tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16825389361882392612024-02-07T21:37:43.243-05:00Seasonal ChaptersCreating a cozy home and family memories through the seasons because "Home is where your story begins."
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-83148105105534845042015-11-17T15:37:00.000-05:002015-11-17T15:47:17.544-05:00Apple Kuchen<div style="text-align: center;">
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I thought I'd share this delicious recipe that uses the apples that are in season now. It works well on a dessert buffet or transports easily if you are traveling for your holiday dinner. My friend shared this recipe from her Dutch heritage with me and it has become a seasonal tradition to make this in our home ever since. Her family uses the spelling "apple kuiken", but when I tried to research more about this dish, I found it often spelled "kuchen", which is the German word for cake. However you choose to spell it, it is sweet and tasty and a perfect addition to your collection of fall recipes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY1ZZiNm8v33fDQYGLrCUmWbjfcvYTxQSx9Tr4_bZ8fNMeg14XQEjRYYUzBx7LyrVG9Bhjj_ccNpee9ZNdzQpJAWPppb1XZuvbNJsdzccjlTcea-AM23UD6N-zdvldvu__YgsAEzlJc8/s1600/apple+kuchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitY1ZZiNm8v33fDQYGLrCUmWbjfcvYTxQSx9Tr4_bZ8fNMeg14XQEjRYYUzBx7LyrVG9Bhjj_ccNpee9ZNdzQpJAWPppb1XZuvbNJsdzccjlTcea-AM23UD6N-zdvldvu__YgsAEzlJc8/s320/apple+kuchen.jpg" width="238" /></a><u>Ingredients</u>:<br />
2 cups of flour<br />
1/2 cups sugar<br />
1 stick butter<br />
1 Tbsp baking powder <br />
1 egg<br />
4-5 cups of apples<br />
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<u>Topping</u><br />
3/4 cup sugar<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />
approximately 2 Tbsp butter<br />
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.<br />
Peel, core and cut the apples into thin slices.<br />
Lightly grease a rimmed cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.<br />
Cut the ingredients together using a pastry blender and pat into the bottom of the pan.<br />
Line the sliced apples on top.<br />
Combine the cinnamon and sugar together and sprinkle on top of the apples.<br />
Top with dots of butter.<br />
Bake for 18-20 minutes.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-8934631078193191762015-11-02T19:36:00.000-05:002015-11-02T19:37:41.881-05:00More Fabric Pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAXEsfRHlqFvnfH0sE8ita5LnqMZjxG3154-bUEnxB7Z67YZXkEIvqc6BWeKYW08J_jysw_LeYJkYQN-g87YcQ778l9B4uAbgM8fCeP2Tp7bd-7d-YeRuW-Jxu7JFLoej0PWsDLGoqsM/s1600/fabric+pumpkin+patch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbAXEsfRHlqFvnfH0sE8ita5LnqMZjxG3154-bUEnxB7Z67YZXkEIvqc6BWeKYW08J_jysw_LeYJkYQN-g87YcQ778l9B4uAbgM8fCeP2Tp7bd-7d-YeRuW-Jxu7JFLoej0PWsDLGoqsM/s320/fabric+pumpkin+patch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Happy November everybody! I know many bloggers are moving into Christmas posts now that the calendar page has turned another month, but I am enjoying the fall too much to start Christmas crafts and decorating just yet. With Thanksgiving being a gentle reminder to have gratitude and be thankful for all of the blessings in your life, I just want to soak in these last few weeks and enjoy this time of reflection before some of the hustle and bustle of the next holiday season officially begins.</div>
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When I ended the post about how I created a small fabric pumpkin patch for my <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2015/10/fabric-pumpkin-patch.html?showComment=1446495221989#c647786634371706503" target="_blank">glass scarecrow</a>, I promised to show you how I created some other fabric pumpkins. </div>
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Two of the pumpkins are "no sew" crafts, and the last one requires a minimal amount of sewing. The first pumpkin has a really unusual base....a roll of toilet paper. I read about how to make these pumpkins on <a href="http://www.debbie-dabble.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Debbie-Dabble's Home and Garden Blog</a>. Debbie loves Christmas but goes all out for other holidays as well, and when I saw these cute pumpkins that she made using rolls of toilet paper and small amounts of fabric, I knew I had to try making one. For this craft take an inexpensive roll of toilet paper and a piece of fabric (I had 1/4 yard of plaid fabric, but didn't need that much). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_KrHgnD-w7URYB9O6N_FZhFEIV1KNMHSXASQqwA6zEsqcingEbn4mGllgt7KDj9vqLZVaewUQxwciTsKxQBEv9NKzkqYgfBNWR-FFOX8kNuNnOPC5BaT26-HLiYTvaEzMip7Jq1jf10/s1600/toilet+paper+pumpkin+in+progress+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_KrHgnD-w7URYB9O6N_FZhFEIV1KNMHSXASQqwA6zEsqcingEbn4mGllgt7KDj9vqLZVaewUQxwciTsKxQBEv9NKzkqYgfBNWR-FFOX8kNuNnOPC5BaT26-HLiYTvaEzMip7Jq1jf10/s320/toilet+paper+pumpkin+in+progress+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Simply place your roll of bathroom tissue in the center of your fabric square.</div>
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Then pull up the fabric and tuck it into the center of the roll, sort of pleating the fabric as you go along. I used the handle of a small screw driver to tightly push the fabric down as the tube became more full.</div>
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Once completed, I wrapped twine around a piece of thin cardboard that I rolled up. I placed some hot glue on the end and inserted it into the center of the tube to act as a pumpkin stem.</div>
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Finally, I embellished it with some silk leaves I had in my stash of craft supplies.</div>
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The next "no sew" pumpkin was made using the sleeves of an old sweater, some jute twine and some cotton fiberfill stuffing.</div>
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I've seen these all over pinterest, but I turned to a <a href="http://curtainqueencreates.com/diy-shirt-sleeve-pumpkins-tutorial/" target="_blank">post</a> that Kim at Curtain Queen Creates did last year about creating pumpkins from shirt sleeves as a guide. For this pumpkin I cut part of one of the sweater sleeves about 10 inches long and then turned it inside out. I cut 6 strands of twine about 36 inches long and knotted them together, placing them inside the knit "tube" with the knot of twine remaining outside the tube. Then I twisted a rubber band around the sweater and twine slightly above the knot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvt3U9vkU-XM6ELFNG-iBFwfObEvhj9o0ruyUCHawHgfW5XOXmb2y1lZX8wNB42ItRVXZ-gKJTNKi3iXN2z4JmzxH6byeu65YHiMUU86yWqPOh9ht19hPJRzWKYMpVOPGssYJIuxsPPc/s1600/sweater+sleeve+pumpkin+in+progress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvt3U9vkU-XM6ELFNG-iBFwfObEvhj9o0ruyUCHawHgfW5XOXmb2y1lZX8wNB42ItRVXZ-gKJTNKi3iXN2z4JmzxH6byeu65YHiMUU86yWqPOh9ht19hPJRzWKYMpVOPGssYJIuxsPPc/s320/sweater+sleeve+pumpkin+in+progress+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At this point, I turned the sleeve "right side out". This will cause the knot of your twine to be inside the pumpkin. The area where the twine comes out of the fabric will ultimately be the bottom of your pumpkin.</div>
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Now you need to stuff the pumpkin with the fiberfill, making it as plump as you would like. Then firmly grasp the remaining tube of sweater above the stuffing and attach another rubber band to keep it secure.</div>
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Now bring the strands of twine up from the bottom, spacing them as evenly as possible and wrap them around the the top to form the pumpkin stem. Trim any extra parts of the sweater that are left above your twine wrapped stem.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTZHRoRhNA2v5uCTHWp1BROlEb8J7XwREdoA9U0LZg8VF2f6tfuk6IssqqZc3BKQUmKnmHcB-JotJ3u3DbQfrgmpDLJRtB-aw7fdjgWPLNyg_XZycRFeqLXTvcrzDrtFwyKmMxLDDDJw/s1600/sweater+sleeve+pumpkin+complete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTZHRoRhNA2v5uCTHWp1BROlEb8J7XwREdoA9U0LZg8VF2f6tfuk6IssqqZc3BKQUmKnmHcB-JotJ3u3DbQfrgmpDLJRtB-aw7fdjgWPLNyg_XZycRFeqLXTvcrzDrtFwyKmMxLDDDJw/s320/sweater+sleeve+pumpkin+complete.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To finish the pumpkin I twisted a piece of the jute twine, tied a piece of raffia around the stem and glued on a few leaves.</div>
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The final fabric pumpkin requires minimal sewing. For this one I cut a rectangle of burlap and sewed the long sides together using 1/4 inch seam allowance to create a tube just like the sweater sleeve. Following the same procedure as I did with the sweater sleeve above, I created a similar pumpkin out of burlap.<br />
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All of these pumpkins were inexpensive and rather easy to make. They are adding a cozy touch throughout our home this fall and are a fun way to add some autumnal colors indoors.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-86720650799826363032015-10-31T15:52:00.000-04:002015-11-05T09:47:42.095-05:00Fabric Pumpkin Patch<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful day with all of your little trick or treaters. Today I am going to share more about the little fabric pumpkins I have been showing peeks of in some of my photos. Have you ever made fabric yo yos? They are a simple little craft that you make with scraps of fabric. In the past frugal women saved all of their fabric scraps and made blankets out of hundreds of yo yos. I must admit that I have not been ambitious enough to make a project that large, but I have used them to make garlands or embellish wrapped packages.<br />
To make a yo yo, you simply sew a running stitch around the circumference of a fabric circle about 1/4 inch from the edge. When you reach the end of the circle you simply pull and gather the circle together. A few years ago a co worker told me about a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clover-Round-Large-Yo-Yo-Maker/dp/B0019KDWVE/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1446318915&sr=1-1&keywords=yo+yo+maker" target="_blank">template</a> that you can actually use to assure even stitching of the yo yos, and I use it when making mine. These templates come in different sizes to you can vary the size of the yo yos you create for your craft projects.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qrS9pp_aMFrY_nNIDLrq8tTo8S4oRkR_RvsCCeZlwuxARlVS7mpaYmp6SU94gkBq9CiM6ZATq0clTBhxJzLMpeKxyttz-Q0AYA8UNaUZ4q4XqWlHzCOtR7fj5_f3pHjrkX5XZ7ITLzg/s1600/yo+yo+being+made.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qrS9pp_aMFrY_nNIDLrq8tTo8S4oRkR_RvsCCeZlwuxARlVS7mpaYmp6SU94gkBq9CiM6ZATq0clTBhxJzLMpeKxyttz-Q0AYA8UNaUZ4q4XqWlHzCOtR7fj5_f3pHjrkX5XZ7ITLzg/s320/yo+yo+being+made.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After making my <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2015/10/lighted-glass-block-scarecrow.html" target="_blank">scarecrow</a> out of glass blocks, I couldn't resist making a pumpkin patch for him to protect and oversee. I decided that using fabric yo yos would create the perfect sized pumpkins for his patch. For some of the pumpkins I simply made the yo yos in the traditional way.<br />
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I then stacked several of the completed yo yos on top of each other and stitched them together.</div>
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Using a dab of hot glue, I adhered a small stick into the hole of the top yo yo to serve as a pumpkin stem, and then tied a few strands of straw raffia around the stick.</div>
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To add dimension to the field of pumpkins, I decided to make some fuller rounded gourds by stuffing the yo yos as I started to gather the stitiches.</div>
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Once I had the desired amount of stuffing in my pumpkin, I finished pulling the gathering stitches tight and then knotted it off. I then added the stem and raffia or even some strands of fine jute string as a finishing touch. The combination of stuffed and stacked yo yo pumpkins added a nice variety to the "field".</div>
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I had so much fun creating these tiny pumpkins that I decided to make some larger "no sew" pumpkins too. </div>
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I'll share how I made those in my next post. The great thing about all of these fabric pumpkins is that while they are perfect for Halloween decorating, they can be left out through Thanksgiving to add a handmade festive seasonal touch to your fall decorating.<br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/11/the-scoop-195.html" target="_blank">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a><br />
<a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/10/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-1029-2.html" target="_blank">Saving 4 Six</a><br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-43/" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2015/10/saturday-sparks-link-party-139.html" target="_blank">Pieced Pastimes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2015/10/the-creative-collection-link-party-75.html" target="_blank">The Crafted Sparrow</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/bringing-home-a-bit-of-tuscany-to-my-kitchen/" target="_blank">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/11/04/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-213/" target="_blank">Katherine's Corner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/11/home-and-garden-thursday-121.html" target="_blank">A Delightsome Life</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-36337333048929099132015-10-29T06:05:00.000-04:002015-11-05T09:48:39.818-05:00Autumn Sausage Corn Soup<div style="text-align: center;">
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Up until our first frost on October 17th, our garden was still producing some tomatoes and peppers, so I have been enjoying adding these last bits of fresh homegrown veggies to our meals. When the frost and cooler weather hit, I was definitely in the mood for some warm and hearty soups to grace our dinner table. So, I began digging through my cookbooks in search of some new things to try. I found this recipe in an old Taste of Home Holiday Celebrations Cookbook and it certainly fit the bill for a warm and hearty fall meal. Better yet, it let me use some of the tomatoes and peppers from our October garden yield. This soup is a way to warm your family after a day of raking leaves or hiking through the pumpkin patch in search of the perfect specimens for your fall decorating or pumpkin carving.<br />
Enjoy!</div>
