Love your Spouse Photo Challenge

 

 

‪#‎LoveYourSpouseChallenge‬.

 

 I was challenged by our daughter to post photos on Facebook with my beloved spouse for 7 days and tag 2 people each day to keep the Celebration of Love and promotion of Marriage going.

These are the ones I chose to share.

I hope these cherished memories with my Handsome Husband make you smile! 

 

Today I encourage anyone to participate who would enjoy this photo challenge!

 

 #LoveYourSpouseChallenge

 

 

 

;-)  -Marci

Salsa with Heirloom Vegetables

 

Most of our friends are familiar with jalapenos, but we get questions about the Havasu peppers.  We grow both, so I thought you might like to see them side by side.  Handsome Husband prefers his salsa with lots of spicy heat.  Me, not so much.  Havasu peppers have a similar flavor as jalapenos, but with less heat.  I like combining the two, especially in salsas and pico.



 

 

We've been getting enough rain that our tomatoes are splitting.  They have to be used immediately or risk becoming spoiled.  Salsa is a tasty option!  Here's my recipe:

8 cups of Chopped Heirloom Tomatoes

2 Jalapeno Peppers

1 Havasu Pepper

1 White Onion

2 Limes

2 Garlic Cloves

1 Tablespoon Salt

Cilantro

Juice the limes.  Chop the veggies.  Toss it all in a big bowl.  Stir.  Chill.

Enjoy!

I call this recipe "Salsa" but I think it's technically pico since I don't cook it.  'Not sure, but whatever the name, the taste is YUM!

;-)  -Marci
 



Christmas in July Link Party - Week 4 - Interchangeable Wreaths

Week 4  {Heavy Sigh} 

 

This post feels somewhat bittersweet.  I've really enjoyed hosting our Christmas in July parties with these lovely bloggers!

 

   

2 Crochet Hooks
 

Across The Blvd.
 

SewCraftyCrochet
 

The Boondocks Blog
 

One Mama's Daily Drama
 

My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
 

Purple Hues and Me
 

Purfylle

 

 Please join us!





This week I'd like to talk about my Interchangeable Wreath.

Click HERE for the how - to on the basic form.

I've created several wreaths for just about every season, but here are the Christmas options!





Poinsettias





Stars and Snowflakes





Snuggly Sweaters


I can't wait see what you bring to the party this week!
 

HERE'S THE LINK UP!  ;-)

 



An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party #172

It's Tuesday, so that means Party Time!  I love seeing all of your clever projects!

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Joyce @ Heavenly Bodies

 

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

Choosing features is so very difficult!   I love seeing all the creative posts!  Thank you for joining the party!

 

Take a look at this amazing post!  All of my readers that enjoy gardening are going to FLIP for this one!  ;-)   

The Beginnings of a Dye Garden

 

from Sandra at Mitten State Sheep and Wool!

  If you have 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 lovely surprise!  My recipe for

 

 

 

 

Farm Fresh Lasagna in a Slow Cooker

 

is being featured today at

 

 

 

 

The Art of Home-Making Mondays Link Party hosted at Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth!

 

What a great way to begin the week!  I am so honored!

 

;-)  -Marci

Those Labrador Puppies...

 

Who do you suppose might have been digging in the garden

 

 

 

 

or napping in the sand box?

 



Six pack abs are SOOOOO over rated!  ;-)

 

I hope these silly little sweethearts have you smiling!

 

;-)  -Marci

Lime Cucumber Tomato Salad

For a light, refreshing side dish, try this!

 

4 Large Tomatoes - Coarsely Chopped

2 Large Cucumbers - Partially peeled and Coarsely Chopped

1 Havasu Pepper

2 Green Onions, finely chopped

1 Lime

A few sprigs of Cilantro, chopped

Salt and Pepper to Taste

 

Zest and juice the lime.  Core and chop the tomatoes.  Today, I happen to be using 1 Brandywine, 1 Delicious and 2 Plum Yellows all fresh from my garden.  Really, any type of tomato will work!  ;-)  I prefer cucumbers with peel, so, of course, Handsome Husband likes cukes without the peel.  Opposites attract, right?  I peel ribbons down the cucumber, so they are about halfway peeled in an effort to keep peace in our marriage.  Those are given a quick chop along with the Havasu pepper and green onions.

 

All the ingredients are tossed in the bowl and stirred.  A little salt and pepper is added.

 

 

Mmmmm....  We had ours with empanadas.

 

 What's cookin' at your place?

 

 ;-)  -Marci

Link Party Feature!

What an honor!!  My post

 

 

 

 

Daylily Varieties in my Garden

 

has been featured at

 

Redo It Yourself Inspirations

 

Thank you, Robin!

 

 ;-)  -Marci

Christmas in July Link Party - Week 3 - Stocking Stuffers For Furry Family and Friends

A lot of times, I wait until the very last second to get Christmas gifts ready.  Thanks to the peer pressure ;-) of these lovely bloggers

   

2 Crochet Hooks
 

Across The Blvd.
 

