Wednesday, May 9, 2012

One thing leads to another

Hello Folks ~ I do hope you all are enjoying the days where you are.  Our weather is starting to feel more and more like summer.  We’ve really felt it the past couple of days as we’ve been working outside trying to get a project done.  Didn’t quite finish this afternoon because we were pooped and rain was threatening. 

Remember this curbside found barrel that we decided to use as a rain barrel. Well, as of last week we have it set up and we got a good rain one night and it filled to overflowing. The thing holds approximately 169 gallons according to our calculations.  One gallon weighs 8.33 lbs. so when full, this thing is heavy.  We have it up on a base of 2 layers of concrete blocks, it now has two spigots. It has a pipe to be connected to other tanks when we get them set up, and we have an overflow set up that goes into a French drain and on out into the street.

That was last week’s project.  This week we decided to re-do the gutters along the front of the house so that the water from them will all go to the rain barrel(s).  What a job, but we are almost finished.  The past two days have been very warm and humid so that we’ve been sweating like crazy, but drinking LOTS of water too.

We bought 2 sheets of white lattice to camouflage the rain barrel and I plan to get blue pea vines growing up it.  I think those flowers will go wonderful with the cobalt bottle bouquet that’s just to the south of the barrel.

03-01-blue-pea-vine2

I’ll post pictures later as I don’t have any edited and ready to go.

The caravan work is on hold while we’ve been doing this rain barrel and gutter work. DH does have the frame made for the counter top and it’s laying on one of his work benches on top of the plywood that will be cut for the top. Then a granite looking laminate will go on the top and front edge.

I’ve decided I want to do a ‘tropical’ decorating theme inside this little 6’x8’ space.

Here is Penelope the only new photo ready to share.

04-28-penelope

While working outside these past two weeks, I’ve been enjoying all of the blooms, scents, colorful foliage, the bees, butterflies and birds singing, plus the occasional crowing of neighborhood roosters. Since I’ve not been working in the gardens while working on these two projects I’ve appreciated them more because I’m not thinking about all that needs doing in them, just enjoying the moments being in them.

Again I want to thank all of you for your kind comments on my humble gardens.  They are encouraging and motivate me and help me to see my gardens in a different light.

Well, it’s time to get a meatloaf into the oven for supper.

Enjoy the rest of your week.  May you feel love and peace surrounding and flowing through you.

FlowerLady Lorraine

29 comments:

Rebecca said...

Penelope is STUNNINGINGLY beautiful. We've had cool, sunny days with a little rain making an appearance at quite unexpected moments! EVERYthing is growing--weeds most of all.

Have I seen your bottle tree before? I'd love to know more about its "bones".

Meatloaf sounds good,by the way...Peace & love to YOU, too, FlowerLady.

Jane said...

Hi Rainey! You and your DH never cease to amaze me with the ideas you two come up with. That vine is so pretty and goes so nicely with the cobalt glass. Enjoy your week!

Sunray Gardens said...

Way to go on the water barrel. It will be so nice for you to have that and conserve your own water.

Cher Sunray Gardens

F Cameron said...

Water-wise! Good thing to have rain barrels during drought.

Becky said...

WOW! You two certainly have been busy! I love your rain barrel - wish I had some set up as we pay for water now and it would be nice to have rain water for the garden(s).

GRACE PETERSON said...

You are such a worker, Lorraine. I love your rain barrel set up although it's hard for me to imagine how long and hard it must have rained to fill it so quickly.

Your blue bottle bouquet looks wonderful next to the blue flowers. And of course, Penelope looks breathtaking. Those soft pink buds opening into the lightest pink flower--jug gorgeous.

Thank you for encouraging me in the midst of my discouragement. It means a lot and sure feels great to have sweet friends like you. I feel better already and I still haven't gotten a nap. :)

denimflyz said...

Thank you for sharing your photos, Lorraine. I love them and love what you share with us.
I will email you later in the week. We have been buried in garden, and other "stuff" though I have another word for "it". D got the garden spaces roto-tilled for me, and now I made his back hurt and he's down for a few days, but it was so important to get the garden going as this is what we will eat out of for this year and into next.
Hugs to you, my wonderful friend and I will catch up with you later on.
Blessings upon you and DH

Unknown said...

Great on the rain barrel!! You two are always busy, busy, busy!!

Rainy Day Gardener said...

