Seattle's Best

This past Sunday Oz and I drove up to Seattle to watch a Mariner's game.  They were playing the Red Sox's and it turned out to be the fastest game I've watched.  The Mariner's ended up winning 5 to 3 and we got to see Jacoby Ellsbury(a former OSU baseball player) play for Boston.  We had a lot of fun and walked all over downtown and took lots of pictures.  We stayed one night at the City Hostel on 2nd Ave. and came home on Monday.  We took our time getting back and stopped at a few different stores and outlet malls. It was a really fun trip and we both missed Charlotte and the bunnies tons even though we were only gone 2 days.

In front of Pike's Place Market

Pike's Place

Decorative Pepper Display

Oz in front of the market

We stopped here for a late breakfast.  I was starving in the car and had to dig around for snacks until we got to Seattle.

A really delicious bacon and egg breakfast bagel sandwich

It was a mouthful

I love all the trees in downtown Seattle

Begonia Baskets in front of a fountain

You can walk underneath the fountain

Getting ready for the game

Me and Ichiro

In front of Safeco Field

The glove and I

We didn't realize our seats were under the awning.  It was very chilly and we didn't get any sun, not that it was out that day anyways.



Ellsbury at bat



Ichiro!

After the 3rd inning, the field crew broke down in a dance while raking the dirt

Enjoying my Coors Light

We're cold but we're having a blast

The first home run of the game by the Mariners

After the game we checked into our room at the City Hostel.  It was really clean and a nice place.  The only part that we didn't like was the block it was on.  It was a little scary at night but we still felt safe where we were.

Its been voted best in the Nation.  Every room had murals painted on the wall.  There was a hot tub, movie theatre, private rooms. a balcony to eat breakfast and a chicken coop and organic garden on the roof.

Our room

There were funny little characters drawn all over the walls

The dining room and kitchen

In front of the Seattle Library.  It was closed when we got there so we couldn't go inside.

Dwight's head on a t'shirt

Nearing sunset

A fisherman statue

A cute octopus

For dinner we ate right next door to our hostel.  We miss understood where we both wanted to eat and ended up spending more than we thought for an ok meal.  It was still a nice time and the food was good.  I had the linguine with clams in a white wine sauce.

Oz had something we had a hard time pronouncing.  It was semi sweet with bacon and a light cream sauce.

The next morning we stumbled upon the original Starbucks across from Pike's Place

Each time we passed a Starbuck's (which was every corner) we joked that we found the original.  And when we were about to leave town we actually found the original when we weren't expecting it.

Eating a rhubarb pastry in front of Pirosky Pirosky.  Anthony Bourdain from the food network stopped at this place while filming one of his tv episodes.

Oz had a spinach and egg pastry and I had a rhubarb dish.  They were both delicious.

Just before heading out of the city we stopped at the Space Needle.  We could see it from our hotel and it was only a few blocks away.

Garden Gallery and Fall Information Stations

 I just finished putting the last touches on the Customer Garden Appreciation Gallery that will be featured in Friday's email for the garden center.  The idea was to show case neighborhood gardens and inspire our customers via other customer's photos and landscaping designs.  We received lots of great garden photos from our customers.  The gallery turned out great.   I've been hard at work making informative 'stations' for people looking for gardening ideas and tips.  Soon I will be working on Autumn and Halloween displays.

 New this year we also added information boards about fall project ideas such as composting, lawn care tips, backyard birding and controlling pests in the garden.  We will also be adding stations for cover crops and onions/garlic when they arrive which should be any time now.

Composting Station

Lawn Care Information

Charlotte and the Schmidt's Email

 Last Thursday Charlotte was featured in our garden center's email.  We did a photo shoot in the back yard with watering cans and sprinklers.  This was the feature photo used of Charlotte. Below are the rest of her photos that you didn't get to see in the email.

 She really like to lend a helping paw when she can (He he, I put two puns in this caption)

 Not a big fan of the sprinklers up close

 "You're not so tough when your turned off"

 Staying out of harms way

 She was getting mad when I shook the sprinkler in her direction

 That's the spot!

Charlotte and Max

A friend just brought home a 12 week old german shepard puppy named Max a few weeks ago.  He's much younger than Charlotte but twice her size.  They didn't care, these two became fast friends.  Max might look like he could dominate Charlotte but he is so mellow and she is so spunky she had him exhausted and ready for a nap in less than an hour.   Its really great giving her a chance to play with all sorts of dogs so she will know how to play with any age and size of dog.



