I need not apologize for lack of update as I've been hard at work doing other things...Had I been lazy and not doing other things then a firm dose of discipline would be in order, but that's not the case, so on to the updates.
Over the past several weeks I've been studying and taking tests to complete a few certs that I've been wanting to finish. I took and passed MS 70-291 and the Network+ exam. These tests combined with previous ones I passed gave me the MCSA credential, which could be worthy of putting after my name in email communications or business cards. I don't think that's necessary though...
These test have also given me the ability to exempt the classes needed to graduate from PTC with an associates in information systems. This makes me ecstatic because I've been enrolled at tech since 2004 (though not continuously)....I plan to continue my education at an institution of even higher learning. More to come on that.
Garden update....
Lot's going on here. I don't have pictures of everything yet, but I will be sure to post some this week.
The raised bed garden boxes have been built and two rows of Spinach have been planted in one of the beds. This plant requires direct, outdoor planting and should not be started indoors (like all our other plants).
Our squash has reached a milestone in maturity and has been transplanted from starter boxes to interim boxes it will grow in until it's ready to be planted in the raised beds. These things sprouted and grown rather quickly.
All the other plants have been growing at a normal rate. More to come on these.
That's all for now. I will post pictures of everything sometime this week.
-Brian Dean, MCSA
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Curb Appeal
While I've been composting for the past few weeks another outdoor project has been looming above me...the front yard.
A few months back we had a driveway poured, and while this resolved the bulk of our front yard problems, it left a larger problem for the rest of the yard.
The plan was to lay sod around the driveway and easily create a magazine-quality front yard....talk is always easier than action. I went outside yesterday to start work on preparation and realized that a ton of concrete debris and rocks has integrated itself into the soil. Not good for grass.
So now the plan is to craft a large sifter for the top soil and shovel the bulk of the yard through it. Hopefully this wont take a ton of time and will produce good results. Someone once said "The harder you work, the better the results"...yeah.
Meanwhile I can think of the type of grass I want to lay...
Building a Soil Sifter
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/landscape/tools/sifter/soil.htm
Local sod farms
http://www.modernturf.com
http://www.carolinafreshfarms.com/index.html
http://www.pattenseed.com/index.html
A few months back we had a driveway poured, and while this resolved the bulk of our front yard problems, it left a larger problem for the rest of the yard.
The plan was to lay sod around the driveway and easily create a magazine-quality front yard....talk is always easier than action. I went outside yesterday to start work on preparation and realized that a ton of concrete debris and rocks has integrated itself into the soil. Not good for grass.
So now the plan is to craft a large sifter for the top soil and shovel the bulk of the yard through it. Hopefully this wont take a ton of time and will produce good results. Someone once said "The harder you work, the better the results"...yeah.
Meanwhile I can think of the type of grass I want to lay...
Building a Soil Sifter
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/landscape/tools/sifter/soil.htm
Local sod farms
http://www.modernturf.com
http://www.carolinafreshfarms.com/index.html
http://www.pattenseed.com/index.html
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Compost Happens
Several years ago, there was a station wagon that was covered from side to side with bumper stickers (on the back). I saw this wagon quite often rummaging about Greenwood, and I was fond of reading the various extreme, anti-government, we can-do-it-ourselves types of messages plastered about, but the one that I was most fond of, and still remember to this day simply read "Compost Happens". And it does.
This is the first major step in the garden project. I'm hoping that if I mix it up every day that I might have something usable in a few weeks, depending on the weather. Right now it's just a mixture of mulched leaves from the fall and about a weeks worth of kitchen scraps. If you have any kitchen scraps you'd like to contribute, they would be much appreciated.
For those of you interested in starting a compost of your own, I purchased this compost bin from Lowes for about $50 US. It was in the way back of the outdoor garden section (part of the store you've never really been to).
Here is a useful link for more information:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/building.html
This is the first major step in the garden project. I'm hoping that if I mix it up every day that I might have something usable in a few weeks, depending on the weather. Right now it's just a mixture of mulched leaves from the fall and about a weeks worth of kitchen scraps. If you have any kitchen scraps you'd like to contribute, they would be much appreciated.
For those of you interested in starting a compost of your own, I purchased this compost bin from Lowes for about $50 US. It was in the way back of the outdoor garden section (part of the store you've never really been to).
Here is a useful link for more information:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/homecompost/building.html
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Happenings
Not much happening right now. Studying for MS 70-291 which I plan to take by month's end. At which point I will be done with PTC forever.
Finished painting the baby's room this past weekend. A nice cool blue named "inhale". I'll post pictures when we have more decorations up.
Finished painting the baby's room this past weekend. A nice cool blue named "inhale". I'll post pictures when we have more decorations up.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Square Foot Garden
Recently I posted that I wanted to start a vegetable garden in the back yard, however I had some concerns with doing this, mainly time and the condition of my soil. If the soil in the backyard was anything like that of the front, nothing would grow in it (granted, grass grows in the backyard).
That's where this book comes in: The All New Square Foot Gardening. I just got the book yesterday, so I haven't had a lot of time to read it, but general idea is to build boxes on top of the ground, fill it with nutrient rich soil, plant, grow, pick, eat, repeat. Only planting the amount you really need is also key.
I'm hoping to start construction in the coming weeks. More to come on that.
