Pond Passion

Stephanie showing me how the fish in her pond like to "kiss" her finger

It started small.

In fact, it wasn't really a pond at all; it was a pot with water.

To Stephanie, however, it was pond, which explains why she decided to add fish and plants to the fiberglass pot that her friend gave her.

It worked beautifully! For two weeks. And then the fish were gulping for air.

And thus began Stephanie's adventure with backyard water experiments.

She frantically set up a real pond to save her fish, which entailed digging a hole for a 60-gallon pond and installing a pump. This lovely pond boasted rocks, plants, and even a water lily--alongside the fish she managed to save from her first experiment with the pot.

Then the raccoons came and she realized that fish are too easy of a target when they are in a 60-gallon pond. The raccoons killed 1-2 fish a day. Stephanie began digging again, this time trying to create a hole large enough for a 100-gallon pond.

Around this time, her doctor diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis, and digging her pond became her way to battle her diagnosis and to prove to herself that she could still accomplish everything she set out to do.

After she successfully installed a 100-gallon pond, she realized the raccoons could still get in, and one of her fish--Smarty--could easily get out. He would do "acrobatic tricks" and land outside the pond. Miraculously, Stephanie managed to find him three times and throw him back in before it was too late.

Then she undertook a 3-month long project to enlarge her pond to accommodate 800 gallons of water. No, that is not a typo. She really dug a hole in her backyard to hold 800 gallons. Her friends joked, "Why not just make it a swimming pool?"

For Stephanie, a pond "pulls you into your backyard" and makes you "interact with your yard more." She describes a backyard pond as "refreshing and cooling." She says, "life finds your garden."

Stephanie also bought a rental property in The Heights with a pond, and, during our interview, she called over there to see if we could stop by for a tour. When the woman didn't answer, Stephanie left a message and continued gushing about the benefits of having a backyard pond. A few minutes later, the tenant called back and said, "I'm sorry I didn't pick up the phone; I was in the backyard sitting by the pond."

Backyard pond at Stephanie's rental property

If you're interested in creating your own backyard oasis, consider these tips from Stephanie:

1. Read information about how to set up a pond before starting. All the books pretty much say the same thing, so read up about the basics of creating a pond. You could even reserve one from the Houston Public Library and have it sent to the Heights Branch like we talked about last week.
   
2. Don't start with fish. Give your pond a chance to settle and get acclimated. Fish add an element of difficulty, since the water has to be conditioned before it's suitable for fish.
   
3. Start bigger than you think. That way, you won't have to constantly upgrade your pond and dig bigger and bigger holes. Stephanie's convinced that once you start with a backyard pond, you'll quickly become addicted to the "wildlife eco-system" in your backyard.
   
4. Buy a quality liner. Avoid pond liners that have different pieces glued together. You want to avoid leaks!
   
5. Make a plan and commit to getting it done in a weekend. The longer you stretch out digging your hole, the more difficult it will be.
   
6. Make friends with the folks at Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery. They offer everything you need to get your pond up and running, and they're very helpful!
   
7. Put in a bog for natural filtration. A bog is basically a natural filtration system made from gravel, rocks, and flowing water. The plants and gravel purify the water as it come up into the bog and flows back out into your pond.
   

I'm pretty convinced that my husband and I should take the plunge and build a backyard pond (or maybe a creek?). All of the potential downsides that Stephanie mentioned (potentially dangerous for small children or dogs and about $20-$30 extra bucks a month in electricity bills) don't seem bad at all. And Stephanie assures me that it's easy to keep the raccoons away by making sure not to leave out any cat food.

Frankly, I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed by all the home improvement projects on our docket (and we bought a house that had been recently renovated!). Maybe a prioritized list will help:

1. Finish fence
2. Close off bottom of house so bloodhound cannot shimmy himself under the house and escape out the other side
3. Reupholster two chairs
4. Buy a used leather couch to help us better manage the dog hair and bloodhound slobber
5. Stain or paint our front porch
   
6. Redo front path (by resetting the flagstone and filling in the spaces with gray rocks)
7. Build an herb garden
8. Build raised beds for a vegetable garden
9. Plant stuff between the street and the sidewalk (and build a little path through it)
10. Landscape our entire backyard. Oy vey. It's a perfect canvass, but I have very few ideas. Anyone want to volunteer to help me come up with a vision (or earn Time Dollars through the Heights Time Bank)?

