Well, here goes another try at a garden in 2012. I'm debating whether or not to try tomatoes and peppers again (just because they've failed so miserably the last few years) and just make it an herb garden, but I just love homegrown tomatoes SO much! And tomatoes and peppers are what cost so much - organic, homegrown goodness. All to myself. Affordably.
*sigh.
The beginnings of basil.
The chives that keep coming back.
Garlic we planted in the fall. Already so big from this crazy, warm March weather!
Strawberries ... what's left of them. Maybe they'll grow and give me a juicy berry or two.
What are your garden plans this year?
P.S. This week is a really busy one so I'm signing off until next week. See ya then!
A friend alerted me to some 60s and 70s patterns at a local thrift store and I was on it! Normally local thrift shops have only super ugly 80s and 90s patterns that no one wants ... but I was so surprised to find their huge selection of earlier vintage patterns!
They were all very cheap, plus 25% off, so I bought 16 to add to the shop. I think I figure if I can sell two of them the rest will be profit. That's pretty darn good!
Here are a few fun ones.
no date - 1960s - my favorite!
1967
1966
1972
1973
*Sigh. Hoping to find more 50s patterns sometime. They are probably my favorite ...
A couple of days ago I posted here about the little lady's plants. And I finally got them replanted! Yay! I actually purchased another pot (and I'm glad I did!) because there were so many different varieties hiding in my one pot.
I can't believe all of these came from one place!
Pretty! Now I have a garden on my kitchen table (because it's the only room in the house that gets enough sunlight...). Now to just keep them alive with my not green thumb! :-)
It was less than two weeks before the start of Lent and I got a call from our pastor asking if Jeremy and I wanted to plan the upcoming Ash Wednesday service. Our church is Protestant, Nazarene, but much more liturgical than the norm and we observe Lent together as a church.
I thought for a second and said I'd talk to Jeremy but since we had almost two weeks, but I thought it would be okay.
I haven't planned a service in a LONG time. But the initial idea was to give some space for those usually involved in the service (worship band, pastors, leaders, etc.), to make the service simple yet special and hands-on for those kinesthetic and tactile learners. Not to mention, make it accessible for all age groups.
It was a challenge! To say the least, but I followed the course of last year's service with some changes and tweaks. The worship pastor did lead an acapella hymn from her seat and our pastors led the corporate confession and imposition of the ashes (both of which we felt were important for the leaders of the congregation to do), but both our goals of simplicity and giving of breaks was mostly accomplished.
We listened to this song and people sang along. I'd loved it to have it performed, but there just wasn't time.
After explaining the reason for Lent and the symbolism of the ashes, we moved to the four stations meant to help all of us enter in to the season together.
One station was a repentance box: I was so moved by the families who all wrote down a confessions together and those adults who moved away from people to write down what they really wanted to repent from. It was completely sincere.
Another was a station of light: I wanted to emulate a Catholic candle stand and it just so happened that we had a similar one in the Student Center all ready to go. With a reminder to have children ask for help, many candles were lit, for repentance, for another person, to lift a prayer to God. A kneeler was placed to the side for those who wanted to pray, reflect or simply watch the candlelight.
from facebook, thanks, B.B.
The third station was forgiveness, where you could write an offense or name of a person you needed to forgive on a sheet of dissolvable paper and stir it as it disappeared into the basin.
Finally, a station of blessing, to bless your friends, your spouse, or your children by anointing them with oil.
Communion and the ashes were offered in the midst of any station and if anyone was finished (or chose not to participate) they could sit in their seats and quietly reflect on Psalm 103.
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We were a different face, so that may've engendered some compliments, but overall I was given the impression that it was really meaningful for people. Even yesterday, several people still were saying thank you and telling us that it was meaningful. For this, I am thankful. I put a ton of time and emotional energy into the service, but really, only the Spirit can speak to His people.
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As we've journeyed almost two weeks into Lent 2012, here are some Lenten links I've found if you're interested in reading.
My friend, Jess, has some really great words on Lent this year. Her writing is so incredibly thoughtful and beautiful.
This is a knock-off version tutorial (click the picture's source for tutorial) but Post Road Vintage is the source I trace it back to. Lovely shop! And I'm totally knocking it off too.
Here's my jar in waiting:
I prefer PRV's stainless steel pumps, but since I'm going as cheap as possible, I have to wait for one. Once my big bottle of baby shampoo runs out I'm making this - but that could take another whole year! It's the only bottle I have that has a straw long enough for the quart size canning jars. And ... the pump is yellow. Think I could spray paint it silver? Would that even work?
