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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Link Party for Book Lovers!

Hey, that's me!  Did you notice one page of my blog is devoted entirely to books?  ;-)
 
If you love them, too, you might want to visit Carole's Chatter because she is currently hosting
 
 
 
where you can link your favorites AND add to your reading list!  How fun!
 
My review of Victoria's Daughters 
 
Victoria's Daughters
 
is one of the features today!
 
Thank you, Carole!
 
;-)  -Marci


Link Party Feature!

Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose is hosting a link party today! 
 
 
My Tutorial for a Spring Bouquet is being featured!  How exciting is that?!
 
 
Thank you, Stephanie!
 
;-)  -Marci
 
 


PARTY TIME!! Tuesdays with a Twist

Are you ready for a fun party?  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!
 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  I must be in the mood for Spring! 

Take a look at the lovely Springtime Happiness



from Mary at The Cotton Apron .  How pretty!
 
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, March 30, 2015

Handmade Easter Basket 2015

I am excited to show you this year's Handmade Easter Basket!  You might remember I don't care for those cheap-o baskets stuffed with lots of plastic grass.  Blech!  Call me crazy, but I think the basket should be something useful year round!  Click HERE to see last year's idea!

What do you think?
 
 
Can you tell what it is?  Yes!  It is sitting on a bed!  There's your hint!  ;-)  OK.  One more hint.  THIS CLASS is where the skill was learned.  You've seen me make these before.
 
 
It is a pillow case that has been stuffed with Easter goodies!


These fabrics are so vibrant and cute and just feel like Spring!  They bring a big smile to my face!
 
 
Books were placed in the bottom to give the pillow case some structure.  We *LOVE* books around here, so they are frequent gifts.  Somewhat carefully, the rest of the presents were stacked on top of that.  This year, the loot includes a couple of dresses for church, sandals, an egg coloring kit, construction paper, colored pencils and, of course, candy!


 
Once all the stash was loaded, a bit of ribbon tied off the top and the band was folded over it!  Each child is receiving two handmade pillow cases.  One has a pillow inside, while the other has Easter gifts.
 

 
I have two more "baskets" to show you, PLUS a tutorial on how to make your own pillow cases!  Please stay tuned!  ;-)
 
May you and your family have a very blessed Easter this year!

 
;-)  -Marci

Friday, March 27, 2015

You Might Want to Read This

News on this blog tends to be pretty light.  No heavy stuff.  However, when I read the March 20th report from the International Agency for Research on Cancer I felt it should be shared.
 
Two products caught my attention immediately. 
 
Glyphosate, also known as Roundup, a commonly used herbicide.
 
Diazinon, a commonly used insecticide.
 
I encourage you to read the entire report for yourself.  The link is listed below.  This is the sentence I feel should be shouted from roof tops warning anyone who might be using these products.
 


"The herbicide glyphosate and the insecticides malathion and diazinon were classified as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A)."  

Probably carcinogenic to humans

We frequently use Roundup along the edges of our garden and flower beds.  Well, not anymore!  Diazinon is used by many lawn treatment companies in our area.
 
Here is the link to the report.


;-)  -Marci

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Wonderful Quote

The power of persistence. 

Has something come up in your marriage, relationship, or friendship? Need some help getting through it? Call 1-800-DR LAURA! I'm live, standing by to take your call today from 11-2 PT / 2-5 ET on SiriusXM Stars 109.

A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.

;-)  -Marci

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

LINK PARTY!! Tuesdays with a Twist

Are you ready for a fun party?  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!
 
 Y'all make choosing features so difficult!  There were GOBS of great links last week!  Thank you!  I must be in the mood for Spring! 

Take a look at the lovely Jute Eggs



from Luanne at Our Cozy Creative Life

and

this super cute Jean's Apron



from Zenda at She's Lady of the Manor

 
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, March 23, 2015

Announcing The Winner!

Destination Cohosts WANTED!
(see information below)
___________________________________
Checkout the top 3 "Boxcars" (Bloggers) who received the most "clicks" from the March Great Blog Train (blog hop)!


 Great Blog Train
The 27th GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination: Columbus, OHIO. It was a wonderful trip with 52 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: L.B. (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 May 2015).

If you are interested in being a Destination 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)
Pretzel Shamrock Snack by "Christianity Cove"
shamrock pretzels St. Patrick’s Day Snack


Estonian Kringle Braided Bread by "Flour Me With Love"
Estonian-Kringle-Braided-Cinnamon-Sugar-Bread-Flour-Me-With-Love


Aluminum Foil that Gets Stuck! by "Momfever"





Please join us for the APRIL Great Blog Train
on April 1st, 2015!






