It's Friday.........

I know....I've been so negligent.  Everyday I think this is the day I'll post and then I think, no, I'll wait until I snap a few photos and then another day goes by.  Anyway, this may not be a long post but wanted to let you know I was still kickin'!!!

Yesterday I worked at Leola's adding a few new things and kind of rearranging.  Loved the spinning wheel......

 

 

 

I've been concentrating on my primitives but I've having a really difficult time finding them.  ...

 

The herbs are coming to life in the garden.....love that!  I picked chives, oregano and thyme and with the help of locally grown spinach, local eggs and organic zucchini, I made an amazing frittata. 

 

 

 

We also celebrated my grandgirls 11th birthday.....how can that be!!!!!

 

 

Can't believe these girls are 11years old.

 

Allison's azaleas.....

 

 

Seems everything is blooming at the same time in the Ozarks. This is out my back door....

 



 

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend.....so much going on......

Harvesting herbs.....

It's that time of year again even though it feels like summer.  It's also very dry.  About a month ago we were having torrential downpours and now we're having to water.  The weather has just been crazy!

My garden gifts.....

 

It's been wonderful eating all the fresh produce and sticking lots in the freezer.  It makes cooking a joy for me. 

 

I've been drying these herbs for my own use.  Oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary are now in bottles.  They also look really good in the old mason jars on my counter.....a double gift!

 



....and yes, it's very important that I keep a jar of peanut butter M & M's in case I need a lift while doing all this work.

I've finally decided to buy myself a new camera.  Mine now is scratched on the lens and rather then spend the money to have it repaired, I'm just going to bite the bullet and buy a new Canon Rebel T3.  My birthday was on Monday and a couple of my sisters decided to help me make the decision and gave me money to go in on it (can't beat that).  I have such a love of photography and seem to be the designated photographer for our family but it's just always so hard making that final decision.  Can't wait!!!!  I'm sure you'll see a huge difference in my pictures.  Oh, and my good friend Cathy gave me a tripod so I'm set.

Have a great Wednesday......we're preparing for a cooldown (fingers crossed)!

Living the simple life......

   I've tried so hard in the last few years to live a more simple life.  It's almost become a game with me to find areas where I can cut back or make do with something that I thought was a throw-away.  It's amazing what I've been able to do in my own backyard.  First of all, I hang as much laundry out as I can (no underwear....ever) but my sheets and bedding always.  I even hang most of my clothes now including jeans, t-shirts, p.j.'s, linen outfits and all my vintage linens that I take to the shop.  Lots of the time, I don't even need to iron them.  The electric dryer is seldom used.  I've noticed a big difference in my electricity bill this summer.

 

My garden which isn't that large gives me so much.  Not only do I get my veggies but I also have lots of garlic, basil, chives, sage, rosemary, thyme, arugula (just found out it's an herb), mint & oregano.  This summer I've been drying my herbs and putting them in bottles to use this winter.  I'm loving them and I know where they come from and that they're totally organic.

I cut more lavender today and will dry it.  My plan is to make little lavender pillows to put on your bed.  It's supposed to help you have a more peaceful sleep.  My sweet annie is growing like crazy and soon I'll be able to harvest it and sell at Leola's.  The hydrangeas have already been dried and hung in bunches at the shop.  All these things basically pay for my garden.....what a deal!

 

I've almost completely stopped eating fast food (sometimes I can't help myself) and have noticed a change in the way I feel.  The biggest change is making my own bread.  All I have to do is have a sandwich made with store-bought bread to realize that it has a terrible effect on my stomach.  It saves because I make smaller loaves and have very little waste.  Besides that, it's yummy!

 

Anyway, I'm continually looking for ways to simplify.  My lifestyle definitely isn't for everyone but it works for me and I love it.

Here are a few projects I've been working on.  These are some quilts that I bought at the great auction last weekend.  Thinking I might use some that are not in great shape and make stockings for Christmas.  Not certain what I'll do with the rest but love the way they all look together.

