What I'm Growing in This Year's Garden and Why

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

 

I know it's only January but these months go by and I miss gardening so I take advantage of this non-garden friendly weather to plan out what I will be planting and growing in this year's garden.  I always reflect on what worked in last year's garden, what I didn't eat a lot of, and what didn't seem to thrive, and that's how I determine what I'll do this year.  So here's what I plan to grow in 2024.


Growing Your Own Food: The Benefits And Joys Of Home Vegetable Gardening

Wednesday, January 24, 2024



Are you tired of going to the grocery store to buy fresh produce only to find out they're either out of stock or too expensive? Growing your own vegetables is a practical, enjoyable, and therapeutic activity. Vegetable gardening is a great way to start creating a self-sustaining lifestyle while providing fresh and healthy meals for your family. In this blog post, expert Vikki Gerrard La Crosse, WI, will discuss the benefits of home vegetable gardening and provide some tips on how to get started.

Provides Healthy And Fresh Produce

One of the significant benefits of engaging in home vegetable gardening is the unparalleled convenience of having an abundant supply of fresh produce right in your backyard. Imagine the satisfaction of being able to step outside and hand-pick vegetables at the very peak of their ripeness, ensuring that you and your family are enjoying the highest quality possible. Additionally, by cultivating your homegrown vegetables, you have complete control over the growing process, ensuring they are free from harmful pesticides and other chemicals. This enhances their taste and flavor and makes them a healthier and safer option for your loved ones.

Saves Money

Vikki Gerrard La Crosse, WI, says growing your vegetables at home can be a great way to save money. With the rising costs of groceries, creating a vegetable garden can provide a practical and affordable solution. Growing your vegetables eliminates the middleman and saves money you would otherwise spend on buying produce from the store. Additionally, vegetable gardening can be a fruitful hobby, and you can share your excess produce with friends and neighbors, creating a sense of community while reducing waste.

Stress Relief And Therapeutic

Home vegetable gardening can also be a therapeutic and calming activity that benefits the mind and body. Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces stress levels and promotes a sense of mindfulness and overall well-being. Engaging in vegetable gardening allows us to slow down, connect with the natural world, and immerse ourselves in the present moment. As you carefully tend to your garden, observing your plants' meticulous progress and growth, you'll experience a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The act of nurturing and witnessing the flourishing of your plants is truly a rewarding experience that further enhances the therapeutic benefits of home vegetable gardening.

Encourages Healthy Eating

Growing your vegetables at home can encourage you and your family to eat healthier. When you have a garden, you have immediate access to fresh produce, encouraging you to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. Additionally, gardening is a great way to teach your children about healthy eating and the value of growing their food.

Sustainable Living

Home vegetable gardening promotes sustainable living by reducing the environmental impact of processed and packaged foods. Growing your own vegetables eliminates the need for transportation, packaging, and storage in a warehouse. This helps reduce carbon emissions and waste, making it an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious lifestyle.

Teaches Responsibility

Home vegetable gardening requires commitment and responsibility. You must care for your plants daily, watering them, removing weeds, and monitoring for pests. This teaches you valuable skills that can be applied to other areas of your life.

Cultivating A Sense Of Pride And Accomplishment

Finally, there is something incredibly rewarding about growing your own food. Seeing the fruits of your labor can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. You will have created something beautiful and productive from the earth, which is a wonderful feeling.

Conclusion

Home vegetable gardening is an excellent way to provide healthy and fresh produce while promoting a self-sufficient lifestyle. Growing your vegetables can save money, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of spending time in nature. Whether you have a small or large space, you can create a bountiful garden by following the tips provided by Vikki Gerrard La Crosse. If you're ready to start your vegetable garden, grab your gloves and tools and start today.




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How I Run Outside in Winter

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

 


As someone who enjoys running outdoors, I also really enjoy doing so in the cold weather months. This is for a number of reasons which I will outline below but wanted to make this post simply for the fact that I know there are other people out there that could benefit from continuing their outdoor running even in the low temps.



Ten Ideas for Renovating Your Bathroom with South Texas Style

Friday, January 19, 2024

 

Renovating your bathroom can really pay off when it comes time to sell your house. Some reports conclude that an upscale bathroom renovation can increase the sales price of your home 60 percent more than you spend on remodeling. For simpler, less expensive bathroom remodels, the return on investment is over 70 percent.

