fairy garden part 2

After I helped my grand daughter make her fairy garden I decided to make a couple of my own for the patio.
I used two enamel washing pans, added a layer of gravel for drainage and planted the plants.  I used baby tears, ivy and a mystery plant.  After the planting was done I started to accessorize with a twig swing, and arbor, pathways, rock furniture moss and tiny figures.  On garden has a little fairy the other a magical polar bear.  I don't get notes and candy from my fairy, KT says that's because they don't sparkle enough.

lemon garlic chicken

YUM!!!
Easy and quick, two of my top cooking priorities

6T olive oil
2 lemons one sliced thin the other zested and juiced
4 cloves minced garlic
4-5 chicken breast
2# potatoes use new potatoes or cut larger ones into chunks
3/4# fresh green beans snip off the ends and break into pieces.  My grocery store had sorry looking beans so I used one can drained and rinsed and added them the last five minutes of cooking.
salt and pepper to taste

Grease a baking pan with a little of the olive oil and lay n the lemon slices.  Mix together the juice, oil, garlic, salt and pepper and pour over chicken and vegetables.  I just put everything in a zip bag and tossed lightly.  Spread out in the pan.  Bake 350 50-60 minutes

Sorry no picture we were too hungry to wait, actually I just forgot.

junking haul

I hit a few of my favorite junking places last week and came home with a van full of treasures.  I even took my Mom and sis to a couple of my favorite places, Habitat Restore and the Idea store, along with Salvation Army and Goodwill.  I love a great treasure hunt.  Here's my haul;
1 garden cart  $5.00
1 Xyron sticker maker new in the box $7.50
1 piece of fabric for a scarf or skirt
1 mini lamp for a fairy ball $1.00
2 paper towel holders for bracelets $1.00
2 funky lamp bases for more garden art  $2.00
2 signs even if I repaint they're in great shape $1.50
4 tall glasses I can use as vases or drinks $3.00
6 Audubon like prints in frames these are gorgeous $12.00
misc buttons and sewing supplies

I think I made some good bargains, I spent less than $40.00, the money went to good causes and I had a great time.  What more can you ask of and addiction.  Now I just have to get busy creating.

mini bathroom redo

Our half bath is really tiny 3X5, you can literally sit on the potty and wash your hands at the same time.  It is in need of new paint but I just haven't taken the time to get the job done.  I did this mini make over in less than two hours for less than $20.  I cleaned off the shelves and tried to purge then reorganize everything into bins I already had.  I replaced the heavy mirror with a wire mirror and shelf I picked up at Goodwill for $4.00.  I replaced the wall of little mirrors with one larger etched glass piece, another GW $4.00 find. I added a couple of new hand towels for $3.00 each.   Finally I made a new skirt for the sink from some left over fabric.
Right now the walls are a sage green that was in the kitchen and living room.  I probably will paint it the same spring green those rooms are now.  I will finally get the painting done, but until then the powder room has a fresh new look for just a little time and cash.

Before mirror over sink and light fixture, I may repaint  the light  maybe a brushed steel color

before side wall lots of little mirrors

after sink, skirt, and mirror shelf.

after side wall

reorganized shelves

glass attack

I've been so busy in the yard that I've done very little crafting lately.  On the last rainy day I made up for that with a pile of new garden art.  Witches balls, bird baths and crystal mushrooms were on the agenda.  I'm still making adjustments and having a few problems with glue but the projects are turning out beautiful.
I've been picking up vases, fish bowls, and old ugly lamps with glass bases at thrift stores and rummage sales..  In places like England, Ireland and Scotland any glass ornament set on a decorative base is called a witches ball and they are set outside to ward off bad spirits.  I just like them because they are pretty and sparkle.

magic mushrooms

another mushroom and the bottom is a bird bath

green is a fish bowl I swirl painted and sat on a candle stand.  The red is a witches ball made of lamp parts

lamp parts spray painted inside on another lamp base  make a great witches ball.

family time

What a weekend.  First my parents, sister and brother in law arrive on Friday.  That was after five hours of cooking and cookie baking for me and five hours of driving for them..  In the afternoon we decide to go to the big city junking and my van is full. Dinner was pizza from our favorite place no more cooking for me that day.  Saturday morning started out quiet enough but it was soon time to pack up all the goodies I made and all the people and head towards my cousins house for a mini family reunion of my Dad's brothers and sisters and a few cousins.  We arrived home that afternoon to a house full of all the kids, grand kids, and in-laws.  They  managed to grill burgers and hot dogs in the pouring rain.  After a full evening of eighteen people in house, a huge thunder storm came through in the middle of the night waking almost everyone and freaking out all the animals. We were up at the crack of dawn making bacon, sausage and pancakes for thirteen.  When everyone left and the kitchen was almost back to normal AH and I fell on the couch and recline for a well deserved rest.  I love my family and enjoy having them around but it's so quiet after everyone leaves I can finally breath a sigh of relief.
Family is one of life's greatest joys.  Spending time to build those connections and memories is so important and will stay with you all your life.  Yes we fuss and squabble just like all families, but life is too short to carry feuds and grudges that tear families apart.  Most of those arguments aren't that important.   As I looked at my extended family of aunts and uncles I can remember visits from my childhood and feel how quickly life goes by.  

