How does your horseradish grow? another pallet project

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!! I am sharing another pallet project. We were at a local small business garden sort of place a couple weeks ago and they had horseradish roots for sale. We know horseradish will take over and Jim kinda looked at me. I said, "Why can't we grow it in a bucket?" I got another questionable look because how attractive would a plain 'ol bucket be sitting around. ...don't worry...got that one covered too (literally).

Don't go buying your buckets!!!!! There should be plenty of places that have buckets they are going to throw away. I would start at a bakery. I asked the bakery at our grocery store what they did with their empty buckets. The lady said it just depends but they had two sitting there they were going to throw away. SWEET DEAL!!!! I picked up some groceries AND some buckets. There was no questionable look when I came home with the buckets. I think he almost laughed at me with pity.

Fill the bucket up with dirt, plant the horseradish and move along to the next project. No digging will be necessary when it is time to harvest some of that horseradish, just turn that bucket upside down!!!!

Oh!!! Did you want to see what we did? he he he. Here it is. Jim made a "cover" for the bucket. I was thinking of something we could set the bucket in, but I like his interpretation of the concept much more!!!!

It is cute box huh?

top view

a different angle

Oh but look!!! It hides a bucket!

We think it will look pretty cool when the leaves are growing through the hole!

There will be 4 of these around. There were 4 roots in the bag.

A free bucket and a free pallet = a snazzy looking horseradish root

Here is a link with some history about horseradish

So? What do you think?

Let us know.

See you soon!!!!!

A Spring Chick Easter Card

Here are some more Easter cards I made. The same stamp, just different ways. I do apologize for the picture quality. I almost forgot to take the pictures altogether. That doesn't excuse the poor quality of some of the photos, but yet somehow still better than no pictures at all. I could have skipped the blog post, but that wouldn't have been any fun either.

I started with a sheet of these.

I stamped as many as would fit on a 12x12 sheet.

Then I colored the images (some of them)

picked out some pretty paper and ribbon

used lots of foam dots

 (there are foam dots behind each stamped image on all cards)

I also used decorative scissors or a paper punch.

A stamp and a stamp pad for the sentiment

Change the colors up a little bit...

Do you have a favorite?

Here they are all lined up!

This is a variation on the card I made HERE

Here are those ones all lined up!

....and...

...finally...

Any guesses?

This is that Christmas present from Jim's Step Dad that I kept telling you about and don't think I ever showed you. If I have shown you, it wasn't nearly this full. It is to the left of my work bench. 

I fits PERFECTLY on this wall too!

How are your Easter preparations coming along??

Hope to see you again soon!

hugs

~Jen and a very upset Jynx.

She is out of food in a can. I am going to the store in a little bit to get some other groceries, but she doesn't seem to be accepting my apology as sincere. /sigh

Freshly Picked - Mushrooms

Another sunny day in Western PA. The nice bright sun helps make the chill in the air ok.
Today's Freshly Picked Cricut Cartridge feature is on page 34, the mushrooms.

Here are the cuts. My cut size was 4.5 inches.

I inked the edges of the mushrooms and the spots.

I used the glue pen shown to adhere the underside of the shown mushroom.

I used pop dots, dimensional, foam adhesive, whatever you would like to call it...

to adhere the spots to the mushroom.

I inked the edges of the green mushroom too.

I used the same glue pen to adhere the underside of this mushroom as well.

I also used a foam dot on this spot.

I used a white gel pen to add the dots on the spot.

This cut could make a cute card for a fungi.

get it...ha ha ha {giggle} a fun guy.

Thanks for stopping in.

I {love} comments!!!

Timberrrrrrr!

We cut down a tree over the weekend. We don't like cutting down trees, but this one was blocking the sun from the spot where we want to expand our garden.

I would show you pictures of tree, but we liked it so much we couldn't locate any pictures of it. I know there is at least one picture of it, but that picture is on a disc because it was on my old computer and I can't place the discs right now either.

Jim looking at the tree.

The blue tarp...oh I don't think I ever did that post.

