Bonus Bone: Ecomposter

ECOmposter, at ECOmposter

On the "What Is It?" segment of Ask This Old House last weekend, Roger Cook presented the above item to all the fellas. Richard Trethewey had the funniest guess, with it being a bowling teaching device for children. In actuality, it turned out to be a composter.

I rarely want to go out and get any of the gadgets they show on that segment, but I was pretty impressed with how this composting ball made composting so much easier and faster. Compost needs to be regularly mixed and, in conventional composting bins, that requires raking, a task which isn't easy and can be messy and smelly.

The ECOmposter allows you to simply spin the ball on its base and you're done. You can also roll it to where you need to add your compost. And because the the ECOmposter is well sealed, you don't have the smell. Compost creation time is increased. To top it all off, the Ecomposter is made from reclaimed/recycled nylon plastic.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Small tripod pot, at Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Mini creamer, at Pigeon Toe Ceramics

I'm basking in the glorious warm and sunny weather here in Chicago. It's making me dream of mornings on porch with a cup of coffee, white summer dresses, sexy rompers, cute sandals and toes in the sand. The sweet porcelain wares by Pigeon Toe Ceramics just scream summer to me. The white porcelain exteriors are pure white sand beaches and the colorful interiors are sticky, sweet popsicles.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

A Graceful Update

Little Grace is still missing. My sister (and her long-time friend) are losing hope. New DB reader Becky wrote in to tell us that she's always consulted St. Francis about her cat concerns. A quick google search tells me that St. Francis is not only the patron saint of animals but also of Colorado. Hear that, Alison Rose & Mr. Sketch? That's the sound of a good sign fluttering by!

Kneeling Saint Francis with Bowl, at Garden-Fountains

I feel so helpless being so far away from the action or lack thereof. So I'll sit here in Chicago and make silent requests to Francis to hurry up and bring Grace home. If the price tag wasn't such a killer, I'd also buy this garden ornament and tell them to fill it with CatMilk.

Thanks, Becky, for the wisdom and happy thoughts.

Bonus Bone: Bio-Degradeable Indoor Gardens

Japanese Maple, at Delight

I love Japanese Maples but those beauties can be expensive. So the next best thing is growing one from seed in a small pot. Maybe by the time we get a house, it will be big enough to plant outside.

Oh, and this would also make a lovely Mother's Day gift which (psst) is this Sunday.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Self-watering flowerpot

I confess! I'm a bit of a lazy gardener!!! (In fact I haven't even planted anything this summer.) I start out with the best of intentions to water daily. This goes on for a few weeks straight, maybe a month, tops, and then the heat of the summer infiltrates my brain and I start to SLACK! Right as I walk through my front door, I tend to wilt and collapse onto the couch in front of the window AC. The thought of going outside, back into the heat and humidity, keeps me planted. What? I have to water the cats AND plants? Too hot! Too much work! Must...not...break...sweat...

By the time the heat wave breaks, my lovely little herbs and tomato plants are rather pathetic, slightly yellowed and shriveled. Get these plants to the ER and STAT! Do you think my insurance will cover this? If only there was someone or something that would water for me. Now there is help for lazy gardeners like me or good ones who are away on vacation, the self-watering flowerpot! Designed by Henrik Holbaek and Claus Jensen, this ingenious pot will hydrate your plants for a week or longer through a of system nylon wicks that draw water up like the plant's natural roots.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.