And, even if you are not planning to sell your home, you can join the 45 percent of homeowners who eventually make their bathrooms more age-friendly, the 32 percent of homeowners identified by Houzz who upgrade the technology in their bathrooms, or the 48 percent of homeowners who renovate their bathrooms just because they want a different look.

Nationally, the average bathroom renovation costs about $10,000, with some projects costing $35,000 or more. But homeowners in Corpus Christi can get a new look for a lot less with these 10 great bathroom renovation ideas.

Add a Vanity

Most bathroom renovations include adding a vanity. The most popular color for bathroom vanities in Corpus Christi is white, but many homeowners look for vanities in wood tones. Wood and wood laminates are easy to clean and keep looking great, especially for families with children.

Replace Dark Paint with Bright Wallpaper

Dark bathroom walls are depressing. Bright wallpaper can beautify your bathroom and give you a more cheerful start to your day.

Paint Your Cabinets

Another easy fix for dull bathroom is repainting white or gray bathroom cabinets in color. This bathroom renovation costs very little but adds a great deal to the appeal of your bathroom.

Install a Touchless Faucet

Sometimes you just don't want to touch the faucet when you wash your hands in the bathroom. Some faucets can be operated with a tap from your toe, and sensor faucets come on when you wave your hands beneath the tap.

Replace the Commode

High-tech commodes still aren't common, but Houzz tells us that more and more homeowners are going for modern toilet technology:

  • 24 percent of commodes come with a built-in bidet.
  • 17 percent of new toilets are self-cleaning.
  • 15 percent of new commodes are heated.
  • 13 percent have a night light.
  • 9 percent have overflow protection.
  • 9 percent deodorize themselves.

Install a Free-Standing Flat-Bottom Tub

Freestanding tubs are a popular bathroom renovation option for bathroom renovation in Corpus Christi. They are the tub of choice for adults who want the perfect tub for a relaxing soak. Consider a tub made of cast polymer, which uses natural stone.

If you just want a tub for giving the kids a bath, consider a smaller alcove tub.

Add a Walk-In Shower

A lot of the work of bathroom remodelers in Corpus Christi is replacing shower-tub combinations with walk-in showers. Some more mature homeowners choose them because they are easier for getting in and out, but families of any age can appreciate the fact that a walk-in shower gives you more room and a chance to make sure your design is consistent throughout the bathroom.

Replace Wall Art with Wall Treatments

Elevate the feel of your bathroom by removing art you are tired of and cabinets you don't use and installing a wall treatment to give the whole bathroom a new look.

Replace a Single Sink with a Double Vanity

Make it easier for your family to get going in the morning.

Make Your Bathroom Feel Cooler

Homeowners in Corpus Christi spend a lot of the year fighting heat and humidity. Replace retro cream, brown, and pink tones with modern mint and white shades to make your bathroom feel cooler.




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Meet My NEW WolfPack

Monday, January 15, 2024

 


Well, the last time I did a post like this it was with my original wolfpack. You can read about them here still, as I'm not yet ready to change that part of my blog.  And I ended up losing all of them in a 3 year period. Stella in 2020, Pixie in 2022, and Rocky and Grace in 2023.  But during that time I was also adding to my wolfpack to build up a new one.  And with 3 out of 4 of them (I just love having 4 for some reason) here now, I figured I should introduce them.



Top 5 Benefits of Learning From an Online Piano Instructor

Thursday, January 11, 2024

 

Learning piano online is an excellent option for students who don't live far from teachers or need flexible schedules. However, some essential factors must be considered before moving to online lessons.

Before your first lesson, ensure you have all the necessary equipment and a good internet connection. This will prevent any lag in audio and video communication with your teacher.

Flexibility

Learning piano online is a convenient way to learn the instrument without the constraints of traditional scheduling. Lessons can be accessed anytime, anywhere, and fit into any busy schedule.

Whether trying to juggle work or children's activities, online piano lessons provide flexibility and save time by eliminating the travel component. This makes it easier for families to find a lesson time that works for them.

However, it's important to remember that online lessons lack a traditional tutor's spontaneity and one-on-one interaction. Have a backup plan if your Internet connection fails or you require assistance to complete the session if you select a tutor who lives far away. Luckily, many online instructors offer backup options like live broadcasts or thorough FAQs to help keep you on track.

Personal Attention

Many students enjoy having their teacher's attention and focus during a lesson. But for some, this isn't easy to achieve when they take lessons online.

