A Nest for All Seasons

Want fruit? Scrape and Wack the Tree!

2013-05-23T06:22:00.004-05:00

After hard pruning, heavy fertilizing and spraying insecticidal soap, there is one more step to revitalizing our old apple trees.

SCRAPE and WACK.

Sounds mean, but the old books say it works. We are going to try it, but we are going to try it gently. No use killing the trees after all the work we've put into them, now is there?

First things first, we need to gently scrape the bark. Some recommend chicken wire, some recommend an old hoe. Basically, get something metal and gently scrape away some of the oldest bark. Why? You are ridding the tree of little insects and eggs that have built up over time. If you start to get to the white or green living flesh of the tree, you've gone too far. Just give it a scraping or rubbing like you would a kid after playing on the beach. You don't want to rub their skin raw, but you want to get as much sand off as possible.

Secondly, you get to hit the tree. You know how you kind of wack your kids to get the sand off of them? Ok, no? Well, you know how in Scandinavia they make you jump into ice cold water then hit you all over with branches to get your blood moving and "invigorate" your skin? Still no?

OK, well they do and that is what you are going to do for your old apple tree.

Give it a good whacking along the trunk with a stick. Wake that old girl up and get her ready to produce some fruit!

Want to make homemade applesauce? Click HERE!

Want to see how to use apple blossoms in floral arrangements? Click HERE!

Need to learn the best time to prune your apple tree into a vase? Click HERE!

Want to learn the best time to spray apple trees? Click HERE!

Questions? Just ask!

Need to Spray? Wait until a RAIN! | How to Revive an Ancient Apple Tree

2013-05-22T13:55:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we talked about pruning your apple trees to create a vase. Today we are going to talk about how to make apples look like this:

...instead of this:

Those green apples were the result of our first year of apple tree reviving. We were able to actually GET apples and they WERE edible (perfect for homemade applesauce!), but they had lots of dimples and brown spot and many, MANY of the apples on the tree shriveled up into little brown balls and were very sad indeed. The problem? Pests and disease. Fruit trees are one of the most susceptible plants to both pests AND disease and so even in organic gardens, they often need the most help via chemicals. The first step is to try a basic insectcidal soap to coat the tree with oil, killing soft bodied pests and minimizing disease, but some times stronger chemicals might be necessary, especially in fighting off problems in an old apple tree.

Aside from spraying, we continually round up any of those little brown apples and diseased bits and throw them in the TRASH (not the compost). Removing them is the very best thing we can do for our tree!

If you DO need to spray, the best time for insecticidal soap and horticultural oil is AFTER a rain when the leaves have water inside and the air is moist outside. The oils work best when they DRY SLOWLY, so humid and cloudy conditions are best. HOWEVER, rain itself will wash the oil away, so DO NOT spray BEFORE a rain. Sunny days are also a no-no because the spray will evaporate before it is able to do the work it needs to do.

So WAIT for the rain and spray AFTER it comes!

Wait until the rain has ceased, but the humidity still hangs in the air.
For this reason, it is best to spray in the morning or evening when the sun's drying rays are not around.

Want to make homemade applesauce? Click HERE!

Want to see how to use apple blossoms in floral arrangements? Click HERE!

Need to learn the best time to prune your apple tree into a vase? Click HERE!

Want to know why you should hit your apple trees? Click HERE!

Questions? Just ask!

Want Apples? You Need a Vase! | How to Revive an Ancient Apple Tree

2013-05-21T06:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I brought out my good old-fashioned method for making applesauce, but there is a journey to actually getting those apple trees to PRODUCE said apples. Over the next few days, I will be sharing you my best tips for growing apple trees and share a little of our experience over several years reviving two ancient apple trees.

First things first -- old fruit trees won't produce very well unless the are pruned and have good air circulation. Ideally, the best time to prune an apple tree is in late winter/early spring, but if you are dealing with an old tree that has a bunch of clustered branches crossing in the interior of the tree, late spring will work! That tree needs to BREATHE!

When we first moved into our home, we had two old apple trees that were literally just masses of branches. The apples that year were weak to say the least. Over the next two years, pruning was top of our to-do list. This year, we are almost there with this tree closest to the house. We have taken out 3-4 medium-large branches each year and now we have a nice open middle of the tree -- the "vase". Pruning more than this might have harmed the tree, so be ruthless with pruning, but stretch it out if the tree is really bad!

See the 6 branches that all face outwards, forming a vase?

Every branch in the tree now grows outwards so the leaves can get to the sun and apples will grow!

Bring on the blossoms!

Want to make homemade applesauce? Click HERE!

Want to see how to use apple blossoms in floral arrangements? Click HERE!

Want to learn how to prune and shape your tree into a vase? Click HERE!

Want to learn the best time to spray apple trees? Click HERE!

Want to know why you should hit your apple trees? Click HERE!

Questions? Just ask!

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

2013-05-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

We have a few ancient apple trees in our backyard. The apples have a slightly sweet taste, with a bit of a tart bite to them. The problem is that we have not figured out how to care for the trees well enough to keep the apples from being damaged by bugs and birds. The result is a bunch of apples that don't look very good, but have wonderful taste.

What to do?

Make applesauce!

See how beat up these apples are? They are absolutely perfect for making applesauce. In fact, if you are buying apples to make your own homemade applesauce, you will want to ask the farm or orchard for the "seconds". Those are the apples that have fallen off the trees, apples that fell off the apple cart, or simply apples that aren't perfectly round and unblemished. They cost less, but make applesauce that tastes just as good! If you are purchasing apples, try to purchase apples that have a sweeter taste such as Gala, Fugi or even Red Delicious. You will want to stay away from super tart apples like Granny Smiths.

Give your apples a good rinse and scrubbing, then cut them into big chunks.

It is not necessary to get rid of all blemishes, but it is a good idea to trim off damaged parts of the apple.

You don't want to be boiling any worms!

Get all of the apple chunks into a giant bath of water in a large stock pot and put the heat on high.

When the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low-med and let the apples simmer.

When you can easily stick a fork into them (like boiling potatoes!), they are ready.

Drain them and allow the apples to cool a bit so you won't burn your hands.

Once your apples are cool enough to handle, but still warm enough that the skin peels off easily,

remove the larger peels and put aside the "meat" of the apples.

I ended up using the glass top from a decanter to push the apple meat through a small handheld strainer.

All of these tasks would be much easier with a food processor or juicer. It can be done with basic equipment though!

I reserved most of the juice from the apples for homemade cider, while straining the pulp into my applesauce bowl.

When you have strained all of the juice and meat of the apples, you can compost the skins, add a little cinnamon and perhaps a bit of sugar to your applesauce and you have a delicious homemade treat!

With your leftover juice, simply add cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of honey to taste and simmer on the stove to concentrate the flavor.

Strain off any solids and you will be enjoying fresh apple cider along with your applesauce.

Now run out and get some "seconds"!

There is no better way to celebrate the cool air of the coming fall!

Want to see how to use apple blossoms in floral arrangements? Click HERE!

Want to learn how to prune and shape your tree into a vase? Click HERE!

Want to learn the best time to spray apple trees? Click HERE!

Want to know why you should hit your apple trees? Click HERE!

Questions? Just ask!

