The farmhouse clothesline plays an important role in the grand scheme of things. Not only does it save energy and give you a handy place to hang up wet camping gear, it offers a few moments of peaceful meditation not often found in our busy lives. Pinning the clothes on the line and taking them down once they are dry and smelling like sunshine has always been one of my favorite parts of a hot ...
DIY
If the Shoe Fits
My latest garden shenanigans have involved planting succulents in old shoes. High heels are one of those things where I really like and appreciate the way they look, but I am just not into wearing them. Ever. So, this way I get to enjoy them without wobbling around and worrying about falling on my face. Yeah for creative DIY solutions! There are enough various succulents growing around my ...
A Re-purposed Brick Patio Memorial
There is just something about old clay bricks. I have long admired brick pathways and patios with little ground covers like Irish moss and creeping thyme growing in between the cracks. My Grandpa Jack also recognized the crafted quality and value of old bricks enough to dismantle a brick hearth in their home and clean the mortar off of every single one to re-use for a future project.Years later, ...
Glass Window Greenhouse
As is the story with many DIY-ers, an up-cycled glass window greenhouse project was on my to-do list for years. I started saving a window collection when we moved onto this homestead three years ago, and responded to a few "free window" offers from friends who were updating the windows on their houses. I even found a snazzy antique grange door and stained glass window left here in our barn that I ...
About the Birds and the Mason Bees
When you have all the chickens you can handle taking care of and are busy working, but you want to add more critters your homestead, the struggle is real. I would really love to get more chickens, some ducks, maybe a turkey or goose, but now is definitely not the right time. The cool thing about living out on the edge of the wilds is that you can always make friends with the local wildlife and ...
DIY Barbed Wire Trellis
The rose bush in the front flower bed was beginning to fall over with the weight of all the new growth these past weeks, and was in serious need of a trellis. Rather than buy a trellis, I felt up to the task of making one myself. One of my favorite approaches to the creative process of garden art is looking around my sheds to see what is on hand that could be re-purposed. In this case, we had been ...
DIY Garden Flags
I have always enjoyed hanging flags out in my garden, and it was time for some new ones after the Tibetan prayer flags we put up around the garden fence for housewarming finally disintegrated this winter. I discovered Pinterest not too long ago, and got some great ideas looking through garden art pins to make my own flags out of old ratty fabric and quilt scraps. I have to be honest that I am not ...
Two Kids and a Dude
Every May, when the garden is prepped and seeds are planted, the kids get the fun job of building Dude the Scarecrow. Dude has been with us quite a few years now, watching over the garden and scaring away marauding birds and pests. Occasionally he gets something new, like a straw hat, or overalls when the old ones fall apart. Honestly, I am not sure where the rainbow suspenders came from, but they ...
Upcycled Throw Pillow Project and Some Thoughts on Re-Purposed Art
There is a lot of fun to be had in re-purposing something old into something new. I may not be a great seamstress, but I have enough basic sewing skills to act upon my creative ideas when I see just the right something. I found this quilted calico appliqued wall hanging stretched on a hoop at a second hand store, and immediately re-imagined it as a homestead-themed throw pillow. It was so easy ...
DIY Vintage Valentine Decorations
With Valentine's Day coming up, I had a little creative fun with decorating for the holiday. Not a lot is happening in the garden in February, so it's an excellent time for craft projects and cheery indoor festivity to enjoy after a rainy day pruning fruit trees or mulching blueberry bushes. I kept my eye out over the year for interesting vintage Valentine odds and ends, and had some good finds to ...