Fairy Garden 2012

I have finally finished work on my first Fairy Garden!  After checking the internet for ideas - and elements I could buy instead of make - I ended up constructing most of my own accessories. 

I decided a mobile garden would work best; however, some people constructed theirs under trees.  I got a large, rectangular basket at Michael's, laid down a large, plastic lawn refuse bag as a liner, and used a Miracle Gro soil that protects against over and under watering.

The trick was figuring out HOW to build the stuff, since there were no generalized instructions online. I began with a "house" and found a wonderful, small log in the firewood with two great knot holes.  I sliced it into two different sized pieces with a sloped cut for roofs.  I glued them with Gorilla glue and secured them together overnight with rubber bands.  Then I began decorating.  Small vertical then horizontal sticks formed the roofs, with popsicle sticks for the door.  For decorations, I purchased a bag of assorted moss, tiny "wedding" roses, some tiny silk flowers, a package of tiny terracotta flower pots, a tea light that resembled a gazebo, some sign wood, and a couple bags of their smallest river rocks.  I already had marbles (for the gazing ball), a bag of sphagnum moss, several pieces of sliced agate (for the bench), and very narrow ribbon, copper wire to make an arbor.  Once you start sticking on moss, and flowers and such, you find the more stuff you stick on, the better it looks!

The wishing well was constructed of the tiny river rocks held together with hot glue.  I used the hot glue gun to decorate also, using the sphagnum moss as "vines," further enhanced with tiny flowers.  I did manage to find a fairy, bird bath, bucket, and garden tools at a garden center.  The path is just filling in with tiny river rocks to make a path from the arbor at the front to the fairy house.

The "bird house" was actually made of popsicle sticks on a wooden skewer base with a toothpick end for a perch!

Then it was off to the garden centers to buy plants.  The "grass" is actually a perennial called "Irish Moss."  Flowers include other perennials such as the hosta in the front right corner called "Blue Mouse Ears" which has very tiny leaves and flowers, "Snow-in-Summer Silver Carpet," "Papaver Summer Beauty," and "Red Creeping Thyme" in front.  I got a lot of what I consider "draping plants" that hang and dangle softly over the sides of the large basket that holds the garden.  The annuals included "ficus ripens variegatus," lobelia, zinnia "Crystal White," "Easter Bonnet Deep Rose" alyssum, "Green Yellow Alternanthera," Helichrysum, "Madiera Crested Yellow," and "Asparagus Fern." 

And finally, I added a sign to the front that I saw online and recreated!  

Here is a picture of my new lamp, filled with Michigan beach stones, sand, and a few decorative dodads . . .

Enough!!!

At the age of almost 62, I have finally had enough.

I feel confident that if my friends were to read this post, they'd recognize themselves at once. However, nobody reads this blog at all, so it seems the fitting place to vent and rant.

I love my friends dearly; however, after years of their crossing the line, I have decided to release those toxic friendships that cause more grief than good.

It is no secret that I smoke and am overweight. I’ve smoked for many years, and have been overweight basically since 2^nd grade. These truths do not come as a shock to me!

It is unclear where my “friends” get the right to constantly criticize me. One decided that I wasn’t answering the phone on purpose (even when she called during my dad’s funeral service) and then said, “hope you have a good life,” and proceeded to continue to call. She had trouble understanding why her calls were no longer answered or returned. One toxic relationship down.

Another constantly has problems with my smoking. They called while I was on the computer playing a mindless game – then chastised me for continuing to play while talking. I am NOT a 12 year-old kid who needs their behavior corrected. THIS is who I am, and if you don’t like it, fine. Don’t. Many other people don’t have a problem with it.

Another constantly has problems with my weight. They decided that I need to go on a diet and then informed me that they “expect to see me lose 10 pounds a month!” Again – not your business. Nor is the volume on my TV, my hearing, how I choose to spend or not spend my money, the amount of time I spend on the computer per day, whether or not I wear make up, my sleeping habits, the length, color, and cut of my hair and so on.

For years - most of my life, in fact - I have smiled, taken the criticism, seemly laughed it off over and over again for countless times. But in all honesty, your words hurt me deeply. I have very strong emotions, and deep feelings. I often think after the fact, "oh, I should have said . . .," but never do - why can't people just celebrate the person I am instead of trying to constantly fix me? So, from now on, unless you’re willing to move in, keep me occupied and entertained, buy food and cook for me, etcetera, leave my habits alone!!