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<u>Ingredients</u>:<br />
3/4 pound full cooked smoked sausage sliced<br />
1/4 cup all-purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup vegetable oil<br />
1/2 cup chopped onion<br />
1/2 cup chopped green pepper<br />
3 green onions, chopped<br />
3 1/2 cups water<br />
16 oz frozen corn<br />
1 1/2 cups cubed, fully cooked hap<br />
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained<br />
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes<br />
1 can (6oz) tomato paste<br />
1/4 tsp salt<br />
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper<br />
Hot pepper sauce to taste<br />
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In a large skillet, cook and stir the sausage over medium high heat until browned; drain well and set aside. In a Dutch oven cook and stir the flour in oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until golden brown.Add the green pepper, onion, and green onions; saute until tender. Stir in the water, corn, ham, tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, cayenne pepper, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.<br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/10/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-1029-2.html" target="_blank">Saving 4 Six</a><br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-43/" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2015/10/saturday-sparks-link-party-139.html" target="_blank">Pieced Pastimes</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/bringing-home-a-bit-of-tuscany-to-my-kitchen/" target="_blank">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/11/home-and-garden-thursday-121.html" target="_blank">A Delightsome Life</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-6875714259578214132015-10-26T14:38:00.000-04:002015-11-05T09:49:10.751-05:00Lighted Glass Block Scarecrow<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happy Monday! It is another gorgeous fall day today and I hope you are enjoying the colors that this season brings. Today I would like to share a craft that has been a while in the making. Have you seen all the creative crafts people are making with these glass blocks?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYV9N24FqHjlmK50zEkf5w5ypyWFTV_c6YwruwGgxlOnEVBY41EnIR0MLqcpR6vQW4cige4sp7oX1Cy_5uWijynyUqbEKWyV3pc-jRrdTkpZMLg5IIFpIc-85lxU_7ToGWdkA3yvVa68/s1600/glass+craft+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYV9N24FqHjlmK50zEkf5w5ypyWFTV_c6YwruwGgxlOnEVBY41EnIR0MLqcpR6vQW4cige4sp7oX1Cy_5uWijynyUqbEKWyV3pc-jRrdTkpZMLg5IIFpIc-85lxU_7ToGWdkA3yvVa68/s200/glass+craft+block.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYocIwSjpNbgkLl_JMdTwPGW5ixo3QezT3q18qKTd14lMxesqv9qgMoFHeNIWDGfKZFeB3zyA_dJChT9Y5KiiIWT01v-jCTGlp6ZIMBGEmvPH_9v-c8NzheZvcwqkgJiOpMLDJr2eR8q8/s1600/glass+craft+block+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYocIwSjpNbgkLl_JMdTwPGW5ixo3QezT3q18qKTd14lMxesqv9qgMoFHeNIWDGfKZFeB3zyA_dJChT9Y5KiiIWT01v-jCTGlp6ZIMBGEmvPH_9v-c8NzheZvcwqkgJiOpMLDJr2eR8q8/s1600/glass+craft+block+2.jpg" /></a> </div>
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Well, one of my sweet friends gave me two as part of a craft supply themed birthday gift last year, as she knew I would have fun creating something with them. The problem was that there were just so many wonderful possibilities, that I couldn't decide what to make. So they have sat among my supplies for months, but now that I am spending less time in the garden and yard, it seemed like the perfect time to finally utilize them in a project. </div>
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Since I have been in the mood for adding touches of autumn throughout the house, I decided that it was finally time to commit to a project and turn these glass blocks into something fun. So, I dug through my other boxes of supplies and pulled out my trusty glue gun some paint markers, raffia, burlap ribbon, twine, buttons and scraps of burlap and fabric that I had from previous craft endeavors. The only things that I had to purchase were 2 strands of decorative lights and some epoxy. I told my son about the idea I had and asked what adhesive he thought would be best to securely hold the 2 glass blocks together and he suggested this:</div>
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I had never used this before, but it was relatively inexpensive so I was willing to give it a try. </div>
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The first thing I did was use the paint markers to draw the face of a scarecrow on the square block. Then I filled both glass blocks with straw raffia and placed one strand of lights in each block.</div>
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Next, I used my glue gun to adhere the burlap ribbon around the sides of each block. I attached some buttons down the front of the rectangular block and used a small piece of jute rope to resemble a belt with a larger button acting as a buckle.</div>
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The next step was to use the epoxy that my son had recommended to attach the scarecrow head to the body. I was a little nervous that it might not work, but this adhesive is super strong and it held like a charm!</div>
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Using some scraps of burlap I created a hat for the scarecrow, and with a thin piece of plaid fabric I made a tie around his neck. For some finishing touches I added a leaf to his cap, attached some straw "hair" peeking out from under the hat, and hot glued some twigs for "arms" to his sides.</div>
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I decided to display him on a bookshelf that holds my cookbooks, and added some cute little pumpkins that I had made earlier this month (I'll show you how I made those later this week so be sure to check back)</div>
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This shelf is close to an outlet, so it is easy to plug this little guy in and let him cast a warm glow to light up the corner as the sun sets each day...</div>
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He is ready to welcome trick or treaters this weekend and his smile will continue to light up our room right through Thanksgiving.<br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/11/the-scoop-195.html" target="_blank">Cedar Hill </a><br />
<a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/10/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-1029-2.html" target="_blank">Saving 4 Six</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-43/" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2015/10/saturday-sparks-link-party-139.html" target="_blank">Pieced Pastimes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2015/10/the-creative-collection-link-party-75.html" target="_blank">The Crafted Sparrow</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/bringing-home-a-bit-of-tuscany-to-my-kitchen/" target="_blank">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/11/04/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-213/" target="_blank">Katherine's Corner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/11/home-and-garden-thursday-121.html" target="_blank">A Delightsome Life</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-87450461638811628972015-10-24T17:54:00.000-04:002015-10-24T17:54:33.498-04:00Teal Pumpkin ProjectFall is in full swing, cooler weather has arrived and the colors of autumn are at their peak here in northwestern NJ. As a result I had several blog posts that I had planned to write this coming week that included seasonal craft projects and recipes. However I just received an email from one of my best friends that stopped me in my tracks and made me rethink everything. It was one of those emails that got my mind spinning with a ton of thoughts and ideas and my fingers just started to type away at the keyboard as I researched information.<br />
Let me start by giving you a little background. Like me, this friend began her professional career as a pediatric nurse at a children's hospital. Over the years we had the opportunity and privilege to care for many children and families who were facing a multitude of life changing diagnoses. We cared for children with cancer, cystic fibrosis, renal disease, diabetes, neurological disorders and a multitude of other conditions as well. As a health care professional you learn that a diagnosis ultimately impacts the entire family, not just the client. Having a supportive family, friends and community can make dealing with any life change easier. As pediatric nurses, there are many organizations and causes that are near and dear to our hearts, and I have done volunteer work for several of them over the course of my career.<br />
Despite the fact that we, and many of our friends, work in fields that deal with these conditions, when someone close to you faces a new diagnosis, even your many years of professional training can not fully prepare you for the multitude of life changes you must adapt to.This particular friend's oldest son was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. It is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. If undiagnosed and not treated, people are at risk for long-term health complications. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. Currently the only treatment for celiac disease is to adhere to a strict gluten free diet. The challenge arises in the fact that there are many hidden sources of gluten and many processed foods may contain wheat, barley or rye. Gluten can also be found in items like cosmetics, skin and hair products, toothpaste, chewing gum, glue on stamps and envelopes and some modeling clay. Even ingesting gluten free foods that have been prepared around other items containing gluten can be dangerous for people with celiac disease. Needless to say, Halloween can be a challenging holiday for children with this condition.<br />
Since Halloween is one week from today, I decided to change what I had planned to write about in today's post and instead share with you some information about the project my friend just emailed to me. The campaign is called The Teal Pumpkin Project and it was launched by Food and Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014. According to <a href="http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project#.ViveKCuq92A">FARE's website</a>, "The goal of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to raise awareness of food allergies and promote the inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. FARE's Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies. This nationwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as other children for whom candy is not an option and keeps Halloween a fun, positive experience for all!" Although we already purchased some items to hand out next week, I plan to add some new options to the treats we will have available for trick or treaters that come to our home next Saturday. I've printed one of the free downloads that is available on FARE's website and will be hanging it on our door. As a pediatric nurse and the friend of a family who is dealing with the new diagnosis of celiac disease, I encourage you to visit <a href="http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project#.ViveKCuq92A" target="_blank">FARE's website</a> and take a look at all of the wonderful ideas they have. Our family has taken <a href="https://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project/pledge#.Viv60Cuq92A" target="_blank">The Teal Pumpkin Project Pledge</a> and I hope you will too!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-8777697239850992642015-10-12T13:24:00.001-04:002015-11-05T09:49:52.942-05:00Seasonal Soap<div style="text-align: left;">
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Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a fabulous weekend. I got to see by brother-in-law and one of my nieces for short visit and then spent some time working in the yard and doing some crafts. I got a lot of various chores done too, since my husband was at work, so it turned out to be a really productive weekend. </div>
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One of the things I made was some seasonal soap. This is the second time I've made molded soap using this technique, and I have to admit, I am loving them. They are so cute and really simple to do. Best of all, you can personalize them to match any holiday, season, or decor. The formula is fantastic, lathers up nicely and leaves your skin feeling really soft. For this project you will need the following supplies:</div>
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~Soap base (I used this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002PNV3DI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00">one</a> and was really pleased with the quality)</div>
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~Raw organic honey</div>
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~Red and yellow coloring...this is an optional ingredient depending on the look you want to achieve (I used <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I49A5Y?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00">this brand)</a></div>
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~Small silicone soap or cake mold (Since I was making seasonal soap I used a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0041VAUCM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00">pumpkin mold)</a></div>
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~Glass measuring cup </div>
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Take a portion of your soap base and cut it into pieces. I used 1/2 of the soap block that I had and it ended up making 21 small pumpkin soaps. </div>
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Put the pieces of soap into the glass measuring cup and microwave on high until the soap melts into a liquid. I microwaved mine for 30 seconds and then stirred the mixture, and repeated this step four times. The amount of time you need will most likely depend on your microwave, but just do it in small increments and stir frequently to assure that all of the soap is evenly melted.</div>
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Once the soap is completely dissolved, add the honey (I used 3 tablespoons of honey to 1 lb of soap) and stir thoroughly.</div>
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At this point, add a few drops of colorant if you would like. In order to achieve the orange look, I added several drops each of red and yellow, stirring after each addition. Honestly, I was hoping to obtain a deeper orange color, but was having a difficult time getting the exact color I wanted. The soap was starting to solidify at the edges, so I didn't want to waste too much time being extremely fussy about shade. It is not a good idea to reheat the soap once the honey has been added, so just work quickly. To be honest with you, my original plan was to make these soaps scented by adding some pumpkin pie spice to the mixture at this point, but I spent so long adjusting the color, that I panicked when the soap showed signs of hardening at the edges and I completely forgot to add the spice. Oh well, it gives me a good excuse to make more (like I really need an excuse to craft)</div>
