Learning curve

I wanted a pond for water plants and fish.  Paul wanted a better way to collect rain water for the garden.  So he bought a 8ft stock tank.  Pipes feed water from the gutters into the tank.  The tank sits over the original cistern that was built for the original farmhouse.  He put in an overflow valve to flow into the cistern.

Next came gold fish and pond plants.....

And finally the fish high rise.  It took them a few days to figure it out but now they love it!

Paul says it's a reverse glass bottom boat.  They can view the outside world from another angle.

We can't wait to share it with Olivia!



Ginger syrup recipe

I love club soda; I love ginger ale; but I just discovered how much I love ginger syrup.  It's so easy.  I can pour it in my club soda to make my own ginger ale, or add it to my iced tea.  My first batch I made with Stevia, but from now on I will use real sugar.  It's definitely worth the calories.  I found the recipe on epicurious.

ingredients:
3 cups water   
2 cups surgar
2 cups thinly slice fresh ginger (1/2 lb; from a 10-inch piece), left unpeeled

Bring water, surgar, and ginger to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan, then stir until sugar is dissolved.  Simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then remove from heat and let steep 15 minutes.  Pour ginger syrup through a sieve into a bowl, discarding ginger.  Chill, covered at least 2 hours. 

Syrup keeps, covered and chilled, 2 weeks.

I wonder how it would taste added to my iced tea with bourbon.  I will definitely do the research.

In a perfect world....

I would live in a farm house like this.....

You can see more pictures here: http://www.dwell.com/articles/Hope-Floats.html

JCrew Sketching

I love JCrew...so why not sketch the catalogue for practice.



Just a few pictures....

This week was my baby's birthday...26!  I thought I would post one of the gifts I made her here:

I followed this tutorial, http://jensownroad.blogspot.com/2011/03/painted-rain-boots.html

I also wanted to share the lovely cake her older sister made her...

Isn't Pinterest a marvelous place???



Easter projects

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  I was busy up to the last moment making the girls' rabbits and baskets.  Here's a peak.....

Olivia's has the body of the Mimi Kirchner pattern on Purl Bee and then I just winged the head....

I felt a little like the movie, Coraline.

Lily's needed to be something that could go straight into her mouth....and it did.

I made the baskets from grocery bags and then cascarones from our eggs!!

Every holiday fiesta should have a little confetti!

And in the background, homemade chocolate covered marshmallows and....

this carrot garden cake.  I made it all the time when my kids were little.  What a joy to bring it back for our grand kids.  A considerable amount of work but well worth it!







Spring On-line magazines

Finally, a lazy day to read what's been waiting for me in my in box.....here are just some of the lovely new spring issues......

                                             Styled, packed with spring crafts and recipes....
                                                     

Find Sweet Paul here for great Easter ideas and recipes....

Covet Garden for decorating ideas.....

Matchbook, fashion and  lifestyle......

Paper Mache, a very cute children's magazine 

And last but certainly not least, Toast catalogues, that are as good as a magazine!

Happy browsing!