My ex-husband spent 12 years attacking any self-esteem I had. All my life people have chipped away at that little self-esteem to the point that I now am weighted down with self-loathing and depression. That is no way to live.

I am a good, caring, kind, creative, wonderful person who is precisely who she is meant to be. I am fine just as is. If there is something I choose to change, I will. Otherwise, you can get used to me as I am, or leave me alone to make new, more accepting friends.

Macomber Ad-A-Harness Loom, Type B-Folding

Our family is currently trying to find a loving new home for my mother's prized possession. It is this 8-harness folding loom manufactured by Macomber of York, ME. It includes the loom itself, a hand-crafted bench with a storage compartment, and extras including 4 40" ad-a-harness units, 1,200 12" flat heddles, 18 repair heddles, several assorted shuttles, winding racks, a heavy-duty ball winder, and many cones of various colors and textures of yarn.

This loom is located in north St. Louis County, Missouri. If you're interested or know someone who is, or for further information, please send me an email or leave a comment!

The New Patio - Day 1

They say that time exists so that everything doesn't happen all at once. Uh-huh.

Last Wednesday, I got new covered gutters and discovered that my sweet little Saturn was in terminal condition. So, Friday I bought a new car (there'll be another post for that little gem of info). Now that it's Monday, there should have been time to shop for some accessories and so forth. When I got home, I discoverd I was WRONG!!

The "patio destructors" were waiting for me when I arrived home and proceeded to do this for the next hour and a half!

Yeasted Carrot Cake Bread

I know - it's been months since I last posted. Suffice it to say "I've been busy" and leave it at that.

Found this recipe on Foodgawker.com and had to try it. I did manage to make it with "regular" ingredients, omitted the flax seeds, substituted craisins for the raisins, and added about three tablespoons of sour cream to the cheese to make it a bit more spreadable. But, this is absolutely yummy!

Wa-Hoo!!

About a week and a half ago, my son took me fishing and swore that they loved wax worms. The fish couldn't bit on wax worms fast enough. They loved the silly stuff. Uh-huh. I caught about 12 baby bluegill that were no bigger than half the size of my hand. Cute little buggers, but not trout!! He, on the other hand, managed to catch 5 keeper trout. Hardly seemed fair!

Today my son came and dragged me, kicking and screaming, up to the lake in the chilly wind to fish. So glad he did!! Here is a picture of my first rainbow trout. It was about 18" long and 2.5 pounds!!!! The second one was an itty bitty guy who got tossed back in. Unlike last time, this was the ONLY fish we caught today. So, this is the catch of the day! Definitely more fun to catch than clean, however! (Can you believe he made me clean my own fish???)

Yummy Chocolate!

You know you want some! This should probably be illegal in about 37 states! Yummy Chocolate Pecan Upside Down cake with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Granted, it isn't on a par with the stuff on Foodgawker. It doesn't contain various colors and flavors of sea salt or bacon or tofu or bean curd. Just yummy chocolate, nuts, more chocolate, store-bought ice cream, and good old Hershey's chocolate syrup. Bet nobody could tell the difference!

Busy Weekend!

Finally, with the cooling temperatures and nice breezes, some life is returning after the lazy summer! This Saturday I got the energy to put decorative concrete edging bricks along the side of the garage to make the garden there a bit nicer. Note on the bottom right the huge rocks I had to dig up to install the silly thing! Hopefully, my neighbor will enjoy the view out her bedroom window a bit more now! Especially, once I get more iris planed along here, should be stunning in the spring!

I also spent time on Sunday with my sis-in-law, Grace, downstairs in the glass studio. I've been putzing along with an entire desk set for what seems like forever! I had the thing almost completely cut out (after changing leaf colors several times), and realized there wasn't enough of the background color to complete the whole set. Grace and I went back to the glass store and, since they had no more, bought a close runner-up color. Never satisfied with it, I headed to the glass store in downtown St. Louis and, as remarkable as it seems, found more of the background color!! So, was able to get the whole thing cut out, This is the completed set! There's a business cardholder, desk organizer with a space for Post It notes, and a pencil holder. I even managed to take a couple "artsy" pictures of it outside, even though the sun didn't cooperate!

Fall in St. Louis

Fall?? Fall, you say? Maybe you could trip and fall over leaves like this!!!

I found this in the driveway when I came home this evening! Amazing! I've seen some big leaves out there this year, but this one tops them all!!! Am just thankful they're not ALL this big!