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Once you are satisfied with the color, carefully pour the mixture into the silicone mold, and allow it to sit undisturbed until it cools and solidifies. The amount of time it will take to harden depends on the temperature and humidity of your room. This batch took about 30 minutes to solidify for me, but I made some over the summer, and on that day it took a little longer. To be on the safe side, I left it undisturbed for several hours. Once hardened, simply pop them out of the mold. The beauty of using a silicone mold is that it bends easily and it is very simple to push the soaps out from the bottom.</div>
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The mold I used this time did not have a lot of detail to it, but I was still pleased with how they turned out.</div>
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These would make adorable hostess gifts at Thanksgiving if you packaged them is little fabric gift bags and attached an acorn or cinnamon stick to the bag.</div>
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I wanted to share one more bit of fun news with everyone. I've told you about the company that my son recently started called <a href="http://www.hexacombshelving.com/">Hexacomb</a>, which is based on a project that he designed for one of his college art courses last semester. This past Friday David got to compete as a finalist in a contest that was hosted by the Golden Nugget Casino in Atlantic City, and actually "pitch" his product to Daymond John who is one of the judges on the TV show Shark Tank. The contest was not associated with Shark Tank, but Daymond was in Atlantic City because one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elZ1rIxRf7c&app=desktop">contestants</a> that he sponsored on the show was being featured at a barbecue event that was being held there. David didn't walk away with the top prize, but considering the fact that over 100 people entered the contest, it was quite an honorable achievement to make it down to the five finalists!<br />
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He had an amazing time and met a lot of great people. He said that Daymond John and Bubba of Bubba's Ribs were wonderful. Daymond even grabbed David's phone at the party that was hosted after the event and took a selfie with David and his girlfriend Lisa.<br />
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It was quite an experience for a 21 year old college student and we are
incredibly proud of his creativity and drive (He is in the process of
designing the 3rd item in the Hexacomb family of products, so stay tuned
for that update). Overall, it was an exciting and productive weekend around here!</div>
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/10/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-1022-2.html" target="_blank">Saving 4 Six Think Tank Thursday</a><br />
<a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/11/the-scoop-195.html" target="_blank">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a><br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-43/" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2015/10/saturday-sparks-link-party-139.html#" target="_blank">Pieced Pastimes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2015/10/the-creative-collection-link-party-75.html" target="_blank">The Crafted Sparrow</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/bringing-home-a-bit-of-tuscany-to-my-kitchen/" target="_blank">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/11/04/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-213/" target="_blank">Katherine's Corner</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/11/home-and-garden-thursday-121.html" target="_blank">A Delightsome Life</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-18440857389938694352015-10-05T17:11:00.002-04:002015-11-05T09:55:57.999-05:00Acorn Wreaths<div style="text-align: center;">
There is a crisp chill in the air these days and the trees are just starting to get some hints of color to their leaves. We are fortunate enough to live in a very pretty area, that has many beautiful places to hike and enjoy the outdoors. High Point State Park is not too far away, and my husband and I decided to have a picnic lunch there recently. High Point sits at the peak of the Kitattinny mountains and is the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet. From one point in the park you actually have an incredible view of three states...New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. We thoroughly enjoyed our day in the park, soaking up the glorious weather and spectacular views. We have some tall and beautiful trees in our neighborhood, but the trees and atmosphere at High Point are just amazing. Spending a day at the park made me want to go home and work on some more nature inspired craft projects.</div>
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As I explained in this <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2015/09/nature-inspired-fall-crafts.html">post</a>, I dried a bunch of acorns that I collected from our yard. Since I still had quite a stash available, I decided to continue using them in my seasonal crafts. In addition to my acorns, for these projects I used some wired burlap ribbon, stick wreath forms, some thin wire and LOTS of hot glue.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11Z_B3Mz3YuOFEdMLisTdS50dBf3EOKW6DwD8LalVuHJH47pwh4k-w-kDbb-kMBpx7zLYtJVuzRrFfbJJPKRF7kQp_-lsCP2qO3bP8ThI5lKDxeu-LdkgVRfGkvm4HZFUGgQsDKv9IRI/s1600/acorn+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11Z_B3Mz3YuOFEdMLisTdS50dBf3EOKW6DwD8LalVuHJH47pwh4k-w-kDbb-kMBpx7zLYtJVuzRrFfbJJPKRF7kQp_-lsCP2qO3bP8ThI5lKDxeu-LdkgVRfGkvm4HZFUGgQsDKv9IRI/s400/acorn+wreath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I simply glued the acorns to the wreath forms. Initially I thought about using straw wreaths, but in the end I decided on these forms as the brown color would blend in more with the nuts. It wasn't hard, but turned out to be a much more time consuming process than I had anticipated. When the first wreath was done however, I was pleased with how it turned out.</div>
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This wreath made a beautiful candle ring for a battery operated candle that I had.</div>
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Since I liked how this turned out, and I still had a few more wreath forms as well as some bowls of acorns, I decided to make a few more wreaths. When I had three, I decided to make a door hanging using some wired burlap ribbon as the vertical banner. I cut the burlap ribbon into 4 strips. The first strip was 48 inches long and would serve as the banner that the wreaths would be attached to. The other 3 strips were cut into 30 inch, 24 inch and 6 inch lengths and would be used to make a bow.<br />
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I took each end of the 30 inch strip and folded them in towards the center<br />
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I then secured the ends in place by twisting a small piece of thin floral wire around the burlap. I repeated the process with the 24 inch piece of ribbon and then secured the two pieces together with another piece of floral wire to form a layered bow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPoreQOQ87PtR_PN0SqV-WO9dcT4HGpNwvf63GUZRk29OpssEZXrFisQJwHAM7CATKPDEZo9nAYhyKD-eof9auJYGlR8xzURif3jeN8XRT4tKFvUB8OquWWt6UYXCVB947UUFORp5pWU/s1600/acorn+wreath+bow+in+progress+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPoreQOQ87PtR_PN0SqV-WO9dcT4HGpNwvf63GUZRk29OpssEZXrFisQJwHAM7CATKPDEZo9nAYhyKD-eof9auJYGlR8xzURif3jeN8XRT4tKFvUB8OquWWt6UYXCVB947UUFORp5pWU/s320/acorn+wreath+bow+in+progress+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I folded the remaining short piece of ribbon in half lengthwise, and wrapped it around the center of the bow to cover the floral wire. I trimmed the excess and hot glued it into place.</div>
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I then tied a loop at one end of the 48 inch length of ribbon and hot glued the bow below the loop. </div>
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The last step was to secure the wreaths to the long burlap ribbon. I must admit that at this point, I started to doubt that this project was going to turn out as I had envisioned. The acorn wreaths were heavier than I had anticipated and I was not sure of the best way to attach them to the banner. I considered trying to tie them on using the thin wire, but the burlap ribbon that I was using had a very loose weave and I thought it might tear if I used that method. In the end, I decided to use more hot glue (LOTS of hot glue) at the top and bottom of each wreath. Even as I was applying the glue, I wasn't sure the ribbon was going to be able to support the weight of the 3 wreaths, but I had come this far and decided to plow ahead. I literally held my breath as I picked up the banner when the glue had dried, and guess what?...It worked! The wreaths didn't fall off and the ribbon didn't tear or get any runs in the burlap weave. The next step was to see how it looked hanging up.</div>
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I liked how the project turned out, but I didn't love how it looked on the front door, as I thought it looked too "busy" with our other fall decorations. So in the end, I took the banner down and hung up the burlap wreath that I had made last year and described in this <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2014/10/making-burlap-wreath.html">post</a>.</div>
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I decided to hang the wreaths on the inside of the door and I liked how it looked there better. Another way of bringing the natural beauty from this time of year indoors.</div>
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I think I will make another wreath next year (when I replenish my supply of acorns), but will use a larger wreath form, rather than 3 small ones.</div>
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I hope you're taking the time to get out and enjoy the beauty of all that this season has to offer where you live.<br />
<br />
Linking with these great parties:<br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/autumn-wreath-roundup-linky-party/" target="_blank">Katherine's Corner Autumn Wreath Roundup Linky Party</a><br />
<a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/10/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-1022-2.html" target="_blank">Saving 4 Six Think Tank Thursday</a><br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-43/" target="_blank">The 36th Avenue</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pieced Pastimes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2015/10/the-creative-collection-link-party-75.html" target="_blank">The Crafted Sparrow</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/bringing-home-a-bit-of-tuscany-to-my-kitchen/" target="_blank">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/11/home-and-garden-thursday-121.html" target="_blank">A Delightsome Life</a><br />
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-7060756141158464072015-10-01T14:19:00.002-04:002015-10-01T20:47:31.078-04:00Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy October Everyone! Can you believe today is October 1st? I don't know about you, but to me it felt like September flew by. The weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. This time of year makes me want to add warm cozy touches around the house. I've been adding splashes of fall decor here and there and was really enjoying the warm glowing colors. However when I was walking in our yard the other day, I simply couldn't resist clipping these beauties....</div>
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Many of our hydrangeas have started to fade and dry, but surprisingly there are also a few new buds on some of the plants, which I suppose can be attributed to the warm weather we had throughout much of September. Two of the plants had these gorgeous blue gems. The shrubs look varied and amazing, boasting everything from pretty drying pale flowers, to these vivid blooms in their prime, and even some small green young buds as well. The beauty and variety can't help but bring a smile to your face, especially in October. As much as I loved the depth of these blue hydrangeas, I felt like I should display them in one of the rooms where I hadn't added any fall touches yet, as I didn't think the color went with the warm autumnal shades I was using with the other seasonal decor. However, this morning I was reading some of my favorite blogs as I sipped a warm cup of coffee, and Kim from <a href="http://curtainqueencreates.com/leaves-fall-ing-tablescape/">Curtain Queen Creates</a>, had a timely post that talked about using the color blue with fall decorating. She inspired me to branch out a little and expand the colors that I am incorporating into my autumnal decor. </div>
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Even though the hydrangeas are still blooming, the fact remains that it is officially fall, and there is no better way to welcome in this fun season than to fill the house with the smells of some yummy home baked apple goodies. One of our autumn traditions has always been to go apple picking as a family. Some of my favorite photos from when our children were growing up are the ones we took on our outings to the local orchards. The day we went this year was a little overcast and the skies were a bit gray, but the scenery was as pretty as ever, the trees were bursting with apples, and the fun family activity still brought smiles to everyone's faces....</div>
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Over the past few days, I've had a great time baking some of the recipes I make annually with our freshly picked apples, but this morning I decided to try something new. I'm happy to say that it was a hit with the family and is going to be added to the list of fall treats I bake each year. So, of course I wanted to share the recipe with you today. <br />
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<b>Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins</b></div>
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<u>Ingredients</u>:</div>
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2 cups all-purpose flour</div>
