Week 5 Garden Update

I'm amazed at how much my garden grew this week! In fact, I had to stake the tomatoes and beans. You can even see my middle tomato plant (back row) already fell over.  Luckily, I got it staked before the plant broke.

I have a fun, new recipe to try with some of my harvest this week.

My blueberry bushes are struggling. What should I be doing to make them grow?  Help, please!

Week 4 Garden Update...a few days late

Every morning when I walk out to water my garden, I get a little giddy.  I know this is ridiculous, but I can't help it.  I've never in my life been able to keep anything alive (mainly because I forget the important part of watering).  So, the fact that not only are my plants alive but they're flourishing, is a little too much for me to handle some days. 

Here are last week's photos.  I'll post this week's photos later in the week.

Photo of the Week

It is no secret how much I love my Atlanta Braves.  This is actually the first season in YEARS that we haven't had season tickets.  The past several years have been super special as my five year old nephew has learned the nation's pastime and developed his own passion and love for the game.  This photos is from last season (before Francoeur was traded to the Mets).  My brother Harlan carried Will to one of the season's game.  I love this picture.  It is the epitome of America...love it!

Now if we can just get the Bravos back on a winning streak!

Garden Markers Tutorial

Yesterday I blogged about my fun garden markers I created.  Well, today, I thought I'd create a tutorial in case some of you wanted to make some too.

Materials:  (1) wooden kitchen spoons, (2) spray paint, (3) pictures of fruit and veggies in your garden - I labeled mine before printing, (4) Mod Podge, (5) foam brush, and (6) polyurethane sealer.

Step 1:  Spray paint wooden spoons.  I purchased mine at Wal-mart.  They came in a set of five or six for about $2.

Step 2:  Using a foam brush, apply pictures to spoons.  Add several coats of Mod Podge.

Step 3:  Spray polyurethane sealer.

Step 4:  Label your garden.

Happy Gardening!

See more tutorials at Hope Studios.

Garden Markers

Several weeks ago, I discovered some great spoon garden markers.  So, I created a post asking for suggestions of how to adapt them since I don't have metal stamps.  Thanks to several suggestions and a few ideas of my own, I came up with these lovelies.

I used wooden spoons and made them weather resistant.

Tomorrow I'll post a tutorial on how to create cute garden markers like these.

Linking up to:

The DIY Project Parate at The DIY Showoff

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

It's So Very Creative at It's So Very Cheri

Make it Monday at The Persimmon Perch

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Just Something I Whipped Up Monday at The Girl Creative

I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World CUTER

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Made By You Mondays at Skip to my Lou

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

Toot Your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow

Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tuesday's Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage
Make It Yours at My Backyard Eden

Look What I Made at Creations by Kara

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

Sharing Ideas Wednesday at The Trendy Treehouse

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Be Inspired at Room to Inspire

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Idea Sharin' Wednesday at Women Who Do it All

Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple

Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage

Thrifty Thursday at Tales of Bloggeritaville

Get Your Craft on at Life as Lori

Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous

I'm a Creative Cat at Poppies at Play

Remodelaholics Anonymous

Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home

I'm Lovin it Friday at Tidy Mom

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest

Friday Fun Finds at KoJo Designs

Spring has Sprung at Fun to Craft

Plan a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions

Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk's Interiors

Check Me Out Saturdays at A Vision to Remember

Week 3 Garden Update

I'm amazed at how much has grown and sprouted this week.  Every morning when I go out to water the beds, I'm greeted with new seedlings.  It is so exciting!

Some of my lovely seedlings...

My blueberry bushes...

Garden Deliciousness

Tonight, I made my first meal using ingredients from my garden.  Because my fruits and veggies are still in the newborn stage, I decided to use some of my herbs to create one of my favorite dishes.

Using this recipe, I created homemade pesto.  This was my first attempt at pesto, and I hope to get better at making it as I create it more often.  It was delicious, but it could certainly be even better.

Using this recipe, I created one of my favorite chicken pasta dishes.  However, my sister-in-law shared some left over flank steak, so I substituted it for the chicken.  It was wonderful, and the best part is I have tons of leftovers in the fridge.

Also, I used my grandmother's mixing bowls.  Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do them justice.  They are beautiful.

Linking to:

Tuesday Garden Party at Oregon Cottage

Robin Egg Wreath Tutorial

This weekend, I put together a Robin Egg Wreath.  It literally took about 5 minutes, so I'm slightly embarrassed to create a tutorial.  However, I'm going to give it a whirl.

Step 1:  Collect the following materials (plain wreath, one strand of fake flowers, zip ties, fake bird nest, fake robin eggs, glue gun, and scissors).

Step 2:  Using the zip ties, attach one end of the strand of fake flowers to the wreath.  Twist the remaining end around the rest of the wreath, and secure the second end with another zip tie.

Step 3:  Trim the zip ties.

Step 4:  Attach the bird nest by sliding the zip tie underneath part of the nest and securing it to the wreath.  I attached the nest over the other zip ties I already used to attach the fake flowers.  This helped to hide all the zip ties.

Step 5:  Trim away the zip tie.

Step 6:  Hot glue the robin eggs to the nest.

Step 7:  Hang on your front door and enjoy your new wreath.

See more tutorials at the Tuesday Tutorial Party at Hope Studios.

Robin Egg Wreath

This weekend I put together a new wreath for my front door.  I had an idea of a citrus themed wreath, but when I stumbled upon several items at Michael's I decided to go another direction.

Come back tomorrow for an easy tutorial on how to make this Robin Egg Wreath.

Linking up to:

The DIY Project Parate at The DIY Showoff

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

It's So Very Creative at It's So Very Cheri

Make it Monday at The Persimmon Perch

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Just Something I Whipped Up Monday at The Girl Creative

I Made the World Cuter Today at Making the World CUTER

Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Make Your Monday at Twice Remembered

Made By You Mondays at Skip to my Lou
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog
Toot Your Horn Tuesday at Silly Little Sparrow
Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented
Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family
Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie
Make It Yours at My Backyard Eden
Look What I Made at Creations by Kara
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs
Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home
Sharing Ideas Wednesday at The Trendy Treehouse
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Be Inspired at Room to Inspire
Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
Idea Sharin' Wednesday at Women Who Do it All
Strut Your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage
Thrifty Thursday at Tales of Bloggeritaville
Get Your Craft on at Life as Lori
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
I'm a Creative Cat at Poppies at Play
Remodelaholics Anonymous
Show and Tell Friday at Romantic Home
I'm Lovin it Friday at Tidy Mom
Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest
Friday Fun Finds at KoJo Designs
Spring has Sprung at Fun to Craft
Plan a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Productions
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk's Interiors
Check Me Out Saturdays at A Vision to Remember

Dreaming...

Can you tell I'm a little behind?

Reading magazines is one of my favorite relaxing activities.  This stack proves I need some relaxation time...maybe once that dissertation is finished I'll get to them.