Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer has asked that we play a little different in this week's Works for Me Wednesday, and has turned our thoughts to what doesn't work for me. 
Personally, as much as I'd LIKE it to, cutting coupons just doesn't work for me. I've tried; I peruse through all 32846865 of them that are included in our Sunday paper, but I can never seem to find any for the products that we actually USE. Since "name" brands aren't a big priority with us, and we purchase very little in terms of pre-packaged or prepared foods, there aren't many that are useful for us. And, even if I should come across $1 off the dog food brand we DO buy, then, I enevitably leave the coupon home when I trek to the grocery store.
Which brings me to my next doesn't work for me issue:
Planned weekly/monthly menus. Another fabulous idea in theory, but one that just doesn't play out well in practice, at our house. I've tried; I've planned the meals, purchased the needed ingredients...then, the Mister works late on Wednesday and picked up a pizza on the way home, or it's Thursday, and I'm just not up for making lemon chicken tonight, and want pasta instead! We're more of a stop-at-the-fresh-market-on-your-way-home and get "what's for dinner TONIGHT?" kinda household.
So, there ya have it - two frugal, money-saving opportunities that just Don't work for me...for more non-working dilemmas, be sure to stop by Works for Me Wednesday - maybe you can learn from (or empathize with) the pitfalls of others!
I've tried (WFMW)
'Bout time - (Tackle-it Tuesday)
Today's Tuesday, and ya know what that means?! There's an awful lot of tacklin' goin' on at 5 minutes for mom!
My tackle for the week is one that really should have been done before the end of April, but I figure the first week of May is close enough, right?!
I'm gonna plant some (2 doz.) gladiolus bulbs, along with a shakerbag full of wildflower seeds.
Right now, we have some woodland ferns growing along the back fence line. The plan is, to prepare a long, narrow-ish bed in front of those ferns for the wildflowers (I got a fragrant cutting mix, that is supposed to cover up to 1000 sq. feet) and in the southwest corner, I intend to plant the glaidolus. In this area, those should have been in the ground by late April, so cross your fingers for me, that I haven't waited too long! Hopefully, sometime in July I will be able to post my "success".
April Garden Talk
Well, here at the beach this month, it was ALLLL about the lawn, folks! The warm weather is here to stay (except, it's supposed to get down in the 40's tonight -*shiver*), and the Mister has mowed the yard twice already. Remember, if you have St. Augustine grass, it should remain about 2 - 3 1/2" long (Bahia should be about 3-4"); grass mowed too low will have a shorter root system, and therefore more easily damaged during dry weather and, being weaker, will more likely have weed problems.
And, whether you used sod, plugs, or seedlings, this was the month to repair dead or damaged areas of the lawn. Remember to keep it well-watered if the weather by you has been dry. If you're establishing a new lawn, water frequently, but lightly, for the first two weeks. Then, gradually decrease the frequency and increase the length of irrigation.
IF the weather is dry, water your lawn with 1/2 in. of water, no more than twice a week. Water ONLY when the blades fold, and water early in the morning before temperatures rise. If the blades fold in the afternoon, water the next morning.
Recycling your grass clippings back into the lawn. Grass clipping won't cause thatch to build up if only 1/3 of the grass top is removed when mowing. Besides, removing the clippings carries off any fertilizer that is used on the lawn. Remember, too, that almost ALL yard waste can be used as mulch or compost.
Now is also the time to divide any fall flowering bulbs or perennials that are overcrowded. Some fruits & veggies to plant in your garden this month; cantaloupe, cucumbers, eggplant, tomatoes, turnips and watermelon. Some pretty annuals for the month; coleus, dusty miller, hollyhocks, impatiens, daisies, marigolds, periwinkles, salvia, and verbenas.
March Garden Talk
WoW! Here we are at the tail-end of March already, and our little cottage garden is nowhere near the shape it should be in! Well, I *did* get out at de-weed my fruit trees, and fertilized them all just yesterday; as that task should have been completed last month, we're adhering to the motto of "better late than never". We tried a new product this season - "Sta-Green" fertilizer for citrus, fruit & nut trees. My fig tree produces ample fruit every year, but in the two years we've had them, not one of my citrus trees have bared fruit. We shall see if perhaps a direct delivery of nutrients will change that.
If you have St. Augustine grass (like we do), now is also the time to begin fertilizing your lawn, as well, which should be done four times a year (March, May, July and September). This is assuming that you've already raked all the dead grass & leaves into the compost pile. Again, tho, here at the cottage...well, we're a bit behind schedule on that front!
If you have palm trees, now's the time to fertilize them, as well, begining in March, and continuing every two months through September.
Heavy pruning of hedges should be done this month. To encourage bushy growth, prune just prior to the bud swell. To slow growth, prune just after bud swell, and after the leaves have fully expanded. Any cold-weather damaged plants should be pruned AFTER new growth appears (if you prune too soon, you can nremove too much and it will take longer for the plant to recover).
