Tuesday, September 30, 2014

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with Twist #78

October is shaping up to be crazy-cuckoo-busy.  I am hoping to find some sweet, intelligent and charming bloggers who will pretty-please guest post for me in October.  What am I looking for?  Well, the four corner stones of my blog are:
 
Gardening  Crafts  Sewing  Recipes
 
Any of those topics would be GREAT for my readers, but I am really open to just about anything that is family friendly.  I'd like to receive the post via email in HTML format.  I ask that you publish a little something to let your readers know we are hanging out together on the day you go live here.  The content can either be new or older than one year.  I also ask that if it is new content, please don't post it at your place for at least two weeks after it has been here. 
 
So, what do you get?  Well, my undying gratitude, of course!  ;-)  Between GFC and Bloglovin' my humble little blog has over 1,000 followers these days!  WOOT WOOT!  I can also give you ad space on my side bar for 60 days.
 
If you are interested, please email me at
 
Stone (dot) Cottage (dot) Adv @ cox (dot) net


Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist!

Back to the Basics
 
 
We're your co-hosts:
 
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!
 
 My feature this week is...  (drum roll please) 

This adorable Owl Hat Pattern

owl crochet hat free patterns newborn-1 year jennyandteddy

From Jenny and Teddy Craft Blog !  Did I mention the pattern is FREE?!  How cute!  ;-)
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
 
 
We all love comments!  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 on Bloglovin

 

Sunday, September 28, 2014

THANK YOU!

Handsome Husband and I would like to send a HUGE
 
THANK YOU
 
to everyone who participated in the Wounded Warrior Project fundraiser yesterday at Core Brewing!  Kudos to Chris, Justin and Matt for organizing the event!
 

What a fun day!  The cooking started early


with lots of smoke!


There were


gorgeous motorcycles.

 
Intense Razorback fans cheered hard,
 

but we sure were sad about the final score.  What an exciting game!

 
Great people
 

were eating yummy food


 while listening to live music!
 
 
And, of course, "Good People Making Good Beer" were raising money for a very worthy cause.



THANK YOU!

;-)  -Marci

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Hello, Friend! I am Looking for Guest Bloggers in October

Your hair is extra pretty today! 
 
I love your shoes!
 
Have you lost weight? 
 
Are you buttered up yet?  ;-)
 
 
October is shaping up to be crazy-cuckoo-busy.  I am hoping to find some sweet, intelligent and charming bloggers who will pretty-please guest post for me in October.
 
What am I looking for?  Well, the four corner stones of my blog are:
 
Gardening
Crafts
Sewing
Recipes
 
Any of those topics would be GREAT for my readers, but I am really open to just about anything that is family friendly.  I'd like to receive the post via email in HTML format.  I ask that you publish a little something to let your readers know we are hanging out together on the day you go live here.  The content can either be new or older than one year.  I also ask that if it is new content, please don't post it at your place for at least two weeks after it has been here. 
 
So, what do you get?
 
Well, my undying gratitude, of course! 
 
Between GFC and Bloglovin' my humble little blog has over 1,000 followers these days!  WOOT WOOT!  I can also give you ad space on my side bar for 60 days.
 
If you are interested, please email me at
 
Stone (dot) Cottage (dot) Adv @ cox (dot) net
 
;-)  -Marci

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

20 Wishes {September Update}

Here's my Original Post of 20 Wishes for 2014! 

September Updates are in GREEN!
 
1.  Celebrate 28 years of marriage!  We had a great time and I've written about it five times!  LOL!  My first post about it is Right HereAnd here is my Second PostThere were actually two posts in April.  HERE and THERE.  The last of the photos are right HERE.

2.  Vacation in Colorado.  Yep!  It was wonderful and I've only just begun to publish the pictures PLUS there was a cool sewing project related to the trip!   Check out my  Colorado T-Shirt Makeover!  There's a fun post about Murphy and WindmillsDo you like birds?  At Garden of the Gods, we photographed this Mexican Jay and some Magpies.


3.  Attend concerts.  We saw Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Dan + Shay AND Neil McCoy in Little Rock!  It was a GREAT concert!

Fitness Goals - Last year, one of my 20 Wishes led me to a Cross Fit gym.  Working out has taken on a whole new meaning for me and I am usually in the gym five days a week.  Since beginning Cross Fit, I've gone from a size 12 to a size 6!


So, in the month of July, I went shopping for a new gym.  Looking for the one that is right for right now.  I contacted 6 gyms via email.  Everyone was super nice.  Two didn't have a class time that worked for me and one is still being built.  So, I actually tried 3 different gyms and was very happy at all of them.  One gave me a 2 week pass and the others gave me a 1 week pass.   It was a fun little journey and I chose another CrossFit gym.  I am loving it!  'Still loving my new gym.  I am usually there each morning, Monday thru Friday.



