Bloom Where You're Planted (Or Sprout Where You Are)

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Apple blossoms in the backyard!

A few months ago, my daughter found that one of the seeds in the apple she was eating had sprouted. We stared at it in amazement for a little while, then wrapped it loosely in a damp paper towel and set that in an empty yogurt container on the windowsill. And forgot about it. Days and days later my husband happened upon the forgotten seedling and what do you know? It was growing! Obviously, this little plant wanted a chance. So we put some soil into the yogurt container and planted the tiny tree. And it grew and it grew. Reaching for the light outside, it got a little lopsided so we turned it around so it could reach the other way. And it grew and it grew.


Here is our little apple tree last week just before we put it in a bigger pot outside. We didn't really have much hope for it in the beginning, but now I'm looking forward to seeing it become what it was meant to be. And when it gets bigger it probably won't bear tasty fruit (apple trees from seeds don't grow the same apples they came from - weird, huh?), but it's worth giving it a chance, don't you think? You know, just in case.

There's an analogy in there about life and relating to other people and seeing the hidden potential in ourselves. Pick your favorite! It's sure to be delicious (hehe!)

What's your secret?

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OK I need some ideas here.

Let me back up. It's been awhile since I was introduced to a couple of cook books that are all about creative ways to hide vegetables in kids' favorite dishes, and I've tried a good amount of them with success.

I was reluctant at first because I thought, "My kids might not eat many vegetables at first, but I'll keep offering them at mealtimes and eventually they'll try them and decide they like them. If I grind, puree and disguise them in other foods, they'll have a warped sense of what vegetables taste like. They'll think zucchini is supposed to taste like my mom's zucchini brownies or that butternut squash tastes like macaroni and cheese. Then they'll NEVER like them when they find out their green leafy friends really taste like, well, vegetables."

In actuality, I'm the one with a warped sense of reality. The truth is, they each like a few veggies like cucumbers and carrots. But with summer approaching, I'm going to be whipping up all kinds of salads, and I'm not sure how well they're going to go over with the people under 5 years old in the house.

So, what's your secret to hiding a little extra goodness in the meals you make for your family? I've just shared a couple of mine with you (I like to throw in a handful of fresh spinach into our smoothies too), but I'd love to know from you!

Happy Mother's Day, Mother!

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A few years back my Mother came to visit me here in Calabash.  She was the first one I took to the ever changing simply amazing Brookgreen Gardens.  While we were there I took pictures with her in them.

My Wonderful Mother
And she took pictures with me in them. 

Yeah, that's me (totally blond).
 So for Mother's Day that year I sent her this photo.

I love PhotoShop.
When she got the picture she says to me,
"I don't recall us taking a photo together".  hehehe

Come on you got give it to me, it's hard to tell it's photoshopped.
"Side by SideOr miles apartYou, dear Mother, Are always close to my heart!"
Happy Mother's Day, Mother!

Update

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Today I got notice from seemooredesigns@gmail.com that I have (unread) 399 emails in my inbox, yes, I've been ignoring them.  So many changes have taken place in my life since my last post.

I've moved from NC, seems the light of my life didn't feel the same way I did, and rather then tell me he had decided we weren't a "couple" anymore, he chose to carry on a separate life then the one we had together.  His betrayal was a surprise to me, not unexpected though, he'd cheated on his wife one week after he married her, what would make me think I'm so special?  As long as I've known Mr. Nelson, he'd always been looking for something better then he had, maybe he found her?
What I don't and can't understand or come to terms with is why, why would you have someone stay with you and live in the same home with you, if you couldn't even stand to look at them or talk to them, for so long?

I'm currently very busy looking for work in an area where jobs are hard to come by.  With that I haven't had much time to craft or sew.  But I think I'll get my MOJO back here soon.  I miss you all so much!!!  And thank you for keeping me on the mailing lists.

Happy Crafting!

Backyard Halloween Golf

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Have you ever seen Remco's backyard putt putt set from the 1950's, back when family's spent more time together....... (I know I wasn't even born yet).  I saw this in an article in Country Living Magazine, Vintage Lawn Games, it sent me searching for ideas to make mini putt putt golf  for the grandkids.    (this was a long drawn out search)This summer I came across this set of  KIDS GOLF CLUBS, $4, at a garage sell.

