It was a garden junk Christmas

I just wanted to take a quick moment to share some of the junkie gifts I got for Christmas. 

Gary did a good job finding some unique one of a kind gifts for me again this year.  I think my favorite has to be the sign that says "Experimental Dandelion Farm - Do not disturb Weeds".  I just love that.  I don't use chemicals on our lawn, so we have our fair share of dandelions each season.  I just try to get them mowed down before they go to seed so they don't spread too much.  I want to make sure this on on display for everyone to see, so they will no that I am not a lazy gardener, but a Dandelion Farmer!

Also included in the photo is a vintage black metal butterfly.  Very cool!  It is very large measuring nearly 17" tall and 20" wide.  To the right of the sign is a metal mosquito that an artist made by laser cutting some metal into the shape and then bending them to form the bug shape.  It's all one piece except for the legs that have been welded on.

And lastly is a brass duck faucet handle.  I'm not sure just what I want to do with this.  We will need another rain barrel for the greenhouse, so I could use it there, but it's almost too pretty for that.  I might try to incorporate it into a fountain using copper pipe or something else.  You'll be the first to know when I figure out what to do with it.

I'm also a member of a Garden Junk forum at Gardenweb.com and for the past three years, we've done a Secret Santa Gift Exchange.  The key is the gift cannot cost more than $5.  People get very creative when it comes to their gift giving.  You won't believe what creative people can do with $5.  Last year I got an awesome planter made by a gentleman who is an electrician.  He made the planter out of electrical wire.  The year before that, I got a mosaic fairy door and a cute little Garage Sale Santa ornament.

This year on the forum, we had what was called a junk train.  We took a flat rate box and filled it full of junkie things and mailed it to a list of participants.  Each person took a few things from the box and then added a bunch of new junkie things to the box and mailed it to the next participant.  You could provide a list of likes and dislikes and hopefully the person who sends to you can provide some of those things in your box. 

Someone along the way had added a stuffed animal we named JT and she came along for the ride and we would photograph her doing different things while she was visiting.  I don't believe I ever posted about JT on this blog.  I suppose I should as the pictures we took of her were hilarious. 
Anyway, before I get too off track with this post, the Secret Santa gift I received this year was a wind chime that was made from some of the items from that junk train box.  What is even funnier, is that I had put some of those items in the box that were incorporated into the wind chime.  I just think that is hysterical!  What are the odds of that anyway?  The person I sent too, was not even my Secret Santa, so not sure how many hands it went through before she got it.  But what was even more unreal, is that the person I sent to was the same as last year.  Names were picked randomly and a different person organized it this year as opposed to last year, so there was no way she would have known who I had last year.  I hope the forum does it again next year.  It's loads of fun, and I'd be willing to organize it if no one else can.

Cinnamon & Sugar Almonds

I should have put this on my list of inexpensive last minute gifts.  I'm sorry I didn't post this sooner, but I made some as a surprise for Gary and since I know he checks the blog most every day, I didn't want to spoil the surprise.

I had never made "spiced" nuts before.  So I decided to try some simple traditional style sugared almonds.  We get them whenever we go to craft festivals or the Fair and I know they are one of Gary's favorites, but they are so expensive.  A friend of mine mentioned on one of the craft and garden boards I visit that she was making some spiced nuts and how easy they turned out to be to make.  I had already been thinking of doing this myself, so I decided to definitely give it a try.

I looked up some recipes from www.allrecipes.com and went with a basic recipe I found with some modifications based on the reviews I read.  Here's the recipe I used:

~ 4 cups raw almonds (2-9oz. cans)
~ 1 egg white
~ 1 teaspoon vanilla
~ 1/2 cup brown sugar
~ 1/2 cup white sugar
~ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
~ 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  Prepare a large baking sheet or roll pan with parchment paper, and set aside.

Whip the egg white until it's frothy in a large bowl (big enough to hold and toss the almonds).  Add the vanilla and continue to whip until it begins to thicken, but not so thick that it forms peaks.  Add the almonds and stir until they are coated well.

In a separate bowl mix the remaining ingredients and then pour over the almonds, stirring them well, making sure they are all evenly coated.

Spread the almonds on the baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring the nuts every 15 minutes or so.  If you are using a dark pan, you may need to reduce the time by as much as 10-15 minutes.  If you begin to smell the sugar burning get them out of the oven.

Allow nuts to cool on tray.  They will get crunchier as they cool.

