Gutter Gardens

Today is Wednesday, April 10, 2013.  It has be gorgeous! I mean just gorgeous!  It has been nice and warm with a breeze!  Loving this weather and sure hope it stays this way for awhile.  Have spent the last couple of days outside and if the weather stays this way, will be spending lots more time outdoors.

We went to Lowe's yesterday morning, these are the items that we bought.  I would love to work there, but I wouldn't make any money, the company would be taking it out in trade.  I love that store, truly a crafters warehouse!  Not to mention that they have these awesome classes to for little and big projects, what a tease they are.  So I thought that today I would share with you what I made yesterday and you too can make them.  They are really easy to make and you can use them in the country or in an apartment balcony. They are fun!

So here we go!  We are going to use one and if you decide you want to make more you will know what you need.

1     ten foot gutter                     18 small screws
6     gutter straps                        drill
3     left end caps                        dirt
3     right end caps                      flowers or seeds


Cut your gutter into the lengths that you want your pots to be, I cut mine in all different lengths.  After you have cut then the length that you want them to be, but the end caps on, I did this next because if you are using the metal ones they will be sharp.  Now using your drill drill a few holes in the bottom if you want drainage or you can use a few stones, oyster shells, marbles or whatever you may have handy.
It didn't say to put these small screws in the ends, however I put three into the ends of each, the back, bottom and the front to hold these caps on. This is showing the sealant, but I just didn't trust it.

 I placed a screw in the front

 One in the back and one in the bottom

Now you have your flower pot, do what you will with it.  Once you have it filled with your plants or seeds next to hook the straps on which is real quick no talent needed for this.

Flowers are planted, summer is here!

Okay good job so far, grab you a cold drink. Now we are to hanging them and this is really the easy part. Easy to hang, not easy to decide exactly where you want to hang them.

These gutter straps just clip in under the front lip and hook over the back side of the gutter, they come with the screw.  Now that you know where you want them hung grab an extra set of hands to hold the pot while you use the drill to screw these beautiful creations of yours to the fence or whatever you are going to attach them to.

I used two straps to a planter.  The longest is four feet and it is holding pretty good.

This is showing on the hung on the slats facing in, hung on the slats.

This one is showing hung on the outside.  My plans are to make more and hang different sizes and colors. I do believe that spray paint will work wonderfully on the metal ones.  I am betting that you can grow a great herb garden too, these aren't just for flowers. 

I think since mom doesn't have a fence, she does have a wooden handrail at her place that these just might be a couple in her future and she doesn't even know it.  She came back around to my way of thinking with the cable so now they are hooking it back up today.  Still shaking my head over that on with her, I do love her, she is my mama.

Get outside and do something, anything will do!

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing~

Thursday Storms

Today is Thursday, April 4, 2013.  WOW did the storms roll in yesterday afternoon and I do think that they were here most of the night.  Today doesn't look so hot either.  What's the saying about April showers bring May flowers, we should have  gorgeous flower beds!

Regardless of the storms, I was able to start painting and was able to get all of the posts painted and on all sides of them.  However, when starting the first panel, well it got very loud and then the sky opened up.  So that ended that for the day and now with the panels wet, they won't get done today unless the sun comes to rescue me.

So inside to do the things that I really enjoy doing like balance the checkbook and paying bills. Gotta love that job, yeah okay.  Got young sons laundry done and made these peanut butter no bake cookies.  Nothing to write home about. So won't be making these again.  But I do think I will make some rice crispy treats today, haven't made those in a long time, a good snack.  Need to make biscuits for the week again too and then I do think I will get those placemats finished today.  The comforter and shams are supposed to be here tomorrow so I will be able to go shopping for some matching fabric.  I really hate having to go shopping for fabric. (evil laugh)  Made meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy last night and it was really good.  I think sometimes we get into a rut with what to cook and old favorites get lost or forgotten.  A few weeks ago I didn't have enough potatoes to make enough mashed potatoes, so  I used some of the instant potatoes ( I use them for sourdough starter bread) to add to the fresh potatoes.  Ladies, let me tell you young son and George both wanted to know what was wrong with the potatoes?  I started laughing so hard, they are so spoiled, they wanted nothing to do with those instant potatoes.  I still laugh when thinking about it.

