June 2008 – Simple Things

Inspiring artists and a giveaway!

Here is a wonderful site I stumbled upon the other day… and now a giveaway! Grosgrain a really cool mama/artist whom I found via Amanda her site is very inspiring to me. I love her sense of style, clean and fresh.. whose site I found via Hilliary/Wee Wonderfuls gosh that is a whirlwind of creative energy.. Since I have started blogging it is amazing to me how many creative artistic people there are in the world whose sites are so inspiring. The creative energy that sparks from one site to another is amazing. I feel this energy helps to feed the artist in me, to improve my mental health allows me to share a piece of myself with those that I love. So, thank you all you creative bloggers… you all inspire me! There are so MANY creative artist’s out there in blogland!

So here is the current link to the giveaway from Grosgrain this is the cutest little caplet, if anyone has a little girl this is just too cute! It makes me think Little Red Riding hood or some such wonderful thing!

MK Carroll, Anne’s crochet scarf pattern…

Art is where you see it….

I am still loving the crochet… It has been a while since I have had time to make anything. The other day I found this cool pattern and I just love it! The pattern was exceptionally easy and very quick to make up.

Not only is it pretty but I do think the Lily cotton yarn in Creamsicle makes it just a little more special.

It is so pretty and the form is truly a piece of art ~ hyperbolic dishcloth edge

We have switched to using all cloth napkins and dishtowels in order to eliminate paper napkins and paper towels. It has gone surprisingly well so far. Now, if I can just stop collecting the plastic bags, I would feel much better… Back to the hyperbolic dishcloth, great pattern, super fun. It took less then 1 ball of yarn. Cost $1.69 for yarn, I guess less then $1.00 for this dishcloth. I do not think I could get 2 whole clothes from this ball of yarn, however you can combine leftovers… or use for other projects of course. The solid color Lily yarn would easily make 2 I believe.

June 27, 2008June 27, 2008 by jennbenn Categories: crochet, family, green kitchenTags: Add new tag, crochet dishtowel, finding art, green kitchen, hyperbolic dishcloth, hyperbolic dishcloth pattern Leave a comment

Coconut Cream Pie~

My hubby’s favorite pie is coconut cream pie… I made one for him for his Birthday a little belated. It was well received nonetheless. I used this recipe from Southern Living Magazine. It was quick and easy. I love making pies.. especially when real whipping cream is called for. Southern Living is always a great resource for these classics’s.

~toasted coconut makes the perfect topping with just a little crunch.

Just for fun, I made 2 pies…. I mean I had that extra pie crust just sitting there. Besides, I have lost many leftover pie crusts wrapped in foil in my freezer. I always mean to use them up, but I do forget once they enter into that freezer top/ back shelf domain. Might as well go ahead and use it up while it is fresh….

~ yeah, it was a splurge, but when your husband has a Birthday, you just have to rise to the occasion.

June 26, 2008June 26, 2008 by jennbenn Categories: baking, family, LifeTags: baking, coconut cream pie, southern living recipe Leave a comment

Our dear dear Kitty….

The story of our Kitty…

our daughter wanted her own cat.. we got her a rescued kitten found under a porch after the feral mother was killed or run away by dogs.. We bottle fed this fellow until he learned how to eat.

It was a challenge at times, but he quickly took to his favorite Kitten food.

He received a lot of love from his “Mother” Olivia… He required a lot of sleep time to let his little body grow….

Much sleep….

He was so cuddly… and sleepy!

Soon, he learned how to play…

and play….

that little fellow loved to play..

In the meantime we tried many different names.. but when you have 3 dogs, and one Kitty… well, Kitty just seemed to stick. He stood out in the crowd…

He was special, he was unique….

He only went potty outside, becuause sometimes we think he thought he might be a dog. He just followed the crowd and did his business with the gang….

He really loved to sleep…

He loved the garden, he new every corner and kept it free of voles or moles or somthing of that sort…

He was serious about those unwanted critters…

We lost our dear Kitty one week ago Thursday from a perforated colon. We don’t know what happened or when, but he did not make it after he had emergent surgery. We have lost our dear sweet Kitty. It is just not the same without him. He was taken too soon.

