Monday, May 7, 2018

Our Little Vegetable Garden, Now and Through The Years

 Every year for the last ten years, we've planted a vegetable garden in Asti.
This year we planted mostly heirloom tomatoes and a few herbs.

Mr. A loves to get his hands dirty.
He put in the 8 tomato plants while I offered much support and direction!

"Only two per bed please!  
Make sure they are spaced evenly..."
Yes dear!

For me, it's all about how it looks!
Since the raised beds are arranged on a slope, I like to see uniformity and a sense of symmetry to the garden.

 As soon as the tomatoes were planted, I gathered our bamboo pyramid trellises from the shed and placed them over the plants.
It gave me such a thrill!

It's all about those trellises!  
I love their purpose of supporting the tomatoes while they grow, but they also look great!

 Looking back over the years, this little vegetable garden has brought a lot of joy and memories.
Here is Mr. A about 5 years ago tending the herbs, while Oscar basks in the sun.  

Our son Aaron gathering herbs about 8 years ago!

A sweet memory from 6 years ago....
It has certainly been a family affair planting and tending to this garden!

Another sweet memory!
Our granddaughter watering the tomatoes!
How cute is she?

Most importantly though, the garden gives us such satisfaction when we see the fruits of our labor.
This little harvest was a good one!
Heirloom tomatoes and Armenian cucumbers.
Hopefully, we have a good yield this year too!

How does your garden grow?


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Saturday, May 5, 2018

Hotel Luna Mystica


 I've been dying to post about Hotel Luna Mystica, a vintage trailer hotel and campground located just outside Taos.  Following on the heels of my review of Tin Can Homestead seems like a good time to share our visit there, last summer.

Our daughter Ashley was hired to design the interiors of these vintage travel trailers, so I have a special interest.
She had a vision for each trailer and was excited to take her dad and I on a grand tour.

I acted as a consultant from afar, advising her on sources for fabrics and leather, as well as just someone to bounce ideas off of.
I love how she used shibori fabric pillows on a leatherette dining bench.
The American flag adds a special touch.

I really love the kitchen in this trailer with the stainless steel countertops and blue accent walls.

All units feature high quality bedding and linens.
Real down duvets, all white.


In another trailer, she used Mexican blankets to make pillows.
A friend made the table and shelf.

What a difference it makes to paint all the cabinets and paneling white.
Subway tile and wooden counters lend a light touch and make the space seem larger.

The interior of this trailer got a coat of plaster, which reminded me of the typical adobe cottages in New Mexico.
  
For more glamping inspiration, check out Hotel Luna Mystica's website here.
It's packed with photos of all the trailers, their history as well as things to do in and around Taos.

Thanks for indulging me with my travel trailer obsession!


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Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Tin Can Homestead

Many of you already know of my obsession with Airstreams.  
I hope to someday buy a vintage one and completely renovate it top to bottom.
My inspiration?  The couple who did just that!

Natasha Lawyer and Brett Bashaw actually bought a vintage Airstream, renovated it and made it their permanent home in Seattle for a year and a half before selling the Tin Can and moving to Vermont.
I discovered their Instagram, Tin Can Homestead and was instantly hooked on their journey.

I love their style and am so inspired by the design.
No dark paneled walls here, but white tongue and groove paneling and pine accents.
It feels Scandinavian in design.  Light and airy.

This isn't your grandparent's Airstream!


Their new book also by the same name is now available.  I received an advance copy for review and have been devouring it since.
It's a great DIY book, detailing their renovation and all the issues along the way that comes with a 1971 Airstream.

I had not considered all the negatives like mice, leaks and rotten floors when buying a vintage trailer.
Not that they had to deal with too much of that, but I learned so much about what to look for and what to expect if buying an old trailer.
They bought theirs already gutted which is a good idea.
Then they added the electrical, plumbing and walls.

 I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this process.
The before above and after here are so dramatic!


Of course, their dogs were there through it all.
How adorable are they?

This book not only documents Natasha and Brett's amazing year and a half living and renovating their tiny home, the Tin Can Homestead, but it's also quite romantic to read about their adventure.

They have since sold their Airstream and the Tin Can now lives in California.
I actually thought about buying it when they listed it on Instagram!
Natasha and Brett are now in Vermont on another adventure.

Be sure to follow them on Instagram at @tincanhomestead and @sugarhousehomestead.
You can buy their book at www.runningpress.com.

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Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Happy May Day!


"Sweet May hath come to love us,
Flowers, trees, their blossoms don;
And through the blue heavens above us,
The very clouds move on."
~Heinrich Heine, Book of Songs

"When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the rain drops glisten;
Fresh violets open every day:
To some new bird each hour we listen."
~Lucy Larcom

Happy May Day!
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