Forcing Branches

Yesterday, shortly after my Birthday Roses post, I received a comment from one of my lovely readers:

Have you met Courtenay yet? If you haven't, visit Signal Hill Interiors.

So, her comment got me thinking, "Why should we have to wait for lilacs?"

I know that forcing blooms is possible, but I've never read about forcing lilacs.

So I did a little research.

Check out this page at BHG.com

If you scroll down to the bottom, it actually says that March is the best time to force lilacs indoors!

On Page 3 of that article, it will give you step-by-step basics to forcing branches.

If you're viewing this on a phone (where navigation can be tricky), here's the direct link to the tutorial:

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/care/forcing-branches-into-bloom/?page=3

I'm (hopefully) going to be giving this a try.

If anyone successfully forces their lilac branches, send me a picture of them in their full glory!

Just click the link "Contact Me" at the top of this page and attach a photo!

Happy bloom forcing everyone!

Birthday Roses

Okay, so my birthday was actually yesterday.

My husband surprised me with a dozen roses and breakfast in bed yesterday morning.

Isn't that sweet?

However, I always find it hard to display them.

I'm really not a fan of the cliche roses and baby breath jammed into a run-of-the-mill vase.

It screams "cheesy Valentine's Day present" all over it.

How do you mix cheesy roses with an antique-loving country-girl-at-heart?

Cut the roses short and display them in Ball canning jars!

Too bad I don't have any antique turquoise ones.

Oh well, can't be picky, can we?

I love how flowers can brighten up any room.

I'm getting pretty excited lately.

My bearded irises just poked their heads out, so I know it's not too far off when my lilac bushes will be in full bloom.

The usually bloom in May.



Kicking off Spring Break!

I'm finally on Spring Break!

I wish I was here....

....but I'm relaxing at Mi Casa for the week instead.

I'm going full speed ahead on my closet, and it WILL get done by Thursday (I have an inspector coming Thursday morning, and I want this place CLEAN.)

I ran into some minor delays the past few days:

1. Ran out of primer.

2. Bumped my head onto a wall with wet primer on it. 10 showers later...still have primer in my hair. Hey, at least I know it does it's job well, right?

3. Tried prying a board off the wall, and sunk the hammer into the drywall. In my defense, the nails used to nail this board into the wall mimicked the nails used when my saviour Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross.

These things were wicked big.

So the wall is patched, I still have primer in my hair, and that's about it.

I'm buying more primer tonight, so tomorrow morning, I'll get the walls done!

By tomorrow night, I'm hoping the flooring will be done.

Wednesday morning, I will work on the trim, and by the end of the day, the door will be cut and installed.

Anyways, I'm actually stopping in to show you a product that I just got online.

I had a coupon for $15 off at Express.

This fun little ditty is only $15.90

That's a perfume on one end and lipgloss on the other!

How cool is that?!

I only paid 90 cents + shipping & handling.

(The coupons were sent to me for my birthday. Thanks Express!)

The lipgloss consistency is excellent. Not too sticky. The color is amazing!

I'm picky about perfumes, and I must say, I really like this one!

It's a floral scent, and it's not "in your face" strong.

Just thought I'd share my discovery.

;)

Wall Building

Just as a heads up, I'll be here pretty sparse until about May.

All my free time is spent either studying, being in class, or practicing like crazy in a nursing lab.
Next month I will be starting my clinicals, so it will be even more quiet around here.

Heck, I barely get to see my family right now.

=(

But today, I have the day off from work, I don't have school, and I'm pretty much caught up in everything, so I have a spare minute or two.

;)

A few weeks ago, I built a wall in my kneewall closet. I've taken down walls before, but I've never built one. It's great that I was able to practice on something small that people won't see.

So today, I'm going to show you the progress, as well as teach you some lingo.


The frame is the skeleton of your house.
It usually consists of a bottom plate, top plate, and all the studs in between.
Studs are normally spaced 16" on center.
If a door is added, however, you will also need a header, cripple studs, king studs, and possibly trimmer studs.
I didn't put a trimmer stud on my wall, well....because I didn't really see the need for it.

Maybe it's because I also cut my own door jamb and I'm making my own door.
I just didn't see the need when the door was in a little kneewall.


I then put up drywall on both sides.

It's already taped and mudded, but I didn't take a picture of that.

Then I had to make the door jamb.

I had to rip-cut a 1x6 to the width of my studs + the thickness of both pieces of drywall.

Yes, I know that you would usually have a trimmer stud there, buy a door + jamb kit, and shim it level and plumb, but remember...it's just a kneewall closet door.

I'm more concerned about cost.

=D

Anyways, that's about as far as I have gotten. The rest of the flooring is purchased, but not installed.

I still need to prime and paint the entire closet.

The trim needs to be installed.

I need to cut out the door and attach it to the jamb.

I have to install the door stop on the jamb.

I have to add the door hardware.

Unfortunately, I barely have even a spare 30 minutes to do any of this.

I have a Spring Break coming up in a month, and I'm going to power it out all in 1-2 days.

Aaron Rodgers

He rocks my socks.

=D

Hope everyone enjoyed the Super Bowl as much as I did!