Garden Chick - in My Garden

Happy Valentines Day

2012-02-14T17:23:00.001-08:00

http://www.vintageholidaycrafts.com/

Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms without the aid of the seasons.

Kahlil Gibran

Does Grape Jelly Come from Grapes?

2012-02-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

My granddaughters and I were in the grocery store today, and I had to pick up some grape jelly for our morning biscuits. As I picked out a jar, I turned to Kendall ( my youngest at age 6), and said, " You know, we need to make grape jelly this summer from all of those grapes we get." That's when she asked the question about grapes and grape jelly. I thought my granddaughters were pretty savy on the whole gardening thing since they have been out with me since they could walk, but I see I still have a little work to do.

Since the weather was nice when we got home, we went out to the garden to look at the two vines I have. My husband pruned them in December and I wasn't very happy. In the South, January or February is the best time for pruning grapes but we will wait and see how it worked out. Fertilization isn't necessary after the first couple of years, because it stimulates leaf and wood growth instead of fruit production. Japanese beetles are a terrible problem with ours, since grapes are one of their favorite foods. I just hand pick them from the leaves and kill them. Grapes also need a trellis. My husband made ours from rubber coated wire stretched between posts. While the plants are still dormant I need to get out and weed, then place straw over the area to keep weeds down.

Better start looking for those grape jelly recipes for Kendall.

Karen

The Test of Time: Are these seeds any good?

2012-02-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

The weather has been so warm this last week, my thoughts have naturally turned to gardening. February in the south is a battleground for opposing weather fronts. Last year was ice and snow, this year, warm weather, rain, and the threat of tornados. On any given day in February, you may be tempted to uncover those bundled up peonies, but you know this brief reprieve will be followed by colder days. The high for today is 58, but by the end of the week, the nights will be below freezing. So what is a gardener, anxious to play in the dirt, to do? Well, clean of course. I found seeds downstairs in my office that were anywhere from 2-5 years old.

I found vegetable, flower, and herb seeds. I discarded the lettuce and cilantro, since many vegetable seeds may have a short shelf life. The only way to see if your seeds may still be viable, is to do a seed test.

1. On a damp paper towel which has been folded in half, place about ten seeds. fold in half again, and then again into a square.

2. Place in a plastic bag. If less than than half of the seeds sprout in a week at room temperature, you should consider them unusable.

Four O'clocks, Shasta Daisy, Wildflower mix, Moonflower (the oldest at 5 years old), and Evening Primrose.

I will see you back next week to see if any of my seeds can be used.

Karen

Is it Spring Yet?

2012-02-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Daffodils

It's easy to be fooled into spring when the weather has been this great for the last couple of weeks. Daffodils are blooming, my Carolina Jasmine has taken on new growth, and my Stella D Oro lilies are peeping their leaves out from the cold earth. But, the mulch needs to stay on, and we can't be fooled. Freezing temps are headed our way late this week in the night time hours.

Stella d Oro lilies reaching for the sun.

My Carolina Jasmine has survived it'second
year, despite my husbands weed eater.

What Shadow?

2012-02-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

I watched the news this morning and saw where the Ground hog had seen his shadow, and we were in for 6 more weeks of winter. Who would have known it here it Chickamauga, Ga. After I picked my granddaughters up from school, we headed to the walking track around the local school. The temperature? 66 degrees. Tomorrow's forecast is in the 60's with rain coming our way later in the day, along with rain on Saturday. But again, on Sunday we expect warm weather.

This groundhog saw her shadow and mine taking here picture!

We may be in for 6 more weeks of winter, but I am going to enjoy this warm weather while I can.

Karen

MaryJanes FarmGirl Sisterhood

2012-02-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

I met MaryJane Butters at Where Women Create two years ago. I had been reading her magazine for several years and admire her not only for her passion for living the organic lifestyle, but that her magazine always highlighted other women. I had also read about her FarmGirl Sisterhood and decided to join.

