A couple weeks ago, I bought some sweet corn at one of the local farmers markets. I had a little more than I really needed, so I went looking for some recipes to use it all up.
I found a couple at allrecipes.com, and this is by far the best one. I had to make some adjustments, because I didn't have all the listed ingredients, but it was great. I used green onions since that was the only kind of onion I had. I also didn't have fresh cilantro or any garlic, so used some dried cilantro and some garlic powder.
I've had it as a side dish and tossed it into a salad, but my favorite way to eat it is with chips, like a salsa. Next time I make it, I'll probably throw in some sliced jalepeño to add some heat to go with the sweetness.
This one was pretty good, too, especially with some leftover grilled beef sliced thin and tossed in.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, July 02, 2010
Fun project
With the all the garage cleaning, you probably think I'm not having much fun on my vacation. Well, if you think the only way to have fun on vacation is to be on a beach or something, then I guess you'd be right.
But I am getting to some things that I've been wanting to do for awhile that will make life a little easier if not enjoyable, and that's fun for me. Yes, I'm kind of a geek.
Anyway, here's one of the things I'm doing.
I've had this metal bistro table for about 10-12 years. It's a little well worn, as you can see.
I scrubbed it clean Tuesday morning and let it dry, then brought it into the garage for a couple coats of primer.
Then came the color. I wanted it to be red with black legs, because I think that's a pretty cool color combination, but it didn't feel like I had enough red spray paint. So I went with yellow for the top.
I was still going to go ahead and do black for the legs, but realized I had a LOT of green spray paint, so went with that.
Maybe I'll get some brown craft paint and make the top look like a sunflower. That'd be kinda cool. I'll need to seal it, too, to help protect the paint, but that's not real important at this point.
I put it on my front porch, so I've got something to set a cool drink on while I sit on the bench on nice evenings.
Anyway, I've got one more big, fun project to do, but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it before I go back to work. I still need to do a couple things inside the house, too (replacing the bathroom faucet, for one). But I think I could at least get a good start to where it will be usuable. More on that later.
But I am getting to some things that I've been wanting to do for awhile that will make life a little easier if not enjoyable, and that's fun for me. Yes, I'm kind of a geek.
Anyway, here's one of the things I'm doing.
I've had this metal bistro table for about 10-12 years. It's a little well worn, as you can see.
I scrubbed it clean Tuesday morning and let it dry, then brought it into the garage for a couple coats of primer.
Then came the color. I wanted it to be red with black legs, because I think that's a pretty cool color combination, but it didn't feel like I had enough red spray paint. So I went with yellow for the top.
I was still going to go ahead and do black for the legs, but realized I had a LOT of green spray paint, so went with that.
Maybe I'll get some brown craft paint and make the top look like a sunflower. That'd be kinda cool. I'll need to seal it, too, to help protect the paint, but that's not real important at this point.
I put it on my front porch, so I've got something to set a cool drink on while I sit on the bench on nice evenings.
Anyway, I've got one more big, fun project to do, but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it before I go back to work. I still need to do a couple things inside the house, too (replacing the bathroom faucet, for one). But I think I could at least get a good start to where it will be usuable. More on that later.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Great Garage Cleanup 2010 — Final Day!
At last! It's done! I got the tools/work area all straightened up and somewhat organized this morning.
I also sorted through some of my boxes of stuff and ended up throwing a bunch more stuff out. I don't think I'm going to let another eight years go by before I do this kind of purging again.
I still have some stuff to get rid of. It just needs a lot of cleaning up. What I can just hose off, I'll do that in the morning and let it dry, then see about taking it to the local community thrift shop. There's some of Mom's stuff, that she said I could get rid of, so I'll have to get those and see what could be donated and what needs to be tossed.
But it's done! And now I have all kinds of room in the garage again. Which is good, because I've got a project or two I'd like to do before my vacation is over. But that's for another post.
I also sorted through some of my boxes of stuff and ended up throwing a bunch more stuff out. I don't think I'm going to let another eight years go by before I do this kind of purging again.
I still have some stuff to get rid of. It just needs a lot of cleaning up. What I can just hose off, I'll do that in the morning and let it dry, then see about taking it to the local community thrift shop. There's some of Mom's stuff, that she said I could get rid of, so I'll have to get those and see what could be donated and what needs to be tossed.
