Weekend Reading

By Kate Riley • July 20, 2019

Have you guys ever done the escape room experience? Just a few weeks ago I did one with my family. Everyone I’ve shared my experience with has one of two reactions. 1) “Oh no, I could never be locked in a room like that!” or 2) “Wow cool, how did you escape?” The truth is, we didn’t. Our team fell 20 seconds short of entering the code to get out. We did solve the clues, just not in time.

I loved the experience for several reasons. First, it teaches you things about yourself. For example, how do you act under pressure? How do you respond when someone’s not listening to you? How do you feel when someone is relying on you for answers and you don’t have them? The escape room experience will definitely bring those issues to the surface!

The experience also places you outside your comfort zone. You’re locked in a room and there’s only two ways to get out, solve the clues or hit the panic button. Not your everyday situation so it’s a test of how you react! I was excited and a little nervous, but I didn’t let nervousness stop me from participating. After the experience we all talked about it and we were able to laugh about how confusing it got and how we figured it out by everyone contributing their brain power. Mostly I just loved the experience of having to solve a series of clues within a certain period of time. I’m visiting my sister in Salt Lake City later this month and I’ve turned her on to the Downton Abbey Escape game. Looks like fun!

Favorite links from the week:

Set aside some time to browse this stylist’s portfolio.

What a beautiful modern waterfront home in Booker Bay.

Lindy’s design studio is a dream!

Don’t miss Sarah’s beautiful green built in cabinets.

A comprehensive guide to making a delicious frittata.

Why moms should take a vacation without kids.

UNromantic signs that mean your person is a good partner.

“Death positivity” and how it relates to living well.

This —> you don’t have to come from a great family to create one.

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DIY: Criss Cross Vegetable Trellis

By Kate Riley • July 17, 2019

*This project brought to you in partnership with Arrow Fastener™ tools.

It’s garden season! I don’t plant a big garden every year, usually just a few tomato plants, some green beans, maybe some squash and that’s about it. I do love having home grown tomatoes, especially cherry ones, they’re like candy to me and once they are ripe I snack on them daily!

I was challenged by Arrow Fastener™ to use one of their tools to build something unique for my garden, so I made a pair of criss cross vegetable trellises with lattice wood purchased at Lowe’s and I spray painted them black. I love the X motif, and they’re such cool looking supports for my garden tomatoes!

 

 

These criss cross trellises are easy to build! Tools you’ll need to build just one trellis (“double the recipe” for two): Arrow Fastener™ Electric Staple Gun and Nailer; T50 heavy duty ½ inch staples; 6 eight foot 1 ½” pieces of lattice (for frame); 4 eight foot 1” pieces of lattice (for criss cross); 6 broad 1” hinges; miter saw; spray paint or stain (optional).

 

 

Step One: Cut the 8’ pieces of 1½” lattice into eight 48” and eight 18” strips to form the four sided frame. (The number of pieces shown below are for two trellises so there are 16 pieces).

 

Cut just one end of each of the eight 48” pieces to create a pointy edge to help the structure sink into the soil easier.

 

 

Step Two: Create each frame by securing the 18” pieces to the 48” legs using the Arrow Fastener™ Electric Staple Gun and Nailer and the T50 heavy duty ½ inch staples. I created the rectangle shape with the second 18” strip secured 27” below the top 18” strip.

 

 

 

 

Step Three: Cut the 1” lattice strips with the miter saw to fit the size of the rectangle and form the X shape and secure the additional lattice with the Arrow Fastener™ Electric Staple Gun and Nailer.

 

Step Four: Secure the four frames together with broad 1” hinges.

 

So that the frame lays flat, make sure that the 90 degree angle of the hinge is inside the structure, this allows the hinge connection to sit between each frame and for the structure to lay flat for storage in the off season (shown below). You’ll only need three sets (six hinges total) to attach the four individual frames. (It’s a good idea to do a small pilot hole before screwing in the screws on the hinges.)

Attach the hinges where the lattice is layered so that the screws assist in securing the strips together and don’t poke through to the opposite side (as shown below.)

 

Step Five: Once the frames are secured with hinges they can stand freely on their own. Time to paint! Or stain! Or keep them natural, it’s up to you. I chose a black spray paint suitable for outdoors for mine.

 

 

Once dry, set the structures inside the soil and gently tap with a mallet or put slight pressure on the top so they sink in 6 inches to support your growing vegetables. This size is perfect for tomatoes, but would also work for beans or other climbers.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy these trellises as long as your vegetables are growing, then store them flat in the winter for future growing seasons!

This project brought to you in partnership with Arrow Fastener™ tools. All photographs, designs, and opinions are my own! Visit the Arrow Fastener™ projects page for dozens more creative DIY projects for home and garden.

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