Jill Ruth & Co.

Getting Organized

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 16:20:00 +0000

It may be the "end of the garden season", but it's not time to stop gardening! As watering and weeding needs decrease, you may have time to catch up on a few other things...like labeling your plants. This spring after adding some more perennials to my garden, I was determined to label all my new perennials from last year and this year.

I didn't have time to look online so found what was available at a local store. I marked a number of them, but didn't get the job done. I used a permanent marker and just accepted that I was going to have little white markers. It wasn't awful. It wasn't what I wanted as labels though. This one is one of the few that you can still almost read. The others all faded! Or broke. I didn't see that coming. I thought the "permanent" would last. I didn't realize that it would fade in the sun.

This is my other solution to labeling. I just stick the plant label that comes with a plant into the ground next to it. These often break, fade, or get pulled up over the course of weeding etc. So they end up laying by my plants. Not awful, but I am hoping to make it a little better. :)

I found the Paw Paw Everlast Label Company and they sent me some of their hairpin zinc labels to try.

This was the look, longevity, and ease of use I was after.

I'm not going to say that I don't get enticed by hammered and embossed plant labels. But that, my friends, is not going to happen in my world. I got over quickly that my handwriting isn't botanical garden worthy.

The labels are for my own use. I really want to remember each plant I have. I can always keep the tags elsewhere, but it's good for my memory to have the information where I need it.

You can also write on the back so I decided to put the year planted on the back of my tags. I added so many new perennials last year (the year all the gardens grew!) so I am catching up on labeling those too. Mostly, I have added native plants that I can buy for a very reasonable price.

Since I got the greenhouse/shed this past winter, I am planting so much more from seed and will need to label those too.

A black marking pencil came with the labels and it will hold up in the sun for years.

I use white flags like this in my vegetable garden and the cutting garden to label rows. I also have grabbed one when I get a plant from a fellow gardener.

Over time, I can replace the flags with non intrusive labels.

Then the only white flags in my garden will be white flowers! This is a moon flower that I finally got going this year after being gifted some volunteers from a fellow gardener.

I still have to dig around under this Morning Glory to mark a Wisteria vine that I was gifted from my sister in law last year. I know it's still there and alive, but could easily forget and weed it come next spring.

You can see my little marker if you look close under here. I have a fall blooming clematis that I planted this summer. It is growing, and yes, I know it's getting too much shade from those annuals! I just couldn't pull the annual vines. Next year I will make sure the clematis gets full sun.

I'm not marking the plants I'm completely familiar with, but new ones, new varieties, or ones that die back and I may lose sight of.

Side note: Hyssop smells soooooo good!

These tree labels would be neat.

I also really like this style of label.

If you like the copper look, they have that option. (They are sharp looking!)

You can also find them on Facebook as Everlastlabel.

September in the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:04:00 +0000

Good morning! I hope you've been following along on Instagram to get brief updates of the garden and life there. I just fixed my widget again here on the blog so we should be good to go from here if you aren't on Instagram.

I could say soooo much about every plant in the garden, but I'll spare you! So look below at what is blooming in September.

As in every year, there is so much I have learned in this season! There are plants I'll try again and others I will forego to make room for something new.

The garden may be winding down, but now is the time to do a lot of planning and note taking. I am going to be marking my perennials this fall in a more substantial way and I'm excited about that. That post and one on that sweet greenhouse-shed you see above to come soon!

Announcement!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 15:24:00 +0000

We have a wedding coming up!!

Side note: it has been so long since I've posted, this feels foreign and I'm not sure where all the posting settings are. Oh dear. I'll learn again!

Our second daughter began dating her now fiancé at the beginning of the Quarantine last year. They both began working from home and had no other outside contact so they continued dating with walks and basketball and lots of game playing and movie watching.

A year later (to the day) they were engaged!

There won't be any projects that we will be doing as we did for our oldest daughters wedding. I posted a number of them here. Gosh that was a while ago already!

I did make two ring bearers' pillows the other day. From vintage green velvet!

We took these engagement photos a couple of months ago. It was hot, so we took breaks to cool down so as to not get too "sweaty".

The wedding will be on a fall Friday evening.

It is such a joy to see our family grow!

::~~::

Garden posts coming very soon!

Helloooooo

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 17:55:00 +0000

Happy New Year!!

I have had so many blog posts in my head, but haven't had the right impetus to write them.

I'm here now, to just get the ball rolling so to speak. :)

This is us on Christmas Eve! We were able to safely go to Mass in person for which I am sooooo grateful!! My oldest daughter and her family are still quarantining due to her compromised immune system. But, thankfully, her and her husband have both received the first dose of the vaccine!

What is new here? I am planning for the garden. Watching videos, reading plant care information, and trying to be ready to grow with grow lights and a greenhouse! We cleared a lot of trees this fall and made ready a site for a small greenhouse and shed. I am excited and a bit apprehensive. I have learned enough about greenhouse growing to know that I don't know nearly enough! Truly. Temperature, humidity, pests, cost control....but as I've been planning, I was reminded that I am and always have been a bit of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of person and so I will keep trying to plan a bit, but will also be okay with winging it.

