There’s never dull moment in the garden.  Of course, we’re still getting tomatoes and cucumbers.  If you’re in need, stop by we have more than any two humans could ever consume.  In an entire year.  Or two!



Carrots have been dug. 



We ended up with a really nice crop--more on the way soon.



After these were cleaned up, they were tossed in some olive oil, salt, and freshly ground pepper...



...and roasted.  Yum!



Green beans, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and peppers were have been canned into a mixture called “End of Garden” pickles. 



We’re still getting beets.  Maybe we’ll pickle them too!



Sadly, the much anticipated potatoes didn’t produce very many due to bad timing and a wet, wet spring.  Oh well, we’ll try again next year.

This week's FridayFavorites is a no brainer!  It's all about our bathroom renovation that's featured in Better Homes and Gardens.  Check it out in the September, 2008 issue.  The magazine article is also online at MyGazines.com.  Who knew complete issues of all these publications is online?!? 

Click here and scroll down to the article entitled "Retro Fit."


Photo:  Laura Moss.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, we are thrilled to be a part of Better Homes and Garden's Renovation Challenge.  Back in June, they took photos of the first floor bathroom and the beautiful results are in the September, 2008 issue on news stands now. 

From the excellent writing to the beautiful photographs, this one's a winner!  We weren't sure what to expect, but it's three full pages in an issue dedicated to makeovers.  The studio/craft room was also selected and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

This week's FridayFavorites is about several tools all integrated into one fantastic little gadget.  Whether it's for time management, multi-tasking, or passing the time while performing mundane tasks such as sanding shutters (!), Apple's got you covered.

Brett just got an iPhone and this little thing is incredible! 

Need to know "how to" something:  The internet is in your hand.  Check your email, make a phone call, take a picture, order a pizza, this fantastic devise has you covered.  No more wasting that precious "weekend warrior" time!

With a built in iPod, you can whistle while you work or listen to your favorite NPR show.  If you get lost on the way to Lowes or The Home Depot, the GPS tracking will get you back home.  With a gazillion applications, the possibilities are endless.  Heck, you can even update your blog right from your iPhone!

Now...if we can get this thing to finish a project or two, we'll be in business!!

Who ever invented shutters is an evil guy.  Nothing's ever easy around here, but seriously!  With more nooks and crannies than a Thomas' English Muffin, the living room shutters are the very last item on the punch list that we have to finish to make this room complete.  Unfortunately, the dread associated with this project made for a little too much procrastination...

These shutters had seen better days.  But a little elbow grease and lots of sandpaper made these beauties as smooth as a baby's bottom.

They were hung and prepped for painting.

 

And now, they've received several coats of paint using a spray attachment for the air compressor.  They will require some hand painting as well but looking pretty good.

Question of the day:  Why do gnats love wet paint?!?

It’s all about the having the right tools.  Whether in the workshop or the kitchen, the right tools for the task at hand makes all the difference in achieving the outcome you want.  From time to time, we’re going to start mentioning our favorites:  Favorite tools, favorite ideas, favorite places, favorite recipes, simply, favorite things in general.  

FridayFavorites this week is all about help in the kitchen!  

Rich’s mom, Bonnie, gave him a Food Saver Vacuum Saving System (model #V2460) for Christmas and it’s about the best thing since sliced bread.  It’s really been getting a work out this year--tomatoes are vacuumed sealed and frozen until we take the time to prepare them.



Green beans are processed...



...and immediately packaged and frozen for freshness.  Squash, beets--you name it, we’re sucking the air out of it!



While we’re talking tools, Brett splurged on an immersion blender.  Made by Cuisinart, this is an awesome little tool that also comes with a mini food processor/chopper and whisk.  I love soup.  It's a comfort food for me and I eat it year-round.  Summer’s a great time to make big batches, freeze, and enjoy the fresh taste of the season long after the summer season has passed.



