Project: St.John Wort

This project has been on the back burner for a few years.

Still no work, so I'm working on getting my projects done!

When my neighbor said I could dig up her St. John's Wort, I knew this was the year to get it done!!!!

I let the weather rule when I do things.  Cooler days I'm hitting it!  As soon as it cooled down again, I finished pulling the weeds in the back planter "walls."

Yesterday I went down to my neighbor's place and started pulling some of the St.John Wort.  I'm sure when she gets back she'll wonder if I ever did it! There's so much of it,  it's taken over many of her plants.  I personally would have kept it under control, you could barely see one of her peonies.  

The caretaker of the property across the road is taking care of their place until they get back in July.

He saw me there and he told me he had a bunch of siberian iris' that he was getting rid of at his place. They are burgundy and yellow - beautiful, I have the perfect spot!

I called Pete down and he went with me and we got the plants he was getting rid of.  

I still have to go down to Nan's and dig up some of her iris', but that will have to wait until this project is done. I also have the perfect spot for those. She has a ton of things that need to be split and dug up. I'm hoping they still own their house next winter, I would love to take some of her day lilies.

I am always glad to take free plants off of anyone's hands!

This is the first box of plants.

First day of planting.

I enlisted Pete to help.  I had him dig holes and finish cleaning up the other side, I still had a little bit of weeding to do and there were a few rocks on that side. I let Pete take care of it.  It he helps I can get his project done a little faster!

We had to go down and dig up more plants (Wednesday).  

I finished planting (27 plants) just past the weeping cedar atlas tree on the left.

I dug a few more holes before I gave up. The wall above the lavender is next.  Hopefully, I can get a majority of it done today.  

The weather will still be in the 70's through Saturday, so I still have time.  In between I have to go walk dogs and set up for the monthly book sale at the Animal Shelter, but I'll get it done.

I'll post photos once I'm done.

Pete is researching discounted sprinklers on the internet; sprinklers are his job!

Annie

It's been a while since I posted photos of Annie.

She is such a sweetie, we love her soooo much.

She can be very laid back, but other times very playful.  

She loves to be outside! 

She knows when I'm going to garden or work outside.  She gets excited because she knows she'll be able to hang out outside for a long while.

This past year she something new - when we're watching TV, she'll stare at us and then start talking to us! She must be saying "hey, how about me," who knows!  This is something new.  She is always surprising us!

She is the only dog I know that gets excited when we leave the house! She knows that we'll get her a chew, so no big deal when we leave the house.

She has never been big on going somewhere.  She's a great rider in the car, sometimes you forget she's there.  In the past year she has gotten better about getting in the car.  In the past we had to leash her to get her into the car. 

She's such a love, we're so lucky to have her.

Granola Bars

I've been wanting to make my own granola bars for a while.  I was waiting until mine ran out and they finally did.

I'd pinned many on my "Snack" board, and it looks like the first one I tried hit it out of the ball park!

Simple to make, quick and I had all of the ingredients on hand.

It says it makes 6 bars, but I got 10 out of a 9x9 pan. I put 5 in the pantry and froze 5 since I don't eat them all the time (maybe I will now).  

Here's the recipe:

3 cups old fashioned oats

2 tablespoons oil (I used Canola)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 nutmeg

1 - 1/2 cups add-ins: raisins, cranberries, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips*

5  oz. dark chocolate (for drizzling)

Spread oats in a 9x13 pan and toast slightly for 15 min., stir at least once. Put cooled toasted oats in large bowl.

Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper so it hangs over sides.

Heat oil on stove top, add brown sugar, syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Simmer over medium heat, stir until sugar dissolves, turn off heat. Pour over oats and stir until oats are coated evenly.

Stir in add-ins.

Scrap into 9x9 pan.  Fold parchment paper over oat mixture and flatten until it's all even.

Let it sit for 1 hour or you can put into the freezer (faster option).

Melt chocolate (I did this in the microwave) and drizzle over oats.  

Pull out of 9x9 pan and cut!

*I used cranberries, almonds and chocolate chips because this is what I always have in my pantry.  