This greenhouse is truly a gift from God. It's a long story, but I had given up the desire for one because it did not seem doable for so many reasons. About two years ago was when I finally gave up the "dream". (I put that in quotes because I'm not one to use the word "dream" in the sense of hopes for the future.) This fall, while looking for an old shed to move on to our property to add some much needed storage space, I came across a site that sold shed and greenhouse combinations. I was prompted to call the company and had a long conversation with the designer of the sheds. Before I knew it, my husband and I were planning on a Sunday drive about 3 hours away into Kansas to look at the greenhouse/sheds they had on display. With activities so strictly limited yet, the idea of a Sunday drive to look at greenhouses was just so exciting. I didn't care a bit if we decided against it, I just wanted an outing for our youngest girls and us to go on! After about a week of prayerful consideration, we placed an order. Just like that. So far, it's on schedule to be delivered sometime in February. Weather will be of course a consideration, but hopefully, it will be here before more snow comes. If not, that's where my ability to adapt comes in, ha! Even if I fail at growing things in it, it should be a wonderful place to take photos!

My plan is to start the seeds indoors yet as it would cost too much to heat a place here in our climate for that long. That is the main reason I had given up on getting one, but now I know a combination of seed starting indoors and a greenhouse can work together. So I've invested in a seed heat mat and grow lights. The "where" of this little project is still to be determined. Maybe downstairs in a storage room.

I'm also working in these winter days to organize all my photos in hard copies and digitally. Oi. It's a job! I'm behind for sure, but it is certainly doable. It's the decision making that trips me up on these projects. I do have a "system" for organizing the files, but it needs some tweaking. Mostly it just needs to be used! Sadly, being behind, has made me take less photos and videos because I don't want to get buried in files. No room for remorse though, just a nudge to get at it.

Now, just for fun! A few years ago, the tradition of taking a serious photo of the kids on Christmas Eve began, but my youngest always has trouble not smiling. :)

I continue to pray for our Country.

For truth and peace to reign in the hearts of all of us.

Begin Again

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 17:32:00 +0000

This morning, I just needed to dig my brain in to something new and a little challenging. I'm not sure why I thought I needed that as I've been learning to use a new app on my phone and it's been making my brain hurt already. I suppose though that the time spent learning in Photoshop this morning will also help me learn that new app. The negative space font was a free one on Creative Market and I just wanted to learn how to use it. I did! Now...if I'll remember how when I come back to it again, ha! But, seriously. I learn and forget. Forget that I even learned in the first place sometimes. Can anyone relate???

So I made this little digital art piece. Just like the learning of the software and apps, if we don't keep working at our faith we will lose it or it will become stagnate. Daily practice for art and creative work is touted everywhere and is so truly beneficial. But first, please, daily practice of our faith. Scripture reading, prayer, meditation, adoration, praise, good works...whatever and however your desires and God's promptings lead you. That daily practice means more that any organized drawer, tv show, special dinner, new skills, etc.

My husband and I finished this book a few weeks ago. So good! It was the first time we've read a book out loud together. We didn't really plan to read it that way, it just happened. I think we will do it again. Takes a while to get through, but a spiritual book is usually best in small bites with time to talk and think about what was read. That's how this transpired too. I'd read, then we'd talk about it.

The main message from the book to take away was to "begin again". To nurture your faith and if you feel like you failed, let it go and begin again! And again. And again. (You get the picture.) Words to live by for sure. Continuing on with the garden metaphor; When a plant doesn't do well in one location, I change the watering/fertilizer practice: Begin again if you will. Still not doing well? I move it. Begin again. The book was full of encouragement, and very easy to read.

I'll leave you with a quote from the other book I'm just finishing, Anne of Green Gables:

"Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it...Yet."

Begin Again

Foraged Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 21:01:00 +0000

I am enrolled in Kim Klassen's Inner Circle. One of the projects was to make a foraged wreath and then take a photo of it. Kim and her friend Aileen posted a video a couple of years ago about making wreaths from vines and I have been making them ever since. So, this wasn't new, but always fun to be inspired to do more so to speak. I had seen a beautiful wreath on the Terrain's website and decided to use it for specific inspiration to make one for this challenge. You can see it here.

I am always foraging and this past Sunday we went out to the Native Prairie near here to do a little more. My husband sat in the front while our 15 year old worked on her driving skills. I enjoyed watching the ditches and taking pictures from the back while our 14 year old listened to music on her headphones. My husband very quickly honed his visual skills to help me spy different grasses and weeds with interesting seed pods or leaves. I posted a few pictures on Instagram.

So here is my "inspired by Terrain and Kim Klassen" wreath!

I could make wreaths for hours! (and have...) The dried bits are certainly fragile, but they are also pretty forgiving when a piece does break off. It's usually pretty easy to not fret about it whether I fix it or not.

So today is election day here in the US. It's so sad to think that no matter the outcome, close to half of the people will be unhappy. I really don't like that. My eyes have been opened to the polarization of the world. And I avoid it. I won't listen to it and I try to not participate in it. I'm trying to eliminate the us vs them mentality in my mind. It's hard. I was in it deep in my young adulthood. Loved the news. Loved the politics. Very much us vs them. I've left that space years ago and am trying hard to "sing a new song" as God asks us to do so many times in the Psalms.

So wreaths may seem silly to some in the world right now, but it's more in tune to the song God has put on my heart.

