Results matching “red box” from Explorer's Backpack

Anyone who knows me knows I have a problem keeping houseplants alive. I either forget to water them or give them too much to drink. I have no sense of whether they're happy in sun or shade or some crazy combination of the two.

So I was pretty surprised when the vegetable seedlings I planted in May exploded in the small raised-box garden I inherited in the backyard of my house. I had lettuce like crazy -- more than I could ever eat in salads and BLTs. I picked and picked and still, there was more. I gave it away and brought it to dinner with friends.

Now that the lettuce has waned, I discovered the tiny buds on my sprawling cucumber plant have turned into large cucumbers seemingly overnight. And my green peppers are more than knee-high.

Even the Topsy Turvy upside down tomato planter is working, albeit on the second try. (First time, I forgot to water it for a few days and the seedlings shriveled up, so I had to replace them.)

This is my first venture into vegetables, and, so far, I'm pretty pleased at how difficult they are to kill. I also did a pot of herbs, but the cilantro and dill are already done. I still have basil and oregano, but I'm not sure how to dry it.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the same success with the flower pots on my balcony. They started off well -- and each pot is still half flowering -- but they don't look as nice as I expected.

Maybe I'd better stick to veggies.

Isn't it strange how stressful the week before a vacation can be?

There's so much finishing up and planning ahead involved with taking a brief break from work and daily life.

And, in accordance with Murphy's Law, anything that can go wrong at this most inconvenient of times, will.

It seems like I'm always the last one to catch onto things.

Today, I discovered the wonderfulness (yes, I know it's not a word) of two things most of you have probably known about and enjoyed for a while now... Red Box and IKEA.

Since the closest IKEA store is in White Marsh, Md., I had never been to one before. And because I associated the brand with ultra-modern furniture, I didn't ever want to.

Today, that all changed.

As I've watched the leaves change color and the air take on the chill of fall the past couple of weeks, I kept telling myself I needed to get outside and enjoy it before the trees are bare and the cold, intolerable.

Sunday, I finally did, hiking five miles up and down a mountain in Col. Denning State Park near Newville with friends. (That's my friend Stacy and me standing up on the rock)

I must say, it probably wasn't the wisest decision to undertake such a massive workout after a month away from the gym. The past three or four weeks, my primary physical exercise has been carrying boxes up and down stairs of my new house.

While that is a bit of a workout, it in no way prepared me for the rather misnamed "Flat Rock Trail," which I thought could have been renamed "Vertical Rocky Trail to the Sky."
Today, I feel a little sore, but in a good way. And the time outside was totally worth it. Check out the awesome view.

What outdoor activities are you doing these days? Post a comment and share.

It has been nearly a full week since my last post. I apologize!!

(Apparently no one missed the blog though because I didn't get any e-mails or comments on older posts!)

Here is my excuse:

And, a list of what I've learned in the past week about moving and becoming a homeowner:

A PennDOT press release that landed in my inbox says they installed 73 "wayfinding" signs in support of visitpa.com's Civil War Trails in six counties.

Thirteen are in York County, 11 in Adams County, 18 in Cumberland County, 4 in Dauphin County, 20 in Franklin County and seven in Lancaster County. They confirm for motorists that they are on a Pennsylvania Civil War Trail.

I haven't seen any of them yet (although apparently there is one on Main Street in Mechanicsburg near where I live.) Have you? Where are the York County ones?

I know it might sound weird, but one of my favorite things to do when visiting a foreign country is to browse through a grocery store.

I've found that it's one of the best ways to see what the people in a certain place eat and use, what is and isn't available, and how much things cost.

It's also a cheap way to pick up your favorite local items, rather than paying the marked-up tourist prices in souvenir or airport shops.

Here's what I bought yesterday:

Do you ever feel stressed about a vacation?

I know it sounds weird, but I do. Actually, I should say I am starting to -- right now.

I leave for two weeks in Argentina on Feb. 17.

I can't wait. But at the same time, I'm stressed. Stressed about all the things I need to finish at work before I leave. Stressed about all the things I need to do to prepare for my trip before leaving. Stressed about how far behind I'll be at work when I return. And how many hours it will take me to get through my e-mail inbox and respond to or otherwise deal with each message.

It has occured to me that this may be why many Americans do not take all their vacation time. I am starting to understand. But this is one trap I will not allow myself to fall into.

Repeat after me:

I WILL NOT BE A WORKAHOLIC AMERICAN OBSESSED WITH PRODUCTIVITY.

I WILL NOT BE A WORKAHOLIC AMERICAN OBSESSED WITH PRODUCTIVITY.

Yesterday, I went on a journey of a different sort. A trip to organization land. It's a place I don't feel like I visit often enough, yet from what others tell me, I stop by more than most.

It started while browsing at Target with a friend during yesterday's day-after-Christmas sales. (I know, browsing at Target never leads to anything more than an empty wallet and a full shopping cart of things you didn't know you needed.)

Anyway, I found some super-cool plastic storage boxes that snap together. I thought they'd be perfect to hold some of my smaller gift-wrapping supplies. Then I got an ornament storage box. I figured it was about time I did something other than wrap them in newspaper and stuff them into bags when the original boxes disappeared.

Back home, inspired by my new organizational tools, I tackled the after-Christmas mess of gift tags, bows, half-empty reams of wrapping paper and miscellaneous cards and clutter.

When I was done, I got that strange feeling of peace that comes over me whenever I put things in order. I know, I know, I'm a freak. It's just that I don't function well in the midst of mess. For me, it makes stressful moments even more so and creates unnecessary hassles.

I know, it's true, life is messy. You can't always put things into neat boxes and store them away until you feel like thinking about them again. But it's almost a new year -- time to clear away the cobwebs and prepare for fresh starts. So hopefully you can relate to my organizational urges.

Now, if I could just get the energy to tackle my filing cabinet, or my closet, or....

... that you did something today to commemorate Columbus' discovery (or re-discovery, depending which version of history you ascribe to) of the Americas?

Well, I meant something besides sleeping in, watching daytime TV, running errands and staying out late on a Sunday night.

Me?

I went to work and wondered why nobody returned any of the eight million messages I left on voice mails Friday. Then I went to the gym and wondered why the cycling class was so packed there was nary an empty bike in the room. And then I walked to my mailbox when I got home and felt sad that I didn't even get any junk mail.

Then, about 10 minutes ago, I remembered that for some folks, Columbus Day is a holiday. :)

Somehow, I got it in my head that I was going to try to do a 30-mile bike ride before my 30th birthday. I realize that in the world of bicycling, this is not a big deal. But I have never managed to ride this far/long and wanted to see if I could make it.

So I signed up for The Great Green America Fest's metric century, and checked the box for 30 miles instead of 12.

Silly me.

So I'm sitting here, mulling my lunch options, and I realize that the one thing I really, really want to eat, I can't have.

Well, not without getting on a plane to Mexico.

Or driving a couple of hours to a major metro area where maybe, just maybe I'll find some place that makes them kind of like the way my tastebuds think they should be.

What is my obsession?

Tacos al pastor.

So you snap pictures like crazy on your vacation, but then you get home and have to figure out what to do with them all.

Here are some suggestions from the experts on how to deal with all the digital clutter and get the most enjoyment out of your photos.

Staying with a friend or relative sure can save you money when you travel, but you've gotta be considerate.

Hosting out-of-town friends and family can also present any number of challenges.

In this story, I talked to experts about how to best handle this delicate situation, just in time for the holidays.