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1/3 cup packed brown sugar</div>
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2 1/2 tsp baking powder</div>
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3/4 tsp cinnamon</div>
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1/8 tsp nutmeg</div>
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1/4 tsp salt</div>
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2 eggs</div>
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1 cup buttermilk</div>
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2 Tbsp vegetable oil</div>
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1/2 tsp vanilla extract</div>
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1 medium apple, peeled and shredded</div>
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3 Tbsp finely chopped pecans</div>
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1 Tbsp ground flaxseed meal</div>
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1 Tbsp packed brown sugar</div>
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2 Tbsp butter</div>
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray. </div>
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In a large bowl stir together the flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. </div>
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In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a fork. Add in the buttermilk, oil and vanilla extract. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until moistened. Fold in the grated apple. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about three fourths full.</div>
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In a small bowl combine the pecans, flaxseed meal, and 1 Tbsp of brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture over the muffin batter.</div>
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Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffin tins on a wire rack for 5 minutes and then remove the muffins. </div>
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These are fabulous when they are served as a warm breakfast treat.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-92010549882054916582015-09-24T10:32:00.000-04:002015-09-24T10:33:51.835-04:00Colors Of Fall Craft <div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Fall! Yesterday was the first official day of autumn which makes this the first full day of the 2015 fall season. The air is crisp and clear and puts me in the mood for adding cozy touches to our home in anticipation of cooler weather and nights spent in front of a crackling fire. I am sprinkling some nature inspired items around the house and wanted to share another fall craft with you today. The trees in our area have not really begun to change color just yet, so for this project I pulled out some artificial fall leaves from my stash of craft supplies. They may not be the real thing, but they worked beautifully and incorporated the seasonal colors I was looking for. For this project you will need the following supplies:</div>
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~artificial fall leaves</div>
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~Mod Podge </div>
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~sponge brush </div>
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~glass bowl</div>
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~plastic wrap</div>
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Wrap the plastic wrap around the glass bowl to completely cover it. To keep the area clean, I chose to work over a piece of parchment paper. Invert the bowl onto your work surface, and begin brushing a generous amount of Mod Podge onto the artificial leaves. Place the leaves onto the plastic covered bowl one at a time, overlapping the edges. As you work, apply another coat of Mod Podge on top of the layer of leaves,</div>
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Once the Mod Podge dries clear, apply another coat of the craft medium and then allow your bowl to dry completely. Once dry, remove your leaf bowl from the glass base, and then carefully pull the plastic wrap away from the inner surface of your leaves. What you are left with is a colorful decorative dish that can be used in your seasonal decor.</div>
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I chose to fill the bowl with some of the acorns that I had <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2015/09/nature-inspired-fall-crafts.html">dried and preserved </a>the other day.</div>
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I had just the place that I wanted to display my new project. I recently used an idea that I found on the fantastic blog <a href="http://www.onsuttonplace.com/">On Sutton Place</a>. Ann is a very creative blogger and I used her idea for making a <a href="http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2015/09/diy-fall-woodland-frame/">rustic frame</a> that incorporated natural elements like acorns, twigs and pine cones. I also used one of the free fall <a href="http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2015/09/september-quote-free-printables/">printables</a> that she offered on her site. If you haven't seen Ann's blog, you should really take a moment to check it out. She has some great ideas and there are several printables that you can download to use in your own crafts. I used an inexpensive wood frame that I found at Wal-Mart and I found the peel and stick sheet moss at Michaels. I had never heard of the peel and stick sheet moss before reading about it on Ann's blog, and I have to say it will definitely be something I use with some future craft projects. To complete the frame I used hot glue to apply sticks, acorns and a pine cone that I gathered from my yard. I plan on keeping the September quote in the frame until the end of the month and then will change it for another fall printable. I will keep this frame on display until I bring out our Christmas decorations.</div>
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I just love how these two easy projects incorporate natural elements and autumnal colors into our home. I've been busy with some other projects and will be sharing more fall crafts with you soon. How are you bringing the colors of the season into your home?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-6538400302028475252015-09-21T10:39:00.001-04:002015-09-21T11:05:05.044-04:00Nature Inspired Fall Crafts<div style="text-align: center;">
According to the calendar it is still technically summer...until Wednesday that is, but the weather around here has started to change ever so slightly to offer the hint of fall in the air. With less weeding and garden chores that need to be done, I've had more time to work on some craft and DIY projects. Although the leaves have not really begun to change color yet, the trees are sporting some fall gems, and the approach of autumn has prompted me to incorporate natural elements into the things I have been working on.</div>
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The oak trees in our yard are dropping acorns, and since I was lucky enough to be able to gather some before the squirrels and chipmunks grabbed them all, I wanted to utilize them in some of my projects and in some seasonal decorating around the house as well. In previous years I learned the hard way, that you can't just sprinkle acorns around your home or crafts without running the risk of having some little "critters" emerge from the nuts, or even having the acorns grow some mold on the shells. I did a little research this year and learned that you can safely preserve acorns by drying them in the oven. Some sites also mentioned that freezing them would kill any worms or bugs inside the shells too, but since there were mixed reviews on the effectiveness of that method, I decided to opt for the drying technique.</div>
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Today I will share the way I preserved the acorns I am gathering daily and then one of the crafts I used them in. In some upcoming posts, I'll share some additional ways I've added them to projects and decorating.</div>
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If you are lucky enough to have some oak trees near where you live, gather your acorns and inspiration for some seasonal crafting. It is best to choose acorns that don't have any cracks or holes in them as this helps to assure that there are no insects inside. Wash the nuts with tap water to remove any dirt or debris and dry them with paper towels. Set your oven to 225 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread your gathered nuts on the tray and place them in the oven for at least 2 hours. Several of the methods I researched also suggested leaving the oven door open to allow moisture to escape, so I did this as well. Some of the sites I read indicated that there would be a somewhat foul smell as your acorns dried, but I have done several batches so far, and haven't noticed any odor coming from the oven.</div>
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The drying process can cause some of the acorn tops to separate from the base, but they can easily be reattached with a drop of hot glue. The acorns will change color slightly from the heat, and most of the green shells that I found turned brown during the process.</div>
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Now onto one of the crafts that I utilized my newly preserved natural elements in. I love candles, and the cooler fall weather makes me want to burn them even more to add an ambiance of warmth and coziness to our home. I enjoy many of the seasonal scents that Yankee Candle offers, but I must admit, I have never been a fan of the labels that are on their jar candles. I always felt they detracted somewhat from the decorative accent. In the past, I have tried removing the labels, but found it difficult, if not impossible to get them completely off, and there always seemed to be a residue that remained.</div>
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Therefore, this year I decided to try covering them. Burlap has become a favorite medium of mine to use for sewing and crafting. It has a natural and rustic element that just seems to be perfect for this time of year, so I decided to incorporate it into this simple craft project. I took some burlap ribbon that I had purchased and wrapped it around the candle jar, securing it with some dabs of hot glue. I then took some rope that I had in my stash of craft supplies and wrapped it around the top and bottom of the jar, again securing with a dab of hot glue.</div>
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I liked the look, but my steadily growing stash of dried acorns was calling out to me, so I decided to make another candle where I incorporated the acorns as well as some fake fall leaves that were in my craft supplies as well.</div>
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Both candles have a more rustic look than the commercialized label don't you think? The burlap ribbon has a loose weave, so the glow from the burning candle is still able to add a warm ambiance to the room as well. To be extra cautious and safe, it is best to add these decorations to candles that have been burned down a little already, so that the flame remains safely inside the glass jar and away from the burlap and rope.</div>
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I also have several battery operated candles throughout our home, and decided that these could use a little seasonal decor as well. On these, I just folded the burlap ribbon in half and wrapped it around the body of the candle, securing the two ends to each other with hot glue. I did not glue the burlap to the candle itself, so it is not permanently attached and the ribbon can be easily slipped off so that the decorations can be changed for each season. I then tied some jute string around the burlap and glued on a few acorns.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4MaOyMq0rorbIel9M1I1GgxhNOPNf67E_87QFY22y_rtsJYgUhnJiqzAbgfhe04EmHPMCGZ5aSBGRPFohzuwQH5oZ4DmGIeDXuXuZA6vwacqt-xBRk9sx4QcGoa1qLFpPWLR87Fjz-k/s1600/acorn+and+burlap+candle+craft+2+b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4MaOyMq0rorbIel9M1I1GgxhNOPNf67E_87QFY22y_rtsJYgUhnJiqzAbgfhe04EmHPMCGZ5aSBGRPFohzuwQH5oZ4DmGIeDXuXuZA6vwacqt-xBRk9sx4QcGoa1qLFpPWLR87Fjz-k/s320/acorn+and+burlap+candle+craft+2+b.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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My husband grew the little orange gourds from seed in our garden, and they now add a bright little bit of fall color to our seasonal decorating.</div>
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What are your favorite natural elements to incorporate into your fall decor? </div>
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I'll be back later this week with some other craft projects I have been working on. I hope you are enjoying the change of seasons and all the natural elements that are unique to this time of year.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-26731785163042772372015-09-03T05:59:00.000-04:002015-09-09T07:19:24.466-04:00Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Chicken<div style="text-align: center;">
Although the calendar may read September, many of the herbs in our garden are still flourishing, even better than they did at the height of the summer growing season. I am always searching for ways to use my fragrant gatherings, and when I was given this recipe that was created by Rachael Ray, I knew I had to give it a try. The beauty of this recipe is that it is fairly quick and easy to prepare, which is necessary for many families now that the school year and activities are getting back into full swing. An added bonus is that it will make your kitchen smell divine as it cooks. One of the beauties of fall is having your home feel warm, cozy and inviting as everyone returns from a long day at work or school. This dinner does just that, as it delights the senses and graces your table with a delicious meal for the family to share as they chat about the day's events. My family gave it rave reviews when I served it last evening, but when I woke up this morning and the kitchen still smelled amazing, I knew I wanted to share it. The original recipe calls for 2 1/2 pounds of chicken, but I was preparing more than that. To be honest, I didn't do exact calculated increases in the seasonings and other ingredients to account for the extra meat. I just added a little extra of everything, didn't do any precise measuring and it turned out just fine and tasted delicious. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Ingredients</u></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-gRfloIYsrTvxKORQ8zebs1ESWPY6Iv_lAP3RQZ6JPlH7JPcekVOYYoY8iFrWNn1ls4dFqplIJi1MR7sqybaykYPdJyj46KLxa5iGi2P5y1q_thRF5BbVGzF2JODMPb0vitrT3sNeO4/s1600/Roasted+Garlic+and+Rosemary+Chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-gRfloIYsrTvxKORQ8zebs1ESWPY6Iv_lAP3RQZ6JPlH7JPcekVOYYoY8iFrWNn1ls4dFqplIJi1MR7sqybaykYPdJyj46KLxa5iGi2P5y1q_thRF5BbVGzF2JODMPb0vitrT3sNeO4/s320/Roasted+Garlic+and+Rosemary+Chicken.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