A few months later I finally downloaded the catalog of Farmgirl "merit patches" (*Girlscouts for big girls), and was surprised to see there is also a catalog for boys and girls 6-13. What a great way to teach my granddaughters about the environment, sewing , cooking, and a variety of other skills. They too can earn their own merit badges.

Now, what to do first?

I decided on the "green living" and one assignment was to make my own laundry soap and share the recipe. So here you go!

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
2 gallon bucket

Grate soap and put in sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat until melted. Add washing soda and borax, stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot watet into bucket, add soap mixture and stir. Add another gallon plus six cups of water. Let sit 24 hours to gel. Use 1/2 cup per load.

I used the whole bar and doubled the rest, including water, and made 5 gallons. The extra bar soap helped it gel more. You can also add 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of essential oil per 2 gallons of detergent to fragrance.

The above photo is taken from the FarmGirlSisterhood website. http://www.farmgirlsisterhood.org/

Who doesn't love soup?

2012-01-26T17:44:00.000-08:00

I love soups in the winter: chicken tortilla, vegetable, broccoli and cheese, and black bean. I made a taco soup using hamburger meat a couple of weeks ago. It's simple and delicious, and served as lunch on a number of occasions at work. It has become one of my favorites

January is National Soup Month, so let me share this recipe for Taco Soup in the crockpot. Put this on before your day begins, and you will have dinner ready with little fuss.

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion chopped
1 can/bottle of tomato juice (48 oz)
1/3 cup sugar (or a little less)
1 cup frozen corn
1 package taco seasoning
1 can chili beans

Cook ground beef and onion. Drain
While beef and onion are cooking, add all the other ingredients to the crockpot. Simmer on low for 4hours or on high for 2hours
After the beef and onion are cooked, add to the crock pot with the other ingredients.
Serve with crushed tortillas, shredded cheese and sour cream.

I would decrease the sugar a little bit. The frozen corn was also sweet, but this soup is delicious.
A big slice of homemade bread will finish the meal.

Enjoy,
Karen

Both the recipe and the picture should be contributed to Hoosierhomemade

Monday Make Your Dream Come True: Compromise

2012-01-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

I was reading "cat herders" comment on last weeks post about the frustration of having to work your regular job while wanting to be at home working on your creative passions. I can feel her pain, but like her, I work a full time job, not only for the financial reasons, but health insurance, 401K, etc.....

Surely, there is some way to have it all, but if not, let's think about compromise. I have several loves. My Gardenchick business, my love of junking, and making jewelry. I tried having a booth at shops several times, but just keeping up with bringing new things in to make enough money to pay your booth and commission becomes overwhelming with a full time job and all of the other obligations we have in life. Compromise: My friend Sandra and I rent a storage facility and split the monthly cost. As we buy things from our junking adventures, in it goes. In April, we have been invited to have a booth at an outdoor show. Wala. I get to enjoy the hunt of the junk, but not the worry of needing it right now, and what fun it will be to bring it all out in April and display it.

If you make jewelry, keeping up with an online business is hard. The competion online with your own site and sites such as Etsy is daunting. Trunk shows are very popular and you have a captive audience viewing only your creations. Why not get with a friend or two, who either make jewelry, or maybe something complementary such as bath and body products, hand bags, etc..... Set the date months in advance, maybe for next Christmas, and have a trunk show at one of your houses. Remember all those "home parties" you have gone to for friends? Let them return the favor and invite several of their friends to your home show. Make pictures of your products to put on your online site and use that as your "catalog", for orders for those unable to attend.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Explore alternative ways to enjoy your passions while continuing to work.

Karen

F.O.C.U.S.

