WEED Buckets

Now that its warmer weather the Weeds seem to be in full bloom(oh wait, they're always in bloom!). So I don't have to pick all the weeds myself I usually give each of the kids a grocery sack to fill. Either the weeds are not fun to pull or the grocery sack is too big to fill up. My SIL enlightened me with a solution.


Dollar Store (DollarTree) Bucket


When they fill up the bucket they are done for the day. I'm hoping this will cut down on all the whining of "how many hours of weed pulling".


I figure we could all do this a couple times a week. If more weeds need pulling we might have to do it more often. Well see. Pin It

Backyard {Birdhouse}

Since today is Earth Day I decided to make a much needed Birdhouse for my backyard. I love to hear the birds chirp outside and see the beauty of each one. This project was cheap and easy. I found the plastic plate(.75) & tray(1.00) at Desseret Industries. Great Deals.


1-Supplies needed: base(tray), roof(plastic plate), pole(legs from an endtable but you could use 1x1 wood, dowel or a bed post), twine, large pony bead,washer and wire to make a needle.


2-Drill holes in the middle of all the pieces.


3-Before you begin to thread all the pieces put the twine thru the washer then take each strain , wrap it around opposite sides of the washer and go back thru the washer a second time.


4-Made my own "needle" to thread thru the pieces.


5-Put the doubled up piece of twine thru the "eye" of the needle.


6-Threading it thru. . .


7-After you've assembled all the pieces, use a larger pony bead to finish it off.


8-Go thru the pony bead once with the twine then put it thru a second time (like the washer) to help secure it.


9-Tie a knot above the pony bead and then a little further up so you can hang it.


Now I just have to fill it with birdseed. This comes to my mind after just writing that "if you build, it they will come." (Field of Dreams movie) Pin It

{Garden/Canning} Notebook

I finally have a place to put all my notes for my Garden and Summer Canning(a simple photo book from Walmart for $1.00). We planted our garden yesterday. I'm so glad we got it done before all the rain comes that is expected this week. The kids had so much fun! And today they are even checking to see if anything grew overnight.


1-Inside cover: One of my favorite quotes about food prepardness "The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people of Noah".


2-My diagram(great to have just in case the name stakes get pulled out) and a list of what we planted. I also just used stickers cut in half to label the year.


3-Thoughts about what worked and didn't.


4-My Canning notes: what we did, how many containers or cans and the cost of the items.


5-Our garden boxes(3'x8' pretreated wood).


6-Just in case you wanted to know how we water the fruits of our labors. From one of the sprinkler heads we connected a hose for the garden. then did "T's" and in each box we followed the outline of the box with the tubing.


7-Name stakes. I was going to use wooden craft sticks but found these at Michael's in the clearance for only .50. What a bargain.

I'm going to keep my unused seeds using this suggestion & this other suggestion.

Happing Gardening or Canning! Pin It

We Reap What We Sow

Where we plant seeds of kindness, we can expect love to grow.

(My son pulled these cute love carrots out of our garden today, so I just had to share.) Pin It

Busy Digging

I am not prepared with a good post right now, as we've been digging in our dirt a whole bunch this week! We were out front well after dark tonight transplanting bushes and flowers. I don't know too much about plants or landscaping, but I think our yard is looking pretty good so far. I think a few more hours of work and we will be done.

We took a few of our big, full grass bushes and sliced them in half to make 2 bushes. I am crossing my fingers that they will thrive just fine.

I have a curly willow tree out front that started as a branch from my brother's tree. We stuck it in the ground three years ago and watered it like crazy. Today it is huge! If you don't have a curly willow tree and want one, you can cut a branch off another tree, put into the ground with plenty of water and in a couple of years you will have a big, beautiful, shady tree. If you live by me, I'd be happy to cut off a branch for you! Pin It