Boy Next Door

Meet Hugo!

 

Handsome Fella.

 

He lives next door, but likes to come over for play dates with our pack of crazy, wild dogs!  ;-)

 

There is just a chain link fence between our property line, so we frequently see all the animals gathered around visiting with each other.  'So sweet!

 

 

See Hugo Run!  ;-)

 

When we go out of town, Hugo's family cares for our animals.  If Hugo needs a babysitter, we are happy to help!  It takes a village!  ;-)

 

How do you and your neighbors work with each other?

 

;-)  -Marci

Keep Trying...

I already know what giving up feels like.

I want to see what happens if I don't.

Neil Rey

;-)  -Marci

'Time to Par-tay! Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party

Are you ready for a fun party?  We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Deb @ Kneaded Creations
 

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!  

My feature this week is How to Make a Clock Cath Kidston Would be Proud of



from Claire at Heart Handmade UK.  It's not what I thought it was!  ;-)  This is a super clever project!

 

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 
 

 

Link Party Feature!

What a delightful surprise!  My Tutorial for Pillowcases

 

 

 received the honor of being featured by Joy at Yesterfood!  She is one of the lovely hostesses for Treasure Box Tuesday! 

 

 

I hope you will link all your treasures with her!  It is such a fun party!

 

;-)  -Marci

Garden Guest: Robin Eggs

 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, click HERE to visit my Gardening Page. 

 

 

Have you ever heard something described as Robin's Egg Blue?  Well, these are robin eggs!  Four of them.  The nest is built in Mahonia bushes right outside a bedroom window.  The Mahonia berries are described as Robin's Egg Blue, and I would say they are pretty close!  ;-)

 

 

 Can you see the white window ledge and the nest?  The nest is just to the side of the window.  We can watch the parents coming and going from inside our house, but they are too far to the right to photograph them from inside.  When the parents were away from the nest, Handsome Husband set up a ladder and I quickly snapped a photo.

I've actually written about another bird in these very bushes before.  Click HERE if you would like to see it.

Now for some blogging music.  I gotta go with Fleetwood Mac since we just saw them in concert.  Here is The Chain.

What's happening in your back yard?

;-)  -Marci

Fun Times at The Rock

Last weekend, we went skipping down to Little Rock.  It's about a three hour drive for us if we don't stop along the way, BUT there's a wonderful little BBQ place in Ozark that we MUST visit any time we are that direction!  It's called Rivertowne.  Mmmmmm...  'Seriously good food!

 

Here's a link to their menu:  Rivertown BBQ  I recommend everything!  ;-)

 

 We were at The Rock for the Fleetwood Mac concert.  They were GREAT!  It was just them and they played  for about three hours.  Mick's drum solo lasted something like ten minutes, which was the only time Lindsey left the stage.  Can you imagine playing guitar for three hours straight?!  WOW!  I bet his fingers were tired. 

 

 

'Not a great photo, but if you squint and tilt your head to the right, you can see them from left to right, Christine on keyboard, John on bass, right next to Stevie, Mick on drums and then Lindsey and his amazing lead guitar.

 

On our way home we stopped AGAIN at Rivertowne BBQ!  I know, right?  ;-)  I have never ordered something I didn't like.  Seriously!  The entire menu is delicious.

 

How was your weekend?

 

;-)  -Marci

I'm a Little Tea Pot Tutorial

I'm a little tea pot

short and stout.

 

Here is my handle.

Here is my spout!

 

This lovely little teapot was a gift from my sister.  I absolutely *LOVE* the crackle!  This time of year is great for creating bouquets.  There are usually fresh cut flowers sitting next to our telephone.  I just enjoy them so much!

 

Since this teapot was a sentimental gift, it's one of my favorite vases.  It is short, round and such a pretty shade of green, perfect for bouquets!  Just ask Kati Cat, my trusted assistant!  ;-)

I think she likes it.  Well, maybe not?  It's hard to say.

Would you like another tutorial for arranging your flowers?

You can find a more detailed tutorial by clicking HERE!  I am using the same technique.

We begin with very narrow floral tape dividing the teapot into nine sections, forming a nice little tic tac toe board!  ;-)  Floral tape adds a lot of support, especially when working with a short vase.

Add green stems in every third slot, crossing at the bottom to make a nice little grid.  Keep going around the container, adding stems until one flower can stand straight up in the middle.  At this point, I am using gooseberry for the greenery and simple white tulips.

 

Notice the grid.  I continue working around my container adding like stems in every third slot.  So, for example, I would add three yellow daffodils, evenly spaced in every third slot.  Then three white daffodils, evenly spaced in every third slot.  I make laps around and around with like flowers until I am happy with the volume of the bouquet.

 

Here we are with a full container.  Stepping back, I don't really like the shape of it.  A few stems are pulled and cut just a smidge shorter.  For height, I like to keep the bouquet no more than two times taller than my container.  I also like to echo the shape of my container.  Since the teapot is short and round, I would prefer my bouquet feel short and round.  The tulip with a bent stem was deliberately placed opposite the spout.