Redbud Lauren at The Thinking Closet

2013-05-17T06:58:00.000-05:00

The Redbud Series at the Nest is sponsored by Amazon affiliate links. THANK YOU for your purchases Nest readers!

So if you haven't met Lauren yet, you haven't met your new best friend. (Alison Rosen anyone? no?) Ok, well, here is the thing. Lauren is one of those girls that just instantly attracts people to her. She is that girl you want to be your best friend that actually WILL BE your best friend. She comes across on her blog as kind and friendly, approachable and wonderfully creative. She is inspiring and brilliant with her DIYs, but her personality is definitely what gets folks to stick around. She is one of those bloggers that you just stop by to read once in awhile because you are having a bad day and need a little happy joy in your life. I told you - you WANT her to be your new best friend.

Wondering what the heck a redbud is here at the nest? Read THIS POST to get started!

Meet Redbud Lauren:

Now moving on to those awesome DIY's I was telling you about. I found Lauren on Looksi because of THIS POST where she came up with the most FABULOUS new mom gift. Brilliant I tell you! (Those post-it notes on the diapers are just AWESOME).

...but the DIY gifts just kept coming. There was the leather painted purse:

...and then back in the archives came these cute little burp cloths:

...and this adorable banner (with a free cut file!):

Y'all it just keeps going and going and going. You WANT to know this girl, I am telling you!

Go say hey to Miss Lauren, like her on facebook or give her a little comment love. You will fall in love - I promise!

Are YOU a redbud?

Amazon.com Widgets

Craft Lightning and Behind the Scenes for Hobby Farm Home

2013-05-15T05:31:00.000-05:00

DIY Canning Jar Toppers is sponsored by Tombow Pencils and Amazon Affiliates.

So yesterday, we talked about how easy it is to make a redbud or lilac jelly (or ANY floral jelly for that matter!). Today, we are going to talk about how to gift them. I am participating in Craft Lightning this week, so today's little gift craft will take no more than 15 minutes!
(PS -- Creating the jelly itself only takes about 15 minutes as well, minus the 24 hours waiting time!!)

So basically, we are just going to spice up the jars a little bit. I used this same technique in my feature article in Hobby Farm Homes this month (Check out the issue for recipes on making your own homemade condiments -- including perennial picnic favs like ketchup, mustard,and BBQ!)

The topper is so simple it can barely be called a craft, but totally transforms the jars into little rustic gifts instead of just a can of something, you know? Simply cut a circle of burlap (ragged edges are awesome!) and secure it with a piece of raffia or twine. I used a bleached burlap and basic brown garden sisal for mine, but you could certainly change up the colors for different looks!

For our redbud and lilac jellies, I used the same white burlap and twine, but added little tags as well! They are simply pricing tags (they are super, super cheap -- like 1,000 for 10 bucks on amazon HERE / also available in smaller quantities) and spruced up with little colored pencil drawings.

I wanted to use my "grown-up" colored pencils Tombow sent to me to try because they give a stronger, smoother color than your average kiddo colored pencil. Alas -- they hadn't arrived yet, so it was basic charcoal and marker for me :)

...but little side note about art and Tombow. Did you know that every submission for the “100 Days of Tombow” blogging program will result in a $100.00 product donation to the Council for Arts Education? So let's say YAY for Arts Education!!!

Supply List:

Quilted (or regular!) Canning Jars (Those pretty ones with the glass detailing are simply called "quilted")
Canning Lids
Burlap
Twine (This peach twine is a really pretty baker's twine for summer!)
Pricing Tags
Tombow Colored Pencils

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Want to see more super short, 15 minute crafts??

How to Make Redbud and Lilac Jellies

2013-05-14T03:50:00.000-05:00

How to Make Redbud and Lilac Jellies is sponsored by the amazing blooming garden outside my window and Amazon Affiliates.

Last year about this time, I made a peach pie with redbuds and wrote a piece for Dearest Nature exhorting the amazing goodness of redbuds as little edible garnishes. About that same time, I really wanted to make a redbud jelly, but alas, I waited too long. The redbuds had already started falling from the branches and there were not enough left to can. I determined that redbud jelly would be on the list FOR SURE this spring and today I bring you the result!

Supplies:

Redbuds (and Lilacs -- see below!)
Canning Jars
Fresh Canning Lids
Boiling Water
Sugar
Lemon Juice
Unflavored Pectin (This is what makes jelly JELLY!)

*Highlighted products are linked to Amazon for your perusal

Step #1

The process is simple really. Pick the flower buds from the branches when they are in bloom (Zone 5, you have about another week to get them I presume!) and simply place them into a jar. Rinse once to get rid of dirt, but do this quickly and only once as the color leaches quickly!

Step #2

Poor boiling water over the buds in the canning jar. Let the can sit for 24 hours. (PS - USE a canning jar as they are made for super high heat!)

Notice how the color starts leaching almost immediately out of the buds. It is kind of amazing!

See that purple can hiding back there behind the redbuds? Those would be lilac buds. While I was out gathering redbuds, I saw the lilacs were in bloom and thought I would go ahead and make both. The process is the same -- just different flowers!

Surprisingly, my variety of lilacs gave me almost the exact same color as the redbuds. Shocking how it went from bright and deep purple to saturated PINK! Maybe it knew we were celebrating news of a new baby GIRL!! ;)

Moving on in the process though....

Step #3

Once the buds have sat for 24 hours, simply strain the liquids into a fresh jar, squeezing the buds to get out all the color and flavor you can! Isn't it a beautiful color??

Step #4

Once you have your flavored floral liquids, you will choose between an instant pectin and a classic pectin. You are supposed to be able to stir the instant pectin and sugar in, stir for 3 minutes then chill, but it did not work that well for me. I had much better luck with the CLASSIC pectin. The process is still very simple. The classic just needs heating.

Step #5

For classic pectin, add your liquid to a pot, add sugar, pectin (it looks like the powder in Jello!) and enough water to get up to the ratios listed on the pectin packaging. Also add in 1 T of lemon juice to add a little bite to the floral flavor. Heat to a boil, constantly stirring, turn heat down and stir for 3 minutes. Decant into a jar, chill and voila! You are done!

Update from comments:

I left the recipe a bit vague because:

#1 Each brand a pectin is slightly different. Check the back of the packaging for exact measurements.

#2 You will want to add SLIGHTLY more pectin than normal since you are dealing with floral liquid instead of fruit (which has naturally occurring pectin).

#3 I used 3.5 Tablespoons per ball jar to get these to set, using the hot method, not the instant.

It honestly is just as simple as making Jello, so if you have mastered Jello, you can master any floral jellies! (...and pst....don't tell the canning aficionados but these are SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than fruit jellies where you have to pit, clean, hull and smash the fruit! Go flowers!)

Want to see how I top these jars of jelly off for gifting? (Psst -- it costs just a few pennies!) CLICK HERE for my secrets!

For those of you that love-love-love canning, I've assembled my favorite tools, supplies and book for you below. If you choose to click over to Amazon and purchase these or any other product, I will receive a small bit of compensation. Every little bit helps and I appreciate you supporting A Nest for All Seasons with your everyday Amazon buys! THANK YOU!

Amazon.com Widgets

I have a few introductions this morning...

