SATURDAY'S WORK

I love working outside! Give me a plant, hoe, rake, and lawn mower over a broom and mop any day. I will admit it becomes a little harder in the heat of July and August here in Alabama, but I still love being outside. My husband and I spent the entire day working out yesterday and I'm showing a few pictures now so you can see the difference in a few weeks after the growth. This picture is as you come down my front steps. It'll really be pretty as the flowers get big and fill in.

The pictures loaded so randomly....but these are some flowers I planted yesterday. I tried to think "outside the pot" as Cathy tells us to do when I planted in a basket yesterday. I even used her idea with a little polka dot ribbon!

My husband worked so hard on this area for several days and finished it yesterday. We have had these pavers in our backyard for years. He asked if I'd like for him to make another sitting area out front because that is where every one gathers when we have friends over. I think he did a great job. I have had the table for years and got a little wild with my spray paint but love that "Carribbean Blue" color. I have another chair that isn't showing and they are both lime green. Kinda wild in my old age!!

This is a different angle of the flower bed from the first picture..(told you these pictures loaded crazy).

Remember to think "outside the pot" when planting according to Cathy! More pictures as they grow.

A LITTLE RECYCLING

I love finding ways to use things that are broken or "unusable". Since I began blogging I have found that a little spray paint can make any thing look totally different!! I don't know about you, but we always seem to have a hose that leaks, or needs to be replaced. Usually my hubby throws them away, but when he started to do that this year I told him that I wanted to make something out of the hose. He looked at me like I had really lost it this time. Before you think I am "REALLY creative" I must give credit to whom it is due.....I saw this on Cobblestone Farms last year and loved the idea. My memory is still pretty good at remember some things.....just not where I put something!! Of course, my wreath doesn't look half as good as Cathy's, but it fits great on my basement door and I'm sure it will be a conversation piece if nothing else. Have a fantastic Friday.....I plan on doing so!!

NEED A GOOD RECIPE?

This post is for my friend, Holly. She emailed me this morning and told me that I had been missing in action from blogland long enough. I told her I had some creative things going but all were "almost finished". I thought for a few minutes and realized that I like to hear what's going on in all your lives whether you have decorated, cooked, sewed, planted, visited, or whatever. So......I thought I'd share one of the best sites that I know of for wonderful "southern" recipes. It is Southern Plate.

I am going to tell you first of all that there's not many things I feel that I can do a good job on, but cooking is one of my "specialities". I had the best mentors for learning....my mama, two aunts, and mother-in-law were the best in the world. They could put a spread on the table. I'm real close to frying okra like my mom and making potato salad like my mother-in-law (but can't get her chocolate cake that has holes poked in it with the chocolate running all down through the layers---although she gave me the recipe herself). If you are like me and feel that you are a pretty fair "cook", but just get tired of the same thing and need a few new recipes.....you must visit Southern Plate. This is an Alabama girl so she has to be pretty good!!! I have tried many of her recipes and they have all been keepers. I like it because she always has pictures to go along with the recipes (this helps us visual learners). I'm sure there are other wonderful sites for recipes, but this is one that I have found and endorse (I'm sure Christy would be proud to have this retired teacher endorse her..LOL) In fact, Kraft is flying her to California for their Grilled Cheese event this week. Who would have known there were so many ways to make grilled cheese sandwiches? Now, I must get off the computer and do something on my off day so I can show you something "creative" (even for me) so you will continue to visit me. Thanks Holly for giving me the nudge to get back and post....no matter what is happening in my world.

MY SURPRISE

Look what I found on my sun porch when I got home from work today! My WONDERFUL son-in-law made me this shelf I have been wanting. I first saw one like it in a catalog and it cost way too much for me to spend. He is very talented and can build any thing, so I knew that if he just had time to do it I would have me a shelf. Rondell's husband built her one awhile back and I even asked her for the measurements (after I misplaced my catalog). She sent me the measurements and my SIL looked at the picture of Rondell's, along with her measurements, and made mine. I am so excited.....can't wait to paint it and sand it so it'll look old. I had planned all along to paint it black, but now that I have it I am not sure. I have SO MUCH black in the room. My walls are latte (looks like coffee with much cream). What do you think???? Should I go with black.....or red.....or mustard???? Too many decisions.

