moving day

We spent the last weekend helping son Rich and wife Brandi move into their new home.  It's a huge and beautiful place with acreage and it's own pond.  I'm happy for them that they have found something they love.  It is so far out in the country that you can hardly say they live in St Louis any more, which is exactly what they want.  My jobs included picking up and wrangling kids, making lunch and snacks, general supervising and running for beer before they ran out.  The family took a vote and they must hire professional movers for the next time.  We are all getting too old and too tired to move all that heavy stuff again.

Pretty little pond.  We even saw a turtle swimming.  There are woods all around

Front walk

left side

half covered deck

New door decor

Don't cry if you break you garden rake.  If it's old and rusty like this one is re-purpose it into door decor with a handful of silk flowers and a canvas bow tied on.  I made a loop of wire on the back for hanging.

re-purposing anything

I have had this votive holder for several years.  The candle cups have broken and disappeared.  I kept staring at it until I decided it might make a good jewelry hanger for my dresser.  I will buy or make a couple of dozen S-hooks and use them to hold bracelets or necklaces.  Right now it's just holding my keys.  Take a fresh look at things you don't use before getting rid of them.  You might be struck with inspiration.

lasagna garden

When I told people I was planting a lasagna garden, everyone of then assumed I was doing tomato  basil, fennel, you know lasagna things.  Nope it is a layered raised bed full of compost, manure, dried materials and top soil.  The raised bed and supper enriched soil is supposed to be a great place to plant that isn't compacted and is full of nutrients.  It's a lot of heavy lifting and a little pricey the first yea, but if it works it should be wonderful.  Here's what you do;  Mark off the approximate size of your bed.  I did mine 8X8 so I can reach in from all sides and not have to walk on the soil.  The first layer is cardboard or several layers of newspaper, just lay it right on the ground.  Layer two is dried material, I used leaves.  Layer three is green material.  I had plant clippings and weeds along with a couple of bags of manure.  You then repeat the layers until the whole thing is about 18-24" tall, ending with top soil.  Water well and let sit for a time before planting.  It's suppose to rain tomorrow so I'll leave that to mother nature.  It will be Mothers Day before I plant tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and zucchini   I'll keep you posted on how it turns out.  I understand this works even better if you do it in the fall and it can sit all winter.

Epic fail

Sometime things that seem like a good idea just don't work the way they should and you have to come up with plan B, or C, or D.  That's what happened with this bracelet.  I had been wanting to try a project with alcohol inks but the cost to just get started held me off.  Then I found a recipe for homemade alcohol inks made with kool aid and rubbing alcohol.  I bought a few packages mixed them with the alcohol according to the directions and gave it a try.  A big clumpy mess developed and after several layers, little color could be seen on the bracelet.  As my kids would say EPIC FAIL.  I pitched the mess, washed off the bracelet and started over again.  First I sprayed the cuff with metal primer then dribbled, sponged, finger painted and dabbed acrylic paints until I was happy with the look. I used burgundy, two different golds and ivory paints After the paint was dry I added 3 coats of clear sealer.  I've received many compliments on the bracelet, not bad for starting as a failure.  The picture doesn't really do justice to the soft glow and the mix of colors.

bling time

I haven't been crafting much lately.  The garden keeps calling.  I had bought these cuff bracelet blanks a while back and decide to get busy and make something.  For this sparkler I left the cuff plain, added a pendant and a few rhinestones with metal glue.  Spray with sealer to keep the tarnish away.  Sorry for the bad pic but you get the general idea.

somethings are worth waiting for

I've been a gardener for over 40 years.  When we were first married it was to provide food.  Now it's more about the flowers and expressing creativity with a few food plants thrown in.  One thing I've always wanted is a greenhouse.  I just couldn't justify the expense for something used just a few months of the year.  Well the wait is over, I got a greenhouse.  Now it's small and not the $25,00 place in my dreams, but it will work for what I want and it was affordable.  AH has spent several hours putting the kit together, adding the stone floor and making shelves.  By the time you read this all my seedlings that were taking up space in my kitchen and hall will have their own place to grow.  Happy Planting!!

Hall to front door.  You can't see them but each flat is full of tiny seedlings.

6X8 small but perfect for my needs.

Such a sweetie to spend his weekends working on something for me.

sign update

This sign is one of my most popular post on the blog and Pinterest.  After two years in the full sun it was time for a little TLC.  I gave it a good bath, let it dry and then went to work on the letters.  I used magic markers to go over each letter.  I did mine free hand but you could use a ruler if you need perfect straight lines.  A quick coat of clear poly and it's ready for it's spring debut.  Now many people would just give this a toss in the trash.  It was old, dirty and faded.  Not me this will be around until I'm sick of it, repaint it  or it falls apart.

before with faded letters

After clean and bright

It's been in the same place for the last two years, maybe it needs to find a new home.  I'll keep you posted.