My big, blank backyard in desperate need of some vision

Aaahhh! I just need to remind myself that a home is a work in progress. It's about the journey, not the destination--right?

Maybe staring at a pond in my own backyard might help me relax...

Sunday Supplemental: Calling All ARTISTS

18 Hands Gallery is looking for entries for its 2009 “Dining In: An Artful Experience ,” a juried exhibition that will run the month of August- in conjunction with White Linen Night. This exhibition will feature original hand-crafted items that might be found on a dinner table.

• All artwork must be original and produced within the last 18 months.
• All submitted work must represent tableware, either functional or sculptural.
• All media are eligible and submissions are open to all artists in the United States.
• Entry fee is $25.00, payable to 18 Hands Gallery.
• A maximum of 3 works per artist may be entered.
• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 15, 2009
  

For more information, view the Full Prospectus PDF

The Case Against Grass

Grass. In the middle of the city, especially a concrete jungle like Houston, it has so much appeal. It's coveted. People commute an hour or more from home to work and back just so they can have it. Some people in The Heights have it. We are not them.

When we bought our lovely North Norhill home, we had concerns about the lack of a yard. We have a nice size bungalow on a decent size lot. However, a previously added master bedroom and long driveway with car port took up whatever green space there might have been. We had looked at so many houses, though. This really seemed like “the one” and it was only one block from an esplanade and one block from a park, so we reasoned we would have grass nearby when it was needed.

Time passed and we found that we weren't using the driveway for vehicles at all. This means we certainly never made it far enough back to park under the car port. In fact, it hasn’t had a car under it in 5 years. The primary use of the driveway has been to toss a ball for our dog. We ended up putting our patio table, chairs and grill under the car port. It has been great and very functional. But then… we had a baby. I started to fret about the state of the “yard.” I suggested to my husband that maybe we should jack hammer up the driveway and plant grass. It was a lot of space. Shouldn't we have a yard? Kids need yards, right? If we had the room for grass, we should have it. Kids need yards, right?

...And time goes by. We are not the types that are quick to take on large scale home improvement projects. We hemmed and hawed about the idea of taking out the driveway. I kept thinking about it, but just never got my act together enough to gets bids. I lay in bed at night, envisioning the landscaping and telling myself it would be good for "resale value" to be able to offer a yard. But did we want to deal with jackhammering? What about the gas lines? How much would it cost? But, wouldn't it be more appealing? How fun to have a yard! But we would have to mow it. Ugh!

And then, while I over thought the whole thing, our son grew. Now he’s 2 and, you know what? Kids don’t need yards- not grassy ones anyway. For a 2 year old, concrete is complete perfection. He practices his tricycle riding. He pushes Tonka trucks at near warp speed. We inflate “the pool” with no worries of it killing the grass underneath. Balls bounce and bubbles pop and sidewalk chalk art covers every inch of visible ground.

We just had another baby- another boy. Like our 1st, the new one will lay on a blanket on the deck. He’ll be shaded by the car port and we’ll have no fear of accidentally laying him down in a bed of fire ants. We bought our older son a giant playhouse to help occupy him while we are attending to the demands of a newborn. It has a gas station on one side and his little scooter can easily glide down his “road.” The basketball hoop on the other side benefits from a hard bouncing surface.

So, yes, there are benefits to having a grassy yard. These days more and more people sacrifice yard for more house. We didn’t want that. It’s important to have outside space, for sure. Still, I felt so much pressure for this green yard: grass to play in, to walk barefoot in; a place to lay a blanket and plant flowers. Well, that’s what the front yard is for.

Do you have an interesting use of space in your own yard? Tell us about it!

Heights Happenings

Saturday, May 30, 12:00pm: Introduction to PowerPoint Class

• The Heights Branch of the Houston Public Library offers free classes. You can learn how to create a PowerPoint presentation (all ages) on Saturday, or on Monday at 12pm, you can learn computer basics: the main parts of a computer, the keyboard, and how to use the mouse. It also defines common computer terminology such as program, data, network, etc.

