tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post1898372314563557283..comments2024-03-05T03:21:10.473-05:00Comments on Shim Farm: Two-Oh-One-FiveShim Farmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-14584312759076488602015-02-28T08:00:07.943-05:002015-02-28T08:00:07.943-05:00Hi Stephen. Spring is still far off. I'm giv...Hi Stephen. Spring is still far off. I'm giving it another 6 weeks, at least. But the mornings are beautiful and bright and the days are getting what seems like exponentially longer. It's not all bad, but it can warm up any day now. It's been brutally cold with no respite for the last 8 weeks. Our road isn't even thawed to the pavement yet, we're got inches of compacted snow on every surface and walkway. And I hear you about your car. I decided my next one is all-wheel drive, too!Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-14969533874072748492015-02-28T00:31:58.270-05:002015-02-28T00:31:58.270-05:00Hasn't been so bad here. We're sort of on ...Hasn't been so bad here. We're sort of on the edge of everything so we get the abridged version of all the storms. Spring does seem a looooong way off, doesn't it?Stephen Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657698116552267561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-87107993110747480732015-02-21T19:27:45.256-05:002015-02-21T19:27:45.256-05:00Hey Stephen! Thanks for checking in with us. We&...Hey Stephen! Thanks for checking in with us. We're alive and well, but it's been SO COLD here that it's sapped our energy. Eric's in London via Vancouver, and I'm at home, jealous. Would it not be for the pets, I'd have high-tailed in outta here by now! This winter is getting long, and it's been a really hard one. But I've got the fire going, Dinaroo is cuddled in beside me, and Bob is snoring in the background. And my sanity-saving knitting is nearby, so it's not all bad LOL. We're hanging in, hope you are, too!Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-47139609811337663892015-02-15T15:03:39.112-05:002015-02-15T15:03:39.112-05:00Hey where have you been?!Hey where have you been?!Stephen Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657698116552267561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-44489438513622753862015-02-03T19:35:50.244-05:002015-02-03T19:35:50.244-05:00Hi Claudia, so happy you stopped by!
Getting orch...Hi Claudia, so happy you stopped by!<br /><br />Getting orchids to flower again is not really a science. Once they have finished flowering, I re-pot them in new orchid mix (I use Schultz brand), and prune any dead roots back. I also water my orchids with Schultz orchid fertilizer every two weeks. I fill my kitchen sink, add about a 1/4 tsp fertilizer, and give the orchids a thorough SOAKING. I set my kitchen timer for 15 minutes and just let them soak. I drain the water and let the orchids drip dry until I can't take it anymore and need to use the sink for something else! I also mist my orchids every morning, my little breakfast ritual while the tea steeps...<br /><br />Actually, I have what I call the "orchid hospital" set up on my kitchen counter. I picked up several old orchids that were destined for the garbage pile. I take pity on this sort of thing (like I don't have enough "projects" of my own), but I am happy to report that of 6 orchids, I've brought all back to perfect health (that means each grew 2 leaves in a year), and 4 of the 6 have flower shoots. I'm pretty pleased with myself!<br /><br />The biggest challenge is finding the right exposure. All are in a north-west facing window, and get really cold nights and no direct sun. I've heard cold nights are key. It might seem counter-intuitive, but it's working for me!<br /><br />I am as excited about your mudroom as you are, probably! (But then, I have to add, I was "that" child who would run through houses under construction and sniff cut 2x4's with utter delight), so I'm not the norm, but it's all so exciting, isn't it?<br /><br />What would we do if we lived in perfect homes? Life would be so dull...Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-29033437249029749042015-02-02T19:41:51.017-05:002015-02-02T19:41:51.017-05:00Hello! I thought I had left a comment on this post...Hello! I thought I had left a comment on this post a long time back, but I don't see it! I wanted to say how envious I am of your re-blooming orchid plant. Holy cow, that is amazing. I cannot get any orchid plant to re-bloom. I guess I don't have the right touch. I love your sunset photos too! Thank you for leaving a comment today about our mudroom reno. I'm excited. That room, tiny as it is, has been a thorn in my side for so long. It will be so wonderful to have a spiffed up mudroom. <br />ClaudiaMy Little Bungalowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17661291354573889109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-74161640415100315312015-01-03T23:09:24.525-05:002015-01-03T23:09:24.525-05:00Wowzer - gorgeous skies. And I love your mitts.Wowzer - gorgeous skies. And I love your mitts.Grace @ Sense and Simplicityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14185222544452668586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-88698365879176120802015-01-02T16:40:14.285-05:002015-01-02T16:40:14.285-05:00Hi Doug! Thanks for your input. I remember all th...Hi Doug! Thanks for your input. I remember all the problems you had with your blog, coupled with lots of internet outages. I agree that the changes at Flickr were not positive ones. And the interface (or lack thereof) between the iPad (which is a convenience, not a tool) and my trusty ancient laptop leaves a lot to be desired. Ah yes, First World Problems!