Leaf Ring Holder from just a Scrap

When life gives you a teething puppy, make one of these!



 While we love Sadi Bear very much, our sweet Akita - Mastiff mix is much taller than our Chihuahuas!  She keeps surprising me with just how high she can reach!



My dried gourds have become a favorite target for her.  She doesn't completely destroy them, but usually chews off the handles.  This gourd made me think of a Box Turtle, so it became one!  ;-)



The funny scrap cut to make the turtle looks kind of like a leaf to me.
 



In cartoons when a mouse or other small creature paddles downstream after a rainstorm, they are usually in a little boat made from a leaf.

 



Using green leather dye, my little scrap changed colors.

 

It now sits on my dresser and holds my rings and a tiny glass red bird.

 

 I love how each gourd picks up color differently.  The freckles and flaws are beautiful!  If you like this gourd project, take a peak at my CRAFTS Page.  I've done quite a few!

 

 Do you have a teething puppy at your house?  Any tips on survival?

;-)  -Marci



It is Time for a LINKY PARTY!

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Danielle @ Homesteading McCoy

 

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!  Drum roll, please...

No feature this week.  Boo!
 

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

Book Review: The Queen's Governess

By Karen Harper

 

 

PHOTO SOURCE

 

 

Synopsis from the Author:

 

I am a life-long, avid anglophile and fan of all things Tudor.  (Yes, I even watch The Tudors on Showtime, though I would take me hours to list all the historical inaccuracies in the series.)  But in my reading, I always noticed a fascinating personality who seemed to stay in the background but who was, in a way, the power behind Elizabeth’s throne—Katherine “Kat” Champernowne Ashley, the queen’s governess.  And, since Elizabeth lost her mother at age three and did not remember her, Kat was what we would call today the queen’s foster mother.

I had included Kat as a secondary character in my QUEEN ELIZABETH I MYSTERY SERIES (9 books, still available in paperback from on-line book sites,) but I wondered about the mystery of Kat’s life.  And so began years of research to find the real Kat Ashley.  She was part of the tumultuous lives not only of Elizabeth Tudor but of her infamous mother, Anne Boleyn.  I begin Kat’s story with Anne’s beheading and backtrack to Kat’s early life.  As Elizabeth says in the novel, “Anne Boleyn gave me life, but Kat Ashley gave me love."

 

 

My thoughts:

 

After biographies, historical fiction is probably my favorite genre.  This book is very well written.  There are many tender moments between Kat and Elizabeth, as would be expected of a 3 year old left with only her governess.  At times, Elizabeth is allowed to be at court, tutored alongside her brother, Edward.  Other times she and her older sister, Mary, are ordered to stay in country houses.  The girls, along with their governesses, are completely at the mercy of the whims of their current stepmother.  Throughout Elizabeth's tumultuous childhood, Kat is allowed to remain with her.  I am not well versed in the history of Elizabeth I and immensely enjoyed this book. 

 

 What are you reading?

;-)  -Marci



The Great Blog Train Results {July}

Announcing winners is such a fun job!

___________________________________
Checkout the top 3 "Boxcars" (Bloggers) who received the most "clicks" from the July 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 31st GREAT BLOG TRAIN was a blast! - We all safely reached our destination: L'Ile Perrot, QUEBEC.  It was a wonderful trip with 49 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 are: K.C. (The winner has been contacted 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 October 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)
All of the featured Boxcars will be pinned to the
Great Blog Train Pinterest Board
(click HERE to follow the board)

Banana Boats by "Turnips2Tangerines"



Crochet Wire Wrap Bracelets by "Content in the Meantime"

 


Framed Natural Tree Roots by "Redo It Yourself Inspirations"





Please join us for the AUGUST Great Blog Train

on August 5th, 2015!

 

Sign up to receive emails about The Great Blog Train

Just Get It Done

Don't think about making art, just get it done.  Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it.  While they are deciding, make even more art.  -Andy Warhol

LINK PARTY! Tuesdays with a Twist #120

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Danielle @ Homesteading McCoy

 

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!  Drum roll, please... 

It is a CUTE Panda Pillow with a FREE Pattern



from Teresa at Keeping It Real!

 

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!

It is so wonderful to be featured on another blog!  Wow!

 

My Quick Tutorial

 

 

for Bandana Bows

 

 

sort of like

 

 

Rosie's is being featured today at The Chicken Chick blog hop

 

 

for all Clever Chicks!

 

 

Thanks, Kathy!

 

;-)  -Marci

Color Vibe 5K Photos and Survival Tips

Have you ever participated in a Color Run?  This was my first and I did it with my favorite running buddies!

 

These are some seriously cool peeps right here, our daughter and all three grandbabies!

 

 

 

Here are our BEFORE photos all clean and shiny! 

 

 (Notice my little polka dot Bandana Bow?  Click HERE for quick tutorial!)

As we arrived, the music was rockin' loud and the announcer was instigating color fights!

