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botiasI had help. My mom bought the newspapers, and I filled out the entry forms. So when you see the businesses that won some periodical's 'Best of' contest, maybe they are the 'Best Thai Restaurant' around OR MAYBE there's just someone out there with a cramped writing hand and a dearth of quarters.
In other news, the Mister and I have been replacing the THREE big picture windows on the rental. It's Brady Bunch era design and so a wall-o-windows was apparently a must-have. The center one developed a crack during a sharp freeze (or the tenants cracked it and played innocent). Either way, each of the big, double-paned windows had all failed over the years and developed some condensation between the panes so we decided to be proactive and replace all three. Nothing like taking apart something you recently caulked and repainted. Oh well. The new windows are much nicer than the old ones. Since we are saving about $1000 in labor costs by doing it ourselves, we've been using that as justification for going out to eat whenever we put in a day's work on it. Generally at the 'Best Asian Resturant' of 2012, which probably won honestly.
And when I'm not working on that, I've been gardening up a storm. I did a bunch of planting a few weeks ago and everything was looking very promising, but then the growth stalled out. Everything still looked healthy, but it looked the same every single day. I know this because I jump out of bed and dash out there every morning to see what has changed. That's when I got a clue, and it seems I must learn this anew every year, that lush growth only comes with regular watering, and there hasn't been a good soaking rain in weeks. So, even though it blustered and sprinkled today, I wasn't fooled and ran the soaker hoses.
I've just started digging up big clumps of dahlia tubers, jetting them clean with a hose and dividing them. It's exciting to see the new growth starting. I figure now's the time before they start to put out roots and get comfortable. I'm hoping to sell some on Craigslist and recoup some of my investment. The raised beds closest to the front get full of tree roots. *shakes fist at tree* I don't know if it does any good or if they just get filled again in a month, but I chop it all up every year or so. At least it keeps the invading roots from getting unmanageable and huge.
In other news, the Mister and I have been replacing the THREE big picture windows on the rental. It's Brady Bunch era design and so a wall-o-windows was apparently a must-have. The center one developed a crack during a sharp freeze (or the tenants cracked it and played innocent). Either way, each of the big, double-paned windows had all failed over the years and developed some condensation between the panes so we decided to be proactive and replace all three. Nothing like taking apart something you recently caulked and repainted. Oh well. The new windows are much nicer than the old ones. Since we are saving about $1000 in labor costs by doing it ourselves, we've been using that as justification for going out to eat whenever we put in a day's work on it. Generally at the 'Best Asian Resturant' of 2012, which probably won honestly.
And when I'm not working on that, I've been gardening up a storm. I did a bunch of planting a few weeks ago and everything was looking very promising, but then the growth stalled out. Everything still looked healthy, but it looked the same every single day. I know this because I jump out of bed and dash out there every morning to see what has changed. That's when I got a clue, and it seems I must learn this anew every year, that lush growth only comes with regular watering, and there hasn't been a good soaking rain in weeks. So, even though it blustered and sprinkled today, I wasn't fooled and ran the soaker hoses.
I've just started digging up big clumps of dahlia tubers, jetting them clean with a hose and dividing them. It's exciting to see the new growth starting. I figure now's the time before they start to put out roots and get comfortable. I'm hoping to sell some on Craigslist and recoup some of my investment. The raised beds closest to the front get full of tree roots. *shakes fist at tree* I don't know if it does any good or if they just get filled again in a month, but I chop it all up every year or so. At least it keeps the invading roots from getting unmanageable and huge.