Back to School Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 02:14:00 +0000

Here we go! They've been home since March and we truly have had very little contact with others. They are ready to roll. My second to last child is entering high school and my youngest is entering the eighth grade. This was probably the most ideal age to be stuck at home for all of us. They can entertain themselves and aren't too used to running off on their own yet.

I decided with the requirement of masks in school, that now would be the time to get them contacts. Oh dear, fighting the steaming up of glasses all day would be so hard. I'm sure some of you are fighting just that, and I feel bad for you.

Along with no steamed up glasses, contacts mean you get to wear sunglasses! So they bought some this past weekend.

Earlier this week I suggested a photo shoot with the new shades. I thought it would be fun and a boost to their confidence.

I love to shoot non traditional portraits.

The girls were very willing participants.

It was good to be shooting photos again, it's been awhile.

The summer without one visit to a swimming pool, no vacation, no fair, no 4h projects, no schedule of any kind. It wasn't awful, that's for sure. I'm not sure what to say about it. No way to easily sum it up as I'm sure many of you can relate. Moving on to the next thing certainly feels like the right thing.

Continuing to pray every day for a vaccine, better treatments, protection, and graces. For the beautiful graces that God can bring from all of it.

Discernment: Listen to the Tone

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 20:27:00 +0000

I speak regularly to a Spiritual Director. She helps me discern God's voice in my life. I started meeting with her years ago after going through the Saint Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with the Priest who confirmed me in the Catholic Church. Funny side note: One time I mentioned driving to go talk to her (my director) to my Mom who very nicely gave me a slightly pathetic, (but attempted sympathetic) look and cautiously asked, "Is she a counselor? Are you seeing a counselor?" First of all, if I was, that would be fine so that made me roll my eyes inside, but this concept was very foreign to my Mom. As it is to many people so now maybe I'm introducing the practice to you too. Back to where I was going with this...

One thing she has taught me is to listen to the tone of the voice. The voices that one "hears" internally. Is it loving? Is it condemning? Those two right there will take you quite far. Guess which comes from God? And where the other comes from. Often, it's tricky, which again points to the evil one and not God. God is not ever trying to trick us.

In the past years in the 'online' world of social media, we often heard a repeated message in many different quotes of "you are enough" and that was such a beautiful message that people were sharing. Sometimes Satan got in and twisted it for sure, but there was a lot of truly good and loving posts by people encouraging others to know their value in the eyes of God.

Now, it seems the tone had definitely changed. What I see and hear often is "you are not enough" "you are wrong" "you should do more" etc. Satan has come in and divided people. He has divided those who truly are most likely on the same page. People are being divided not on where we want to be, but on how to get there. And there is almost always a condemning voice. A "poking" as it were. For those of you who have children, you may remember them poking each other to irritate each other. Or perhaps they poked you, to get your attention. One of my kids poking me when they were little, I could handle, but this virtual poking is annoying. I bet many of you have felt the need to poke back, right? (I fight the urge and know it's time to walk away from the phone/computer.)

We, as people, certainly may be divided in places where you need to stand strong. For me that's in the area of human rights, the rights of the human embryo. There is no compromise for me there. What I'm talking about is the division in so many areas that are gray. The divisions that are being stoked with sometimes aggressive and sometimes passive aggressive messages. If you can discern the tone, you may know how and when to turn away.

My son said to me a number of years ago while he was college. "I turn back to my opinion. My opinion doesn't hate me." And I laughed and thought how that puts something so complicated in to a simple form. He by the way doesn't engage in political or controversial conversations.

God may be calling you to take action, he may call you to vote a certain way, he may call you to just do your life the best you can. But, that call will be loving, a drawing in, a drawing attention to, not an aggressive poke.

Concrete Vases: Hidden Treasure

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 22:19:00 +0000

Good hot Wednesday to you!! The heat and humidity are ramping up here in Nebraska.

So I guess sitting inside for a bit to edit photos and post to my blog seems like a great idea.

A couple of weeks ago, I came across this blog called Made by Barb.

She had this project which really got my attention, layered concrete jewel vases.

I knew I wanted to try it. I also knew that mine would end up very different because so many factors come in to play. I was hoping it could be a 4h project for the girls. They did help, but Nora lost interest fast and the pouring the concrete in a very small space and arranging the broken pieces of glass became trickier that I thought it would be. So Audrey mostly helped me mix the cement.

We made this first vase not really connecting the dots of how much concrete the container we had would need to fill it. Almost the entire 20 pound bag of concrete was needed. So....this thing is heavy. But, wow....what a statement it makes!

I needed to go out for more propane for our grill so I could justify making a trip in to Menards just to buy more concrete. Since the quarantine started we've made no extra trips for one item at all. That's been pretty tricky for me who flies by the seat of my pants often.

So I had more concrete, but still needed a smaller container to go around the jar on the inside. It just so happened that I had a nearly empty shortening container. Perfect size. ♥

I left a residue of the shortening in it, to help the concrete release and interestingly, that gave the new vase a texture that I didn't expect. Of course, truly, I had no idea what to expect with any of this, so it's all been a surprise and all new things learned. I used broken bottles and china to go inside the concrete to be exposed just a bit. Then chiseled away gently at a couple of spots to reveal more of the broken piece inside.

