than usual. I have two accelerated classes at a school an hour from where I live, so I'm commuting all the time (not to even MENTION the homework =P), I am still working at Younkers, I've been working on this patio. 1 child is in two leagues of baseball, and my younger is in 1. With all the practices and games, those two are keeping me busy. I'm remodeling my bathroom, and I'm ALWAYS working on the gardens. My head is spinning.

173.2 lbs (Aunt Flo and I feel like an overstuffed couch)

Jazzed-up Flower Boxes

I know I promised some more how-to's. So here's one of them:

Jazzed-up Flower Boxes

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I was originally going to wait to post this because I was going to make some flower boxes for the front porch and then post a complete how-to, but then I realized that there are so many ways and styles to build flower boxes, and you can decide how you want it! Surf the web for a how-to on a style you like!

This how-to I did on exsisting flower boxes.

Upholstery nails

hammer

tape measure or ruler

stain

stamps

1. Dip your stamp in your stain (I chose a star b/c I'm in LOVE with barn stars) and randomly stamp all around the flower box. Wait for it to dry.

2. Place little dots all around the perimeter of the face of the flower box every inch with your tape measure.

3. Hammer in your upholstery nails on the dots. They MAY turn out crooked b/c the nails like to bend a bit. I'm not that anal about things, and I think imperfection can have more charm, but whatever.

Future How-to's:

-garden room divider.

-rock mosiac wall hanging

-Broken concrete patio

? lbs. (didn't weigh myself today)

Cornbread

I got this recipe from my Aunt Shelley, and it sounds so delicious. I haven't made it yet since I've been gone to school every night this week, but I assure you that I will be making it tomorrow night! Credit to this recipe goes to an old co-worker of my aunt's.


Miss Ella's Cornbread
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"Got this from a little old Black lady I use to work with. Your Aunt Renee LOVED it and so does everyone else I make it for. It's a good way to get the kids to eats some green veggies."

1 Package Jiffy Cornbread Muffin Mix
1 small onion chopped
1 box chopped broccoli thawed and drained (I've never seen a box of broccoli, but I'm guessing you can just use the bagged stuff)
1 8 oz. package Cream Cheese
1 stick butter
4 eggs

Place butter and cream cheese in a bowl and microwave until butter is melted and cream cheese is very soft (use 50% power)
Mix all ingredients together, spray Pam on baking dish and bake at 400 for 15 minutes.

172.0 lbs. (Busted my butt for that pound!)

Weigh ins

I've come up with this brilliant idea today: at the end of any of my posts, I'm going to post what I'm weighing in as. A bit odd, eh?
Let me explain: I've never had a problem with weight. My whole life I was skinny. For a long time I even had chiseled abs without ever working out. It was great!
I gained 70 pounds (I know, ick!) with my son. But only 3 months after he was born, I dropped all 70 pounds without even thinking of a diet.
Slowly thereafter my metabolism started slowing. It seemed like every month I gained 5 pounds. Once I hit 175 lbs. I knew I had to do something. So I started working out. I got down to 168 fairly easily, but then I got pregnant again! So much for dieting and excersizing!
I gained 22 pounds with my daughter. After she was born I begun a gym membership. I got down to 169, but then the membership expired and I started gaining again.
I have no motivation to work out. I like working hard, but cardio really isn't my thing. I used to be an excellent runner, but for the past 10 years I've been thinking "What's the point of running if you've got nowhere to go?"
So today I realized something: My husband knows my weight, but he will love me no matter what. He will never critisize me over my weight. Neither will any of my loved ones. So I decided the only way I will want to improve myself is if my weight is out there for everyone to see. I AM embarrassed of my weight, and I've decided that the only way to not embarrass myself is to lose the weight.
I HAVE lost a few pounds since I started going to school again. It seems that with all the studying I'm doing in my accelerated classes, plus actually being in class, and running my boys to their practices and games (one kid is in two different baseball leagues alone!) and trying to finish my yard projects before anyone loses interest in my blog, I just don't seem to have time to just stuff my face full of food!

Weigh-in----173.0 lbs.

New Van!!

Okay, I've been gone for a couple days, so I'll update you on the happenings in my household.

I was having a string of bad days. I brought my van into the shop. The mechanic said the head gaskets were gone and it would take $1,500 to repair. Okay....that's more than the POS (piece 'o') is worth. That's not worth it at all! I was mad at myself for a while b/c I only had it for less than 3 years. I didn't beat it up or anything. It was just an old van to start out with.

So it will be going to the junkyard. Yay, now I don't have the van for transportation. Well, at least the truck is an extended cab to haul children. But I start classes tomorrow, and I am commuting an hour and back 4 days a week. A HUGE truck....that's going to be a nice gas bill =P.
Anyways....so it's been a while since I've had a really good day.

But then I had ONE day. This "euphoric" day. The weather was perfect. I got so much yard work done. The gardens were looking awesome. Then.....to top off my day: I got a new van!! And not just ANY van....Here's the highlights:

1. 2004 Grand Caravan (I've never had a vehicle in the 2000's)
2. Leather seats
3. Push-button doors, even the back door! I never have to touch a handle again, lol
4. Seperate driver and passenger climate controls (that'll stop SO many fights)
5. A button in front to vent the back windows, lol
6. Moon roof
7. A FOLD DOWN DVD PLAYER!!!!
8. Headphones so that I can listen to the radio and the kids can listen to their movie with the headphones. Cool, hey?? All wireless
9. The DVD player is a 6-disc changer!!
10. Hookups for game stations! Yes, we are thinking about putting the PS2 in there, since we use the Wii in the house.
11. A bunch of "little" things that make it the sweetest ride ever.

So, after all my vehicles I've had, I think my new van is the most "pimped out." And all this stuff is stock. No, I didn't add anything to it. Some comments from the fam:
"I really love this vehicle"--John
"Can we watch all our movies out here now?" --Will
"Gah"--Hailey