2013-05-13T09:18:00.001-05:00

I haven't been quite sure how to tell you. In fact, I've been putting it off for quite a while because there is this pressure to do it right and do it with a bang. You can't just tell your blog readers you are having a baby -- it has to be an EVENT. So I thought about telling you by lining up a bunch of shoes and sharing the secret that way. I thought about having the boys hold up a sign...or maybe even a "reveal" shoot with balloons in the color of our newest addition. All that has been done though. ...and to be quite honest, I am too tired to be creative about this. This little baby is taking the little energy I have, so you, dear blog readers are going to have to settle with some words today.

I have no cute pictures for you or interesting reveal photo shoot. ...but I do have the desire to share my heart a little bit. SO. Here is the deal. We have three boys. You have met them here before on the blog. I don't share their names, but I like to call them Red, Rex and Lincoln. Red is our oldest, full of boyishness and creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of his mama and papa. Rex is our sweet thing, with a tendency towards soft blankies and cuddle time. He is our emotionally sensitive guy and he is the one that you want to cuddle up on a couch with and read with. Lincoln? He is our firebomb. He is Red, but with a daredevil streak. Before the age of 1, he had ran out into the road and sat down on the double yellow AND climbed up to the top of the roof (and again, sat down like nothing was amiss.). It is a wonder he is not caged.

So why on Earth would we "try" again? Did we REALLY think with our odds there would be a girl? Am I SERIOUSLY going to break my body again with pregnancy. We JUST got our youngest pooping in the potty. Are we SERIOUSLY DOING THIS?!

Well, yes we are thanks to a trip to Mexico.

What will I do with four boys? Will it even make a difference at this point? Will another little boyish pipsqueak change up the dynamics or will he be the 4th in route to a full basketball team?

Well, we will never know.

We will never know because we are officially done with boys. This is our last biological baby, and perhaps our last baby period and heavens to Betsy - IT IS A GIRL!

The ultrasound tech double checked - oh I dunno - SIX times because we kind of didn't believe her. (In fact, a tiny bit of me thinks we will get to the delivery room and SURPRISE! It's actually a boy!!) However, she checked and checked and by all appearances, there is a tiny little girl in there. She made me sick as a dog the first trimester (which has not happened before) and those little baby kicks DO seem to be gentler than the karate kicks the boys were throwing at me, so I am *this* close to being convinced that it is 100% a girl.

Am I excited?

You could say that. Perhaps more telling are the baskets and baskets of girly clothes that are piling up in her room already. ...well I take that back. Perhaps more telling are the bags of girly clothing I am dragging up from the basement that I have been collecting for 8 years now. Yes, eight years I have been picking up little dresses and pink ballet shoes when they are at a price too cheap to pass up. Perhaps I knew someday we would have a girl -- one way or another. Perhaps I was just hopeful. In any case, she will be arriving soon and she will be dressed to the nines (and yes in ALL PINK as long as she lets me) and we will have some SERIOUS girly fun.

What will her name be?

Well, as I decided long ago with the boys, I won't be sharing her full name here, but you will know her as Penny or Poppy. That is her nickname(s) and there will be plenty of crafty projects to go along with it. ...and YES, again, that name has been on the tip of our tongues for eight years now. In fact, my attempt at creativity last week circled mainly around her nickname...had you guessed?

Did you miss the clues? Clue #1 and Clue #2 Clue #3 Clue #4 Clue #5

Why has it taken so long??

I wasn't sure why we couldn't get our genes together and have a girl. I've always suspected that perhaps I am a better mom of boys than girls. I am getting well versed in the craziness of boydom and thought that perhaps God thought I couldn't handle the intricacies of a mother-daughter relationship. Perhaps I would be too jealous. Perhaps we would just fight constantly. Perhaps she would be exactly like me and we would butt heads. I was perfectly happy being a mom of three boys (who doesn't like to be the princess in a house full of little men?!). So why now? Perhaps I am a better mom now than I was eight years ago? Perhaps these boys have mellowed me out enough to be a mom of a daughter. Perhaps it is just random chance. In any case, our three boys and our one little girl make us complete. We are a very full and happy family and cannot wait to introduce her to the world.

What will the nursery look like?

Now on to the good stuff - THE NURSERY! You might guess that I would try to do something different and creative with greens and golds or purples and creams to make a truly unique nursery, but you would be wrong. Friends, it will be PINK all the way. Pink, pink and more pink. This is my one and only chance to girlify a space to my heart's content (she will most likely love BLUE by the time she has an opinion, so I have to strike now while the iron is hot!) A peek into my private pinterest boards tells the story:

My goal in the nursery is twofold. It is not particularly stylish or great design or even a litany of craft ideas that I can blog about (though there WILL be some!). Rather, my two goals are girliness and whimsy. I want a girly space because I have longed for one for eight years now and while she still doesn't care...she is going to be a girly girl...so pinks and peaches and corals and whites and dresses and shoes and soft blankies and clouds and EVERYTHING sweet and nice will fill the room to bursting.

Secondly, this room will be whimsical. I am designing the room to ignite her wonder and creativity and each craft and project is centered around that basic theme.

Let me explain a little better...

As much as I love well designed nurseries, I can't imagine going with something like THIS. It is too grown up -- too beautiful -- too perfect. I almost like the more "cluttered" nurseries. The ones that show off the "tools" of the trade and celebrate the fact that a BABY lives there -- like THIS ONE:

The stacks of blankets...

The diapers piled in a basket...

The little hat hanging off the bedframe...

The stuffed monster above the changing table...

That gorgeous white light with a nice thick light blocking shade....

A BABY lives here and I love it.

So prepare yourself for some whimsical and girly crafts in the next few months and a LOT of questions from me on how to raise a girl!

...but that is not all...

If this blog post wasn't long enough, I have one MORE introduction to make to you! Actually THREE introductions! Since I will be cutting back hours a bit as baby comes along, I decided to hunt down some brilliant new contributors for the Nest. I wanted to beef up our sewing, jewelry and home improvement DIY content to bolster my crafty, artsy, gardeney focus. SO.................................

Meet our newest family members here at the Nest!

You are seriously going to love them and I can't WAIT to start showing you the work they have been turning in! It is FANTASTIC! You will get to know them a little better in the weeks to come and will become best friends with them as they share their tutorials and projects all summer long!!

So from my real house and my blog house to yours, thanks for coming to check out our fabulous news and stay tuned for some serious introductions!

Penny

2013-05-10T09:09:00.002-05:00

You remember this one right....???

Well, not to bang you over the head with it or anything, but it was a BIG clue.

Hit over the head yet?? Can you guess her name?

...and YES I am going to leave you hanging...next week I reveal ALL! :P

Did you miss the first set of clues? Clue #1 and Clue #2 Clue #3 Clue #4 Clue #5

However, I will NOT leave you hanging about the $50 AMEX giveaway!

Did you win?? CLICK HERE and peek in the rafflecopter box to see if it was YOU!

(Hint: It was a TWEET that did it!)

Clue #5

2013-05-09T14:10:00.000-05:00

Clue #5 -- It's all about the shape...

Clue: The Bites

2013-05-09T06:59:00.000-05:00

Clue: The Bites

Every. Single. Day.