Then the next thing we tried was a planter. I still need to "plant" it and find a place for it outside. Maybe I'll bring it back inside if I can find a good way to catch the water under it.

By this time, I realized that more pattern from the broken tea cups would be neat so tried to get them to show.

It's kind of like finding a hidden treasures or the half buried things we see when we explore old houses and places.

And, they are intriguing.

I pushed a cork into a terracotta pot then placed it into the bigger plastic container and then poured the concrete in. I was able to break out the cork easily and with just a bit of coercion (and a prayer!) I was able to get the terra cotta pot out without it breaking! My husband suggested tapping it gently, and it worked. Whew. I wanted to keep the pot!

A "woodland" type of arrangement seemed so perfect for these two vases.

Now I need to make room on a shelf that is about waste level to store these, ha!

More cement projects are in the works (in my mind anyway)

This is what I want to make next.

How neat would that be out in the Garden?!

June in the Tank Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 15:38:00 +0000

This is my first year planting Bachelor Buttons en masse. And, I got more than I bargained for...as this packet was called "Chinese Forget Me Nots" but they came up Bachelor Buttons!! I put the package of Bachelor Buttons in the Tank Garden so I have quite a few of these. I'm loving them in mixed bouquets but really love a vase full of only these.

The Tank Garden is doing well this year. I had hoped to add new mulch to the paths and may do that yet, but we'll see how the summer goes.

I've posted on Instagram about the lovely pink flowers on the left there. Someone helped me identify them as Sweet William Catchfly.
They are somewhat delicate, grow so easily from seeds, and seem to last about a month. Really perfect to plant along side other flowers to bloom as you wait for others to get going. I will transplant some of my Zinnias or Celosia in this pot when they are done. Or just put the pot away. They are just wonderful!!

More Bachelor Buttons! They may be a bit tall for this space, ha! But the height in the raised pots is really kind of neat. I just should have given them some support. Always learning. Always!

These Marigolds are pretty happy...some of the biggest blooms I've ever had. That baby's breath reseeded itself as did the Spanish Flag vines in the ground. I sowed the Four O Clocks that are growing well in the ground there too.

My first successful year with Poppies!! So happy about that. I planted a lot of them. And this tank is the only place they did come up, but I have 5 different kinds in here. Will I remember which seed pods are which?? Maybe I should be marking them....

♥♥♥

A purple one.

A lighter pink one. ♥

I've had this plant for a number of years, wintering it over and then pulling it out to the garden. This year, I've planted it in a number of places and it's thriving!

Bells of Ireland and Trufala Pink Gomphrenia

This Hyacinth Bean Vine volunteered here by our new raised bed, so I put up a vine trellis for it. I cut a bunch of vines out of our trees last summer from the Bittersweet running amok and saved some of the pieces. :)

These Stella D'Oros, the Bee Balm and the Apricot colored Snap Dragons are hard to see because of the other flowers around them.

I added this tool box planter this year because I found Lantana at 50% off and thought I'd try it. I hope it keeps blooming!

I didn't want to keep adding little pots, but then there were more volunteers....so I grabbed these coffee cans.

::~~::

This year I started painting some pieces to add more color and art to the garden and I have really enjoyed the process of it! This post was all weathered wood with hardly any paint left on it.

It was some point in all the rioting and I was praying for the world and for peace.

So it says, "PEACE" around in bigger letters. I don't care that you can't read it all at once. I know what it says.

And, so does God.

"Peace Be With You and With Your Spirit"

The perimeter has Milkweeds, Mullein, Rudbeckia, and Queen Anne's Lace....and some weeds. Ha!

::~~::

That ladder really needs a home, it's hangs here to let vines crawl on it for now.

Here is where a different variety of Forget Me Nots did come up!

I love the color, such a striking blue!

I also repainted my bike this year and my girls repainted the white Adirondack chairs. We are using our extra time....

I am really happy with how the bike turned out and may need to find a new place for it where I can see it better.

Another post that was bare wood, that I painted.

I have the Sweet William Catchfly everywhere and the Spanish Flag vine in a number of places too. I planted them all from seeds that I saved from one vine last year.

Recent garage sale aquisitions. They may just sit here for awhile.

From the outside.

::~~::

One Hollyhock coming. I'd love to have a whole patch of these somewhere someday.

Chinese Lanterns. I read they could be invasive. They were right. I'm letting these grow in the sand and they are pretty happy here.

This Silver Falls is perfect with a galvanized tub!

♥

We have animals that dig, and this little brick path takes on new dips every year.

I may have gone too far with that Avon bottle Peacock, but I saw it a couple of weeks ago at a garage sale for 50 cents and thought hmm...garden?? Peacocks like to fly up and perch on windmills and barns back in the day when there were more of them on farms. I kind of like it there. Soon it will be hidden with vines. Currently Sweet Peas but then Cypress Vine.

I'm struggling a bit with the new format on blogger for creating my posts so I think there may be some odd spacing and the text looks small. I will need to figure that out another day. Off to the grocery store and perhaps we'll find a sale or two to stop at. :) Masked up like bandits of course! We have masks we've made and apparently we need to hit the sewing machine yet again as two of my girls will be needing to wear them full time this fall and perhaps the younger ones may need to also.

Continuing to pray for Peace and a Vaccine....
Have a Blessed Independence Day!

