Today was gorgeous! I mean, it was so beautiful that it was the kind of day when working outside just is the right thing to do...and so I worked outside. Got the garden going, although, honestly, most of it is currently poison ivy...I don't get that. Every spring I get a case of poison ivy. This year it hasn't happened yet. We've had like a week or two of good weather and going out there yesterday and today I was surprised that I didn't get all itchy and break out. I think I

I like researching how to make expensive items instead of buying them. It is a hobby of mine. One essential that I have recently made in quantities that I could sell is Vanilla Extract. It is easy and fun! You take a bottle of Vodka or Rum, you put a pile of Vanilla Beans into the bottle and put it in the dark for 3-4 months, or more for an especially strong batch. There are multiple types of Vanilla beans: the ones that I have been getting are Madagascar Vanilla Beans. The

Today was very enjoyable. I pruned my lemon tree that I grew from seed two Januaries ago this morning, cut back some roses that have been blooming all summer, and picked a whole lot of elderberries off the bush that is in front of our home. I also enjoyed watering my other lemon tree that I rescued last fall. It currently has five rather large lemons on it and I'm excited! I separated out the berries from the stems of the elderberries and they reminded me of the alveoli (bran

Have you ever thought about growing a banana tree? Well, I have! In fact, I have four in my dining room right now. Last spring, I wanted to buy a Blue Java Banana Tree. To my dismay, a single six inch to one foot tree was going to cost me $40. But, for the same price I could get four baby trees. I chose the four smaller trees. Which are now as tall as my shoulder, about 3-4 feet of tree and about a foot and a half of container and soil. I have figured out the secret to growin

Crabapple, Cinnamon Stick and Cranberry Jelly

Vanilla Extract I like researching how to make expensive items instead of buying them. It is a hobby of mine. One essential that I have recently made in quantities that I could sell is Vanilla Extract. It is easy and fun! You take a bottle of Vodka or Rum, you put a pile of Vanilla Beans into the bottle and put it in the dark for 3-4 months, or more for an especially strong batch. There are multiple types of Vanilla beans: the ones that I have been getting are Madagascar Va

RECIPES: Giant Bubbles Recipe 1 gallon water...