Progress in the new year.

We had beautiful weather last week, and I managed to gain enough time to work outside. About a week ago I wheedled husband into moving the bathtub into the yard (and out from under the carport). Thursday I stripped the bathtub and finished about a quarter of the sanding. On the next clear day I'm pretty sure I can finish the sanding and get a coat of paint on.

I was also able to start moving the pea gravel. There is way more than anticipated... I shoveled and filled one five-gallon-bucket and one giant planter I found down in the shed, and it barely made a hole. But I'm getting a wheel barrow next week, so I can cart the gravel down to the barn.

I found an old iron headboard to use as a handrail/trellis. It looks fantastic, so I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to strip/sand/paint it to match, or if I should leave it as is.

I've wrapping my mind around plants and lighting and toying with the idea of a solar pump for my fountain. Speaking of, I bought a beautiful brass spigot on ebay, with a little bird perched on top where the handle would be. I'm not sure it's big enough for my tub, but it's adorable and will find use somewhere.

I'm trying to buy my supplies locally, so that little bird will probably be my last internet purchase. There's a great little garden center down the road, and I'm hoping if she doesn't carry what I want, maybe she can get it for me. It's nice to have friends in this journey.

Early winter fail

I have made next to no progress on my garden. On days I have time, the weather is awful. When it weather is nice, there's no time. I had a separate, indoor project eating my time through the end of January. But as long as I finish my garden by May, there should be no problem.

The pea gravel is unmoved. I have the brick, but it isn't cleaned. and my tub is still untouched.

But I haven't given up hope. I've just about gotten my hands on fixtures for my fountain,

Progress report on my garden project

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I found a great bathtub on craigslist back in September. She needs work, but the good ones always do. I looked up tips for restoring old tubs and they all seemed time-consuming and difficult. So I'm going to sand her down (one the outside), give her a few coats of Rust-oleum, and call it good.
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Within a week of getting the tub I managed to find a good supply of free brick, courtesy of my grandpa. I think they'll need some cleaning, but should be perfect for my use.
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Then I learned all about moss from this place: http://http://www.porch-and-patio-ideas.com/tips/decorating-with-moss.html. I've had my eyes open for good, thick chunks around camp, and I found some really great looking stuff in a dried creekbed when I worked ropes last weekend. I'm going to collect it Saturday.
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End-of-season sales have been wonderful for me, and through the course of the week I've gotten my hands on four window boxes, two hanging baskets, and two strings of Japanese lanterns for $37. That's a total of $139.17 ($100 for the tub, $2.17 for sand paper) from my $300 budget. Bricks, moss, and sand will be free.
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So far, so good.

My untitled garden project

I want a garden. The flowery kind. With a water feature, and climbing vines, and a brick path through the middle. This is the space in question, the place where my garden will live.

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Names pending, as the space evolves. Can't name something you haven't met.

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Here's to the journey. Hope the destination is nice.