Right on Rain Barrels! Those will make a great impact on your water bill this summer. Enjoyed your photo's. Hope the completion of your projects goes smoothly! Cheers, Jenni

Three Cat Manor said...

I love the pictures! A few weeks ago we picked up a barrel for our garden. We have had 3 days straight of rain and I regret holding that project off now! Need to find all the parts to get it up and running soon!

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

I always love a peek into your gardens. Great to have that extra storage for the rainwater. Meatloaf makes me think of my childhood. One of my favorite dinners with mashed potatoes. Thanks for sharing, FlowerLady. xxoo Nancy

Ami said...

You and your DH are so handy! Your Rainbarrel is just on time for the rainy season!

Morning's Minion said...

You and your husband have great creative skills--you've made your garden into a magical space.
The vivid lavender paint for the gate and metal work is perfect.

Andrea said...

Hi Lorraine, i am so envious of that rain barrel. And it is so good to have someone who knows how to make physical gadgets like spigots or gutter remodellings. We are all female in the family, mother, sisters, niece and the lone nephew is still young. All of us don't know how to make those things. I hope to make spigots too for the plastic barrel we have waiting for the June rainy season.

Floridagirl said...

Oh, I need to do something about my gutters as well. It is phenomenal the quantity of water dumped on the four corners of this house when it rains! Good for you getting that project done. You sound a lot like us. We always having several projects going, that we end up delaying to finish the more pressing one.

Jillayne said...

You've had some very busy days Lorraine. It sounds like a work to get your rain barrel up and running, but I'm sure it will be very convenient when all sorted out.
We have had a terrible cold spring here, but today the sun is shining and I am going to putter in the yard later today when it warms up - frost again last night!
Your rose is lovely too - I think my favourite winter-killed this year. Time to go to the garden centre I think!

Skeeter said...

How wonderful you collected rain in this recycled container! Plants seem more happy with natures water rather then the garden hose. We are having a nice day today and hopefully some of this cool front will wander your way. It is going to be a nice few days before the humidity returns… Have a good weekend…

Lona said...

Those rain barrels come in so handy when it gets dry in the summer.It was so wet here last year that mine were never dry. Your blue pea vines on the lattice will make a beautiful cover up. Have a lovely week.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Love reading all you share.
Some of your ideas I have had in the past.
Always wanted a rain barrel to help with watering in the summer.
Never could find anyone to help me with this.
Your blue vine and bottle creating
are wonderful....

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Really loving how you made the rain barrel. Always a project isn't there.

Gayle said...

You are truly an inspiration to me. You are so calm and collected yet work so hard on your home to make it an enjoyable place for you and DH. Wish I could feel peace running through me... it's been a bad spell that I can't blog about due to court restraints. I hope to one day reach the place that you are at and be able to reflect. Sorry I haven't been around. It's been hard.

Diana Studer said...

It is easy to camouflage rain water tanks, because the eye says happily WATER! At least yours is not a shriek green plastic like our 3.

NanaK said...

Using lattice work to hide the barrel is brillant! I am going to be on the look-out for some myself. Thanks for your inspiration. The blue-pea vine will make a nice combo with those blue bottles.

jerilanders said...

I love the blue bottle bouquet. I can just imagine the little delicate pea leaves swirling round those bottles, and the blue flowers reflecting in the gals, SWEET!
I have often looked at bottle trees, but can't decide on where to place one in my garden. AND, should it be a pre-made metal one OR a REAL tree, I just don't know.

sweetbay said...

Those blue pea flowers are amazing! Your rain barrel holds a LOT of water. We have a couple of 70 gallon barrels and they are nice to have.

Susan said...

What a great rain barrel. Now if we can only get some rain so you can fill it up. Love all the blue in your garden.

Darcie said...

Had to stop by with a special "hello", my time has been limited to check out my favorite blogs, and I feel like I have missed a tea date with friends when that happens! Glad you are enjoying spring...beautiful pictures as always!

Karen said...

Oh, I adore your rain barrel. I have an assortment of four 50 gallon drums that perch under the eaves of the garage. Nothing like rain water for our plants, is there? I like your idea of having the gutters fill the barrel. Ingenious!

whoistracy said...

Thanks so much for stopping by to say "hi"!! I miss the cottage gardeners and all the friends I made on GW. Hope you are doing well in Florida. My gardens are growing slowly and I'm enjoying the work. Just LOVE your rain barrel- have been trying to convince my husband to get one for a few years now!!