SewCraftyCrochet
 

The Boondocks Blog
 

One Mama's Daily Drama
 

My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
 

Purple Hues and Me
 

Purfylle

 

 I am getting organized for Christmas and actually have a few things accomplished already!  We will be hosting a Christmas in July Blog Hop each Wednesday in July.  Please join us!





If you visit my blog very often, you know we love our pets!  This week I'd like to talk about a stocking stuffer for the furry members of our family.  Here's a couple of recipes our kiddos LOVE to make and our pups LOVE to receive!

Stone Cottage Dog Biscuits

Dog Biscuits with Oats

All of our favorite neighbors have dogs, too.  These are a great little present for our fuzzy buddies over the fence.

 

Ivan can't wait to see all of your Christmas ideas!

 

 

 

HERE'S THE LINK UP!  ;-) 

 



An InLinkz Link-up

Tuesdays with a Twist Link Party #171

I love seeing all of your clever projects!

Mary @ Back to the Basics

 Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Angie @ God's Growing Garden

Joyce @ Heavenly Bodies

 

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

Choosing features is so very difficult!   I love seeing all the creative posts!  Thank you for joining the party!

 

Take a look at this amazing recipe!  Homemade Ketchup 

from Floyd Family Homestead!

  If you have 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




 

Our Back Yard This Week, Chihuahuas and Chickens

Few people believe me when I say our dogs and chickens share a back yard.  Look!  ;-)  This photo is proof! 



 What's been happening in your back yard?

 

;-)  -Marci

Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake

We are getting a bumper crop of blackberries this year!  YUM!  I am having fun being creative with them.  They are definitely the star of this recipe.

 

  

My Original Pound Cake Recipe

 

Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake

 

Followed the directions of  My Original Pound Cake Recipe  up to adding vanilla.  At this point, I paused and divided the dough in half.  In one half, a teaspoon of vanilla was stirred into the mix. 

 

For the other half, I knew I was in for an experiment.  One fourth cup of my Homemade Blackberry Syrup was added.  I tasted the batter.  'Not quite enough.  Another one fourth cup Blackberry Syrup was mixed into the dough and tasted.  'Almost there.  One more time!  ;-)  One fourth cup Blackberry Syrup was added.  This time when I tasted the batter it was just right!  ;-)  So, if you want to skip the experiment, add 3/4 cup blackberry syrup!

 

In my tube pan, I swirled the vanilla and blackberry batter along with a bit of the Blackberry Syrup.

 

The cake was baked in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

 

 

Blackberry Glaze

 

1/2 Cup My Homemade Blackberry Syrup

 1 Tablespoon Butter
2 Cups Powdered (confection) Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla

 

 Mix above ingredients together.  Mine was a  bit stiff, so I added milk in 1 Tablespoon increments until it was more of a glaze.  I added 2 tablespoons.

Drizzle over cake!  Isn't it a pretty color?!

Since we have so many blackberries this year, I filled the center and edges with fresh ones!  YUM!

This was our tea party treat along with Blackberry Lemonade!

Do you have big plans for the weekend?

;-)  -Marci

Christmas In July Link Party - Week 2 - More Herbs, Please!

These lovely bloggers are my co-hosts

   

2 Crochet Hooks
 

Across The Blvd.
 

SewCraftyCrochet
 

The Boondocks Blog
 

One Mama's Daily Drama
 

My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
 

Purple Hues and Me
 

Purfylle

 

Please join our Christmas in July Blog Hop each Wednesday for the entire month of July!




 

Today I am bringing you my "Go To" hostess gift.  Seriously, I use this one all year long! 

You may have noticed one page of my blog is dedicated to Herbs.  I actually speak at Garden Club meetings.  The title of my presentation is

Herbs and Edible Flowers:  A Place to Begin 

I give very simple tips and advice on ways to use herbs in your daily life.  If you're curious, please explore my Herbs Page.  ;-) 

Anyone new to herbs usually has the question of how to get herbs.  'Makes sense, right?  How to I get some herbs?  OK.  This question brings us back to the Christmas in July Hostess Gift.  Most herbs can be started with a cutting.  Just about every grocery store has fresh herbs available.  All you do is gently remove the lower leaves from the stem and, of course, use those in your favorite recipe. 

Next, just plunk that stem into a container of water.

Yep!  It's that easy!  Really, this works for LOTS of plants, not just herbs.  Place the cutting somewhere with lots of light, but not direct sun.  Here in the Central United States, a north facing window is perfect.  Fortunately, both my kitchen and dining room face the north.

Our windows frequently look like we are conducting some kind of science experiment!  ;-)  Oh, I want you to see the garden outside my dining room.  Lots of bird feeders and a small pond.

'See all those cuttings in the window?  Depending on temperature, it only takes a couple of weeks for roots to be visible.  They look like cream colored threads.

Can you see them?

When you can see quite a few, it's time to put them in a pot of soil.

 

Label and add something decorative.

 

Any hostess is THRILLED to receive a pot of herbs, especially if you tuck a recipe into the card!
 

 I can't wait to see all of your Christmas ideas! 

 

 

HERE'S THE LINK UP!  ;-) 

 



An InLinkz Link-up