Ghoulish Gourd Gang

It was such an honor to guest post at Rhinestone Beagle for Howl-oween!  Did you see all the fun projects?

 

Here's what I wrote for them!

You may have noticed that I like to decorate gourds!  If you haven't seen them, they are on my Crafts Page!  

I thought it might be fun to do some just for Halloween!  Check out this family photo! 




 

Let me show you how it all began!  The gourds are grown, dried, chosen and cleaned.  From left to right, Big Apple Gourd, Birdhouse Gourd, Swan Gourd; and in front, Caveman Gourd.  Keep in mind that shapes can become distorted depending on growing conditions.

 

For this project I used spray paint instead of leather dye.  Each family member got a different color.

 

 

Now for the creativity!  My favorite part!  Wiggly eyes play a big role!

 

 

 

Big Daddy

 

 

 

Lovely Mother

 

 

Darling Daughter

 

 

Family Pet, FiFi

 

 

One big, happy, Howl-oween Family!  I hope your holidays are filled with laughter!

 

;-)  -Marci

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #30

Welcome to another fantastic party!

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

 

 

 

Are you ready to party?
 

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

Joyce @ It's Your Life!
 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Feature this Week is: Vintage Wedding Ideas



from Carmen at Vintage Creations.  She gives tips on lovely and unique ways to pull off a vintage wedding!

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!


;-)  -Marci 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  





Tuesday's Brag About It Link Party Feature!

This lil cutie pie is being featured at Tuesday's Brag About It Link Party

 

 

modeling the Zebra Hat I made for her!



What a lovely honor!  Thank you!

;-)  -Marci



Garden Guest: Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  You can do the same by providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young.  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I've begun a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

If you would like to see more, check my Gardening Page!
 

 

This gorgeous caterpillar is a black swallowtail surprisingly late in the year.  I hope that means we will have a mild winter?  If only caterpillars could talk!

 

The plant is parsley that has gone to seed.  We have parsley in our vegetable garden, in the cutting garden, and in the butterfly garden.

 

 

Not only is parsley tasty, its blossoms are a beautiful addition to flower arrangements and it is the host plant for swallowtails!  Triple score!  Here in Northwest Arkansas, it over winters quite nicely.

 

I try to create some clever seque' from critter to music, but I can't think of a thing this week!  I just like this sassy song!

 

Music can be found (and linked) at Holli's Hoots and Hollers great party called Tuesday Tunes! 

My choice this week:  Shoot Him Down by Alice Francis

 

;-)  -Marci

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  

 

Tips For Hand Stamping

  My favorite gift wrap for herbs is to snuggle them inside hand stamped brown paper bags.  My home made lye soap fits perfectly, too.   I just think the bags are so charming!

While I would like you think I have CRAZY hand stamping skills.  'Not true.  Nope!  Let me show you how I embellish, and sometimes touch up, my stamping.

I like to use regular colored pencils and chalk to fill in lines and add a little color.  Isn't it amazing how just the tiniest touch of color completely changes a project?

 

Can you see the difference in the sweet little cow?  All I did was color her nose pink, her horns orange, and brightened her tummy with white chalk.  Notice the lettering.  I took a brown pencil and filled in the letters just a smidge.

  

 

A snowman needs a colorful scarf, right?  Well, of course he does!  You can see his hat got some attention, too!

 

This darling bunny rabbit now has pink on his ears, nose and tummy!  'See what I mean?

 

 The next time you are hand stamping, grab a couple of colored pencils and add a little zing! 

 

 

Have a lovely week!

 

;-)  -Marci

 

 

 

 

 

Freaking Awesome Feature!

Have you visited Mellywood's Mansion lately?  Do you know Mel is now hosting Freaking Awesome Fridays Link Party?

 



The party just started.  Be fashionably late and go link something!  If it's been one of those weeks and you don't have anything cool, Mel also has a section for disasters!  How funny!

My Sewing a Zebra Hat post was featured this week! 



I just get so giddy if someone features my humble little blog!  Thank you, Mel!

;-)  -Marci

Inspiration Cafe Day!

The last Friday of each month, I am so very honored to be a contributor for Inspiration Cafe'.  Will you please join me there?

It's such a fun site!  Today, I am sharing a post about decorating gourds.  It's that time of year, right?  Gourds are such a beautiful option for Fall Décor.  They look great alongside pumpkins or can stand alone.

 

My sweet friend, Angie of God's Growing Garden also decorates gourds.  It's kind of funny!  Our friendship began over gourd decorating chit chat!  Now we co host The Great Blog Train together!  I hope you can hop on board the first Wednesday of each month!

 

 

With Angie's permission, I get to show you some of her amazing gourd creations!

 

Scarecrow Lantern

 

 

 

How cute is this guy?!

 

Angie has Many More Lanterns

 

 

I think this smiling kitty is my favorite!  Isn't she adorable?!

 

If you are not already decorating gourds, beware!  It is ridiculously fun!  Some might say downright addictive!  Right, Angie?

Thanks again to Inspiration Cafe'. I love sending my little contribution each month! 

 

 ;-)  -Marci

 

 

 

Making the World a Better Place for Animals...

...One backyard at a time!

 

I so love that motto from National Wildlife Federation and their program for backyard habitat!  It is imperative that we each contribute what we can.  My post about This Lovely Little Bird is being featured by Kathe with an E.  Thanks, Kathe!

 

 

 Did you know that Kathe enjoys bird watching?
 

  

My series about all the Garden Guests that visit our certified National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat can be found on my Gardening Page.  Some of the guests just might surprise you!

;-)  -Marci

Herbs: A Place to Begin... Snip & Enjoy

The last Friday of each month, I am so very honored to be a contributor for Inspiration Cafe'. 