God. Bless. America.

pleeeeeeeaaaaassssseeeeeeee

Woodland Peace (but be careful...)

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Tue, 19 May 2020 15:56:00 +0000

The day on Saturday was overcast and the rain was just beginning to sprinkle when my husband told me that the Dame's Rocket was blooming.

Oh, goodness. The color was luminescent with the heavy cloud cover.

Truly, magical. And so peaceful.

As long as you were really, really, careful to not get in the poison ivy!!

We have quite a bit of it around and in this place in particular. We put out flags where we find it and then spray it. That way we can watch over the years.
My husband got quite a rash from it once and he's of the mind to not ever let that happen again. Long pants, socks, shoes, long sleeves...check. If we ever suspect we were in some, we wash with really cold water and soap.

(I decided to quit fussing about Blogger and just get comfortable with the changes....)

Happy Tuesday to you!

Parked

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Mon, 18 May 2020 18:16:00 +0000

Good Monday!!

I'll begin with a side note: Blogger has made some changes and I'm having a little trouble adapting to the way posts are created. I have to say, I'm not liking it much. So many people have moved away from Blogger, but I've stayed because I'm not ready to pay for a site and because moving my blog seems like a really big job. I know it's a really big job that I would probably need to hire someone to do. It may be coming to that because I really don't like how things are now. I had just created a post and then click---oops---it was gone.

I took this image from an abandoned barn we had permission to explore this weekend. The moodiness and mystery of it....♥♥

Now, I'm off to get some other work done so I won't recreate my first post and just share my image.

Remember I'm praying along with all of you for a cure, vaccine, and graces for our world.

One Man's Weed...

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Fri, 08 May 2020 01:17:00 +0000

is another man's flower.

Wow. Am I right?
Look at those tiny little heart seed pods. At least I'm pretty sure they are the immature seed pods or fruits as they are specifically called.

I've noticed this particular weed for years, but this year I really noticed it. As in, what in the world is this gorgeous little volunteer and can I grow it where I want it?

Will it last in a vase? I wondered. Yes, it will!

A big question: What IS it? I thought I knew. Pennycress. But, when I checked, I was wrong. It is Shepherd's Purse. Cool name, huh? I do have Field Pennycress growing as a weed around here too and am going to investigate cultivating it for dried flowers.

Now, if I can "harness" them and get them to grow where I want them I'll be thrilled.

Little hearts showing up right now in the world was pretty wonderful.

♥ A very surprising gift for sure. ♥

Abandoned Continued

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

I don't know the story at all of the buildings we explored and hope to eventually learn more. I guess what remains will be the story for now.

No problem.

::::

::self portrait::

::::

The days are finally warming up and it's time to get to work outside!

Praying+Creating+Gardening = Peace

Sticks and Stones and Bricks

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:15:00 +0000

"See you make a wish and try to break some glass-you've got to be a pretty good shot these days--oh no George don't, it's full of romance that old place..."

Just in case you all don't watch the movie every year...the quote is from "It's a Wonderful Life" while George and Mary are out walking after falling into the school swimming pool.

Not a lot of romance here I have to say. But, it's what I thought of when we saw this room and the bricks. We had permission this weekend to explore a couple of abandoned buildings on an old property. I sure do enjoy photographing abandoned places.

I'll post more pictures tomorrow, but I wanted to leave this one by itself.

The metaphors are poignant here. Life is metaphor and it's completely by design, of that I have no doubt. Divine design.

I saw the scene and was drawn to it and so took the photo, but I didn't see the metaphor until I began to edit it.

The words, judgments, insults, snide remarks we cast land somewhere within.

There is someone inside looking out.

Damage is done.

Crispy Cinnamon Rounds

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:02:00 +0000

I know weight gain could be a real issue during this time and I feel so badly for those who have worked so very hard to establish a gym routine to possibly lose their momentum. Maybe for others though, this extra time and stress will help lead to a faithful walking routine or routine of exercising with someone online. There is no shortage of options there! There is no better antidote to stress than exercise. Well, okay, there is prayer...! Praying while exercising? Yeah, good too I think for some people! I can't say I do that too much yet. My mind seems to engage in prayer differently than exercise. We are using this time to establish a solid walking routine. (that's the plan anyway!) I'm actually rather new to podcasts listening and would you believe am completely new to wearing ear buds or headphones within the last year? I've always needed to listen for kids and just never picked up their use. When my kids are home, I wouldn't wear ear buds and when they aren't home, I don't need them. Well, times have changed. We talk and spend all kinds of time together, so some time apart with head phones on, is now a good thing for short periods of time. My point being, that I've taken to listening to podcasts while I walk and have to say, I am really enjoying it! Now I just need to find more podcasts that I enjoy.

So, I talk about exercise and then post another sweet recipe. Balance? And, sharing baked goods, is such a gift too. Share with your family or your neighbors, deliver curbside!! For us, the younger girls and I are trying to really learn about yeast baking. A skill that needs practice and lots of it, especially when there are three of us learning.

I found this recipe waaaaay back when I was in high school. I believe it was from a Midwest Living magazine. I made it and my Mom who was a great bread and cinnamon roll baker, loved it and so I have a memory associated with this of impressing my Mom. :) Of course now, I realize how much easier this recipe is than traditional cinnamon rolls, but I'm not sure I realized that at the time. I've probably only made them twice in my adult life. At some point that ingredient "yeast" began to intimidate me I guess. And the directions "let rise"... Oh gosh, those words years ago...no way! Who had the time or who knew what you would be doing an hour later when the dough was ready??

