tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44381585112998212182024-03-11T20:52:05.015-08:00No Dime DesignMaking a house a home without breaking the bank!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-20450077652620391012016-10-15T22:56:00.000-08:002018-01-05T13:56:16.180-09:00A Few New Favorites<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We MOVED!!!! Holy smokes I can't believe it's actually real! We have a new house with so much more room. We have been so busy decorating, building barns, fencing, and pens that I haven't had time to stop for pictures but soon!</div>
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For now, I just want to share with you a few new things I've found that I really love. </div>
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First up is a company just getting off their feet called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rumalaco/?fref=ts">Rumala and Co. </a> Clicking on their name will take you to their Facebook page where they will be announcing all their new products. Here is the calendar I bought from them through Amazon. It's huge and beautiful and I love it so much that I bought their smaller one to keep on my fridge upstairs!!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH62kcwPTX_CE6o4CLz8ipHynsbosZfuZse0hyphenhyphenZkQwHlHqLOATJQ4SALAsU0ZpAieT8ujoEjIPtm-6bE3uTrcrIXn0ncDq6JnaVXBatHRSZzZsVU6PDibWP9cmEjWOkx5K-4BbQrF3Cq8/s1600/14592146_1797867340495327_1723881816848334848_n%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH62kcwPTX_CE6o4CLz8ipHynsbosZfuZse0hyphenhyphenZkQwHlHqLOATJQ4SALAsU0ZpAieT8ujoEjIPtm-6bE3uTrcrIXn0ncDq6JnaVXBatHRSZzZsVU6PDibWP9cmEjWOkx5K-4BbQrF3Cq8/s320/14592146_1797867340495327_1723881816848334848_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm still working on this little command center but I love the direction it's taking. The girls have their chore chart here and the baskets hold their assignments for the day. </div>
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Next up is <a href="https://app.grammarly.com/">Grammarly</a>. It's a little add-on for Chrome (and maybe other browsers too, but Chrome is what I use) and it corrects not just spelling but grammar too!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I08xxlSqk4SVjQ4TW5r2U0jzekrAsFeDouqKn-crvj5DN7iWm2ZD4w0q94gug6-S6fIJoVlhDcIWIxtzlS_Dn2V7AnTvbZcfiToXTLe-cX_VCuDnXVml92anJ6IhQjnHMZWZrme5z_M/s1600/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I08xxlSqk4SVjQ4TW5r2U0jzekrAsFeDouqKn-crvj5DN7iWm2ZD4w0q94gug6-S6fIJoVlhDcIWIxtzlS_Dn2V7AnTvbZcfiToXTLe-cX_VCuDnXVml92anJ6IhQjnHMZWZrme5z_M/s1600/Capture.JPG" /></a></div>
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It just shows up next to your search bar as this little green circle and corrects you as you go. Maybe you're a grammar police but I'm not and this definitely improves my typing. I'm not going to tell how many times it's corrected me here, lol. </div>
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And you may have noticed that little camel up there too. That's for a site called <a href="http://camelcamelcamel.com/">Camel, Camel, Camel. </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6rTiHTjLosTgsSfsqcE_MuZBXOWU-IVlBvCwQhNWtrmi0U1RHL-PQNBbw2nVWLUlrQf3HzWBS4_smJW9QQSiq049874Z-Xd1bLhu8OGDkh811zHQgz2TTnciHI3z0MAtLJIc8O-Rr6s/s1600/Capture.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6rTiHTjLosTgsSfsqcE_MuZBXOWU-IVlBvCwQhNWtrmi0U1RHL-PQNBbw2nVWLUlrQf3HzWBS4_smJW9QQSiq049874Z-Xd1bLhu8OGDkh811zHQgz2TTnciHI3z0MAtLJIc8O-Rr6s/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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You add your Amazon Wishlist to it and it watches the prices for you. When the price dips below what you are looking for it e-mails you an alert! I have bought 2 books I have had my eye on for a while now. Both of them are usually about $60 and I got them for under $10 gently used! </div>
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Anywho. Those are my fun finds recently. I hope to have my house cleaned up enough soon to be able to start sharing some rooms with you soon. For now, we are still battling post-move clean up and trying to get everything locked down for the winter. So in the meantime tell me what you've discovered that you are excited about! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-36201218231236082822016-04-27T21:01:00.001-08:002016-10-15T22:57:54.038-08:00Minimalist Shminimalist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have recently had the perfect opportunity to practice minimalism in all its glory. If you don't already know we put our house up for sale earlier this year. It was under contract once, fell through, and now it's under contract again. All in all, we had about 10 showings. We packed away ALL the extra crap I thought I could live without. I pared down my wardrobe even more. I packed stuff we hardly use, stuff I thought was just extra. Lots of furniture went to make the house look bigger. YAY! Right? I mean this is THE goal. You know, the one where if you could just ______ then all the stars would align and a heavenly chorus would come from the heavens.</div>
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No. Not yay. Turns out I like my crap. Like a lot. I like my toaster. And my printer. And my glitter. I like my yarn. And the string. I like the itchy but flattering shirt. I want the fabric I bought years ago. And I like having enough pencils to bury myself in. The garden stuff that makes an appearance every other year is loved. I even like the kid's toys. ALL OF IT.</div>
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Maybe there are some people that don't ever use the things they buy. I do. I don't care if it doesn't all have a home. I use it and I want it there when I want to use it even if I'm not going to use it every second of every day. It's the most frustrating thing ever to not have what you need when you need it.</div>
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So to all my cluttery crap that I thought I could do without, I love you and I promise to spring you from those big meany face boxes ASAP! I will never pack you away again!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-87959526581774681252016-01-03T21:34:00.001-09:002016-01-03T21:34:23.861-09:00Reinventing The Closet Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2015/12/reinventing-closet-round-1.html">Read part 1 here. </a><br />
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Ok. So I weeded out the obvious stuff and tried on a few things to see if they still fit and then washed what was left. Why did I wash it all? Because I have two very hairy dogs that are the perfect height to rub up on all my clothes while they are hanging in the closet. Gross. </div>
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So, now we get to the "fun" part. I'm still on the fence about exactly how much sarcasm I'm associating with that word here. I don't particularly enjoy trying on clothes but I am excited to have a more functional wardrobe. But they fit, they're clean....why am I trying it all on again?</div>
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I'm a home schooling, homesteading, crafting, teaching, mom of 3. I don't have the brain power left to put together an outfit every morning. Right now, my kids are lucky if I get out of my pajamas and that's just sad. So I went to Pinterest to get some ideas. I saw lots of pictures of put together outfits that were super adorable. Unfortunately, I don't own anything in those pictures. So then I headed to Amazon to try to find the things in those pictures. I do not have that kind of money. In fact, I don't have money to go out and buy anything because I've spent it on 4 BAGS of stuff I can't even wear!!!! More clothes is obviously not the answer. Then I came upon the idea of "Capsule Wardrobes." Go ahead and Google that. I'll wait. </div>
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With me again? Isn't that idea awesome?! Alright lets head the store and buy all those essential pieces it says we need and.... wait. No money, remember? So here's the new game plan, starting with the sorted clothes from <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2015/12/reinventing-closet-round-1.html">before</a>. </div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Put on your best fitting bra/panties.</li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Slowly change the outfit. Trade the pants for a skirt, try a different scarf, put on a jacket...Take a picture with each new look.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Toss anything that doesn't have more than one look. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Print pictures, put together in an album.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Enjoy your own Capsule Wardrobe complete with a no-brainer look book!</li>
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Is this not the most awesome, time saving, closet utilizing, thought free idea ever!!! PLUS you could even take your look book with you while shopping to see what kinds of things would match!<br />
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*Here is where I would share the photo evidence of me trying on outfits for 3+ hours but the card reader on my computer and the sd card from my camera are not getting along :( So if you try this and do it to you're own wardrobe let's see some pictures!<br />
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What I learned:<br />
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While black is up there with my least favorite colors most of my staple clothing is black. I'm ok with letting a lot of the color in my wardrobe come from accent pieces like scarves, statement necklaces, cardigans, or under shirts.<br />
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Having white clothing and being a mom is hard.<br />
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I like solids with texture.<br />
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I have hardly any patterned pieces.<br />
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I am going to have SO MUCH LESS laundry and that is awesome!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-57048635349803823302015-12-29T00:00:00.000-09:002015-12-29T00:00:06.986-09:00Reinventing The Closet Round 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In spirit of my <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2015/12/reinvent.html">first new years goal</a> I am going through the closet and weeding out the crap! </div>
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The first step was to take it ALL out of the closet. Holy BANANAS!!! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQKa1sf1bsSZt2gpD4QiPT_6rVwOmzFhMPd8w4yCHcyZHhC17vy1rOOfAdAlYZnJKGbkZ90Hl8A8eXE6MYN35OURyRSN7jMIYrL8qdgNRPXnX1EMqV0adOFEgR4cfHuWiyCZGklUfMw/s1600/1-IMG_7208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQKa1sf1bsSZt2gpD4QiPT_6rVwOmzFhMPd8w4yCHcyZHhC17vy1rOOfAdAlYZnJKGbkZ90Hl8A8eXE6MYN35OURyRSN7jMIYrL8qdgNRPXnX1EMqV0adOFEgR4cfHuWiyCZGklUfMw/s400/1-IMG_7208.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't consider myself much of a clothes person. Some of this is from before I had kids!! That's 8 years and I'm not telling how many sizes ago. I've cleaned out before but obviously things were falling through the cracks. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlKUgBKH3VsLgGb0pmRd3ZCUHCyxPA8pVAD6WWIHzFooPSoD4jUIPfg_Hx7Om-ZRaCCJf4WDnEGr65V831CSswM1uRQmUgzuNH7aIlsDIlpEiLWTCOAq7JZtbZCnShoLHvk5SKc5mhvo/s1600/2-IMG_7211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlKUgBKH3VsLgGb0pmRd3ZCUHCyxPA8pVAD6WWIHzFooPSoD4jUIPfg_Hx7Om-ZRaCCJf4WDnEGr65V831CSswM1uRQmUgzuNH7aIlsDIlpEiLWTCOAq7JZtbZCnShoLHvk5SKc5mhvo/s400/2-IMG_7211.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just in case you needed another angle on that. My pile of clothes take up my ENTIRE queen size bed. No one needs that much. </div>
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I sorted it out into groups and this is what I ended up with: </div>
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Group 1: Stuff my Mom would probably fit and like (1 bag)</div>
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Group 2: TRASH (1 bag )</div>
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Group 3: Donate (2 bags)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNMi-F-iOlsPC15_lJ4GP3PdaykISM-pG0F3H6XBRidCPJGeF99zy_s9Eg5fp0U-AdURfXUT2XjvMc2cRmg-YiSZgT_H9s9QpIumRhqmYsHPLRPw1rlik1kkAbAMo9Kff0jQuTI5DqVc/s1600/3-IMG_7214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNMi-F-iOlsPC15_lJ4GP3PdaykISM-pG0F3H6XBRidCPJGeF99zy_s9Eg5fp0U-AdURfXUT2XjvMc2cRmg-YiSZgT_H9s9QpIumRhqmYsHPLRPw1rlik1kkAbAMo9Kff0jQuTI5DqVc/s400/3-IMG_7214.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
