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!
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
How to: Enjoy an indoor rabbit... Hahaha. No. He stinks, will live up to 18 years, digs up the carpet in the corners and kicks out rabbit poo all over the floor from his cage. Unfortunately, (for me anyway) it gets way too hot to cage a rabbit outdoors down here. (There are ways to … Continue reading A How To: On Animals and Life
Oh, I love my milk jugs! I start my seeds in them. I root cuttings in them. I short cut the hardening-off process with them. Yes! That's right you can now be lazy like me and get past the long and annoying process of getting plants into your garden. Hardening off plants is necessary but … Continue reading Short Cut Through The Hardening-Off Process
There is a lot going on in my garden this week: My peas are going crazy. My kohlrabi is looking good. My corn is happy. The peppers I started from seed are closing in on transplanting time. The only issue I am having are super-sized, extra giant grubs. These are not your June bug variety … Continue reading When Life Gives You Grubs, Serve Them Nematode Tea!
One of my favorite plants to grow down here is hibiscus. It is truly a beautiful plant and the flowers are breathtaking. I am not the only one who appreciates hibiscus. We frequently have hummingbirds in the garden sipping hibiscus nectar. My favorite part about the plant though, is that it's edible. Hibiscus is high … Continue reading Ever Had Spiced Hibiscus Flower Tea?
I went to a fair that offered job advice, help with nutrition and health, free haircuts (by cosmetology students...that was interesting!), scalp massages and this: the microwavable rice sock. Oh, have I enjoyed making (and using) these! This is really a simple project and after being out in the yard raking, digging, weeding etc: I … Continue reading Solution For Sore Shoulders: Microwavable Rice Sock
You can spend a lot on garden products like trellises: but you don't have to. Trellising vining plants improves air circulation by getting them off of the ground and letting them grow vertically. Most vining plants suffer from powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can quickly defoliate and kill your plants. I … Continue reading Simple, Inexpensive Vine Support
This soup makes use of spring garden ingredients: peas, lettuce, spring onions and tarragon. If you have ever grown peas you know shelling peas is a pain. It's a whole lot of work for very little reward. Apparently, I am not learning my lesson from the previous experiences, because I rush out and plant them … Continue reading Cooking With Lettuce?!?! Yes! And It’s Delicious!!!
Crazy Green Thumbs 