4.  I want to be a size 4 by May 1 and maintain it thru the rest of the year my life.  'Not there yet, but the needle is moving again now that I have a new gym.  Sometimes, you need to make a change.

5.  Run four 5ks, one in each quarter of the year.  This just isn't going to happen.

 
6.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Handstand Pushups, no modifications.  Progress continues.  I can hold a handstand for 1 minute now!  Yay, me!  I've been goofing around with walking on my hands.  'Kinda fun! 

7.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Pull Ups, no modifications.  Slow Progress is better than no progress, right?  ;-)  I am so close to doing REAL pullups!  I can get my nose above the bar, but not quite my chin.  It's exciting!  Guess who can do a pull up without a band now!  I am so excited!  So far, three is about my max at a time, but WOW what an improvement from where I began!

8.  Complete an entire workout with REAL Toes to Bar, no modifications.  I keep trying and am getting really close!  The rhythm is getting much better, and some can be strung together now instead of just one at a time.  This is going to happen soon.  A new movement was recently introduced that is really helping my grip strength.  I love the diversity of Cross Fit skill proficiencies. 

9.  Get stretchy enough that I can do the splits again, both sides.  (You might be asking "Why?" on this one.  I have absolutely no idea.  'Just want to.)  It's going to happen!




If those get accomplished:  Bonus Goals are Double Unders and Ring Dips.  Oh, and I'd like to know how many grandmothers across our great nation are choosing Cross Fit goals?  ;-)  I'm going to need lots of support and a whole lot of tenacity.  Those are going to be tough to achieve!  If you have any quotes, tips or advice, please send them my way!

I am consistently getting Double Unders, but only one at a time. 

Sewing Goals

10.  Complete a quilt for each of my children.  One down!  You can see it HERE!

11.  Inspired by Marissa at Rae Gun Ramblings, sew something for myself monthly and join the fun at "Sew Our Stash"  This has been a GREAT goal for me!  I am gaining so much confidence in the sewing department!  I've made a Maxi Skirt!  Raglan Sleeve Top!  3 of The Ojai Wrap! and a couple of Commuter Cowls!  This Easy Pink T is getting lots of wear.  Here is a Vintage Baseball T created in July!  August was a little Lacy Number!

12.  Inspired from Adventures in Dressmaking,  follow Susannah's Sewing Resolutions.  Basically, I should fuss and worry over my pattern and fabric choices for ME just as much as when I am sewing for someone else.  Well, DUH!  ;-)  This wish ROCKS!  Here's a fun little post about Why I Sew.



These goals are being brought forward from my 2013 list!

13.  Take a photography class.

14.  Learn photo shop.

15.  Make my own herbal salad dressing.  I've been goofing around with this one, but not ready to post anything yet.  So, I made some, but really didn't like it.  If at first you don't succeed... 

16.  Create and write down 3 recipes for artisan cheese.  Cheese and yogurt making seems to be something I like to do in the fall.

17.  Re-Vamp my "Herbs:  A Place to Begin" presentation into a one hour program.  Done, twice actually!

18.  Learn more bloggy techy things.  Hmmm...  Surely I've learned something?

19.  Monetize and grow my blog.  I've been working on a Pinterest Board.  My humble little blog continues to pick up new followers here and there, and I *LOVE* meeting new people from around the world!

20.  Read and blog about 26 books.  Definitely on track and I love the monthly Literary Junkies parties!  If you like to read, please join the fun!  Jan Karon is currently my favorite author.  I continue to plow through her series of books and have loved them all.  Fall Women's Bible Study just began again two weeks ago.  Our group has lots in common and we are having a ball. 

Whew!  So, what have you been doing?  

;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #77

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist!

Back to the Basics
 
 
We're your co-hosts:
 
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!
 
 My feature this week is...  (drum roll please) 

This fascinating post about Gardur, Iceland !

Gardur

 From Brittney Ruth at The Rococo Roamer !  This is her first post in a series about a three day visit to Iceland.  The photos are stunning!  I can't wait to see the rest of them!  ;-)
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
 
 
We all love comments!  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 on Bloglovin

 

Monday, September 22, 2014

The Great Blog Train Winner Announcement!

God’s Growing Garden
The 21st GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination: DISNEYLAND, CALIFORNIA. It was a wonderful trip with 42 boxcars!! We (the Engineers) would like to thank all of you for travelling with us and we hope that you all had a wonderful time!
The Giveaway Winner is: K.C.
(I have contacted the winner by email)
Congrats!!!