...and did you miss Clue #3?

The Clues

2013-05-08T06:21:00.000-05:00

You might have missed the first two clues.

....but don't worry...

You won't be left behind.

Clue #1 -- Coins, Copper and Curls

Clue #2

...and a new one today...Clue #3

Any guesses yet? The clues will keep rolling out all this week...some words...some pictures...here and on the Nest facebook page.

Don't miss a thing - this is a BIG ONE!

DIY Garden Marker Plant Labels for your Flower Pots NO KILN REQUIRED

2013-05-07T08:28:00.003-05:00

DIY Garden Marker Plant Labels for Your Flower Pots is sponsored by Crafts Unleashed, Consumer Crafts and Amazon.com.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED! It snuck in slowly, but here in Zone 6, we are now fully in the switch-change show of Spring. From the lilacs, daffies and apple trees in yesterday's post to the redbuds and tulips and almond (oh my!), the world is alight with color and scent and the glories of new life.

If you are a bit North of us however, you are probably still itching to get outdoors and start digging in the earth, eager to see the first flutterly wings of the northern bound birds and hungry for blooms and breezes and the beginning of Spring. For those of you hungry for Spring, and those of you in its romantic grip at the moment, I have a project for you. These little clay plant markers are easy to make, cute as a button and hold up indoors or out.

Materials:

Clay (I used brown, but pick whatever works with your pots/decor)
Clay Press (optional, but makes the process MUCH faster!)
Circle Cookie Cutter
Serrated Knife (I purchase mine from IKEA, but you probably have one in your kitchen!)
Metal Stamping Letters (an essential for these cute tags!)
Oven/Baking Sheet or Glass Pan

Note: You might be tempted to skip the clay press, but let me warn you that this clay is HARD and takes quite a bit of rolling and kneading to get it soft enough to work with. The clay press saves TONS of time and makes a really nice, even surface and tags that are of even height all the way around the circle. Bonus: It also works on homemade pasta! Bonus 2: It is half off last I checked - go get it!

On to the instructions! Cut off a piece of clay with a knife. I cut off about 1" sections using a serrated knife. Push a section down into the clay press, rolling the handle as you push down.

The clay will flatten out like this:

See those air bubbles/holes? Fold the flattened clay back onto itself and send it through the press a second time. After two rolls through the press, your clay is pliable and you have a smooth, even surface. WELL worth the money to me!

Here is the entire process:

Take your circular cookie cutter (or any shape you choose!) and press straight down onto a smooth solid section of the clay.

Gently, pull the clay up from around the piece you cut out. DON'T do this the other way around (by picking the circle out of the clay). You will get smudges and fingerprints and smooshed sections all around the circle trying to remove it.

Handle your circles gently at this point. They are very soft and moldable. Using a metal stamping kit, I added plant names to my tags. You can also carve words by hand into the tags or use a picture stamp - anything you choose!

I added detailing with a slightly serrated knife, individualizing each tag. Be creative!

Once you are happy with each tag, it is time to bake them! Set the oven to 275 degrees, place your tags (carefully!) on a nonstick baking pan or glass dish and bake for 30 minutes. (True story: I forgot about one batch of tags and they went longer then 30 min. (oops!), but were ok. Apparently the right temperature matters more than the right time!) Clay will darken into its true color as it bakes and cools. You can see the variation in the fresh clay and fully dry product below.

You might notice that my fresh clay is flat while the finished tag is slightly curved. This was intentional so that the tags would attach to my pots seamlessly. They will not typically curve when baked. If you want them to curve, simply squeeze the ends gently to create a slight curve every 5-10 minutes as the tags are cooling. They will settle into the curved shape without a lot of hassle. Once stamped, baked, dried and curved, your tags are ready to work! I attached mine with hot glue directly onto my pots (from IKEA), but you could certainly attach them to sticks and place into your outdoor garden.

For those of you that asked, the little pots are from IKEA and the metal stamping kit is off Amazon (links below). The remainder of the supplies are from Consumer Crafts/ Crafts Unleashed.
If you purchase any item by clicking through the Amazon links below (any item, not just the pictured craft items), I will earn a small percentage. THANK YOU!

PS - Have you been following along on the Nest facebook page for clues to our big announcement??? A new one will be going up SOON!

The WINNER of the $50 Duluth giftcard is..............................

2013-05-06T11:46:00.000-05:00

The WINNER of the $50 Duluth giftcard is..............................

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Katherine!! Please check your email me and get back to me within 3 days with your address! I wonder what you will buy from Duluth!!!!

PS - Didn't win his giveaway, but want another chance?

The $50 AMEX card giveaway is still running! ENTER HERE!

In Bloom: Lilac, Apple Blossom and Daffie Minis

2013-05-06T09:24:00.001-05:00

I love this time in spring when you walk out the back door and get all excited about what might have opened in bloom each morning. Sometimes the scent alerts you, sometimes it is just a blast of color. Other times, those blooms dip and hide under bigger plants and it is like finding little fairies at work calling tiny little plants into bloom. In any case, romanticized or not, you can't help bu love what is blooming NOW. The lilacs have opened into full bloom and the scent about knocks you over. Add to that the last of the daffodils (the minis!) and the Apple trees doing all they can to call in the legions of bees with their wavy, frilly blooms and AHHHHH. Pure beauty.

What is blooming in YOUR garden today?

The Top 10 Ways to Reduce Water Use in Your Lawn and Garden

2013-05-02T23:24:00.000-05:00

The Top 10 Ways to Reduce Water Use in Your Lawn and Garden is sponsored by Pennington.

Welcome back to our DIY gardening series - part 2! I am so glad you are here and excited (yes, I am actually excited about saving water!) to dive back into some basic water conservation talk. Like I mentioned in my previous Pennington post, I am not a crazy nut brown hare. If I want a good, long soaking shower, I take it. ...buuuuuuuut I don't want to be completely wasteful and water a 2 acre lawn for hours and hours each week. I don't want to be one of the Americans spending an average of 73 hours maintaining my lawn (with MOST of that time spent on WATERING). Did you know that lawns require approximately 1 inch of water per week to stay green in the summer, which equates to about 2,500 gallons of water per week to keep an average-sized lawn green. That's crazy! Depending on their region, homeowners use between 30%-70% of their water outdoors and lawns require approximately 1 inch of water per week to stay green in the summer, which equates to about 2,500 gallons of water per week to keep an average-sized lawn green. CRAZY.

So I take small measures to make things better. It starts with eggs and pots. Huh, what?

Simply, really. When I boil potatoes or pasta, I use a ladle to remove them and let the water sit until it is cool. Then it gives a nice shower to the roses. The eggs are really quite wonderful. After boiling eggs, I again let the water cool and the tomatoes get that water chock full of calcium.

Want my NO FAIL recipe for PERFECT hard boiled eggs? Click HERE.

Did you notice that I didn't mention the lawn? I didn't even mention the garden, because neither get supplemental water. The only plants that get extra water are brand new baby plants and trees that need to get established, sm potted plants and my fussy favorites. Fussy plants like roses and tomatoes that well worth the extra effort to save the egg water.

Here are a few more strategies I use to make sure I use the water we are given (Thanks God!) is used as wisely as possible with as little work as possible.