Going to try not to do a lot today, that painting yesterday really got to my body, shoulder, arm and neck are all still sore this morning and I truly hate taking pain meds.

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow,  but live today!~ Brightest Blessing

Wet Wednesday

Today is Wednesday, April 3, 2013.  Yesterday was cloudy and a tiny shower early in the day, but it never did bring the storms, however today looks to be a little different outside.  I have fence and posts that I wanted to paint today before putting them up.  It is easier to paint them before they go into the ground.  So we shall see if the storms make it today or not.  According to the weather man, it is supposed to storm today thru Friday.  Hoping he is wrong again today......

These are George's and young son's favorite breakfast or snack.  Apple fritters are so good fresh hot out of the fryer.  The smell of them will bring young son out of his room to see what is cooking.  They are super easy to make and quick to.  Lots less expensive to make than to go purchase them.  They never go to waste.

Yesterday I was putting the mats together for the RV and had to take one apart because it had creased, so when I sewed it of course it came up short. Hoping today to get them finished up and then on to finding fabric to match the comforter and shams.  Was so excited to get the clearance e-mail from Wal-Mart.  Got this comforter with the shams and shipping for $25! I love the purple and gold together.  So now the mission is to find a purple and gold fabric for curtains and the window boxes. Spent hours looking at fabrics on line and just didn't find anything. So I guess I will have to hit the fabric store when George is off again and see what I can find.

So the plans for today are to make these new peanut butter no bake cookies and see how they turn out.  Paint the 3 fence panels and 5 posts.  Then to finish up the mats.  But I have to balance the checkbook and pay a couple of bills, I so dislike that job.  Usually I am right on it the first of the month and here it is the third already, haven't changed the A/C filter either and that gets done on the first as do changing out every one's toothbrush and smudging. Oh and this month the quarterly taxes have to be done too. Lovely......

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing

Another Week Started

Today is Monday, April 1, 2013.  The weather has been nice the last couple of days, we got more yard work done in the last couple of days than in months.  However, this week we are supposed to have storms.  And by the looks of it the storms will be here soon.

This weekend George was off the four days but we decided to get some yard work done before the weather turns bad and it takes forever for the ground to dry up.  I don't know if it is because we have had so much rain, but it seems like it takes a good week to get rid of the muck in the yard.  But all in all it is shaping up pretty good. The fence needs to be painted too, but we are getting it done.

Got the french vanilla bread and muffins baked, sugar cookies and cupcakes baked. Then got them decorated and delivered to where they needed to be.

We had our BBQ steaks on Saturday because we were waiting to hear if George had to work on Sunday or not.  He got a call at 5:40 they didn't need to come in until Monday. YES!  So George put his phone on the charger and about eight noticed that his buddy and boss man had been blowing up his phone. He called his buddy to find out what was going on, the plane made it in and they had to work Sunday, George said no, no I will see you on Monday morning at five. I say good man!

Went to see mom yesterday and she hasn't been feeling so hot, so I will take her some soup and stuff later on today and a plate of supper too, just in case she is feeling better. Sometimes I think she is like a little kid, if I play sick I get extra attention.

So this afternoon I plan on getting some sewing done and the placemats for the RV finished. Then to move on to getting the curtains made and the window boxes redone. So much to do......

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing

Not Much....

Today is Thursday, March 29, 2013. Baby it is COLD outside this morning!  Went outside to collect my stones and other items that were being cleansed and charged by the Storm moon last night and let Bailey out to do her business and WOW it is cold!  Didn't take me to much time to collect and get back into the warm house.

These are  the new place mats for the RV.  George loves him some dragons and the color purple, so needless to say I scored at the fabric store.  It took me most of the day yesterday to make the design and then to cut out all of the pieces for two of the.  Have a front and a back ready to quilt and add the binding to and then to put the other one together.  

My sewing machine, or it could be just me doesn't always sew right.  It starts out good to go and then all of a sudden it starts stitching all wonky.  So I stop and rethread the top and the bobbin to see if it helps and sometimes it makes a difference but most of the time not.  I need to find a Brother shop that gives some kind of Brother classes on their machines.  Not on You Tube in person with my machine.  

