Fun & Pretty

I recently made some super cute herb coffee/tea cup sleeves that I LOVE (I'll try to post a tutorial and pics soon)! After this, I started getting a bit of a crafty bug. I am looking forward to painting a set of canvases with the 5 freedoms (as soon as I find my paintbrushes). But here are a couple things I stumbled upon when surfing my bloggity-blogs today that I'd like to make get. I think they're fun and pretty.

1. First Aid to Go

I realized earlier this week that if Elliot got hurt when I was gone, no one else would know where anything was. So I gathered some supplies and made a first-aid kit for our house, which is now sitting on our dryer (random, I know but it's a central location). Then I realized how many extra supplies we had. I have a first-aid kit in each car but it's somewhat limited. I'd also like to have one for my, Ev's and Elliot's bags. I also thought these would make super-cute momma gifts. Find instructions at Fireflies & Jellybeans.

2. Spa Headband

I think this one pretty much speaks for itself. I think I'd want to make mine with some green ribbon or some cool embroidered fabric strip, instead of the lace. But I would just feel pretty using one of these when I get ready in the morning. Find it at Flamingo Toes. She has a fun oatmeal scrub on this post too.

3. BLOOMIES!

I think these are SOOOOOO COOL!!!!! I think I can figure out how to make them, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't turn out as well as these and that it would cost just as much to get the supplies each time to make the notes. They are encouragement notes that bloom into wildflowers!!! What a cool cool idea huh? LOVE it! Find them at I Love Bloomies.

Plant & Yard Love

I'm so excited to be starting a garden again. Hopefully it will be more successful this year than last. This will actually be the first year that I'll be able to take care of my yard and garden from beginning to end, so hopefully, not as much of it will be damage control and more of it will be actually enjoying the work of our hands.
I've tried occupy the garden with plants that I will not be getting from the CSA this year. It has cooking lavender, thyme, chives, mint, basil, parsley, yellow bell peppers, dark chocolate bell peppers (those just sounded really cool), super sweet cherry tomatoes, and lemon apple cucumbers (those sounded the coolest of all). I also got some snapdragons for mothers day that are looking beautiful in our yard, along with the poppies and wildflowers that Elliot planted about a month ago. I've got some chamomile and lavender that I started from seeds, but from what I've read, those could take two years before their established and ready to plant outside. We mowed, mulched and planted outside this weekend. This week I'm hoping to trim some of the stuff back by our trails in the woods and start to make those pretty. I bought a citronella plant to keep the mosquitoes around our sun room at bay. To complete our outdoor fun, Mama and Papa brought us a firepit and we got some tiki torches this weekend. Now we just need to see if we can find room in our budget for a small grill. I'd also like to get some lavender...a lot of it actually. Did you know that lavender is a natural ant repellent (it also repels deer, but that's not a real problem for us right now)?
NOW a couple links I just have to share with you.
#1) There is the AWESOME looking place in Commiskey , Indiana (down by Columbus). It has a tea room, a winery, gardens and a bunch of workshops and classes. They also have these candlelit dinners that sound amazing! Check out the Historic Stream Cliff Herb Farm.
#2) There is this WAY cool natural air purifier called "ANDREA." It was invented and manufactured in France and has won all these different awards. But basically, you put a household plant in it and with a fan and some water it forces the air through the soil, roots and leafy part of the plant to naturally purify your air! I just wish it were less than $200!!! (gag) Still worth checking out though ANDREA Air.
#3) Did you ever wish you could have plants on your walls instead of just in pots? WELL...if you did then this is a site for you, cause you totally can with WoollyPockets.
#4) www.naturallyfree.net.....THAT'S RIGHT! We have a functioning website up!...with a store and everything. But you must promise that if you go there, you will not pass judgment on the site too quickly. We're still working on it, but I wanted to share it with all of you so that if you want to see what we're doing or what we're selling, you can!

I hope you're enjoying this spring season as much as we are!

A Beautiful Fall Day

Today has been a fun day so far. We're actually staying home this weekend, which is quite refreshing and it's been beautiful outside! Last night we had a lovely "cookout" (the men and children cooked out while the women folk stayed inside) with Ev's coworkers and their families. It was really nice to get to know them a little better and meet all the kids and such.
Today, we slept in...a little, had breakfast and watched a few shows and then I went out to look at the state of my little plot of land that I used to call a garden. Despite the frost, the herbs are still looking great and I think I'll be able to pick some of the kale still. Then I'll have to hoe it and cover it for the winter I think.
Anyway, Evan finished up mowing the front yard while Elliot and I worked with the leaves in the back. He had a blast crawling through the woods and then when I had finally gotten a big pile together...we PLAYED! I completely forgot how great the smell of a pile of fall leaves is! Below are a few pictures from our adventures.

In the Hammock

In the Woods

In the Leaves

Our attempt at a family picture (Elliot and Rory weren't really interested)

My favorite boy...giving me kisses!

