One way to beat the long winter blahs is to have growing plants indoors.  A suggestion is make a terrarium, time required an hour or less.

What is A Terrarium? A terrarium is a miniature landscape with living plants and even sometimes small animals like lizards or turtles.

A terrarium is a miniature ecosystem which is a complex system of relationships between organisms and resources of different types.  If you have a good balance of plants, soil, nutrients, and water in your terrarium you will be able to seal it up and watch it grow and thrive for very long periods of time – sometimes even years.

It’s quick, easy and doesn’t have to be expensive. To save money, on your terrariums, look around your house for a container or shop discount stores, flea markets or consignment shops to find glass containers, jars or even goldfish bowls. The plants you’ll use are generally small houseplants, which can often be bought for a couple of bucks each, so the whole project, depending on the size of your jars, can be made for well under $20. Terrariums also make wonderful and impressive gifts, even for people who consider themselves plant-challenged.

There are lots of tutorials online to help you along the way, here is one I found that has very specific easy to follow instructions.  Kerry Michael at about.com has a great tutorial with lots of pictures..here is an example of her finished project.

When your done send me a picture and I will post a picture of mine.

Apple Blossom Azalea

What type of bulbs do you have in your garden?  When do you plant them?

I lived outside of Atlanta for a few years and missed Spring bulbs immensely. I found a book at the library on what types of bulbs could be grown in Georgia climate and found it was as easy as in the Midwest.  The secret, I had to refrigerate the bulbs for six weeks in the winter and then place them into the soil in early February and lo and behold I had tulips and jonquils just like I had always enjoyed in my Midwest garden.

If you live in the southern regions of the States or any other part of the world where the temperature never drop low enough to cool the soil try the refrigerator trick and you can have them Spring or Fall.

I have so many spring flowers I love I am going to share a few this week.

Creeping phlox is one of my favorite in early spring…and in the background the crimson azaleas are in the shade and you can barely see the buds ready to burst on the rhododendron.

Magnolia Blooms

Let’s keep looking at these reminders of what we can expect in just a few weeks!!!

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold;

the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

Democritus

My 13 year old grandson, Kaleb,  lives in the city, loves button down shirts, hunting, fishing, all sports but especially basketball.  He has never had a male role model so I think it is in his genes to be so “all guy” and love guy things…For Christmas he told me he wanted cowboy boots and a cowboy hat…

Wearing a button down shirt the day he told me all of this, he crossed his arms and said, “Grandma, when I grow up I am going to be a Texas businessman.”  I had to smile and tell him, “you can do whatever you set your dreams on” and hope his dreams come true…

This picture was taken Christmas day when he opened his cowboy hat…at 13 he is 2″ taller than Grandma and wears a man’s size 9 shoe.  But isn’t he handsome and oh that smile.

I couldn’t find boots that fit I could afford so I went online and ordered boots and then they were back ordered until April!!!!!!!!!!!  I was somewhat put out because when I ordered online it said, “in stock, ships next day.”  So last weekend I finally canceled the order and hit the local stores and found a pair of boots that fit his wish list, (with some extra funds from Mom and his Christmas money he received).

Then I forgot to take pictures of him in the boots but trust me he loved them.  He made me go for a walk on the walking trail so he could get used to walking in them ..he climbed up four flights of stairs several times….he made those heels smack when he walked…he was all smiles, all day….  Way to go cowboy Kaleb, you are my partner for sure.

I love napkins rings…last year I found a couple sets of vintage rings and thought I would use Tablescape Thursday to show them off.  The napkins rings are being displayed on two new napkins designs I have completed while being shut in due to heavy snow and cold weather here in the Midwest

I love this vintage bow napkin ring, so feminine and so easy to get a large sized dinner napkin to be placed in the opening and fold out pretty.

Next is a gorgeous gold beaded napkin ring I picked up after Christmas, cheap!!

My beautiful new lavender bouquet napkins may require me to shop!  The blue delft pattern is an old standby ring but could do better with the new lavender design I think.

And last but certainly far from least is my porcelain vintage kitty…the picture doesn’t do her justice and I need to get some of my Joel Dewberry design napkins out to really let her be seen at her best.

Well that is enough for this Tablescape Thursday, more another day!  Hope you take time to view all of the lovely tablescapes hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. And if you liked my new napkin designs check them out along with many others at www.creativechics.com.

A favorite soup of my family is potato soup.   In my single days, potato soup would be on the menu if I cooked for a man because I knew they would love it.  Serve it with a salmon steak, grilled asparagus, and a hard roll and you will win hearts, my husband loved it.

Today I made potato soup and wanted to share with you how it was made.

The ingredients

2 medium sized baking potatoes

1 cup of diced ham (purchased diced so I would not have to chop ham and as a substitute for bacon, cholesterol  and weight issues)

1 cup low fat sharp shredded cheese, (low fat substitute for Velveeta, same issues as bacon)

2 stalks of celery

6 green onions

1 teaspoon (or more, I didn’t measure) fresh ground black pepper

I wash the potatoes and leave the skin on because that provides better nutritional value, then I chop into bite size chunks, (every kitchen requires a good chopping knife).

Chop the celery and onion and set aside enough  of the onion tops, and cheese to garnish 6 servings.  Place the chopped potatoes, celery and onion  in a pan of boiling water, adding a heaping teaspoon of sea salt.