<br /><br />I guess we'll just keep chugging on, hoping for something more user-friendly to come along.Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-82887907628086638372015-01-02T11:22:01.469-05:002015-01-02T11:22:01.469-05:00I left Blogspot for Wordpress as I agree its a lou...I left Blogspot for Wordpress as I agree its a lousy app. However, I ended up going back to Blogspot when Flickr screwed me up by using big jpgs instead of thumbnails. My 'country highspeed' rendered Flickr useless. I do miss flexibility of Wordpress though and may return if I find better way to use my photos.Soxophone Playerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03921353689251986354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-55474199293372675122015-01-02T08:44:34.290-05:002015-01-02T08:44:34.290-05:00It's so funny that you should mention sous vid...It's so funny that you should mention sous vide cooking, too, Robin. Stephen Andrew put up a post about it a while back, and I was checking it out yesterday. This morning, I was reading the reviews at Costco. The idea of cooking sous vide is now on my radar. <br /><br />Eric looooves food. He's French, his mom is an AMAZING cook, so he comes by it honestly. But this is also a man who has been known to throw spaghetti in a pot of boiling water a full hour before we are ready to eat, thinking he's "helping me". (I always put my pot of salted water on the stove waaay before we're ready to eat and turn the heat off). I turn my back for a second and the pasta's already boiling - whhaaaat? Anyhow, that's Eric.<br /><br />And, like most things Eric attempts, it's with exacting precision and a level of perfection you and I could only aspire to. (Somehow, I have a feeling Lee is the same). I will indulge his culinary passion to any extent. My mouth is still watering from New Year Eve's lobster risotto...<br /><br />Well, here's to hoping that in 2015 we'll finally get finished houses! Keep posting your progress, because things are moving along a whole lot faster now!Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-8695825094943588932015-01-02T03:08:51.427-05:002015-01-02T03:08:51.427-05:00That is hilarious Eric turned into a foodie. This ...That is hilarious Eric turned into a foodie. This could be a great thing for you! I rarely make dinner now as Lee has completely taken over. He has gotten pretty competent on Japanese cooking and has been exploring curries and Malaysian food now. He is over the top excited because his Sous Vide came in the mail yesterday. I'm telling you, sometimes I just want a simple 30 minute meal now. robinhttp://www.farmfolly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-61923894898485560632015-01-01T22:08:22.586-05:002015-01-01T22:08:22.586-05:00Hi Stephen, so happy you dropped by! Hahaha, Eric ...Hi Stephen, so happy you dropped by! Hahaha, Eric is on his way to Germany as I write. I called our friends earlier and asked them to have a new meal idea in the works LOL. Last time, it was potatoes Dauphinoise with mushroom-stuffed pork tenderloin on a bed of seared leeks. While Eric hasn't had the chance to cook his latest creation for me, just knowing he has a new recipe in his back pocket puts me at ease. It's SO NICE to hand over the cooking reins from time to time!<br /><br />We live in a really pretty location, in a pretty effed up old house! LOL...one day we'll have finished floors everywhere and the gardens will be whipped into shape. Then we'll probably pick up and do this all over again somewhere else.<br /><br />I really don't know what to do with blogger. I'm thinking of heading over to Wordpress, because the app is a joke. Sometimes, on my iPad, all I have is a bold line at the bottom that says COMPLAIN TO BLOGGER like it's helpful!!! My laundry list is long.<br /><br />Anyhow, you know the drill as well as I do. In the meantime, I really do hope I can post more (something I threaten regularly) and we'll just keep our fingers crossed that blogger can keep up with me LOLz.Shim Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148782353052767022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-136541991481312371.post-23188513003970390722015-01-01T21:27:06.784-05:002015-01-01T21:27:06.784-05:00Happy New Year! I'm so happy to see your post!...Happy New Year! I'm so happy to see your post! Somehow you got kicked off my blog roll (along with 2/3 my other fav blogs). Blogger is such a mess and the app is a joke! I LOVE LOVE LOVEEEE the photo of Odin and his master kitty. That is so damn cute. I love that Odin is smart enough to take a selfie. Barbie hasn't done that, but she does love to scroll on my iPad when she sits on my lap (always). <br />Your sunsets are so pretty. And where you live looks genuinely gorgeous! I have a business venture in mind for you. A sleep-away camp where husbands are sent to learn to cook. You'll be a millionaire. I'm seriously craving lobster risotto now. Stephen Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00657698116552267561noreply@blogger.com