During

The office remains a work in progress. The good news is it's very close to being done. The bad news is that means it's totally torn apart and there's not a whole lot to show for our efforts (which then results in another long hiatus from the blog). Part of the delay was waiting for the weather and my schedule to clear up long enough to work on the second drawer unit. It finally got done:

I also found some new curtains (which you can just see behind the futon) on clearance at Lowe's. They're blackout curtains which is great since the window is the last one that needs blinds. The only part I dislike is that I had to cover up some great details around the window, but the room gets direct sunlight for most of the afternoon and I didn't want the stuff I have sitting on top of the ledge across from the window getting any more faded.

Inside the drawer. Since this photo, we have gotten a third box for our files. I also hope to get a couple of magazine holders and store Adam's collection in here.

In other news, I've also been working on a couple of yard projects.

I planted some hosta and spread around some new dirt in the new flower bed. Bugs have eaten some of the leaves, but I can never catch any in the act to see what it is so I can use a proper repellant. Hopefully they don't actually do too much damage. I also hope to get some impatiens in the ground before too long.

In trying to bring color to the yard, I went out and bought these two planters from Wal-Mart and finally got some plants to put in them. I've got a day lilly in the turquoise and I think a butterfly bush...I forget what the tag called it, but it looks like a butterfly bush in the yellow.

I still need to spread the leveling sand and set the edger stones around the bed and spread dirt around the irises that decided to bloom (and are now all dying...just the blooms though...Shouldn't be concerned, right?). I'd love to plant a few more flowers and maybe add a wind chime or some other fun things and the back yard will be almost complete!

I've finished a few projects, yet somehow a thousand more have been added to my list. How does that work?

Brown Thumbs

I've never fancied myself as the "gardener." I enjoy seeing beautiful flowers, but am not willing to put forth time and effort towards the actual growing process. I kept a plant in middle/high school, but that was enough of a commitment. I left it in the care of my parents when I went to college and it has since gone to plant heaven. My mom isn't the best at keeping plants either; she kills cacti. So I wasn't surprised to come home and see the pot, but not the plant. I will also admit I didn't leave "Philemon" in the best of health anyway, so it's not Mom's fault (I love you)!
When I moved into my own apartment I made the goal to keep a plant. I would water it regularly and watch it grow and brighten up the boring off-white walled room. I researched the plants available at my local Wal-Mart and corner garden center. I considered the needs of the corner and bought a plant accordingly. I also got potting soil, a pot, and a collection tray for the water overrun. I carefully planted it and watered it regularly...a little TOO regularly. I noticed gnats flying around the room. I emptied the trash, cleaned the kitchen, and made sure all food was put away. The gnats were all over. I finally noticed they seemed to gather around my plant. So, I did what any young college grad would do--I put "gnats in a plant" into Google to see what would come up. Sure enough, that can happen when you over-water a plant. I tried not watering it for awhile, to let the soil dry out to no avail. I went to Lowes and bought some spray. That cured the gnat problem, but made my plant sick. When I gave it water again, the gnats came back. Finally, I took the whole plant, pot and all, put it in a garbage bag, and threw it in the dumpster. So much for my green apartment.
When we moved into this apartment, I decided to take another stab at growing plants. I considered the needs of the space and got 2 small plants for our bay window. After some frustration, figured out a watering schedule and both are thriving. Then, Adam came home with a pot of 3 different plants for Administrative Assistants Day. One I knew as a philedendron, easy. Another is what I think is a peace lily. At least I identified it! I still have no idea what the other one is though. All of our plants are doing very well, except for one. The peace lily does what I call "fake dying" and it drives me crazy! I try to remember every couple of weeks to water the plants. Mr. Peace Lily doesn't like that. So like a 4-year-old, it gets dramatic. It limps over the side of the pot and goes all wilty. Guess what happens when it gets what it wants? Pops right back up and even gets a flower or two. Who knew raising plants is this difficult?