::BACK TO BASICS::

As you may have read from the previous post we have lots to care for in the way or produce right in our own backyard.

I noticed a few weeks ago when I was grocery shopping that bread was incredibly expensive.  I had mentioned to the hubby that I will have to start baking bread again. He was happy to hear that.  Homemade bread is so much better for you.  No preservatives and it's FRESH!  Only down side is that it gets eaten a lot faster.

When our children were younger we had to watch the budget very closely.  We didn't have a lot to just willy nilly spend on anything frivleous.  I did what I could to save money where I could.  I shopped thrift stores and sewed.  One area I noticed where there was a great opportunity to save money was the grocery bill.  I had the most fun coming up with meals that were inexpensive and filling and nutritous.  I tried to shop stores like Aldi's when I could.  I also found out that Wal Mart is by far the best place to shop for sundries.  They have the best price.  Fast forward about ten or more years and while we are in a better place financially, I still find myself going back to the basics.

All this to say that in the past few weeks we have started baking bread again.  Our daughter came home from work last week and the first thing out of her mouth was, "MMM, the house smells just like it did when we were little, are you baking bread?" 

Here is a little peek into what I was doing in the kitchen this morning.

I love my glass pinch bowls.  I a  foodnetwork junkie and when I saw these at Kohl's a while back, I just had to have them....only because I have a bad habit of talking when I am measuring things out for a recipe and can't remember what all I measured.  These nifty little bowls help me out.  I premeasure everything that way if anyone is talking to me, I don't mismeasure anything.

I wasn't able to get a picture of it when it was done cooking.  I will be baking another loaf or two today, so hopefully I can show you the bread in all it's yummy goodness.  Don't you just love the smell of baking bread?  We do!Pin It Now!

::THE BACKYARD FARM::

We decided to plant a garden... again.  The first one we ever planted was when we lived in Illinois.  I can't tell you how excited I was to see and eat all the tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers we grew that year. 

Today I want to share with you our garden here in Louisiana.  We are learning about gardening in here.  For one thing, it's very HOT here in LA and there is lots of  watering that needs to be done.  We also learned that we need to plant the garden a little earlier than we did.  We started planting late May early June.  When really, we should of started probably in March or April.

 We decided to grow cucumbers, squash, zucchini , watermelon and cantalopes.  We have yielded some nice yellow crook neck squash and cucumbers.  We just started seeing a couple of tomatoes and we have a couple of big cantalopes out there.  By the way, cantalopes and watermelon take a lot of space to grow. I know we read that on the back of the seed packet, but seriously, I didn't think it would be like wildfire.   They are all over the place.  Haven't seen any zucchini yet.

Okay, enough of my blabbering on.  Here are some shots of the backyard farm.

see how big the tomato plant got?  We saw blooms, but no totmatoes.  This pic was taken a couple of weeks ago.

Here is a pic of the zuccinin (far right), then the squash (middle) and on the left of the pic is the cantalope.  To the right of this raised bed is a fig tree and a satsuma orange tree.

                          Doesn't that fig look delicious?  We still aren't sure what kind of fig tree it is.

Can you see them?  They are grapes.  Muscadine grapes to be exact.  They grow over the swing wooden porch swing area that the previous owner built.

Here are some Satsuma oranges.  We also have meyer lemons too, but I can't differentiate them in the pics.  They are both green now.  They won't harvest until fall sometime.  I will be sure to share more pics then.

Satsuma oranges.

Well, there is a gracious plenty to take care of out there.  I need to get off this computer and go pull some of those weeds you saw in the picture and water, water, water. 

I will leave you with the picture below.  The only good light in our kitchen area was on the window ledge.

Enjoy!

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::COTTAGE DREAMING::

I am wanting to sprinkle a little Americana around the house for the July 4th weekend.  I have some ideas in mind that I am hoping to show you all later in the week.

In the meantime, I have been wanting to make my family room a little more cottagey.  I have been playing over at http://www.polyvore.com/

Here is a board I came up with.

