DIY garden project: An old wooden stool is turned into a tall planter.

     Do you have any items sitting around in your backyard that you don't want to just throw away?  I know I did.  I had a set of wobbly old wooden bar stools that were falling apart.  The wood was still very solid and I thought of several re-purposed uses that these stools could have.  The best idea was to turn them into planters using leftover wood from another project.  I had bought extra cedar wood earlier in the year to build shelves in my closet and there was plenty left for at least one planter, so I began.

I cut the wood to match the angle of the legs...

...screwed it all together...





... and now you have a nice pot, or a puggle trap!

And this is the finished product.  I planted a Buddha hand citron in the pot which grows fantastic fruit! 

Recycle a T-shirt into a Reusable Shopping Bag

I saw this idea floating around the interweb recently and decided to give it a try.  It was so very simple that  I was able to make two bags in under 10 min!



Simply cut off the sleeves and the neck of the shirt.  Then flip the shirt inside out and sew up the bottom.  Thats it, and did I mention simple?


I used this method to save some old shirts I never wear but didn't want to get rid of.  Always try to reduce your waste, re-use it when possible, and recycle whenever you can! :)

Peach Cobbler with fresh Georgia peaches

One of the best peach cobbler recipes I have ever had, and definately the best I ever made!  Warm, succulent Georgia peaches nestled in brown sugar and buttery goodness bubbling beneath a delicious drop biscuit topping...

So here is a link to the recipe on the Food Network website.  Try it next time you have an abundance of peaches, or anytime really.  The more ripe the peach, the better the flavor! 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-specials/peach-cobbler-recipe/index.html

Also, I just copied and pasted it below just in case the link doesn't work!

Peach Cobbler

Recipe courtesy Kristina Williamson, Schooner Ellida, Rockland, Maine

Prep Time:  20 min

Inactive Prep Time:  --

Cook Time:  30 min

Level:  Easy

Serves:  6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Cobbler filling:

• 4 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches (blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds to remove the skins)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon flour

Cobbler crust:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, for topping
• Whipped cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Generously butter a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Place the sliced peaches in the dish and sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and flour. Mix gently and spread evenly again. Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile combine all dry ingredients for cobbler crust in a bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or your fingers, to make the texture like coarse crumbs. Add buttermilk and stir to form a soft dough.

Remove fruit from oven and drop rounded spoonfuls of dough on top. Sprinkle with last tablespoon of brown sugar and return to oven. Bake until fruit is bubbly and crust topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream

How to make a PINATA!

The first pinata I made was in 1st grade.  I was lucky enough to have my mom as my 1st grade teacher.  She was always the most creative of all of the teachers in my school, and I am not just saying that because she is my mom.  Most of the things that I create now that make people say, "WOW, that is really cool!", came from things that my mom taught me.   Pinatas are one of those things. 

A pinata makes every party just that much more fun, I mean who doesn't like to beat something apart for the reward of candy and/or toys.  Be creative, you really can make just about anything you want.  All you need is a stack of old newspaper, flour, and water.

To make the paste for the paper mache (papier-mâché)  mix flour with water to form a runny paste, if you use a hand mixer you will be assured to have a lump free paste.  You then tear newspaper into strips which tear easily in one direction.  Then dip the strips in the paste, using your pointer and middle fingers to "squeegee" the excess flour mixture off the paper.  If you have too much of the mixture of the paper it will take forever to dry and will be very messy.  

Once you reach an even 1st coat allow the pinata to dry completely (in the sun works really fast!).   

As you can see, as the pinata dries and shrinks,
the balloon will start to squeeze out the opening. 
Once you get a few good layers you can pop
the balloon so it doesn't warp the pinata any more.

After popping the balloon you are ready to create whatever
shape you want.  This pinata is about to become an OCTOPUS!
You can make any shape you want and really don't have to use a
balloon as a mold to build around, I just like the round shape
which works well to hold candy and prizes!

I attached 8 smaller balloons which will be the base for the tentacles.

After covering the smaller balloons in paper mache, I started to
lengthen the tentacles.  As they got longer I curled them upward.

Eventually I flipped my octopus over and attached a rope out the top. 
I reinforced the rope with a circle of cardboard (an old ribbon spool)
so it wouldn't pull through the hole and would distribute the load
of the filled pinata more evenly.