1. Place pots under hanging baskets.

Hanging baskets leak a LOT, especially when you are actually giving them the water they need to thrive. While you can't skip watering the baskets, you CAN make use of the dripping bottom of the baskets. I simply place potted plants directly under the baskets and they get a nice little shower every time the hanging baskets are watered.

2. Save Rainwater.

I wish (I WISH!) we could afford a bunch of the fancy, beautiful rain barrels to collect water, but until then, I do my own little saving around the garden. There are a few containers and pots that I leave unplanted each year. I allow them to fill with rain, serve as water buckets for the free ranging chickens and an extra couple cups of water for nearby pots when they need it.

3. Utilize Mulch in the Garden

I use quite a bit of mulch, but I wait until AFTER the spring rains to apply it. I let the rains soak in deep into the ground, then add a thick layer of mulch to block out seedlings and keep that moisture down by the plants' roots. Need a cheaper source of mulch? THIS ARTICLE spells out where and how I get truckloads of mulch for my garden.

4. Pick the Right SEED!

If you want to make one decision that will impact the amount of water you are using on your lawn though, it boils down to one simple decision. Which grass will you plant? Remember my suggestions HERE?

· Pennington Smart Seed remains green for up to three weeks without water and requires up to 30 percent less water year after year versus ordinary seed.

· By utilizing a high-quality seed that requires less water and contains no filler, lawns are more resilient and easier to maintain.

· As a pure bred, drought-resistant seed, Pennington Smart Seed also helps establish fuller, healthier and greener lawns, while efficiently using natural resources.

· Introducing beneficial micro-organisms that attach themselves to the emerging seed roots for denser, deeper roots. Each seed in Pennington Smart Seed is further enhanced with Pennington’s exclusive MYCO Advantage seed technology.

· Pennington Smart Seed comes in both traditional variety blends/mixes, as well as specialized mixes that are customized to specific regional climates.

· In keeping with Pennington’s commitment to rigorous quality control, consistency and customer satisfaction, every bag of Pennington Smart Seed is of the highest quality.

Now, I have a mature lawn seeded with a drought resistant grass and a green and lush, weeds welcome property, so I don't need to seed a huge space. However, I do have big holes in the lawn. Why you ask? Well we have three little boys that choose random spots to make "digging holes" and we also had one unfortunate accident with a skunk and a trap that left a large bare spot in the lawn. The solution? A patch!

When I went shopping for a seed for the patches, I knew I wanted something easy, drought resistant and a grass mix that will blend in with our current yard. Of course, I also wanted it to be EASY. That is why I picked this mix (pictured above) that includes the Pennington Smartseed, but also has the mulch and fertilizer needed to get the grass off to a good start.

What does that mean for me?

It means place some compost on the hole, sprinkle the Pennington mix day before a rain and WALK AWAY. Easy, peasy, done and DONE. I don't do complicated when it comes to simple garden chores. Another advantage? I can hand sprinkle the seed without causing clumps thanks to the mulch.

Boys' "Digging Hole

Hole filled with compost and hand sprinkled seed and mulch mix from Pennington Smart Seed

Seed/mulch mix on top of compost to 1/8" depth, evenly spacing the seed

5. Plant Drought Tolerant Plants

You can save a ton of water by simply picking garden plants that are adapted to the amount of natural rainfall your region receives. As I mentioned before, my plants only get annual rainfall once they are established and in their second year of growth.

6. Water in the Morning

If you DO need to water, don't waste it watering in the heat of the afternoon when it will simply evaporate!

7. Water Without Wind

Similarly to hot and dry sun, wind will sap the moisture right away from your plants, so water when it is NOT windy!

8. Try Bulbs!

Bulbs live DEEP in the ground and many are spring bloomers, receiving the spring rains to restore them for the next year. They will disappear under the ground all summer and survive a drought when other plants wither and die. Bulbs and plants that grow from tubers are just tougher than a lot of other plants, so try cannas, iris and spring bulbs when you want tough plants that can survive without supplemental water. (Note: These plants will not thrive without SOME rainwater, so a desert climate is not suitable for them.)

9. Put up with a few weeds.

I've mentioned it a few times, but I will say it again. I am OK with weeds in the lawn. They keep the bees coming (hello clover!), the flowers can be quite beautiful (hello violets!) and they stay green when the grass starts to brown. The biodiversity of a few weeds in your lawn won't hurt anything. Just don't look too closely, ok?

10. Put up with a little brown.

In the same vein, deal with a little brown patch once in awhile. It likely will green up with the next rain. If you DO need to water a spot or too, ONLY water that pot or two. The whole lawn likely does not need a drenching.

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NOW. Let's giveaway some MONEY! You have a few more days to enter and WIN some cash!
HAVE YOU ENTERED YET???

WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS FRIDAY!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This post and giveaway has been sponsored by Pennington Seed, including products displayed All opinions are my own.

Grow Mint from a BEAT UP Hanging Basket or in Simple Window Boxes

2013-05-02T06:25:00.000-05:00

Here is my typical gardening face -- calm, yes, but a bit grumpy thanks to that scorching sun.

The solution? Moisture wicking, sun protecting (and good looking!) gardening gear from Duluth. Beyond all the benefits of wicking away sweat and sun protection and such that the Duluth products offer, I particularly like this skort because...

It translates! I just brush off the dirt (the cloth is kind of slick and easy to clean), throw on a jean jacket and I can go pick up a kiddo or two from school without looking ridiculous!

So today we garden in a SKORT!

Benefit #2? You can squat and bend over in these skorts easily, making gardening a snap, but keeping you presentable to the neighbors. Win-win, eh?

Then there is the adorable shirt. I found it was actually a little TOO large, so consider the sizes run the slightest bit big. Order your typical size and anticipate a little looseness for easy working in the garden.

NOW -- on to our project -- See those hanging baskets up there? Last year they held my Boston ferns. I like to overwinter them (read how to HERE), but alas, I did not water them all winter (no water, AT ALL), so of course they died. Being the lazy gardener that I am, I did not want to dump everything out and start from scratch, nor did I want to buy new ferns, so I went to one of my go-to plants to save just about anything............................................................................................................................................................................

MINT!

Just grab just a sprig:

Pull up by the roots and simply push it down into the potting soil in the basket.

...or even better?

Instead of pulling the mint up vertically, pull gently sideways and surprise!

You will start taking out mint plant after mint plant, all in a nice row along a big old root strand.

The very aspect of mint that makes it KILLER to remove from a garden when unwanted

makes it the PERFECT plant for reviving a sad and tired hanging basket on the quickie.

Why?

Well simple...that curvy piece of root fits around the edge of the basket just perfectly.

Each little mint plant will grow quickly and easily, creating a fast border all around the exterior of the basket.

So why can't you do this with any plant?? Why mint?

1. Mint acts like a weed. It grows anywhere, with little nutritional needs and in harsh environements.

2. Mint doesn't mind water, but doesn't need a ton. Less maintenance on baskets!

3. Mint can be shoved into the basket, walked away from and a week later the plant you thought was dead is ALIVE!

4. Mint grows UP, but also grows OUT meaning it will fill up a round basket quite nicely.

5. You can train mint to grow in and out of basket sides and poke down over and through the edges.

Basically, it is tough as nails, but pretty and smells DIVINE!