I have been talking about slipcovering my wing chair and english chair forever!  I am thinking maybe in denim.  Not sure.  We'll see if I can find some on sale.  I also would like to change out my side tables.  We have square ones that are pretty functional and unique, but I think there is too much squareness going on in this room and I think that round rattan table would work so much better.  Not to mention bring in some texture.  Next up I  think we are in need of a console table behind the sofa.  Right now we have a really nice Woolrich coffee table behind that has shelving; but I am looking for something a little more sofa height.  I really like the style of the one above as it has drawers and a shelf.  I like the shelf so that I can put some baskets on it.  I desperately need some storage baskets to house everyones junk that they leave  lying around.  One for each family member.  I am constantly finding myself cleaning up everyones junk before I house clean and this would be great to have to just throw everything in it's respective container and clean away.  I also like the top surface for lamps and  as a decorative space.  What do you think of those white dipped baskets up there?  They are different.  Love that.

Hope everyone has a great day!Pin It Now!

OUTDOOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Wouldn't you love to host an outdoor summer soiree with some close friends? 

If it wasn't so oprressively hot here in Louisiana, I would love to host an outdoor summer soiree.  The hubs and I like easy entertaining.  To us, that means, a laid back casual atmosphere.  We want folks to come in and feel right at home and kick their shoes off and enjoy the food, fun and the fellowship.

So, the first thing I would think of would be the menu.  We typically like to provide the drinks and the main dish and let our guests bring the side dishes or desserts.  This way everyone feels they have contributed; not to mention it's a great way to share recipes.

So what do you think about outdoor summer entertaining?  Would you be more apt to do it if you had everthing ready to go and didn't have to shop?  I know I would.   I would like to introduce you to
Diane of  http://inmyownstyle.com/   She recently  wrote a post on how to be "party ready." 

Click the link below to get the low down on the picture below.  Diane shares with you what she stocks in her party basket,  improptu tips and some printables.
http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/06/are-you-party-ready.html


                                    photo by:  Diane of  http://inmyownstyle.com/


Once you are done reading about being party ready, you will have to check out her tutorial on her outdoor candle lanterns.  I am telling you , this gal is clever .  Take a look at this outdoor lantern.

                                               photo by: Diane of http://inmyownstyle.com/

Isn't it chic? Doesn't it look high end?   It's so much more attractive than those tiki torches with the citronella candles that we all  tend to use.  Click the link below to see how she made it.  You won't believe it.
  http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/06/trash-and-thrift-store-treasure-outdoor-candle-lantern.html

You can't leave Diane's blog without taking her home tour.  She has a lovely home.  The photos she shares are pure eye candy and you will be inspired.  As a matter of fact, as I was looking at her home tour, I fell in love  with these french enameled numbered tags.



If you have been coming to my blog any length of time you know I  love typography and anything with numbers. Lately,  I also have been drawn to  anything french related.  I have adored  the french enameled tags I have been seeing all over the blogosphere, but just knew I couldn't afford them.   So , imagine my surprise when I was perusing her side bar and saw she had a tutorial on how to make those numbered tags.    I plan on making some of these.  If you would like the tutorial here is the link.
http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/07/how-to-make-french-enameled-numbered-tags.html

                                                                       photo by Diane of http://inmyownstyle.com/    

Grab a cuppa ice cold sweet tea and pop on over to Diane's blog  and tell her Cheryl sent ya.

Now go out and get PARTY READY for your next summer soiree!                                                                   Pin It Now!

:::LINKY LOVE:::

Just sharing a little linky love with you all.  I have been surfing blogs the past couple of days to get inspired and have come across some very cool stuff.

Check out how to make your own DIY matchbox over at
http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/2011/06/baby-food-container-matchbox-tutorial.html

I thought this was so clever.  This would make a great gift with other grilling accessories for Dad on Father's Day.


Then, stop by Stephanie Lynn's
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2011/06/make-your-own-printed-fabric-photo.html
She will share a step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own DIY canvas.  Another great idea for a Fgather's Day gift.  Be sure to check out her sidebar for tutorials for all the other cool projects she has done.

Lastly, I love totes and purses and generally any kind of bag or bin that you can store things in.  I fell in love with the details of this bag. below.

photo by Megan at

http://craftycpa.blogspot.com/



I also love anything with ticking on it.  Doesn't matter what color ticking.  If you like this bag, she gives a step-by-step tutorial on how to make it.  Isn't she sweet?
click the link below to take you to the tutorial for the bag.
http://craftycpa.blogspot.com/2011/05/return-on-creativity-squatty-tote-bag.html

Heading out to visit family so I will be out of pocket next week.
Enjoy your weekend!Pin It Now!

