Back To Basics Fair

On Saturday May 11 I'll be attending the Back To Basics Fair, a free sustainable living event at Llano Public Library. My presentation will be on Trench Composting. Here's the handout and the slideshow. Sounds like a lot of fun hangin' out with like-minded folks. Can ya dig it?

Happy Earth Day

Today I finished off my 3rd Trench Composting bed, lining with limestone blocks and filling up with leaves. The first two are planted in multiplier onions and garlic, as I haven't wanted to fence out our herds of deer yet. I'm on the Llano Uplift in Central Texas.

The working bed is outlined with landscape timbers and covered with a monster piece of cardboard from the furniture store. Every 3-4 days I dig a hole in our rock-hard decomposed granite 'soil' and bury all our kitchen trash and paper products. I'm slowly getting the garden I've always wanted and kept compostables out of the landfill. For the best video I've ever found on Trench Composting, see this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8sFQsyuxiA&t=2s

To start a new hole I normally have to water first, set the shovel and jump up and down on it. I planted some elephant garlic in the middle bed today. The trowel went in like butter.

Happy Earth Day!

Sand Globes with Friends

Making Sand Globes is artistic and meditative, but Sand Globes with friends is even better! Thanks for joining me, Jade and Ian.

Sand Globe R & D

It's winter and Texas has decided to behave herself and give us a beautiful day. So what did I do? Boogie out to Grenwelge Park to play with sand! Getting a good recipe and better technique. Whatever else happens, I arted today.

Liberty Hill Jam

One of the jam sessions we like to attend is the one at Liberty Hill on the second Saturday of every month. It's a laid-back group and we had quite a turnout this month. The music is mostly old country, a little rock and some bluegrass. We feel very fortunate to be able to play with these experienced musicians.

Homework

Doing my research to bring Sand Globes to Llano, and especially LEAF. It was just about to rain, so I brought these home to dry.

Ukulele Posse

This is the infamous gang I've been hanging with for the past 4 1/2 years, the Highland Lakes Ukulele Club. Dangerous but way fun. 

Art Guild Meeting and Demo

One of the best parts of belonging to the Llano Art Guild and Gallery is the monthly meeting. There's almost always a demo at 10am, a pot luck lunch is served at noon and the business meeting is at 1pm.

Today's guest speaker was Tom Orsak, a nationally recognized painter. He did a class on acrylic painting. We had the highest number of demo participants to date.

Dip Pens

I have read about doing doodles with dip pens and particularly glass pens. They have a smooth and even line and don't wear down like many markers. I was pretty crazy to start so my friend Lynda let me borrow some of her dip pen supplies.

Handwriting is pretty rare in this day and age so lately I've acquired a couple of pen pals. I found you can actually forget how to write! Daily practice is helping quite a bit, but the metal-nib dip pen is tough to learn. Doodling with the pen is fun, though, and it's cool that I'll eventually not be buying any more disposable plastic pens.

You would think that regular printer paper would be just fine for dip pen or fountain pen ink, wouldn't you? Well, then you would be wrong, my friend. Soooooo...I ordered some paper, too. Every hobby you take up needs stuff. I guess I'll be getting some ink, too...

I had a great time watching this video, it's exactly what I'd like to do.

Art Supplies

It's a great thing to have a real art supply store nearby. Calamity & Grace has been open a couple of years and has what you need or can get it. Lots of classes and activities, too. Thank you Valerie Smasal and Marcus Hammons for taking the risk and opening this store in Llano.