Happy face gardener!

On to the (GORGEOUS) oilcloth bag. It is thick and strong and OH so cute with a million and two pockets for everything you could possibly need in the garden. I am in LOVE with this bag and am totally craving a few more from this line.

The cloth is perfectly water resistant and tough enough to stand up to any abuse. Can I say anymore to convince you? BUY THIS BAG!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BONUS:
Duluth Trading Company is offering free shipping now through June 30, 2013, for readers. Just enter code “T13PRCG”. (Note: $50 minimum order applies to total before tax, shipping or gift card purchases. Valid for US shipping only, on standard delivery.)

Now get gardening!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

FREE Digital Calendar Download | May 2013

2013-05-01T05:37:00.000-05:00

Your FREE digital calendars at the Nest are sponsored by house ads and Amazon Affiliates.
THANK YOU for clicking any Amazon links and purchasing ANY item. Every little bit helps!

Each month this year, I have been offering a free photo-calendar download for you, complete with dates, a seasonal, original photo and the words I will be focusing on for that month. This month it is all about being LIVING for Pete's sake.

Download your FREE May calendar HERE!

Instructions: Simply click the link above and it will take you to the download site. Click the size you want (based on your desktop size) and download. Save the photo to your desktop or a pictures file where you can easily find it.

Go to Control Panel> Display (or Appearance)> Change Desktop Background and then retrieve the photo where you previously saved it.

Alternative: Go to the link, right click the photo and click "save as desktop background"!! Easy!

Questions? Just ask! ...and make sure you come back for May's new calendar!

Previous Months: january | february | march | april

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Want to help provide more FREE digital products here at the Nest?

Your Amazon purchases are doing it! THANK YOU! For fun today, I'm giving you a little peek into our family's weirdness. These are our favorite (HANDS DOWN) board games to play. (Well plants vs. zombies isn't a board game...but the others...and get ready to get your geek on if you decide to tackle Facts in Five. Fair Warning.)

AND....since we are talking money...we have another giveaway for you!
Enter below for a $50 giftcard for Duluth product!

(This is a separate giveaway from the AMEX card we are giving away HERE)
More details on some cool Duluth gear coming up soon!

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The Way I Like Kitchens

2013-04-29T07:21:00.003-05:00

The Way I Like It Series at the Nest is sponsored by house ads.

I think I've mentioned it before, but I must mention it again. The more I watch home decorating/renovation/real estate shows, the more this issue haunts me, and I know (I KNOW) I cannot be the only one. You see, there is still this driving force towards "opening everything up" and an "open plan layout" that folks seem to clamor towards and spend boatloads of money achieving. They want the kitchen open to the dining room which opens to the living room and then into a 3 story open foyer. Sometimes there is seriously even open plan bathrooms.

Now I must say that I enjoy the sight lines of an open plan. I love the way light flows through space when a few walls are gone. I love that spaces can feel larger than they really are in an open space.

HOWEVER.

That does not apply when it comes to workspaces in my book. That specifically means the kitchen (and gosh darn it the BATHROOM -- put a door on it!). People are fond of stating that they want to open up their kitchen so that everyone can pile in while they are cooking. They love to talk about the kids playing just on the other side of island as they do the dishes. They even talk about a host of folks in the kitchen helping to prepare a meal.

That all sounds like a big, giant nightmare to me.

When my kids come in the kitchen, I end up cutting myself (accidentally). When there are 15 people in the kitchen, I can't hear myself thing, nonetheless make sure I have the sugar and not the salt. In fact, I am happiest in my kitchen when there is a window to look out, a podcast to half-listen to (and not respond) and a nice big sink full of hot, soapy water. That is bliss.

Do you know where you can find kitchen bliss?

...in a galley kitchen.

I love my galley kitchen and everytime my husband talks about "busting out that wall" and "opening the kitchen" to the living room/front door/bedroom hallway, I balk.

"Please honey, nooooooooooooo!".

"...but we can't work together in the kitchen...it is not big enough for both of us!"

"I knoooooooooooooooooooow! Could you please grill this chicken outside? It would be such a huge help **smile**"

See this weird wall? He wants to tear it down. I sort of love it.

This is the thing -- my kitchen is perfectly sized for me. I can move a few steps in any direction and get any food, utensil, cleaning supply or cooking device I need. I don't have tons and tons of junk in the kitchen (There is NO tupperware drawer to my husband's chagrin) and there is no extra space for extra bodies. I am happy that way. There is lots and lots of room for bodies in the rest of the house. There is room for hundreds of bodies outside. ...but in the kitchen? There is room for one, and that is the way I like it.

I have a galley kitchen and I LIKE it. How do YOU like your kitchens?

PS - Have you entered to win the giveaway for a $50 AMEX card yet? Nest followers have a few easy entries, so make sure you get your name in! CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the post!

The Way I Like Tea

2013-04-25T08:25:00.000-05:00

The Way I Like It Series has been sponsored by house ads.

Can we take a simple moment to discuss the merits of unaltered tea. I typically love my sugar, salt and blow-your-palette seasoning, but I recognize the gentleness of tea and the complex flavors of different blends. I find myself reaching for a little sugar or honey now and again, but typically, I like tea pure. If I am making fresh herbal tea from the garden, it only gets the slightest hint of sweetness and the flavor of the lemon or mint can simply sing.

Can we now take a moment and talk about the weirdos that put CREAM in their tea? To me it feels like pouring mustard on a donut or something. The fastest way to ruin a cup of tea is to drown it in a boatload of cream (and don't get me started on FLAVORED creamers...) Holy moly -- do people actually do this? Do you put cream in your tea?

...of course...this is coming from the girl who drinks black coffee for 3 weeks after giving birth, but
then dives right back into flavored cream spiked brews thereafter. Hypocritical me.

How do YOU like your tea? (or coffee?)

PS - Did you enter the current giveaway for a $50 AMEX card?

If you are a Nest follower, you've already got a couple easy entries, so make sure you enter to win!
CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom for the entry rafflecopter form.

The Way I Like Forsythia

2013-04-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

This post has been sponsored by house ads.

So Courtenay (of The Creek Line House) was all talking about forsythia on facebook over the weekend and she got me thinking about one of the most popular harbingers of spring. NOw, some hate forsythia for its gaudy yellow blooms, but I must say I am a fan. Well, I take that back. I am a half fan of forsythia. When it is shaved like a 50's basketball forward's crew cut -- well that is plain ugly. The little blooms struggle when pruned in fall and the look ends up being a half-hearted yellow, polka dot bikini on the hedge next to the sidewalk. Ugly. Don't do it.

Then there are the forsythia plants that are tortured into perfectly round balls. Those aren't pretty either. You see, forsythia is a showy plant. She likes to wave her arms, chock full of blossoms and great spring like a long lost friend from long ago. She wants to grow big and blousy and taming her just makes a mess of everything. If you are planting a forsythia, give her room to grow and expect her to be bodacious If you choose to heavily prune a forsythia, you might as well rip it out of the ground. It is just uglifying your yard. ...and trust me, that bombacious plant would rather die than be subjected to those pruners every spring.