The Cuisinart SmartStick® Hand Blender (model CSB-77) makes soups that you have to purée, simple and easy.  There’s no more need for transferring hot liquids to the food processor or blender.  You simply press the “on” button and in seconds, perfectly creamy, puréed soup all in one pot!  In this instance, it’s Zucchini-Basil soup!  



Even though we planted fewer tomatoes this year, we still have more than enough so we’re being creative with our efforts to use/save them.  Recently, we tried “sun drying” a batch in the oven.  First, quarter and place them skin side down on a baking sheet.  



Then, bake them in the oven at 150 degrees for hours, and hours, and hours until they are dry and shriveled and all of the delicious goodness is concentrated inside.  These were ready in about 10 hours.  This is definitely going to be a favorite come January when you can't find a decent tasting tomato!



And finally, here’s a tip for saving an overabundance of basil from the garden.  Pack an ice cube tray with chopped basil and cover with water, stock, or olive oil and freeze.  Pop them out, seal, and you’ll have fresh herbs on hand whenever the need arises.



Here’s the recipe for that delicious soup!

Zucchini-Basil Soup:

3/4 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 lb zucchini, trimmed and cut crosswise into thirds
1 tsp course salt
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup water
1/3 cup packed basil leaves

Cook onion and garlic in olive oil in a 3 to 4-qt heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add chopped zucchini and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.  Add the chicken stock and water and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.  Add basil and puree.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Enjoy!  ( Recipe adapted from Gourmet, July, 2008 )

A big THANK YOU to HouseBlogs.net and True Value for the $300 prize!!  We are thrilled and can't wait to go shopping!   We've discussed a few ways to use the cash and will post post the results in an upcoming post.

In the meantime, the September, 2008 issue of Better Homes and Gardens is just days away from hitting newsstands!  The first floor bathroom, that we wrote about as part of the HouseBlogs contest, will be featured as will the studio/craft room as part of the magazine's Home Improvement Challenge contest.  They were here back in June taking pictures and we can't wait to see the results!

The pavers for the landscape project started going in!  Several inches of gravel was compacted and then a few inches of sand was leveled, tamped in, and leveled again.  Then, the pavers were arranged just so.



There are a lot of cuts to make but the finished job will be a major accomplishment and provide the curb appeal this area desperately needs.

The living room doors are finished.  Finally!  As you can see, there’s quite a transformation from dirty and dingy after years in the basement...



...to bright and inviting. 



Even the hardware was freshly plated in nickel.



All the work has definitely paid off!

We're not just slappin' paint on--we're doing things right.  Someone asked the other day what took long.  What took so long??  Are you kidding me!?!  Well, first you have to sand them--their time in the basement resulted in some damage that had to be repaired.  Then they were primed.  Twice.  Lightly sanded before top coating.  More patching--it’s amazing how bright, white primer can bring out additional imperfections!  Two coats of paint.  The final painting is an experience in and of itself for someone with borderline OCD!!  You know, the brush strokes and the drips...

Next up, the shutters.  That project might just require medication!  But at least this never ending project will be done.  Question is:  Aren't all projects on these old homes never ending and are they ever done?  

The garden is exploding!  Ripe, meaty tomatoes and pungent basil...



...and beautiful cherry tomatoes called Mexico Midget--the best tasting small tomato you can grow!



These beauties will soon be pickles.



This year, we decided to grow the cucumbers on trellises and cages. 



Since they are vines, space is maximized by growing them vertically.  Also, the cukes grow straighter too.  Here's our second crop planted just two weeks ago!  This trellis is about six feet tall and works great with the peas as well.



Lots of hot peppers too!



We just discovered another nest in the garden--right smack dab in the middle of a tomato cage!  A tiny cone shaped nest that's intricately woven with various materials from the garden, it's home to three tiny speckled eggs.  We haven't seen the mother yet, so we have no idea what kind they are.  If you recognize the eggs, let us know!  We'll keep you posted.

The brick pavers for the landscaping project arrived...