Kitty we miss you and we will love you forever.

June 21, 2008June 22, 2008 by jennbenn Categories: family, LifeTags: Kitty 5 Comments

In the garden….

Here we are in June… it is hot, it is buggy and kind of ughh.. but since it is not even Summer yet…. I better hush. The flush of spring roses has come and gone. I am always sad when that time passes. It is magical to me. Winter blah is swept away with the promise of better times to come. After the roses, we still have some plants to enjoy and these are dependable plants. They prove themselves each year..

~Gardenia, 3rd year in a pot. It is a smaller variety. I can’t remember the name right now.. but it smells wonderful!

~ the first time I winter sowed, I sowed hollyhock seeds, 4 years ago? I have had them ever since.

~ bee balm, from mother in law, it has been with me since I first started gardening… 1994 or 95.. love it. So do the hummies! You can use the leaves and flowers to make tea. Lovely!

~Malva Zebrina wintersowed that one winter… still going strong. Reseeds readily.

~ Black and Blue Salvia, once established is almost a thug. I love it though, and so do the hummingbirds. Great plant to share!

~ each year I grow to love the hydrangeas more and more. If you can get them to make it one year, then they are good to go. In our area the summers are so hot and dry that it can be a challenge to keep newly planted plants alive. However, if they make it through one season to the next year, that is usually enough time for them to get their roots estabished. It is better to plant these thirsty plants in the fall.

~ Endless Summer Hydrangea, gets better each year.

~ I just can not remember this one, but it is taking off like a rocket. 2 of these in pots beside my garden bench, and early in the season I planted them in the ground…. man they needed that. They exploded!

Finding dependable plants is so important. We all need dependable rocks and go to plants… these are some of my no fail winners.. along with bulbs, you just won’t be let down. That is an important part of my overall plan. Finding plants that are tough and can stand the test of time. I delight in seeing my little plants come back year after year.

June 11, 2008 by jennbenn Categories: gardenTags: gardenia, gardening in the south, hollyhocks, hydrangeas, june blooms, tough plants for the south 2 Comments

Happening now….

I found the best little cookbook for kids…. called ~

~note it says for kids 8 and up.. they are not much into it, but I am.

I have made a few recipes, they are all really good so far. I loved the chocolate cake bake in the pan recipe, it was really rich and chocolaty… vegan, and really good. Then this weekend I made up the crust recipe for home-made mini pizza’s.. man they were good. I used whole wheat flour. The recipe makes six little pizza’s. We had 4 one for each of us. I froze the other 2 and we made them tonight to go with our ravioli…

here is the recipe …

pesto base, cheese and cracked pepper… with whole wheat crust~

baked and yes, it rocked! We loved it!

On a deeper note~

We had a very sad loss earlier this year..Here is a very precious quilt passed down to me by my mother from Phyllis…this precious quilt is one of many in her collection. How very sweet it is. I know we will enjoy and treasure it and remember dear Phyllis. She was a sewer, quilter, crafter, painter and so on from way back when. Her hands were never still and she did beautiful work. She will be missed by us all.

I did a little more sewing and I found a super cute pattern from The handmade dress it is so cute. Easy easy easy. Very fast to make.

It is cute, not the best picture, but really cute on and in person!!

~one more shirt from that darn kat… round neck top pattern, still love it!

Hope your week is great!

June 11, 2008June 11, 2008 by jennbenn Categories: family, food, Life, sewingTags: home made pizza, memory quilt, sewing children's clothes Leave a comment

A little sewing, some lovely blooms~

~ I really enjoyed sewing the Emmeline Apron.. the directions are very easy to follow. It flows well. I wish I was tall and thin, but no apron pattern can fix that!

~ other side, blurry… but…

I really enjoyed the pattern. I found this fabric for 50% off at Hancock’s, so I would say under $10.00 for all. This was my “muslin” for my first time sewing this pattern. I am sure I will sew again in some funky fabric..

I will be spending more time inside I am sure as it has now crossed over to HOT! We are well into the 90’s, our lovely rain has dried up.. so sad!

~ Magnolia’s are blooming…