Then we went into the garage and helped Ev finish cleaning some of it out. Our goal was to be able to get our car into it by the end of the day, because neither of us are too keen on scraping our windshield if we don't have to.
I know...we've been living here for about four months and our garage is still not cleaned out...it's pathetic! But we're actually almost there. In fact, the car is presently sitting in the garage! Then we all came in to clean up and have some snacks and now Elliot is napping peacefully while we play on our computers. If we accomplish the goal of cleaning up the kitchen by the end of the day. I think we'll have been quite successful.
Anything you're trying to accomplish before it gets too cold? This might be just the weekend to try!

Worms & Weeds

Elliot helping me weed! I just had to stop and watch...he's so sweet!

I finally got my Red Wigglers yesterday! Woohoo! Who knew someone could get so excited about worms?! The funny thing is Red Wigglers are really popular fishing bait (so my hubs tells me) but I couldn't find them. I checked three different bait places. But then, guess where they were? Yes, that's right. 1/2 mile from my house in lil' ol' Upland. At the BP gas station there's a little fridge in the back with like 10-12 different kinds of live bait. (Seriously now?!) So I bought my little guys and excitedly brought them home with a rake and a weed eater/trimmer. I finished off my DIY Worm Composter, and Elliot and I weeded and raked while Ev mowed and trimmed. Our yard looks very nice and we LOVE being outside!!! It's so nice to actually have a space that we can be outside and that Elliot can safely crawl and stand around.

Below is a picture of the worms...just because I'm proud. However, I know some of you are squeemish (I actually was pretty jumpy opening the little containers of worms myself. I don't know how I'm ever going to separate them from the compost!), so I waited to put it at the end. You can choose to look if you'd like.

See...It's not that bad! :)

Wow! A Biotower...I'm Giddy!

This is one of those things that I look at and think, "Haha...Holy cow!...Haha" It makes me giddy and giggly. It's basically a little sustainable ecosystem in your house! Right now, my hubby tells me that this is a concept project and you can't buy one yet. Each of the layers feed into the next with bottom layer circling back up to the top and the entire thing producing excess oxygen into your home atmosphere....:) wow!

The picture was taken from Gizmodo. You can get more info from here.

Centsational Girl

A new DIY blog that I love. Check out Kate at Centsational Girl. See how she made these cool cement planters! I'm so excited about trying a few out and painting them. (I'm thinking a craft party for this one! Anyone in?)

DIY Worm Composter

I dare you to Google Shopping a worm compost bin! They range anywhere from $90-$600!!! Seriously now?! That's ridiculous. But I REALLY wanted one. So I did a little searching and found a tutorial on YouTube. I altered it a bit, and now present it to you! You won't need a starting kit and you'll be able to do it for around $20.

First, buy two plastic totes with lids. Make sure they are a dark color, since worms and light don't mix well.

I got these pretty green ones for $7.97 a piece a Lowe's.

Then get that drill out! You'll want to use an 1/8" bit or around that size. This way you allow for airflow and drainage without losing any soil or worms. Choose which bin you want to be on top. Drill 15-20 holes around the sides of the tub about 3/4 of the way up. I did seven on each long side and 3 on each short side.

Then drill holes 6-10 holes in the lid.

And do the same for the bottom. I put 8 on each.

Then in your bottom bin (the one without holes), set up two milk boxes, formula canisters, coffee cans, or whatever you have two of that are the same height and pretty sturdy. I used two old plastic trash bins.

Now set the top bin on the canisters. This will keep the top bin from getting stuck in the bottom one and will allow for airflow, so your stuff doesn't get stinky.

It's now time to start the layering! Something I didn't know until I started reading about this, is the importance of bedding. Bedding is torn up cardboard or shredded paper or a mixture of both that you can put in your compost bin, it cuts down on the smell and on any bugs. Cool huh? You can also include dry leaves in your bedding if it's fall-ish out.

So...Layer #1-Bedding! Put down a layer of bedding until it completely covers the bottom of the bin and you have a nice little mound of it.

Layer #2 -Throw in your food scraps. I know...EWWW gross! But I'd been saving these scraps for this purpose for the last couple weeks in a small composter under my sink.

When it comes to food scraps, here's the deal -->You can put as much fruit and veggie stuff in as you want, along with any tea bags or ground coffee (filter and all). You can also put in breads, onions, and citrus in moderation. But don't use meat or dairy products or anything with a lot of oil (salad with a bit of dressing should be fine, but don't throw in your favorite greasy pizza).

Layer #3 - Coffee grounds and a tad bit of dirt.

I was so excited to finally be able to use my Grounds for your Garden that I got for free at Starbucks. The pail at my Starbucks was always empty, so I figured "this stuff must be good for your garden!" Without knowing why it was, the first time I saw some in the pail, I grabbed a big bag.

Then I brought it home and I didn't know what to do with it. Everything I read said to add it to your compost or add it to your garden.

I just planted my garden and I didn't have a compost bin....yet! On top of the coffee grounds you want to add a sprinkling of dirt. The grit from the dirt helps the worms...I guess they have weird gizzards for it or something.

Then we start over again....bedding, food scraps, grounds & dirt. The grounds aren't completely necessary, and they can be mixed in with the food scraps, I just like separating them for the sake of smell when I'm making the thing.