Chasing Max down





David slaying Goliath




Max would let her roll over him when he was tired




Uh oh, here comes the fun police




Playing a new game




Fighting for the ball




Tug of War




I think he was letting her win



Recipe: Straight from the Garden Blueberry Zucchini Muffins with Cream Cheese Filling

 For this dessert I actually combined three different recipes; zucchini bread, blueberry muffins and cream cheese filling used in pumpkin rolls.

 I used 4 cups of blueberries I bought Monday at the blueberry farm and 2 small zucchinis that were ripe in my garden.  (I have TONS more blueberries and zucchini I still need to find recipes for this week).


Cream Cheese Filling

Combine in a mixer

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Mix until smooth and set aside



Cream Cheese Filling

  For the Muffins:
In a bowl combine and mix

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup olive oil
• 3 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups sugar

Then gentle stir in 2 cups shredded zucchini

In another bowl mix:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Stir into zucchini mixture and then gently fold in 2 cups of blueberries.  Spoon a little bit of mixture into baking cups.  Make sure to leave enough room for cream cheese and another layer of zucchini dough.  Spoon into the center of each cup 1 tsp. cream cheese.  Then top with more zucchini dough.  Bake on 350 degrees for about 20 mins.  Let cool and enjoy.



Spoon in cream cheese mixture




They are looking tasty already




Fresh from the oven




 These muffins were very tasty.  Any food with cream cheese is a winner in my book.  I had enough cream cheese mixture and fresh produce to make two batches of muffins plus a mini bread loaf as well.  I liked these best served warm.  Top them off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  I'm sending a batch to work tomorrow for the co-workers.

Garden Journal: August 1st

Blooming Foxglove

As you may have noticed I haven't been posting nearly as often as I had in spring.  I haven't run out of blogging ideas but I've been working really hard at the garden center and needed a break from scheduling myself activities and projects in my free time.  For almost a month I had no energy at work or at home.  I have a tendency to overwork myself and that's what happened this spring.  I am now bouncing back and feeling more like my usual self.  I still might not be posting nearly as often as before or working on as many projects as I would like but I feel much more energized and am taking time to enjoy the summer and spending time with my sidekick, Charlotte.

Because of my lack of energy to do anything strenuous, I have almost completely forgotten about my garden.  Luckily for me we had a lot of rain in June and July because I have barely been watering it.  Its shameful to admit as a garden center manager but I just didn't give a hoot this summer about weeding or watering.  I know, its terrible! Its a good thing I decided I wouldn't fuss over plants sprouting or not earlier this year because I have been doing a terrible job keeping up with my yard.  This weekend I decided it was finally time to give it some over due attention and at least mow the grass. 

So Sunday morning at 7, Charlotte and I got up, went for a walk and then got dirty in the garden.  I pulled out a lupine that was entirely covered in aphids (really, really covered in aphids), trimmed a few forsythia bushes, mowed the lawn, pulled out dead flowers that I ignored, fertilized the remaining flowers, pulled out a really ugly rose bush and set up a new birding area.  I know I did a lot in the yard but it still needs a lot of love.  I didn't even touch the weeds and blackberry bushes around the back.  That will have to wait for another day.

She's sleepy

We've been having trouble with rats in the area so I took my bird feeders out of the tree and put them on this pole where the rats shouldn't be able to get to.  I love feeding birds but I hate the vermin the food attracts.  I also potted up a passion flower vine at the base of the pole to climb up and look pretty.

Are we done yet Mom?

The untamed part of the yard.  You almost need a machete to get back here.

Notice all the blackberry vines spilling over the fence.  Its a nightmare...or gardenmare?

On the bright side there are some pretty shasta daisies in bloom

echinacea ready to bloom any week now

Scrapbooking Tips for Beginners

Graduation from OSU

These last few weeks instead of taking photos I have been scrap booking photos from the past 2 years.  I took a long hiatus from scrap booking simply because I wasn't in the mood for it.  But now I have renewed interest in it and have been cruising through putting layouts together. 

I have a few friends that also like to scrapbook and know a few people who would like to learn how but have no idea where to start.  So, I decided to put together a little tutorial about basic tools and tips on how to start scrap booking.

My scrapbooking stash.  Charlotte hidding in the background.