To make things a little more clear, THIS is a good and wild forsythia.

THIS is bad. THIS, THIS and THIS are too.

I've linked directly to photos to protect the innocent bad pruning criminals of forsythia crime...

NOW. Onto the ways I DO like forsythia. First and foremost, I like her wild and I like to see her with friends. A single forsythia can be cute and quaint in a small yard, but the most impressive displays use at least 3 mature bushes (if not 300). The great thing about forsythia is that it starts off as a cheap plant when you first buy it and then it just gets cheaper and cheaper as you propagate it.

Propogation of forsythia is simply a matter of snipping off a new branch (around the size of a pencil that is still green -- not woody) and placing it into the ground in spring. Let the spring rains do their job and by next spring, that little stick should show off with its own little flower show. Plant 100 of these in a field and WOW - spring has ARRIVED.

Budded bush ready to bloom when forsythia show is over (See the yellow in the background?)

The forsythia in my yard is nestled behind other bushes that will bloom in the summer and fall. I love forsythia this way because it allows the plant to grow big and crazy, but the somewhat unsightly ankles that become bare in old age are covered. The yellow blooms seem to want to jump out from behind their restraining bushmates in spring and then retreat into a beautiful green backdrop for blooms all summer and fall long.

Like I said though, I prefer forsythia in GIANT drifts, so my favorite stand around here is that of "the farmer". We know his name, but prefer to just refer to him as "the farmer" - king of his cattle domain and certainly duke of forsythia each spring. Now tell me THAT isn't pretty.

He even has a bank of forsythia bordering his driveway. How wildly wonderful is that?

Of course the real show stopper in our area are the literal walls of forsythia bordering the parking lot at Hershey Park.

This is just the beginning...It goes on and on...

and on and on and on...

...and on a side note:

Now you must forgive my "drive-by" photo taking of all these forsythia drifts.

The camera work is shoddy, but the forsythia is oh so dreamy, don't you think?

Bordering the road is beautiful...

...and giving your house a front border? GORGEOUS.

NOW. If you must torture your forsythia by pruning it when it is small, please PLEASE at least prune right after they bloom in spring so that you won't lose blooms on NEXT year's plants. These little balls of yellow are ALMOST ok :) (...but you REALLY, really should let your forsythia live free. At least that is the way I like it.)

So now it is YOUR turn. How do YOU like forsythia?

PS - Did you enter yesterday's giveaway for a $50 AMEX card?

If you are a Nest follower, you've already got a couple easy entries, so make sure you enter to win!
CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom for the entry rafflecopter form.

The Way I Like Grass

2013-04-22T07:38:00.000-05:00

This post is chock full of DIY Gardening information sponsored (but not influenced) by Pennington Seed. It's more than an ad, yo!

Before we jump right into grass , I wanted to give you a heads up about what is coming up this week on the Nest:

Today we are talking about the LAWN and the way I like to keep our grass green, as well as kicking off a giveaway for a $50 AMEX card!

The contest will end on May 10th, and between now and then we are going to be talking about "The Way I Like It" and the way YOU like it! We're getting all opinionated over here (as gardeners do :) I hope you come back each day full of opinions ready to share!

On to the grass though...

If you look in the photo above, you will see our back lawn in summer. nice and green and lush and ready to soak up that giant rainstorm that is coming in from the West. That very same lawn in spring?

Brown as brown can be.

Now most of you are probably thing - who cares?! Everyone has brown grass in the spring, right? Well....no. In late winter, the grass is brown everywhere, but it starts to green up as soon as the rains start. The rest of our yard is a wonderful grass and weed blend and turns lush almost immediately, but this nice grass takes a good long while.

So why do you like it?

Here is why! The grass is a drought resistant variety that will hold up well during our long, hot summers. It is beautifully thick and feels like carpet underfoot all summer long and is the asolute PERFECT grass for picnics and croquet (yeah, we actually do that, but we don't get all proper and British or anything...just backyard casual ;)

So if the grass is so nice, why is it only on that one section?

Good question! This grass is perfect for this space, but like I said, early spring is it's "ugly" time. I don't like this grass in my front yard because you drive down the street in spring, excited all the new growth and you see lawn after lawn of green, green, green, green, BROWN. Yeah, you don't want to be that lawn. It just kind of makes your house look stale, you know?

Consider the benefits AND the downfalls of the grass seed you pick. Do your research and THINK AHEAD!

Why do you even want a drought resistant grass?

Glad you asked. I am not a crunchy granola Earth nut, but I am definitely a concious gardener and I try to be reasonable about our family's waste. While I won't hesitate to take a good, long, hot bath when I need one, I don't want to waste untold numbers of gallons just to water the lawn every year. Why?

· In 2012, the U.S. experienced the hottest year on record and two-thirds of the country faced drought—the most ever experienced.
· Thirty-six states anticipate continued local, regional or statewide water shortages, even under non-drought conditions.
· Did you know: Americans spend on average 73 hours a year maintaining their lawns—watering being a main focus of time and energy.
· Depending on their region, homeowners use between 30%-70% of their water outdoors.
· Lawns require approximately 1 inch of water per week to stay green in the summer, which equates to about 2,500 gallons of water per week to keep an average-sized lawn green.
· Up to 50% of the water used outdoors is wasted due to inefficient watering methods and maintenance practices.

Not cool, eh? The solution? Well, it starts with the grass you choose, can change when you change your water habits and you know what? Sometimes allowing a bit of the native weeds in to help green things up is NOT a bad thing for your lawn. Here's the low down:

-- Pennington Smart Seed remains green for up to three weeks without water and requires up to 30 percent less water year after year versus ordinary seed.

-- By utilizing a high-quality seed that requires less water and contains no filler, lawns are more resilient and easier to maintain.

-- Pennington Smart Seed comes in both traditional variety blends/mixes, as well as specialized mixes that are customized to specific regional climates. (They have a Pennsylvania mix!)

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Now on to my picks from the line:

I clearly am a fan of the Pennyslvania mix. HELLO! It is created for my STATE!

I am also loving this Pennington One-Step mix with mulch and fertilizer because it means planting grass seed is sprinkle and DONE.

The products just go on and on -- one for Southern regions, a mix for sun AND shade, a deep shade mix. Whatever situation you have going on in your lawn, there is a seed mix for you that will require LESS water!

NOW. After you get your grass seed, you will want a nice cool drink and I have you covered with both! Enter our giveaway for a $50 AMEX card and you can pick up that bucket of grass seed and dinner out at your local Mexicana restaurant on the way home. Win, win, eh?

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Want another chance to win a little $$$? I have ANOTHER $50 giveaway running HERE!

Want to learn more? Join Pennington here!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenningtonSeed

Twitter: https://twitter.com/penningtonseed

Website: http://www.penningtonseed.com

Make sure you come back tomorrow and the rest of this week as we dive into some opinions about some pretty little yellow flowers, the way people drink and my very strong feelings about a certain room in the house!

Then you get to tell ME

the way YOU like it!

