Charleston Garden Inspiration

Quick trip to Charleston, SC = more garden inspiration and camera practice:

But found this great hotel downtown.  So charming and wonderful staff.  We were able to walk everywhere.  

 Love all the iron work.

Window boxes....gotta find a DIY so I can build some of these!

Camera practice....

Loved this door.

 Loved the house colors:

Don't have any hydrangea but want to try this and gardenias.  Where can I plant these?

And for my patio one day....a joggling board....because it makes me happy!

Coffee Pot Saga

The coffee pot we had has died (Monday). While I liked the coffee pot I really don't want the same kind again.

For the last couple of days we drug out an old one for a temporary solution.(Very bad coffee)...got to find something soon

While I am not a coffee snob I do appreciate good coffee.
I don't like Starbucks...tastes burnt to me.

I prefer to brew my own.

So I started doing some research...since all I new was pour water in buy good coffee and voila!

What makes a good cup of coffee?

• Water temperature is key here - you want it between 195F-204F for optimal extraction.
• Good Coffee - order online ~the stuff in the store is a couple of weeks old
• Use filtered water

 

What does Consumer Research Recommend?
Consumer Research Top 4 Coffee Maker Recommendations

Cuisinart Brew Central 

Mr. Coffee

Technivorm

Zojirushi

What does Facebook friends recommend?
Bunn
Keurig

What am I looking for?
I don't want one of those make a cup at a time.
I don't want a ginormous machine to take up the whole counter.

I want simple.

So after doing my research I had decided to become a coffee geek and go with a french coffee press. 
For me this involved buying a coffee press and an electric water kettle.

The more I thought about it this would not work with my morning schedule of coming down stairs and have coffee waiting.  I don't know that I could deal with all the steps to make the coffee in a press....but I do want to try it some day.

SO
Took my Facebook friends recommendation and headed to the Target this morning and purchased a Bunn.

Since it has a water tank in the back the water comes out at 200 degrees (optimum temp for brewing).
Also the way the Bunn sprays water over the grounds is for optimum flavor.

Time for a picnic !

So these....

need to be put to use.

But before they can be put to use the must be properly equipped?

Some inspiration

source

And then you must have quilt....

Love this one.

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/03/diy-patchwork-picnic-blanket/

or maybe make one with these

from Riley and Blake

OK where to go?

I think we will stay close by and head over to the picnic tables by the river (in our neighborhood...how convenient)

What to pack?

The food:

From Biscuits and Such...these sandwich's look good!

Pasta Salad

Fruit (watermelon)

fun drinks

source

or make my own Masonades

source and how to

and these are too cute

source

Supplies

table cloth (or use picnic blanket)

napkins

forks

flowers for the table

Ok ready to go?

My version of Williamsburg Veggie Garden

Last year I had 3 square gardens and built the tomato climbing trellis.
This year I added 2 more squares and tried to make it a little more pretty.
I added the corner twig fence and all the pine needles.

This is our fire pit bottom.  The top parts rusted but loved the bottom iron piece...eventually would like to turn this into some sort of water feature.  For now I put a pot of mint in it.

You can see the 2 new square beds on the left so that the beds are symetrical.

My potting bench made from a recycled pallet. LOVE IT!

Lots of herbs.

Broccoli.  First time I tried broccoli. It is so good roasted.

Twig fence in front of tomatos.  The marigolds are to add color but also a natural way to keep away rabbits.

With the recent rain my zucchini has doubled in size.

Another herb bed.

 

So far so good on the veggies with the exception of having to replant the tomato's.  I sprayed round up too close when the wind was blowing.  Oops.