It's such a fun site!  I hope you can join me there tomorrow for something cool!  Really!  You've got to see it tomorrow!

Here's my contribution from waaaaay back in August!

It is so much fun to be a monthly contributor for Inspiration Café!  Another month has flown past me!  Where did August go?  Quick introduction!  My name is Marci and I blog at Stone Cottage Adventures. 


  I'd like to tell you about a little series of posts I've been writing!

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin".

 

Herbs are amazing in so many different ways.  You can just snip and enjoy them!  Do you know they are delicious in salads?  Think about the herbs you add to recipes that are cooked.  Those same flavor profiles are delicious raw in a salad.  Just snip and enjoy!  I hear this question all the time:  What herbs taste nice with what ingredients?

Keep in mind that some herbs have a mild flavor, while others pack a punch!  The milder ones can be added as whole leaves.  The power hitters may need to be finely chopped and just sprinkled here and there.

This simple winter salad has a little dill in it.  I used regular ol' Ranch dressing on top.

If you attempt The Mother of All Summer Salads (It's really very easy!) you might consider adding something citrus-y like marjoram or lemon balm.  Would you prefer a savory herb?  Basil is amazing with berries.  Do you know that rosemary is yummy with oranges?  There is another option for this amazing salad from Danni at Silo Hill Farm!



Source

 Do you like taco salad?  Cilantro could be added.  Cilantro has a bold flavor.  Depending on your palate, it might need to be finely chopped.

Let me say it again.  Think about the herbs you add to recipes that are cooked.  Those same flavor profiles are scrumptious raw in a salad!  Just snip and enjoy!

Are you curious about other simple recipes using herbs?  Take a peek at my Recipes Page!  If you are interested in growing herbs, there are quite a few tips on my Gardening Page!  I'd love for you to visit my Stone Cottage each week as my little series continues.  If you are new to herbs,  I can give a place to begin!

;-)  -Marci

 

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #29

Welcome to another fantastic party!

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/ad9dc0c5-5f80-4ed7-a18c-c6e9fb42d156_zpsde41d9bb.jpg"/></a>  

 

 

 

Are you ready to party?
 

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

Joyce @ It's Your Life!
 

Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

 

Each co-host will be sharing her own picks for Features. This gives everyone a better chance of being featured. Be sure to check all of our blogs to see if you were featured!

 

My Feature this Week is:  Lavender Oatmeal Scrub from Summer's Acres



Take a look at this simple, effective recipe!

She has photographs of an event for Organic Farmers to show their beautiful products.  I hope you'll take a look!

If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.

<a href="http://back2basichealth.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a627/greenmary_smith/FeaturedMorningglory_zps96ec9fee.jpg"/></a>

We all love comments!  we try to comment on each and every link. 

Please hop around and show some love!

The party starts every Tuesday at 7am EST and will continue until Friday at 11:59pm.  Feel free to stop back any time and "like" your favorites.  Please visit other blogs if you have a moment. 

Share older posts as well as new ones.  No limit on links!

*Pictures should be your own* 

By linking up you give us permission to use these photos

 (with proper link backs) in our features. 

And now for the party!


;-)  -Marci 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  



 

I'm Bragging About It!

My post about an Ozark Autumn has been featured!

 

Thank you!

 

;-)  -Marci

Garden Guest: Robin's Nest

The north side of our front yard is a certified  National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat.  Really!  We have a certificate!  You can do the same by providing food, water, cover and places for wildlife to raise their young.  It is so much fun to see all of the critters that stop by for a visit.  I've begun a new series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

If you would like to see more, check my Gardening Page!

Another summer has flown, as have these baby robins.

  

Their parents built the nest in the cross vine (bignonia) on our fence.  We loved watching all the deliveries of insects and earth worms.  A key to habitat gardening is planting as many natives as possible.  This cross vine was purchased from Mary Ann King of Pine Ridge Gardens when it wasn't much more than a twig.

Music can be found (and linked) at Holli's Hoots and Hollers great party called Tuesday Tunes! 

My choice this week:  Born to Fly by Sara Evans

;-)  -Marci



Herbs: A Place to Begin... Holiday Decor

Being part of our county's Master Gardener Speakers Guild is a lot of fun. My program is titled "Herbs: A Place to Begin". It is for anyone who might be curious about growing herbs or is just beginning to use them. I give simple advice for ways to incorporate beautiful and tasty herbs into your every day life. After such a sweet reception to my presentation, I will be adding regular posts about herbs.

 

There are already several posts on my Gardening Page and my Recipes Page!

 

Watch for the ones titled "A Place to Begin"!

 

Isn't it funny how we anticipate the holidays each year and then suddenly, they just seem to sneak up on us!  All those office parties and family gatherings are just around the corner!  Would you like a few ideas for décor?



Sadie Cole Gordon created these amazing looks for last week's Herb Society meeting.  Her program was titled  Integrating Herbs with Florals to Make Wreaths and Floral Arrangements



This candle ring is a mixture of rosemary, St. John's Wort and Sweet Annie with purchased flora.



Rose hips and rosemary make this cake topper unique as well as spectacular.



Can you find the horseradish, tanzy, and Echinacea?  This is my kind of arrangement!  It's perfect for an Autumn gathering of friends!  Hydrangeas commune with magnolia, nandina and orchids.



While Sadie does purchase a few items, most of these arrangements are snipped from her garden, using whatever is lovely at the moment.

I hope this post inspires you to see herbs as something of beauty!  Check out my Recipes Page and  Gardening Page for more information and ideas.  Please come back for other simple uses and ways to add herbs into your everyday life! 

;-)  -Marci