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What I had left was 2 baskets of *possible* keep items. Seriously. 4 trash bags of stuff to get rid of and only 2 baskets to keep. I'd say this was long over due. </div>
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Here is where I had to stop for the day. My children claimed that they needed food of some sort. I'm going to wash ALL the clothes tonight and then the fun part begins :) </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-33655889781292698422015-12-28T01:09:00.000-09:002015-12-28T01:09:29.395-09:00Reinvent <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMxoPIeiLHzTPFW2rjKb_SW-gi4U5fI4-I9peNpqg2egHXxYMqiVLACQqk05Cka3MaUo9EeEaqMF_Iyud6nelCwJhENmbuWroxroHWyj1-qegodMKuwWjQO2vumy3CRPBBFuXL3teANo/s1600/20151212178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMxoPIeiLHzTPFW2rjKb_SW-gi4U5fI4-I9peNpqg2egHXxYMqiVLACQqk05Cka3MaUo9EeEaqMF_Iyud6nelCwJhENmbuWroxroHWyj1-qegodMKuwWjQO2vumy3CRPBBFuXL3teANo/s400/20151212178.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Family Photo By Megan Moody</td></tr>
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2015 has been quite the whirl wind of a year. I started out with an uncomfortable end to my pregnancy with Gabriel that made doing much of anything pretty much impossible and ended with getting back to my normal self just in time for the holidays. Having that 3rd kid definitely thew my world off kilter. It's been 5 years since we had a new baby! How could I possibly have forgotten how much time and attention they take up?! I wouldn't trade him for the world though and now that he's up and about crawling and cruising this Momma finally has some "free" time on her hands again! So with that here's some things I hope to work on in the new year:</div>
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<li style="text-align: center;">Take time for me. Not in a inner reflection kind of way but a purely worldly kind of way. My husband is so amazing and he deserves a wife that doesn't look like a tornado survivor. I deserve to not look like a tornado survivor! I'm going to buy clothes that fit, wear make up, do my hair.... all those things that get lost in 3 kids. </li>
<li style="text-align: center;">Move. That word strikes fear into me like you don't even know. The thought of going through everything, packing up all the critters, and starting over in a new place paralyze me. It must be done though. We have outgrown our little paradise and it's time to move on. </li>
<li style="text-align: center;">Learn to streamline and let go. I complicate things. I stress over them before, during, and even sometimes after things happen. I hold onto stuff that I trip over, that I hate, that frustrate me, and even things that just seem off from the word go. It can all go in the trash! I don't need stress and I don't need stuff. </li>
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This years word will be "Reinvent." It's time for a new me, a new space, and a new thought process! I am excited to take what I have, cut back on what's unnecessary and find out what the real potential is here! </div>
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Happy New Year Everyone! May your year become all that you want it to be! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-80286909269942103742014-05-05T13:13:00.001-08:002014-05-05T13:13:37.195-08:006 Super Easy Plants To Try In South Central Alaska<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>When it comes to summer gardening in Alaska there's tons of stuff to grow. Yes, even outside. I'm fact, I think it would be easier to take out the things that won't grow. It's true that a lot of perennials elsewhere are considered annuals in Alaska but the following plants are so hardy that you would pretty much have to be actively trying to kill them for them to do poorly, and even then they'll come back twice as vigorously the next year!<br/>
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First up, my favorite spring indicator- Arctic Poppies. Their flowers are cheery yellows, whites, and oranges mostly. Their early greens and bright flowers are a welcome sight when all is brown during break up, and they keep right on going until it snows again! They have large, easy to identify seed pods after the flowers die back. They'll reseed on their own or pinch them off and scatter them where you'd like them next year! They really do a great job attracting pollinators too. They like to crop up between rocks and they are great for dryer areas. <br/>
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Next, a surprise to many, are chives. These guys were in my yard when I moved here 7+ years ago and despite several attempted transplantings they still come up in the strawberry bed every year. I love that you can cut them down to almost nothing and a week or so later you'll have another batch ready to go! They even have sweet little purple Whoville like blooms!<br/>
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<a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jLLxg9Kwm6Y/U2f-v12lN6I/AAAAAAAAE08/cmGQPeuqTEQ/s2560/1399324342271.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jLLxg9Kwm6Y/U2f-v12lN6I/AAAAAAAAE08/cmGQPeuqTEQ/s288/1399324342271.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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I LOVE my raspberries! One patch is from my mother in law's house and the other grew under the fence from my neighbors yard. The best place to get them? Free from someone else! These guys are so prolific that they are often on craigslist in the summer, free if you'll come save the giver from certain raspberry takeover! A small patch and some water will get you gallons of raspberries!<br/>
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<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5mk2jL3tJ_ebM8bF7udUKnaarZcSfF6DZV4jzGbkTr38NnU7T1JeazdPWAk6C3PFd7It0I-6TG_fvvUPwgAsiSKkA3Z46OOUPi3xezgkpXDbFMZnFq60Mzm_nLPkrgub_YpKmLfAR78/s2560/1399324358561.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5mk2jL3tJ_ebM8bF7udUKnaarZcSfF6DZV4jzGbkTr38NnU7T1JeazdPWAk6C3PFd7It0I-6TG_fvvUPwgAsiSKkA3Z46OOUPi3xezgkpXDbFMZnFq60Mzm_nLPkrgub_YpKmLfAR78/s288/1399324358561.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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Another easy to find craigslist freebie is strawberries. They'll send runners out like crazy if you don't keep an eye on them! Cut the runners off for more fruit or let them go for more plants for next year. I can tell you that you will be amazed at the taste difference in these smaller berries compared to what you're getting at the store. They're practically candy!<br/>
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<a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5rYXc5H5auk/U2f-3jwCqXI/AAAAAAAAE1M/76DK-cIHgA0/s2560/1399324374557.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5rYXc5H5auk/U2f-3jwCqXI/AAAAAAAAE1M/76DK-cIHgA0/s288/1399324374557.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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Although they take a bit longer to bloom than the poppies the beautiful, deep purple Siberian Iris blooms are worth the wait! They are perhaps the most neglected plant in my garden and yet they bring me beautiful flowers every spring. The down side to these is that they don't bloom as long as other flowers, once they put on their show they are pretty much done. The fun, spiky leaves are a neat shape contrast to most other plants though too. <br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RXX0x4V2CcY/U2f-9KKv5tI/AAAAAAAAE1U/J-da4f0t3FY/s2560/1399324398492.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RXX0x4V2CcY/U2f-9KKv5tI/AAAAAAAAE1U/J-da4f0t3FY/s288/1399324398492.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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Lastly the king of them all- rhubarb. Use it to line path ways, cover unsightly electrical boxes, and, best of all, to eat! There are several varieties that grow in Alaska and they are pretty easy to get from a friend that's dividing. They have leaves bigger than your head and stems thicker than your thumb! If you are an over-waterer these are for you! They do alright with just about any watering but they do especially well when they've been soaked. They are some of the first things to be ready to harvest and they grow all summer long. Every few years you can cut into the base and divide it into 3-4 more plants!<br/>
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Some others that make my list are wild roses, lilacs, arctic kiwi, lily of the valley, lupines, forget me nots, and gooseberries.<br/>
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Don't let the long, cold winter fool you! There are still lots of wonderful, easy things to grow here and you don't even need a greenhouse.<br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-20706046525061449592014-05-05T11:41:00.001-08:002014-05-05T11:41:07.435-08:00<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4vKy4rVoKxI/U2fpUOmcrVI/AAAAAAAAE0c/G5mxoEvT2gA/s2560/1399318863850.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4vKy4rVoKxI/U2fpUOmcrVI/AAAAAAAAE0c/G5mxoEvT2gA/s288/1399318863850.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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We spent the weekend moving stuff around and clearing things out. The end goal is always to have a beautiful, green, playful space, but sometimes getting to that goal is down right messy! <br/>
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<a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWO1MnvMniE/U2fpTMjAu2I/AAAAAAAAE0U/np5Fu7NNVKA/s2560/1399318859194.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PWO1MnvMniE/U2fpTMjAu2I/AAAAAAAAE0U/np5Fu7NNVKA/s288/1399318859194.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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When outside is looking so sad it's hard to imagine that it will all be lush and green soon. Before you know it all those little scrawny seedlings you planted will be dripping in produce and have you hopping around trying to preserve it all! <br/>
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And with that thought it's back to yard work for me! How is your outdoor spring cleaning going?<br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-3575186686654331442014-04-07T10:54:00.001-08:002014-04-07T10:54:43.627-08:00I'm So Ready for Spring!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Unfortunately it's still snowing here. Of course, we live in Alaska and having snow this time of year is just the way it goes. That's not stopping me from being ready for when it finally does all melt!<br/>
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<a href='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AfKxxdm6wtM/U0L0Uuwn5GI/AAAAAAAAEzQ/sttHy32NEhU/s2560/1396896841707.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AfKxxdm6wtM/U0L0Uuwn5GI/AAAAAAAAEzQ/sttHy32NEhU/s288/1396896841707.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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We bought a 10x20 foot steel frame off of Craigslist for just $20 and Joel got construction plastic from an addition at his work. All that together means I get to have a greenhouse this year! I am super excited about it and the warmer weather plants that I get to try! <br/>
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The green thing next to it was going to be the green house before I found the fame. I got it for free off Craigslist last summer. There's a hammock that goes inside and last year we tried some grapes in there but I don't think they made it through the winter. Now we will probably put some sort of a mesh over the top and buy some Arctic Kiwi. We have some in the front yard and it's a struggle to keep it at a manageable height. That makes it perfect for making a nice shady spot. <br/>
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Oh yeah, and the thing in front of it is the rabbit cage but that's a whole other post! It's moving as soon as the snow melts in it's permanent location.<br/>
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<a href='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85wPLYN7wes/U0L0XM5MhMI/AAAAAAAAEzY/rmMGubkcY10/s2560/1396896852279.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85wPLYN7wes/U0L0XM5MhMI/AAAAAAAAEzY/rmMGubkcY10/s288/1396896852279.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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I've already got a ton of stuff growing in the garage. There are over 100 little tomato seedlings alone! I really want to do a lot of canning, dehydrating, and cooking with them this summer. I can't wait to see all the different colored heirloom ones I bought! <br/>