Dads brothers and sisters.  

siblings and spouses

just a tiny portion of my cousins

painting fun

I have people ask me all the time where I find such perfect junk.  Believe me, at the prices I want to pay for things not much of it is perfect.  I look at things with an eye for how I can make it better.  Many times spray paint is the answer.  That's what I did with these two tables and plant stand.  The tables were $6.00 for the pair and the plant stand was an end of the day steal at $1.00.  One can of spray primer at $3.50 and two cans of paint one in jade and one in grass green for $3.50 each.  The biggest problem with getting the tables done were the gale force winds we have had for days on end.  One coat of primer, two coats of paint and for under $18.00 I have three beautiful pieces.
One of the biggest rules for rummage sale shopping is if you like it grab it that second before someone else finds it.  You can always put it back if you change your mind.

washing a washing machine

Did you know you need to wash out your washing machine at least twice a year?  Yeah, me neither.  Although I've always wiped off the top and controls I've never given my machine a good bath until one of my favorite sweaters came out of the wash covered with grease spots.  Yuck, I love this sweater and I'm not happy.  I did a little research and found a recipe for cleaning out a washer.  Clean out any visible gunk with a mix of Dawn and baking soda on a scrubby pad.(see note below on homemade spot cleaner)  The agitator and under the tub rim were gross. Fill the washer with hot water along with one quart of bleach and let it sit for one hour.  At this point the water was black.  Drain and refill with hot water, one quart of vinegar and two cups of baking soda.  Let this sit for one hour, drain and wipe out any visible slime.  This water was dingy grey. Run the washer empty for it's longest cycle, again with hot water.  You need to do this at least twice a year more if you wash a lot of greasy clothes.

I guess with a husband who gets really grimy at work it makes sense that some of that gunk would stay in the washer, but now I've got the cleanest machine in town.  Now if I can just get the spots out of my sweater.

PS:  I treated the sweater with homemade spot cleaner of 1C baking soda, 2C Dawn and 1C water.  I just mix everything in an old Dawn bottle and keep by the washer.  You do need to shake well before use.  The sweater came out without a single grease spot.  YEA!!!

what is it

I found this interesting piece at a thrift store.  Nobody in the place had any idea what it could be.  It was $2.00 so I brought it home and  hung it in my closet to hang me growing collection of scarves.  It has an Ikea label and a hook for hanging.  If you know what it is let me know, I'm curious.

Roses gone wild

My roses have been gorgeous this year.  I can't get enough outside or in the house. While I have several tea roses, I have to say the knock out roses are the most dependable and beautiful.  I had  someone who walks by my house often tell me I shouldn't cut the flowers so more people could enjoy them.  Now I love that others can enjoy my gardens but they are my flowers and I'll take them inside or give them away if I want to!  Enjoy.

fairy garden

While KT was here last week we spent an entire afternoon planning and making a fairy garden for her to take home,  We both had a ball going through my junk and walking around the yard finding just the right pieces to use.  Fairies are very particular don't you know.  I had picked up an oil changing pan at DT to use as a base.  Because this garden was not going to be filled with plants, we picked up big chunks of bark to fill the bottom,  We then added a house made from a plastic bowl covered with moss, a table made from a can, stools from spools with button seats and a classy umbrella.  We did add two polka dot plants in tiny pots, rocks, silk flowers and berries, a path and lots of moss to fill in the empty spots.  We even found a fairy who only come to life at night to add.  The fairy left a note and candy in the house when weren't looking.  I'm sure the notes a treats will continue as long as the fairy is happy.  The phrase less is more has no meaning to a seven year old mind so I tried to keep me design opinions to myself and just enjoy the fun.

smoothie time

We spent last weekend hanging out with our favorite seven year old, grand daughter Katelyn.  It amazes me how bright and creative their minds are.  Who says you can't have a smoothie for lunch?  We planned out exactly what we would put into it on the way home and got busy making them as soon as we arrived.  It was delicious and healthy.
2 bananas broken into chunks
8-10 strawberries hulls removed
1 6oz container of Greek yogurt we used raspberry but use any flavor you like.
12-16 ice cubes
juice of 1 orange
Mix everything up in a blender or food processor until smooth
makes a great breakfast or lunch, easy enough for the kids to do with a little supervision.  I find that if you get kids involved with the planning and cooking they are more likely to try foods they might ordinarily turn up their noses at.