A TRUE egg hunt

2013-04-19T04:38:00.000-05:00

Meet Cotton Ball

Easter has just passed and with all the *plastic* egg hunts, it gets me thinking about how these hunts must have started. Surely, the initiator of the Easter egg hunt had gone on many a REAL egg hunt, don't you think? You see, chickens lay their eggs in the same spot. Until you mess up the spot. For instance, I have found that TAKING the eggs from the nest makes my chicken stop laying there. We've also learned that cutting down the massive stands of dry grass around her nest cause Cotton Ball to leave. (Makes sense, yes? ...and yes, that is what we call her. Is there any more appropriate name than Cotton Ball??)

I even tried leaving one egg there in hopes that she would come back and lay more. No dice.

So now, for the 5th or 6th time since she has started laying -- we hunt for Cotton Ball's eggs.

So my question for you is....if you were a chicken, where would YOU lay your eggs?

Art Alternative: The Charcoal Silhouette

2013-04-18T09:50:00.000-05:00

I have a basement stairway with a very tall, narrow ceiling that is perfect for a gallery space. I've slowly been adding my work along with the kids work to this space, and the charcoal silhouettes I am going to show you today fit perfectly in the space directly in your line of sight as you descend the stairs. Updated plan: Get ready for a brand new gallery wall in this space with LOTS of canvases and prints courtesy of Shutterfly. It is looking fabulous!

Today though, we are going to go through the silhouettes step by step. With silhouettes all the rage and chalkboards even hotter, I wanted to jump on the trend, but with my own little spin. I decided to experiment with charcoal on canvas, creating the same textured black as a well-used chalkboard.

Supplies needed to make your own DIY canvas art:

16 x 20 Canvas
Charcoal Pencils
Bright Light (like this Architect's Light I used)
Aerosol Hairspray (anything works, but I love the smell of this Aussie Spray while I am working :)
Blending Stumps or Tortillions (optional)
Ruler or Straight Edge

Directions:

First things first - you need a profile! I recruited my kids when they were happy and well fed and bribed them with an episode of 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates'. Even though they were happy and well-bribed, I still had to work very quickly. Make sure you have your supplies ready to go before starting because irritable children make this project a disaster.

The basic setup is to place yourself in front of the canvas, with your child sitting sideways behind the canvas and a bright light shining directly towards the child and canvas. My older son held the canvas beside his face for the drawing, but with younger children, you will want to enlist a helper.

It is essential that the head stay completely still while you trace the profile,

so your helper might be best utilized to hold the child's head steady.

Using a very sharp pencil or charcoal stick, quickly trace the shadow outlined on the canvas.

Work in as broad of strokes as you can for the head, neck and chin while using smaller movements for the more fine-tuned facial features.

Once you have the basic outline, go back and fine tune the edge details while your child is still holding still.

This is what my profile looked like after the quick sketch. The hair on the forehead, nose and lips were right on, but the neck was out of whack. Fix the details before moving on to charcoal sticks because it is much harder to fix later!

Once the profile drawing is right, start filling in the face with a charcoal stick. Use strokes in the same directions for the whole face, working in 3-4 inch sections at a time. Blend the charcoal with blending stumps or tortillions if needed.

For the second silhouette, I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted a split B/W canvas with the facial profile peeking out from behind the wall. For this this portrait, I followed the same technique above, but then added a straight line to the top and bottom of the profile. I used a cabinet door as the straight line marker, but any ruler or straight edge will work.

Simply draw the line straight and fast down the edge of your ruler (or cabinet door!).

Fill in the entire profile section, including the corners of the canvas, with charcoal. Hairspray will help to set the charcoal and blend it further. I took the canvas outdoors (the charcoal will FLY and make a mess of your house indoors!) and gently sprayed only in the black charcoal sections. Do not spray heavily along the edge of the profile as it will bleed. Notice the dark spots where the spray concentrated and notice I did not spray heavily along the edges of the profile. This all evens out as the spray dries, but you still have the uneven look of chalkboard/charcoal as opposed to a flat black paint.

If you do have any mishaps, immediately use a tiny bit of Windex and paper towel to wipe the charcoal off the white canvas.

Allow the canvases to dry flat for at least a day and then shake them outside to make sure the charcoal is not loose.

If it is, you might need to add more charcoal, blend and spray again. Once they are completely dry and set, hang and enjoy!

Want some more art alternatives??

I have some for you including my famous baby feet print!!!

CLICK HERE and HERE for more Art Alternatives!

Brussel Sprouts, Brussels Sprout or Brussell Spouts? Which is it?

2013-04-17T10:50:00.001-05:00

Lately in the garden, I've been planting a boatload of cool-season root crops, cabbages, lettuces and the like. The one I am most excited about? Brussel Sprouts. :) Yes, brussel sprouts. I like to eat brussel sprouts (though I didn't for many, many years), but I am mainly excited to see the giant stalks with tiny little cabbages all up and down the sides growing in my garden this year! We will see if I am successful (could be debatable! We have deer and bunnies and groundhogs galore!)

Anyway, while planting brussel sprout seeds, it got me thinking about my conversion to eating brussel sprouts. I never liked them - they were too peppery -- or sometimes too sweet when folks added honey or such to them. (Does anyone else HATE that when folks make wonderfully savory things sweet? You know...like HAM or SWEET POTATOES or BRUSSEL SPROUTS. Ruins them.)

In any case, my husband brought home one of those giant stalks one day from the grocery store (yes, Deborah Madison, you pegged at least one shopper in your brussels description in Vegetable Literacy!) and whipped them into a delicious little dish. FULL of garlic, LOTS of charring and NO sweetness -- they were DELICIOUS! Now I know you are supposed to eat veggie crisp and green, and I know that fine dining chefs would think my husband's dish was trash, but I LOVED IT. I HATE when cooked veggies still have too strong of a bite to them. I like a good strong sear and a chewy inside and luckily I have a husband that gets it :)

So once I was sold on the concept of charred brussel sprouts, I decided to do a little experiment. Can you get the same effect with frozen brussels? Frozen bagged brussels vs. boxed? Worth the cost difference? Let's check it out!

The frozen sprouts are smaller than fresh (as anticipated). I am not sure if they are a smaller variety, picked younger or just plain dinky, but the two brands I tried were definitely quite a big smaller than the fresh. Alex cuts the fresh in half to cook while the frozen brussels were fine whole.

I don't know about you, but boxed frozen veggies are kind of new and exotic to me. (I know I am weird.) I've always just picked up the bagged frozen veggies and skipped right over the boxes. That is until one day I saw Rachael Ray using boxed frozen spinach and I thought hmmmm.....those would stack nicely in the freezer, wouldn't they? Since then, I've been on a journey to try loads of different frozen, boxed veggies and compare the taste to their bagged counterparts. I'll let you know how it goes!

So back to the brussels. Here are the two frozen versions, cooked identically:

...and the fresh...

The winner?

Fresh is DEFINITELY prettier and definitely tastes better. Those cut inside edges, charred to perfection are JUST right. HOWEVER, when brussels are NOT in season and very, very expensive, I will definitely not hesitate to use frozen. I probably wouldn't serve them to guests, but for a delicious side for me? Yes ma'am!

The recipe? Give me a couple days. I have to wrangle Alex into spilling his secrets! I'll be baaaaaaaaack!

PS - The general concencus is "Brussels Sprouts", but I am going to stick with the Midwestern shortening to Brussel Sprouts. Love y'all!