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<a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuom5kpWolP2NyjTdQ1qHyfeJIJXgisoc3p-8H5f0C4iVljGSOUx3NCYazNbtc0J-xUTZtk5d7cJLNrFVSoaeJBw0Hm04XUSzh1rDLK-xNmCHrhlXu3YFdcLyKArXUXCQhgBXiZ-vtHao/s2560/1396896861096.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuom5kpWolP2NyjTdQ1qHyfeJIJXgisoc3p-8H5f0C4iVljGSOUx3NCYazNbtc0J-xUTZtk5d7cJLNrFVSoaeJBw0Hm04XUSzh1rDLK-xNmCHrhlXu3YFdcLyKArXUXCQhgBXiZ-vtHao/s288/1396896861096.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 216px;'/></a><br/>
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Another thing I'm pretty excited about are these Black Eyed Susan Vines. They are growing so fast! I don't usually pull off the lush hanging basket look but these beauties are giving me hope! <br/>
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<a href='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-el1K2Xy9CJo/U0L0bSLNVOI/AAAAAAAAEzo/chfLIM7f4aY/s2560/1396896868497.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-el1K2Xy9CJo/U0L0bSLNVOI/AAAAAAAAEzo/chfLIM7f4aY/s288/1396896868497.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 216px;'/></a><br/>
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Mostly the only outdoor plants in stores right now are in seed and root form. So when I spotted green my overly anxious self HAD to have these hybrid tea roses! I've never grown roses before. Last year, I bought my mom white roses (her favorite) for Mothers Day and they were SO fragrant and beautiful that they made me jealous. So wish me luck!<br/>
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How about where you are? Is the snow holding you back or are you charging full green thumbs ahead?<br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-5313543299776139562014-03-27T00:11:00.001-08:002014-03-27T00:11:52.975-08:00Convenience Blogging<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I'm giving the Bloggeroid app a go here. The reviews sound good but it's something new. If it works, brace yourselves for crappy cell phone pics. <br/>
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<a href='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Fneg49CgCJg/UzPdRao4MQI/AAAAAAAAEzA/UcEUqf7kyUk/s2560/1395907907484.jpeg' onblur='try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}'><img border='0' src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Fneg49CgCJg/UzPdRao4MQI/AAAAAAAAEzA/UcEUqf7kyUk/s288/1395907907484.jpeg' style='display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 288px;'/></a><br/>
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Happy Spring to those of you lucky enough to be enjoying it now!<br/><p style='font-size: xx-small' align='right'>posted from <a href='https://market.android.com/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger'>Bloggeroid</a></p></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-62727644379614539922014-01-31T02:11:00.000-09:002014-01-31T02:11:00.638-09:00A Little Somethin’Somethin’ For Valentines Day<p align="center">I can not tell you how completely head over heals I am for these adorable little balls! </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dOQN0mprBZM/UtJ4iVongaI/AAAAAAAAEv4/soOS92jBTjw/s1600-h/IMG_6438%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6438" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_6438" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iWhKm2ym3Vc/UtJ4jAusSfI/AAAAAAAAEwA/zA9UT5GLNNc/IMG_6438_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">I found these adorable little guys on Pinterest and followed the links back to <a href="http://www.howaboutorange.blogspot.se/2011/11/how-to-make-3d-paper-ball-ornaments.html">How About Orange</a>.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P6mGs9PnY-k/UtJ4jztCdQI/AAAAAAAAEwI/bk6nTsqLGZ4/s1600-h/IMG_6439%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6439" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_6439" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yZD56_0cmtk/UtJ4kjg6_II/AAAAAAAAEwQ/zAGbtJLeqyw/IMG_6439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">The folks over there are so super awesome that they have a pattern for both Sihlouette users AND patterns for those that need to print and cut. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nb5HACVPr8k/UtJ4lGbqfiI/AAAAAAAAEwY/JcwVFSaWd9w/s1600-h/IMG_6440%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6440" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_6440" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f-BCAA3U10k/UtJ4l9WwlGI/AAAAAAAAEwg/XBhZoYD4QfY/IMG_6440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">They are so cute that I made 2 big ones and resized them to make 4 little ones too! I’m just getting started on my Valentines Day décor and these cuties are going to be the <strike>star</strike> balls of the show!</p> <p align="center"> Well, that is if I can bring myself to take down the snowflakes. </p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-11861440751740202012014-01-24T01:59:00.000-09:002014-01-24T01:59:00.919-09:00You’re Mad.<p align="center">Lately I’ve been caught up in all kinds of home repair and kind of paint-by-number crafts that have been fun but not really artistic. I found <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/234327986835668353/">this</a> Pin and it inspired me to get my creative juices flowing. I used a mix of vinyl and finger painting. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nb1vde9ru1U/UtJ2CyZL9RI/AAAAAAAAEvE/4albUms5XXk/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uLI_erlES4k/UtJ2DodiLdI/AAAAAAAAEvM/6an0B9Dv1_0/s1600-h/IMG_6384%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6384" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_6384" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r6s6MKZmgY4/UtJ2EZurRTI/AAAAAAAAEvQ/gxvj48XYMhg/IMG_6384_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="340"></a></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">If you don’t have a vinyl cutting machine you can always stencil, free hand it, or use scrapbooking stickers for your lettering.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BkPUKVjWKwA/UtJ2FEyrdnI/AAAAAAAAEvY/GkbrnUkOYw4/s1600-h/IMG_6385%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6385" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_6385" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b0nNHRbdDPE/UtJ2F9QXmPI/AAAAAAAAEvg/ARcLeDVeblQ/IMG_6385_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">I don’t have any substitute for your fingers though <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Winking smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qzfLdUjg3zc/UtJ2GYKg3-I/AAAAAAAAEvs/ZRSpEAGuk-c/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-32780329793860136232014-01-17T00:32:00.000-09:002014-01-17T00:32:00.140-09:00Whooo Do You think You Are?<p align="center">January brought with it a new foe. An Owl. </p> <p align="center">This is him perched ever so sweetly on my backyard neighbors deck. They are just inside and got to witness him up close through the glass for several hours. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bxnjRyr0ppbSE7CzDUOSClWOSMToOuyFJ-y6pus6LA9EYMfSRDQJxZg9JR7PDH1grmADlpulYMx71oMdYFtXg3LM3U7wt-mNEdV5vT1md3xtfCuyNv7OcA42iskzEzf-AhCgkwlIkTY/s1600-h/IMG_6377%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6377" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_6377" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mrLDCReWdBo/Uskmys0yjtI/AAAAAAAAEuk/dswGi5VZCYo/IMG_6377_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">What I got to do for several hours? Clean up his mess. The mess he made with MY chicken! </p> <p align="center">Not so cute now are ya Mr. Owl.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IpLsr-6Y158/Uskm0RUyUdI/AAAAAAAAEus/QC5iBOAClag/s1600-h/IMG_6378%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_6378" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="IMG_6378" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b38iUwv0LwQ/Uskm1CUgRJI/AAAAAAAAEu0/X9Mw9pnQ8rw/IMG_6378_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">We spent all the daylight hours and into the dark putting up netting over the coop. It looks like a hot mess but we’ll wait until summer when the ground has thawed to put up something more permanent. Luckily he only got one chicken. </p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-30251263258473599632014-01-13T02:29:00.000-09:002014-01-13T02:29:00.484-09:00Ice Skaping and Sledding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What the heck is “skaping” you ask? Well, it’s an aweful lot like “ice skating”but done and said by adorable 3 and 5 year olds. </div>
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Anberlynn’s PTA hosted a sledding and skating party and the girls had a ton of fun!</div>
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Dad got chosen as the best sledding buddy because he pushes the sled as it goes to make it go further and faster. </div>
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I love that they are getting old enough to go out and do winter sports. When they were littler they hated being all bundled up. Now just look at that grin! </div>
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Anberlynn was having so much fun with her Dad that Evelyn and I went and did the skating thing on our own. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-S20F6yPFJgg/UtJ8-9rJReI/AAAAAAAAExs/mD9nM4aGmgI/s1600-h/IMG_6418%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6418" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KSvX8Oow_b4/UtJ8_trwFdI/AAAAAAAAEx0/ZiO4Ku9tzZ0/IMG_6418_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="255" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6418" width="340" /></a></div>
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This is only the second time Evelyn had ever been on the ice. She stayed up pretty well and the shuffle she called “skaping” was pretty adorable. <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-a1OmMcDRV1c/UtJ9AX-nIKI/AAAAAAAAEx4/OkI2BSyE6JA/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxc-B5VDzaf7KwuNPf_8zbMvCh4tBcA8QuCMBTYyWELFcy0CWUfIkb2VwBhD64ES2-q_yXOZoUtjI2uY960DA_aK0T7S3KSqEda66CBGtD4Pdi0emVYl_TUpPpnqVnhGV_JsifEBiy2hQ/s1600-h/IMG_6419%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6419" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VgLdRR1trkk/UtJ9Bmp-4vI/AAAAAAAAEyI/QhtORINIZg8/IMG_6419_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" height="255" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6419" width="340" /></a></div>
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This couldn’t have come at a better time. January is tough for me with so little sun light and it being so cold. I definitely needed to just get out and do something!</div>
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What are you doing to stay active in the winter? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-8720082626932240792014-01-10T01:54:00.000-09:002014-01-12T02:33:38.315-09:00Resolutions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Some people are really into the whole New Years Resolution thing and others aren’t. To me it seems like the year end holidays were the last push of a huge marathon and now, for just a little bit, there’s a moment to catch your breath and look back at how you did on that race. Did you give up half way through? Did you fall but get back up again? Did you learn from the rough spots? Were you better for it in the end? And, most importantly, what are you going to do to make it better next time? </div>
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With that in mind here are some of my resolutions and why I chose them:</div>
<ol>
<li> <div align="center">
Cleaning. Last year I made the switch to vinegar as my main cleaner, gathered my cleaning supplies into containers under each bathroom sink, and started making to do lists. All of that has helped me stream line cleaning and I hope to learn a few more tricks this year. A clean house makes me feel awesome. </div>
</li>
<li> <div align="center">
Journaling. Last year I tried smash booking. It is a fun, portable way of getting memories written down. My biggest secret fear is forgetting. Dementia scares me to death. I want to be better about writing in my journals, smash booking, and scrapbooking. Blogging falls into this category too. I’ve been sucky about keeping up with records and I've got the blog stats to prove it. </div>
</li>
<li> <div align="center">