-2 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into large pieces<br />
-6 cloves of garlic, crushed with the back of a spoon<br />
-3 tablespoons of fresh rosemary leaves stripped from the stems<br />
-3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil<br />
-1 tablespoon of Montreal Chicken Grill Mates Seasoning (I was lucky enough to have this in my spice cabinet but you can substitute coarse salt, black pepper, and some onion powder)<br />
-1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Directions</u></span><br />
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees<br />
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Place the chicken in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish. Add the garlic, rosemary, olive oil, lemon zest and seasoning. Toss to coat the chicken pieces with all of the ingredients. <br />
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Place in the oven and roast for 20 minutes. <br />
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Add the white wine or chicken broth and the lemon juice to the pan, combining with the pan juices, and return the baking dish to the hot oven. Turn the oven off at this point, but leave the pan in to roast for another 5 minutes before removing from the oven.<br />
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Spoon the juices over the chicken pieces when serving. <br />
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Having a loaf of warm crisp bread to serve with this meal is a nice addition, as the remaining juices are wonderful to dip the bread in.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy</span></div>
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Wishing you and your family a cozy start to the new fall season!<br />
<br />
Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/09/home-and-garden-thursday-109.html">A Delightsome Life</a><br />
<a href="http://lehmanlane.net/dream-create-inspire-link-party-14/">Lehman Lane</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-63793592202560173842015-08-28T10:00:00.001-04:002015-08-30T16:54:15.372-04:00Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Using Garden Fresh Tomatoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know fall is just around the corner, but our garden is pushing forth with some plentiful end of the season harvests. Do you remember earlier in the season when I told you that we had more tomato plants than we could fit in our garden? Well, Dave had planted the extras in whatever containers and buckets he could find and kept them on our deck. Guess what? They did amazingly well and have produced tomatoes all season, but when we returned from vacation they were literally overflowing with ripe fruit! My daughter and I tried to photograph the plants from several angles, but we couldn't get a picture that would adequately capture just how many ripe tomatoes these plants produced with this last yield, so here is a close up of what just one of the plants produced...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv7c2wMNdGNoxobHYdTk0KpI_9liIXFgsKot8COrXlR6SgiJwzlwpypb4AsG4c-RoTjX93ZjhPQHcgtCNEuQlIi1-f4S4Cqt2G7bRpXv64jRShQKgGX4RO_DnOBgAorkpkPkq6-vyrDU/s1600/tomatoes+on+the+deck+august+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv7c2wMNdGNoxobHYdTk0KpI_9liIXFgsKot8COrXlR6SgiJwzlwpypb4AsG4c-RoTjX93ZjhPQHcgtCNEuQlIi1-f4S4Cqt2G7bRpXv64jRShQKgGX4RO_DnOBgAorkpkPkq6-vyrDU/s320/tomatoes+on+the+deck+august+2015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Crazy right? The tomatoes were small in size but luscious tasting. Here is what I picked from just the plants on the deck yesterday (and there are still some on the plants that aren't quite ripe yet)...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrufxCKKWmaPa7of3Zf9ICS7gtNC86r6Ap8id8p71P_Xa7hq2sBim_K0X6gnwq3AEj6YKQgQ2bTTSRpX4tiZShw2VqYtZ0TKS-Y1lTMJL4GMp8eIepBm7yyTMJsq7_Nbu2fWUhgtXbpA/s1600/tomatoes+from+the+plants+on+the+deck+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrufxCKKWmaPa7of3Zf9ICS7gtNC86r6Ap8id8p71P_Xa7hq2sBim_K0X6gnwq3AEj6YKQgQ2bTTSRpX4tiZShw2VqYtZ0TKS-Y1lTMJL4GMp8eIepBm7yyTMJsq7_Nbu2fWUhgtXbpA/s320/tomatoes+from+the+plants+on+the+deck+2015.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The plants in the garden also produced some of these smaller sized tomatoes, but the brandywine plants graced us with some large ones that filled the palm of your hand..</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2He5RIHNgFxiHDcYQReDZd5rYZIXUlEs5ZJlvfIE4jyfBnopzPpBHpIsX34hXmGKWea2t1GZhmyNe0Y29X_OCilpNHTlX1rvXlqsnpr2IJ3bizDxaWowmMDhbnRawDfbX2im3AWTMILY/s1600/large+tomatoes+2015+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2He5RIHNgFxiHDcYQReDZd5rYZIXUlEs5ZJlvfIE4jyfBnopzPpBHpIsX34hXmGKWea2t1GZhmyNe0Y29X_OCilpNHTlX1rvXlqsnpr2IJ3bizDxaWowmMDhbnRawDfbX2im3AWTMILY/s320/large+tomatoes+2015+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NYbWgw20M_JY0a0EP01ReOdm8lfnFyKighKfppJ3Wsm097_q6sM8YyOyodeGuH7_21ZWo9_nrtUXnTZE_qadZXreRGhCBcPgFB5vf_oxrnYZ_IoO5_aRG7pcR8MXQCk5cbAhHwmEWUc/s1600/large+tomatoes+2015+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NYbWgw20M_JY0a0EP01ReOdm8lfnFyKighKfppJ3Wsm097_q6sM8YyOyodeGuH7_21ZWo9_nrtUXnTZE_qadZXreRGhCBcPgFB5vf_oxrnYZ_IoO5_aRG7pcR8MXQCk5cbAhHwmEWUc/s400/large+tomatoes+2015+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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We've shared our bounty with neighbors, family and friends, but we still have a tremendous amount of tomatoes sitting in baskets on our counter and more that are ripening in the garden. Oh, and did I mention that our herb garden was overflowing as well, especially the basil? This photo was snapped several weeks ago, and the plants are even taller now, almost reaching my daughter's shoulders.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6dkJGDCsQ6OogWBnhMir526lJgFDrL5mPz6cHfE_hYy-2yMSAxbK_mkU6yXAKhVIFoIGFImEemPE3Q8IcGd0MmOxZ34-sFZcKvfZ5RAtceqCP5dc1GCE4fAr-eCmhLl53zqbXWrbQhE/s1600/basil+height+2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6dkJGDCsQ6OogWBnhMir526lJgFDrL5mPz6cHfE_hYy-2yMSAxbK_mkU6yXAKhVIFoIGFImEemPE3Q8IcGd0MmOxZ34-sFZcKvfZ5RAtceqCP5dc1GCE4fAr-eCmhLl53zqbXWrbQhE/s320/basil+height+2015.png" width="239" /></a></div>
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We made tons of garden salads, caprese salads, tomato sandwiches and BLT's, yet still piles of tomatoes and herbs remained. So, we decided to search for a sauce recipe to make. Most of the recipes we found on line however, used canned tomatoes and dried spices, and we wanted to use the plethora of fresh produce and herbs we had on hand before they rotted. We ultimately chose to modify the recipe we found <a href="http://www.iamthatlady.com/frugal-pasta-sauce-recipe-using-hunts-crushed-tomatoes/">HERE.</a> They had a green pepper listed as an optional ingredient, but since we had some of those ripe in our garden as well, we decided to add one to our sauce, and it enhanced the flavor nicely. We also tossed in some fresh oregano, as we had an abundance of that too. We were so pleased with the end result, that I am making another batch today, and I thought I'd share our version of the recipe with you.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Garden Fresh Spaghetti Sauce</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients:</span></span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Approximately 15 fresh tomatoes, peeled chopped and blended in a food processor</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-6 cloves of minced garlic</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-10 Tbsp of chopped fresh basil</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-2 Tbsp of cholpped fresh oregano </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-2 tsp black pepper</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-1 Tbsp sugar</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-2 Tbsp olive oil</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> -1 green pepper finely chopped </span></span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Instructions:</span></span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the minced garlic.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Brown the garlic slightly, being careful not to burn it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, black pepper, sugar and chopped green pepper, and bring to a boil, stiffing frequently.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring often.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Cover the pot and continue to simmer for another 2 hours, stirring often.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Add the grated cheese and simmer for another 10 minutes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy!</span></span></span><br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-37/">Best DIY Projects and Recipe Party</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/08/26/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-203/">Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop</a><br />
<a href="http://www.craftberrybush.com/2015/08/the-inspiration-gallery-74.html">The Inspiration Gallery</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/">Saturday Sparks</a><br />
<a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2015/08/treasure-hunt-thursday-218-highlights.html#more">Treasure Hunt Thursday</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tablerpartyoftwo.com/7237-2/">Sunady Features</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-46699666413789781732015-08-26T14:44:00.000-04:002015-08-30T16:51:10.475-04:00Preserving Summer Memories<div style="text-align: center;">
Signs of fall, the upcoming change in seasons, and the start of the new school year are everywhere. Halloween decorations and costumes are on display in some stores and I've already read in several articles about how many days are left until Christmas. While autumn is one of my favorite times of year, and I adore the holiday season and all it has to offer, I am not quite ready to relinquish the last few weeks of summer just yet. While some plants in our vegetable garden are starting to wilt and dry up a little, overall it is still producing a large bounty for us several times a week. While acorns and even a few leaves have started to fall from some trees in our yard, the blooms on most of the other plants still look great, and butterflies, dragonflies, hummingbirds and lightning bugs are still frequent visitors to our backyard oasis. I am determined to enjoy these lasting signs of summer and relish these small blessings.</div>
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Since we just returned from a week long vacation at the beach in south Florida, I wanted to share something we created as a way hold on to these seasonal family memories. From the time my kids were young, they enjoyed collecting shells and searching the shoreline for other treasures. Even though they are young adults now, there is still something about the search for the perfect item and the competition of seeing who can find the best token that entices them. We were lucky enough to find a nice collection of sea glass, shells, and even shark teeth while snorkeling or while just walking on the beach this year, and my daughter decided that she wanted to make a bracelet as a souvenir of one of our favorite family vacation spots. My son had created some beautiful jewelry out of sea glass for his girlfriend in the past, so Pam enlisted the help of her artistic older brother to help with this project.</div>
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In addition to the found sea glass, they used wire and some charms that they obtained from A C Moore to create the bracelet.</div>
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My daughter began by selecting the piece of sea glass that she wanted to use, as my son began fashioning the bangle style bracelet out of the wire. They used needle nose pliers to wrap some of the wire around the chosen piece of sea glass so that it could be attached to the bangle.</div>
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Next the charms were added to the bangle...</div>
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Once the competition of finding the perfect beach treasure was over, I think their combined creative efforts resulted in a beautiful souvenir bracelet that will bring back memories of many great family vacations for years to come. Their finished project was actually as nice or even nicer than much of the jewelry we saw for sale in shops near the resort or at a local craft fair. The fact that they crafted it together and that it contained sea glass that they found themselves makes it even more special than a store bought souvenir,</div>
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How are you enjoying the final days of summer, and what are your favorite ways to capture and hold onto memories of special times? <br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/2015/08/the-not-just-homemaking-party-preparing.html">Hope in Every Season</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-37/">Best DIY Projects And Recipe Party</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/08/26/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-203/">Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop</a><br />
<a href="http://www.avisiontoremember.com/2015/08/the-creative-exchange-link-party-for.html">The Creative Exchange Link Party</a><br />
<a href="http://www.craftberrybush.com/2015/08/the-inspiration-gallery-74.html">The Inspiration Gallery</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2015/08/the-creative-collection-link-party-66.html">The Creative Collection Link Party</a><br />
<a href="http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/">Saturday Sparks</a><br />
<a href="http://jannolson.blogspot.com/">Share Your Cup Thursday</a><br />
<a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2015/08/treasure-hunt-thursday-218-highlights.html#more">Treasure Hunt Thursday</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tablerpartyoftwo.com/7237-2/">Sunday Feature Link Party</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-65760351652997728072015-08-24T08:09:00.000-04:002015-08-24T08:10:49.153-04:00BalanceI know it's been a while since I posted a new entry. Actually, my family and I were in Florida last week, and I had planned to get up early each day on vacation to create some posts and share some photos while everyone else was still asleep. However, there were some technical issues and I wasn't able to get that done. I woke up this morning with a very long "to do" list whirling around in my mind. There were many things that needed to get accomplished today, now that we are home and back into our normal hectic lifestyle. One of the things on my "to do list" was to write today's post as well as some future ones, in an effort to get into a more scheduled, predictable and professional blogging routine.<br />