Saturday, June 6, 6pm-10pm: 1st Saturday Arts Market

• 548 West 19th Street, every 1st Saturday. Inthis open air market, you can find local artists, jewelers, painters, pottery, photography, fiber arts and great stuff from area farmers markets such as homemade soaps, breads and preserves.

Saturday, June 6: Heights Fun Run

• The 24th Annual Heights Fun Run! For more information or to register, visit the Heights Association webpage HERE
  

Outside The Heights:

Saturday, June 13: Crawl For Cancer Benefit

• Join more than 500 people to "pub crawl" through Midtown raising money for Harris County Hospital District's Breast Cancer Center of Excellence. Teams of ten people will hit 5 Midtown bars between 1pm and 5 pm, and are then invited to an afterparty at Rich's until 8pm. The Crawl For Cancer is well established in several cities, including Dallas and Austin. This will be Houston's first Crawl! For more information on starting a team and participating bars, visit the Web site: http://www.crawlforcancer.org/

On the Horizon: Summer Filmmaking Experience for Kids

• July 20-24 from 9AM-1PM; Sign your kids (ages 9-12) up for the Aurora Picture Show filmmaking camp! Aurora's youth filmmaking camp teaches hands-on narrative and experimental techniques using digital video from professional filmmaker, Mike Akel. Campers use the Aurora office and Menil neighborhood to develop, produce and edit their own short films. Working collaboratively on 5-10 minute digital video projects, students are not only exposed to filmmaking techniques but also explore less traditional film and video. Finished films are screened for family and friends at a culminating Friday night showcase at the Aurora Picture Show office.

Small Town Library, Big Town Options

One of the downsides of living in a small, quaint town is that we have a correspondingly small, quaint library.

Don't get me wrong. Our little library at 1302 Heights Boulevard is darling. I find the architecture both welcoming and calming. However, it is a little on the small side, which means it can be difficult to walk in and expect to find THE book I'm looking for.

The good news is that I have a little secret for maintaining the convenience of living less than a mile from a library AND increasing my selection: http://www.houstonlibrary.org.

That's right. From the convenience and coziness of my own couch, I go online, search the entire Houston Public Library system (which has a lot of books, since we are the fourth largest city in the U.S.!), find the book I'm looking for, place a hold on it, select "Heights Branch" as my pick up location, sit back and wait a few days, and then scoot on over to the library to pick up my hold (which is conveniently located right by the checkout counter with my name clearly displayed on the book).

Since I set my computer to save my library card number and last name, I don't even have to pull out my library card when I log in. It's automatic. Plus, I get automated e-mails reminding me that my books are due in a few days. And, when I managed to ignore those e-mails, I can go online and pay my fines with a credit card.

Hooray for technology!

I really haven't had a single problem (except when three expensive library books were in my car when it got stolen from my driveway). I've checked out books on landscaping, gardening, disciplining children (I just accepted a teaching position for the fall), studying for the GMAT, improving oneself--the list goes on and on.

And, if I need to return a book after hours, I can just slide it into the drop box. Voila!

Hours:

Monday = 10-8
Tuesday = 10-6
Wednesday = 10-6
Thursday = 12-8
Friday = 12-6
Saturday = 10-6

• This branch offers free wireless access to customers.
• Laptop checkout is available for in-house use.

KidCareYears is Can Do!

Have I already said that I am really proud to be raising my family in The Heights? I’m sure I have since I talk about it all.the.time. I just can’t imagine bringing up my boys in any other part of Houston. I hope they enjoy the eclectic neighbors, quaint history and quietly urban life they’ll live here. I hope they absorb the openness, friendliness and acceptance. I also hope they pick up some of the old “Can Do” attitude that pervades The Heights.

That “Can Do” attitude exists a lot of places, I know. I'm told it’s a very Texas thing, this attitude (I think it is a fundamentally New England thing as well, but I will digress on that point). In The Heights, the thing that makes “Can Do” different is that it also come with a “Will Help.” People here like to do things to help other people. This can lead to all kinds of ventures. Kidcareyears.com is just such a venture.