2012-01-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

I was vegging out in front of the television this morning watching the "Hoarders" and eating cheetos. I deserved it. I had worked a 13 hour shift in the ICU yesterday, picked up my granddaughters after work to stay the night, and had taken them a 35 minute trip to school, in the rain, and in rush hour traffic downtown. Anyway.... that brings me to the hoarders. As I watched room after room piled to the ceiling with garbage, I think why don't they just start something? Pick the sink, pick a corner of a room, clean that, then stop. Set a timer for 30 minutes, then stop. But do something. Obviously, I don't understand the mind of a hoarder, but I do understand how overwhelming a big task can be.

For instance, my huge back yard. This drizzly morning as I look out my window, my mind drifts to all the projects I want to do this spring that didn't get crossed off my list last year. I quickly became overwhelmed. So I decided to take some advice I heard when you want to "do it all", and "do it now".

F. Follow

O. One

C. Course

U. Until

S. Satisfied

Instead of looking at the whole yard, I picked what I wanted MOST. That is my garden shed for my business. That's it, no thinking about arbors, fencing, patios, and paths. No new gardens, or putting in ponds.

In 30 minutes, I picked the location I wanted, determined the size, made plans to clean out area when the weather warms, determined the materials I wanted (from pictures I had cut out of a magazine), and made a list ofsome flowers I wanted to plant around it.

What big task do you have to complete? Break it down, 30 minutes at a time, and DO Something.

Karen

* I believe Angela Stalcup of Ladies Who Launch (Atlanta), gave me this advise.

Make Your Dreams Come True Day

2012-01-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

In the moment you ask, and believe, and know you already have it in the unseen, the entire Universe shifts to bring it into the seen.
"The Answer"

I was looking at my blog calendar and realized Friday was "Make Your Dream Come True Day". For over five years I have had a dream to own my own business, and have only half heartedly or sporatically worked on it And yes, you do have to put work into it. The problems is I let everyone's needs come first, or made all kind of excuses to not move forward. Money, time, and I wanted to do it all. I first thought this inability to make a decision on what my dream was, was attributed to ADD, or now, Menopause! We are taught early on that we can't have it all, and need to pick one thing to concentrate on or we can't do it well. Well, I am here to dispel that myth. I am reading "The Renaissance Soul, Life Designs for People with too Many Passions to Just Pick One. And guess what? I am normal, and you don't have to pick just one thing.
So....I spent some time today clarifying what I TRULY wanted. I broke down the dream, and decided to work on just one, My Gardenchick Business today. Here is my dream in black and white. No more excuses, you can all hold me accountable for making my dream come true.

I want to work at home.
I want to work in creative surroundings, in an outdoor office surrounded by gardens. I want the "office" to be built of recyled materials with huge windows so I can see out.
I want to build my Gardenchick business, creating natural bath and body products, expanding my line to involve children and pet products. (I already have some of these, but need to refocus, and concentrate on one at a time.) I want to be the Paula Dean of gardening. I want Gardenchick products such as seeds, garden tools, paper products and linens.
I want a blog that like minded people want to read and want to tell others about.
I want to go junking with my friends and have "occasional" sales where we can share our finds.
I want to create jewelry from found objects.

Okay, there they are. When I dream, I dream BIG! I didn't just pick one, I wouldn't have been happy. What is your dream? Please share with me and others. I know there are a lot of us out there and we would love to help each other. I have decided that every Monday is Make Your Dream Come True Monday. I hope you will join me.

Karen

Birdscaping

2012-01-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

I live on about 41/2 acres with most of that being in woods. Even if you live on a small plot in the city, you can create a welcoming home for many different varieties of birds. Birds are not only fun to watch but are a great addition to your garden, eating thousands of bugs each season. (and a few blueberrys!). All you need to create your bird habitat is food, water, and shelter.

Food: We have several different types of feeders including suet feeders. This provides a variety of food to attract different types of birds. The only feeders we don't use are the ground feeders that dove like. We have two cats, Tinkerbell and J.R., who come and go in and out of the house as they please, and I don't want to provide them with a little extra snack now and then. I do have a chicken feeder with ground corn in it for my two hens, Rosa and Emma,

and it provides food for the birds, and the squirrels.

