Good medicine

19 Dec

Shelby rocks!

Sometimes office assistants need medical attention.  Our dilemma has been that Shelby has lost weight due to chronic gum inflammation.  Several shots of cortisone provided temporary relief.  A couple of weeks ago we tried and alternative solution available from Custom Med Apothecary, LLC.  Shelby gets a very small dose of medicine daily in chicken flavored tablets that he loves.

Custom Med prepares special medication for people and animals!  The niche market this business serves has tremendous potential.  http://www.custommed.net/

Shipping

17 Dec

Four red, green and gold tote bags shipped today with 16 dresses to South Africa to join other donations for Helping Hands Touching Hearts.  Sidney, Wayne and CJ are flying this weekend from Detroit to South Africa to personally distribute clothing, mosquito netting, tote bags and shoes.  Their journey is beautifully documented on this site: http://web.me.com/clotheavillage/Site/Welcome.html

Tote Bags

The fabric for these tote bags salvaged a slip cover project gone wrong. 🙂  See Aug 28 Helping Hands Year 2 post for the photos of other contents.  Four size 4 dresses were made from remnants of last years project.  The four size 10 dresses reused a pattern shown on Dec 14 post.  I’ll reuse the pattern one more time to make size 8 dresses next year.  I passed on making boy’s shorts, however a fabric designated and plan to next year.

Bon Voyage to Sidney, Wayne and CJ!

Lovely ideas for DIY wrapping

16 Dec

Katrina has done a beautiful job of illustrating 5 creative gift wrapping ideas this week.  She also has discussion on the environmental impact of wrapping packages.  Check out her blog Splash of Something.  http://splashofsomething.com/2011/12/12/wrapping-week-2011/

These blog posts reminded me of what I count as my most original wrapping project, using a low profile ceramic dish.  That same year I also repurposed flat ornaments for wrapping decor.

Special gift wrap for a special girl

Merry Christmas!

Helping Hands

14 Dec

5234

Simplicity pattern 5234 was the first to capture my imagination last year for children’s clothes for Helping Hands Touching Hearts.  This pattern required less material than other choices.  I made six size 14 dresses last year from my fabric stash, some with pockets, all sleeveless finished with bias tape.

To complete my sewing for this year’s donation, I returned to 5234 making four size 10 dresses with cap sleeves.  Sleeves are a better value than bias tape (unless you make your own).  The turquoise and brown fabric was a $3/yard remnant.  The solid brown fabric was  part of my stash.  I ran out of time to try appliqueing a flower on the solid top.  Next year 🙂

Another pairing

14 Dec

My appreciation for vintage ceramics has evolved from following Lara Rossignol’s blog www.piewacketblog.com.

Top self

My pairing for the top of the bookcase features 1960s circa flower pots from my in-laws garage and an original Mary Ann Boysen “kitchen window” series painting.  Accessorizing my still life painting with the vintage pots adds the third dimension and bold colors.

Peas and carrots

13 Nov

Peas and carrots

My sister Susan gave me her counted cross stitch works of “Peas” many years ago.  Probably the same year, she gave our grandmother Tuggle her counted cross stitch “Carrots”.  About six years ago, I found the “Carrots” and claimed it to make a pair.  I smile when I see them together.  It reminds me of a line from “Forrest Gump”.  Forrest says he and his best friend Jenny go together like “peas and carrots”!  Here’s a tribute to things that go well together.

Words on weeds

6 Nov

During nature’s transition from fall to winter, we have a few words on weeds.  The best deterrent are plants with dense root system like hostas, day lilies and oregano.  A weed may come up on the perimeter of the planting but never in the thick of them.

The next two recommendations have to do with making inevitable weeding easier.  The first is to have the soil amended so it minimizes compaction.  The second is to time one’s effort to follow significant rainfall.

In suburban gardens, the term weed also applies to tree seedlings that volunteer in flower beds.  The challenge is two-fold; the volume/quantity and the importance of getting the entire root.  Not getting the whole root means they will emerge again another day.  I found a Pro-weeder this year that I highly recommend.  It goes 12 inches deep!

Pro-weeder

Field trip

30 Oct

Last weekend we had a field trip to the first Container Store in Indianapolis.  I say field trip because far west to north-east is a significant drive.  The Indianapolis Star did a lengthy feature article on its grand opening.

With 10,000 items it is not only a professional organizer’s dream store, but also an inspiration to others of us who are simply trying to solve a problem.  The vertical bookcase probably intrigued me the most.  A heavy base accommodates a single stack of books five feet high just right for small spaces that are difficult to use for another purpose.

The Container Store

The sentiments on their shopping bags are endearing!  I could not leave the store empty-handed.  I decided upon project cases that are stackable with handles for $3.99 each and a small modern floral fabric box.

As intriguing as the store was, sometimes the solution is already in reach if we just consider other purposes.  The kitchen junk drawer do over features glass dishes that formerly contained candles plus a butter dish (probably bought from the Vermont Country Store) for pens, etc.

Junk drawer make over

Blank canvas

24 Oct

One reason my TO DO list for the garden beds this year was sooo long is that the kitchen/herb garden was enlarged.  Oregano, lavender, lemon balm and a butterfly bush were undisturbed.  The retaining wall was reconfigured for 30% + larger space.  This ground squirrel view of the new space is nearly a blank canvas.

New kitchen/herb garden

Warm, sunny fall weekend days are perfect for planting.  Last week I planted rue (herb used in Mexican recipes), “arp” rosemary (supposed to be perennial) and astilbe (flower).  This weekend I found yarrow and cardinal flowers.  All five are new experiments for me.

New additions

 

Image

On the back roads

20 Oct

Story Inn, Indiana

inconveniently located since 1851

Fine dining and accomodations….who would have thought?

Clinch Mountain, TN overlook

Memorial @ Clinch Mountain overlook

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