Check out the new design at http://uniquespacesorganizing.com/?page_id=558

I hope this  makes navigating the blog and website even more user-friendly.

I appreciate any constructive comments you might have.

Visit the new site soon and let me hear from you.

Jill

The Only Modern Building In Town

Tuscarora is an old mining town north of Elko.  I spent the day there and had some spare time to wander around town and take some photos.

Tuscarora has 8-10 year round residents and many others that enjoy the summer months or vacations here. 

Tuscarora is a “step back in time”.  The pace of living is slower and it is a relaxing retreat for me.  Our family home was built in 1888 and we have owned it since 1936.

Only The Memories Remain

A Necessity Of Life

Fill 'er Up!

Always A Lucky Day To Be In Tuscarora

Enjoy your glimpses of one of my favorite places in northeastern Nevada.

Jan won the 4th of July red, white & blue challenge.  Jan really did have a total kitchen make-over from top to bottom.  She now has a new, modern kitchen that looks very old-fashioned with white cabinets, deep red walls and lots of counter space.  Some of her favorite dishes are Fiesta Ware in various colors including a wonderful cobalt blue .   Jan’s organizing projects are very patriotic.  She completed many more than  4 projects in 7 days.  Congratulations, Jan and enjoy your Persimmon Hill Farm Berry Cookbook.

A big thank you to all of you who participated in the challenge.  I know that many of you completed projects but did not comment about what you did.  You should be very proud of yourselves.   

 “Each organizing project completed is one less decision you have to make.”

Bachelor Button

Every Bee Has A Job!

   The flower gardens are bursting with color.   It is a feast for the eyes and the bees.

Too Hot To Do Anything

About mid July the fun of summer has worn off.  The weather is hot, the days are long and it gets harder and harder to keep the kids entertained without spending $$.  What’s a frazzled Mom to do? 

Lucky Lunch Day – Pick a day each week and let the kids make their own lunch.  This project is especially fun for 3 to 7 year olds.  Provide several sandwich ingredients such as tortillas, rolls, bread, lunch meat, peanut butter, jelly, tuna and condiments.  Let them  be creative.  Who knows what culinary treat your little chefs might make!  The only rule is they must eat what they make.

Organize The Toys -  Organize toys by category and then place them in bins.  Bins can be placed on shelves in the closet or play area.  Make sure the bins are labeled.  Use digital photos and/or labels for each bin.   Let the kids take their own photos and make their own labels by hand, on the computer or with a label maker.  Its great fun.   Use colored bins with a specific color for each child in the family.  Della gets orange, Carson gets white and Chase gets green.  Color coded, labeled bins make toy cleanup easy and quick.

Thirsty Thursdays – each Thursday pick a new drink recipe to make at home.  Lemonade and root beer floats are sure to be a hit.  Smoothies, slushies,  milkshakes and even chocolate milk are delicious treats.  Check out the Rachel Ray Yum-o website to learn more about childhood nutrition, try out recipes and even play games.

Accountable Kids – This is a great little program to teach your children how to be accountable and responsible.  It also teaches your kids time management and organization of themselves and their possessions.  I met Traci Heaton, the Brain behind this program, at the NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) conference three years ago.  I was so impressed with the program & Traci, I promptly bought a kit and gave it to a relative with small children.  I was amazed at how quickly it brought a calmness to the home and how much the kids loved doing the activities.  If you are looking for a way to help your kids get organized this summer, check out Accountable Kids.

I hope some of these ideas will energize your “Dog Days Of  Summer”!

  Both photos were taken the same evening . . . one facing east and one facing west.

Sunset Through An Old Truck Window

Sunset Reflecting On Clouds In The East

In honor of our nation’s Independence Day,  plan to complete   4   organizing projects in the next  7   days.   The projects can be big or small.  They need to be something that will improve your space, add some free time to your day or just make you feel better. 

 Your challenge for the each project is to organize things or a space  that are red, white or blue.  Everything in the project doesn’t have to be one of these colors but must include at least 4-7 items that are. 

Here is an example of one of my projects. 

Spring Calves Enjoying Life

The garden just doesn’t seem complete unless I plant tomatoes.  My tomatoes seem to do best planted in the bed on the south side of the chicken house.  (Yes, I really do have chickens and love the fresh eggs.)  Each year I add compost and manure in the Fall so by Spring the bed is ready to go. 

Home of my "Fine Feathered Friends".

A couple of years ago I came across a product called red mulch that proclaimed success in increasing tomato production.  I tried it that year and it worked.  Last year I didn’t use it and the yield went down.  This year I am using red mulch again.

    Red mulch or SMR-Red is a thin plastic film that reflects far-red light up into the plants thus increasing production from 12 – 20%.   It warms the soil and helps maintain moisture.  It also eliminates weeds. You can purchase it at garden centers or online.  I ordered mine from Territorial Seed in Oregon.  I buy most of my seeds from them also.  I am extremely pleased with the seed quality and quantity of vegetables and herbs produced. 

Back to red mulch . . . you place the mulch over your drip system on top of the soil.  Make slits in the red mulch and plant your tomatoes.  I like nice tidy rows and I plant the tomatoes deep.  Due to freezing temperatures in June,  I did not get my tomatoes in until June 12.  I was a little worried about even getting a few tomatoes on the plants. 

Yesterday I checked the plants and they had grown at least 8 inches.  The plants are healthy and have lots of blossoms.   Best of all,  no weeds to pull . . .  so now  I have  a bit of extra time to enjoy my garden. 

My hopes are high for one of the best tomatoes crops ever. (Barring unexpected frost) 

 Try some red mulch and enjoy those amazing, flavorful,  home-grown tomatoes. 

                                                           Sheer delight in each bite!!

Vintage Metal Gate