 

 

These are some of the wooden utensils I bought.  They were all dried out so I put oil on all and what a difference.  

The weather is incredible today and has been a good day to get things done on the back porch.  So nice to have these little breaks during the summer.  Also, the garden loves it.

Better get the laundry off the line.....looks like rain!

A productive week....

Managed to get a lot done this week.....thankfully.  The weather cooled a little so I could work in the garage.  It seems so early to be complaining about the heat but it's been darn hot in southwest Missouri.  Just seems like one week we had the heat on and the next, it was the AC.

My garden looks amazing.  Everything is growing so fast.  My lavender is almost ready to harvest and it's huge.  Maybe I'll have enough to bundle for sale.  The same goes for my sage (not the g'son but the herb).  It is just a huge bush this year.  The herb garden also includes thyme, oregano, chives, basil and mint.  It's just a great year for growing things.

This is one of my projects from this week.  It's a little French table that would be great by a bed.  It has a little blue in the paint and goes with a lamp that I redid with the same blue.  I'm really loving this soft blue.

Don't know why the first picture looks so pink (I'm sure it was nothing I did).  It's definitely not pink. 

This next picture is the lamp I painted.  I also made the shade with one of the frames I brought back from Vermont.  It has been so difficult for me to give up my shades.  Maybe I should quit using fabrics that I love.

The fabric just has a hint of pale blue in it and the white part on the lamp is milkglass.  That's another problem I have.....I love lamps.  I have them in every nook and cranny of my house.

Another love of mine are the battery candles I sell at Leola's.  There are several on my back porch right now in Mason and Ball jars.  They are so peaceful when the sun starts to go down.  I sometimes use a lamp but there are times when I just want mellow lighting.  The g'kids all use one in their bedrooms for nightlights.  When I'm having company, I'll put some on the rock ledges and in the potting shed.  They have a total candle feel but no worry about fire.

My 2 bunny friends that seem to enjoy hangin' in my backyard.  Luckily, there's lots of  clover out there so they've left the lettuce alone.

Well, I'm working tomorrow so guess I'd better get things together......oh, and watch American Idol.  Have a good rest of the week!

Dinner from the garden.....

The garden is so productive right now -- thanks to all the rain.  Of course, the weeds are loving it too.  I have 3 different kinds of green beans.  One is the yard long variety.  Some of these had dried up so I popped the beans out & threw them in.  They were so good.

My mom used to cook green beans all day on the stove but we've found the flavor and nutrition is so much better if you don't cook them to death.  She used to also put in a ton of bacon grease which I don't do.  First of all, I saute about 3 of my garden onions (they're not very large) in a little butter and olive oil.  They I add a couple cloves of garlic & salt & pepper.  They cook slowly (so they won't burn) until translucent.  Then I throw in my green beans & add a box of low sodium chicken broth and enough water to cover.  I cook them for probably 30 min. & turn them off & let them set for at least an hour on the stove.  It's like they soak up all those great flavors.  Then reheat when ready to serve. 

Since I had cut herbs (sage, thyme, basil) I tied a bunch together & let it lay on the top of this pot.

I think my favorite thing to eat in the summertime is bruschetta.  We have Panera Bread in Springfield & they make an asiago cheese bread that is so good.  I toast it in the oven with olive oil & a little garlic then after it toasts I sprinkle it with an Italian cheese.  You chop your tomatoes, garlic and a little onion then mix with olive oil, a little balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper & chopped basil.  Serve on top of the bread & serve with your green beans.  What a great dinner!

It appears the Japanese beetles have left town.  They have really been bad this year so next year I'm going to try treating my yard since they come up out of the earth.  We'll see what happens.  I'll probably then get all my neighbors.

Have a great weekend & don't forget the garage sale at Linda's farm.  The address is in the post from last week.  They should have tons of good stuff at great prices.