Kwik Sew 3740

This is a great pattern. I LOVE it. It is nearly instant gratification.

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The Proven Tomato Cage for Tall Tomato Plants

I was just reading Pioneer Woman's blog and she posted about her favorite tomato cages. I took a look at those tomato cages and knew that they wouldn't work for those of us blessed with huge tomato plants.

By far, the post that gets the most search hits on my blog is this post on homemade tomato cages. I want to post an update on the new method we tried last year as I believe it far surpasses anything we have ever tried in our 17 yrs of gardening. In Oregon, the tomato plants grow quite large and most tomato cages will only support half the plant, if that. This new method we discovered is fantastic. It is sturdy, holds the whole plant very nicely without damaging limbs, and allows easy access to the tomatoes. This was the first year all of our tomato plants stayed upright and no limbs collapsed from the weight of tomatoes. (think $$ savings!!!) I took pictures from different angles so hopefully this will be clear to understand. Click on pictures if you'd like to see a closeup.





You can see 3 rows of metal fencing posts - they are around 6 feet tall (before hammering in the ground) my husband in the picture is 6'5". The first row of fencing was for our green beans (bottom of the pictiure), so look at the other 2 rows above.

Instructions:

Plant a row of young tomato plants. Hammer metal fence posts in a row on both sides of the tomato plants - about 4 feet apart between posts and 4 feet between each row. Roll out concrete reinforcing wire and attach to the fence posts using zip ties. As the tomato plants mature and needs support, use narrow sticks (approx 5 feet long) by pushing the stick through one side of the concrete reinforcing wire and all the way through the other side of the concrete reinforcing wire. Weekly, check the tomato plant and see if more limbs need support. This picture is showing how we inserted the wooden sticks through the reinforcing wire. When the tomatoes are ripe, simply reach through the reinforcing wire.

Wooden sticks through the reinforcing wire

Side view showing 2 rows of fence posts zip tied with concrete reinforcing web with tomato plants growing down the row and a runaway squash summer squash plant trying to get in on the action.


Unfortunately, I neglected to take pictures when the big tomatoes were huge. These pictures were taken when the cherry tomatoes were just starting to ripen, so the plants weren't even full height.

This method is a great one in that everything can be reused each year. I found the fence posts on Craigslist very inexpensively.

If you use this method, please let me know how it works for you.

Happy gardening!!!

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Family Day at Seaside, Oregon

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We spent a wonderful day at the Oregon coast yesterday. Tall Dude didn't have school or work, so we made a family day of it and it was so beautiful. On the way there, it was really rainy until we made it over the mountain pass and then it was beautiful sunshine. The hike was great, but a bit muddy. We then went to the beach and the kids played in the waves with their bare feet, flew a kite. We ended the day with a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. Such a sweet family day!

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Pearly and VBall

Pearly completed her 2nd and final season of volleyball this year. Her Mustangs team was undefeated and league champions. Proud Mama is hugging the 1st team All Star - woohoo!!!

Here are the 2 coaches who have made her what she is today. This was at the banquet and awards ceremony. You couldn't ask for better coaching.

Pearly's nickname: The Wall - because she's a middle blocker and it's a little challenge to spike a ball with a 6 ft 2-3/4-in. blocker standing in front of you! I love her nickname!

Although I will actually miss the crazy business, I look forward to slowing down and more crafting/sewing!

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Orange Boy, Orange Ball

That's my boy! Orange Boy has ventured into a new season of life: basketball. This is his first year playing on a basketball team and he is doing amazingly well. Between Orange Boy's bball and Pearly's volleyball and all the music stuff going on, it's been a bit crazy on the homefront.

I was talking to my husband the other day about his basketball as a kid. He doesn't remember his parents going to his games and it made me so sad to think about. I cannot fathom not going to my kids' games. I did notice a few girls on my daughter's vball team whose parents didn't show up. I understand not showing up for every game or even some games, but not even one game? Wow, so sad. I want my kids to know that we are their biggest cheerleaders. I can't imagine it any other way.

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Activewear Contest

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I'm still here. I've been sewing a lot lately. I just finished this pants top/sports bra workout outfit. I love it. I had to tweak everything a little bit. You can read my reviews on the Pattern Review side bar. The pants are Kwik Sew 3115. I LOVE them. The top and sports bra are from Kwik Sew 3660. I will never buy a store-bought sports bra again. It only takes 1/2 yard. Not only can I wear them for exercising, but I can wear it in place of a camisole under tops. That will be especially nice in the summer when you don't want to be wearing 2 layers. It's so nice to have patterns tweaked out to fit. I still shake my head that I have to add SEVEN, yes, SEVEN inches to the inseam of all the pants I sew. Wow!