But it's done! And now I have all kinds of room in the garage again. Which is good, because I've got a project or two I'd like to do before my vacation is over. But that's for another post.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A little side project
I've had this hanging basket thing for several years. Something I picked out after my grandmother on my mom's side (step-grandmother, really) died, but I've never really done much with it. I always thought it would make a neat planter.
So today, I cleaned up the copper basket and drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage.
I stopped by Home Depot today and got this little geranium (98¢) and this little vinca vine ($2.98. I'm betting the Weather Channel label is about $2. Who knew the Weather Channel was selling plants?)
Then I put some broken pot pieces in the bottom to help with drainage, a little soil (from the four or five almost empty bags I found while cleaning the garage today), and the plants. Hung it up and placed it on the front porch.
And one other side project I got done this week: a pegboard in the laundry room next to the back door. Since this is the door I use most of the time, I thought it'd be nice to have a place to hang hats, my keys, Buster's leash and especially my bag I take to work, instead of just dropping it on the floor next to the computer table.
So today, I cleaned up the copper basket and drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage.
I stopped by Home Depot today and got this little geranium (98¢) and this little vinca vine ($2.98. I'm betting the Weather Channel label is about $2. Who knew the Weather Channel was selling plants?)
Then I put some broken pot pieces in the bottom to help with drainage, a little soil (from the four or five almost empty bags I found while cleaning the garage today), and the plants. Hung it up and placed it on the front porch.
And one other side project I got done this week: a pegboard in the laundry room next to the back door. Since this is the door I use most of the time, I thought it'd be nice to have a place to hang hats, my keys, Buster's leash and especially my bag I take to work, instead of just dropping it on the floor next to the computer table.
Great Garage Cleanup 2010 — Day 3
The planting/gardening table, all cleaned up and organized.
The cabinet next to it holds (some) of the pots:
And in the drawers are the drip irrigation stuff:
And miscellaneous stakes and other stuff:
And I put up a couple extra shelves at my recycling center:
I think one more day of this, organizing the tools/work area, and I'll be done. But this:
is much better than this:
The cabinet next to it holds (some) of the pots:
And in the drawers are the drip irrigation stuff:
And miscellaneous stakes and other stuff:
And I put up a couple extra shelves at my recycling center:
I think one more day of this, organizing the tools/work area, and I'll be done. But this:
is much better than this:
Monday, June 28, 2010
Great Garage Cleanup 2010 — after Day 2
More improvement today
Think I'll get some brackets and put up another shelf or two for my recycling center.
Yard tools all hanging.
Think I'll get some brackets and put up another shelf or two for my recycling center.
Yard tools all hanging.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Where am I?
I've been playing around with location-based social media sites lately, and I even though I don't go to a lot of different places, I'm having fun with them. Mostly, I'm playing with them to get some ideas of how we might be able to use them at the paper. But I'll keep that to myself for now, heh heh.
Anyway, the addiction started with Foursquare, and then I found Gowalla, then Whrrl. I looked at Brightkite, but haven't tried it, and I'm sure there's more I haven't even heard of.
These sites are designed to used GPS data to determine your location; however, since I have an iPod Touch that can use only WiFi to determine my location, I'm not having as much as I could. Sometimes, WiFi just isn't available where I am, like the grocery store, for example. And even if it is available, it's not always accurate. The other day, I was trying out something on Whrrl and used the WiFi of a local diner/brewpub. Their ISP must be some company in Kansas City, because that's where my iPod thought I was all of a sudden. And it stayed that way for three days — even using a signal from local ISPs — until I logged on to the hotspot at the mall, of all places. So at least I know where to go when that happens.
I've had the most success with Foursquare locating me. Gowalla seems to be more specific about how close you are to a location before letting you check in. Since the wifi isn't always accurate, I have lots of problems checking in on Gowalla. Whrrl is somewhere inbetween.
I like Gowalla's and Whrrl's interfaces best, though. They're just more fun. And here's something you can do with Whrrl that's kind of neat:
Even though I like those two best, I am still kinda proud to be the mayor of nine venues on Foursquare. =)
Friend me on:
Whrrl
Gowalla
Foursquare
Anyway, the addiction started with Foursquare, and then I found Gowalla, then Whrrl. I looked at Brightkite, but haven't tried it, and I'm sure there's more I haven't even heard of.
