Gardening additions, upside down plants, succulents and squash

I groupon-ed the other day and ordered these upside down planters.  My pepper plants needed to be thinned in the pot they were in, so I moved three into the three hanging planters.  So far they have survived the transplant, now to see how this upside down growing goes. 

 I have a lot of squash growing on my plants.  The zucchini was being a little camera shy, but you may see that there is a double squash growing in there.  Weird.  I also was able to harvest a cucumber but it was eaten before a proper picture could be taken.  IT WAS GOOD!

 I bought some more succulents the other day.  Though the aloe in the chicken soup bowl is actually from a big plant I removed from the garden.  They are all doing quite well, and I have learned to how to grow more from what I have, so hopefully I won't have to buy as many all the time. 

That pretty little cactus in the middle was an impulse buy, but isn't it pretty? 

All of this is working towards my vision of how my patio should be.  We are not there yet, but maybe, just maybe we will be by July 4 when I plan on having a little party.  We will see!

A place to sit and ponder....

 With the terrible two has come a large use of the time out chair.  We were using a table chair, but that sends a bit of a mixed message when you sit down to eat dinner.  So IKEA also provided me a cheap chair.  I decided to decorate it! 

I also decided to call it the family's time out spot, because amazingly the older L has been going to time out lately too.  Plus, I wanted the ability to sit there myself when I need a moment to pause before reacting, or when I just need a break.  

 Love, hope and patience are what we hope will grow as we sit. 

 I made it very colorful.  It is a punishment in a way, but I want them to think of it more as a place to think and calm down, not sit and scream because they don't want to be there. 

And so, I put, where I sit and ponder how my words and actions effect the ones I love, and those who love me, most.  So far they like it and it is being used....frequently. 

FINALLY starting to quilt

Just to give you an idea of the size of this quilt....the king size batting fits, and there is fabric over the side.  I have had this put together and ready to go for some time, I just hadn't taken the time to spray adhesive my layers and get to quilting.  Partly because of the anxiety I have been feeling over having this huge quilt on my little machine.  The other night I told myself no more excuses, had the hubby help me clean the garage floor, lay it out flat, spray, layer, spray layer.  Then I ironed, and started quilting.   

 Before starting I loaded 10 bobbins.  Unfortunately I think I will need 20-30 more.  I ran out of thread the other night, but I am ready, and getting better at using the free motion foot, so that is a plus!

 I stitched all my vertical ditches.  Then started quilting on the side.  I didn't have a firm plan for patterns, I have just been doing what I can with hearts and flowers.  I only got the border on one side quilted before I ran out of thread, but It looks decent, and feels great. 

My attempt at connected hearts.  It doesn't look too shabby for a first.  I can't believe I never bought the free motion foot attachment before.  I think I am in love.  Hopefully in a few weeks I will have a finished quilt to show you, then I will also show the very small machine I am doing this on.  One thing, I never knew it took so much upper body strength to quilt this way!

A place to store my gardening tools

I have been in need of a storage chest for my gardening tools, seeds and books for quite some time.  I was looking around trying to find one I could refurb, but they were either too big, too wide, or just plain too much for something that is going to sit on my patio.  

Thankfully, IKEA has this little dresser for $35.  

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It was rather plain, so I gathered up my paints and Big L and we went to work.  

 On top I put two sunflowers and my two girls.  In front flowers and Emerson. 

This side is Big L's interpretation of Jack and the Beanstalk, were jack uses a ladder to climb the beanstalk, and the giant is nice because he lives in the love mountains.  

This side is a rainbow with four flowers, one for each of us.  They have our initials in them. 

Once the patio is done I will show you how it fits with the other stuff around it and give you a good shot of the front.  It turned out much nicer than I thought, and the more I paint the more comfortable I am with paint, though I will always prefer pencils, markers and pastels I think.  Note to self, paint THEN assemble!

This is just the right size for my pruning shears, my gloves, my books, and my seeds.  LOVE IT!

Face cleanser? Not for me!

The other day I ran out of face wash/cleanser.  So I went to my book, Eco Beauty, and found a recipe for Honey Bear Cleanser.

It is simple, honey water and liquid soap, and I have been using it for a week now, but I can honestly say I don't like it.  I will likely use it until it is gone, but then I am going to find another face cleanser.  This one smells a little funny and is too runny to really rub into your face so you feel clean.  With warmer temps getting hotter by the day I need something refreshing that will make my face feel clean.  Honestly, this is not it!  But I tried.

I also had to make more laundry detergent, and after this second batch I think I am going to be trying a different recipe.   Everything can't work perfectly. 