The creator drizzled chocolate on the bottom before she added the oats into the 9x9, so this is also an option.

If you're on Pinterest you can find the link and recipe on my "Snacks" board.

Retreat!

Yeh!  Retreat time is here!

Made enough money at my garage sale for my 2 day scrapbooking retreat!

Unfortunately, there not every one will attend.  I'll be missing some of the girls, especially my partner that always stays up late with me!

Kristi will be my meal partner and we're cooking up a nice Mac n Cheese!  

I have a Poblano Chili Mac n Cheese that I've made before and is yummy.  Although, it didn't work that well when we camped last Summer.  We cooked it up in a dutch oven and it just didn't cook up well.  

Kristi is making a Caesar salad and her wonderful appetizer; salami rolled up with cream cheese and peppercini.  I can eat these all night long!

Also, ending up with a nice dessert.

I made some new cookies I found in Pinterest; a raspberry thumbprint cream cheese cookie, I'll let you know if they're a "keeper."

A great time of the year!

The vetch is out!

This is the field in front of our house.  Pete only mowed up to the vetch and left it for now since it's so pretty.

I am in the midst of cleaning out the weeds along the back wall in the back yard.  My neighbor told me I could "steal" some of their St. John's Wort!  I planted some a while ago, but not enough and I would definitely like it to take over the slope. The cool down starts Friday and  hopefully I can finish cleaning soon!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

A little late, but heartfelt......

I had a quick errand to run in Medford (more on that later), but I knew mom would love to take a ride somewhere.

Since we were in Medford, I thought maybe out to Shady Cover and further. So we drove out to the fish hatchery and Lost Creek Lake. 

It was a beautiful day and perfect for a stroll. 

We decided on an early dinner and I picked Kaleidoscope because I thought mom had never been there.

Much to my surprise after a while she said "I think I've been here."  Honestly, I didn't remember, but with good reason, she'd been there with Pete.

In the past she and Pete would run errands, etc. and then they would go eat somewhere. 

No matter, it was still great and we got there early enough not to wait too long.

She loved her trip!  

It was a nice relaxing Mother's Day.

My File Folder "Album"

A couple of photos from the album I made.

I made file folder albums to give the girls when I went to Las Vegas, but hadn't made myself one. I bought the file folders at Staples.  They sell some really pretty file folders in variety packs. I really wanted to make something different for this great trip.

I found Heidi Swapp file folders and ephemera at Michaels.

I really love the way it came out.

Future Projects!

Of course when you're cleaning out closets you re-visit things.

I have a bin with UFO's (un-finished objects) and found these leftover blocks from previous quilts I had made.  

If you know me, you know I love the "Yellow Brick Road" pattern and both of these are Yellow Brick Road blocks.  The reason I love it so much is that it's an easy fat quarter quilt and looks different depending on the fabrics.  I always try to do the borders differently

I'm thinking there's enough to make nice lap quilts. Of course I was hoping I had some leftover fabric to make some nice borders.

Yay, I found a lot of leftover fabric for the one on the right. I really didn't find any for the one on the left, but I did find a couple of nice fabrics for the borders!

I'm still working on my colorful "Buggy Barn" quilt, but it's a challenge and taking a while.

I might put one of these together in between working on the Buggy Barn.

After all my gardening I'll have more time to sew, so I'm setting up my projects ahead of time. 

Not sure if I'll have a job by this Summer, so I'm looking to keep busy.

I will also be donating 2 days to walking dogs, Fridays and most Saturdays.

Love this!

Best Christmas gift, Pete's not mine.

I tried to use it a few times, but gave up!

Well, I wasn't using it correctly!  Pete showed me how to use it and now it's my new best friend.

Still don't know what it is?

An electric wine opener!

Mom was looking for a gift for Pete, we came across this at TJ Maxx and I made her buy it not knowing how great it really was.

After using this I can never go back to a traditional or a rabbit.

Love it!!!

Love These!

In my quest to organize, I decided to give these a chance.

I found them at BiMart for $12.99.  This is the second box I've bought.

I pack them and Pete uses the shop vac to seal them.

So, so loving them right now!!!!!