Money. People groan about this one just like they groan about the group of newbies that just joined the gym. But, for me, it needs to be done. Car and house repairs completely wiped out our budget last this year. And it sucked. This year is a year for rebuilding and getting back on track. </div>
</li>
<li> <div align="center">
Spiritual. As a family we really slacked off on going to church this year. I used work and home stuff as an excuse but really, there’s no reason why I couldn’t have sat down with my scriptures or some music for a minute. This year that will change. I need the peace and the strength that it brings me. </div>
</li>
<li> <div align="center">
Finish. My word of the year. We have had so much going on that there were a lot of things we started and didn't have a chance to finish. The entry needs primed and painted. The backyard needs some gravel. The recessed lighting we got last January is still sitting in the garage. The goal here is to be able to walk around my house and not have to explain why the flooring is here but not there. I want to be relaxed when I am in my own home, not stressed about what I haven’t done. </div>
</li>
</ol>
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Whew! Think I can take it on? It’s a week and a half in and so far I’m doing good! </div>
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Are you a resolution maker? Do you start yours at a different time of the year? Or do you just wing it? </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-21506483453917564472014-01-03T01:46:00.001-09:002014-01-03T01:46:01.514-09:00Word Of The Year<p align="center">How is everyone out there? This last year was a whirlwind of things going wrong and I am to excited to get back on track! </p> <p align="center">Last year I chose the word Simplify for my word of the year. It ended up working really well because sometimes that was all I had left to do after the chaos drained all the money, transportation, and often time. But you don’t need a lot of those things to take a minute out and get back to basics. The trash can is always right there, ready for a purge. Any box makes a great donation bin. And you can do more than you think with beans and rice! The most important part of it was spending time with family. They don’t need a lot of fancy things, and time is golden. It was such a refreshing mantra for me and I hope that you try it for yourself one year!</p> <p align="center">So…..are you ready for this years word? </p> <p align="center">Finish. </p> <p align="center">We have lots of things in the garage just begging to be done, walls that need a little primer, a backyard that could use some TLC, scrapbooks that need put together, stuff that just really needs done. Most of it won’t cost much to do and a bunch of it will be free too. </p> <p align="center">When I ditched our third bedroom in favor of a craft room I really tried to finish off everything that I could. Sure, one day it could have new baseboards and I’d like all the furniture to be white. There are always tweaks to be made. Overall though, I am at peace with it. There are only two spaces in my entire house that I can say that about, the craft room and the entry way. I’d like to say that about all of it. </p> <p align="center">So that’s my mantra for this year. to Finish. To tie up loose ends. To bring what we have into full use. To be at peace with my home. </p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-64632622711852660962013-09-27T17:45:00.000-08:002013-09-27T17:45:01.912-08:00Drying Citrus (without dehydrator) Firsties<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to my final (for now) installment of food drying firsties where I'll share my successes (and flops) drying citrus!</div>
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Sorry for the long delay with this post. School, work, life gets so busy sometimes it takes catching a long bout of pneumonia for me to hold still long enough to finish this post!<br />
<br />
Although it would be more energy efficient to use a
dehydrator, I’m a newly married college student. I don't have one. But now a dehydrator is
definitely on my list as, For the first time, I try my hand at drying lemons and oranges!<br />
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Although not as satisfyingly easy as baking <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=7078975691392710244;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname">apple chips</a>,
drying citrus is so rewarding when you get it right! </div>
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They’re beautiful, fragrant, and festive in any season!</div>
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Citrus was initially the first thing I tried drying, and I had at first attempted using a sunny windowsill during the day, and oven on warm
with the door propped open a few inches in the evening. I would have
thought this summer weather and climate (hot, dry, mountain altitude/slightly desert)
to be perfect accommodations for drying citrus, but it dried the rind and pulp
membranes so slowly that the flesh remained moist and just asking to mold.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfJ3elUgC0ZXuGTn-4cSzFzXgykG39u_LAUYUm3ATWOzIXGgN1sIIcynTeBMhX2C25eaGtdRN0ZWSLDF5nGy9QTcs21TOo6Xl0kq5H5N3tjJOuxMX0Bknw30igVsRkZEkK43aopNrFzs/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfJ3elUgC0ZXuGTn-4cSzFzXgykG39u_LAUYUm3ATWOzIXGgN1sIIcynTeBMhX2C25eaGtdRN0ZWSLDF5nGy9QTcs21TOo6Xl0kq5H5N3tjJOuxMX0Bknw30igVsRkZEkK43aopNrFzs/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First attempt. Pretty, but a bit too thick and juicy.</td></tr>
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I moved on to my other drying projects (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=7078975691392710244;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname">apples</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=3092137910547163694;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname">sage</a>) for a day or two and
kept an eye out for some different approaches that seemed more promising. After
discovering my delightful Mandoline slicer and having such improved success
with my <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=7078975691392710244;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname">apples</a>, I came back to my citrus with renewed hope. Ok, so the Mandoline
will just chew on your orange, unfortunately. I didn’t let that get me down,
I knew I was on the right track! Maybe my confidence was boosted by the success
with my apples and sage, or maybe I just picked firmer, more oblong oranges,
but I used the same porcelain knife I’d used in the beginning and was able to
cut thinner wedges that just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">looked</i>
right. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMWwPT0J_OqN6lZccXjzkkI1RjkrSA9SVj6EhyphenhyphenodXk-FxtvWsIUE0sNBgsfqPepTkTgSOCuOhhRi_MVhm2_yjp0e3d4Yd2hYN0wVscOYnUhmJIY2Y9TW2kILn2TXANEjf3CXl-xmazDo/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMWwPT0J_OqN6lZccXjzkkI1RjkrSA9SVj6EhyphenhyphenodXk-FxtvWsIUE0sNBgsfqPepTkTgSOCuOhhRi_MVhm2_yjp0e3d4Yd2hYN0wVscOYnUhmJIY2Y9TW2kILn2TXANEjf3CXl-xmazDo/s200/IMG_0652.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...If you're wondering what I mean by porcelain knife</td></tr>
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What You Need:<br />
-firm oranges more oblong in shape<br />
-firm lemons<br />
-paper or teatowels (for dabbing up extra juice from your slices)<br />
-your favorite slicing knife<br />
-cooling rack and cookie sheet<br />
-oven<br />
-timer<br />
-wood spoon<br />
optional cinnamon spice mixture of your choice<br />
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<u>What I learned:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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-Quite possibly most important: don’t dry all your oranges
at once! Allow room for learning from your experiments, so you don’t
automatically think it’s too hard “if at first you don’t succeed”.<br />
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Bake oranges and lemons separately as they behave slightly different in their temp/timing needs. thi also separates the flavors if you're going to put any spices on your oranges.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarqLqcj5vo7Zp7Fje3VNtFjs6M7DGwgME2nVr5Te96aalOlGOEbSHSNWLDK9DD_e4rSqfWvdGGy6DavTycrqweSCGhePo2H5MTf7WAc3zUrjIIzsH5h48NDx6HXvPPgRe43Uvz4s-f5A/s1600/IMG_0552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarqLqcj5vo7Zp7Fje3VNtFjs6M7DGwgME2nVr5Te96aalOlGOEbSHSNWLDK9DD_e4rSqfWvdGGy6DavTycrqweSCGhePo2H5MTf7WAc3zUrjIIzsH5h48NDx6HXvPPgRe43Uvz4s-f5A/s320/IMG_0552.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I originally combined my oranges and lemons but the smells are richer and better separated, and, as I said before, they cook a little differently.</td></tr>
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Pick firm lemons and firm oranges more oval in shape than round. They don’t
have to be so ripe as you might think, (I thought that would boost the flavor
and scent throw but I’m now convinced that just made them less workable because
of the extra sugar and juice and weaker structure)</div>
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Finally, the process that works!<br />
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-Preheat oven, or, if you’ve just finished baking <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=7078975691392710244;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname">apples</a>, lower your
oven temp to just about 200 degrees. (you’ll have to keep an eye to get
a feel for the proper temp for your climate)</div>
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-Slice your oranges and lemons thin enough so that they are fairly transparent. Ive learned that there is a fine line between unstably thin and un-dryably thick! (I made up some words there, roll with it)</div>
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-place a few slices on a paper towel at a time, fold paper towel over the top, and press somewhat firmly to soak up extra juice.</div>
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(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Optional for oranges)-</i> rub
your cinnamon or cinna-sugar-nutmeg mixture onto each slice (both sides, just
one, I don’t think it really matters)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlAJaGf1MIV7MMEbYxCNBx7whewtBo-BuxJOGkiRk5pqnUVOufRD0nKHkrHpdbH209H_YMGxzOVgID6Vd1_DwwU1xb18O68Qn5VT1UIl0HzFtjoyQLgphOmm8CICdyUytJZULLYtvM1E/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlAJaGf1MIV7MMEbYxCNBx7whewtBo-BuxJOGkiRk5pqnUVOufRD0nKHkrHpdbH209H_YMGxzOVgID6Vd1_DwwU1xb18O68Qn5VT1UIl0HzFtjoyQLgphOmm8CICdyUytJZULLYtvM1E/s320/IMG_0629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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-Space them evenly on your trusty cooling rack/cookie sheet
combo</div>
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-place them in oven, propping slightly ajar with wooden
spoon</div>
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-set your timer for 15 minutes to begin with and inspect
your progress. You’ll see that if the flesh is beginning to brown on one side of any slice that it is baking or drying too quickly in which case turn it down a bit.</div>
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These are fragile so you’ll need to babysit these every
15-20 minutes so they’re juuust right. For oranges, you’ll know when the edges are slightly
shriveled and the flesh slightly darker and scaly to the touch, (no juicy, pulpy
spots). if your lemons darken that's ok as long as the color is fairly uniform throughoutthe batch. Voila! you did it!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemons</td></tr>
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I love the stained glass affect these get when placed in glass dishes to catch the light.</div>
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I’ll edit later to share how I use them in other projects
but for now, I’d say to store them in freezer Ziploc bags (after they’ve cooled
and you’ve admired them properly of course).<br />
Zip them locs almost all the way,
leaving space to suck out the air, and pop them in the freezer till you’re
ready to use them!</div>
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Speaking of using them for other projects, of course I’m
thinking of using them in sachets but the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how </i>of that is an overwhelming wealth of possibilities! I’m thinking dipping them in
wax with some citrus/vanilla/spice fragrance combo and, if I don’t use them all
in sachets, I might string them up with cloves in the center for some accent
garland, or simply display them as potpourri in a little dish on the counter.
