A Bit of Green

Thanks to a very kind and generous Mary, I was able to sew up some fitting table runners and a little bunting for today.  Wishing you a St. Patrick's Day with a bit of green, a wee bit of blarney, and plenty of magic!

Bloom and Bee

As part of getting things in order lately, along with finishing my taxes (yay!) and setting up my facebook page, I added a link on the blog to Essential Depot.  They have been my source for lye ever since it stopped being carried in grocery stores.  Their customer service has always been excellent and their soapmaking line continues to grow.  They carry other supplies, including a line for biofuel makers, and have some pretty cool vintage lye booklets you can download for free.  To check them out, just click on the link at the bottom of the blog.

Spring blooms cheer me on my wanderings around the homestead.  The pollinators seem very happy that the plum and peaches are flowering.  It's so early, I expect a freeze may end up getting the blossoms before Spring truly arrives.   But for now, the honeybees and others are being fed.

The daffodils appear to be finished, except for these sweet miniature Tete-a Tete's under the plum tree.  The grape hyacinths are getting scarce, but there are some regular hyacinths in bloom.  What have you got blooming in your yard?

Sow and Sew

Daylight Savings Time is taking a little bit of adjustment, but it's nice having light so late in the day again.  I planted lots of containers for Wintersowing last week.  I had good luck with it last year, so thought I'd try another round.  Some plants were 2 lavenders, including an Alba, forget-me-nots, Hollyhocks Queeny Purple  and Summer Carnival Rosy Pink, and a hibiscus Joseph grew at his house.

The above pic was my first attempt at sewing burp cloths.  They were part of a gift I recently brought to a friend's baby shower.  I used a towel for one side, laid it face to face with a colorful cotton fabric and sewed around the edges, leaving about half of one of the short sides unsewn to be able to turn it inside out.  Once I turned it inside out, I topstitched around all the edges, then embellished with ribbons.  I thought they turned out well for a first try.  I forget the finished measurements.  They're folded in half for the picture.  Next up, I believe will be a table runner.

I know there are folks who read my blog who are not on my facebook, so thought I'd let you know I've been working on a new page, and would be delighted if you'd visit, and "like" me, if you're so inclined. https://www.facebook.com/#!/AbelaBodycare  Thank you kindly!

Golden

Hello friends!  I hope this week has been a good one for you.  This lovely little piece of art hangs near the main door where we come and go.  I love the way the morning light hits the gold leaf.  It was created by friend and fellow Lark Artist Cori Cagle. 

There were two absolutely beautiful videos posted by bloggers this week I feel compelled to share.  The first I had seen, but not in it's entirety, shared by the talented Margie from Resurrection Fern.  The second was a beautiful testament to aging with beauty, grace and flexibility, shared by the inspiring Heather from beauty that moves at the end of this post.  I hope this sends you off with inspiration for the coming weekend.  Make it a golden one!

Stickers and Sprouts

I hope your weekend was a good one.  We had a visit from Joseph's son and family.  Little S sure was creative with stickers :o)

Though the season is just about over, I wanted to share a recipe for Brussels sprouts.  My first few attempts at cooking them, many years ago, turned them into bitter little things.  These are tender and delicious.

Oven Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts

2 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (quartered if large)
5 cloves garlic, minced fine or pressed through garlic press
1/2 cup water
2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 black pepper

Place oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees.

In a 9 x 13 inch baking dish, toss together Brussels sprouts, garlic, water, oil, salt and pepper and spread out in a single layer.

Bake for 40 minutes, tossing once about 25 minutes into cooking time.  Remove from oven and toss sprouts in the pan, scraping up brown bits into the sprouts.  I found the recipe here.

Random Goodness

I haven't been around much lately, because our PC crashed last week.  I'm not sure when things will be running smoothly again, but wanted to say hello today from J's laptop.  The muscari or grape hyacinth have joined the daffodils in blooming this warm February. 

Some of you may remember my desire to do a random act of kindness on my last birthday.  This woman took it to a whole new level, inspiring lots of folks along the way.  I love finding stories of goodness online.  Thanks, Jennifer, for inspiring the title, and Pinning the story.

The Green Industrial Revolution

Today, I want to share the new website and facebook page of New Earth Fabricators.  Joseph and Rick have been hard at work, doing biofuel-related projects, as well as other fun jobs, including a base for a table destined for a lakehouse.  Check out their website here, and like them on fb, to keep up with their latest adventures here.  Wishing you a wonderful weekend!