But, now, we have the time and now you will have this recipe too, because wow, it's so much easier than a cinnamon roll and dare I say...better?!?! I think maybe so!

Crispy Cinnamon Rounds

2 1/4 C flour

1 pkg instant dry yeast

2 T sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3/4 C warm water

3 T shortening

1 egg

Topping:

3/4 C sugar

1/4 C brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

(opt. 1/2 c nuts)

Combine 1 C flour, yeast, 2T sugar, salt and nutmeg. Add the water, shortening and egg. Blend on low speed until moistened. Beat 3 min. at medium speed.

By hand, add the remaining flour.

Cover and let rise in warm place until light and doubled. (an hour or so?)

Stir down.

Combine topping ingredients. Pour out 1/2 c of the topping on to wax paper or parchment paper, drop about 1/3 cup of dough onto the sugar mixture and pat out to a round shape, flipping it a time or two. Flatten to about 1/4". Put on a greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 min. Time depends on how thin you make them.

Makes about one dozen round at ~4" diameter.

Let's Just Cozy Up Here!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:10:00 +0000

Shrinking down to doll size and crawling into a cozy, someone else made it for you, bed sounds pretty good right now doesn't it?

When Ann Wood posted this little DIY bed, I knew I would make one. I think I've said that about a number of her patterns and projects. I know I have!

I made this tiny rag doll (from an Ann Wood pattern) maybe two years ago. It's hard to remember. :) I still hope to make her some little clothing accessories. I had hoped to make one for each of my younger girls, but it took longer than I thought. As do so many things.

I made the pillow, pillow case, and sheet from pieces of a very tattered pillow case. The little quilt was made from an extremely tattered quilt block I had. Even though I have quilt blocks in really good shape, I loved the challenge of cutting and resewing the really tattered one into something useful again.

Another old piece that was stained and ripped became the little tufted mattress. I just love the little swirls in the head board and foot board.

How are you all holding up? I keep my news watching to a minimum and my praying to a maximum and then I'm okay. The girls will have more direction from their teachers this coming week and that will help us out tremendously with their "homeschooling". Because as much as I love creating and science and can easily teach that, it's been too long since I've really done Math to teach anything successfully. And, it's always easier for them to follow through on requirements from their teachers.

If you follow along on Instagram, you know they've been learning to bake with yeast and two days ago, we began a levain, or sourdough starter as the regular yeast has sold out of our stores. We've also been experimenting a bit with natural dyes, learning crochet, and just general "life" studies.

They both have their instruments home so will be practicing that too.

We are trying to walk every day and that is such a gift to get out and about.

We finished the novena, but of course will continue to pray the rosary for an end to all of this. For a cure, a vaccine, for healing, for guidance, for everything.

The one thing that I do know and I know for sure: is that God can bring beauty out of all of this. Pray for graces to come from all of this. Pray it fervently. And in that prayer, to me is real light. I think you'll see it too. Keep bringing those limitations to Him also. I heard in my heart consoling words around one of those limitations a few days ago. And I have felt his peace in the limitations that I feel about the pandemic. What an enormous gift.

I keep thinking a giveaway would be a good idea. Does anyone enter those anymore? I'll have to figure that out. Happy mail would be nice!

Hang in there, this won't last forever. It won't!

Cookies!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 14:21:00 +0000

I tried this recipe a couple of weeks ago and now made them again this week. They are a bit "rough looking", but that's exactly how they are in the recipe book too and the nature of them.

I was skeptical of the ingredients, but they are called Everything-in-the-Pantry Cookies and that intrigued me because I like to "eat down" our pantry regularly. The recipe calls for sweetened condensed milk and I had two cans left from Christmas recipes that didn't get made, so I thought I'd give these a go. My first couple bites, I thought, "meh", but by the end of the cookie, I'd changed my mind. I went back for another.

And, another.

The recipe came from the cookbook Mexican Today by Pati Jinich. What's strange is that I cannot remember where I got this cookbook. I haven't had it more than a year and I don't just go out and buy cookbooks. Maybe clearance somewhere? Garage sale? I'm just glad I have it as I'm beginning to try the recipes and they are good. I hadn't even heard of the author, but someone via Instagram said she has a cooking show so I hope to check that out soon. Our town has multiple authentic Mexican restaurants and food trucks which are all so good, but it's kind of nice to make it at home too.

The recipe:

2 3/4 C all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 C dark chocolate Chips

1/2 C peanut butter chips

1 C broken pretzels (1/2 inch pieces)

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the sweetened condensed milk, and beat until fluffy.

On a low speed, add the flour mixture. By hand stir in the chips and pretzels.

Bake 10-12 min at 350 degrees.

I did not use any chips, but did use broken pretzels. Instead of chips, I roughly chopped up white almond bark that I had left from Christmas baking. I used about half of one package of it. That seemed to be about the right amount. I can see where any combination will work in the cookies which is what the author states. Use what you have!!

I was surprised at how much I liked broken pretzels in a cookie! I wouldn't have tried that on my own without it being in a recipe.

