I love making Halloween decorations! I also love to make CHEAP decorations. I don't think I can find a good reason to buy a lot of what I see in the stores. I am pretty happy with a lot of what I can make, too. I live in South Texas. Halloween celebrations are almost as … Continue reading Milk Jug Spider
All great and wonderful things should have another go! Here's my packing tape ghost from last year. I will definitely be making another this year (along with the spider egg sacks.) Happy Halloween! Oh, I had fun making this! I saw this "packing tape ghost" idea in a pin, but the instructions given seemed nearly … Continue reading Easy Packing Tape Ghost
Learning to garden takes time. It’s also helpful to have a seasoned gardener show you how to garden in your area. If you don’t have someone on hand: you now have me! I may not live where you do (and it makes a huge difference if you are growing in a different area) but I … Continue reading Beginning Gardener: Class 3-Walking You Through What You Need To Know
Learning to garden takes time. It's also helpful to have a seasoned gardener show you how to garden in your area. If you don't have someone on hand: you now have me! I may not live where you do (and it makes a huge difference if you are growing in a different area) but I … Continue reading Beginning Gardener: Class 2-Walking You Through What You Need To Know
We live a little east of San Antonio. When hurricane Harvey's winds were just a few hours out, I had a choice: bring in severely under ripe, astringent, Asian persimmons (and super green tomatoes) or risk breaking the brittle branches that were loaded with fruit and have the fruit split from the deluge. (Mine happen … Continue reading Will They Ripen?
Winter is on the way! It's time to brush up on your gardening skills and learn new gardening gifts! I am ready to share everything with you! This year I thought I'd get back to basics and start publishing pieces of my gardening advice from my page: Gardening Basics. For the novice gardener: read on … Continue reading Beginner Gardeners: Walking You Through What You Need To Know
During the holiday season I reflect on the things I am grateful for. At the top of the list is my family, and more specifically: my two young sons. The following article is my love letter to my boys. From the beginning through the end of every day, they are always in my thoughts. I … Continue reading A love letter to my boys
I tend to write posts for problems I come across and can’t find an answer out there…anywhere! This year I wanted to make gingerbread cookies for my kid’s teachers. I knew exactly what I wanted to accomplish (a yummy gingerbread cookie dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy canes.) It sounded simple enough. … Continue reading Drool Worthy Gingerbread Cookies From A Molasses Cookie Mix
Get my new e-book on Amazon! It’s free with Kindle Unlimited or $3.99 to purchase. There are projects in this e-book that you won’t find anywhere else, like: a tutorial for my 20 foot spiderweb; Solid, fast human shaped forms and more; plus all of the tutorials you can find on my website. There’s 14 … Continue reading Easy Packing Tape Ghost
While we had plenty of rain this year for my vegetables it was a poor year for fruit. We got so much rain this year that the peaches all aborted and the limbs oozed sap trying to find a way to compensate for the deluge. My persimmon also dropped most of its fruit in response … Continue reading Shrub-A-Dub-Dub What To Do With Imperfect Fruit
I would bet that most gardeners have a list of a few things that they do, out of habit, that are counterproductive. For me it's gardening without gloves or long sleeves. I almost never wear gloves or long sleeves. I love to work the soil with my hands, I weed bare handed and I harvest … Continue reading Curing An Extra Itchy Case Of The Gardening Stupids
This year has started off with a whole mess load of stress. We have had to gratefully step through doors (so that we could close them) while trying to remain open to new adventures. It's been rough, but gratitude is an incredibly stabilizing force during loss and chaos. The one thing that has stayed constant … Continue reading Kohlrabi Ham Bake!
I always have these great ideas about making everyone gifts. Then it gets down to the last minute and I end up having picked ideas that are way too complex to complete in the time I have left. These cookies can be done in one day. I just finished them and they are beautiful! The … Continue reading Stained Glass Cookies!
Want to know what I made at the last minute this year? Fun winter themed footprints from my kids! If you are searching for something you can complete quickly: the shirts/sweatshirts need time to dry in between layers but it won't take too long if you follow my directions. I chose a winter theme (rather … Continue reading Last Minute Christmas Gift
I'm sick. This has been a bad year for colds in our home. My youngest boy started school and he loves to germ up while he's there and then come home and share! I love my little walking petri dishes, but I am tired of the viral circus that they star in! About a decade … Continue reading Decadent Herbal Cold Remedy: Turmeric Milk
Winter is a wonderful time to read up on gardening literature. When your garden is fast asleep, it is the perfect time to make preparations for next year. Whether you are new to gardening or an old hand: this is the yearly time for reflection. What has worked for you? What have you struggled with? … Continue reading Winter: Garden Planning
Every once in a while I end up on Pinterest. I don't do it often because it's like going to an all you can eat buffet: I think I can eat (or do) way more than reality will allow me to. On one of my visits to Pinterest I saw some melted pony bead crafts … Continue reading Melted Perler Bead and Pony Bead Craft Projects
It's hot out right now. Like: "melt into a puddle with whatever remaining liquid is left in your poor dehydrated body" hot out. San Antonio has a long growing season: 280 days. Our summers are included in the 280 days but I'm not sure that's very fair. I can get peppers, okra and eggplants through … Continue reading Come On, You Know You Want To! Recycled Glass Flowers In The Garden
This month is heavy on the picking and light on the work. Why? Because I worked hard in the spring to create this exact scenario. Water-wise, deep beds have yielded incredible amounts of produce. See how we built them here: Hugelkultur, Keyhole Gardens: Bridging Ideas and here: Mother’s Day Raised Hugelkultur Bed! Instructions for creating … Continue reading Reaping The Rewards Of Spring Planning
One of the draws of raised beds (especially if you have heavy native clay soil) is the the great drainage it provides. However, the drainage in a raised bed can also become an issue in high summer heat. This is a great example of how some things are extremely helpful in one season (like drainage … Continue reading Efficient Summer Watering In A Raised Bed
Crazy Green Thumbs 