We've Got Green!

I'm not a gardener, but I love the idea of a garden and can grow a decent pot of basil. Jojo always had tomatoes and other goodies in pots around the backyard so I felt fairly confident that I could, too, grow cherry 'maters et. al.

FMG constructed two raised bed planters in the side yard for us to try out some "gardening" this summer. We started with tomatoes, jalapenos, basil, thyme, rosemary, squash, artichoke (??), and three different kinds of lettuce. WHen FMG gets into one of my projects he REALLY gets into it.

The lettuces were eaten by the squirrels. The thyme died. All but one of the tomato seedlings croaked except one. The artichoke was kind of a joke. (Did you have any idea that it takes YEARS to cultivate an artichoke crop. No kidding.)

The garden is in the side yard, fenced off from the rest of the yard so that sweet Brie stays out of it!

The squash exploded and are doing awesome. Minus the fact that we have a million blossoms and no fruit. Did you know you have to, um, "help" them pollinate sometimes. Me either.

This basil is not the basil we started from seed... that basil didn't make it (squirrels, birds, neglect?). This is basil I picked up at the farmer's market from a guy who cultivates herbs that thrive in our hot south Texas summers. It is a basil beast!

The parsley looks really sad - but its totally my fault. I LOVE flat leaf parsley and put it on or in almost  anything. I got a little chop crazy and need to let it fill back in for a week or so.

The jalapeno plants are nice and strong - and we finally have some blossoms. I can't wait for the peppers to come! These are not from the seeds, either. I think next year we'll skip the seeding thing. It was fun - but at least with the established plants I know I'm getting something!

The tomatoes are great - I forgot about caging or staking  them... so I tied them to the fence with kitchen twine. Make it work, right?

We have four different kinds - big ones, smaller ones, cherry ones, and some that will be a surprise because we don't remember.

This guy is the "surprise" plant... He's from a seed we planted. He survived and thrived! No fruit yet, but soon!

Not bad for a little kitchen garden! Next summer I'll plan better and plant smarter. For now, I just enjoy having my little garden to look at and play in and pick stuff out of. I can see how this gardening thing could get addicting!

I'm in Love with Pinterest!

Pinterest is a fabulous "virtual pinboard" where you can save (or pin) ideas and things you see all over the internet in one place. Here are some of my favorite from today, some I found and pinned but most are from friends and inspiring people I follow:

Source: sewingin-nomansland.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I can't sew and I don't have a two year old daughter, but I love this project!

Source: etsy.com via Amanda on Pinterest

My friend LMG pinned this and I totally identify.

Source: horchow.com via Eliz on Pinterest

EJH pinned this and I think it's just lovely. Doubtful it will ever be a reality in my house but I appreciate its beauty.

Source: psimadethis.com via Amanda on Pinterest

It's also a great place to store "someday" projects. I'd love to try this t-shirt make-over!

There are a million more fabulous things floating around Pinterest and I could spend hours looking through them and adding to the stashes. I literally have to set a timer for myself so I don't get sucked into it! :)

Bonjour, été!

Ahhhh - summer time! The reason I became a teacher (kidding... only kidding). The past few summers have flown by and I've not accomplished a fraction of what I wanted.

This summer I'm COMMITTED.

I'm writing down my goals, actually keeping them manageable, and not over committing.

I really want this space to be organized, useable, and pretty. I think I finally have a plan to make it work and that plan centers around a huge workspace. (You can see my pinterest inspiration board here!)

Seriously. I did NOT take advantage of our pool enough last year. This year I want to be in it and using it and sharing it with our friends. Included in this "to-do" I want to have a pool party! :)

Kinda sad... I know. We still have boxes to unpack from when we moved. Most of the boxes have been opened and I just don't know what to do with the contents. Le sigh.

I'm not going to kid myself and pretend I spend my whole summer lesson planning - but  I do want to get spelling organised. I found a really awesome system used by a third grade teacher and I want to adapt it for my kiddos. 

I always have grand intentions of "being" with people over the summer and then it's the end of August and I didn't. Teachers are funny that way. We see each other everyday for 36 weeks and then on the last day of school you peace out and don't see/talk to/visit with anyone until work week. Not this summer, lovies, not this summer.

Shouldn't be hard, right? We laid 5 pallets of sod a few weeks ago and FMG constructed two "square footage" raised beds for me. Our tomatoes, jalapenos, squash, basil, parsley and dill are counting on me to not let them die.