Holly Mitchell is a mom, a Heights resident and a "Can Do-er" with a psychology degree. All these things meshed perfectly in the formation of her internet-based business. Holly didn’t have any trouble getting her kids in to daycare. She knew where she wanted them to go and wasn’t up against that dreaded “wait list.” However, a couple years later when some of her friends were ready to send their kids, they weren’t as lucky. Holly’s kids were in a school they adored. Her friends wanted the same for their own, but-ugh-the wait list and the red tape. They started to look around and it made their heads spin. Why was there no one resource? No comprehensive website to help them manage their search?

Holly thought she could help. She saw so many parents she knew “wasting time looking and not getting anywhere or going to the first place” they found. She knew she wanted better for her own kids and she knew that her friends did too. First time parents she knew were frustrated by the process. She knew she could help based on her own experience.

So, KidCareYears was created. Holly enlisted the help of two other mothers, and they started to get organized. Holly used that Psych degree to put together a rating form for daycares and preschools. She thought about what she looked for as a mother and also what, clinically, she knew was good for kids. She and her Mom partners started hitting local daycares and seeing how they stacked up. Holly first had another mom go to the school her kids attended. She used what she already knew about the school to prove up her rating form and found it was very accurate. After they knew their evaluation criteria was reliable, they started taking tours and fleshing out information about other area schools. They toured anonymously to keep the results honest.

Now the site has over 220 daycares and preschools listed- all over Metro Houston. They are continuing to expand and are even looking toward DFW for expansion. I have to say, as a mom, I am impressed by the site. This is “Can Do” and “For You” at its best. There is nothing out there, no single resource, where you can get all this information. Holly and her team dig through State records and look for violations that aren’t always the obvious ones. Holly says “a daycare can get away with a lot before their license is pulled.” She digs for things other parents may not even know to look for. Wow.

There are a lot of home-based businesses in The Heights. Most of them are crafty and artsy and creative. Holly’s is practical. So, what has her experience been with her business and local families? “The Heights is our total foundation,” she said. They beta tested with local families and used their feedback to create KidCareYears as it exists now. It was the word of mouth and help of local groups/civic organizations that allowed the business to spread out of the Loop and help families all over Houston. Holly sees this as a business but also as a way to help the community, by keeping the steps clear and the organizations accountable. This helps parents. This especially helps new families in The Heights, whether they relocated here or have their first child, navigate the maze of childcare easily and become more comfortable with their decision.

Holly loves living and working in The Heights. Whether it’s going to the little park by her house or roaming the streets of the neighborhood, she loves to be in a place where she feels you can glimpse all kinds of lives and experiences that you don’t see outside of the city (i.e., in the suburbs). She hopes that her business can help people relax and make one task in life easier so that they can enjoy the neighborhood as well.

And....

To tag on the end of a family related story, some of you might recall my mentioning I was pregnant in past posts. On May 2, our little boy became the newest resident of The Heights. His big brother is so proud of him and he is just a doll.

Heights Happenings

Friday, May 22, 6-8pm: Sew Crafty Spring Bling

• To celebrate handmade in Houston this Friday from 6 - 8, Sew Crafty will become a showcase for some of the city’s talented crafters as well as a pretty fun place to mingle. They’ll have food, drinks, drop in crafting and goods from some of the city’s best and brightest, including hosts KnottyByNature Designs and A Punkin Card Company!

Thursday, May 28, 6pm: Meet Peter Brown- Candidate for Mayor

• Young Professionals for Peter Brown host its second Happy Hour Bedford Restaurant, 1001 Studewood
• Meet the candidate and learn about his vision for revitalizing Houston's economy and Quality of Life. Enjoy complimentary valet, appetizers and drink specials. DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives will be mixing on the patio!
• As this month's featured "new economy" business, Bedford is dedicated to green initiates and historic preservation. Also, learn about the Victory Garden Bedford is planting on their roof!
• DISCLAIMER: The Heights Life is not endorsing any candidate for Mayor, or in any other election at this time. However, if there is something interesting and/or informative going on in the neighborhood, we believe we should let you know about it! Please feel free to contact us with your events as well.

Through Aug 2: The Great Texas Sculpture Roundup at the Houston Art Car Museum

• This great exhibit features work by over 2 dozen Texas artists, including The Art Guys, Paul Kittleson, Troy Woods and Sharon Kopriva. These artists represent a who’s who amongst Lone Star sculptors.
• Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. FREE.

