Saltwater Sounds Weekly: Bundling Up in Seattle

Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share everything happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come, and the inspiration I’ve found from other bloggers around the web.

This and That

I try to start my weekly post with something besides the weather, but it looks like many of us are extra chilly this weekend.

For those of you dealing with the extreme cold temperatures, how are you holding up? I hope you’re able to stay safe and snug despite what’s happening outside your home.

We rarely dip into the twenties in this area, but when we get down to 18°F, that certainly gets our attention. I won’t complain about how cold it is though. I know it’s quite balmy compared to the below-freezing temperatures many of you are experiencing.

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This summer garden picture will hopefully make you smile for all the flowers to come.

I’m worried about leaving my dahlia tubers in the ground. I usually don’t have to think about them tucked away for the winter with a layer of mulch. Our winters are mild, but it’s hard to say how they will fare this season.

All I can do is wait and see. Fingers crossed.

This is the part of gardening that used to stress me out a lot more than it does now. But I’m finally starting to learn after 11 years that this is part of the process, learning to live with the things you can’t control.

Here are a couple of pictures from the last night of our boat trip in Gig Harbor. They were just too pretty to file away. The boat above was just across from where we were staying. It is so beautiful in the evening.

I was told that the boat doesn’t run so they have turned it into an Airbnb.

This is how close we were to Anthony’s Restaurant from the boat.

The first picture of this post was from the sidewalk next to Anthony’s, looking back at our boat. Isn’t she beautiful among all the lights?

Around the Garden and Greenhouse

I couldn’t resist sharing another summer picture of the garden and greenhouse. We all need a little perking up after this crazy winter week.

My plan last week was to start the sweet pea seeds but that quickly changed.

It was just too cold to start them in the greenhouse, even with the heater running. So I will start them, along with the snapdragons and yarrow, when things warm up again next week.

We may see highs in the 50s. Let’s see how my garden feels about a 30-degree fluctuation. Should be interesting.

Here’s the seed-sowing schedule for the rest of the month:

I’m also going to try to start more geraniums from the plants that are overwintering in the greenhouse.

And of course, I’m behind schedule with my cut flower garden plan. I’m hoping to have that finalized by the end of next week. I’ll share it with you then.

We’ve been bringing in the hummingbird feeder every few hours to keep their food from freezing. It’s been so interesting to see how fast they come to eat after we put it back out.

What a great reminder to make sure these amazing pollinators are being fed through the winter.

In other news, the moles are still wreaking havoc in my garden spaces. I’m past being annoyed at this point. Thank you for letting me vent once again about the moles.

My Gardening Tool and Product Favorites

Around Our Beach Cottage

In between planning this year’s garden, and working on my 2024 content creation on the blog, I have been spending a lot of time going through closets and cupboards and deciding which things I don’t need anymore.

Seriously, how many vintage copper tea kettles does one girl need?

I’m feeling really good about making more space and organizing my home for a fresh start. Remember what they say…you have to make a mess to clean up a mess. That’s at least the reminder I give my husband every day while I continue this cleansing and organizing tour I seem to be on.

I have been wanting to paint my bright pink sofa table for a few years now. And I can’t take it anymore. I painted it a pale blue yesterday. Love it!

What I’m Loving This Week

From the Blog

How to Plan Your Garden Using Lessons from Last Year

Have you ever planned your garden based on the lessons you’ve learned from last year? In this post, I’ll share the process of planning the garden for the upcoming year and making informed decisions about things like plant selection, layout, soil preparation, and pest management… CONTINUE READING.

Easy Valentine’s Day Glass Cloche Home Decor Ideas 

If you’re looking for some Valentine’s Day decor ideas and inspiration, I’ve got several creative cloche decoration styles to share with you…CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

I can’t wait to try this perfect winter dinner before the end of the month. It’s quick, easy, and looks delicious!

I’m loving these tips for decorating a cozy winter bedroom retreat on a budget.

Learn how to grow paperwhites indoors and use them in your winter decor.

I didn’t realize how easy it is to make a seashell shadow box.

You can make these bronze bumble bee napkin rings too.

This Jenny Martin Design project is gorgeous.

Check out these no-sew kitchen cafe curtains.

Here are 5 easy Valentine wreaths with DIY paper roses & Dollar Tree frames.

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog! Thank you for being here.

Until next time,

Wishing a wonderful week ahead,

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