These nuts are so good, I can't even believe I made them myself.  In fact, I think they are better than the ones we buy from the vendors at the craft shows.

Needless to say, the finished nuts add up to about 2-1/2 cans, so I put some in a bag to hide in Gary's stocking and the remaining ones went back in the cans and will be hidden in the cabinet for later.  These were so easy, I think I'll make them anytime I need a little something special to add to a gift.  And they were inexpensive too.  I got the almonds for $2.99/can and if you add $.50 for the rest of the ingredients, you have a whole lot of yummy for about $6.50!

New Birdhouses

I just wanted to share the latest birdhouses that Gary has finished.  I was able to get them listed in our Etsy shop today.  Aren't they cute?

Click here for the listing.

 Click here for the listing.

Click here for the listing.

 Click here for the listing.

 

 Click here for the listing.

Top 10 Favorite Christmas Songs

I really love this time of year.  It's the one time I don't mind the snow so much, because it's nice to have snow on the ground come Christmas.  I grew up in Virginia, so we rarely had snow on the ground in winter, much less at Christmas time. Today we are getting what is called Lake Effect Snow, which basically means that as the winds blow over the lake, it picks up moisture from the open waters and snows in those bands.  Lake effect snow actually produces the majority of the snow in this area and it's not uncommon for it to snow a foot or more in a 24 hour period.  There are places north of us that get several feet of snow a day and it's nothing to them.  Needless to say, the snowmobilers flock to that area.

I was listening to some of my favorite Christmas CDs this morning and decided to do a list of my top 10 favorite Christmas songs (I'm a sucker for a top 10 list anyway). 

10.  Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
  9.  I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas - Jon Bon Jovi
  8. Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You - Billy Squier
  7. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
  6. Blue Christmas - Elvis
  5. The Christmas Song - Andy Williams
  4. Sleigh Ride - Harry Connick, Jr. or The Ronettes Version
  3. Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! - Frank Sinatra
  2. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt (Madonna's version is good too)
  1. White Christmas - Bing Crosby

So what are some of your favorite Christmas Songs?

Last Minute Inexpensive Gift Ideas

I'm sure I'm not the only one that might be scrambling for gifts this time of year.  I'm also not the only one looking to spend less money but still give a meaningful gift that the recipient will love and cherish for years to come.

Well, I'm hear to tell you that the most precious gifts I've ever gotten, that I cherish the most, were handmade gifts, or gifts of people's time.  So with that in mind, I've come up with a list of ideas you can use, not only for this time of year, but whenever you might need a gift idea and are having trouble coming up with one for that hard to buy for person.

1.  If you grow your own plants and like to save seed, why not give your gardener friends seeds from your own garden?  You can create a little mini gift basket out of a small terracotta pot and include a few seed packets, some plant tags and maybe a pair of gardening gloves. You can usually find a decent pair of gloves at the dollar store as well as plant tags, so it won't cost a lot.  And what gardener doesn't need more gloves and plant tags?  I know I could always use some every year.  I have free printable seed packets on my website that are suitable for gift giving.

2.  Calendars are always a welcome gift, especially if you made it yourself.  Choose family photos or photos from your own garden.  If you don't have the software to make your own calendar, you can use several online services to make one. 

3.  Make up a small scrapbook of photos for family members.  You can go one step further by scanning old photos from past generations into your computer, and including those in the scrapbook.  Making a theme for each scrapbook may help simplify the project.  For example, give a scrapbook of childhood photos of the person you are giving the gift too, or choose vacation photos from one particularly good year.  Scrapbook supplies can be found inexpensively at most dollar stores these days.  An alternative to a scrapbook would be a collage of pictures they can hang on the wall.

4.  If you are proficient in a certain craft that you know a friend would like to learn, offer to spend an afternoon teaching them a project.  Make up a clever little "coupon" on your computer.  Offer to supply everything they will need for that one project and make up a little tutorial pamphlet ahead of time.  Take photos during the session and present them with a photo album after wards to remember the occassion.  If you are not a crafty person, give a gift of your time, whether they might need a free babysitter for an evening, a cooking lesson, help organizing a big party, or maybe they could use some help with a home improvement project that you've had experience with.

5.   If you have children and are looking for gifts for family members that might live far away, consider making a video of the kids performing a skit.  This also would work well if the kids performed in a school play and family members were not able to attend.  You might want to include family photos on the video as well.  If you have a Windows based computer, you can use Windows Movie Maker to edit your video and add photos, captions and even music to the video.  You will need DVD authoring software to make the DVD viewable on televisions, but you can also burn the movie to a disk and it can be viewed on a computer that has Windows Media Player.