 

 

Kati Cat seems to like it better now.  ;-)  Me, too!

 

We are finished!

I've written a tutorial for a Bouquet Arranged "By Hand".  If you would like to see it, just click HERE.

Do you like to arrange flowers?  What are your favorite vases?  What are your favorite flowers?

;-)  -Marci 



Announcing The Winners!

Link up your blog each month & you just might be featured!
___________________________________
Checkout the top 3 "Boxcars" (Bloggers) who received the most "clicks" from the April Great Blog Train (blog hop)!

<a href="http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/p/great-blog-train.html" rel="”nofollow”" target="_blank"><img alt=" Great Blog Train" src="http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/AngieOuelletteTower/My%20Blog%20Stuff/BlogTrainNewest300_zpse83d52e1.jpg" /></a>

The 28th GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination: Campbell Hill, British Columbia, CANADA.  It was a wonderful trip with 41 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 Winners: M.T. & M.A. (I have contacted the winners by email)
Congrats!!!

W   A   N   T   E   D  :

(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 August 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)

Sometimes You Just Have to Walk Away by "Four Seasons of Blessings"

10 Signs Spring Has Arrived! by "The Fabulous Journey"




Runners Fear by "Mom's Home Run"

Please join us for the MAY Great Blog Train

on May 6th, 2015!

Sign up to receive emails about The Great Blog Train

Wordless Wednesday: Squirrel vs. Chihuahua

 

 

Disclaimer:  No Chihuahuas were harmed in the creation of this post.  The squirrel, however, may have been deafened by all the high-pitched barking.
 

;-)  -Marci

 



LINK PARTY!! Tuesdays with a Twist

Are you ready for a fun party?  We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Deb @ Kneaded Creations
 

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!  

My feature this week is Vintage Rattan Stool Makeover



from Tracy at Blu Ridge Vintage.  There are some great before and after photos in this post!

 

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 
 

 

April Harvest

 Yummy spinach!
 

 Tasty lettuce!

 

These were both harvested from the greenhouse.  A few things have been planted outside,
 

 

 but we need our night temps to get a little warmer before we see much action there!  I'll keep you posted.

How is your garden coming along this year?

;-)  -Marci

Pillow Cases, Just the Way You Like Them!

My latest sewing addiction is Pillow Cases!  They are a quick, easy project.  I *love* creating them just the way I like them!  The possibilities are absolutely endless!

 

Take a look!

 

 

Do you already have some ideas about what would look nice in YOUR bedroom?  ;-)

 

Here's how you do it!

 

If you are using fabric with a 45 inch width, don't get worried about the width when cutting.

 

Cut the main body fabric 27 inches by 45 inches. 

 

For the band, cut the fabric 12 inches by 45 inches. 

Roll up the fabric for the body of the pillow case so that the roll is less than six inches round, but still 45 inches wide.  Lay it on top of the band fabric.  The band should be right side up.

 

Wrap the band around the body fabric aligning both edges of the band with one edge of the body.  Pin in place and sew.  Remember to keep the roll out of you way and only sew the edge.

Gently tug the body from the center of the band.  Press the band seam flat.

Here's why it's OK to not worry if you are using fabric that is 45 inches wide.  Line up the edges and clean up any selvages or rough spots.  I have to fold mine in half, just because that's the space I have to work with.

 

 Here's where we begin the French Seam Tutorial from yesterday!  ;-)  Complete French Seams down the long side of the pillow case, then complete French seams across the bottom.  Press.

We are finished!

Whether you prefer Spiderman

or vintage calico,



you can now have pillow cases just the way you like them!

 

 What fabric would you choose?

 

 ;-)  -Marci

Ooh La La... French Seams Tutorial

French Seams!

This is a skill that I just recently learned in a pillow case sewing class.  With lots of practice, I am finally ready to share it with you!

 

The photos for this tute are from a pillow case.  It's a new sewing addiction.  ;-)  I promise to keep the directions very general, though, so you can use them for anything.  French Seams make the finished item look so polished.

Here we go!

 

 

Begin French Seams with a very clean edge.  You can see I am using a ruler and cutting wheel.

Here's the crazy part.  With WRONG Sides facing, sew a narrow seam. 

Turn the item you are sewing to RIGHT SIDES facing (That feels better, doesn't it?) and press well.  I have learned the hard way to iron this seam nice and flat for the next step.

Now sew a wider seam than the first.  This completely encases the first one.  No raw edges!

 

Doesn't it look nice?

 

At this point, you can top stitch the seam.  My sewing machine won't accommodate that on the long tube of fabric that is a pillow case.  I hope you come back tomorrow when I give the complete tutorial for a pillow case.  You, too, can have a new sewing addiction!  ;-)

 

How do you like to finish seams?

 

;-)  -Marci