Well, it's been a busy few weeks, and despite the cold temperatures, Spring has sprung in Ohio! Things are picking up at work, with new calls and lots of meetings with existing clients on enhancements that they are requesting on their landscape. Who says the economy is not recovering. What I'm seeing is that people realize that they are probably going to be staying in their current homes, so why not make a more enjoyable outdoor living space!
Last evening a great friend of mine Joann and I went to the Dayton Ballet, they were doing three brand new dances to three brand new pieces of music. Each composer was selected by a committee, and then three choreographers were chosen and they got to choose the piece that they would choreograph. After the ballet, we met up with Chris and another friend of ours Mark. Had a great evening, but have felt a bit sluggish all day. I guess it's a sign of getting older, I think back to when we were in our twenties and would stay out 'til all hours. Not any more, although I did make it way past my normal bed time of 9:30!!!!
I love, no make that LOVE doing laundry. I would prefer doing laundry to almost any other house chore, like dusting or vacuuming! It may have something to do that the laundry and studio space are essentially one in the same, so while a load is in the washer or dryer, I can be weaving or processing fabric!
This is a photo of our laundry center. I am a huge sorter! I go so far as to sort colors and then sub-sort into colors that go in the dryer, and colors that get hung up to dry. We try to use the dryer as little as possible, so that we are not wasting so much electricity. Of course I also think everything just smells better when it's dried outside on the line. The laundry basket "shelf" to the right is something that Chris made for me last summer so that I didn't have baskets all over the floor, it really helps get things even more organized.
Some great fabrics that I found at a local thrift store.... can you see some rugs in the making!
I also make our own laundry detergent. It is much better on our clothes and the environment, and oh so easy to make, I'll using mix up a big batch that lasts about two months. I still use fabric softener, and on some of Chris' work jeans, a pre-treatment of Shout, but essentially I use the homemade stuff. It is a mixture of 3 cups of Borax, 3 cups of Washing Soda, and then 30 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil, and 20 drops of Lavender essential oil. I get high quality oils from
Green Clean Chic because they are a higher quality than what you can typically get say at a health food store. Jen Knoth will even do home shows to teach you the basics of going green with a lot of different cleaning supplies that are better for our homes and the environment.
Speaking of the environment, this is one of my favorite products out there for gardening. It is Posy Power, a natural compost that comes in 30 pound bags. I picked up my early spring order yesterday, 30 bags!!!! A local garden club sells it as a fund raiser for about half of what it costs retail. We do a lot of composting, but it's not always fast enough, so I usually stock up early and use this to supplement our own compost throughout the year.
Needed some color in my life, so potted up a couple of pots of pansies. Some of the early perennials and daffodils are helping out around here too!
Actually have had some time to do a little weaving, and a lot of fabric cutting and sewing of strips. Here's the latest rug on the loom. It's turning out nice, and ended up being about 70" in length on the loom. Will be nice to get this batch of rugs of the beam and finished!
Hope everyone has a great week!!!
Peace! Kent