Outside The Heights:

Thursday, May 21, 6:30pm: Brave Combo at Discovery Green

• New wave polka from Grammy-winning Brave Combo. They are conquering the world with their peace through polka agenda and will perform tunes from their brand new CD The Exotic Rocking Life!
• Free polka lessons before the show with Valina Polka!
  

Saturday, May 23, 7 pm-3 am: Living for The City Benefit Concert and Silent Auction

• This event will benefit Trees for Houston and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership
• Join Supporthouston.com for an evening of musical entertainment and culinary delight celebrating the rebirth of Downtown and introducing the area as Houston's newest "culinary district."
• The evening will begin with a silent auction and hors d'oeuvres created by several of Downtown Houston's prominent Chef's. Great food will be highlighted by wine pairings selected by Robert Hall of Robert Hall Winereies. Mr Hall is hosting this event in his not-yet-open Downtown restaurant, The Rockwood Room, a partnership with renowned Chef Mike DeiMaggi. Chef DeiMaggi, the former front man for Max's Wine Dive, will be preparing a tasting menu as well.
• Tickets are $20 and can be purchased HERE

Sew Crafty Is So Neat

Who knew that contributing to The Heights Life would introduce me to people I want to invite over for dinner parties?

[Enter stage left] Sarah Gabbart, the owner of Sew Crafty, a crafting studio and sewing lounge on 11th Street.

At 28-years old, Sarah is already comfortable following her passions and taking risks. She says, "I'm young; this is the time to fall flat on my face. If it doesn't work, I'll go back and find a job."

Sarah grew up in Sugarland and started sewing and crafting when she was 11 years old, thanks to the tutelage of her grandmother and her mother who is "The Queen of the Hot Glue Gun." Sarah's early projects included "floral wreathy things" that she bestowed upon gracious neighbors.

She started fashion design school in New York but quickly realized she like the sewing part the most. She then enrolled at the University of St. Thomas and studied communications while she figured out how to pursue her crafting passions.

She waited for Houston to open a crafting studio and sewing lounge (like ones in New York, Denver, and Chicago). When it wasn't happening, she decided to start her own right near her house on Oxford Street.

Luckily, one of her favorite things to do in the neighborhood is to stroll (with her pug in tow), and she happened to pass by the State Farm Agency on White Oak the day it was put on the rental market. She quickly staked her claim and started to move in the craft tables and sewing machines.

Now she runs an amazing craft studio and sewing lounge that offers a little bit of something for everyone. Sew Crafty offers:

• Classes in sewing (beginner to advanced), knitting (beginner/intermediate) and Crochet


• Workshops in everything from Gocco printing to quick-and-easy DIY projects to repurposing T-Shirts – each time something new is featured


• Special events, like the monthly Crafty Cocktails – an evening of craftacular sophistication and socializing


• Crafting for a Cause – your chance to give back to those in need and take a free class to boot!


• A sewing lounge where you can use the machines, supplies and cutting tables to work on your projects


• A well-edited selection of patterns, craft kits, notions, fabrics, yarn and handmade gifts


• Private parties for your girls night out, baby and bridal showers, and kids parties

Sarah says that a range of people attend the classes, including husbands who are dragged in by their wives and husbands who want to surprise their wives with something handmade. Also, different skill levels (from guru to first-time crafter) can find their niche.

The economic downturn has actually brought more business to Sew Crafty. People are interested in learning new skills to help make them be more self-sufficient. They want to learn "lifelong skills that are fun."

In her spare time, Sarah likes to bake cupcakes and has recently started cooking vegetarian food. She also likes to "upcycle" materials, like transforming men's shirts into cute dresses. She lives with her husband--a jazz instructor at the University of Houston and the trombone player for The Suspects--in a 1924 bungalow.

Her positive energy is contagious. By the end of the interview, I was asking, "May I take some photos and be your friend?" I'm eager to sign up for a class and get my crafting on.

Have any of you taken classes at Sew Crafty? How was your experience?

