New kid on the block

We added another new plant to the front garden recently! We are getting closer and closer to finishing up the front beds. We started last spring on this part of the garden with this.

After we moved the taxuses, we were left with this.

Last summer, we added retaining walls. I should note that this was a test of marriage....: ) All joking aside, it was quite a job, taking several days during a heat wave and required lots of Advil and cold beverages at the end of the day.

They were having a tree sale a few weekends ago at the garden center, so I went to take a look. We ended up with a new little tree.


Here is my husband with our little helpers. They just love to help out.

We decided on a dogwood tree. I had been thinking about a Heritage river birch, but it would have gotten really big. They steered me to this dogwood (Cornus florida).

It's taken me some time to come to an understanding about my front beds.....I tend to think I need plants that can take a lot of sun. We live in a fairly new-construction neighborhood, so there aren't a ton of big trees yet.


But....our house faces dead east. So, once the sun passes the side of the house, it's shady the rest of the day in my front garden beds. Since this tree is on the northeast corner, something that would take some shade was necessary. I was back last weekend buying some annuals and they were recommending impatiens to me. Impatiens!??! I tend to think those are for people with heavy shade. So, I'll give them (and the dogwood) a try.

All that's left to add--of the shrubs and perennials--are the shrubs under the window. I'll work on those with my coupons that I have to use.

I'm looking forward to seeing this little guy grow.

Snapshot

My campanulas are in bloom right now and I was struck by the color combo of these two plants...

I'm really digging the deep blue/purple blooms right up next to the lime green.

With the campanulas is sedum 'Angelina.' I really like the sedum...it turns a darker rust color during the winter and has great lime green color during the growing season.


I'm also amazed by the fact that this combination was an accident. I let my son pick out a perennial that he wanted to plant and he chose the sedum. He made a great choice!

I pruned the base of my tree after I took these pics!

Too bad this color combination will be around for just a few weeks! : ) Then it will be on to something new.


Linked to.....
 Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time

Tasseled

As I've mentioned on my blog, I'm not a huge reader of fashion magazines. I do have a subscription to InStyle magazine, but that's about as much as I can take on a regular basis. My sister-in-law, who has made her career in retail, passes issues of Vogue along to me. Although the clothes are uberexpensive and it's a bit highbrow, I do enjoy leafing through it....the pictures are so artful. 


I saw a tasseled necklace in the last issue I read and I tore out the picture. It inspired me to make my own. I thought, "I can make that."

So, here is how it went down.


I thought about what kind of string to use and I decided on a string I found at the hardware store. It was about $4.

I already had silver chain and a lobster clasp. I used a few jump rings to attach the clasp to the chain.

I used one piece of string to string through the chain.

To make the rest of the tassel, I cut a bunch of string the same size. About ten pieces of string. I bunched them together over the string on the necklace. Then....I used another piece to tie VERY tightly around the whole tassel. It took me a few tries to get my system down.

I did get to use fire with this project. Since the string was a bit slippery, I used my candle lighter to singe the ends so they wouldn't come apart. This is like what my dad used to do with ropes for his boat, since they were made out of synthetic materials.

The singeing bonded the string together and kept it from coming apart.

I decided on seven tassels. I had to trim up the ends.....

Here is the finished product. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. I'm loving the color, too.

Full disclosure here....it was not the quickest of projects. I worked on it at our kitchen table while my kids were doing art. It probably took me about 45 minutes to an hour. It took me a bit of time to figure out how to tie everything so it wouldn't come apart. Also, I needed a few tries to figure out that the tassels and the knots all needed to face the same way.


On me....

Not bad for a Vogue knock-off....

Party Time......

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Sunday Salvation at Sassafras Salvation

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

You Can Grow That!: Edible Blooms

Wow, another month gone by and here we are with the May edition of You Can Grow That! Click here to go to the Facebook page for all of the links.

Up this month....edible blooms. There are a few easy-to-grow plants that have blooms that are edible. 

Many people grow chives for the stalks, but the blooms are edible, too. They have an onion-y taste and would be delicious in a salad. Not only are they tasty, but they will also look pretty if you are entertaining.