I use tempera paints since they are non-toxic and might chip off during the beating.
I made the octopus look angry and gave the kids a back story.  It was at a pirate
themed birthday, so the story was about an octopus who ate all of the kids pirate buddies. 
The kids had to free their pirate friends (pirate toys stuffed in the pinata) by killing
the evil octopus.  I even tied one of the little guys to the octopus tentacle.  I then told
the kids that once they save the pirate friends they will get gold coins, and CANDY!
The back story worked like a charm and the kids got really into "saving" their pirate buddies.

Once they finally broke through the pinata (each kid got at least 4 turns) they got a shower of
candy, gold pirate coins, and even pirate jewelry.  Best of all they saved all 12 of the little pirate
friends that were inside the octopus and that made them very happy. 

Have fun making your own pinata and remember to be as creative as possible.  Paper mache is very strong and very durable if done right.  This pinata was for a group of three and four year olds.  The pinata was only about 4 or 5 layers thick but proved to be very hard for kids that age to break.  One of the daddies at the party had to take the final swing.  So, for little little kids maybe make your pinata a little thinner.  For middle, or high school kids feel free to make it impossible thick and hard to break, it can be very amusing to watch them try their hardest to break it!  :)

Ok, It's time to talk food!!

Manjula is one of my favorite resources for Indian vegetarian cuisine. Indian is one of my favorites!! I made this salad for friends one day. They gave it rave reviews! I was thrilled, and it tasted fantastic. It was so fresh and cool with basil, mint, and tomato and so satisfying with the beans! A perfect salad for any meal!!

The 30 day lettuce box!

The weather has turned cool here in Florida. Cool enough to actually not sweat when outdoors. Cool enough to grow lettuce!





Other than my little patio garden I enjoy helping others grow their own favorites. At my b/f's house I am able to grow a bit more than at my house, so I have been enjoying the opportunity. I recently commandeered a nice 1'x3' planter which I sectioned off with unused tiles that were in his back yard. I then planted 2 of the 4 sections with mixed leaf lettuce, 1 with arugula, and one with spinach.



Each of these varieties only takes 30 days till your first harvest. The spinach will also take 30 days, but you can take it to about 40-45 days for more mature spinach which is better for cooking with.

These leafy plants are also a great fast growing veggie for kids to grow (as they are about as impatient as me). They grow great in the cool winters we have here in Florida. I enjoy taking advantage of the year round growing season. In just about 30 days you too can enjoy an awesome salad like this. We added blueberries and pears... it was AWESOME! I have actually never tasted better arugula, so peppery and not overly bitter.

Just remember that after the initial trim, the leaf lettuce and arugula will grow more leaves providing multiple yummy SUPER fresh salads. I also have a yellow pear tomato planted to eventually go in my salad mix! :) Can't wait!!!

My secret garden. Dedicated to birds, bees, and butterflies!

I have a secret garden under old oak trees. It is a place to relax and breathe. It is a place where life begins, is sustained, and sometimes ends. Palms cluster tightly to hide me from strangers passing by. Slowly, the once barren earth gives way to a seething mass of roots which shoot stalks up high into the sky. These tendrils defy gravity as they climb higher deploying lush green solar panels called leaves. Just as the tangle begins to becomes wonderful, flowers appear and blow the mind like the stars can at night.

Butterflies and birds begin to notice what is happening. By careful selection a bee and butterfly garden has begun, natural, organic, sustaining...

I want to share the earth with people! I want people to see what I see when I see a boring yard or tiny patio. I see potential, the garden not yet dug. The patio garden not yet started, growing delicious crisp vegetables and aromatic fresh herbs. I want everyone who wants fresh homegrown vegetables to be able to have them. There is no greater pleasure I have found yet that beats gardening.

Watching butterflies land and nourish themselves on their favorite flower is wonderful. Watching them lay eggs that hatch and turn from caterpillar to butterfly again before your eyes is amazing!!
Also, with the decline in the number of bees I have been glad to see local bees enjoying my flowers. If only this patio were larger, the secret garden could go on forever, until it becomes known to all. We can all have our secret garden growing whatever we want. All we have to do is try!