I hope this nudges you to modify your own recipes as you need or want.

Ironically, that used to drive me crazy about my own Mom. She would tell me she made a new recipe, but changed this or that because she didn't like a certain ingredient or didn't have it on hand. I would think, "Well that's not really new then...." Now, that's often exactly what I do! Ouch.

Limitations

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 01:27:00 +0000

Hello all. Oh how I hope you are all well and are finding some good cheer in your day!

This Lent, part of my plan for a Lenten practice was to spend time in prayer to explore who I am in Christ and to also really look at what my limitations are. Real and perceived. So far I'm, let's say, behind. But, good grief folks, if there was ever a time to look at and analyze your limitations?! I think it's now! I've rebooted my efforts at the extra prayer and journaling time. It's quite likely you all experience the same spinning around of thoughts when a situation is stressful as I do. So when you find yourself metaphorically wringing your hands about the state of the world, stop. Stop right there. Think about what your limitations are. The physical limitations are so new and different. No meetings, event, Mass etc. Hitting our mental limitations is exhausting.

Take these limitations (perhaps list them, draw them, note them somehow) with you into prayer and just see what God has to show you. This will most likely take awhile. Maybe days or weeks. Apparently most of us have the time now.

I have praised Him now for years for the beauty that has been born out of my limitations. I could write so much about how my life has been limited in the past years and I have not only encountered God in those limitations, I have found freedom to be who He has created me to be.

I have hoped to grow to sell my photos and art, but there feels like blocks to do that. That is part of the limitations that I thought I would be exploring this Lent. Maybe that's still it. I don't know, but I think there is great fruit and beauty that can come out of the situation our beautiful world is in right now. And I'm convinced that one place to find it, is in these limitations that have been put upon us.

I've mentioned the Out of the Ordinary Podcast before. This episode was on limitations and you may enjoy it. Their recent podcast is about the current state of the world and the fear that is gripping many people.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the Feast of St. Joseph and the Church has asked us to pray for his intercession for our world. Please pray the Rosary too. I know it's a Catholic prayer practice, but it is certainly not limited to Catholics to pray it!! Our mother Mary is the mother to all of us and she wants to pray for us.

This link takes you to a how to pray the rosary page and a novena that starts tomorrow the 19th.

A novena is a nine day prayer. The reason a nine day prayer is a practice of the Church is because of the nine days the Apostles waited for the Holy Spirit. When I learned that years ago when I first joined the Church, I thought that was so neat! Also, growing up Lutheran, praying the Rosary wasn't a practice I knew. But, the prayers of the Rosary are to pray with the Mysteries of the life of Christ. So each set of prayers is to meditate on an aspect of Jesus' life. That was another thing that I thought was amazing and I had no idea about when I joined the Catholic Church.

I hope you consider joining in with this Novena! It will be a beautiful time of so many in the world praying together. And please know that if you don't start on the same day, by all means still join in! If you miss a day, pray the next day! It's not a formula, it's a gift to be part of it.

Praying with all of you,

~Jill

(the photos were taken last week down at our little pond)

Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 23:21:00 +0000

I planted a Forsythia bush maybe five years ago? Hard to remember. I think I've only cut the branches early to bloom inside though once before. This year I remembered and what a treat it has been! Just so wonderful to see that yellow bud begin to open followed by the green leaves emerging.

A photo session was in order!

I've ordered some seeds and have high hopes of growing sweet peas for the first time this year. I have some seeds soaking already. Menards has their seeds half off so I picked up a number of packets so to plant at different times and places in hopes of getting some going. I'm not really sure how hard they are to grow. I've only known one person who had them in their garden and that was years ago. If anyone has advice, I'm all ears.

This weekend is to be quite nice here so perhaps we can do some outside work, or just clean the barn...that always needs to be done. I hope it's equally nice where you are!

Beautiful Words

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 16:29:00 +0000

By happenstance, this morning I came across this photo that I shot before Christmas. I had begun to play around a bit with it using some free botanical images from Creative Market. I had saved my file titled "Experiment with Typewriter". So I continued the experiment now with adding graphic elements to one of my photos.

My thoughts were about what a beautiful thing a typewriter is and what wonderful words and thoughts have come out of them over the years. Of course now, it's a keyboard and computer for everyone. When we wrote only by hand or with a typewriter, so much more thought needed to go into our words before they were recorded.

I just really like the visual of our words, being chosen carefully to be released to bloom.

It's Lent---It always sneaks up on me. And, still not sure what I think my Lenten season will look like. I'm sure I've mentioned on here in past years that I have a tendency to dread Lent. I need to always stop and remember that we are an Easter people and I can look ahead to the resurrection. I do believe that Fat Tuesday will look like hamburgers on the grill and grilling beers though! (With coat, scarf, and gloves on.)

Over Avocados and Oatmeal

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 17:03:00 +0000

An abridged conversation with my 14 year old this morning at breakfast:

Prayer is confusing.

I know. Our prayers matter, but God doesn't need our prayers to help us or others.

And people who are baptized still are sinners.

And those who aren't baptized can be really good people.

What's the point?

Sometimes I think the life of a Christian is to figure out 'What is the point?' When you've felt the hand of God, you know there is a point and you want to spend your life figuring it out.