...and it was time to remove the concrete slab on which the steps to the back porch sat.  It, however, wasn't going anywhere without a fight!  After a futile attempt with a sledgehammer...



...we had to rent a jackhammer!  And take a few Advil!

This area was in need of major improvement and is evolving into an excellent addition to the home's exterior.

The garden is growing like crazy!  In the spring, we planted onion sets.  Lots.  Red, white, yellow, each with its own unique flavor.  The tops have been falling over and starting to brown lately which means it's time to harvest!



They've been dug up and will dry for a few days as we contemplate what to do with them all.  We've already roasted and processed dozens to use later.  Some will be chopped and packaged raw.  The rest?



If you have any suggestions, your favorite onion dishes, onion jam recipes, etc. send them our way!

Project Kraemer Lane is now listed on the Community Links page of P. Allen Smith's Garden Home website. 



The website is a wealth of information mostly about gardening but it also includes recipes and other useful information.  It is a companion to the television broadcast on PBS.   

The show speaks to our gardening and renovation sensibilities.  Rich said that if P. Allen Smith and Martha Stewart ever had a child, they’d name him Brett!  

Finally!

Tomatoes are ripening in the garden and ready for the picking.  Lots of varieties, though not as many as last year.  We’ve experimented with pruning and drip irrigation and the results so far are impressive.



Summer just isn’t summer without fresh, homegrown tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, some aged balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.  Our new favorite is a combination of all these good things: panzanella. 



An Italian dish, there are several different versions out there but it’s basically the combination of the above ingredients with sautéed garlic, onion or shallot, and torn bread pieces.  Here's Ina Garten's, The Barefoot Contessa, recipe and another from Smitten Kitchen.

Whatever the combination, the flavors merge into one spectacular dish!

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While we're in the garden...

String beans are ready to enjoy.  Can you say haricots vert?

The good folks at Houseblogs.net have teamed up with True Value to promote their D.I.Y All Star Contest.  The best part of home improvement renovation process is actually completing a project and moving it to the “DONE” column!  The next best part?  Winning some cold hard moolah!  Three entrants will be drawn at random for a $300.00 American Express Gift card to use at True Value.

One project that we here at Project Kraemer Lane are extremely pleased with is the first floor bathroom renovation.  A small space that was dark and dank...



...is now bright, open, and inviting. 



Marble brick was used in the shower and arches were incorporated to echo those in other parts of the house.  A true do-it-yourself project, it was completed with no outside assistance--from concept to completion:  A project to be proud of (if we do say so ourselves!!)  Better Homes and Gardens magazine selected it as the best bathroom renovation in their Home Improvement Challenge and it will be featured in the September, 2008 issue.

Check it out (volume up)!



This post was written for Houseblogs.net as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by True Value.

The living room was completed back in the spring...



...but we put off sanding and painting the doors until now.

The summer heat, complete with high humidity, is a perfect time to get out the sanders and prep the living room doors!  Hey, a little sweat and dehydration is good for the constitution, right?  



You may remember that they were in the basement when we purchased Kraemer House and we were happy that they were in usable condition.

Now, we are sanding and prepping them to bring out the impressive detail.





Next Up?  This says it all!

Garden update:  Cucumbers are blooming...



...and squash too!



They are thriving thanks to the drip irrigation that we mention in an earlier post.

Okay, okay--We may have over planted onions this year!  They have done especially well thanks to Root Crop Fertilizer from Gardens Alive.



Sweet peppers have been slow to produce, but are growing great now.



Tomatoes will finally be ready to eat soon.  This year, we’re pruning the vines more, forcing energy to the fruit.  This seems to be paying off given the numbers we’re seeing.



These gems of the garden will be worth the wait!

Even though the spring weather turned into summer weather weeks earlier than normal, the garden is growing well.  The two strawberry beds have finished producing for the year.  To ensure another great crop next year, all the foliage is cut off...



...carefully so not to damage the crown.  Then, the soil is rejuvenated with peat and compost, and a special fertilizer is added.



