My tile work is something that I figured out on my own, after working with my husband, remodeling houses. I was doing the tile cutting, and got pretty good at it. Right now, I have just finished doing another picture, which is a palm tree, which will go into the corner of a small bathroom, which will be the shower also. There are 2 flamingos to the left of the tree, and about 5 butterflies spread around. Right now, this picture is on my dining room table.

To start with, you have to have a wet saw, to cut the tile, then collect different colors, to use in different pictures. I never did this while we were remodeling houses to sell, but when we decided to move into our barn, 13 years ago, I decided to see what I could do.

The first picture I did, was the clipper ship, I drew up the picture on graph paper, and then re- drew it on the tile which I lay out on my Dining Room Table. then #2 the picture of our barn, over my stove, #3 The mermaids #4 the tree in the corner, with a girl on the swing, #5 was the aquarium, where I acquired a little wet saw, that was like a jig saw, and I could write my name in my work,. #6 the iris around the jacuzzi.
To be continued in Part 2

I’m back!! I took a brief ’sabatical’ to get the house and the taxes in order. Are they? Well…not exactly, but they are a far sight closer than they were. Now on to the task at hand.

Are you concerned about Identity Theft and hence, you shred all your mail? Do you want to use these shreds as an extra precaution but don’t have a clue what to do with them? Why not get them dirty and let Mother Nature continue the job you started.

Oh yeah…so what is Sphaghetti Gardening? Think layering. It is all about layering. See if you can envision the layers as I describe them below.

You put the paper shreds down around or on your plants as mulch. Water that down to flatten it and get the air holes out. Next, sprinkle a nice layer of dirt on top of the shredding so that the soil’s microorganisms will get plenty of contact with your paper shreds. More exposure, and more decomposition, means more nutrients created. These plant nutrients will enrich the soil, thereby nurturing healthier and happier plants. If we grow and play better with vitamins and minerals, think of how it will help the plants.

Finally, put some cedar or other mulch on top of the soil. Or if you really want a ‘green’ garden scatter all those weeds you have pulled. This should fill in the ‘white’ holes that are left. By taking this layered approach you will have a nice mosaic look to your garden and as to your personal shreds on your garden, nobody is the wiser.

Spring is a good time to put shredding on the garden. The rains of the spring and the hot summer combine to make a perfect composting of your paper shreds.

Happy shredding!!!

Now. be looking for my article concerning Dave Hinde’s advice about how to prepare the soil before you plant rhododendrons or azaleas.  Dave Hinde is a long time master gardener.

Lastly, if you want a free gift that will help keep you fit, allowing you to garden to your hearts content, opt in by Clicking here.