:::walking out the door::

I think the point is the relationship. Our following Him, delights Him, and our being known by Him brings us joy. And, you're pretty sure you need to evangelize.

What's does evangelize mean?

It means to let others know that this gift of joy is for them too.

It's Heart Season

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 02:17:00 +0000

For the last number of years I have made hand made Valentine's for my family. I think I've only posted about them once here. (Still get excited about fish and puns!)

This year I'm jumping the gun and posting photos of some of them now.

I've posted a few process shots and videos on Instagram. I used Pellon wash away stabilizer to layer scraps and tidbits and threads into a "scrap sandwich". Then using invisible thread and the free motion embroidery foot on my machine, I stitched and stitched and stitched. I then washed away the stabilizer, dried the new piece of "fabric" and cut out the heart shapes.

I used heat and bond to fuse two heart together; then I added little bits of stitching and beads here and there.

As you know, I'm a fan of scrappy and this little project satisfies that need to use all the little bits!

Of course there are scraps left of my scrap fabric...may actually toss them! We'll see. :)

The back sides are actually fronts (because I fused two hearts, wrong sides together) just without any embellishments.

I still have more to stitch and hopefully will complete those yet tomorrow.

Here are few links from past Valentine's Day posts, perhaps you'll find some project to inspire you to cut, paste, or sew!!

Paper hearts

Paper Bag Valentines

Kid's Stitching Valentine

Shabby Chic Heart Wreath

Simple Newspaper Heart Garland

::::

Completely unrelated to Valentine's and Hearts: I started listening to this podcast, Out of the Ordinary last week. It is so good. SO VERY GOOD. It's a conversation between friends about the ordinary holiness of life. Their stories are simple, relatable, and true to how God moves in their lives. Maybe you would enjoy it too.

::::

Two Sweet Little Needle Books

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 02:27:00 +0000

Happy New Year!!

It's been awhile since I've been able to stop here and post. I hope you all had a blessed Christmas. We did...so much gratitude for the season. ♥

Yesterday I got the bug to make Ann Wood's "World's Sweetest Needle Book". And since I had all the materials out, I decided to make two.

One for the drawer at my sewing machine to hold sewing machine needles and

one to 'travel'. Travel where? Upstairs? Maybe the car?

The traveling needle book has a little pocket for thread. I took a piece of vintage crocheted trim and hemmed it in fabric so as to stop the raveling and then stitched it on.

On this page I stitched a piece of braided trim to hold a leather thimble. If you do hand stitching at all, I would really recommend this type of thimble even though appearances are lacking compared to a lovely vintage hard thimble!

I sewed in a length of recycled sari ribbon to hold a teeny pair of scissors.

Basking in all the vintage scraps, picking and choosing was so satisfying, just like when I made the tissue covers.

I pinned those little vintage lace trims in just to look pretty. :) ♥

Now you may think I hand stitch often to put all the time in to making this. Well, really not all that often. But I have taken some projects on the go (that link is one of my favorite projects) and I hope to have some ready to go for when I do just want to stitch.

This little needle book will be the one to keep my sewing machine needles in. I had been keeping them in one of my daughter's felt 4h project needle books or just throwing them in the drawer. Then I have to squint with a magnifying glass to see the size after I rifle through the drawer just to find one.

I took a piece of old linen, ironed a piece of freezer paper to it to stabilize it, then put in one of my typewriters to type out the labels.

That worked so well!

I use any old needle for when I sew on paper so I think I should keep those separate.

I have never actually used a leather needle, but I have some so now if I ever use one, I'll have a place to keep it.

I am thinking maybe this sweetness will keep me organized?!?!

It's been soooooo cold here this past week that it was perfect weather to spend quite a bit of time organizing and sorting all my supplies. My sewing room/studio is getting spiffed up and ready for more projects. Up next I believe will be some Valentines!

Have a great week!

Creative Christmas Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Jill) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 22:25:00 +0000

The idea of an alternate Christmas tree was first introduced to me in second grade by my teacher, Mrs Bohme. She read us the Coat Hanger Christmas Tree and the story stayed with me.

I went seeking the book in the late 1990s. The Internet was a thing, but only the beginning. I somehow found a used book store in Minnesota and ordered a used copy. I wanted to read the book to my kids.

I haven't read it to anyone in awhile, but all six of them heard it when they were little.

I made these "trees" and just photographed them instead of securing the pieces down. I made posters of them that are for sale now at Old Cottonwood. I was hoping to add them to a shop like Society 6 yet before Christmas, but I still need to work out some details.

You may remember this book tree from last year. This may shock some of you, but no one who knows me would be surprised, it's still up!! Yep. I liked it and honestly it just looked like a tree, it didn't need to be a Christmas tree. Soooo....the question is, do I take it down now that it is actually Christmas and put something different there? I think I may just make some different reader ornaments to adorn it.

Completely unrelated to Christmas Trees, but related to God, so I guess it is related to Christmas trees: You may enjoy this series of four podcasts by Father Mike Schmitz They are given at the University of North Dakota. The series is really good and I think it's just so true and relevant to every person. He calls the series "Comparisin" as a pun to Comparison. On my phone, I find it on the Podbean App.

He also has podcasts at Ascension Press which are different than the ones he gives to the college students at University of North Dakota. So there is a lot to check out from him.