Busy/yet rough week

I have accomplished a lot this week.  I will have lots to blog about next week, but I have not had the time or ability to focus at all this week. 

Sometimes you have weeks like this.  There was a time when I would have beat myself up and berated myself in my mind for not doing enough, not being a perfect mother. 

The truth though is that I am a good mother, I do A LOT for my kids, as mothers should.  Last weekend was big L's dance recital.  She was wonderful and beautiful and has improved from last year.  Unfortunately, the Friday before she had to stay home sick from school.  She still has a lingering cough, but she was up on that stage enjoying herself on Sunday.  Then Tuesday afternoon little l got sick.  So hard for the itty bitty ones to be sick.  She cries out in her sleep at night when she coughs.  Of course, I followed suit and am sick, because I can't help but snuggle with my children.  The hubby came down with it yesterday afternoon.  It has been a rough week health wise. 

The fact is, I still managed to do a lot to nourish my mind (figuratively speaking of that part of you that exists in your mind, the thoughts that need to be fed but aren't really describable).  I made allergy friendly chocolate chip cookies for the end of year party at big L's school, that according to one child are the best cookies ever!  (patting myself on the back now)  As I said, I have a lot to post about, but merging pictures and words is a bit much for me right now. 

Instead I have been cleaning out the email box.  Taking surveys on next years Girl Scout cookie program; hard to believe my training will start in October.  Watching those things that you put aside to watch when you have time, but don't seem to find time for. 

This link will take you to a wonderful life story about a kid who was diagnosed with cancer at 14, died a few days ago at 18, and what he did with his life.  I think this weekend we will focus on taking care of ourselves and just spending time together being happy.  Because, really, that is how I know I am a good mom.  My kids like to do stuff with me, but they also like to just take time and snuggle up, maybe talk about something important to them, maybe just be near each other.  Watching what this kid did with his life makes me feel like the last half of this school year has left us sick and blah for a reason.  It is as if we were so busy going from one thing/place to another that we forgot to sit back, relax and enjoy what we were doing.  To enjoy each other when we could.  That ability was the point of me not working, and yet it seems to have fallen to the back burner these last few months, and honestly to have just been burnt beyond recognition. 

A break from school and activities is what we have for the summer, with the exception of little l's swim lesson, and big L's ceramics class which starts in June.  However, those are simple things that we can take the time to enjoy.  We don't have to feel rushed as summer is here, and it is too darn hot to move quickly anyway. 

I think that this weekend we will just spend time together, relax, and maybe listen to the album written by the kid who passed away.  Thankfully, my family is like me and we all need these down times to recharge and remember that what is important is the four of us. 

Oops...I smell like Peppermint Bark

One of my favorites around the holidays is peppermint bark.  Love the chocolate and mint mixture. 

I reworked my body butter recipe.  Followed the instructions on the website I posted, and still ended up with a hard mass of stuff.  I remelted, added more avocado oil, and while not fluffy (except right after whipping) it does immediately melt into our skin. 

 That is what my body butter looks like after whipping.  It is nice.  I like it, but it is a bit oily.  I think that is just because of the cocoa butter and the fact it requires more liquid oil to make it not completely harden at room temp. When I made this batch I thought it would be fun to add a little peppermint essential oil.  A nice fresh scent.  What I forgot to consider was that when mixed with the cocoa butter it now smells like one of my favorite candies.  Plus, I am back on the diet and can't indulge in said candy (which I purchased during the holidays so I could eat in moderation once done with the diet).  Oh well! 

I am ready to break down and test my kids for coconut again.  Maybe a week of coconut oil in one spot to see what happens.  Either that or I will have to experiment more to make this work with cocoa butter. 

The best part of that picture up there is my new mother's day present.  I am not normally one for appliances on mother's day, however, this is something I was always putting off buying.  I always told myself it was unecessary, I could mix with a spoon, I had a handheld beater.  I WAS WRONG and a bit crazy.  I used it four times in the first two days I had it.  IT IS AMAZING!  I get it now.  To be honest, I make enough items in the kitchen that will benefit from this that it was absolutely worth the money!  Best part my husband didn't make me get a cheaper color, her let me get the pretty blue you see before you, which goes well with the red and yellow in my kitchen.  I am in love with this thing.  What did I do without it? 

I will be using it for many things, not just body butter, cookies, cake and frosting.  I will also trying using it to make rye bread, because my last attempt was a bit unsuccessful. 

I will keep you updated on using the cocoa butter in body butter.  For now we need to finish off the batch we have.   I will try not to eat my children, but they smell like yummy peppermint bark so it may be hard!