::SWEET SHOT TUESDAY::

I have sort of a trip tych of sorts for you.

The first photo is of our an orange growing on our orange tree just after a morning rain.  The next shot is of a zinnia in our garden and the very last shot is a pic of our birdbath in our backyard.  I was looking for insteresting things that had good composition.

I loved the orange with the drops of water on it and was trying my hardest to capture the drops so that they were crisp.  The zinnia I loved for its intense color and beauty.  I liked the birdbath for the way the leaf was lying in there and all the texture in that photo.

I hope you enjoy my sweet shots and when you are done looking, please hop on over to Darcy's and check out the others.  I amazed by all the sweet shots each week.  Just click on the box below.



Have a great day!Pin It Now!

::SWEET SHOT TUESDAY::

I have been enjoying participating at Darcy's sweet shot Tuesday's for teh past month.  Last week a fellow participant took some great shots of clouds.  She inspired me last week to do the same.  We had a great  sunset with a beautiful orange reflecting on the clouds and it looked so beautiful, I wanted to capture that very moment.

Unfortunately, I don't think I captured that deep orange glow reflection.  But I did capture the full, billowiness (is that even a word?)the cloud.

Enjoy your Memorial Day and stay safe and don't forget to stop by Darcy's to check out all the other sweet shots.

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::EWENIQUE MEMORIES:: Masterbedroom makeover across the miles::

Here is the first installment of my hand at helping a friend redecorate a master bedroom.

Gen and I have been blog buddies for a long time now and thought it would be fun to share her makeover on my blog.  Make sure you stop by her blog and say "HI" after you read this post.
http://eweniquetreasures.blogspot.com/
Gen was wanting to redo her bedroom a few months back and asked me if I would help her with the redecorating.  Here is the kicker though.  It would be a long distance makeover as she lives in VA and I live in LA.

We started  with her sending me some pics of the room she had to work with.  Then we talked about what style or direction she wanted to move into to achieve the look she was going for. 

Gen had one big piece of furniture that would be staying.  A sleigh bed that had good bones, but the color just wasn't right.  We did a storyboard over at Polyvore to get an idea of what she wanted the room to look like.   Here it is:

Doesn't that look comfy and inviting?  I thought so and was eager to help her achieve it. 

The bedroom was pretty juvenille to start with.  Wide pink stripes on the walls and some tired berber carpet.

No questions asked about the pink stripes.  We both agreed they had to go.  Below is a picture of what the room looked like after she painted.

As you can see in the pic above this room has slanted ceilings on each side.  She also had too much furniture in this room.  So we talked deleting some of the furnitue pieces and placing them  into a sitting room.  We also talked about painting out her sleigh bed and doing drop cloth curtains on the window.  I have read that a decorating no no is to NOT place a bed in front of a window, but in Gen's case I think it really did a lot for this room. 

Stay tuned tomorrow to see some of the ideas she put into place and a cool transformation on the bed.

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::SWEET SHOT TUESDAY::

Hi there!
Hope everyone is doing well.  I have been enjoying participating in Darcy's Sweet Shot Tuesday for the past three weeks.  So much fun to see what other folks are capturing and even more fun sharing  what I have captured.

This past November we went to my husbands cousins wedding in Florida.  They had the numptials on the beach.  It was chilly, but beautiful nonetheless.  For my sweet shot I captured his cousins nieces  enjoying the tide and sand.  I hadn't ventured out into manual mode at this point yet.  If I had, I would of had a better ISO on this shot. 

They do look darling though with the bows and dresses.  Loved the blue color with the dark contrasting sash. So pretty.

Let me know what you think of my sweet shot and then hop on over to Darcy's to check all the others out. Just click on the button below.

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:::SWEET SHOT TUESDAY:::

I am participating in Darcy's sweet shot Tuesdays again over at:

 

I have so many different rose bushes that vary in color, I thought I would share yet another beautiful rose.



Check out the intensity of the scarlett red color.  I believe this is one of our Knockout Roses.  Isn't that a great name?  The color just knocks you out.

Don't forget, if you have time, stop by Darcy's and check out all the other sweet shots.

http://my3boybarians.com/2011/05/sweet-shot-tuesday-55/

Have a blessed day!

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