My husband is a baker for a retail food chain, and needs to be at work by 4:00 am on weekdays and 3:00 am on weekends, so our alarm goes off at a very early (almost obscene) hour. As I was pouring our coffee this morning, and trying to get back into the swing of being up so early, I clicked on my email and decided to glance at a few blogs as I packed Dave's lunch. I justified taking a few minutes to check in with my favorite bloggers by saying they would inspire me to get back into the routine of writing my own posts as soon as Dave left for work, and then I could attack the multitude of other things that needed to get accomplished today. However, the newest post that Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, wrote stopped me in my tracks. Her post was about finding balance, and it struck a chord with me. Dave and I are notorious for having crazy schedules and often taking on more than we should. I also see our oldest child getting into the same routine as he is a full time college student, works, and is starting his own business as well. Marian's <a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2015/08/business-blogging-balance/">words</a> about balance, and making "priority lists" and not "to-do" lists hit home and reminded me of a book I read and this <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2014/09/suzannes-diary-for-nicholas-by-james.html">post</a> that I wrote last year.<br />
It's very easy to get caught up in a hectic lifestyle and not feeling like you are being productive unless you are doing more, accomplishing more, and accumulating more. There are so many blessings in life that we can miss if we don't take the time to slow down and appreciate them. Our health can suffer and we can pay a big price for committing to too much or for trying to be a perfectionist. So, before you begin your day, and your week, I encourage you to read today's post on the Miss Mustard Seed blog and consider the great advice Marian offers about setting limits, taking care of yourself, and prioritizing. As you search for the ever elusive balance in life, I also want to again quote a passage from the book I mentioned in the post I wrote last year. I quoted this passage before, but Marian's post brought it to mind today, so I think it is worth repeating. It was written by James Patterson in the book Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas....<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">"Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls -family, health, friends, integrity- are made of glass. If you drop one of these it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life." </span></span>I'll leave you with that thought and the photo below from our vacation for now. I'll back later this week with some photos, some recipes and maybe even some projects as we get ready to move from one season into the next. Although this isn't the post I had planned to write today, after reading Marian's thoughts on balance, it seemed like a fitting way to ease out of vacation mode and back into reality. As you go about your day trying to juggle all of the balls in your life, please remember to take care of yourself and notice the beauty and blessings that surround you.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f2fcca; color: #666666; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-41655909439462861292015-08-10T17:24:00.000-04:002015-08-30T16:58:39.106-04:00Zucchini BreadThe summer sunshine and warm weather bring a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables this time of year. When I was growing up, my mother would make several batches of zucchini bread each summer, utilizing the vegetables from my grandmother's garden. When I got married I continued the tradition of making this sweet summer treat for my own family. There are a lot of versions of zucchini bread around, but this recipe that was given to us by a family friend, is the one that my husband and kids seem to like the best. It freezes well, so you can make it often while zucchini is plentiful and have it available throughout the year. This may not be the healthiest way to eat your veggies, but it is certainly delicious... whether served with a warm cup of tea for breakfast or with a tall glass of milk for dessert!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rDI5wJ79tCNKgs98qpLKDt3WEy6zSEyWIEhyphenhyphen93ezxxZ8dlpr-CcreFdcZH8aQLC2nnCMOHro2wrZe_cJSekZtJqFhKqkwUwONyLLiHuL8TM3gc46M6gX-xJJwKr9DCqULQlX_uv38Bo/s1600/zucchini+bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rDI5wJ79tCNKgs98qpLKDt3WEy6zSEyWIEhyphenhyphen93ezxxZ8dlpr-CcreFdcZH8aQLC2nnCMOHro2wrZe_cJSekZtJqFhKqkwUwONyLLiHuL8TM3gc46M6gX-xJJwKr9DCqULQlX_uv38Bo/s320/zucchini+bread.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">2 cups all purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp baking powder </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 tsp baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4 eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 cup white sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 cup brown sugar </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 cup of oil </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp vanilla</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">1 4 oz can crushed pineapple, well drained</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2 cups of shredded zucchini</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directions:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Preheat oven to 350</span><span class="nowrap"></span><span style="font-size: 125%;"><span class="Unicode">°</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Grease and flour 2 loaf pans OR 1 bundt pan</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Thoroughly squeeze and drain shredded zucchini, and then dry with paper towels</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Shift the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and baking soda together into a large bowl</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, sugars, vanilla and oil together, then combine with the dry ingredients, blending well.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Add in the pineapple and zucchini till well blended</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Pour into prepared pans and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy</span> </span><br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/2015/08/the-not-just-homemaking-party-preparing.html">Hope in Every Season</a><br />
<a href="http://www.the36thavenue.com/best-diy-projects-and-recipe-party-37/">Best DIY Projects and Recipe Party</a><br />
<a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/08/26/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-203/">Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tablerpartyoftwo.com/7237-2/">Tabler Party Of Two</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-82395553678865294782015-08-04T13:13:00.001-04:002015-08-04T18:11:11.357-04:00Refrigerator Pickles<div style="text-align: center;">
I ended yesterday's post with a photo of the day's yield from our garden...</div>
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While that post was about Jersey Tomatoes, I promised to talk about another abundant crop from our garden this week and share a recipe. As you can see from the photo, our cucumbers are producing like crazy! The plants seem to love the trellis that Dave built for them.</div>
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The plants are so thick and lush that you really have to search among the leaves or you could easily miss a cucumber hidden among the foliage.</div>
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However the real surprise is when you look underneath the trellis</div>
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Since we had such a large amount of cucumbers, we had to come up with many ways to use them. Of course we love to eat some plain or have them cut up in garden salads, as well as using them in the <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2015/07/marinated-cucumber-salad.html">recipe for marinated cucumbers</a> that I shared with you last month. </div>
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My dad's family owned several acres of land in the Poconos when he was growing up, and they always had multiple gardens. I can remember going to visit my grandmother when I was little, and the shelves in her basement were continuously lined with rows and rows of mason jars filled with home canned produce from their gardens. They even had a root cellar near the barn. Sadly, I never learned to can, though I keep saying it is something I want to try. Until I attempt the canning procedure however, I found a really easy alternative for using our stash of cucumbers...Refrigerator Pickles! This method is simple and does not utilize the traditional canning method. From what I've read, most recipes made this way indicate that they can be kept for up to 3 months, but I have to admit that our stash lasted longer than that last year, and they were just fine. We've tried several refrigerator pickle recipes over the years, and today I am going to share one of our favorites. I obtained this version from <a href="http://ourbestbites.com/2012/07/refrigerator-pickles/">Our Best Bites</a>, and it looks like they got the original recipe from Ted Allen at Food Network Magazine.</div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b><br />
10 cloves of garlic, peeled and lightly smashed (I tend to add extra garlic, especially if the cloves are small)<br />
2 cups white vigegar<br />
2 tablespoons kosher salt<br />
several sprigs fresh dill, unchopped (I use about 1 to 1 1/4 cups)<br />
1 teaspoon celery seed<br />
1 teaspoon coriander seed<br />
1 teaspoon black peppercorns<br />
cucumbers or other desired fresh vegetables<br />
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<b>Instructions:</b><br />
<b> </b>In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to boil, reduce heat to a simmer and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt, raise the heat and bring back to a boil, stirring until the salt dissolves. Remove from heat.<br />
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Evenly divide the dill among 2 1-quart canning jars. Divide the remaining spices between the jars. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove the garlic from the brine and evenly divide the cloves among the two jars. Pack each jar with cucumbers or other vegetables until each jar is tightly stuffed.<br />
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Bring the brine back to a boil and then pour it over the veggies to cover completely. Allow to cool. I initially could not fit all of the brine in the 2 jars, but as they were cooling, some settling occurred and I added more brine at that point. Once cooled, place the lids on the jars and refrigerate. They can be sampled within a few hours but have a more intense pickle flavor after a few days.<br />
Some other refrigerator pickle recipes I have read suggest letting the brine cool prior to adding it to the jars. Although the flavor might take longer for the vegetables to absorb, it has been suggested that this method could result in a crunchier pickle. We found our pickles to be quite crunchy when we followed the recipe as outlined above, but I might try cooling the brine before adding it to the jars with the next batch I make to see if there is a noticeable difference.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linking with:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/">The Enchanting Rose</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/08/show-and-share-no-273.html">Coastal Charm</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-36263868762630713432015-08-03T17:57:00.000-04:002015-08-04T17:53:34.181-04:00Jersey Tomatoes<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Monday everyone! Hope you had a great weekend! The weather here was hot and humid and we spent much of the time tending to the vegetable garden. I know I've had a lot of posts about the various gardens and plants in our yard lately, but I just can't seem to help myself. After all, when I started this blog almost a year ago, my goals were to focus on finding the joy and inspiration that each season of the year, as well as each season of life can bring. The summer weather and lush greenery are beckoning me outdoors, and I want to share the fun and pretty surprises that keep popping up all over our yard with you. I promise that I do have some craft and DIY posts coming up though. However, today I want to focus on a delicious topic...Jersey tomatoes. </div>
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Given its location, New Jersey is often thought of as a neighbor to New York City and all that Manhattan has to offer, but our fair state has a lot to be proud of in its own right. Of course, at this time of year, images of the Jersey shore are what come to mind for most people, and it is not uncommon to hear the songs of New Jersey natives Bruce Springsteen or JonBon Jovi blaring from cars as everyone drives down the Parkway to a favorite shore town.</div>
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While it is true that our state has 130 miles of coastline spanning from Sandy Hook to Cape May, the nickname for New Jersey is "The Garden State". According to the official web site for the state of NJ, Abraham Browning of Camden is credited for giving the state the nickname when he spoke at the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition in 1876. He reportedly said that "Our Garden State is an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvania grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other." The name stuck ever since. While New Jersey ranks 5th in blueberry production and 3rd in cranberry production according to the state website, we are also well known for our fresh "Jersey tomatoes". Whether it is the climate in our area or the soil in our region, the conditions seem to be perfect for helping our backyard garden live up to the infamous nickname by producing a large amount of luscious summer Jersey tomatoes.</div>