In these photos, we hadn't even begun the race yet!  This was after ONE color fight!  If you think we look crazy, you should see the other guy!  ;-)  Our grandson LOVED the friendly battles!

 

Right on time, participants began the 5K course through the Washington County Fairgrounds! 

 

I really liked how we were released in groups of about 200 every 5 minutes or so.  There were lots of families like us with little ones.  The organizers kept us somewhat spaced so no one was trampled or separated from their buddies.

Throughout the race, more colored powder was thrown on the runners.  Our girls especially loved the pink station!  Lots of volunteers gave handfuls of color to the kids.  There were silly battles all over the place!

 

Here is our AFTER photo.  Can you tell we had a blast? 

 

Survival Tips:

 

1.  I would definitely recommend wearing things that you don't mind getting messy.

 

2. Our run was on a very hot and humid day.  Lots of families had little water guns.

 

3.  Even though the colored powder is not toxic, the kids were pretty wild with it.  Sunglasses definitely helped our little ones enjoy the vibrant fun! 

 

 

 

4.  Make sure you change clothes before getting back in your car. 

 

5.  Bring along some towels to protect your seats AND some plastic bags to contain the crazy color clothes!

 

6.  I am glad I purchased extra packets of color during online registration.  The kids LOVED throwing it on each other and anyone who got near them!

 

7.  Definitely pick up your registration packets before race day.  There is LOTS of activity the day of the race!

 

8.  Don't be too serious about your run.

 

9.  There is lots of laughter throughout the race.  Several participants wore bandanas over their faces.  While the colored powder is not toxic, it really doesn't taste that great.

 

 

10.  Take lots of photos.

 

 With a little planning, you will be rewarded with big smiles and sweet memories!

 

What colorful things are happening near you?

 

;-)  -Marci

Box Turtle from Teething Puppy

I keep telling you how our new teething puppy, introduced HERE chews stuff.

First it was an APPLE GOURD that became a Surprise Flower Pot. 



Next it was THIS Gourd that shows our Razorback Spirit! 



Well, here we go again.  I've learned to appreciate her artwork after she (ahem) removes the handle. 

 

 

 

What do you see?

I see a box turtle.

The bottom was cut away so the gourd could sit flat.  (Remember that scrap.  ;-)  You will see it again!)

It took a while to sand the edges into the curve I wanted



Green leather dye covered the entire gourd, inside and out, but for me it was just a bit too blue and awfully flat looking even though the gourd has a beautiful grid, similar to box turtles.

 

 Leather dye was added again, this time the color choice is "sand".  I just painted what I saw as the grid to give a bit of depth.  The leather dye was allowed to dry.  Sometimes I add polyurethane, but no this time.  I love it!

My box turtle is currently sitting in my kitchen window just because it makes me smile!

I hope your home is filled with happiness!

;-)  -Marci

LINK PARTY! Tuesdasy with a Twist #119

We're your co-hosts:
 

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Danielle @ Homesteading McCoy
 

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!  Drum roll, please... 

It is a wonderful tutorial Inter Changeable Book Page Wreath




from Carolyn at  Our Gilded Abode!

 

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

Bandana Bows - Tutorial

 It's that time of year when you just need a little something to tuck your hair away from your face.

 

I love all the "Rosie, The Riveter" options girls are wearing this Summer!

 

 

PHOTO SOURCE

For mine, bandanas seemed like a great option!  Hobby Lobby had 22'" x 22" bandanas for 99 cents each!  Score!

Each one received a quick press with the iron.  Next it was folded in half to make a triangle, then folded in half again, still making a triangle.  Notice there is writing on one corner of the bandana?  You can see it in the lower right corner of the photo.  I stayed away from any writing or flaws I didn't like.

I used my self healing grid and straight edge to cut a four inch strip, (two inches on each side of the fold) the length of the bandana.  The cool thing about sewing your own is choosing just how wide or narrow you want yours!

With right sides facing, the long edge was sewn with a straight stitch and then finished with a zig zag.  (The lucky ducks with sergers might prefer serging, but I don't have one.)  Leave the ends open.  The tips of the bandana are already hemmed, so no need for finishing those!  Bonus!

Take the long tube you've created, turn it right side out, and press.  I like to use a wooden ruler to help me keep the seam straight. 

 

That's it!  We're finished!

 

Here we are at a ballgame on Independence Day!  It was a fun evening of baseball and fireworks with some sweet friends of ours!

 

 

And a close up of the same photo so you can see my cool bandana bow!  ;-)  It is perfect for keeping my curls out of my eyes!  Sometimes I wear it with the bow visible.  Other times, I tuck the bow under my hair at my neck and it just looks like a fabric headband.

 

Two for one!  ;-)

 

 

You can see I chose traditional bandana prints in red and white, but also wanted some polka dots!  Who can resist a little leopard?  Not me!  These have become my "go to" hair accessory for the Summer!

 

 How would you wear them?

 

 ;-)  -Marci