I’m excited!</div>
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This concludes my adventures with drying decorative, scent-sational foods! … for now.</div>
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If you haven’t already, read my related posts where I
attempt for the first time and share my success at drying apples and sage!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=7078975691392710244;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname">Drying Apples Firsties (Baked Apple Chips)</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=3092137910547163694;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname">First Time Drying Sage</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-82397768783827911882013-09-14T22:01:00.001-08:002013-09-14T22:06:02.056-08:00My New Craft Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Once upon a time I had a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4438158511299821218#editor/target=post;postID=1125899931028723042;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=15;src=postname">craft room/office</a>.</div>
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<img height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyX0XAkwDYt6CXqPe9o8IKy4R-1kkiQEl7zBYIoy48s5iqi3N9WK-MZ7xgAXiuX7HUZM0N3amkdhA11tpmcr_J6R0seHh5ziKUjidaq1LspVWeG19ZZLHP9pEaSsKtInuip0-qMDmiIF3S/s320/IMG_2617.JPG" width="340" /></div>
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It was kind of awful but it was mine and I loved it. </div>
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When my two little princesses decided they were out to kill each other I gave it up and <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-here.html">moved into the closet</a>. </div>
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<img height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXSsYw5pFysgiCjIfXmw8qb0Qshe9Tf5ff55tew-N_OhWzWgH9BaYjhyUrIATFtdivu0MOASKi_2FFsfp57eYvfr6AW42PuhdpKc1HfMohsRJd6OwyIBTEf8SuqchCKXK0bOGtkMRKDVB/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" width="258" /></div>
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It was all very Harry Potter. </div>
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Perhaps my sacrifice was an inspiration to the princesses? They decided that having separate spaces was no fun and that they loved each other enough to sleep in the same bed. No exceptions. Ugh. </div>
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So no one was using <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/and-nowthe-moment-youve-all-been.html">this room</a> except to make a mess out of.</div>
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<img height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25uW4-EO3Sw3a_DwRu3PfDZdS2eoEytZHmkLgeqoNWQXaAJPuhq7-tVNIZ3jU6vieM2wUOycqHN5as7H9giQ_uTwbLWaQdDXxPQXYG2-37U3tCoqKdnSu41DIGjnb7458xLkh92Iyf8hh/s640/IMG_3541.JPG" width="257" /></div>
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I hate messes. I hated <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-here.html">my closet</a>. I needed some space! </div>
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And thus my craft room was born!</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5kfyX9WNzss/UjVM2aWFrSI/AAAAAAAAEo8/dC1_ORA6SOg/s1600-h/IMG_6141%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6141" height="340" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wpN304JRBXs/UjVM3TcjRaI/AAAAAAAAEpE/REVbbk4cMtc/IMG_6141_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6141" width="255" /></a></div>
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The only thing I bought for this was under $30 in paint, which I used about 1/2 of, around $100 in flooring, and $24 in curtains. All of it came from Lowes, bought with gift cards I got for Christmas and my birthday. I use this room every day so we can just file it under BEST PRESENT EVER!!! </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SsXM1cHf4h8/UjVM4CsgN3I/AAAAAAAAEpM/CYw0s3Zu5IU/s1600-h/IMG_6127%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6127" height="340" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FPUB4DzF4a4/UjVM46VH4zI/AAAAAAAAEpU/FHjaaigk3uk/IMG_6127_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6127" width="255" /></a></div>
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My <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-hiding-in-your-closet.html">FREE Craft Armoire</a> is still my favorite! It came in from the living room. Let me tell you, the roll outs works SO much better on this new flooring than it did on the carpet. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BHcegvpz-pw/UjVM5m4y5OI/AAAAAAAAEpc/r7xLDoZglFA/s1600-h/IMG_6128%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6128" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-A8JIyb3c4KE/UjVM6Bw8vZI/AAAAAAAAEpk/PiQFtBF2lcE/IMG_6128_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6128" width="340" /></a></div>
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It packs a punch holding all of my paper.</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T6VtvzJNmjk/UjVM61TtaiI/AAAAAAAAEps/SlqEYEU1IKo/s1600-h/IMG_6129%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6129" height="255" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FGXuupIBC3k/UjVM7pvlcTI/AAAAAAAAEp0/bKhHdwkvqR0/IMG_6129_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6129" width="340" /></a></div>
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My washi tape is on a tension rod. </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xmaeCvpwZSQ/UjVM8bHupKI/AAAAAAAAEp8/e-vG8qB1los/s1600-h/IMG_6131%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6131" height="340" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3eT8BR9wYjQ/UjVM9JEbq6I/AAAAAAAAEqE/9v1_yQdy2co/IMG_6131_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6131" width="255" /></a></div>
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All of the boxes are labeled. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-21eMFyLUfMY/UjVM93ououI/AAAAAAAAEqM/Nk4GPg-DshI/s1600-h/IMG_6133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6133" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qWqxYrrIZgU/UjVM-dUMUzI/AAAAAAAAEqU/Cvf8Opm4wTc/IMG_6133_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6133" width="255" /></a></div>
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And I added Command Hooks for extra storage. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z9ubiqoxSJc/UjVM_Z-40SI/AAAAAAAAEqc/DznI0PgXfqg/s1600-h/IMG_6134%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6134" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5k0cVfMb8sy5ImNzWdVPTkifE8ccLePsheewpfbS9FV-JyP2IQSX2z4XMSaUHY-t1dT8_-yJKf5u3EVcsj5kfAchQQrMGO_z5fQZhjWYN3P-W2xpvXBgJqIG8cdRMByDiK7zOHTOkTnA/?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6134" width="255" /></a></div>
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I was <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2013/06/filing-my-fabric.html">Pinspired to file</a> my small stash of fabric. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CrJT5nKZtDk/UjVNAx4y2sI/AAAAAAAAEqs/-4GNsyQWwx4/s1600-h/IMG_6136%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6136" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XZnPKeQ8hJE/UjVNBYbgOUI/AAAAAAAAEq0/olK_ql0djIY/IMG_6136_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6136" width="255" /></a></div>
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And even <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2012/10/13-goes-long-way.html">my $13 sewing machine</a> has a little space. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-vKM4RpnIQsg/UjVNCGv1yPI/AAAAAAAAEq8/sRD6iJZUL-4/s1600-h/IMG_6137%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6137" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4s5Isph0LLs/UjVNC91pnsI/AAAAAAAAErE/HvhmMgZUC9k/IMG_6137_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6137" width="340" /></a></div>
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Looking back into the hall I have the fish tank. It came from the dining area. While a little Chinese restaurant dining experience is cool, I really love having it in here to calm me down. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AWWuOeGvl2E/UjVNDlbua-I/AAAAAAAAErM/IUdf1HCjPB4/s1600-h/IMG_6138%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6138" height="255" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZI_93tOZFwU/UjVNEYG-zPI/AAAAAAAAErU/j7RLh9RY2vU/IMG_6138_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6138" width="340" /></a></div>
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Just inside the door is the girls area. I repainted the chairs we got for free, brought the repurposed chalk table (it used to be our dining table!) up from their new bedroom, and hung the <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/abc-board.html">letter art</a> I made. The $20 file cabinet from the <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-here.html">closet office</a> serves as a magnet board for them and an organizer for me. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-333_ZC_jhKE/UjVNFI6tB5I/AAAAAAAAErc/AVtMo4ZPZaA/s1600-h/IMG_6139%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6139" height="340" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-B8wRMlwE_DA/UjVNF2uTCsI/AAAAAAAAErk/h9F72EhmvvA/IMG_6139_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6139" width="255" /></a></div>
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The table in the back is one Joel and his Dad made when he was younger. The chair is from the dining room but that will be replaced soon. </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FlF9adz13Ys/UjVNGvGhyXI/AAAAAAAAErs/lTnOLtSDwBY/s1600-h/IMG_6142%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6142" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pjwyWYiPqu8/UjVNHEQt3CI/AAAAAAAAEr0/RylEkJdjKus/IMG_6142_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6142" width="255" /></a></div>
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This little nook between the <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2012/09/whats-hiding-in-your-closet.html">craft armoire</a> and the desk holds additional fabric, my Cricut, and various craft supplies for the girls. </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-N1Zwg4YKOpE/UjVNH8CQPmI/AAAAAAAAEr8/XauvykPYRBo/s1600-h/IMG_6145%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6145" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YnrojSOaoBg/UjVNItauzvI/AAAAAAAAEsE/GUkuJVcdTjk/IMG_6145_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6145" width="340" /></a></div>
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This rug I got from Lowes for $20 with the gift cards too. It’s been in the girls room downstairs. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hhfkDloofHc/UjVNJYx3BSI/AAAAAAAAEsM/o5VOaxFRVQg/s1600-h/IMG_6144%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6144" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7QqyrjhNlqI/UjVNKEf5IJI/AAAAAAAAEsU/vwwfdAYH_f8/IMG_6144_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_6144" width="255" /></a></div>
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I have envied it from the moment I brought it home. I love the clean lines and geometric pattern. Now it’s mine! Muhahah! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yN8jRGs3d7N7Utg4rmCKSe0LyJW1q_Ii0YAr_d46mOItn63N3azecVMV1xZ4Ms9qylmAxOPf6vhtEhd2Z1H-NsMFMrdWk5Jh_pfEeJgsjR_mfcOY0iuni5I41KVmByJlGWsefn7U3nQ/s1600-h/IMG_6140%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6140" height="340" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iVpIC0L2Cn4/UjVNLevNEOI/AAAAAAAAEsk/pFmI1QGMkyg/IMG_6140_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6140" width="255" /></a></div>
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I think that about covers it.</div>
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Well, there’s actually a whole other small armoire behind the file cabinet, to the right of the desk. It holds craft supplies and toys. </div>
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I will definitely give you a post about out new flooring when I’m done getting it put in throughout the living room. It’s UNDER $1/sf! </div>
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The paint color is Quill by Olympic, the same that I used in the <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2013/05/painted-bathroom-backsplash.html">bathroom</a>. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-87318718382651624882013-09-06T17:44:00.000-08:002013-09-06T18:13:17.841-08:00Easy Fall Banner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TuJuQSbAttI/UiqJV5IcXPI/AAAAAAAAEl0/CQRzkQH-EF0/s1600-h/IMG_6126%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6126" height="255" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wMYSH9DzZr8/UiqJcwEVnBI/AAAAAAAAEl8/Yxtm8ImAFvk/IMG_6126_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6126" width="340" /></a></div>
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Normally I’m the last one to admit summer’s over but after seeing an inspiration photo this morning (I forgot to save the link, oops!) I couldn’t help but get into the fall crafting spirit! </div>
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There are a lot of steps but it’s easy, I swear! </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-39397t4zhVk/UiqJdhVyOZI/AAAAAAAAEmE/Ee7E3UVznWY/s1600-h/IMG_6094%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6094" height="255" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Amn_flY7gno/UiqJfrsEEvI/AAAAAAAAEmM/82tbwZJeS-o/IMG_6094_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6094" width="340" /></a></div>
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First I made a template and cut out pages from an old book. Pendants are super easy to free hand but if you need a template click <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgOT89G9waP3S1OCAFl7QR5Jl_WQdreLWLbTy78nO9rFsv3PRibWE4cme7QBUK35k8FAZpzMCzboWV4u52nTurqNIJOM7zsS2tt9hkQnvCmSo-P5-IAbCyNPj6cOtgpnRR5H0nElgIuXe/s1600/pennant+template.jpg">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U_OwrCWpWtU/UiqJgXh2b1I/AAAAAAAAEmU/G59eEqgmxc4/s1600-h/IMG_6096%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6096" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZBLPZyU9W6M/UiqJhASJamI/AAAAAAAAEmc/BsvqaPFHfh8/IMG_6096_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6096" width="340" /></a></div>
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Then, I ran all the pages through my crimper to give them a little extra somethin’ somethin’. If you don’t have a crimper you could crumple the pages t get all that delicious texture. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rIlpDultktg/UiqJh-TpgBI/AAAAAAAAEmk/QJRiBV1cS3Y/s1600-h/IMG_6097%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6097" height="255" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IMgSSUoTWJ4/UiqJjhnkklI/AAAAAAAAEms/hnDlE-nysPs/IMG_6097_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6097" width="340" /></a></div>
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Here they are looking all crimped and ready for pumpkins! </div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H7M-TQWZF-U/UiqJmdeZgeI/AAAAAAAAEm0/XJu3QWOs_WA/s1600-h/IMG_6101%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6101" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_7KGickyhP4/UiqJo5dqIMI/AAAAAAAAEm8/7AhXQtXEwjo/IMG_6101_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6101" width="340" /></a></div>
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My pendants are about 4 inches wide so I cut 3 different 12x12 scrapbooking papers into 4x4 squares to ensure I couldn’t goof up. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KlJFm-bA1Jw/UiqJpyTgr-I/AAAAAAAAEnE/HT_LZQQGKd8/s1600-h/IMG_6102%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6102" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hKh7lpc38YM/UiqJqv8580I/AAAAAAAAEnM/KhtpPC1WCOI/IMG_6102_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6102" width="340" /></a></div>
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</div>
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Because I had already cut my papers to the maximum size I for my pumpkins I could free hand cut my pumpkins without worrying if they would be too small or too big. Don’t be too hard on your pumpkin cutting skills. They are an organic shape, just go with the flow. </div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lLuSwflzPWg/UiqJrYVJcwI/AAAAAAAAEnU/RsszRbmyWNE/s1600-h/IMG_6103%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6103" height="255" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VU4i4Nq1sMA/UiqJsE3cvVI/AAAAAAAAEnc/1obIIz5AgS0/IMG_6103_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6103" width="340" /></a></div>
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</div>