I know, what a deal!  I gave them to the grandkids to play with. Now that I'm here living with them, I was back to thinking of ideas for the putt putt golf.For a game at my grandson Elias's 7th birthday we played "Backyard Halloween Golf".


I downloaded large Halloween coloring pages and printed them.  Placed the picture on cardboard, cut out the outlines of the pictures;  some of them we had to tape first to make them sturdier and painted them. (Suzy and I painted them)
We bought lawn stakes at the local hardware store, to keep them in place in the yard.  There are  7 holes.  We strategically placed them around the yard, Let's Play!



We kept score by how many strokes it took to get the ball to each hole, and  if it went through the hole you got the bonus 1 point subtracted at the end of the game.  




You'll never guess who won?  Miss Harmony, the poser.  I was shocked, too. I thought for sure I was gonna win.
Project Cost:  $4.00 for golf clubs, $2.50 for the lawn stakes, family fun, Priceless.
To find these Halloween pictures online, in any search engine, type in Free Halloween coloring pages. 




Happy Halloween!









Parties: Link it up Thursday @ Seven Alive ,  The ArtsyGirl Connection ,  Made in a day, The Taylor House, Katherines Corner, Finding Fabulous   Link it up Friday @ Happy Hour Projects, Simple Home Life, Craftionary, Here Comes the Sun, One Artsy Mama, Petals to Picots, Create.Craft.Love,  Link it up Satuday @ Bowdabra Blog, The Gingerbread Blog

Clara's 1990 Bridesmaid Dress

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This week, we will jump forward in time by a century from the last post, Clara's 1891 Party Dress. Although the dresses are separated by an entire century, many of the major fashion elements of the dresses are similar... the puffy sleeves, the full skirts, the tight bodices and pointed dropped waists. Even the use of lace is paralleled in the two dresses.

The more formal dresses of the late 1980s and early 90s are actually in a romantic style that borrow elements from Victorian styles of the previous century. The romantic style of dress was a sort of reaction to the ripped and sloppy looks of the early 80s.

The lace, puffy sleeves, and ruffles may have been a bit much for the fashion world, and by the end of the 1990s, most styles were pretty casual, and not very extreme.

Clara's dress this week is even more formal than some dresses might be in 1900, since it was intended to be a bridesmaid dress. The original dress is made with a layer of a gauzy peach fabric under a gauzy sheer layer of lacy white.

The original shoes were gold silk, of a shade that would clash with the peach dress. Fortunately, you can select your own colors.  Dyed silk shoes have been poplar for centuries, because they can be dyed the exact color of a dress, making a completely cohesive outfit. Nowadays, matching dyed shoes are usually only worn on very formal occasions like weddings.


To print Clara's dress, use this PDF file:
Clara's Dress 56 (783k)
Clara is a free, printable paper doll. Clara will be available on this blog as long as I continue to post new fashion pages for her. You can read the introduction for the Clara paper doll here.
To print the Clara paper doll, use this PDF file: The Clara Paper Doll (718k)

Violin purse and celluloid crown

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Photos take in: My living room and bedroom (in front of my 1960s vanity)
Photos taken by: Pierre Eymard
Outfit details:
Crown comb:  1920s-1930s (most likely 1920s)Art deco Celluloid wonder (I still cant believe I own it..its just one of those magical items!!!)Jacket and dress: Topshop (One of the outfits you wait an eternity to come into the store)Purse: Violin from a Chinese manufacturer on ebay

Park and graveyard time

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Where:Pierre and I decided to visit a museum all about the history of the area we live in, in LondonBruce castle Park contains a lovely park, cemetery, church, and museum  
Photos taken by:
Pierre and myself
Outfit:
Dress: 1950s paisley mint green square dance (patio dress) with gathered tiersHat: 1950s dangling magical flowersPurse: Late 1950s early 1960s wicker figural horse purse with marble eyesShoes: TopshopBelt: 1950s braided pale pinkish nude