FAMILY EASTER

We had a WONDERFUL Easter....hope you did too! We had a great service at church and then had family over for lunch. We had ham, turkey and dressing, corn, green beans, lima beans, sweet potato casserole, hash brown casserole, and potato salad. I won't even tell you about the yummy desserts....only that I walked farther this afternoon hoping to burn some of the calories! After lunch my neighbor (who is as generous as any person I know) hid a basket of eggs that he brought. Inside each egg was money ranging from $1 to $10 in quarters (in one egg). This brought the adults out of the house looking for their own eggs. My daughter found eggs that had a total of $20 herself. The kids had much fun counting their money after the hunt was over too. I didn't get in on the hunt because I was too busy making pictures. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed being with family and friends. I missed my son and his family but know that they had a great time in Louisiana. It won't be long before we'll see them. I hope that you were able to spend time with your family and also remembered the REAL meaning of Easter.

CHURCH EASTER EGG HUNT

Our church Easter Egg Hunt was this morning and we had a huge crowd this year. We have had it at the elementary school for several years because of the numbers of people who come. This, and our Fall Festival, are two of our biggest outreaches each year. We always have space bounces, popcorn, face painting, prizes, and 1,000's of eggs hidden. There is a program inside the gym for the children where the real meaning of Easter is told. The picture above is of the "preschoolers" as they were looking for eggs. We have three separate areas for eggs to be hidden according to ages.

This picture was made before the hunt and the program inside. The children always enjoy the space bounces.

I know that many of you moms have your children's picture made with the Easter Bunny. I did too!!! This picture is my daughter, Amy with the Easter Bunny. I think everyone had a great time. Hope you have a blessed Easter!

WEEK BEFORE EASTER

It has been a week since my last post so I wanted to let you know that all is well here in Alabama.....just extremely busy. My son-in-law lost his father and his funeral was Monday. He had battled cancer for quite some time. Keep his family in your prayers. I will be having our family Easter get-together at my house on Sunday. My sister-in-law was planning on having it, but she had a heart attack & stint put in a week ago. She is much better but certainly did not need to have the stress of hosting this. The weather is supposed to be really nice so all the kids will be able to be outside and I'm sure eggs will be hidden (and found) several times. I'll post pictures of this day next week. Our church is having our annual Easter Egg hunt on Saturday. This is one of our huge outreaches for the community, and I've been busy getting things lined up for it. We have over 3,000 eggs stuffed with candy ready to hide. It takes all of our members working on this event but is well worth the effort. There's a wedding late that afternoon that we'll be attending so this day is going to be FULL! I know I am not posting often, but I try to keep up with what's happening with all my blogging friends and want to tell you that I hope you all have a wonderful Easter with your families.

FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH A JIGSAW

There's a first for every thing...so I had my first experience using a jigsaw (any kind of saw for that matter). I LOVE visiting Char at The Pickled Pepper Patch. This is one talented lady who doesn't mind sharing how she does things. In fact, she gives specific instructions and I have printed most of them. She will be writing instructions for projects for a major magazine starting in the fall. I want to make all her wood projects (as well as the stitcheries and Mason jar projects) and hope to have time to do so one day! Anyway....she had the instructions for cutting this pig breadboard several weeks back. By the way...when you see something you like, print it right then because she changes her downloads often and you've lost your chance! She has stated that a jigsaw is an easy tool to use so I go to my next door neighbor's house (who happens to be a superintendent for a major construction company) and show up with my piece of wood and pattern. I proceed to tell him that I want to learn to use a jigsaw. In the past he knew that meant "I want you to make this for me!" However, I really wanted to use his jigsaw (with his supervision) and make my own. So....last weekend he gave me instructions on cutting with a jigsaw. I want you to know that it isn't quite as easy as Char made it seem, but I don't give up easily. I know that it was my first time and I was nervous. I am still going to purchase my own jigsaw and the more I use it the better I'll get!! Today I stained him (after putting the marks on the board with an ax) and I'm a pretty proud mama. I think I'll try another project of Char's. Go visit her site. Don't fail to print instructions when she has a download because she'll change them for a new project and it'll be your own fault for missing out! Have a great mid-week.