Water: We have a wet weather pond at the back of our property. When we bought this house, we didn't realize the pond was not dug properly, so it does not hold water year round. In the hottest summer months it may dry up, but most of the time there is water for the birds, and occasional mallard duck who lands. My birdbath in the front yard has had the cracks repaired too many times to mention and currently has an enamel bowl in it. Keep the water unfrozen during the winter, and change frequently in the summer.

Shelter: Trees, brush piles, bushes, and grasses. All of these provide shelter for birds who like to fly to the feeder, then back to shelter. Place your feeders close to shelter in case they need to return. Bird houses are another type of shelter and provide a place for birds to raise their young.

Winter is a great time to plan next springs garden. Look around your yard now and see how you can incorporate some birdscaping into it. Take your time, don't try to do it all at once. We have trees, feeders, bushes, houses and feeders now. Next years garden plans are to bring in some fruit trees such as cherries and plums which are a great source of food for birds in the summer.

If you have kids or grandkids, let them start a bird count and find out how many birds are visiting their homes, and find out ways to bring in other species that may not be visiting your yard now.

Many gardeners think there is nothing to do in the winter, but it is a great time attract birds to benefit next years garden, and is a great time to plan how you want to birdscape your home.

Karen

Free Calendar to Start Off the New Year

2012-01-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

You can't start the new year without a calendar and why not a pretty one like this to keep you on track with this years gardening goals.

This Herb Themed Calender is a free download from http://www.alicecantrell.com/blog/2011/11/2012-calendar.html Alice also has an etsy shop which carries her artwork.

Karen
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2012-01-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Christmas cookies for Santa

2011-12-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to leave Santa Cookies and Milk tonight. he will appreciate them for all his hard work.
This recipe comes from another Georgia girl, Paula Deen.

Double Chocolate
Chip Cookies
Makes about 7 dozen cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 egg white
1/2 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
2 cups semisweet chocolate
morsels
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add brown sugar, beating until creamy. Beat in eggs, egg white, sour cream, and vanilla until combined.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until combined. Add coconut and chocolate morsels, beating until smooth.
Drop batter by heaping tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes.

Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Have a fun Christmas Eve with your family

Karen

The First Day Of Winter and the storms of life

2011-12-22T14:17:00.000-08:00

It's 4:30 pm outside and it looks like 9pm. This first day of winter has brought temperatures in the 60's and a tornado watch. A far cry from last years snow. Both are unusual for winter in North Georgia.

I have had a rough last couple of months. Without saying too much our children disappoint and hurt us but they are our children and we love and support them. I ask for your prayers for my son, who has made some bad choices regarding drugs and will now face the consequences.

I believe that there are no coincidences, that everything happens for a reason and for our good, and I can only believe that good will come out of this.

I had planned to take a class in Blue Ridge Georgia with JoAnn Antonelli of the MartynHouse

When you have a dream as I have had for a number of years to own my own business, begin to think about and work toward that dream, I believe opportunites come into your life with like minded people. I saw JoAnn's story on Georgia Outdoors when they were visiting her bed and breakfast and outdoor "glamping" tents. Visiting her website I also found that she was a coach, and I knew I was meant to attend one of her classes. I signed up for the first class when all of this occured with my son. I just did not have it in me at the time to attend. I had paid, and instead of my signing up for a future class JoAnn agreed to work with me thru emails and handouts. As I said before, people come into your lives when you need them, and when I saw this on the introduction to the first class, I knew I was going to attend her monthly classes whatever arrangements I had to make.

"When the storms of life come do you sway and hold firm? Or do you swirl in chaos and say why me? Everyday of our lives we should be practicing to ground ourselves so that we are prepared for life’s challenges." JoAnn Antonelli A Day of Exploration Class
If you are in the Atlanta Area, please take a look at JoAnn's site, and sign up for her classes.