An online piano instructor must be extra careful in communication skills to provide an engaging student experience. They must utilize visual tools, verbal imagery, and relatable examples to keep their students interested and engaged in their lessons.

Additionally, they must teach their students how to practice independently using various methods. This helps students become more responsible for learning and develop essential life skills. It also allows the student to manage their own time and learn how to set their own goals for practice. This is essential for progressing with their musical journey.

Lessons at Your Pace

Online lessons allow students to work with a teacher in a comfortable environment without making an in-person trip. Students can save time on the commute and spend more lessons practicing and learning skills. Explore the possibilities of online music lessons at Forbes Music Company and discover a world of musical possibilities, one note at a time.

Whether working on a new song, refining technique or diving into a more specialized course, online lessons allow students to move at their own pace. Classes can be repeated and slowed down as needed, ensuring each student fully understands the lesson content.

While this flexibility makes online piano lessons great for busy families, students and teachers must follow a few fundamental rules of online lesson etiquette. This includes listening attentively, not talking during the lesson, and waiting for the teacher to speak first.

Confidence

Students must develop their ability to read and interpret music throughout their musical journey. This skill is a critical part of their musical education and provides them with cognitive benefits, such as improved memory and increased verbal processing.

Online piano lessons save students time traveling to and from lessons. When attempting to squeeze classes into a busy schedule, this helps.

Learning to play the piano also helps build confidence in many ways. Performing for others, mastering new pieces, and overcoming challenges on the musical path can all help build self-esteem in students. In addition, musical appreciation and the feeling of accomplishment can boost confidence in non-musical areas.

Support

Online learning is often more intensive than in-person piano instruction because students must focus more on the lesson and the details of their playing. Lesson content focuses on developing good practice habits and overcoming challenging exercises and techniques.

To maximize online learning, minimize distractions during lessons by arranging a quiet and suitable teaching space. It's also essential to use a camera with a wide-angle view of the keyboard so the teacher can effectively correct posture and hand position.

Other ways to support student engagement include:

  • Promoting effective communication between the teacher and student.
  • Encouraging musical creativity.
  • Fostering social connection through a group musical project or virtual recital.
  • Providing periodic musical evaluations/examinations.
  • Having year-round opportunities for performance/expression.

This can boost student confidence and motivation and encourage a deeper understanding of music.




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3 Things You Need To Know About Renovating Buildings

 

People remodel buildings for several reasons, including spatial expansions, structural improvements and changing aesthetic preferences. Here are three things you need to know about renovating buildings.

1. Work With Appropriate Professionals

Unless your project is simple and straightforward enough for you to do yourself or you are a professional with experience in building renovations, it's a good idea to work with experienced contractors. You may consult architects, civil engineers, plumbers, electricians or other professionals. These contractors can ensure that renovations are completed safely, legally and within appropriate specifications.

2. Be as Involved in the Project as Possible

Even if you hire contractors instead of attempting to perform any renovations yourself, staying involved in the process can be beneficial for all parties. Decide on a point person and meet with him or her regularly. Make sure you have each contractor's contact information so you can speak with them when necessary. Ask questions and provide your input on concepts such as design and the project's timeline.

3. Decide on a Design Early

Decide on a design before breaking ground or beginning your renovation project. Making changes to the design during the project can cause delays to the timeline or issues with structural integrity and clashing design elements. The earlier you decide on a design, the earlier you or your contractors can begin working on the renovation project. When you make design decisions, be sure to keep in mind the overall aesthetic, how the design and structure will impact each other and the cost. Your contractors should be able to help you determine what type of design is feasible for your project goals.

Renovations can vary widely in scope and complexity. It's important to plan as much as you can in advance and then regularly review that plan to ensure your team is making progress as expected.




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Embracing the Cold Weather | How I Do It

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

 
Now I know you may read the title of this post and think that there is no way you will ever embrace the cold weather, but just know that I used to feel the same.  Truth is, if you live in an area that gets cold weather, it's just a part of life.  Nature goes through seasons and there;s no way around it. But there is a way through it, and that's to make the most of it.  I have several ways I make the most of Winter and embrace the cold weather.

How Owning Less Makes Me Feel Less Stressed in Life

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

 


I know it seems like it's such a trendy thing but simplifying my life really did change it in all of the best ways.  I know I could give an advice post about why it could do the same for you but instead I'm just going to explain how it's made me feel stressed in life.