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My 16-day old iMac has a worm!!! Do I have the only Mac with a worm?

This picture was taken almost 2 hrs before the bottom two pictures. (Click to enlarge . . . if you dare.)

After 12 years of putting up with a piece-of-junk-virus-ridden PC, my beloved husband surprised me with a new iMac for Christmas. I was happy beyond belief - - - that is until today, 16 days later, when it had a worm. Not just any computer-virus-type-worm, but a live one. It was moving across the entire screen as I typed.

I tried to explain the situation to my very tired husband before his nap and he thought I was pulling a practical joke on him - playing some sort of program that fakes a "worm" across the screen. I was not/am not.

This real worm/bug thing is behind my computer screen INSIDE my computer. For a while, I had updated my status about the worm and he was moving right under the letters as I typed - talk about creepy. I cannot wipe my screen off to get rid of him. A science teacher friend of mine said perhaps a microscopic egg was on a part during assembly. EWWWWWW.

I'm pretty sure he is dead, but he is definitely there and it feels weird to see "him" over there on the side of my screen as I'm even typing this!

Now I need to figure out what to do next. Any ideas?

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Present

I received a priceless gift from my daughters this year. My eldest daughter asked a friend to do a photo shoot of she and her sister. I love my sweet girls!! They are 8 years apart, but they sure love each other and had a great time together making this gift for me. I am so happy with these pictures. Birdie is 23 and Pearly is 15.

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Merry Christmas

Last week, our children participated in the Christmas performance and Caboose was all too thrilled to be Joseph. Actually, he did very well as a stoic Joseph. He is such a serious kid and it's always a challenge to get a smile. See how much better he looks when he doesn't realize Mama Paparazzi is shooting him? LOL Here he is before he saw me with the camera:

And here is after - lol!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our family. I felt especially spoiled with my dh getting me an iMac - wow, I forgot how wonderful they are.

Here are a few pics from our sweet day together.

Eating our traditional Christmas breakfast - homemade crepes with Oregon raspberries. We have a new "adopted" son hanging out with us. He's in the Coast Guard and his parents were stationed with us in Maine years ago when we lived there. His parents are overseas and so we are "keeping an eye" on him.



I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you were able to enjoy special times with your loved ones.

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BRRRRRR - Fleece Pullover Kwik Sew 3094

I just whipped this up last night. It's been in the teens in the Pacific Northwest and I needed something to keep me warm in our house which has cool spots (due to heating with wood stove). This fits the bill! Click on the picture to enlarge.

More warm clothes to come.

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Dress and Cardigan

I sewed a couple more items recently. The dress is New Look 6922 - very simple dress made of a knit. I love the colors. Click on photos for close ups.



And then I made a knit cardigan from Kwik Sew 3693. These are so comfortable - - stress free dressing and perfect for travel as they can be folded in a suitcase and then worn immediately. I LOVE knits!!

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Simplicity 2766 Jacket

I've been sewing a lot lately and have more pictures and reviews to upload. Here's a new jacket. I should have picked a heavier weight fabric, but for a "muslin", it went together nicely and now I can pick another more substantial weight fabric to make another one. You can read the sewing review in my sidebar.

Edited to add: I received a comment that this is boxy and pilgrim-like. I appreciate the comment. The pictures show it on the dark gray side, but it is really more black with little white specks. What do you think? Too boxy, pilgrimy? I don't think pilgrims would be using those flashy buttons - lol. I was thinking of making a shorter version - not as short as the pattern, and also a different color.


Pearly's volleyball season is over at the local high school. Her JV team didn't do too well, but she was able to play Varsity and this week she will suit up with the Varsity. That has been a pretty big thrill for her as a freshman.

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Silly Boy

This is right after I cut Bunny's hair. He had a squirt bottle with water and was having a little fun looking at himself in the mirror. I could eat him up.

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And again Simplicity 4076

This pattern is really incredible with all the variations from summer to fall. This is my "muslin". It's a good start. I'm going to redraft the neckline so hopefully I won't have to wear a camisole. I also want a thicker fabric with more lycra to avoid some of the wrinkling. Check out the length of my sleeves - that is a rare thing for a 6'3" mama! Woohoo!

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Sewing and More

Several of you guessed correctly on what was in the pear - an airsoft pellet. There are lots of airsoft pellets in my yard! Boys!!

Since school has begun again, life is crazy busy. Pearly is playing volleyball for the public high school and made JV team as a freshman. Just last week, the Varsity coach asked her to swing up to Varsity. So it looks like she sill do both JV and Varsity (maybe more on the bench at Varsity games). What a thrill for her (and her mama).

I've made a sewn a few things. If you would like details - checkout my sidebar to read the review on patternreview.com

Hope all is well with YOU!

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