6.  Start a tradition of giving handmade Christmas ornaments each year.  There are loads of ideas on the Internet and I have some on my website as well. I can't tell you how much joy I feel when I put these ornaments on the tree each year. 

7.  Baked goods make a great gift.  Some people may think it's overdone, but with people busier these days, some people just don't have time to bake.  Choose a specialty that you might already be famous for or if baking is not your thing, offer a home cooked meal on a day when they might not have time to cook.  You can give it to them ahead of time, frozen, with reheating instructions attached, or offer to come over and cook bringing the ingredients with you.  You may want to stipulate just how much notice you would need ahead of time for this option.

 I hope this list sparked some ideas of your own.  I'd love to hear what you've come up with for last minute gifts that didn't cost a lot of money.

More Seed Packet Templates

I have a few more templates to share with you. I've created several more Christmas inspired packets in the small size as well as the larger size that are suitable for gift giving.  The small ones can be found here and the large ones can be found here.  I've also created several more larger styles as well and they can be found on the same page along with cards that you can print the seed information on.

In addition to the Christmas themed packets, there are a number of new animal themed seed packets as well as a new feather category.  All the seed packets can be accessed from this index page.

Is there a theme of seed packets you would like to see featured?

Man, It's Cold!

The last two nights have been extremely cold here.  This morning it was -.4 degrees below zero.  I am so glad there is a couple of inches of snow on the ground or my plants might be suffering. 

When it's this cold the snow is very powdery when it falls and looks like little diamonds.  There was a dusting on the car this morning and it reminded me of the fake snow they use in department store windows....so powdery and light and you don't get wet from it.  I tried to take a picture of all the sparkly snow, but it just doesn't translate on "film" very well.

Even though it is sunny, without a cloud in the sky, it's still too cold at 16 degrees for the greenhouse to get heated up enough to melt the snow off the roof.

It's pretty though.  If you click on the image to see it larger, you can just make out my pink flamingos made out of PVC pipe in the first window and you can see all the hanging baskets I'm storing.  The greenhouse is pretty well filled up, but I haven't hung up any hooks yet, or figured out where to store the garden hand tools.

This last picture is of some bottles I have displayed in the new bed of bridal wreath spireas.  I like how they sparkle in the sun.  Cant wait until these babies bloom next year.  It's going to be gorgeous!

Article Suggestions

Due to a recent change, I am hoping I will have more time to blog and work on my Etsy shop.  With the holidays approaching, things will be a little hectic, but I hope to have a new routine worked out in the new year.


In anticipation of these changes, I would love to hear what my visitors would like to read about.  Is there a gardening or pest problem you'd like to know more about?  Is there a craft project you'd like to see a tutorial for?  Any changes in the blog or website that you'd like to see implemented?  I'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime, I found a couple of interesting Instructables that I thought you'd like.

Easy Truffles - More DIY How To Projects


How To Make Paper Roses - More DIY How To Projects


Paper Snowflakes - More DIY How To Projects

Free Printable Seed Packets

It's been a while since I've created some new seed packets, but this week seemed like a good time to do so.

Seed exchanges are popular in winter, and wouldn't it be nice if you could trade seeds in these pretty little envelopes that you can print yourself for free from my website.

My seed packets are unique compared to some you may find on the Internet. Not only have I created a pdf document of each set, but I've created a form so you can fill in each space and then print it out so you don't have to hand write each one. How great is that? I haven't come across anyone else who has done that yet.

Here is what I've created so far this week. I'll post again if I get any more made.

I've created a whole new section for Angels. It can be found here. Here's a sample of one of the sheets.
Butterflies are a very popular category and one of my favorites to create. You can find all my butterfly seed packets here.

And last for today, I created five new flower themed sets, also a very popular category for obvious reasons. All the flower themed seed packets can be found here.

One World One Heart

I just found out the preliminary details for the One World One Heart Blog Event that will be taking place from 1-25-10 thru 2-15-10. I participated last year and met all kinds of wonderful people. Since I am finding out about this so much earlier this year, I plan on making something really extra special to give away during the event.

For more details on how you can participate, go to Lisa's Blog at A Whimsical Bohemian. When Lisa started this in 2007 there were less than 100 participants. Last year, there were just under 1000! Wow, how it has grown.