George is out in the RV putting in the new water pump  and then he is going to finish putting in the hardwood floor in the bedroom.  I was so excited to see all of that carpet got.  When the kids were little it was a nice cushion, but now I really dislike carpet.  A few throw rugs that can be washed every week is okay for some color, but other than that I want all carpet outta here. 

Well last night was the full moon so I need to smudge this morning.  So off to take my shower and then to smudge the house and yard. Not sure what else the day will bring, but George is off so I know it won't be boring.

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing

It's Wednesday, But Our Friday

Today is Wednesday, March 27, 2013.  It was way to cold yesterday for me and this morning isn't any better, the kerosene heater is going again to take the chill off the house.  You know it is cold when the dogs look at you like you want me to go out there why?  It is supposed to start getting warmer by the end of the week, not much time left considering that the is Wednesday.

I started playing around with some scraps yesterday and this is where it went.  Actually I started out making a skirt that you make out of a jelly roll for my grand daughter.  While I was cutting strips the little pieces were laying there so I sewed them together, this is what I ended up with.  So today I will sew the binding down and work on the skirt.  The skirt is super cute and can be made so many ways.

There is one that you make just the front with scraps putting them together any way, kind of like odds and ends and then the back half of the skirt is the same fabric and of course an elastic waist.  I have never made a skirt but I am thinking that if the dresses, shorts and pj bottoms got done, I do think I can do these skirts.  Would love to make them for myself.  I love skirts they can be dressy or everyday, flats or wedges, tank tops or blouses not to mention wash and wear cotton.

Just to cute!

Thrilled that George is off tomorrow and maybe have a four day weekend! YES! Not sure if this is going to happen for sure but boy is my mind moving on all of the things that we could do in four days.  Where we could go and the things we could do.  We do have court tomorrow afternoon but nothing after that is planned. Soooo we shall see what will happen.....

Young son spent the night at a friends house last night there are a few of them that are headed for a skate park in Gainsville this morning and wanted to get there early.  Okay boys, how do you like this weather?  I sure hope they are smart enough to wear warm clothes and take shorts with them to change into later in the day if it gets warm.  I don't need him sick to bring it back to me.

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing

Our Time

Today is Tuesday, March 23, 2013.  Well it is COLD again this morning. Got the kerosene heater going to warm up the house.  It is supposed to be another cold one for two more nights. Lovely....I say if it is going to get into the low thirties, then we should have snow.

I went to our local fabric store yesterday, they are having a sale, and just had to  add to my stash.  I love them all and today will be the day I will spend making things for the RV.  The RV is going to become George and I's second home very soon.  I am so excited to start thinking of the things that he and I will be able to do as a couple. 

Don't get me wrong, I love everyone of my children, I might not like them at times or what they are doing, however I still love them.  We raise them to become happy, productive, self supporting adults. They have their own lives now and that is awesome, however they also need to realize that their father and I also are going to have "our" own lives.  If you didn't bother to call before coming over and we aren't home, I am not going to apologize for not leaving a note on my door or texting all of you that we were not going to be home. I love spending time with the grand kids, but I don't want to "baby sit" I am Nana  not the emergency or on call sitter.  My mom never baby sat and I would have never even asked her to, she was grandma.  When your dad and I are away, please don't call dad to see if he can help you to fix your vehicle, this is "our" time.  I am sure that you have your friends or the shop up the road that can help you out.  

Thinking back on all of the things that George and I didn't do because of things that needed to be done for the kids or places that the kids had to be, there is a lot of catching up of things that we need to do.  Keeping my fingers crossed that next weekend he and I will be heading to the Gulf for some crabbing and fishing.  He has to do something to the water pump I think is what he said so depending on what is happening with that will depend on if we go or not. I couldn't tell you the last time he and I went fishing and that is truly sad. 

We as parents have to learn to take care of ourselves and our spouse, the one that we choose to share our lives with and grow old together with.  The children will be fine, we were, and I do believe it made us stronger not to have our problems "fixed" by our parents.  We were taught to stand on our own two feet and we did.

~Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today!~ Brightest Blessing