Cleaning the Bathroom, Naturally

It seems as if some of these tips contradict those of their post cited here on Casita On S. Cortez on 9/28/13, but I'm definitely experimenting...the fairly obvious rule for 90-year-old porcelain is be gentle, no abrasives if possible...I skipped Pilates this morning....but still getting a workout.  Wonder where the term "elbow grease" comes from?

This is Apartment Therapy's post on general bathroom cleaning with natural products.



http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-get-the-bathroom-spic-a-111828

How to Clean a 90-Year-Old Porcelain Tub

OMGosh, I really can't believe it's 6:34 am and I'm taking photos of our grungy bathtub!

But we have company coming...

Our neighbor across the street likes to say his plumbing was installed in 1923 and upgraded in 1927.

The date on our bathroom sink does indeed say 1923.  I wouldn't dream of replacing it.  Once our grown son came to visit and was confused by the faucets...how did this work?  Separate hot and cold?

Sometimes I feel I'm spitting into an airline sink, but then I still have my grandma's china pitcher and wash basin so I can see how this running water thing was a real step up!  So this is my BEFORE photo -- right after Hubby left for work...I'm not saying it's ANONE'S fault...:)

 

 

But it's really the tub that I want to focus on, since I'm a big "soaker" -- especially with a stiff shoulder...too much gardening yesterday?

 

I found this great information from Apartment Therapy -- what NOT to use on old porcelain....oops...and some new ideas to try...like grapefruit & salt.  I especially like the idea of using lemon oil on the sides (not the bottom unless you're practicing for a surfing competition.)  I bet mineral oil would work well, too.  Our bathroom tub and sink are plumbed for the gray water to go directly to our compost pile so I like to be careful what I use...

 

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-a-1-137148

 

 



Actually, I think some of the grunge in this photo may be on my laptop screen....hmmm.  Guess I'll Google that next...

Wonderful Coral Bells for Autumn

I've been waiting quite awhile to get a nice shady, rich soil area for some Heuchera or Coral Bells...

 

From top to bottom, "Rose Majesty", "Sonic Smash," and "Crème Brule."  All grown by Monrovia and purchased at Watter's Garden Center

Oak Leaf and Romaine Lettuce

This morning I planted

• six-pack of Parris Island Romaine Lettuce
• six-pack of Red Oak Leaf Lettuce

Got them from Watter's Garden Center for around $3.00 each.

We've got late tomatoes ripening, if Gus the pug leaves them alone...It'll be nice to have some fresh greens to toss in a salad.

I mixed them in with the ornamentals in the raised bed in the front garden.

Top Ten Reasons Tomatoes Don't Do Well in Prescott

O.K., so I skipped right to the main reason in our garden...

#1 Reason Why Tomatoes Had a Tough Year.

Who opened the gate, Gus?

On The Porch at El Tovar, Grand Canyon

Six of us dressed steampunk style and took the steam train to the Grand Canyon. 

 

We ate lunch at the El Tovar Lodge.



 

Immunity Smoothie Recipe

We've been living on smoothies for dinner during the week as Steve gets ready to celebrate his 61st birthday in the Grand Canyon with our daughter.

http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2013/05/immunity-smoothie-recipe-and-a-great-way-to-use-leftover-smoothies.html

My daughter-in-law posted this recipe from Healthy and Happy Home...

A great idea to use left-over smoothies as popsicles...

Sweet Potato Vine

With the fall light changing this dark sweet potato vine stands out!

Thinking of Zucchini

 

Somehow this lovely quote makes me think of the zucchini in the garden patch...there are some serious Big Guys lurking under the leaves.  I give those to my hens.  First, I slice off a few openings since the chickens don't seem to like to peck through the skin.  They hollow the zucchini out nicely, then I compost the rest. 

 

Went over town to pick up 35 lbs of fresh peaches.  I quickly picked three new, tender squash to take to the friend.  She was so grateful.  Said she has a friend that passes on the Big Guys...why do we do that? :)   

 

 

 

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would
be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

—Rainer Maria Rilke

To Do List

Once, back when I was teaching, I was so busy that I only had time to jot in my calendar the really, really essential "to do" that I might forget.

That would be "Clean the litter box."

Everything else was a lot of blank space.

Anyone reading that would think "Wow, that lady needs a life!"