Scrap booking is a hobby that isn't hard to do but it does take a lot of time to do.  Mostly time is spent thinking of how to arrange photos and picking backdrops and embellishments.  Set aside at least a whole afternoon to get started.  Don't feel disheartened if you don't get very far when scrap booking.  Sometimes I will get all my supplies out and be ready to get to work and then sit there for hours and haven't made one page.  (This usually happens when I don't really want to scrapbook or because I haven't printed out all my photos I need).  Or sometimes I get together with friends and all we do is chitchat or look through each others stickers instead of working on our own projects.

The first step is picking out your photos.  Choose photos you really love.  I have a tendency to print more photos than I actually use.  Its nice to have a variety to choose from.  And don't feel like you need to put every single photo in your scrapbook. I like to use the ones that have the most meaning.  When selecting photos make sure to take the time and adjust any red eye or to crop any photos that are too distant.  Photos look best when the subject takes up most of the picture.  For example:

As you can see there is a big difference between the two photos.  The difference between close up photos is very apparent after you print them out so make sure you adjust them before you pay the money to print them.  When you are ready to print I usually print mine 4 x 6 inches.  Or when I really want to emphasis a particular event or a favorite photo I print it larger, sometimes making it take up most of the layout on my scrapbook page.

If you've never scrapbooked or haven't done it for a few years it might seem daunting with what photos to start with.  If you like to keep memories in chronological order (like I do) start with the most recent events first because they are still clear in your mind, and then work your way back in time.  Or, if you like to jump around and like looking at photos in random order, work on the photos that inspire you the most. 

Now that your photos are ready you will need some basic supplies.  Scrapbooking doesn't have to cost a fortune and you don't need fancy equipment.  Start with a few basic supplies and add more as you go.  Buy items that you can use for multiple layouts and stick to the necessities. Choose paper and embellishments not just because they are pretty but because you have a need for them.  I have countless supplies that I bought because I liked the design but I have no idea when or how I will use them (not a good money saver).  My scrapbooking stash is large but I've been adding to it over 8 years so over time I have accumulated a lot. But even when I first started out I enjoyed being creative with my pages using simple items.  Here is a list of very basic supplies:

• Paper, 12 x 12 or 8 x 10 depending on what size album you want.  You can buy packs of coordinating pages in solid or printed patterns.  They can be somewhat expensive this way, but if you are just starting out they are a great way to get inspired and they have enough variety to make multiple layouts with.
• Scissors or a paper cutter.  A paper cutter will give you nice clean edges every time but scissors always work too!
• Glue stick.  There are many variations of how to adhere your photos such as glue dots or glue strips but they are costly and I use them quickly so a glue stick is my favorite way to stick on pages and photos.
• Scrapbook and clear page protectors.  Michael's and Joann's craft stores always have cute scrapbooks and they are usually on sale.  Page protectors come with the scrapbook but not very many so be prepared to fill it with more at some point.
• Embellishments.  You can spend a fortune on stickers and peel on thingys...or you can use what you already have.  Some ides include:  buttons, wrapping paper,sea shells, ribbon,colored paper cut into shapes, stamps, you can cut out cute decals you printed off the Internet, magazine photos, and don't forget items from your trips like ticket stubs, pressed flowers, invitations, etc.  Even the dollar store has adorable stickers and paper.

This page is one I did several years ago about my 6th grade talent show.  I used construction paper and photos from the Internet to create a stage and emphasis that the photos are about our class dancing to music from the movie Grease.

After you have your photos and supplies you are ready to scrapbook!  It is always fun to get together with other people who enjoy the same hobbies you do.  One idea is to have a scrapbook party and get friends together.  Its nice to have the company and you can get ideas and tips from those around you.  (You might be able to use some of their supplies too!)  This is how I started scrapbooking.  In highschool I went to a friend's house whose mom did scrapbooking parties and had a blast.  I had no idea what I was doing but I really enjoyed it and still do now. You can also look online for ideas on layouts and how to pick photos.  The main thing to remember is to have fun.  And don't be afraid to experiment. 

A few last tips:  Be sure to add captions to your photos.  I always forget this part but it is nice to look back and know who was in the photo, where it was taken, etc.  If you don't like your hand writing you can always print out captions. Also, if you have paper that is double sided, meaning there is patterns on both sides, use both sides to save an extra piece of paper. 

I will leave you with some inspiration.  Below are some of my pages I've done of different subjects.

Christmas 2009



Cocoa Puff's first week home