That's where this book comes in: The All New Square Foot Gardening. I just got the book yesterday, so I haven't had a lot of time to read it, but general idea is to build boxes on top of the ground, fill it with nutrient rich soil, plant, grow, pick, eat, repeat. Only planting the amount you really need is also key.
I'm hoping to start construction in the coming weeks. More to come on that.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Personal Journal - 1/26/10
Yesterday was pretty wretched. Spent the majority of the time working on a project with Lakelands Orthopedic that I didn't plan on doing, it took the better part of the afternoon. While I was doing this I had people coming into my office, calling, and emailing with problems. Pretty stressful. I'm pretty much ready to find somewhere else, I just have to finish my degree and finish my certification to MCSA.
Finished watching Fellowship last night with JR. Such a good movie that was pretty close to the book. I didn't realize how different it was though, and I remember hearing a lot of people saying that when it came out, obviously I was oblivious to that.
I read John 4 today. It contains the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. He declares himself as the savior to her and tells her of the gift that he has brought to the world - never ending spiritual water. The woman is surprised to hear that she can partake of this water even when she has already sinned so much, and was not a Jew. I understand this to be one of the first testaments to the purpose of Jesus' life given by him to a non-Jew. The woman brought many out of the town to hear Him and they also believed. Jesus said that a time was coming (and was already here) that anyone (regardless of race or background) who worships and believes in the Father "in spirit and truth" will have the never ending well of life.
Jesus then traveled to Galilee where he was confronted by a royal official who believed Jesus to be the Messiah. His son was deathly ill and he asked Jesus to heal him and because of his belief he was instantly healed. Because of this, he and his entire household believed.
Finished watching Fellowship last night with JR. Such a good movie that was pretty close to the book. I didn't realize how different it was though, and I remember hearing a lot of people saying that when it came out, obviously I was oblivious to that.
I read John 4 today. It contains the story of Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. He declares himself as the savior to her and tells her of the gift that he has brought to the world - never ending spiritual water. The woman is surprised to hear that she can partake of this water even when she has already sinned so much, and was not a Jew. I understand this to be one of the first testaments to the purpose of Jesus' life given by him to a non-Jew. The woman brought many out of the town to hear Him and they also believed. Jesus said that a time was coming (and was already here) that anyone (regardless of race or background) who worships and believes in the Father "in spirit and truth" will have the never ending well of life.
Jesus then traveled to Galilee where he was confronted by a royal official who believed Jesus to be the Messiah. His son was deathly ill and he asked Jesus to heal him and because of his belief he was instantly healed. Because of this, he and his entire household believed.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Personal Journal - 1/25/10
I've been working on the Baby's room this weekend, painting mainly. It's a boy, so we're painting it a light blue color called Inhale. I finished reading The Fellowship of the Ring this weekend. I can't believe it took me so long to start really reading TLOTR, but I'm doing it now so that's good.
Work has been pretty frustrating, I really don't know what I'm going to do about all of it right now, but I want to wait and see what God has in store for me. I want to keep an open mind about my career. I'm not certain that this is what I should be doing for the rest of my life, but I'm pretty certain my computer aptitude is a gift that I should be using somewhere, some how.
I've been reading the gospel of John recently and it's good to read through the book from start to finish rather than picking out individual versus as people usually do. It's easier to understand things in context. Mom gave me a new study Bible for Christmas and it has a lot of good commentary that I've been learning from. Today I read John 2 and 3. John two tells the story of Jesus turning the water into wine and Jesus visiting the temple in Jerusalem during passover to find it being used as a market. What I didn't realize about his visit to the temple was that the Jews tested his claims of being the Son. He told them to destroy the temple and he would raise it up again in three days. This was a figurative prophecy made by Jesus stating that he would raise the body from the dead after 3 days (after the crucifixion).
John three includes the telling of Nicodemus visiting Jesus at night and having a conversation of spiritual re-birth. That someone who believes in God and receives the spirit in himself is reborn. Good stuff. The other half of the chapter is about John the baptist who is baptising people when he hears that Jesus is doing the same not far away. He continues to baptize people but affirms people that he is not the messiah, but Jesus is. This is a sign of humility from John was teaching followers but told them to go to Jesus.
Work time.
Work has been pretty frustrating, I really don't know what I'm going to do about all of it right now, but I want to wait and see what God has in store for me. I want to keep an open mind about my career. I'm not certain that this is what I should be doing for the rest of my life, but I'm pretty certain my computer aptitude is a gift that I should be using somewhere, some how.
I've been reading the gospel of John recently and it's good to read through the book from start to finish rather than picking out individual versus as people usually do. It's easier to understand things in context. Mom gave me a new study Bible for Christmas and it has a lot of good commentary that I've been learning from. Today I read John 2 and 3. John two tells the story of Jesus turning the water into wine and Jesus visiting the temple in Jerusalem during passover to find it being used as a market. What I didn't realize about his visit to the temple was that the Jews tested his claims of being the Son. He told them to destroy the temple and he would raise it up again in three days. This was a figurative prophecy made by Jesus stating that he would raise the body from the dead after 3 days (after the crucifixion).
John three includes the telling of Nicodemus visiting Jesus at night and having a conversation of spiritual re-birth. That someone who believes in God and receives the spirit in himself is reborn. Good stuff. The other half of the chapter is about John the baptist who is baptising people when he hears that Jesus is doing the same not far away. He continues to baptize people but affirms people that he is not the messiah, but Jesus is. This is a sign of humility from John was teaching followers but told them to go to Jesus.
Work time.
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