Bees in the Back

I'm still alive and kicking!  I've been concentrating on my lesson plans and getting ready for school, which started this week!

I noticed the other night that the bees were loving our blooming sedum, so I ran out and took some pictures!  The bees were very patient with me :-)

Free Digital Download - Limited Time Only!

oIt seems that a pretty popular thing on Etsy are prints with sayings or words on them.  So I decided to create my own and give away the digital file for free for a limited time.  I just printed my own copy of it this morning - just on 60lb paper in my normal printer - and it turned out great.  So this is yours to print, save, do whatever you want with - but only for a limited time!  Click to access the file through google docs - click here for blue and click here for pink.



P.S. If you'd rather have me print it for you, I'd be happy to - it'll be printed on white 60lb paper.  Just click below to purchase a print for $5 + shipping.

Colors

Blue Pink

Happy Birthday Chloe!

Yesterday was my "niece"'s first birthday!!!  She was such a good birthday girl, and we had a lovely cookout on a not-too-hot evening :-)

Flowers of the Field

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:27-29

A Change of Curtains

I've been thinking about and planning to update our living room curtains for a while now - my plan was to make my own.  But after looking at fabric, and realizing just how expensive it would be to buy fabric and make curtains, I put it off.  Until I found out that Ikea has curtains for $15-$20!  Today, we went to Ikea and bought a new pair of curtains for $20 - a true bargain knowing how much the material alone would cost.

Here's the before and after, what do you think?

Grandma's Zucchini Bread

I absolutely love when zucchini season rolls around... I don't know that I've ever even needed to buy one, thanks to generous family and friends!  While I love grilled zucchini (just brush on some oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper), my absolute favorite is zucchini bread.  I used my grandmother's recipe - it's the one my mom used growing up, too, and if I may say so myself... it's the best :-)

And because I love you all, and want to share this wonderful thing, here is the recipe:

3 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. oil (I use canola)

2 c. grated zucchini

3 t. vanilla

3 c. flour

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. baking powder

1 c. nuts (optional - I omit)

3 t. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients.  Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.  Makes 2 loaves.

And in all seriousness, that's what my recipe card says... "Mix all ingredients".  How simple is that?

If you try it, be sure to let me know, or feel free to share your own family recipe!

Finding a Smile on a Dreary Day

Sometimes I look at the things around my house so often that I forget to really look at them, and I forget to appreciate the lovely, thoughtful, nostalgic items we've accumulated and incorporated into our home.  My house is full of things that have a story, things that remind me of people and places, or even just things I enjoy to look at.

So today, I challenge you to look around, and rediscover why you hung that picture in your living room in the first place, or what clever decorating idea you put into place and have since taken for granted.

Here are the top 5 things I found in my home that brought a smile to my face on this dreary, rainy Tuesday.


An old picture... found at a garage sale... this is one of two coordinating prints.




The newest addition to our home: 2 chairs given to me by my grandfather; the needlework was done by my grandmother...




A bright green plant in one of my favorites: a white urn.  Behind the plant is a cutting board made by my uncle, as a wedding present...




Tangerine!  A Fiestaware pitcher my parents found for me at the Fiesta Outlet - for $4!




A collection of salt and pepper shakers on a crisp white shelf with a mirror above.  The majority of the shakers are from my grandmother's collection, though I've added a few I've found since...



I'd love to hear or see things from around your house that are sure to bring a smile to your face!