Spring?

I think I'll call it spring when a little more of that white stuff is gone. For those of you suffering through breakup  with me here in Alaska that black stuff, yeah that stuff up by the drive way, that's called asphalt. I know, it's been a while. I had to look up how to spell it. And ya, I'm the lucky one that get's the drainage sign in front of my house. Last year the neighborhood kids used it to catapult snowballs off of. Glad somebody's a fan 'cause my neighbor two houses down is not. See how the fence on the left slopes down? That means that my house is not the lowest point which really stinks if you're the guy that is but doesn't have a drain. 

This 6 inch thick ice covered area is what I will be working on the most as soon as I can actually feel the pavers under my feet. On the bright side, the dogs love using the holes formed by the melting ice as water bowls.

Lucky for me the two large garden beds right around the front of the house have melted out. Maybe we will see some bulbs coming up soon? A few perennials?

In the mean time I am willing the spring to me with all kinds of plants growing indoors. I can NOT wait to get them outside and in the ground!

To end on a happy note this is my first bloom of the season. My Fuchsia managed to survive even after I left the poor thing out in a half snow/ half rain last year!  Now that's my kind of plant.

Happy spring to you all, even if it may not look like it where ever you are.

Brought to You by the Letter P

Well, it's been a while but I finally got off my duff and finished up my daffodil project. I had to buy some moss for about $1 after coupons and everything else was stuff I had on hand. 

First I dug through my toilet paper roll stash. I promise that toilet paper rolls aren't the only medium that I use but use 'em if you got 'em, right?

For the long part of the "P" I put a smaller roll inside of two paper towel rolls and hot glued it all together for some strength. 

Where the two paper towel rolls intersected I cut a semicircle into one of the rolls to make it fit snug. For the corners I just cut on a diagonal.

I went back and hot glues around all the pieces that went together. Since this will be going outside and subject the the wind and what not I wanted to make good and sure that everything would hold up. 

This was my first time I had ever used moss. It was SO messy! You kind of have to stretch it out on like that fake spiderweb stuff an then hot glue it all down. Since the rolls are a pretty natural color it won't matter much if you have a little peeking through. 

The great thing about the moss is that it's pretty forgiving. You just piece what you want on there. If you need a little fill in here or there just go ahead and paste it right where you need it.

I got out my little flowers I made earlier this week and hot glued them down too. If you missed it you can check out how to make the flowers here.

I added a little string and hung it up on a nail next to my door:) 

Now to get moving on painting that door. We hung it last fall and it's still there primed and begging for paint. I think I just want it to match the trim. Any suggestions?

I linked to Centsatinal Girl's Spring Projects Link Party. While you are there you just have to check out her idea for a DIY waterproof picnic blanket! I am totally going to make one of my own, so long as I can get the sewing machine to cooperate of course:)

I also linked to:

Spring Cleaning

So, I was blog browsing the other day,  hiding from my crafting mess and looking for a little inspiration, when I happened on this little idea from Clover Lane : 40 Bags In 40 Days. 

The goal is to go through the house and attempt to get rid of, donate or sell anything that you can live without. Basically, spring cleaning. I have trouble with spring cleaning. I tend to look at things as a whole. I could spend the whole day spot cleaning the carpet and making it look amazing but then when I look up the couch needs cleaned too, the kids have made a mess all over the table, the kitchen still needs swept, and on and on and then my clean carpet doesn't seem so awesome anymore. It doesn't seem like I actually accomplished anything. So, I'm gonna give this a whirl. 1 bag a day. I can do that and if I get more, bonus points for me!

How about you? Whistle while you work? What helps you get the job done?