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I pulled out my distressing in and just rubbed the entire pad over the edges. This helped define them a little so they wouldn’t blend in with the book paper. </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UpylMKaSnTc/UiqJs0juAaI/AAAAAAAAEnk/hKwdOzLAzwo/s1600-h/IMG_6104%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6104" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kKBVkGB9ivM/UiqJtqQLoeI/AAAAAAAAEns/MOnkRAf_4X4/IMG_6104_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6104" width="340" /></a></div>
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</div>
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I didn’t actually find any orange paper I wanted so I added a little orange with a floral stamp and some orange ink. </div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IH1ew3ucg98/UiqJupYVCtI/AAAAAAAAEn0/lGzaK5285UI/s1600-h/IMG_6106%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6106" height="255" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-U0kbELEJjk8/UiqJvdInF-I/AAAAAAAAEn8/XoF0XCsqyrY/IMG_6106_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6106" width="340" /></a></div>
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Almost there I promise! I gathered up some random buttons and turned my glue gun on low/cool. </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8WCw2_teuw4/UiqJwOWA-SI/AAAAAAAAEoE/RvqYRLOm6KE/s1600-h/IMG_6110%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6110" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-30oGds0ThQ8/UiqJxIS1vsI/AAAAAAAAEoM/cqCLiMBoe1k/IMG_6110_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6110" width="340" /></a></div>
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</div>
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Normally I’m an all High setting kind of gal. Ain’t nobody got time to wait for the glue to melt! BUT for this project the Cool setting is better because it will give you a little more depth. I’ve learned by trial and error that glue sticks or pop dots flatten your crimping right back out and hot glue solves all that. </div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GNI5V9cm0u0/UiqJyWAoqXI/AAAAAAAAEoU/tcg3bDhBwEY/s1600-h/IMG_6108%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6108" height="255" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7bZPg8qsRN8/UiqJzfFoycI/AAAAAAAAEoc/1AFoCIV5Js4/IMG_6108_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6108" width="340" /></a></div>
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</div>
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Glue a button on each pumpkin then, glue the pumpkin on your pendant. Attach it to you string by folding it over and gluing the sting inside the fold.</div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fhJ1_lTbpeo/UiqJ0b2TMTI/AAAAAAAAEok/M8XvGDcAjgI/s1600-h/IMG_6113%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_6113" height="255" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6Ss1rzvHdS4/UiqJ1SN3PLI/AAAAAAAAEos/CEn9QhsQHtA/IMG_6113_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_6113" width="340" /></a></div>
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Hang it up and you’re done! </div>
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How about you all? Are you ready for Fall? </div>
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</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-70789756913927102442013-09-04T09:30:00.000-08:002013-09-05T13:12:31.979-08:00Drying Apples Firsties (Baked Apple Chips) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It still counts as a First if I perfect my methods over the
course of a few days, right? </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, again I was reading about dehydrating without
an actual dehydrator, and read that it can be done with regular fans, oven on
warm, sunny window sill… none of this worked for me. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tried these options with both apples
and citrus. My grapefruit, oranges and lemons turned out mushy with juicy
insides that were sure to mold if I were to use them in a sachet or stored for any extended amount of time, so I had to
throw them out. The apples took forever too and were just gross. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to the
books, and browsing! I ran into a friend who happened to bake apple chips the
same day as me (crazy? Crazy.) and had better success than me, so I took some of her tips for my next attempt.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had been cutting apples with a knife. For dehydrating,
slices of anything need to be quite thin, so I cut as thin as I could but a few
flesh wounds later (and I have a pretty good track record with knives), they
were still a little too thick. My friend said she made her chips like this
(with a few twists from other things I tried):</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You will need:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-A Mandoline slicer</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(If you're like me, you may have one and not know it until your friend shows you a picture!)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OxSFQxPrSAD62-mXD39liBVTTFg6B4ueEyNaoNRqy0UqBtdoBnLU89BPd2FnKJKOkN0V-pAl2YDZzL-HgH2baZtHcgMcoIo7aUXkvERfJjU9LcF_o6Fi-6LsMZsVIFXCllwXj-crkGE/s1600/IMG_0647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OxSFQxPrSAD62-mXD39liBVTTFg6B4ueEyNaoNRqy0UqBtdoBnLU89BPd2FnKJKOkN0V-pAl2YDZzL-HgH2baZtHcgMcoIo7aUXkvERfJjU9LcF_o6Fi-6LsMZsVIFXCllwXj-crkGE/s320/IMG_0647.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-2-4 green or more crispy, tart apples (this provides a few
batches, but not a ton, which is great for beginners who are also slight
perfectionists like me!)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-cookie sheet</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-cooling rack</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-oven (and timer)</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Optional, Yet Recommended:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-apple juice</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-lemon juice (this helps keep apples from browning)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-2-4 tspcinnamon (good for eating or just potpourri) </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-2sugar</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-a tiny pinch of nutmeg (I didn’t have it, but if I did, I’d use it!)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-containers (for sliced apples)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-apple corer (or tiny lid of about the same circumference)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I didn’t core the apples before I cut them because that
would make them collapse easier under the force of fine slicing.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preheat your oven. While at college, I’ve learned that altitude makes a big
difference with your stove and oven. I don’t remember ever burning anything
growing up, then I moved 5 hours northeast of home and burned almost everything
I attempted to cook! I’m thinking that is why the air drying or oven-on-warm
method worked for other bloggers and not me. So, according to my altitude,
(elevation, 4,865 ft) THIS is how to succeed:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preheat to 250-275 degrees Farenheit.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, after removing the stickers and washing thoroughly, of
course, slice them apples, every last one. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next, we take care of the cores, but prepare a container to
soak your apples as you core them. You have two options for how to do this:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Option 1:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fill a container with a few cups of water and a few tsp
lemon juice (Lemon juice helps keep apples from browning- I’m not sure how big
a difference it makes since the oven turns your apples golden anyway)</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Option 2:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fill container with a few cups of apple juice. This is
mainly for apple chips that you intend to eat, as the juice is sugary and could
possibly cause them not to last as long if you plan to preserve them.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tried each to see what I liked better and haven’t found
much difference so far except that soaking in apple juice causes the juice to
taste like fruit leather, very sweet and yummy, though not as natural in taste.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">soak for 10-25 minutes</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to coring our apples!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't have a corer but I had a tiny lemon oil lid about the right size. you don't need to core every slice, just the tougher parts that already begin to look brown as you approach them after slicing. I love the look of the slices that don't require coring, they look like little flowers! Here are some slices that were cored and one that didn't require it:</span></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bdve5VxIApoV5G6e2kKK9elad-3RUCLEX0DSj5J7wxNZM_6ZogFmEgxB7b-ucDAxBlqohyphenhyphenRfQjyB-LCb-TzgRaiTQECCY2HZrKZg_4H36tYo6kY3_kU8pLEk6kzLavhyphenhyphenYCt4IYRS3cU/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bdve5VxIApoV5G6e2kKK9elad-3RUCLEX0DSj5J7wxNZM_6ZogFmEgxB7b-ucDAxBlqohyphenhyphenRfQjyB-LCb-TzgRaiTQECCY2HZrKZg_4H36tYo6kY3_kU8pLEk6kzLavhyphenhyphenYCt4IYRS3cU/s320/IMG_0636.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They're pretty both ways :)</span></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To be clear, you should toss your slices in to soak as you core them, then soak while you prepare cookie sheet and rack and </span></o:p></div>
</div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you're going to add cinnamon or a mixture of that, nutmeg, and sugar, now is the time to prepare this in a bowl, and rub it on each apple slice as you place evenly on a cookie sheet. </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ready to pop these babies in the oven!</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Stick the handle of a wooden spoon between the oven and it's door for some air circulation. </span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">set the timer for 18-20 minutes and flip slices over, replace in oven with wooden spoon prop, and bake for another 18-20 minutes and repeat as you see slices golden and curl around edges until brown and woodlike, but not burnt! Here are some more pictures!</span></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFYfZ7_M-AC8v0y2Gx-zljHbkjnz8tukWT612r15ZNKu8NOaoNv560QzF4NOR_hAG_KUgM_377wSA5o1Pg6u4g8FuBvxw5_D0zoFv0rMJaA1o40Iwc2SQ53WpvL1_h4RiGspShVOkEuk/s1600/IMG_0638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFYfZ7_M-AC8v0y2Gx-zljHbkjnz8tukWT612r15ZNKu8NOaoNv560QzF4NOR_hAG_KUgM_377wSA5o1Pg6u4g8FuBvxw5_D0zoFv0rMJaA1o40Iwc2SQ53WpvL1_h4RiGspShVOkEuk/s320/IMG_0638.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jSpcie1gHnxkDQ3MNY_U2A_afxcHC4RqcjTWD8T0lPnBwbdg9YCCMwEgZJMMGBy7JoTK_xqHrdSbFR-IeVCwfdwgGK0xdudNoOfzmfsOpIOL4zJPHOUjfEmuh6cOjooyPxyDh3xPzUU/s1600/IMG_0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jSpcie1gHnxkDQ3MNY_U2A_afxcHC4RqcjTWD8T0lPnBwbdg9YCCMwEgZJMMGBy7JoTK_xqHrdSbFR-IeVCwfdwgGK0xdudNoOfzmfsOpIOL4zJPHOUjfEmuh6cOjooyPxyDh3xPzUU/s320/IMG_0616.JPG" width="264" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Filters weren't my friends while trying to capture the proper, beautiful color of these apples, but here is the finished product! Ready to munch or save in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the freezer until you're ready to put out for potpourri!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next we'll discover how to win with citrus!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aubree Out!</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-30921379105471636942013-09-01T17:48:00.000-08:002013-09-01T19:59:11.214-08:00First Time Drying Sage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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(Aubree here!)</div>
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We’re not completely moved in and situated yet, but, after
weeks of traveling, camping, visiting family and unloading everything in our
new (very toasty) apartment, I couldn’t wait to get started on a project other
than moving, moving, moving.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This project, I could rationalize taking a break for because it still has something to do with making our impression on the place. Our apartment building is over 100 years old (with old paint, wood, no a/c), and all our belongings
including much of our clothing were in storage for almost a year. So during this hot, dry summer, everything smelled very musty! Although we
kept all windows, cupboards and drawers open, and washed our clothes (twice),
everything still smelled like a thrift store. </div>
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I wanted my remedy for this to be creative, FRESH, natural,
and cute!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sooo eventually I’ll be trying my hand at natural citrus sachets using lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and sage. </div>
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Although the sachets are the ultimate goal, we have to prepare and dry each ingredient, which becomes it's own fun series of projects that have multiple uses open to your creativity if not for a sachet.</div>
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First stop in this series: Dried Sage</div>
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(If you're considering the sachet): Although fall is fast approaching, it is still HOT and sage
has a wonderfully fresh and cooling smell to preserve summer air and offset the tendency citrus has to
be “autumny”. I’m so excited to combine sage with lemon! I wish I had mint and
lavender, but it’s too late in the season, at least in this small town.</div>
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As this is one of my firsts, and I’m impatiently excited, I
did some very quick reading on the subject and have read that dehydrators work best for
drying herbs, citrus and fruit AND saves energy, but I’m on quite a modest
budget and am trying to making do with what I have! </div>
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They say one of the best
environments for drying herbs is a barn during the summer because of the hot,
dry air circulation, but not everyone has a barn. (Relax, it can still be done!) And hey, I’m on the top floor of my building with no a/c
and good windows, so that’s like a barn, right? (insert funny about being born
in a barn here)</div>
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<u>What we need to dry sage (bare minimum)<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<u><br /></u></div>
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-Twist ties, string, or rubber bands</div>
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-Fresh sage (At this point in the year, the closest I got to
fresh sage was from the grocery store.)</div>
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-pant hanger (any hanger with a straight rod will do, keep
in mind if it is metal or too slick a surface, your sage bunches will slide
together and not aerate properly)</div>
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-paper bag (I hear it’s preferable, I didn’t have one. Maybe
it would speed up the process?)</div>
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-Scissors</div>
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-window or oven handle (the hanger needs to hold onto a
surface that will provide good air circulation)</div>
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Sneak Peek:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyLkr01DhjF1Pctuz-SDUW4x_8aw0UPi7cBH79gyaOg83nb6-TNNfNqwKDnVbxbHpAFPAzmkmdfj5u-IkYeZI8zMWvjgFWmES1lTchWpaItM2stN3qBoeEegSiIHdDQMNf8vh6snLsRM/s1600/IMG_0565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyLkr01DhjF1Pctuz-SDUW4x_8aw0UPi7cBH79gyaOg83nb6-TNNfNqwKDnVbxbHpAFPAzmkmdfj5u-IkYeZI8zMWvjgFWmES1lTchWpaItM2stN3qBoeEegSiIHdDQMNf8vh6snLsRM/s320/IMG_0565.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I multi-tasked and also tried to bake/dry some apples and citrus at the beginning, which required the oven to be propped open a few
inches- perfect environment to hang my sage over for a jump-start to the drying
process. The rest of the time, however, I’ve just hung my sage over an open
window.</div>
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Getting ahead of myself!<br />
Now that we have our supplies, let
us begin!</div>
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<br />
Separate your sage into multiple, small bunches. Separate
each stem with scissors, keeping stems as long as possible. Inspect each sprig(?)