That is part of 3 yards dirt/mushroom compost

Not sure what he's looking at, but...

you can see the garden behind him. We haven't had much luck here 

and by taking the tree down our success should at least improve...

Getting serious now!

We are going to put in a row of berries to help hide the compost pile. 

It is such a lovely site from the street. he he he

No pictures of the tree coming down, I had to hold the rope to help guide the branches.

I couldn't figure out how to do both at the same time....so much for being super woman...

 I {DID} get to use the chain saw though.

You can almost see my new and super cute garden boots.

I will have to make a post about them too.

So many thoughts, so little time.

and a couple cheesy photos for you, my blog friends...

I know you are jealous of how good I look in those safety glasses...

I should have taken a picture of the aftermath.

It was kinda neat, with the way the branches came down it was like a fan.

Sometimes you just forget about the camera when there is a task at hand.

Under all sawdust mulch is the lily of the valley.

We are leaving the stump there. It is either going to be a home for a bird bath or a planter of some sort.

It might need some leveling but that will depend on what goes there.

Now we just need Jim's Mom and Step-Dad to bring the tiller so we can expand the garden and 

I can start laying it out. I have parts of it done in my head, but kinda hard when there are plenty 

of things distracting you.

Now we have more firewood, let the backyard 'campfires' begin!!!!

One stamp, some scraps, three cards

It is a beautiful day here in Western PA. I admit it, I sat on the back deck in my shorts, tank top, and sunglasses and closed my eyes for a few earlier. I'm pretty sure I could have taken a nap like that. Our backyard is west facing, that means there isn't a shortage of rays (as long as that nice warm ball of fire comes out for the day)

The peas are growing, as are the beets. I'm a little worried about the spinach seeds. I am wondering if perhaps they didn't receive enough water. I didn't plant the whole packet so we have a second chance if needed. The carrots and onions were planted over the weekend. I planted the chard today. I planted some flower seeds over the weekend too.  Everything will need covered tonight, we are expecting a frost after 2 am.

Enough about the garden. Let's get crafting shall we?

I used a stamp from Inkadinkado to make the following cards. The card bases were premade. Any other paper on the cards came out of the scrap drawers. I have recently cleaned out those drawers and given paper away, but they are still overflowing...ah I love paper!

I did use embossing powder and a heat gun on the stamped image. You can't necessarily tell that from looking at the pictures, but I promise I did.

I hope everyone made it through Monday! If the sun is out where you are, I hope you took a couple minutes and got a couple minutes of peace and vitamin D!

linking up here:

Hugs ~ Jen

Freshly Picked - Geranium

Here is the geranium from the freshly picked cartridge. The geranium is on page 31 of the handbook.

Here is the screenshot of my Gypsy.

When it comes time to put my paper on my mat, I have to turn my gypsy the same direction 

as my or I end up doing really dumb things. :)

my mat all ready to go

the cuts and their pieces

All put together.

The little flowers on the pot are the cut outs from the geraniums.

I thought they were too cute to toss and no better time to repurpose them than the present!

I think this geranium cut could make some super cute cards!!!!!

Get well, birthday, thinking of you. As I sit here and look at it, it could be good for Mother's day too - especially if gifting a geranium.

Let me know what you think!!!!!

Up next will be the mushrooms on page 34.

Hugs, Jen

A paper bag album "how to" in memory of my Grandma.

I've been contemplating today's post for awhile. I've been trying to figure out what I was going to say or do. How much is too much, don't be wordy. Is it enough. All foolish questions, but questions (and many others) that crossed my mind, none the less.

April 1st 2008, a day I remember all too well.  There are things, moments, conversations, actions, that I can remember pretty much word for word. I can see it all, like it was yesterday, but in fact, it has been 4 years. (Good thing you can't see me because I'm crying already.../biting lip)

Four years ago today my Grandma passed away. I was the first one in the family to find out. My poor Grandfather was probably one of the last to find out since he was on his way to the hospital at the time. Anyway. She had been in the hospital, but that doesn't really make it any easier.

I was the first one to find out. That meant I was now the one that had phone calls to make. Awkward phone calls. How do those words come out in the "right way?" I'm still pretty sure they didn't, but that is how the conversation went and I believe I apologized to the recipient of my first phone call. Things you aren't prepared for...