These sites are designed to used GPS data to determine your location; however, since I have an iPod Touch that can use only WiFi to determine my location, I'm not having as much as I could. Sometimes, WiFi just isn't available where I am, like the grocery store, for example. And even if it is available, it's not always accurate. The other day, I was trying out something on Whrrl and used the WiFi of a local diner/brewpub. Their ISP must be some company in Kansas City, because that's where my iPod thought I was all of a sudden. And it stayed that way for three days — even using a signal from local ISPs — until I logged on to the hotspot at the mall, of all places. So at least I know where to go when that happens.
I've had the most success with Foursquare locating me. Gowalla seems to be more specific about how close you are to a location before letting you check in. Since the wifi isn't always accurate, I have lots of problems checking in on Gowalla. Whrrl is somewhere inbetween.
I like Gowalla's and Whrrl's interfaces best, though. They're just more fun. And here's something you can do with Whrrl that's kind of neat:
Even though I like those two best, I am still kinda proud to be the mayor of nine venues on Foursquare. =)
Friend me on:
Whrrl
Gowalla
Foursquare
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Compost bin, final chapter
The compost bin is done!
I had hoped to have it done by now, but after getting the pieces set in the yard where I wanted them, it got really, really REALLY windy (and I live in Kansas, so it has to be windy for me to say that!). And then there was a busy work weekend. So today, I have the day off from at least one job and could get it done.
First, after putting the pieces back together, since the wind blew them down, I screwed the L-brackets of each side into the back piece. That was easy.
Then came the trickier part: putting the door on. I hadn't taken one thing into account — that the ground in my yard isn't near as level as the garage floor, where I had previously fit the pieces together and marked where the holes for the screws should go. So I had to use some extra wood scraps lying around to line up the door piece as close as possible. I re-marked the holes for the hinges anway, just so it would fit better. Then I pre-drilled holes for the top hinge and put in the screws before doing the lower hinge.
Ta-daaa!
The last step was to put the eye hooks in the gate to keep it closed. I put one in the upper part of the gate and one in the lower half, because I thought about cutting the door in two, and still might, if I think I need to. That way, I could get to the finished compost at the bottom of the pile while the upper part of the pile stays behind the door. We'll see.
And to prove the gate really works:
UPDATE: And, the first load of grass clippings is in! I mowed the west side lawn, next to the garage, and since there's a lot of weeds, bagged it.
The clippings nearly filled up the bin the city provides, but I'm not sure exactly how much that is (it says it can hold 200 pounds, but today's wasn't near that much).
Anyway, the compost bin isn't even a quarter full with all that, so this thing could hold a lot! And since the grass hasn't completely greened up, there's a nice mix of "brown" and "green" yard waste in there to start. I even have a few kitchen scraps I could go dump in there!
I think I'm going to need a pitchfork, too.
I had hoped to have it done by now, but after getting the pieces set in the yard where I wanted them, it got really, really REALLY windy (and I live in Kansas, so it has to be windy for me to say that!). And then there was a busy work weekend. So today, I have the day off from at least one job and could get it done.
First, after putting the pieces back together, since the wind blew them down, I screwed the L-brackets of each side into the back piece. That was easy.
Then came the trickier part: putting the door on. I hadn't taken one thing into account — that the ground in my yard isn't near as level as the garage floor, where I had previously fit the pieces together and marked where the holes for the screws should go. So I had to use some extra wood scraps lying around to line up the door piece as close as possible. I re-marked the holes for the hinges anway, just so it would fit better. Then I pre-drilled holes for the top hinge and put in the screws before doing the lower hinge.
Ta-daaa!
The last step was to put the eye hooks in the gate to keep it closed. I put one in the upper part of the gate and one in the lower half, because I thought about cutting the door in two, and still might, if I think I need to. That way, I could get to the finished compost at the bottom of the pile while the upper part of the pile stays behind the door. We'll see.
And to prove the gate really works:
UPDATE: And, the first load of grass clippings is in! I mowed the west side lawn, next to the garage, and since there's a lot of weeds, bagged it.
The clippings nearly filled up the bin the city provides, but I'm not sure exactly how much that is (it says it can hold 200 pounds, but today's wasn't near that much).
Anyway, the compost bin isn't even a quarter full with all that, so this thing could hold a lot! And since the grass hasn't completely greened up, there's a nice mix of "brown" and "green" yard waste in there to start. I even have a few kitchen scraps I could go dump in there!
I think I'm going to need a pitchfork, too.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Compost bin part II
OK, I finally got around to doing more work on the compost bin.
I finished up putting the L-brackets on the other side, then got started on the door. I went ahead and temporarily put the right side and back together with screws, so I could see where the hinges would best be set for the doors.