Three P dinner

This is one of those recipes that can be changed to suit your likes and dislikes and what you have on hand.  Feel free to make any substitutions you would like.
1/2 box of pasta whole grain cooked and drained reserve 1C of the cooking water
1/2# ham cut in small cubes
1 onion chopped
2C frozen peas
2T chopped basil
1/2C Parmesan cheese
2T butter
1/2C milk
salt and pepper to taste
Saute the onion in the butter until translucent.  Add ham, peas, cheese and seasoning.  Simmer until peas are warm.  Add in pasta, milk and the cooking water I used about 1/2C but check your sauce it should be liquid but not too runny.  Serve with additional Parmesan.
Living in a rural area it is often difficult to find fresh herbs in the grocery store.  I've discovered the new tubes of organic herbs you just squeeze out the amount you need and refrigerate the rest.  A little pricey at $4.00 but there is no waste and will last for several weeks.

sometimes a girl has gotta whine

Anyone who knows me well would never categorize me as a hypochondriac.  I'm not overly obsessive about my health and I'm not much of a complainer.  BUT I HAVE HAD IT!!!
After knee replacement surgery along with a few complications  a pinched nerve and pulled muscle that made every move painful, now I have the shingles.  I have not felt like a normal person since the first week in January.  Mostly I'm feeling abused and mistreated with a big dose of why me.  I'm even starting to feel like the lepers of Biblical times must have felt.  Even AH has started making comparisons to Job.  Well why not me?  What have I ever done in my life to be excused from difficult times? I'm a relatively nice  caring person.  I love my family friends and community.  I will bend over backwards to help anyone.   But who am I to be given a perfect life?  God says even believers are not guaranteed a problem free time on earth.  All I can do is keep believing that everything happens for reasons we can not understand and to continue to praise the Lord even for the bad things that have happened This is very difficult, but I am trying.  If anyone out there can think of something to praise about shingles, please let me know.
If you have never had shingles and you are over the age of 50 get the shot as soon as possible. Yes they are expensive, but one trip to the Dr and the medication involved come up to the same price. Your chances of contracting shingles are one in three.  While I had a mild dose of this in my twenties nothing in my life has prepared me for such pain.  Imagine intense burning, itching and stabbing pain that there is no relief from.  Now add in the muscle aches, chills and fatigue of the worst flu you ever had.  That's shingles.  I've been told that it might go away in a few weeks or months.  It might last the rest of my life.  Sounds like hell on earth to me.  For now I hope I can help at least one person avoid this nasty disease.  I will keep on praying for this to be over. I hope that God can use this in me in some way, follow doc orders and keep taking my meds.  I'm trying to live as normal a life as I can and trying to take better care of myself.  If you see me and I seem more dopey that usual chalk it up to medication, and give me a hug.  I am contagious to no one and could use some sympathy.

shopping list

I made up this shopping list on my computer years ago.  It is divided into categories like cleaning, frozen food, meat, produce and several more. We can just circle the things we need.  I also write out our menu for the week and have room to l write things that aren't on the list. As our family has changed I can redo the list to include things we didn't buy 20 years ago.  I never thought about doing this as a post until I was stopped at the grocery store again last week, it has happened several time before.  The lady wanted to know where I had bought such a comprehensive list.  When I told her I had done the list on my computer she was excited to go home and do the same.  I guess organizational helpers give some people a thrill.
I keep the list hanging on a clip board, inside one of my cabinets so it is easy to write on when I realize I'm out of something.

Fancy clip board adds a dash of color to the inside of a door.

thrifting finds

Rummage sales haven't started here yet so I've been trying to hit a few thrift shops when I'm out.  These are some great buys from last week.

Great buy of the month.  A gorgeous woven coverlet and two pillow shams.  Perfect condition and  the set was $8.00.  It will look great and brighten up my navy blue bedroom.

The stitching detail is beautiful.

Folding serving tray 49cents.  It will make a great business card holder for shows.

This little vase is about 7" tall and the glaze is a very muted green with relief carving.  It  is labeled Avon 1981.

I'm always in the mood for junking.

Spring PLEASE!!

A week ago we had 10" of snow, Interstates were closed and police were telling anyone who was not emergency personnel to stay off the roads.  What a difference a week makes.  Today I was out working in the garden with just a long sleeve shirt on.  I love it.  I started clearing off the herb bed in front of the patio and then onto  the West rose bed.  The more I raked the more new growth I uncovered.  There is new life just waiting to be uncovered every where.  Here are just a few things I found.

daffodils under the leaves

New growth on the knockout roses

Flowers ready to pop open.

What can you uncover in your garden.