On another note, I think clear soap looks best so I gotta hop a ride to Costco for a huge bottle of their environmentally friendly clear dishsoap. Wish me luck!
I'll update you ... oh, in about a year. :-)
What DIYs do you love or have you been working on?! Link up in the comments! I love DIY projects!
In the last two weeks I've had some luck thrifting. After I wrote that things had been flying off the shelves, inevitably, they stopped flying. :-) But, it's okay, the slower pace just kicked me into gear in beefing up the baby sections of my shop.
I will finish out my first year (October 2012) with the miscellaneous vintage things I have and after evaluating what has sold the best, I'll probably try to pare down to the main sellers. This, of course, has been baby clothing so far. I have the best luck finding it, buying it and selling it of all the other things in the shop. Random other things have sold, but these babies have been the pick. We'll see how the rest of the year turns out and go from there.
So, I've found the Salvation Army is my best place to find vintage. Some thrift stores you could look all day and not find a piece or two. Others (the S.A.!), if you're lucky, are vintage heaven. Where are your favorite places to thrift?
Two Salvation Army stores and around 15-20 pieces later, here's my favs of the bunch. Even little baby boy stuff is showing up! Check everything out at the shop, click here.
baby bowties
Yellow Easter dress, anyone?
teeny, tiny little blouse
awesome retro smock top
elephant short overalls
cowboy button-up.
Mmm! Love love love thrifting and finding sweet little things!! Looking forward to garage sale season coming up soon! :-)
We received this plant when our girl was born ... 15 months later, it's totally outgrown its home. Not to mention, there are 6 different varieties in this one pot!
It's time to replant. I scored these spring pots for $5 each (sale) at Hobby Lobby and I love them! They have a drainage hole in the bottom and are painted in such fun glossy colors.
Unfortunately, it's difficult to shop for potting soil in February despite the fact that the weather has been nice.
Once we have the soil, we'll be good to go! I'll update you on the plants once potting soil is found.
Aw yay! My little Sesame Street baby boy jumper was featured on this blog! Their Sesame Street post was so cute! Go check it out ... my fav was the fuzzy Grover puzzle.
Wow! Things have been "flying off the shelves" so-to-speak from my etsy shop. And I'm definitely not complaining about that - it's a great problem to have! Love it.
Although it does create the need to fill the shop back up, so we went thrifting the other day and found a few things. I need to go again, but it does take some better planning. (She fell asleep in the car and had wet through her pants - so obviously we need to 1. go in the afternoon and 2. take the diaper bag. Yeah, this mama needs to be more prepared.)
Anyway, here are a few things I've recently added to the shop!
It's hard for me to live in a place where neighbors sound more like roommates on any given day. (Oh, how I'd love my own house. Dreaming of that day...)
I'm reminded of how much I love my little girl when she breaks out her wide cheesy smiles or looks at me with those big innocent eyes (even after spilling the dog's water three times).
I feel self-conscious when I remember that my pants don't fit and I still need to gain a good 15 lbs.
I am mildly dishonestwhenI pretend to my favorite hairdresser in Ohio that I'm actually not from somewhere 12 hours away.
I can't imagine a world withoutbedtime.
I'm surprised that I stilllove to put my hair in pink foam rollers and see the curls after a few hours.
I get a little too easily wrapped up inDIY blogs and projects.
I indulge in guilty pleasures like fruit snacks, dark chocolate, and salt and vinegar chips.
I wish all things in life were as wonderful as snuggling with my loves on a lazy morning.
Record player update: remember this baby I picked up last summer? It's currently in Ohio getting some or all of its water-damaged 1946 innards fixed. It also still looks like this on the outside, but I've decided on yellow and plan to paint and distress when she finds her way home.
Just last week, I found another chair! A lady was having a quick garage sale (yes, in February - the weather was too nice to resist!) and I scored it for $15. I should've offered lower, but I figured that it was a good deal anyway.
Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White here you come! Just after I figure out how to remove all of the upholstery ... those staples are a beast!! I plan to paint and repair the frame and then try my hand at reupholstery. A little more of a project that just a chair seat, but I'm ready for a challenge! Now the 60 degree weather just needs to come back.
After day 1, I'd removed all the piping and took off the back. The fabric is HIDEOUS orange velour from the 70s but the foam is in really good shape. I'm hoping to re-use it.
Any upholstery tips or suggestions? I'm thinking of using more inexpensive grain sacks as fabric. Love!!