So that's that. The six things I'm committed to this summer. We'll see how it goes! :)

Oh Sheet.

There are few things I'm intolerant of in my life. (No, seriously.) One of those intolerable things is people who "hate" cats. Just because you were taunting your neighbor's cat when you were eight and it scratched you (I'd probably do the same thing.) or whatever doesn't mean you should lump all cats into the same category.

I dislike many white wines - but I don't say I HATE them... People can dislike a movie they went and saw but not boycott every movie for the rest of eternity! Why all the hatin' on cats?

Cats have unique and individual ways and means, and like people aren't all compatible, not all cats are compatible with all people. Cats have their own set of rules, their own quirks, and their own personalities.

Take Turco.

He moos instead of meows. He chases his tail. He doesn't like to cuddle or sit in your lap but he loves  to be in the same room with you. He's the first to greet you when you walk in the door. He bumps-and-runs to say he loves us.

And he LOVES "helping" to change the sheets.

Oh yes.

I try to be sneaky and hide fresh out of the dryer sheets under towels or other clothes. I smuggle them upstairs to the bedroom. I shut the door to make the bed in peace. But he always knows.

He has no interest in the fitted sheet. It must not be very much fun. But as soon as the flat sheet makes its way to the bed... He's there. Appearing out of nowhere to... play?

Between the flat sheet and the fitted sheet, Turco enacts his own battle of sorts.

He waits for just the right moment to strike out against the helpless cotton.

As it gets tucked in and stretched over the bed he works hard to keep his little spot secure.

He bends, stretches, reaches, and makes the funniest gurgling growl/purr.

What is he thinking about under there? Is it like a kiddo playing "fort" in the living room?

Is he just being obnoxious and in the way, knowing that I fear his talons more than I want to get the bed made?

Who needs to be afraid of monster's under the bed when this monster is hanging out IN the bed?

Once he thinks the sheets have submitted he retreats back into the depths of the gently scented cotton.

Only to appear on the other side of the bed ready to nest and take a snooze.

This one, on the other hand, is none too amused. I'm sure she thinks its juvenile to chase mythical sheet monsters and appaling to stand in the way of make-Martha-proud hospital corners. Look at that judgy face! I love it!

Craftypants: More Felt Flowers

I have a sickness.

It's a sickness derived from an abundance of felt. Vibrant, hot glue friendly, forgiving felt.

I can't promise this is the last  felt project. I CAN promise that I'll forgive you if you decide to stop reading right now. Just be warned, you'll miss the cuteness about to ensue.


I figured you'd stick it out.

I bought this unfinished bird house at the HobLob last summer when it was on clearance.

No. I didn't have a plan.  Sometimes that just how visits to the HobLob roll.

A couple of coats of paint ...

...and some houndstooth paper and coat of glossy mod podge all over made it a precious little house.

I want to live in a pear green house wth a houndstooth roof and turquoise foundation.

A couple of flowers and foliage takes the curb appeal up a few notches, dontcha think?

It's living in my turquoise, green and black and white guest room.

 I think its utterly perfect on the night stand.

Crafty Pants : Felt Flower Pillow

S-e-r-i-o-u-s-l-y into these felt flowers!

A spring break trip to Ikea resulted in some fresh pillow covers for my couch. I picked white. Why? I'm not sure. Who puts WHITE pillows on their couch? They just looked so clean and crisp. They begged me to add something to make them go with the rest of our de colores house.

I obliged.

The pink flower started with a yellow fringed and rolled center.

Though I usually keep the back nice and flat, I actually rolled and glued this one with the slightest inward dome... I was anticipating massive amounts of hot glue holding it onto the flower.  

Lots of pink felt petals... I think I'm adding hot pink felt flower petals to my favorite things list.

Two rows of blue grosgrain ribbon hot glued to the pillow made the base for the flowers.

 I'm straight line challenged... so I used a piece of scrap paper to keep my spacing consistent while gluing the ribbon.

Back to the pink petals... pinched, glued, and layered into a flower! 

I was going for "dahlia" and I think I just narrowly missed "poinsettia". I'll have to remember this for next Christmas. Poinsettia Pillows...

Finally the yellow center!

I added an orange circle to spiral flower with a pink center and a yellow rolled flower with a "ruffle" around it after I decided that the pink flower was begging for company. Voila! A fresh, crisp, seasonal punch of color on my couch. I love flowers in the house and these are guaranteed to look perfect even after five days!