and clip off any tiny bud leaves that may be attached.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKlfcchWnxzFVv3P76a8DVyfHNWXW1-TR35b5rkGJ48yV_pH_f2zJoHhu-mqMJnytAGOoNW-4w2M5TZvdMvG7Bk-eQVLgwoIEpc8z4TiiOvQAhEbHL45uiYRC4i3l4zsf6ijLVF8tZMw/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKlfcchWnxzFVv3P76a8DVyfHNWXW1-TR35b5rkGJ48yV_pH_f2zJoHhu-mqMJnytAGOoNW-4w2M5TZvdMvG7Bk-eQVLgwoIEpc8z4TiiOvQAhEbHL45uiYRC4i3l4zsf6ijLVF8tZMw/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Secure the stems of your bunches (I prefer with a wired
twist-tie as it has a more controllable grip, especially if you’re working with
one hand while holding the delicate bunch with the other)-oh, this is
important, if using twist tie, secure your stems with the END of a
twist tie. You only need to wrap it around once. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsuB_2dDBX8CirzB1g3NjpjmeS-0M8kHq5pYVcIdk2s0ulFXKumfmSbq1j_TydyY0bzX4_swd_QVsTUMdyuRmzXRZh7h9DWYlvsKhjtSHk6x6RrehqkW1vN5Mgwr3DyVSyhyphenhyphenhxRGxEu4/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsuB_2dDBX8CirzB1g3NjpjmeS-0M8kHq5pYVcIdk2s0ulFXKumfmSbq1j_TydyY0bzX4_swd_QVsTUMdyuRmzXRZh7h9DWYlvsKhjtSHk6x6RrehqkW1vN5Mgwr3DyVSyhyphenhyphenhxRGxEu4/s320/IMG_0631.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Use the other end of twist-tie to attach your bunches to the
hanger,</div>
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Spacing your bunches evenly apart, it is ready to hang up to
dry!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn7hxnUor2Gw5FDGrHsa_xN7Q4GTM7PGkMpU2yGyXpx1MLRyB_JLmhZh-ezYtd-Otm8bWbiY34zD1FV1Vy5uC8lf-C2bnwZn1igH1ZSK19pWrWWiEYT4vvHIJRg2rMyxPEqJMIAdshSo/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPn7hxnUor2Gw5FDGrHsa_xN7Q4GTM7PGkMpU2yGyXpx1MLRyB_JLmhZh-ezYtd-Otm8bWbiY34zD1FV1Vy5uC8lf-C2bnwZn1igH1ZSK19pWrWWiEYT4vvHIJRg2rMyxPEqJMIAdshSo/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The four bunches on the left have been up a few days, while
I just put the ones on the right up today. They are to hang for a couple weeks
until papery (I read). I’ll update what they look like when they’re done, but
this is a fair start for you to get started yourself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqucXW9qHoGRW3BDL_-jWF_vTL4CmpAVDodIgE2BN5q_YY5DPToILAIlqCFZ4FVuz3o3e3bhELFipxX8V_BwytRxobat18zBdzu5VkxAPjFb56lyFuzXLQLdzK0sVu8LVdfFzWouHgygg/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqucXW9qHoGRW3BDL_-jWF_vTL4CmpAVDodIgE2BN5q_YY5DPToILAIlqCFZ4FVuz3o3e3bhELFipxX8V_BwytRxobat18zBdzu5VkxAPjFb56lyFuzXLQLdzK0sVu8LVdfFzWouHgygg/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One last picture of the entire cute scene :) Oh hey, that's Shua my cactus chilling on the sill.<br />
See ya next time for my dried citrus and apples!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-66070984883807711392013-09-01T11:26:00.003-08:002013-09-01T12:46:39.367-08:00No Dime Design Newbe <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello! My name is Aubree and I will also be blogging for No Dime Design as of... now!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was born and raised in Southern Idaho, and had been attending University in Southeast Idaho for about two years when I met Dan, who, only months later would become my husband!very crazy and unexpected turn of events in my opinion. As if that wasn't enough of a swift change in events, he then swept me away to his homeland of Alaska to work for 8 months to save up for school. (I think that was <i>his</i> excuse, but I think he was just trying to convert me to all the sights, sounds, seasons and tastes of Alaska...)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enter Megan: Megan and I worked together while I lived in Alaska this past year, (ok, she was kind of my boss. Little bit.) we learned we share many of the same interests and talents with our own twists in taste. She's quite a bit further ahead than me at making her house a home, gardening, having adorable children etc. We had great fun with our friends and Scentsy parties and trips to Jo-Anne's but alas it was time for me to move back to school in Idaho. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a lot of projects in mind now that I've got my own apartment (We stayed with my in-laws while in Alaska- it wasn't as scary as you'd think!) so I mentioned to my dear Megan that I was considering starting a blog to document my progress and discoveries. We share so many of the same interests, and are at different points of discovery, so she invited me to join forces and it just made sense!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know some of you are mainly blog readers, but many of you are bloggers yourselves. I know there are many different reasons to start a blog, and I have many myself.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>I have been horribly inconsistent at journal keeping throughout my life, although I know it’s important. I’d think “What if my life happens during some large historical event and people come across my journal down the road. I don’t have anything to write about that would seem interesting or significant to anyone else.” Yes, I had thoughts like this from a very young age. I read a lot of youth memoirs… Well now I see a way to journal that documents many of my most significant or happy discoveries, and brings significant input to others! It is also a way to sort of corral my infinite interests into one constructive place, and, I’m sure many of you can appreciate the need for order in our lives and inner callings that seem to yank us every which way! </span></span></span><div style="font-family: Times;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At this time, I have just been married a few days over a year, and have already experienced so many different things from changing college majors, new food, new roommates (including a husband, and in-laws of both sides!), new skills, new sewing machine, a recently discovered passion for Pinterest and eBay haha, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">got my first smartphone, started blogging (my skills with this may be laughable as most grandmas could probably figure all these links n things out faster than me) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and I've lived in a few different environments! So we have a lot to talk about. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just got a new apartment (my very own kitchen, walls, and working space!) So my posts will share many of my firsts for those of you with a tiny budget but big curiousity and desire to be crafty, homemaking fiends! Let's go!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimNoXGlzMiiN7F-jxG5x5LwQiWWEOdDVGwtM1ArNIIsXWWsu5Fb7J-mtTa8ZFmkcfQA9mnCuQx0afuVuAZkov37JepR9g3yyXapKVC7kvHb5l33XGCoaZnDhu3TCI02OWpHBkuo28PJ0/s1600/IMG_1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimNoXGlzMiiN7F-jxG5x5LwQiWWEOdDVGwtM1ArNIIsXWWsu5Fb7J-mtTa8ZFmkcfQA9mnCuQx0afuVuAZkov37JepR9g3yyXapKVC7kvHb5l33XGCoaZnDhu3TCI02OWpHBkuo28PJ0/s320/IMG_1808.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is my sweet husband Dan and me. Since I've been married, I realize there aren't many pictures with just me in them anymore. Anyone else experience that after marriage?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-22097229505766641612013-09-01T10:26:00.001-08:002013-09-01T10:26:28.482-08:00GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Can you tell I'm excited? </div>
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This is my first time being involved in a BIG giveaway and I am over-the-moon excited to be able to share it with you all! </div>
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<a href="http://brinababebtq.blogspot.com/2013/08/idrc-0a07fc1-classrafl-hrefhttpwww.html"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrucIQokTHVs12LiQSsVgu_mu1xjl8rVDl3ngRaYysPtd-JFRl5h10GW2236y_StkY7HWjiIdE5OZirZ1R5JH0D795V_60T8TuO3UqlBWsbWDFYxlhjKU2Q6dDJIa_LPxfBNSDCR0E7Xg/s400/giveaway2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Prizes include some big names like Scentsy, Tupperware, Oragami Owl and DoTerra and there are lots of prizes from photographers, vinyl artists, jewelry makers and more!</div>
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There are 21 prizes total! </div>
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<a href="http://brinababebtq.blogspot.com/2013/08/idrc-0a07fc1-classrafl-hrefhttpwww.html">BrinaBabe Boutique</a> is hosting so go on over there to check it out! </div>
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This giveaway ends September 30, 2013.</div>
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Pssst!</div>
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Keep an eye out for an exciting NEW change here on the blog too!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-3804811673296305332013-07-07T15:30:00.001-08:002013-07-07T15:30:54.895-08:00Little Egg Blue<p align="center">Do you see it?!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7O5_6Ot3Mtg/Udn59BTFurI/AAAAAAAAEes/cpRiujnnIv4/s1600-h/IMG_5634%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5634" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5634" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-amxYfnXLA6w/Udn5_N4aZTI/AAAAAAAAEe0/LAk6do7jaLA/IMG_5634_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">We got our very first Easter Egger egg today! Now the only question is…</p> <p align="center">Who done it?</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkVu3n39dkohi6XAaBM5UPn4T_fenAdNVf75mzAhxw2bzlDGquQxXCuoU5uxc-VIb8bejrtWtUvlucpP0pg1vRVtBt48wdsV05eJZyC74nbHdVBtmL9ppEe2fGJAz06b3_Mu4tvdrrLE/s1600-h/IMG_5638%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5638" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_5638" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-19sWDVJxb60/Udn6Ck6qt3I/AAAAAAAAEfE/V1Zb1hKHndA/IMG_5638_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-osFICMwYBiA/Udn6ETWcchI/AAAAAAAAEfM/je2QuHnmElc/s1600-h/IMG_5640%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5640" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_5640" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NZSRwAuV7Vo/Udn6FVhVXaI/AAAAAAAAEfU/IwA3XLjuI0E/IMG_5640_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AZxfFcu2XUE/Udn6HfUP5YI/AAAAAAAAEfc/Md8BYH23wD0/s1600-h/IMG_5643%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5643" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_5643" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-XgeBJVSOj1Q/Udn6IqMuamI/AAAAAAAAEfk/6LgieBwclJg/IMG_5643_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mYIs2ABimm4/Udn6KJS3sVI/AAAAAAAAEfs/17ZtloTdWRE/s1600-h/IMG_5639%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5639" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5639" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eMSABVCnnFk/Udn6LAOR9HI/AAAAAAAAEf0/5wc7xCWF7QM/IMG_5639_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-70913002325437517362013-06-28T16:31:00.000-08:002013-06-29T01:59:15.934-08:00Not So Little Anymore<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It happens every time but I’m never ready for it. These <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2013/04/babys-got-backfeathers.html">little chicks</a> are now these:</div>