Sunday, March 22, 2015

Quick Maple Pecan Breakfast

Even though Spring is just around the corner, our mornings are still pretty chilly.  Hot cereal is a nice way to feel a little warmer!
 
Not long ago, I posted a recipe for Cranberry, Almond and White Chocolate oatmeal.  Since it received such a nice reception, I thought you might like another breakfast idea.
 
 
Maple Pecan Oatmeal
 
1/3 cup Old Fashioned Quaker Oats
1/6 cup Chopped Pecans
1 - 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup
1 teaspoon Butter
2/3 cup Water
 
Stir ingredients in microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on high for two and a half minutes.  Stir.  Let cool slightly. 
 
Enjoy!
 
What is your favorite breakfast on cold mornings?
 
;-)  -Marci


Saturday, March 21, 2015

March Harvest and a Greenhouse Update

For my Twenty Wishes 2015 , Number 15 is
 
Harvest something edible from either the green house or garden 10 months of the year
 
The winter months are, of course, the trickiest ones!  I wrote the goal to challenge myself to use the greenhouse for more than just winter storage.
 
Harvesting something from a seed that I planted is so very gratifying, especially in mid-March!  Check out this lettuce!  Isn't it pretty?!  It's tasty, too!
 
 
How do I grow it?  Well, Handsome Husband cut a 55 gallon barrel in half and filled it with soil.
 
  
There is lettuce and spinach planted toward the front
 
 

 
with snow peas toward the back.  For climbing we have bamboo stakes and some cattle panel.  The peas are currently about two feet tall.



My fancy gardening utensil for transplanting small sprouts.  ;-)

 
What do you plan to grow this year?
 
;-)  -Marci


Friday, March 20, 2015

Tutorial for a Spring Bouquet

 Can you feel it?  Spring is just around the corner!
 
 
 Daffodils are brightening the landscape across our area!  I love these harbingers of Spring and thought you might enjoy seeing how I arrange them in bouquets.
 

With my empty vase and sidewalk just beginning to show signs of Spring,


my trusty assistant and I begin!  ;-)
 
Kati Cat
 
 When arranging balanced, traditional, bouquets, I've been taught to think in thirds.  Since the jonquil family can have floppy stems, I like to use a bit of tape.  I place the tape so that it divides the vase into three parts.  This happens to be very narrow, clear floral tape, but just about any narrow tape would work.
 

We're going to do that again. Cross two more tape strips evenly over the first ones, creating a nice little tic tac toe board!  ;-)  It's time to start cutting the greenery!


A total favorite for my arrangements is, of all things, gooseberry stems.  I bet you didn't see that choice coming.  I planted a Gooseberry Bush along my sidewalk completely by mistake, thinking it was something else.  It was a gift from a friend's garden.  Even though it has been moved numerous times, that stubborn gooseberry is still along the sidewalk.  I am constantly trimming it back, and so, it lands in bouquets.  Keep that in mind if you ever plant a Gooseberry.  Make sure it is placed where you want it to be FOR EV ER.  'Just sayin'.


Place the greenery in every third slot crossing the stems.


Do it again.  Can you see the grid forming in the bottom?


Keep placing them around the vase in every third slot until a stem will stand straight up for you in the middle.  You might notice the center stem is Yaupon Holly.  It needed a hair cut, too!  ;-)  Use plants that are ready for a trim and you complete a chore while you decorate your home!  It's all about multi tasking, Girls!  ;-)


I want this bouquet to be mostly daffodils, so some might say I am being a bit stingy with the greenery, but, of course, that is completely subjective to the look of each arrangement.  Now for the fun part!  The flowers!


Just like we began with the gooseberry branches, place the daffodils in every third slot crossing the stems at first.  Continue with that nice grid in the bottom of the vase, working from the outside in.  As you fill the center of the bouquet, the  stems will be more upright.  All those crossed stems will make that happen for you!  Keep placing flowers at heights you prefer until you have the fullness you like.  In a traditional arrangement, the flowers will be no taller than two times the height of the vase.  Again, think in thirds to get balanced proportions.


I really don't have anything blooming right now that I wanted for filler, so I just tucked in some unopened daffodil blooms for a bit of texture.  Here is my finished bouquet near some bunnies and a pot of violas.
 
 

  Kati is happy with the results and so am I! 

Hopefully, this little tutorial will give you an idea or two for creating something lovely in your home!  What harbingers of Spring do you love the most?
 
;-)  -Marci

Thursday, March 19, 2015

'Love This Quote!



Find a weakness.  Make it your strength.  Repeat.

;-)  -Marci

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Lichen Hikin' Wordless Wednesday



 








 
 
 



 
 
The first three photos were taken just off White Rock Mountain Road. The others are from our stops on the ATV Tour.  As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
 
;-)  -Marci