Rubber to Road: Starting up those starts!

We have talked about it.
We have budgeted for it
This is the year we will have a kick ass garden.  Step One: From seeds to seedlings.

The Seedling vs starts  debate has been settled and here I present you with grow station.  Here is what you will need for your own starts station:

Total Cost: $125

We were able to find the lights and bulbs at our local Habitat for Humanity store here in Richland.  I recommend one cool and one warm spectrum bulb per light.  I do not spend the money on the garden grow lights as these have seen me through thus far.

Why start our own?  I love to see the first germination, the first leaf unfold and see as our jungle of a garden grows and grows.  I love to pick exactly which variety I want to grow and have lots of options.  I love tending to an indoor garden when the February cold hits.  And finally, we are looking forward to staggering our plant dates a few weeks to hopefully encourage a long and plentiful harvest.

I cant wait to see the first little guy push through the soil!

Snow days in Wine Country

The rest of the country has been buried snow for the past forever (seriously... we get it midwesterners, -40 degrees sucks) but we here in Washington have just now decided to jump on the winter train!  And it is beautiful!

Snow fall in the vineyard made everything feel quiet and peaceful.

 Pruning is in full swing.  Each bud will produce 1-3 clusters per vine.  Each one of those bad boys is important for the perfect end product, that delicious glass of wine.

 The haircut looks good on 'em!

And the snow shows all the footprint from deer and coyotes.  Cheers from wine country!

The beginning of a Garden

Ever have that dream of getting home from work and going to the garden (with a cold beer) to harvest what you will cook for dinner?

 I have that dream.

The Gasparotti's Garden Haul

We are friends with an awesome couple in Walla Walla whom have inspired us.  Almost all of what they eat comes from their garden. They can, They pickle, They are basically AWESOME.  So awesome, in fact, that after opening their home to us, guiding us around that awesome town, cooking dinner from their garden and hanging out in the rain under cover, we got to wake up the next day, join them in the garden and pick enough veggies to fill two grocery bags home.  Like I said, AWESOME!!!

And this year, we are attempting to get on their level.

With hopes of more time outdoors, less time in front of the tube and a healthier "dirt to table" relationship with our food, the hubs and I are diving in!  The to-do list is long but the reward will be great!

2013 was a good start but there is lots of work to be done and am looking forward to see our garden grow in 2014!

ABQ: Pep Rally and Game Time!

Nothing is better than a prebowl game pep rally!

The Cougar faithful gathered at the ABQ Old Town Square.

The sea of Crimson

Fans of all walks of life who have traveled from far and wide to cheer on the Cougs!

We sang the fight song, cheered on the band and the ensuing drum-off that followed and ended the day with some delicious Southwest fair.  Although the game was a heart breaker, we held our heads high and look back at the progress we have made in Mike Leach's first years!  I for one am hoping for a bowl in Hawaii next year...

Go Cougs!

12th man at Starbucks!!

Have you heard!
12¢ tall coffees at participating Starbucks locations around Washington State tomorrow in honor of Blue Friday!

Wear your Hawks colors and enjoy yourself 12 oz of fan excitement in anticipation of Sundays big game!  What go to dips are you making for the game?! If you are lucky enough to live in the big city, check out the Seahawks Press release Here for rallies and other discounts happening around Seattle.

 I think it is time the Husband and I whip up some Smoked Jalapeno Poppers on the Traeger,
Recipe to follow!

Now get ready to hit Starbucks in your best Seahawk gear and Go Hawks!

ABQ in a weekend

The Husband and I went bowling to end 2013.

Go Cougs!

As alumni of Washington State University, season ticket holders, CAF members, we knew it was our duty to root our Cougs on in Albuquerque as they took on the Colorado State Rams. Seriously it took me like a week to figure out how to spell that so from here out, I will refer to the ABQ!

Have an A1 day!

What does one do in ABQ, I asked myself before we planned our big journey south.  We had to do the Breaking Bad tour, stoping at the building used for A1 Car wash as well as creepily driving by The White's home for the show.  The home is actually someones home, those poor people!

Bloody Mary at Scalo, Marble Brewing Company

Our time in ABQ was also spent wetting our whistle, south west style with some delicious Southwest style chili Bloody Mary's followed by seeking out a local microbrewery.  The Marble Brewery did not disappoint.  With a nice outdoor sitting area complete with picnic tables and bowls for your pooch to cool off and sip from and an open, wood lined interior, we had an enjoyable backdrop for some afternoon vacation beers.  It is always 5 o'clock somewhere, right?  We enjoyed a limited release Pumpkin Cask Dark Ale (pictured above) as well as their IPA and sips of some creamy Oatmeal Stout.

Garden Debate: Seeds or Seedlings

Planning a garden can be a challenge.  What variety to pick?  If you plant eggplant, will your husband eat them?  When do I need to have these in the ground by?

Lets rewind and tackle the first of many big questions: Do you start your plants from seeds or do you purchase your seedlings from the store?

Why start your plants from seed in your own home?  The reasons are different for each gardener.

Tomato Seedling reaching for the light

From Seed 

Pros- More seed and variety options, You know exactly what the plant has been treated with, the joy of watching the seedlings grow and prosper.

Cons- Time, lots of time planting the seeds, transplanting seedlings, watering, 

Purchase Seedlings

Pros- Ready when you are.  Varieties (Hopefully) already selected for your climate. 

Cons- May already be exposed to blight, Mildew, other diseases.  Heirlooms may be limited

The husband and I have opted to start our seeds in our home this year.  Little lessions from 2013 will be employed to make this the most productive year to date on Holly Court!  Last year I attempted to start everything from seed in our home.  

Seedlings

Jalapeno Peppers

Ready to Harvest

 Ill prepared, I ran into road block after road block.  The cat laid on all my little precious baby starts, smothering all the cucumbers and carrots and squash.  We had our wedding & honeymoon extravaganza and while we were off enjoying the beach in Hawaii, our little starts took a nose dive to the grave.  That is also how we ended up with 9 jalapenos plants, one bell pepper plant and none of the other 4 varieties of peppers I had in my goal garden. Same with the 5 Cherry tomato plant and no heirlooms. You would think I would have the whole "plants need water to live" thing down by now... working in Ag and being a farmers daughter and all.   And finally, we were too cheap/busy to purchase a lamp so the seedlings that survived were spindly little guys.  I seriously didn't think they were going to make it.  BUT this year will be different!!!

My garden pinterest board is brimming with ideas, My sights are set high and I am so excited to see where 2014 will take my garden! 

 Next up: Seedling Starter Stand and Light