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JJ is the smaller one hiding under the wheelbarrow. Garcia is much bigger than some of our older chickens. </div>
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And one, Morgan, is a roo. We are working on rehoming him. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAyaQAm1frPwp5f3_hTbqAQi4WfGJHhUyqaJK98FIaauKxR0Ar-44A8BfR2CFmqUoM182n_tLMfvs8EW4oWan3wmoMDN7RgLERlG7FjThUDCck-4lHa_SBxS8tmMxUh8eP5FgSnedhryY/s1600-h/IMG_5465%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5465" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wtZbwcMnoiA/UcD7sHMNpYI/AAAAAAAAEdU/a_yvz-6XZxM/IMG_5465_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_5465" width="340" /></a></div>
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Can you believe those are the Easter Egger babies? We finally named them Guinevere (black and white) and Morgana (brown and black).</div>
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And because I can’t resist here are some shots of our older ladies:</div>
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This is Grandma, one of the Orpingtons we got last fall. She’s broody and mad at me for kicking her out of the egg box and away from her plastic Easter eggs. I tried to give her day old chicks to raise but she tried to eat them instead. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxNNlL16ZZA5iltIBKuamzbFiEyeu50ysHioRvpTT28pH_D_cxaJ0oh6CoVULI6sTt5rU8_5BT5qACvPhMn2ma7zelfmKL2tZ0hMinDIFOSf1GiJf1PcPUnBVdOJ8zl-SkNl6VSZNwDI/s1600-h/IMG_5464%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5464" height="255" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TMu23qnikpY/UcD7xkYL-5I/AAAAAAAAEd0/fkr1CLY4Q_0/IMG_5464_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_5464" width="340" /></a></div>
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These were the babies until we got new chicks this spring. They are White Leghorns and they don’t have names because we can’t tell them apart! You can see Garcia in the background shaking her tail feathers and Black, the one that sat on the chicks.</div>
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Speaking of chicks…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJYo_U4OrfBRHCSeqQkwLHd8VL2vO1DqvEjA2DSmDeq7098_9YUZ8G9wp220Tm2U404RMH_wXNds9Q0Rt2qSzd3x9wzi4iiVogOLm62amS9RmyG_kZR532GyZ0ShFdDaIm_ShObFUOvs/s1600-h/IMG_5466%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5466" height="340" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v2jXfeLZKoc/UcD7zoCt1lI/AAAAAAAAEeE/P_f_vptqO2A/IMG_5466_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline; margin: 0px;" title="IMG_5466" width="255" /></a></div>
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Ya, I know, I have a problem. Black and Grandma went broody at the same time after raising the Easter Eggers. An extra chick or two never hurt anyone, right? </div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cLQLuhLrg2Y/UcD70yi3QmI/AAAAAAAAEeM/rRdjt0ELsuI/s1600-h/IMG_5467%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5467" height="340" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pDbdd0hkQ24/UcD718xT3XI/AAAAAAAAEeU/02alklA7sSw/IMG_5467_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="display: inline;" title="IMG_5467" width="255" /></a></div>
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And last but not least, Red. </div>
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Some questions we get a lot are:</div>
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How many eggs do you get?</div>
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Right now we are getting 3-4 eggs a day. Black and Grandma are broody/raising chicks and none of the chicks are old enough yet. Egg production should pick up anytime now though! Even through the winter we were getting 6 just about every day!</div>
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Do they stink?</div>
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Some of my friends tell me that I have the most hyper sensitive nose they’ve ever seen. I can’t smell anything coming from our chickens, their bedding, or anything else. They have so much room and they are outside. Clean air and sunshine does wonders. </div>
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Are they friendly? </div>
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While they aren’t big fans of being cuddled they certainly won’t attack you or anything. In fact, if you got close enough to touch one you’d be lucky. </div>
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Is it hard? </div>
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I guess everything is relative but in my opinion , no. You have to clean their coop just about as often or less than a cats littler box. They don’t need bathes or brushed or walked. The closest thing I can compare it to is a fish tank. </div>
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What do they eat?</div>
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Chicken food. Table scraps. Weeds. Plants. Bugs. An occasional rodent. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438158511299821218.post-23028822560121321272013-06-21T15:23:00.000-08:002013-06-21T15:23:00.313-08:00Upcycled Gardening Containers<p align="center">I wrote earlier about how I would love to try a <a href="http://nodimedesign.blogspot.com/2013/02/getting-ready-to-garden.html">key hole garden</a> this year. I thought and thought and thought about different materials I could have used to make one but they all required buying at least a little money or a lot of work to make them. BUT as my mind was chewing on the idea we were working on the chicken coop and ended up doing this instead!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5D_WbeH8FFg/UcDryqpeofI/AAAAAAAAEbE/140nU1eftWg/s1600-h/IMG_5458%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5458" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAr6mTKXb6Y-2V2Sp8IW31VPw_ZonhjAvRz0OIJH5kyoSs1wQ1BKZqk6jhz8Nu7cWsTpx7xih4k7mZ8aOqEs9wk4jhLf3jVX091spvI1Cew4dHpGlWeDpn7WxDr5nei_F-vkzjhP2eF4/?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">It’s made out of wooden garage doors that my husband picked up for free off of Craigslist. They came with a garage door motor and he was going to use them as a garage door. I kindly pointed out the lack of insulation and light they would provide in the winter so they just sat in our back yard for over a year! Finally I said he had to think of something or toss them, what I ended up with is a MASSIVE garden bed! Early next spring we will add pvc pipes and contractors plastic to make a wonderful little hoop house.</p> <p align="center">Need some other ideas?</p> <p align="center">How about a feeding trough? </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VvN12iBZiDo/UcDr1eLWOdI/AAAAAAAAEbU/VNqE16vDfHg/s1600-h/IMG_5455%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5455" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5455" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qnLwSdpdbyc/UcDr2Xo3GWI/AAAAAAAAEbc/pngYJnc7BGY/IMG_5455_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">We used to keep our turtle, Fred, in this 50 gallon rubbermaid trough. They are pretty expensive to buy new but if you see one laying around… </p> <p align="center">Tires</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RDdmMTedhRk/UcDr3hr5TEI/AAAAAAAAEbk/slFvo2et4wU/s1600-h/IMG_5470%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5470" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_5470" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dGy_ZH1LB8I/UcDr4h0PCLI/AAAAAAAAEbs/SbZlVo6Ryio/IMG_5470_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">I thought about ditching my tire garden this year but even though it’s ugly you can’t beat the practicality of it. Used tires are free and the black rubber does and excellent job warming the soil for our cold northern climate. </p> <p align="center">Bet you weren’t expecting trash cans to make the list!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JkoUbYXUSYE/UcDr54haFSI/AAAAAAAAEb0/3MYWP-d2X5w/s1600-h/IMG_5472%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5472" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5472" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-weHwGGHX1wk/UcDr6vT1gzI/AAAAAAAAEb8/pnO_y242dhU/IMG_5472_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">Our entire neighborhood switched trash services and they only take square trash cans. I think it’s weird but whatever, we just take our trash to the dump. After thoroughly cleaning the trash cans my husband came up with the idea to use them to grow potatoes in. He starts out with just a little bit of dirt at the bottom and adds dirt as the plants grow. In the fall he just dumps the whole can upside down on a tarp to harvest!</p> <p align="center">5 Gallon buckets</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5FtlEs9thR0/UcDr8J1NjnI/AAAAAAAAEcE/QwB25xaY5UA/s1600-h/IMG_5474%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5474" style="margin: 0px; display: inline" alt="IMG_5474" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-L95rVnmNLxs/UcDr9KoKZ2I/AAAAAAAAEcM/Q_5rzOAaYvo/IMG_5474_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">The wonder and glory of the 5 gallon bucket never ceases. I’ve seen them used for upside down planters, hydroponic systems, containing invasive plants… the list goes on. Here my husband is trying potatoes this year. We also have one in the chicken coop that grows chick weed. </p> <p align="center">Don’t for get rocks and trees!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9lp0ROGXvRk/UcDr-vlrvBI/AAAAAAAAEcU/xCcsKhllb-w/s1600-h/IMG_5475%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_5475" style="display: inline" alt="IMG_5475" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8KDLKLhic_4/UcDr_srR4DI/AAAAAAAAEcc/NbvWtxjm4LA/IMG_5475_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="255"></a></p> <p align="center">A great deal of my gardens are raised and separated from the grass with rocks we’ve collected over time. They never decay away and they are everywhere! A good sized log will last you quite a while too. </p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686766926681253067noreply@blogger.com2