projects

I've had a question about my "garden" and is it too hot for the onions. Actually, this is all a great experiment for me. I tho't that the Walla Walla onions would do great here because it's also quite hot in the summer in eastern Washington (that's Walla Walla country to you in other parts of the world). We used to live near there and it can get really hot, so not sure about that part. I do know tho' that most of the seeds we bro't down aren't germinating. I bo't most from a southern seed company, hoping that would be more acceptable to the seeds. I talk to them, lately I've been telling them that I'm disappointed in them. We have long chats, but to no avail. This was mostly a test of our recently cleared, virgin soil. I guess the test results are that we need to do more than Miracle Grow. I'm not giving up on this planting yet, but am looking to buy some chicken fertilizer and some special mulch sold by the Belize Botanic Garden. Maybe we'll get improved results. This is all taking me back to my childhood when I'd help my beloved Grandmother with her garden. It was small but prolific. I think most of it was because she was such a wonderful, gentle soul that plants just wanted to please her. She would hum or gently whistle hymns as she worked. It's been so awfully many years ago, but I still miss her so much. She probably wouldn't understand Belize, but she would understand my garden.

During the heat of the day, we're using the verandas as a work space to try to knock out a couple of upper cabinets for our kitchen. This would sound easy in the US, but here it's much harder. First, we're lamenting that our table saw is sitting in the garage in the US and we're using hand tools. We're definitely not carpenters, so this is challenge number one.

Challenge number two is the lumber. We can buy plywood here, but in the states it would be garbage. It's all blows and really ugly. No such thing as a nice finish. Thus, we're using what should be preferable. That's a hardwood called Santa Maria. It's somewhat reddish, similar to mahogany. We bo't it rough cut (& I do mean rough) and then took it to be planed. Now struggling to figure out how to build with narrower pieces, which are quite heavy, and be able to hang it on the wall and not fall apart or fall off. I know this sounds ridiculous, but as I said, we're not carpenters. Bumbling along, we'll make it work somehow.

The other challenge is that Art is left handed and I'm right handed. That's why, over many years of wedded bliss, we usually don't work on the same project at the same time. We do everything the opposite from each other. It's a wonder that we don't kill each other, either by turning the opposite way with a board, or just out of general principles. When finished I'll post a photo, but we're concerned that the house is going to sink when we finally hang these things up. It will be wonderful tho' to have a place for dishes and glasses. Hard to imagine being a little more organized.

I have lots more to share, but will save for another time. It's hot sitting here and those cabinets are beckoning. Ich! Gale