Pansies are one of my favorite flowers because of their cold-hardiness. You may not know that the blooms are also edible. Like chives, they would be great in a salad, but you could also garnish cakes or pastries with them. Pansies also come in so many colors...I'm sure you could find a variety to suit you.

Although I haven't grown them, nasturtium blooms are also edible, as well as the leaves. They have a peppery taste!


If you decide to indulge in some edible blooms, take care to be sure they haven't been exposed to insecticides or chemicals. You also may want to wash them out carefully to be sure you don't have an unexpected bug in your bloom and your food....: )


Edible blooms that are tasty and make for good food presentation?

You can grow that!

What's in bloom?

The garden is in full swing.....about 3-4 weeks early this year. Here's what's in bloom right now.....

The chives are blooming. The flowers are really pretty!

Sea pinks.....I think this plant is also called thrift?

Salvia. My variety is 'May Night' or 'Meinacht' (in German, which is what my plant tag says).

Clematis.....'Ramona.' This grows up our lamppost. I love it. My mom and dad have a few clematis vines at their house and this flower reminds me of them.

What's blooming in your garden?

Dress presto change-o

My mom gave me a dress last year....one that she had never worn much.

I fell in love with it. The colors are MY colors.....my favorite color is turquoise. : )


The only problem with it? It was a few sizes too big and it just swam on me. The top of the dress was obscene, if you know what I mean. It would have required a camisole, no question.


So, I tried to alter it to the best of my ability. Which is not much. If you will recall, I am still new at sewing. I was unsuccessful at making it fit better. I tried giving it to my friend and it was not her style. And she returned it to me.


After the dress hung on my dress form for several months, I had a revelation.....make it into a skirt!


I pinned the sides and ran a seam to reduce the fullness of the skirt.

Here she be....

Not too shabby. Well, except for the waistband.  : ) Since it was gathered with elastic in the back, I just cut off the bodice part and didn't do anything to it. I could add elastic at the top for a more finished look. Maybe I still will....but for now, since I rarely wear anything tucked in, this does the job just fine.


On me....I'll share a pic soon of what it looks like styled.

I just love those colors!!

Party Time......

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Show and Share Day at Just a Girl

Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life

Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Project Parade at The DIY Showoff

Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime

Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles

Pinspirational Thursday at The Artsy Girl Connection

Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Sunday Salvation at Sassafras Salvation

Tuesday Talent Show at Chef n Training
Flaunt Your Flowers  at Tootsie Time
What I Wore/What's Up Wednesday at Rae Gun Ramblings
Sunday Roundup at A Rosie Sweet Home
Overflowing with Creativity at It's Overflowing

61 and fabulous

My dad turned 61 today. Happy birthday, Dad!

I have learned many, many things from both of my parents and I know I am very fortunate and blessed to still have  both of my parents on earth.

So, while this post could not be long enough to list all of the things I have learned from my dad--or my mom, too--I will share just a few tidbits.

I think we could all write a book about words of wisdom from Dad. My dad knows a lot about a lot of things. So, if you have a question about something, he's a good person to ask. He will tell you what he knows....and what he thinks. : )  My dad works hard and I know few people who put as much into their work as my dad does. So, I feel bad that sometimes I call him just when I have a question about something. I should call him more often just to ask how he's doing and to say "I love you."

But I digress.....one of my favorite bits of wisdom from Dad would be, "It doesn't matter if you have a junky car....you can still keep it clean." I keep my car clutter-free and do the best I can to keep it washed.....which sometimes falls to the bottom of the list when you're chasing kids around.

My dad has taught me a lot of what I know about using tools and how to fix things up. I remember when I had my first condo after moving out of my parents' house after college. Just a single girl trying to fix up her place. I'm pretty good with changing out light fixtures since learning how to wire lights for high school theater shows. So, I bought a ceiling fan. I got my ladder out and started installing. I got stuck when I was trying to mount the base to the electrical box and joists. For some reason, I could not get any screws in to hold it in. My dad came over and helped me. Since then, I've installed 4 or 5 other fans in our subsequent houses. A few months ago, he brought over his mitre saw for me to borrow so I could do some projects. I can't wait to get started with it.

Thanks, Dad. I hope you have a great birthday and I love you.