Keeping Records From Year to Year
My Home and Garden Book
It is Spring, the birds are chirping, Spring flowers are blooming, the fragrance in the air is fabulous and I am beginning once again a Spring Ritual for me.
I have opened My Home and Garden Book
I am formulating a list, and gathering ideas that seem to be spilling out of my head. The book I keep is a spiral bound book 6" x 8.5" in size. It is a leather cover because I am a journal nut, plus it is lined, so I can keep my thoughts straight (just a little dry humor).
The first half of the book is dedicated to the inside of our home. When I started the book I went through our home room by room and reserved pages for each, making sure I had room for expansion. I wrote down "all my dreams" for each room, what I would like to change and then the plan or outline for doing it. It took a bit of time but these are My Dreams and putting them onto paper helps to make them come true.
When I do change a room even if it is just painting it, I write down what I am doing and keep all the receipts for the project. I log paint colors, etc. and where I go to get the product because as we all know sometimes in researching one may go to different stores. Believe me it has saved me over the years because if you do not want to change a color, and just want to touch-up walls and do not have the formula or paint chip, well...you get the picture. I have done this with all the rooms. It is really fun to look back as well if only to see what I have accomplished and what I may still want to do.
The second half of the book is dedicated to the outside, which is where I am now. Each year I write down what plants I want and where I want them and how many of each. Then when I go to the nursery, I have my list if you will and check off what I get. I can look from the prior year and see what I had done and it helps. Sometimes I do rough drawings if I want to change something which I always seem to do, and it is not only fun but I have a record for following years. I don't always accomplish everything and I do have my dreams, but I find that when I write it all down, most times it comes to fruition.
Like I said, I have opened my Home and Garden Book, taken a look and have started compiling my list of what I, First, need to do to get the gardens ready for planting. Secondly, having gone out into the garden to see what survived the winter, taking a good look at what I may need to replace, replant, split, or just completely change the look of an area. I am leaning this way this year. Thirdly, I will make my list to be ready for Spring Planting in mid May.
Below are examples of my Home and Garden Book for the years 2010 and 2011. I have many more pages for 2010 as I drew a lot of areas out in my book for future reference. I don't want to forget my ideas at the time I have them and well sometimes that happens.
Now I am looking forward to the Rite Aid Annual Plant Sale for Doernbecher's Children's Hospital April 28th and 29th in Wilsonville. I will be prepared.
Do you have a similar book or system you use? Why not share with us, I would love to hear, it might improve the way I am doing it. Happy Gardening
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