A garden started

Nothing beats a beautiful Colorado spring day with sunshine working in the garden

Today I did my final turn over and rake out and planted my early spring vegetables!

As always my mother is the most amazing source of gardening how too and tested me that the final frost was not expected until May 31 so I should not plant my potatoes yet.

Here is what I planted today:
Garlic
Lettuce
Spinach
Radish
Pak choi
Carrots
Onions

I blocked out my whole garden ahead of time to plan what I would put in the garden and what to put in pots (since I will run out of space) then used craft sticks to plan the rows

Then I turn around the sticks for vegetables that I haven't planted yet and then hoe the rows

Cover with dirt and little stamp down with your feet, when everything is planted water well.I chose to use the miracle grow fertilizer that attaches to your hose as week.

Water daily if not twice a day

Here in Colorado, it is still a little too cold at night to turn on our sprinkler system and we are on watering restrictions, so I will be hand watering until it warms up and I can convert my existing garden sprinklers to drip irrigation

I love gardening and am so glad my mom imparted get green thumb to us.

Another bonus,I used pintrest to help me officially companion plant this year.
Happy spring!

Crocheted Dishcloths

Hello there blog world, I have not visited you in a while. I hope to share more with you from now on!

This post is how to make my two favorite crocheted dish cloths. I made handmade dish cloths for many relatives for Christmas, and now have a friend's wedding coming up and decided to make them some, along with some other kitchen themed gifts.

Here are my two favorite patterns:

Granny Square

supplies:
cotton yarn (I use peaches and cream from walmart, remember this is a dish cloth, not a fancy shawl so don't spend too much)
size H hook
scissors
yarn needle to sew ends in

Steps
1. Ch 4, sl st to join making a circle, chain 3
2. round 1: 11 double crochets into the circle, sl st to join into large circle
3. Round 2
       In the third stitch over, 2 dc, ch 3, 3dc
       In the next third stitch over, 3dc, ch 3, 3dc
       repeat x 2 to make 4 corners
        After the last corner, dc into the first stitch then sl st to join
4. Round 3- desired size (the one pictures has 9 rounds)
             In first corner space, 2dc, ch 3, 3dc
             In each space, 3dc
             In other corner spaces, 3dc, ch 3, 3dc
             continue until you reach the first corner (it can be helpful to mark it) then dc back into the first corner            and sl st to join
5. sew ends in, wash and block if giving as gift, and start using! wash in the laundry with your other dish towels

Gentle Ridges Dishcloth 
(courtesty of http://www.examiner.com/article/gentle-ridges-quick-and-easy-crochet-dishcloth-pattern)

supplies
cotton yarn
size H hook

steps

ch 41

Row 1: dc in 3^rd ch from hook, sk 1, * sc and dc in next ch, sk 1 * - repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last stitch. Ch 2, turn.

Rows 2-21 are worked in back loop only except for first and last stitch.

Row 2 - 20 (or square or to desired size): dc in first st, sk 1, * working in back loop only, sc and dc in next space, sk 1 *, repeat from * to * to end of row, ending with sc in last st. Ch 2, turn.

Finishing: After completing last st in row 20, sc/ch 1/sc in that corner space, continue to sc around all sides of piece, with sc/ch 1/sc in corners. Join with sl st to first sc in first corner worked. Bind off and work in ends. (sometimes I omit this just to change it up)

Crocheted dish cloths are a great gift (pair them with scented dish soap or other kitchen goodies) or just a great quick project to do for your own home- they last forever and are (I think) better than store bought ones