The tomato cages that were assembled last year from the leftover fencing has been a beneficial addition, keeping the rambling vines orderly.



This year, we decided to use a drip irrigation system.  It will cut down on water use and get the water to the root zone on individual plantings.



For mass plantings like the strawberry beds, we're using soaker hoses.  The best part is you can put everything on a timer!

Blooms are plentiful with the hope for a huge harvest!



But these tomatoes will need lots of water to reach their juicy potential.



Peppers, too, need consistent amounts of water to produce perfect, thick skinned fruit.

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Butterflies are on the way!  Just starting to bloom, this butterfly bush in the perennial bed appears to dwarf the house.

Well, an entire spring has passed and we’ve accomplished a lot.  Although we update the notebook frequently, it’s nice to see it all in a nutshell on the “Projects” pages. 

Check out our spring projects update and see what we're doing at Kraemer House.

The lighting for the front hall and foyer is finally here!  Though not hanging yet--it’ll be a little while for that--even right out of the box...



...it is gorgeous!! 



We chose this recently debuted line of Martha Stewart Lighting with Murray Feiss that we mentioned weeks ago because the etching on the glass is a perfect match to the glass panels in the foyer doors.



The classic vintage look will appear as if it's been here forever.

Update:  The little Robins that were nesting in the climbing roses are nesting no longer.  They flew the coop a little too soon but we hope that the doting parents can protect them until they can fly away on their own.  Here’s a picture of one heading off to summer camp!

Lynn sent this link and information awhile back and I've been meaning to pass it along.  In the garden the other day, I was happy to see a fair number of honey bees and it reminded me to make this post.

Join the cause to help save the honey bees whose lives are in danger worldwide at helpthehoneybees.com.  The following information is compliments of Haagen-Dazs:

Here are a few bee facts to get you started:

1. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of all the foods we eat, including many of our favorite fruits, nuts and vegetables.

2. Alarmingly, more than 25 percent of the Western honey bee population has disappeared over the last several winters, threatening our food supply and our way of life.

3. Many of the honey bee deaths are being attributed to a mysterious threat called Colony Collapse Disorder, which causes bees to suddenly leave their hive and die. Unfortunately, not much is known about this new threat.

4. Researchers are working to find a solution to Colony Collapse Disorder, but there are ways that we can all help the honey bees today. Learn more about bees and what you can do to help at helpthehoneybees.com.

Besides the important information, the website has amazing animation.  You can even design your own bee and send your own bee-mail.



Also, check out this additional information.

The spring projects are progressing.  In this instance, "progressing" means moving along slower than we'd hoped, but moving along nonetheless!  The exterior hardscape (aka Great Wall of Reading) and landscape have come a long way and are looking great.  The new entrance from the circle drive to the front...



...now has steps!



Still some work to do, but it's an amazing transformation.



We'll eventually add some landscaping to the area between the wall and house.



The planting in the rear porch area is growing well...



...and the porch looks nice though we have not taken any time to even sit and enjoy it!  Come, sit, watch us work!



Despite the early hot weather in the area, the remaining landscape around the driveway is thriving.

The eggs in the robin's nest that we mentioned in an earlier post have hatched!  It seems like they were just laid a few days ago, but they were ready to exit their cramped quarters!  The eggs were laid one day at a time and they hatched the same way.  The first one started with just a little hole pecked through...



...until it finally broke free!



All are hatched now--eyes still closed, but mouths wide open--their downy fuzz is so cute!

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Couldn't resist one more rose picture--they have been amazing this year!

The radishes that we planted this year are called "Easter Egg" radishes.  The colors are amazing.  The “eggs” range in color from bright red...



...to bold purple...



...and even pink and white.  We’ve enjoyed them in salads and stir fry but we planted a few too many so if you have any radish recipes, send them our way!



The climbing roses that we planted on the garden fence have been a sight this year and continue to fill in.  In mass...



...or individually, a sight to enjoy!