My Grandma was an amazing lady with plenty of style and class. Me in my jeans and hoodie is no reflection on my Grandma's style. She always looked nice, dressed down to her, was dressed up to most of today's young people. I know better, I just choose to be lazy.

Grandma had been in the nursing home due to a wound that wouldn't heal and lack of strength, and who knows what else. There were many things Grandma and Granddad kept from us, we shouldn't have to worry about things like that and besides "Grandma always gets better." A fighter she was. She fought against one medical issue after another for most of her life. She proved the doctors wrong time and time and again.  She was told she wouldn't get to watch her own kids grow up. Guess what! She sure proved those doctors wrong because her oldest Granddaughter was in her 30's. (Yep! I'm a 30 something)

For Christmas 2007 I made a paperbag album for my Grandma. It seemed like the perfect thing for her to be able to look at over and over (at least it was my hope she would, and she did. Anytime I stopped to visit it was either in her hands or within arms reach)

I have this book now. It sits on my shelf that I got for Christmas (hmm, did I ever share that picture with you? I kept telling you I would and now I don't think I did. hmm...) Before that it sat in the bag that my Grandfather had it in when he gave it back to me. I took it down off the shelf earlier and it seems that adhesive doesn't last forever either. I will be re-adhering some of the pages.

Have you made a paperbag album before? It was fun and they seem perfect for so many things. I am going to share mine with you and I wanted to show you how to make one, but...it seems this post is getting lengthy. I looked around to see if I could find some tutorials for you. I found two I was happy with sharing. There are lots of pictures out there and plenty that would show you how to get it done, but they didn't seem 'worthy'. Is that horrible? I hope not, I only want to share the best.
The first is my blog friend Gen at Cabin Fevered Gem. That link will take you to a paper bag album she made. Her post also has a video link for a how to. Wander around her blog she has lots of great ideas.

Can you believe that is a paper bag? Hop over to Gen's and check it out. I think it is lovely!

I am also sharing Dirt Cheap Decor's link. They have a non-video how to. We aren't bloggy friends yet, but I can tell you they are sitting here waiting for me to wander around their blog and I'm most certain we'll be friends before I walk away from the computer!!!

Here is the one I made for my Grandma. Who knew that something made to help comfort her would turn around and help comfort me.

There a number of ways to bind them together. I used a hole punch and ribbon

One of my high school graduation parties was at this Grandma's house.

I included pictures that she had put on the poster board of pics for the party.

My love of travel had to come from my Grandparents.

We would travel to South Carolina each summer to see my Aunt.

Road trips with the Grands...love the memories.

The bags get placed together in opposite directions.

It leaves the open end the opportunity to be used as a place to tuck things in...

...like the post card below

and a note you can't see in the pic.

The note is about our road trips!

...like this post card. She was a funny one!

I promise you if I were to have taken a picture of the other side you 

would see my Grandmother's cursive writing.

My Aunt moved to Florida (right before I moved to SC).

The post card was sent from Grandma visiting in FL to me living in SC.

This pic was taken at a plantation in SC.

This particular visit, I met them at Aunt Kaye's.

With both of my Grandma's for my college Graduation

and

a one of my all time favorites...me and Grandma at the beach!

Another pocket. This one has a note about Christmas memories in it.

It was the early 90's don't judge that hair!!!

It was super fun to do and I can't believe I haven't done more.

Perhaps I should, and take pics each step of the way...

I think they would be great for so many things.

***tissue alert***

This one was perfect for Grandma and is now perfect for me.

I am off to give it some love with some stronger adhesive.

One thing I did do was make copies of the pictures.

Lunch bags are not archival safe so if you are wanting to preserve your pictures this isn't the best way.

I wish she could be here to meet Jim. She always said she liked looking up to tall good looking guys!

I wish she could be here to see what we have done to this house and the gardens when they are in bloom.

She is here in my heart every day!

It is supposed to rain today. Her tears from missing all of us will help the garden grow!

I love you and miss you Grandma!!!!

HUGS!

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