Cook until potatoes are still slightly firm and never mushy!

While the vegetables are boiling take a small saute skillet on medium high heat sligthly brown the ham.  This process will bring out the flavor and juice in the ham better than just putting it into the boiling water.

Doesn’t that look juicy and yummy?  Set the ham aside to enhance flavors.

Drain the potatoes and add 3 cups milk (2% milk and no butter, those same issues with cholesterol and weight just kept coming up.)

Add the ham (setting aside some ham for garnish if you want) and cheese and stir until melted and smooth, won’t take long if you use shredded cheese.

By the time I got to this stage my mouth was watering….

Next we have to add the absolute must for me but you can go lighter than my preference, fresh ground black pepper.  I use a lot!

Once the cheese has melted serve in soup bowls and garnish with the onion, ham and cheese to suit each individual’s taste.  If you prefer to have the soup thicker take a tablespoon of flour and mix into a small amount of milk,maybe 1 tablespoon, less than a 1/4 cup.  I never measure but you want a runny paste.  Stir into the soup and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring to be sure you don’t scorch it and until it thickens slightly.

Trust me it was delicious….I decided 6 cups even with all the good health choices I made for ingredients was probably still more than I needed to be eating so I took a couple of bowla next door for my neighbors and “yes, they loved it.”

Now if any of my kids read about me giving potato soup away and not calling to invite them first, well…..I may have to make more!

During the holiday and since there has been one item that continues to be a hot seller on Etsy.

Take a look at these adorable head and neck warmers, the weather around the nation, and it is easy to see why..

What a cutie and how sweet on my little great-granddaughter this would be!

You can see this hat and other items at  mypolkadotprincess just click on the link.

LewBugCreations has created not only warmth but a soft warm color around the face that would be among my favorites… Click the link to check out her shop.

While browsing through these categories I came across this and had to share.  I cannot even imagine the labor involved in making this incredible design created by ludascrafts.  Stunning to say the least.  I hope the individual who purchases this appreciates the incredible talents of the designer.

Well if none of this head and neck gear caught your fancy, how about this?  Cabo San Lucas….Deb and Robert will be shedding their warm weather gear for their beach attire soon…Now that is how I want to keep warm…I think she should take me along don’t you? 

Actually this photo was taken a few years ago when I did go to Cabo with my sisters….I hope Deb enjoys her well deserved winter vacation and comes home all nice and brown and “ready to sew.”

Stay warm you cold weather friends….and pray for patience in our wait for spring.  To  our warm weather friends…..really wouldn’t you like house guests?????

View at the front entrance of my apartment complex!!!!

As a child I lived in a rural area and snow up to the car door handles was a common winter scene.  We walked, yes walked, 2 miles one way to school each day, even when it snowed, (snow days were almost non-existent) my grandchildren can’t comprehend this.

The doctor arrived on horseback at our home on February 24th (I am not telling the year) to deliver my oldest sister because the snow was fence post deep and buggy’s could not get through.

To say they are fond memories would be a fib but it helps me to recall those days with a smile and the reassurance that this cold weather and deep snow will melt and, just as years ago, life will go back to normal and warm breezes will blow. I encourage any of you my age, younger parents too that sharing family stories as my family did will make your great-grandchildren roll their eyes in disbelief…we just don’t know the things we do now that will not be a part of their future.

I am out of everything in my refrigerator and cupboards …all the junk food is long gone and I am heading out even if it is zero degrees out there.

Here are just a few shots from the parking lot…bet you have some better than this and I would love to see them.

Stay warm, drive safely…smile often, and remember we are always making memories so share them with others.

Remember the book I mentioned I needed to read “A is for Apron” by Nathalie Mornu?  I loved the material in it, not to mention the 17 patterns that were included.  The patterns are on 8″ x 8″  pages and require you to increase them by 400%.  First thought is a photocopier but the pattern is too big for that idea.

I remember watching my Mother cutting patterns out of newspaper so I decided it shouldn’t be too difficult for me to accomplish the same and began to gather my tools.  The most important one is the calculator!  Tissue paper leftover from a Christmas gift was perfect as it measured 24″ x 24″.  The tissue  paper  became the perfect element to draw the pattern on as the widest width measurement I would need was 18″.  I used transparent tape to put two sheets together giving me plenty of room for the entire project.

First step, measure the fold line length of the apron body as shown in the diagram and take it times 400%.  That calculation told me the length of the apron from neckline to hem would be 29″ at the center fold line.  Once I had this measurement I continued around the page as shown above  making notes of measurements at specific points, every 4″ to 9″ getting width measurements, etc.  I then was able to transfer those measurements to my tissue, making dots that later would be connected by free hand.  End result….a book that cost me $15.00 will reward me with 17 patterns if I elect to use them.  If you have purchased a pattern recently you know the savings using this method is big!  The project took me less than an hour and most of that time was spent on my calculations and measuring the dots on the tissue.

Notice how wrinkled my tissue paper is; my Mother would frown at me over that, she pressed the paper before she cut her patterns…  I have fabric in mind for the new pattern so keep coming back and I will show it off

Note:  Visit www.creativechcis.com to see all the new aprons added online this week…that is how I spent my cold vacation days, doing what I love most, creating.