 
W   A   N   T   E   D  :

The Great Blog Train by Angie Ouellette-Tower for godsgrowinggarden.com photo BlogTrainDestination_zps2925d251.jpg

(Being a "Destination Cohost" means that you get to pick our next destination!!  It also means that you will post The Great Blog Train on your blog on the first Wednesday of whatever month you will be cohosting (1 different cohost per month).  We (the engineers or hosts) will provide you with the html code for the blog hop & for the Giveaway - all you will have to do is add into that post some information on the destination that you picked (like population, known for, location etc - basic family friendly facts) and add a few pictures.  Also, if you cohost we ask that you promote it on your social media sites) (We are now scheduling for December 2014).

If you are interested in being a Co-host for the Great Blog Train then please click HERE and fill out the form (THANK YOU!!)

We are now featuring the top 3 Boxcars!  (These are the links that received the most clicks)
Easy No Bake Granola Bars by Heidi's Wanderings

Verses for When You Need Acceptance by Faithful Feat



Please join us for the OCTOBER Great Blog Trainon October 1st, 2014!





Saturday, September 20, 2014

Garden Guest: Common Buckeye

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 have a series of posts to show you our Garden Guests. 

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

 
This little visitor is a Common Buckeye butterfly, frequently confused as a moth, just because it is brown.  It's generally pretty small with a wingspan of about 2 inches.

 
If you would like to attract these little pretties to your yard, their host plants include snapdragons and native plantain.  Remember that baby butterflies are caterpillars!  Do not even think about using insecticides!
 
Now for some blogging music!  I am currently loving Ed Sheeran.  Here he is with Sing!
 
 
What's happening in your back yard?
 
;-)  -Marci


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Saying Goodbye to Missi

This sweet little dog is my all time favorite dog EVER.  I have cried and cried over losing her.  She passed away in July.
 
 
Here is a photo tribute to her precious life.

 

 

She's snuggling me while I read.
 

 





 
 

She was such a good friend.  I will miss her for a very long time.
 
;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #76

Welcome to Tuesdays with a Twist!

Back to the Basics
 
 
We're your co-hosts:
 
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!
 
 My feature this week is...  (drum roll please) 

This very clever, Cabinet Door Turned into a Tray



 From Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home!  I hope you visit Maria Elena and see the simple transformation from regular ol' door to lovely tray!  ;-)
 
If you've been featured we'd love for you to grab a button.
 
 
We all love comments!  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 on Bloglovin

Literary Junkies {September}

It's time for Literary Junkies!  I hope you will participate by either answering some or all of the questions in comments below, or better yet, write a post and join the party!

Pink Heels Pink Truck


Here are this month's questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.  Another one by Jan Karon, Light from Heaven!  Our Women's Bible Study just began again for the Fall and we are using Children of the Day by Beth Moore.  We haven't done a study by Beth in a couple of years.  It's a study of First and Second Thessalonians.  I'm excited!
 
2. There are a ton of movies coming out soon that were based off of books. Are there any you're particularly excited to see?  I want to see the next Hobbit movie.
 
 
3. With fall finally here for some of us, are there any books that you're particularly looking forward to reading in the season of big sweaters, blankets and hot chocolate?  I definitely read a lot more in the winter than any other time of year.  I have GOBS on my list!  Hopefully, I'll get thru several.
 
 
4. We only have 3.5 months left of 2014. Did you participate in any reading challenges? How are you doing?  My goal was to participate in Literary Junkies and read 26 books.  'Definitely on target for both!
 
 
5. What has been the best book you've read so far this year?  I am completely committed to the entire Mitford series by Jan Karon!  They are so sweet and charming, perfect for peaceful bedtime reading!

OK!  It's your turn!  Tell me about YOUR books! 

;-)  -Marci

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Interchangeable Wreath for Fall *HOOT*HOOT*

It feels like Autumn here in Arkansas!  The mornings are cool and leaves are beginning to look a little sleepy.  It's time to update the front door!
 

 Does anyone remember  My Basic Wreath Form?  It's been a while since I played with it.


  Well, it was laying around with some other doo dads.  Ribbon, old lids, chip board letters.


And our crapapple tree needed to be pruned a little bit.  Aren't crabapples pretty?


T-pins have been the absolute key to updating My Basic Wreath Form.  First the chip board letters were attached to the front of the old lids using scrap booking glue dots.  Next I squirted a big glop of hot glue on the back and quickly inserted a T-pin.  While the glue cooled, Autumnal ribbon was wrapped around the wreath and pinned in place.


Snips from our crabapple tree were added to cover about one third of the interchangeable wreath form, using just enough T-pins to hold them in place.  The lids-with-letters were attached opposite the branches.
 
 
A little Upcycled Owl snuggled into the branches and now welcomes visitors at our front door!


*HOOT*HOOT* 
 
Does it feel like Autumn where you are?

;-)  -Marci