still doing crafts -even though you wouldn't know it from my blogging!

yes, I still do crafts too, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

playdate on the farm

playdate on the farm, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

Guess who showed up to play yesterday? 

PLAYTIME!

fun for Daisy (golden retriever) - not fun for Viper (8 foot long black snake)

Eventually Snappy (the schnauzer) got involved too - he took it much more seriously (the ratter in him) than Daisy who thought Viper was just a new toy.

I won't say how this story ended, because it wasn't a happy one for Viper.  You can use your own imagination.

tea time

tea time, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

Harvest chamomile flowers for drying and for fresh use when they are fully open.
To dry, snip the flowers off with scissors, then rinse and pat dry. Place flower heads on a rack or mesh screen and set to dry in a warm location. When flowers are completely dry, store in jars in the dark.
Harvest fresh leaves as needed.
Use fresh or dried chamomile flowers to brew delectable herbal tea. Deciding which chamomile to use is a matter of personal taste. German chamomile is sweeter than Roman chamomile, which has a slightly bitter bite. Whatever your choice, both make excellent tea.
To make chamomile tea, infuse 15 mL (1 tablespoon) of fresh flowers or 10 mL (2 teaspoons) of dried flowers in 250 mL (1 cup) of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strew a few Roman chamomile flowers over a tossed green salad, and season cream sauces, butter, and sour cream by adding small sprigs of either type.

my garden's gift to you

my garden's gift to you, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

“To get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.” - Mark Twain

Make a Salad!

Make a Salad!, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

Organic Arugula
So easy to grow!
Just fill an old crate (or container) with some bagged garden soil. Plant the seeds. Keep moist. Until the seeds germinate, I just leave the box on my back porch - getting indirect sunlight. Once the seeds pop through, I move to a sunnier location - but not too bright at first. After the plants are established, they can take full sun. I also planted baby leaf spinach the same way.  

Once you have a good crop, just pick the baby leaves and throw in your salad.  Tonight we had Arugula, Romaine Lettuce, Dried Cranberries, Pecans, Asagio Cheese and some Balsimic Dressing.  YUM!

ready-set-go---plant-a-garden

ready-set-go---plant-a-garden, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

guess what I am growing this year!
I have all the tools I need
my mulch carrier aka radio flyer wagon
lots of mulch
a good trowel
a great pair of gardening gloves
lots of seeds
and some organic veggies already started
from a local organic farm!

chocolate lollipop and teapots

chocolate lollipop and teapots, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

I made up these little beauties for a swapbot potholder swap. The inspiration for them came from Pink Penguin.  Ayumills is just so talented that you will want to try out her sewing tutorials.  The teapot tutorial is found here and includes a downloadable pattern.  My advice is to have your computer nearby while you are making the pattern,  because I didn't and the photos would have really helped my attempt turn out a little better.  The brown potholder is made from some chocolate lollipop charms I bought a while back.  Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Anna Maria Horner's fabric.  It is awesome.  I am going to try to make one of Ayumills' other tutorial patterns with the rest of the charms - a Reversible Patchwork Bag.  

Gardener's Journal

I have always wanted to keep a garden journal - but never followed through. Maybe if I start making some digital pages - it will inspire me to get on with it.

I need to remember to get the zinnia seeds in the ground - I want lots of these for flower arrangements! if only it would stop raining. 

Sitting on My Front Porch...

Sitting on My Front Porch..., originally uploaded by poketypatch.

No, it's not really me
it was
created for the Textures Only ~ Competition #43
on flickr

I am really starting to get the hang
of photoshop
it only took me
about
one year...

kokeshi dotee love

kokeshi dotee love, originally uploaded by poketypatch.

received in a swapbot swap
I am in love with her
she is simply perfect
thanks to rubberstampcollector
for making her

{Kokeshi Dolls are traditional Japanese dolls.  They were orignally from northern Japan and hadmade of wood.  They have a simple trunk and enlarged head.  The facial definition is made up of a few thin, painted lines.  The body usually has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.} Wikipedia