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This year my husband planted 3 types of tomatoes from seed...4th of July, brandywine, and beefsteak. Like the name implies, the 4th of July plants produced the earliest tomatoes, and this year, it seems like the brandywine plants are producing the largest ones. We had more plants than we could fit in our backyard garden, and my husband just couldn't stand the thought of wasting any of them. So, in addition to what went in the garden, he filled every spare container and bucket he could find with the leftover seedlings and kept them on our deck.The plants didn't seem to mind the containers and they grew and grew and grew...</div>
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They are thriving, and this weekend we counted well over 30 tomatoes on 3 different plants!</div>
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When we ran out of containers to put the leftover seedlings in, Dave got really creative and decided to plant one in an old tree stump in another area of the yard...</div>
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That plant seems to like its unique location as well...</div>
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In addition to producing large sized tomatoes, the brandywine seedlings in the garden grew into some rather tall plants. My daughter Pam agreed to stand near some of them so you can get a perspective of just how tall they are. She is about 5'4", and you can clearly see just how far they tower above her...</div>
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Of course, the height of the plant means nothing if it doesn't produce, but these plants are producing. Some plants have MANY smaller size tomatoes...</div>
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While other plants have less volume but larger tomatoes. This is a photo of a tomato next to Pam's hand so you can get an idea of just how large it is growing...</div>
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However, tomatoes are not the only thing our garden is producing abundantly, but since this post is already quite long, we'll save that discussion and a fun recipe for later this week.</div>
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/">The Enchanting Rose</a><br />
<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2015/08/show-and-share-no-273.html#more">Coastal Charm</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-78883467890986187762015-07-30T16:35:00.002-04:002015-07-30T17:30:05.280-04:00Grilled Zucchini and Squash<div style="text-align: center;">
When my parents recently came to visit, they brought a large supply of zucchini and summer squash from their garden, which was nice since our zucchini hadn't ripened yet, and we hadn't planted yellow squash this year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaCWQIlLdIXV5tcxXtRlaacLMVjz2cnhyEBcPrQJvIaWFoBFhFwP0dvJRs5IkgPrpbefwzyu0COoroAiJmb4-TFpzTeCH8h6dIoHXXwfXOyD09lJRWMsWqgDEPsYSq_hC7wLS2vAOlI4/s1600/squash+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxaCWQIlLdIXV5tcxXtRlaacLMVjz2cnhyEBcPrQJvIaWFoBFhFwP0dvJRs5IkgPrpbefwzyu0COoroAiJmb4-TFpzTeCH8h6dIoHXXwfXOyD09lJRWMsWqgDEPsYSq_hC7wLS2vAOlI4/s320/squash+2015.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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We decided to marinate and then grill some of the squash. I ended up slicing 2 yellow squash and 1 zucchini for this recipe. For the marinade, I used a recipe that a friend of ours gave to us.</div>
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<b>Ingredients</b></div>
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4 Tbsp red wine vinegar</div>
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Juice of 2 freshly squeezed lemons</div>
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4 cloves of garlic minced</div>
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4 tsp fresh thyme leaves (I used a combination of regular thyme and lemon thyme that I had growing in </div>
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our garden).</div>
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2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil </div>
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Salt</div>
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Freshly ground pepper</div>
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Summer squash and/or zucchini </div>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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Slice the squash approximately 1/4 inch thick and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper.</div>
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Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and thyme together in a large bowl.</div>
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Add the sliced vegetables to a large plastic bag or place in a large bowl.</div>
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Cover with the marinade and allow it to marinate at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or refrigerate overnight.</div>
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Grill the vegetables on a barbeque over medium heat until tender, approximately 5 to 10 minutes, turning as needed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDWkHoWQD4d3fyOMfDPF1IlOAJMxkY43NczNyAh17t2cR9PQ4X-xlwcjGahXuISIuLC8slH-Rg711er8De6wkR5_Qm7NzlPQKvdrYjZP6hER5fhUdFhZDhHCMxleybp81X7m7qJlysqc/s1600/squash+2015+being+grilled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDWkHoWQD4d3fyOMfDPF1IlOAJMxkY43NczNyAh17t2cR9PQ4X-xlwcjGahXuISIuLC8slH-Rg711er8De6wkR5_Qm7NzlPQKvdrYjZP6hER5fhUdFhZDhHCMxleybp81X7m7qJlysqc/s320/squash+2015+being+grilled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This dish can be served warm or at room temperature. I must admit it was great with dinner the night we made it, but I refrigerated the leftovers and ate those at room temperature for lunch the next day, and liked them even more.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>~Enjoy~</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-57059374295862626122015-07-20T11:57:00.002-04:002015-07-20T11:58:28.264-04:00Marinated Cucumber Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
Our garden is bursting with a plethora of ripe cucumbers right now, so we are scrambling to use them all. In addition to trying several refrigerator pickle recipes and making some fresh garden salads, I whipped up a batch of marinated cucumber salad this morning. This is a recipe that my mom has made for many years and the beauty of it is its simplicity. You only need a few ingredients and it mixes together quickly. After a few hours of marinating, you are treated to a crisp fresh side dish with your meal.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Marinated Cucumber Salad </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDtXOMQOUrlBiP381OF4eSks-Wg9fTPTtHKz5LrVrmw2-h9jDx2hCvJ_3f_CdpCGBlXmmXoHS-Qm-4FPDDRtc_oqpZAvu79ywQ6m06k0YR8DrP1MUF0GjzGACYDECufWFLzwnZgPzGOQ/s1600/marinated+cucumber+salad+ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDtXOMQOUrlBiP381OF4eSks-Wg9fTPTtHKz5LrVrmw2-h9jDx2hCvJ_3f_CdpCGBlXmmXoHS-Qm-4FPDDRtc_oqpZAvu79ywQ6m06k0YR8DrP1MUF0GjzGACYDECufWFLzwnZgPzGOQ/s320/marinated+cucumber+salad+ingredients.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ingredients:</span></span></u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 cucmber</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 onion</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup vinegar</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup water </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 Tbsp sugar</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp salt</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peel and slice the cucumber and thinly slice the onion into rings and place in a small bowl. Combine the remaining ingredients and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved. Pour over the cucumber and onion mixture and allow the salad to marinate for 2 hours. Drain the salad and serve.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">See, I told you this was a quick and easy recipe! It's a tasty side dish to serve with a meal on a hot summer evening, and a great way to use some cucumbers if many are ripening at the same time. What are some of your favorite ways to utilize the fresh produce from your garden? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><b> </b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-71164301150902638932015-07-14T14:21:00.000-04:002015-07-14T15:39:37.411-04:00The Summer Flowers are Blooming<div style="text-align: center;">
In my last post I brought you on a stroll through our vegetable garden. As promised, today I am going to show you some of the flowers that are starting to bloom throughout our yard this season.</div>
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I had trouble capturing a good photo of these beauties, but I still wanted to share them with you as I thought they were rater unique. This is pink lavender. I have had various shades of purple lavender planted in my gardens and in pots on our deck over the years, and I actually planted this pink variety in the yard several years ago. Each season it would turn green but it never bloomed, so I was really excited when the pale pink buds appeared a few weeks ago! Like other varieties of lavender, it smells wonderful, but this color is so unusual. Bees seemed to be really attracted to these flowers and several would be pollinating them at once. With the recent launch of his new business <a href="http://www.hexacombshelving.com/">Hexacomb</a>, my son Dave has become very supportive of working to help sustain the endangered honeybee, as it provided inspiration for the design of his product.Therefore, we were really happy that these pretty flowers provided another pollination source in our garden for this beneficial insect.</div>
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Next, lets take a peek at another summer beauty...</div>
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This hibiscus is planted in a large container which we bring inside at the end of the season, as it is not quite hardy enough to survive the NJ winters. Since it has gotten quite large over the years, it is starting to take up a lot of space indoors, but it is worth the effort as it is gracing us with beautiful tropical flowers that are giving the area around our pool a bit of a tropical feel.</div>
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This is another example of the flowers that are enhancing our pool area. The aroma of these gorgeous lilies is amazing! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUvzvChOYuTOm5b49haY8nr4Gb6fZvhhDFfz-M6ut2E04Lp63GHOxmtbF1FY77yx6abp6EEh06NOPgesbqPm8gTuSCaI7E_OYS4zlzD3jEBIAUlGD9WJGjP8NturzffYBh1mi4CPTnqU/s1600/flowers+2015+lilly.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUvzvChOYuTOm5b49haY8nr4Gb6fZvhhDFfz-M6ut2E04Lp63GHOxmtbF1FY77yx6abp6EEh06NOPgesbqPm8gTuSCaI7E_OYS4zlzD3jEBIAUlGD9WJGjP8NturzffYBh1mi4CPTnqU/s400/flowers+2015+lilly.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But those aren't the only lilies we have planted near the pool. These beautiful day-lilies come back every year and provide sunshine yellow color throughout the season...</div>
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We also have a large urn near the lounge chairs by the pool that we plant annuals in each summer. This year we planted petunias and I can not even describe how amazingly well they are doing! The photo doesn't really show the size or dimension of this plant, but it is huge! These flowers have actually started to attract some Snowberry Clearwing Sphingidae that I was able to photograph last year, but I haven't yet been able to capture a picture of them this year. You can check out last year's post <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2014/08/butterfly-garden.html">here </a>if you want to see what they look like. I am still hoping to get some more snapshots of them in the near future as well.</div>
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The Spingidae aren't the only visitors that are enjoying our summer flowers....</div>
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The Coneflowers or Echinaceas are doing a great job of attracting the butterflies, but the butterfly bush is just beginning to sprout flowers so I can only imagine the amount of butterflies we will attract when that shrub reaches it's full glory.</div>
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The black-eyed Susan's or Rudbeckia hirta are just starting to open as well...</div>
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We are fortunate enough to have eight hydrangea shrubs planted throughout our yard, and I must admit, I am in love with these flowers. We have two shrubs that are a little sparse with their blooms this year, but the other ones are more than making up for them. The range of colors they are producing is great. I have read that you can change the colors of your hydrangeas by adjusting the pH of the soil, but given the gorgeous array of colors we have, I have no desire to experiment with this technique yet.</div>
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I'll share more of our flower gardens with you as the season progresses, but I hope you enjoyed taking a look at the colors that are starting to enhance our yard so far. What are some of your favorite blooms where you live?<br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/2015/07/roses-of-inspiration-linkup-28.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheEnchantingRose+%28The+Enchanting+Rose%29">The Enchanting Rose</a><br />
<a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/07/the-scoop-179.html">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/2015/07/the-not-just-homemaking-party-grilled.html">Hope In Every Season</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-55319378575450365772015-07-06T20:48:00.000-04:002015-07-07T14:35:31.534-04:00Stroll Through Our Vegetable Garden<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have had a lot of rain here recently, but I was finally able to capture some photos from our gardens. Would you like to take a stroll through our garden as the birds serenade us this morning? First, let me give you a quick reminder of how this year's garden started. Remember all the seedlings my husband planted and we so gingerly cared for....</div>
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Well, they were transplanted to the garden in May after the threat of
frost. We didn't have much luck with eggplant last year, and someone
suggested that we try planting those in buckets this year rather than directly in
the garden soil. We don't know if that will make a difference, but we were
willing to give it a try. Dave also made 2 triangular trellises out of
wire fencing that he bought at a home improvement store. They work
great as supports for the cucumber vines, and as a DIY project they were
much less expensive than similar items we had seen in garden catalogs.