A Tree Grows In Houston

There are things about The Heights that truly make it stand out. In the concrete jungle of metro Houston, the green space in this neighborhood is like an oasis in the desert. With the quaint older homes come the beautiful and majestic old-growth trees. While many of these trees have withstood the worst Houston has had to dish out, every once in a while we lose some of the biggest and best.

Hurricane Ike was one of those events. While The Heights is by no means Galveston or the Bolivar Peninsula, we had our share of losses. Many a gorgeous tree was felled by the storm- several through the homes they once shaded.

There were trees in Christina Moreland’s yard that looked like they could do some serious damage to her new Shady Acres home. Nervous about the possibility of serious damage, Christina and her husband packed up their toddler and evacuated before the storm. They came back to find that their home escaped any major damage, but they lost the trees anyway- just in a different direction. Returning to Houston to see all the damage wrought by Ike, Christina knew she wanted to do “something.” Should she volunteer down in Galveston? She could, but it could only be short term and she had a real desire to make a lasting impact and counter the impact that Ike had made. She decided she wanted to stay close to home and create that impact in the neighborhood she lived in. She decided to start here, in The Heights. And she decided to start with trees.

Much like Trees For Houston, which started post- Alicia in 1983, Christina started Keep Heights Green to help repair some of the damage from Ike. We know trees don't compare to loss of life or property, but there are many ways to help rebuild. In fact, these two organizations have formed a partnership based on a common mission ans similar roots. Keep Heights Green helps Trees for Houston by taking, in part, one large neighborhood off their plate. They are happy to have an organization with a common mission looking out for an entire section of the city. Keep Heights Green gets to draw on over 30 years of experience from TFH. All in all, it’s a great partnership from which we all benefit.

Keep Heights Green has been lucky to have the support of businesses in the neighborhood. Several members of The Heights business community have signed on as advisers to the group, helping them get off the ground, and making well-rounded decisions that are propelling them forward. They have established themselves as a Texas 501c3 and, with the help of their all volunteer crew, completed one major project in The Heights in an area we can all admit needs some help.

Keep Heights Green has completed a great beautification project at Ella and 610. In partnership with the Shady Acres Civic Club, AJs Landscaping and the businesses that operate around the targeted medians, KHG has been able to plant and maintain 18 live oak trees in 2 median strips, bringing some much needed green to one of the more commercial and concrete-laden parts of The Heights. The project, called Friends of Ella, may sound like a pretty easy task to complete and, yes, money for trees is “pretty easy to come by.” However, Christina points out that maintenance is costly (upwards of $75/tree annually) and keeping theses trees strong, growing and healthy isn’t as easy as planting them. Luckily, the businesses around the medians agreed to let Christina and her volunteers use their water. AJs donated the labor and know-how. Sure, in an ideal world the City would water these trees and make sure they survive the Houston summer, but KHG volunteers are putting in the extra time and effort to make sure the trees are cared for, city help or not. Recently, Phase II of the project was completed, and the medians have not only been planted but mulched and maintained.

What kinds of goals do Christina and her leadership panel have for the organization? Big ones! They want not only to “replant/replace trees lost during Hurricane Ike,” but also to “be an advocate of trees in the Heights area and promote tree advocacy in general.” Additionally, the group hopes to advocate a larger message and “promote positive messages of recycling/re-purposing discarded items into something useful and beneficial.”

How are they going to accomplish these goals? Well, they believe they have a mission people can stand behind. Evidence of this can be seen in places like a University of Houston Public Relations class. For their final, this class looked at several non-profit organizations and their missions. Out of many, they picked one they found deserving of help and support--an organization with a mission they could all stand behind and support. For their project, the class will develop a marketing and communications plan for the organization to use. This will definitely help KHG get the word out and more word means more trees for the rest of us.

For right now, Christina and KHG have a Facebook page and a website is in the works. Their mission is being supported by neighborhood civic groups and people in around The Heights. Christina says the great thing about operating in The Heights is that this is a neighborhood where “neighbors care for neighbors.” We can “care for different reasons, but the end result is the same.”

Do you think they have a mission worth supporting? You can donate the other green (that would be cash) through the Facebook page or you can volunteer your time. Like many residents of The Heights, Christina is excited to do something good and lasting to benefit this neighborhood. She could definitely use your help. :)