You want your top layer to be bedding. They spray it down and get it nice and moist.

You can dump in your worms right away, or you can let the stuff sit for a week or two and give it chance to decompose a bit before you introduce the worms.

I've read a couple places that the best worms to get are Red Wigglers. You want to get about 100 to start with (about $5 most places). Then let the worms do their thing. In about 2 months you'll have 300 worms and a nice compost! Then you can separate the worms out, use the compost, and start a new bin or two.

Hope this helps you! I'm so excited about ours. With this and our recycling, it really cuts down on our waste and the garbage! Woohoo!

Isn't she beautiful? I think I'll call her Elfaba!

I'm Seeing Green!!!

The first sprouts are coming up in my garden! What you are seeing here is Kale. I've also got bits of dill, collards and I think just a smidge of broccoli is starting to show its face.

And in my kitchen! Last night I was making soap, and there was nothing green in my planter...then I got home and voila! Amazing...look at my little narsturtiums creeping out.

Moss Graffiti?!

How cool is this?! Check it out on Sarah's blog, KindOverMatter, and WikiHow! I want to do it on my fence by my garden out back.

The Fall Garden

Thanks to Sarah...again! I have my fall garden mostly planted. Tonight we planted red lettuce, kale, collards, broccoli & cauliflower. Coming up next on the list...garlic! As soon as it starts doing well (crossing my fingers, praying for rain), I'll put up my garden plan and tips. I think putting it up now before anything has even sprouted would be a bit premature. :)

Adam (the chive plant), DoubleFun (my spearmint) are doing great. And hopefully, with her recent transplant Lydia (my English lavender) will perk up.

Until I feel comfortable giving gardening advice, you all should check out Little House in the Suburbs. She has some great gardening tips and resources!

Punch Bowl to Planter

So...I have wanted to start planting stuff, but I haven't been able to this week for various reasons. Finally, last night I put my nasturtium seeds in some water to soak. I'm reading this great book Little Herb Gardens: Simple Secrets for Glorious Gardens - Indoors and Out. It gives step by step instructions on what to plant, where to plant, where to get it, when to plant, etc. For advanced gardners it's probably too limited and elementary, but for me it is fantastic!

It told me that I needed a planter that was about a foot deep and over a foot wide. I only had one that fit those dimensions and I was saving it for my lavender plant. Plus, I wanted to plant this

one in my kitchen. We got this four-in-one cake plate/punch bowl/veggie tray/something else for our wedding, but I think we got about three cake plates and punch bowls and veggie trays.

So I turned this one into an herb sorter and planter! I put my dried herbs on the bottom and I'm not planting nasturtiums in the planter. I can't wait til it starts to vine and bloom! I'll take a picture then too.

To plant your nasturtiums (or similar plant) like I did, find a punch bowl and follow these instructions:

• Soak seeds overnight
• Line the bottom of bowl or glass planter with a layer of decorative rocks, then with a layer of colored marbles (for water drainage - you can put a layer of charcoal in as well that helps with reducing bacteria)
• Wet soil until it is moist, set aside 1 cup of soil
• Sow nasturtium seeds 3 in. apart
• Cover with set aside soil and lightly pack down
• Keep soil moist and spray leaves as they emerge
• Nasturtiums are quick growing and viney with orange blossom (look them up)

My First Garden

If you've been reading for awhile, you understand that one of my dreams is to become a master gardener. I had no idea that this dream would lead me to the organic, hippy-ish lifestyle that I have now grabbed hold of. I find it incredible, the joy that always bubbles up when I am able to spend time in creation. The truths and metaphors that you discover, the realities that show you that life can come from death (as crazy as that sounds), make me want to shout and dance and sing.In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is talking about the resurrection. I like this chapter because it reminds me of how I might talk about something that I understand, but it's the first time I'm trying to explain it to someone in depth. I can't quite make it clear, so I say the same thing over and over again, just in a different way. One of the ways he tries to explain it is like this...

That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies;and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.

How cool is it that we can be compared to a bare grain now or a dirty bulb, but the body we will have when we rise again, is like the sleek wheat stalk in comparison or the gorgeous lily. Doesn't it just make you excited about being alive? And I mean...I love life....as a grain! How much more will I love it as the fruit of that grain?! Just one more observation. Isn't it cool that the type of grain we are is the type of body we will be transformed into? The original creation and our uniqueness and distinct characteristics will still separate us from each other like they do now. We'll still be individuals, loving our Father and King more fully!

Alright, now you can climb out of the bundle of neural connections that are my brain, and I'll tell you about my garden! :) I have one! Thanks to Sarah (check out her cool blog ---> here!) Hurray! I am looking forward to growing a bunch of things, and then eating, drying, curing, canning or making essential oils out of them! I am seriously excited!!!

Here's the spot we chose for the garden in the backyard!

AND....(drumroll please) here's the garden after!

We have one plant! His name is Adam (he's the first of all the plants), and he's a chive plant. Next on the list to plant that we can still harvest this year are lettuce, kale, collard greens, and others. We're also planting garlic soon!