Do you have poinsettias from the holiday season, still? Now, until early-April is the best time to get those incorporated into your landscape. Cut them back to about 12" of ground-level, and pinch back the new growth every four weeks until September; Plant away from any lighting that will be on at night. Fertilize every month from May until September.
And, if you've turned your beds at least two weeks in advance (again...I've dropped the ball on this one, but, I'll get to it before the month is out, I guarantee!!), now is the time to start planting those tender annuals and vegetables!! Some of the veggies to plant this month: snap beans, lima beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, summer squash,and tomatoes. Some favorite annuals to plant: begonias, coleus, dahlias, geranuims, impatiens, daisies, marigolds, salvia, periwinkles, and zinnias.
Fruits of Labor (Tackle-it Tuesday)
Today is Tuesday! And, that means, time for a tackle; 
This week, my tackle is an easy one, but one that should have been completed last month! Today, warm weather permitting, I am going to de-weed under my fruit trees (orange, lemon, lime and fig) and get them fertilized for the coming warm weather. We've purchased "Sta-Green" fertilizer spikes, which are supposed to feed continuously for six months. My fig tree is already sprouting buds (its one of the few plants in the yard that actuallly looses its foliage in the winter, here), so its definately time for feeding!
Perhaps I will get my veggie garden turned and tilled this week, too...another yard job that has been put off long enough - time to tackle it!!
So...what are *YOU* tackling this week? Be sure to check out 5 minutes for mom, and see what everyone is working on this week; always a good source of inspiration....
pantry reorganized/restocked
Well...I actually *did* clean out the pantry, recently - see!:
(sorry about the crappy pics, but get used to them! - the new camera isn't compatible with this useless piece of ...older model computer of ours!)
Anyway...that is, I am ashamed to admit, all food that I had to throw away, as some of those cans were dated 2006!! But, now I have alll the soups with the soups, and all the spices with the spices, jars over there, and boxes over here, and everybody is happier for it!! Now, my pantry looks more like this:
I realize its hard to tell, but it really *does* look much better in there!(Much more efficient now, too, I must say!)
February Garden Talk
It was a beautiful weekend here at the beach, and we took the opportunity to transplant our camillia bushes to the southwest side of the property. All transplanting here should be done by mid-Feb., so the plants have enough of a root system established by spring to absorb the water demanded by the top of the plant.
Now is also the time for my most dreaded of all yardwork: raking. Its time to put all the leaves and grass clippings in a pile, ready for compost and/or yard-waste pick up. (With 15 mature water oaks on the property, trust me, we have enough leaves for both!!)
Begin preparation for the spring garden this month, as well; spade/till the area at least two weeks before planting seeds in order for grass and weeds to have time to decompose. Vegetables that can be planted this month include brocolli, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, radishes and turnips. Annuals to plant; baby's breath, dusty miller, daisies, petunias, snapdragons.
Stuffed Shelves (Tackle-it Tuesday)
Well, I've put it off since before the holidays - thus, making it just *that* much worse - and now it is NECCESSARY for this Tackle-it Tuesday project to be a clean out of the kitchen pantry...
(I'm kind of glad that I only can share B4 photos with this sad little phone cam! Plus, I live in somewhat of a 'cave', so the pics are a bit dark)
Plus, that's really only two of the five shelves that need an overhaul..As you can see, things are just stuffed in there any-'ol-where one could find room. I gotta do this, this week, as we have nowhere left to "stuff". I hope to have some "after" pics sometime tommorrow, if all goes well - wish me luck!
The camellias are in bloom
These well-lived evergreen shrubs, often blooming in the cooler temperatures - usually between October and March - are the ONLY things bringing any color to my garden today.
Blooms on camellias usually range from pure white to dark red and everything in between, and are well suited to the partial shade conditions here on the property. We currently have two bushes, of different verieties; ‘Polar Ice’, pictured here, which produces 3" flowers, and will eventually grow to about 6-8 ft. tall (if I'm lucky!) and I believe, 'Pink Perfection’, which produces bright pink blooms with a yellow center. It, however, bloomed earlier in the fall, and is adding only its dark green, glossy leaves to the winter landscape.
Camellias are best transplanted from November to February so the roots can become established before the summer heat. Plants should be spaced at least 5 ft. apart, and at the same depth as they are in the container. I guess you know what *I'll* be working on in the garden, this upcoming month!
Balancing Act (Tackle-it Tuesday)
There was a small snafu at the bank regarding the Mr's payroll deposit last week, but it seems that's all been corrected now, so I need to adjust the records on our end...
Obviously, I hope to accomplish some other tasks today, as well, like tidying up the kitchen, making the bed...maybe sweep these floors and clean the bathroom... (aww, who am I kiddin'?! I'm on my second pot of coffee and I'm not even dressed yet!....)
So...What are *you* tackling this week? Be sure to stop over at 5 minutes for mom to see what every one is accomplishing - maybe just the motivation you need to complete that task you've been putting off!