I set the door on a block so that it'll be above the ground and therefore easier to open.
I marked the holes to drill for the hinges on the door piece.
On the side piece, I needed to add a couple blocks where the hinges go because it wasn't thick enough for the screws. Probably adds a little strength, too.
I neglected to plug in my drill when I worked on this last week, so the battery ran down today. So I'll have to finish putting it together another night. But here it is, in place in the back yard.
I finished up putting the L-brackets on the other side, then got started on the door. I went ahead and temporarily put the right side and back together with screws, so I could see where the hinges would best be set for the doors.
I set the door on a block so that it'll be above the ground and therefore easier to open.
I marked the holes to drill for the hinges on the door piece.
On the side piece, I needed to add a couple blocks where the hinges go because it wasn't thick enough for the screws. Probably adds a little strength, too.
I neglected to plug in my drill when I worked on this last week, so the battery ran down today. So I'll have to finish putting it together another night. But here it is, in place in the back yard.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Compost bin Part I
Time to do some catching up, so I'll start with the latest.
One of the things I've wanted to do since buying my house was to have a compost bin. I thought about buying one over the years. There's plenty to choose from, like ones that make it easy to turn the compost and others that make it convenient to get to the finished compost. But those are kind of expensive.
So some time ago, I found a gardening blog whose owner wrote about making a compost bin from wooden shipping pallets. Pallets are pretty easy to find; just check with any warehouse-type business. They might even give you what you need for free. Or there's always dumpster diving, heh.
I picked up these pallets from where I work:
I decided to start on it tonight, but got kind of a late start, so didn't get too much done.
I first did a dry fit to figure out just how would be the best way to position them. Positioning them with the slats running vertical put the bin at a good height for me, and I turned them so the grass clippings and other things I'll put in there are less likely to get caught in the middle. I decided the biggest, heaviest one would make the best one for the back of the bin:
It's a bit wider than the one I wanted to use for the door, so I think it will actually help make a good fit for the door.
Then I marked how the L-brackets should fit. I was going to attach them to the back piece first, move it to where I want it, then attach the sides, but I thought it would actually work better to attach the brackets to the side pieces first, because then I'll definitely have the L-brackets attached to the frames of all the pieces, rather than just the slats of the sides.
The I predrilled the holes for the screws. I actually didn't pre-drill the holes deep enough and broke the the head off the first screw I tried to drill in. Oops. But it'll hold. It's not like I'm building a house or anything.
So after redrilling the other holes a bit deeper, I attached the L-brackets with screws.
Tomorrow night I'll attach the L-brackets to the other side piece, and attach the hinges to one side piece. We'll see if I finish putting the whole thing together tomorrow. It depends on what else I need to get done.
One of the things I've wanted to do since buying my house was to have a compost bin. I thought about buying one over the years. There's plenty to choose from, like ones that make it easy to turn the compost and others that make it convenient to get to the finished compost. But those are kind of expensive.
So some time ago, I found a gardening blog whose owner wrote about making a compost bin from wooden shipping pallets. Pallets are pretty easy to find; just check with any warehouse-type business. They might even give you what you need for free. Or there's always dumpster diving, heh.
I picked up these pallets from where I work:
I decided to start on it tonight, but got kind of a late start, so didn't get too much done.
I first did a dry fit to figure out just how would be the best way to position them. Positioning them with the slats running vertical put the bin at a good height for me, and I turned them so the grass clippings and other things I'll put in there are less likely to get caught in the middle. I decided the biggest, heaviest one would make the best one for the back of the bin:
It's a bit wider than the one I wanted to use for the door, so I think it will actually help make a good fit for the door.
Then I marked how the L-brackets should fit. I was going to attach them to the back piece first, move it to where I want it, then attach the sides, but I thought it would actually work better to attach the brackets to the side pieces first, because then I'll definitely have the L-brackets attached to the frames of all the pieces, rather than just the slats of the sides.
The I predrilled the holes for the screws. I actually didn't pre-drill the holes deep enough and broke the the head off the first screw I tried to drill in. Oops. But it'll hold. It's not like I'm building a house or anything.
So after redrilling the other holes a bit deeper, I attached the L-brackets with screws.
And there's one side all done. 
Tomorrow night I'll attach the L-brackets to the other side piece, and attach the hinges to one side piece. We'll see if I finish putting the whole thing together tomorrow. It depends on what else I need to get done.
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