So by all means, bookmark her blog and keep track of the details for this year's event.

http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/one-world-one-heart.html

A Kissing Bulb - JunkMarketStyle

I just had to share this adorable craft that I received in my JunkMarketStyle newsletter this week. It is so elegant, you can't even tell it's a light bulb. To see the finished product with more pictures, go to this link.

Go here for the step by step instructions and see how Sue was able to salvage this project when she made a mistake on the first attempt. I think the second attempt was even better than the first!

If you are a junker like me then you must check out the rest of JunkMarteStyle's website...it is awesome and you can spend many wonderful hours there!

They also put out a great new book earlier this year called Junk Beautiful Outdoor Edition. You can get it from Amazon here and even see a few pages of the book while you are there. If I don't find this book in my stocking on Christmas morning, I plan on buying one for myself for my birthday in January.

Decorating for the Holidays Blog Hop

Welcome to my edition of the Holidays Blog Hop that was sponsored by The Frugal Housewife.

Today I'll be focusing on how to make ornaments out of old Christmas cards as well as other uses for these Christmas cards. I don't know about you, but I always save my cards. They are so pretty and they come from friends and family that I cherish, so how could I possibly get rid of them?

But then there always comes a time when space becomes an issue and I have to buckle down and get rid of them. But it just kills me to throw them away, so instead I decided to find a way to reuse them some how.

When doing a search online, I discovered that Carol Duvall had done a craft on her show on how to reuse Christmas cards and turn them into ornaments. That was exactly what I was going to do. I made dozens and gave them as gifts to the people who had originally given me the cards. It was a big hit.

I hope you don't mind, but I created a web page on our main website to show step by step instructions. That link can be found here. I've also created a PDF document, that is printer friendly and that can be downloaded here.

So after I created these ornaments, I got to thinking. This would also be a great project for old photos. If you didn't want to use the originals, you could photocopy them onto heavier paper. If you've switched to digital like I have, the possibilities are endless. You can print as many as you want, in whatever color you want and if you have a simple editing program you can print the circles out the exact size you want so you can get the exact portion of the picture in the circle. This will save ink and paper. And don't forget, if you want different sized finished ornaments, just adjust the size of each circle that you cut.
Another great idea is to cut the front off the card and use it as a postcard. This will work great if the person did not write you a long note on the inside of the card. A paper cutter will make the job look professional. The minimum size card that the post office will affect is 3-1/2" x 5" and the maximum is 4" x 6". Currently the rates are $.28 a postcard, so this can save a significant amount of money on postage as well.

If you have any paper punches, you can get even more decorative. On this next one, I cut the card down to the size of a bookmark and then punches the corners. So simple, but so pretty. I like to give bookmarks to people when I give them a book, so this would be perfect for that and it didn't cost a penny, just about 2 minutes of time.

Then I made three gift tags out of one card. You can get as elaborate or as simple as you want. It might have taken me 5 minutes to make these three tags, if that.

In fact. these tags are pretty enough to go on the tree. A great craft to do with the kids when they are home from school on Christmas break.


Some other ideas I came across:

- Put cards in picture frames and mix them among the regular pictures on your wall for the holidays. This can work for any holiday you get cards for.

- Cut out shapes and glue them back to back to make ornaments for the tree or a children's mobile.

- Cut out the cards into shapes and glue them to plain gift bags.

- Make Christmas confetti by punching the cards in different shapes and sizes. Looks good sprinkled on a buffet during a holiday dinner.

- Cut out circles that fit inside of a canning jar lid and decorate the lids when giving gifts in a jar.

- Cut out strips and glue the ends together to make napkin rings. The paper is usually stiff enough that these will last for several years if stored carefully.

Now this blog hop would not be complete unless you stop on over and check out the other bloggers who are participating. Next on the list is The Sewing Mom. She has a great blog and I am envious of her sewing capabilities. From someone who never had the patience to learn how to sew well on a machine, I am truly in awe of her beautiful works of art she makes. My favorite of late is the Advent Calenders she makes.

I've decided to include the whole list of everyone who is participating as each blog is special in it's own way. I look forward to visiting them all today to see what they've come up with for the Blog Hop.

Bird Tips

I just finished a three part series on everything you need to know about feeding the birds from types of feeders, to bird food and feeder placement and maintenance. If you have a moment please check them out. I'd love to hear what you think.





Bird Tips - Feeders

Bird Tips - Food














Bird Tips - Feeder Placement & Maintenance