We put down some black sheeting to help minimize the weeds. Last
year we had used a greyish colored one, but we didn't find it to be very
effective as the weeds actually grew under the sheeting. Therefore, we opted for the darker sheets of weed block this year. </div>
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In addition to the eggplant and cucumbers, we planted 3 varieties of tomatoes, as well as butternut squash, 2 kinds of lettuce, zucchini, beans, peppers, onions and melons. Every inch of the garden was utilized! One of the raised beds at the entrance of the garden is home to 2 kinds of oregano, 2 kinds of chives, thyme and lemon thyme, which all grow back every year. In addition, we added flat leaf and curly parsley, cilantro, and dill. In the raised bed on the other side of the gate, we planted rosemary and basil...lots of basil because we love making pesto with the <a href="http://seasonalchapters.blogspot.com/2014/08/pesto-genovese.html?zx=87b2c6b6be0a10de">recipe</a> I shared with you last year.</div>
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So are you ready to take a stroll through the garden and see how it is doing today?</div>
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Outside of the garden gate on the left, which you can not see in this photo, we have raspberries, blackberries, and some wild berries growing. On the right hand side of the gate we have 2 blueberry shrubs which are still yielding some fruit.</div>
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The basil has really taken off so it looks like we will be making lots of pesto, and I have begun looking for some new recipes to try as well.</div>
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I've been pinching the tops of the plants when they are getting ready to flower, as that helps the plants grow bushier rather than stalky. I stored the clippings in jars of water until I was ready to cook with them, and look what happened...they grew roots. Well I couldn't let perfectly good plants go to waste, so what's a girl to do? I replanted them in the garden of course! At this rate we will have an endless supply of basil this year, but I am not complaining. By the way, it smells amazing as you enter the garden! Aromatherapy for the gardener's soul.</div>
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Some of the tomato plants are now as tall as me, and although none have ripened yet, there are many green tomatoes growing throughout the garden. </div>
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Look at how the cucumbers are progressing.....</div>
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The butternut squash are blooming and growing like like crazy.</div>
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The beans, zucchini and lettuce are doing great...</div>
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We've already harvested some lettuce and it looks like we'll soon be having some luscious fresh salads full of other veggies as well!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by and taking the tour of our vegetable garden on this gorgeous summer day. On the next round of our garden tour I'll share some photos of the flowers that are blooming around the yard. Until then, remember to take some time to create wonderful seasonal memories with those you care about.<br />
Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/2015/07/roses-of-inspiration-linkup-27.html">The Enchanting Rose</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-68768863349918835892015-07-03T20:00:00.000-04:002015-07-03T20:02:06.060-04:00New Chapters Begin in Our Family Life<div style="text-align: center;">
When I first started this blog almost 1 year ago, I opted to call it Seasonal Chapters for several reasons. Home and family are very important to me. Living in the northeast, we have the joy of being able to experience the lovely differences that each season has to offer, and I have always enjoyed doing special things that created fun family memories for us during each season of the year. I was in a severe life threatening accident before I started this blog, and it caused me to step back and take a close look at everything that I had to be grateful for, and how it was important to appreciate all of the little moments in life as well as the big events. I also realized that my kids were becoming young adults and I started to reflect on the different chapters that life in general has, and how each chapter is like a season in life. Hence the name and blog "Seasonal Chapters" were born. Although I had read and followed some blogs before, I really didn't know anything about writing one at the time. With the encouragement of my family and a dear friend however,</div>
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I decided to take the plunge and start a blog of my own. There has been, and still is, a lot to learn, but I am enjoying the process and love the friendships I have made along the way.</div>
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That being said, June offered some very significant milestones in the chapters of our family story. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and my daughter graduated high school. We are so happy for my parents and so very proud of Pam! I can hardly believe my "baby" will be starting college in the fall. Where does the time go? </div>
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Just when I thought we had more than our fair share of happy milestones to honor this summer, my son gave us one more reason to celebrate...he launched his <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hexacomb/hexacomb-shelving-that-adapts-to-you">Kickstarter</a> campaign in hopes of getting his business started, and beginning the process of obtaining a patent for a unique furniture design he created! </div>
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He creation is <a href="http://www.hexacombshelving.com/">Hexacomb</a>, a modular shelving system that uses neodymium magnets to connect the individual shelf "cells" or hexagon units together. It is a furniture design that is sculptural, unique, flexible, and can be adapted to meet your changing needs.</div>
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David is about to enter his senior year in college, and is pursuing a double major in Art and Education at my Alma mater, William Paterson University. His goal is to become an art teacher, but he has also always had the dream of pursuing his own creative endeavors as well. As an artist, he is gifted in that he has been able to excel with more than one medium and has enjoyed them all...drawing, painting, sculpting, textiles. During his junior year in college he had the opportunity to take a furniture design course with a professor who also happens to own his own company. One of the assignments was to examine a common piece of furniture found in homes and to make it more appealing and practical. From that assignment, the creation of Hexacomb was born. At the urging of that professor, Dave entered his design in the 2015 University Business Competition, and with the help of his girlfriend Lisa, won the <a href="http://www.wpunj.edu/news/detail.dot?id=314358b2-6b74-4402-b749-ec61c7357948">contest</a>! With that accomplishment, the spark was ignited and the journey of a new dream had begun. You can view a video of his project <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hexacomb/hexacomb-shelving-that-adapts-to-you?ref=nav_search">here</a>.</div>
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With the July 4th holiday upon us, my personal goal is to spend time with my family, reflect again on all that I have to be grateful for, and to look forward to all of the fun memories we will be creating together this summer. I also want to take a moment to say "Congratulations" to Pam and Dave. I am so incredibly proud of both of them and I look forward to watching them become the authors of their own life stories. Their love, hard work, and accomplishments have added great chapters to my personal story, and they have created many amazing memories for me in the seasons of my life!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-35093899310096218612015-07-02T13:44:00.001-04:002015-07-07T13:02:01.563-04:00Mixed Berry Pie<div style="text-align: center;">
We are fortunate to have a combination of wild berry bushes as well as berry plants that we intentionally planted in our yard. Each year we anxiously wait for the fruit to ripen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydq3ZaWfqz-5QOkSiGhbtx7DpPQ3GnWumK4fgj7N_Bf94qdYiRMumEp-zXnuOSLhGe3HfSrWw00iQqikzXLOIQv2h0mWnRdsQ-SpNsqO4IeXcDTG6ldRw5ZNt-Ww9ZPTYP0cKztIiM0k/s1600/blueberries+waiting+to+ripen+with+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydq3ZaWfqz-5QOkSiGhbtx7DpPQ3GnWumK4fgj7N_Bf94qdYiRMumEp-zXnuOSLhGe3HfSrWw00iQqikzXLOIQv2h0mWnRdsQ-SpNsqO4IeXcDTG6ldRw5ZNt-Ww9ZPTYP0cKztIiM0k/s320/blueberries+waiting+to+ripen+with+watermark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As the berries start to reach maturity, we make a point to check the plants frequently...otherwise we often loose some of the fruit to various garden visitors.</div>
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This week we were finally able to harvest a bunch of ripe fruit at the same time, so I decided to make a mixed berry pie. It was scrumptious so I wanted to share the recipe.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Mixed Berry Pie</u></span></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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~double pie crust (I used Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust for this recipe but you can make one from scratch if you prefer)</div>
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~6 cups of various berries (I used fresh from our garden but you can use frozen, just defrost and then drain them first)</div>
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~1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice</div>
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~zest from 1 lemon</div>
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~1/4 cup flour</div>
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~1/2 cup sugar</div>
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~1 egg</div>
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~1 Tbsp milk</div>
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Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and position a rack in the middle of the oven to bake the pie on (I used a 10 inch pie dish, and my pie did not bubble over, but I have had berry filling drip out of the pie in the past so you may want to slip a baking pan on a lower rack to catch any juice that overflows.)</div>
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Line your pie dish with one layer of your pie crust dough.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHSqls0Vcz-oVXBTB4SwMUrwKquSvucK6Ejn1YJaHdRJSL-Ny2kZWWg40A6uyJpZJ33wyuPdzbOjyvP6NUD8WK3LT3Pu_n1Szenia4QNkR42iZgrWkjJ9GdL8UYw1JRCsQGJiPV3tB4/s1600/berry+pie+filling+with+watermark.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHSqls0Vcz-oVXBTB4SwMUrwKquSvucK6Ejn1YJaHdRJSL-Ny2kZWWg40A6uyJpZJ33wyuPdzbOjyvP6NUD8WK3LT3Pu_n1Szenia4QNkR42iZgrWkjJ9GdL8UYw1JRCsQGJiPV3tB4/s320/berry+pie+filling+with+watermark.png" width="320" /></a>Combine the berries, flour, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice into a large bowl and stir gently until combined.</div>
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Pour the berry filling into the bottom layer of your pie. </div>
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Place the top layer of crust on the pie, crimp the edges of the two layers together and make 4 slits in the top of the pie so that it can vent while baking.</div>
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In a small bowl, beat the egg and milk together and then brush the egg wash on the pie.</div>
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Bake the pie at 425 degrees for 20 minutes and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 35 minutes or until the juices are bubbling and have thickened.</div>
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Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Linking with:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://saving4six.com/2015/07/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-72-2.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Saving4Six+%28Saving+4+Six%29">Saving 4 Six</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://katherinescorner.com/2015/07/01/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-196/">Katherine's Corner</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/06/the-scoop-177.html">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/">Hope In Every Season</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/07/home-and-garden-thursday-105.html">A Delightsome Life</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://staceyembracingchange.com/2015/07/02/creative-inspirations-linky-party-145/">Embracing Change</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/2015/07/roses-of-inspiration-linkup-27.html">The Enchanting Rose</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1682538936188239261.post-10637685562264417972015-06-29T13:40:00.000-04:002015-07-03T13:39:23.847-04:00Anniversary Plaque to Honor 50 Years of Family Memories<div style="text-align: center;">
My parents recently had the joy of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. While we wanted to honor the event with some traditional gifts, I also wanted to make something that celebrated the family legacy their marriage created. My son's girlfriend Lisa came up with the idea of adapting the 'birthday boards' she had seen on pinterest. I liked this idea because in addition to displaying important dates, it would visually represent the legacy their union created as the family continues to grow.</div>
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If you would like to create one of these plaques for someone special to you or to hang in your own home, you will need the following supplies:</div>
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~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Hollow-Pine-Signboard-0-63-Inch/dp/B000XZWBSG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1435594577&sr=8-3&keywords=wooden+plaque">1 wooden plaque</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQsvhmk6TwqOZ3GjrfIiQY4IDJXz9IIb4ka9rgsmivhZT9C3WvElfLaizTKFk8WIGHqRbWdUZFWXDJ8nivyeiA-_FNf2EiiOkobNsaiAhmZBV7bZzcrfyz6PZGv2JFCSFqrb-nAWvaXQ/s1600/anniversary+gift+project+supplies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQsvhmk6TwqOZ3GjrfIiQY4IDJXz9IIb4ka9rgsmivhZT9C3WvElfLaizTKFk8WIGHqRbWdUZFWXDJ8nivyeiA-_FNf2EiiOkobNsaiAhmZBV7bZzcrfyz6PZGv2JFCSFqrb-nAWvaXQ/s320/anniversary+gift+project+supplies.jpg" width="320" /></a>~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Woodpeckers-100-Wooden-Circles-Inch/dp/B008K1QSOI/ref=pd_bxgy_201_img_z">1 wooden circle </a>for each birthday you want to commemorate<br />
~ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Darice-9101-34-Natural-Unfinished-Hearties/dp/B0054G6JPA/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1435595488&sr=1-2&keywords=Darice+unfinished+wood+hearts">1 wooden heart</a> for each anniversary you want to commemorate<br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Connectors-Made-USA-Hardware-Assembly/dp/B008EDVGNA/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1435595332&sr=1-1&keywords=s+hooks">S hooks</a><br />
~<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hillman-Group-320048-Zinc-Plated-100-Pack/dp/B00GI1C0YY/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1435595804&sr=8-1&keywords=hillman+group+320048+screw+eyes">12 screw eye hooks </a><br />
~acrylic paint<br />
~sharpie markers or paint pens <br />
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The wooden circles and hearts that I purchased were not pre drilled with holes in them, so my son drilled the holes in ours. We then painted the plaque gray and the hearts and circles were painted white.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9iIVu__l6HD9qCQ_Mpry6AWi_pgvAyQg3CwkW51d9Id562PQagKqL3yLBOCbziyv0To8LX65AgLHdOqJ7qelBPCllMFJcXJdHjrzoe6PewIo0PLL8rjiv8RMfTdOkILPC9_KrevTl2A/s1600/anniversary+gift+project+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9iIVu__l6HD9qCQ_Mpry6AWi_pgvAyQg3CwkW51d9Id562PQagKqL3yLBOCbziyv0To8LX65AgLHdOqJ7qelBPCllMFJcXJdHjrzoe6PewIo0PLL8rjiv8RMfTdOkILPC9_KrevTl2A/s320/anniversary+gift+project+in+progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The eye hooks were then screwed into the bottom of the plaque and a month was written above each hook. We wrote the family name on the plaque and Lisa had painted a Fleur Di Les in the center. We also chose to write the year my parents were married and their family was established, but you can add any additional decorations that you wish. On each circle we wrote a family member's name and the date of their birthday. On each heart we wrote the initials of a couple and the date they were married. The hearts and circles then got hung under the appropriate corresponding month.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznD2765vDRokMfu9cqsZWgJx_CXlZET5du95nUZSydPZqZLZJq7vKgVuYQxO0_5HBJ-w3TuT2R0EhCVfsYpXg5swuoV54MSEUBic-in9ByAqRkPZv3gg6q_l4pHNBBYQ1Ds8-uTzr8ns/s1600/anniversary+gift+project+completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznD2765vDRokMfu9cqsZWgJx_CXlZET5du95nUZSydPZqZLZJq7vKgVuYQxO0_5HBJ-w3TuT2R0EhCVfsYpXg5swuoV54MSEUBic-in9ByAqRkPZv3gg6q_l4pHNBBYQ1Ds8-uTzr8ns/s640/anniversary+gift+project+completed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My mom got a bit teary eyed when they opened the gift. It turned out to be a great way to display how their love for each other has grown from the marriage of two young people to a family unit that 50 years later includes children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We were sure to purchase extra hearts and circles so that we can add to the gift as the family continues to grow.<br />
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Linking with:<br />
<a href="http://www.tablerpartyoftwo.com/sunday-features-31/">Tabler Party of Two</a><br />
<a href="http://threekidsandafish.com/">Three Kids and a Fish</a><br />
<a href="http://mypinterventures.com/merry-monday-link-party-60/">My Pinterventures</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/an-ordinary-patio-becomes-a-beautiful-three-season-porch/">Between Naps On The Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2015/06/amaze-me-monday-117.html">Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home</a><br />
<a href="http://www.meatloafandmelodrama.com/2015/06/snickerdoodle-sunday-87-with-all.html">Meatloaf And Melodrama</a><br />
<a href="http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com/2015/06/the-scoop-177.html">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hopeineveryseason.com/">Hope In Every Season</a><br />
<a href="http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2015/07/home-and-garden-thursday-105.html">A Delightsome Life</a><br />
<a href="http://staceyembracingchange.com/2015/07/02/creative-inspirations-linky-party-145/">Embracing Change</a> </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02841390680717334268noreply@blogger.com8