We all have life's challenges, but life goes on, and I have decided to ground myself. That for me means returning to my blog, enjoying my grandchildren, planning my dream life, and next years garden.
Karen

Surprising Benefits of Gardening

2011-10-31T15:23:00.001-07:00

Source by Loch Ness Water Gardens

Happy Halloween from Chickamauga, Georgia

2011-10-30T17:04:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2011-10-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

Have you scheduled your mammogram?

Knock Out Roses

2011-10-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

My Dad planted this knock out rose for my Mom several years before he died. My Mom has never been a gardener and has pretty much left this rose bush to "fend for its self". She did water it a few times during the hot summer, and apply a rose spray when

the leaves turned yellow, but other than that, it seems to have flourished all on its on. This was taken yesterday when I dropped my mom off at home. There is a smaller one behind it, and she has asked me several times to dig it up and take it home. I am going to do that this weekend. I have said several times in my blog to take flowers from someone you love to remind you of them when they are gone, and I have regretted a number of times I did not do that.

This is the smaller one, in front of the chrysanthemums my father planted. Chrysanthemums were his favorite.

Wonder what you can do with these wonderful rose petals before winter gets here and they all fall to the ground:?
Here are a couple of ideas.

Candied or crystallized flowers

1 cup roses, washed and dried on paper towels

powdered egg white or meringue powder, mixed with water to equal 1 egg white

1 cup superfine sugar (or process regular sugar in the blender for a few seconds)

1 small artist's paintbrush unused

sterilized tweezers or forceps

waxed paper

Line a tray or sheet pan with waxed paper, sprinkle with sugar to keep the flowers from sticking. Holding a single flower by the stem with tweezers or forceps, paint its entire surface with the egg mixture. Any area unpainted will turn brown. Sprinkle with sugar to coat thoroughly on both sides. Place on waxed paper to dry. Repeat until all flowers are coated with sugar. Allow to dry till crisp, which may take several hours to several days depending on the size of the flower. Store in an airtight container. Use to decorate cakes, petit fours, puddings and other deserts.

Romance of the Rose

1/2 cup rose petals

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup cranberry juice

2 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened

Whirl rose petals in a blender for a few seconds with lemon and cranberry juices. Add ice cream, and pulse a few times. Serve in stemmed glasses with fresh or candied rose petals for garnish.

These recipes came from a small booklet "The Fairy Home Companion" it can be purchased at The Essential Herbal

candied rose in sugar from http://www.feteetfleur.blogspot.com/
candied rose from http://www.ediblecrafts.craftgossip.com/

Spooktacular Halloween yard decor

2011-10-24T17:33:00.000-07:00

Every year I look forward to seeing what Gay Crane has done with her skeleton friends. Driving by her yard every Halloween season brings a good laugh. Will they be in wheelbarrows pushing one another? Soaking in the bath tub with their shower caps on?

I was walking in Chickamauga last week and I called Gay up to ask if I might take some pictures of her latest skeleton "antics" Here is what was in store for passerbys. (This looks really great at night with the spotlights on!)

You must of course first enter through the graveyard

Mr. Skeleton is sitting at his desk with a nice cup of tea just waiting on the trick or treaters. I would be a little scared to trick this guy!

Billowing pumpkin ghosts await you in the ivy covered corner of the yard.

and a spider web covered skeleton swings from the trees... his captor eagerly awaiting dinner.

"Ichabod" Pumpkin guards his skinny friend.

Gay is a talented artist, displaying her crafts of recycled treasures in numerous crafts shows. Visit her website The Spotted Crow to see her creations.

Fall is Finally Here

2011-10-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Fall has finally arrived! Gone is the sweltering heat of the summer, and arrived is cool nights and pleasant days. The grass is green and many of my flowers and plants have become rejuvenated.

My herb garden was overtaken by weeds, but I discovered one columbine plant had survived along with a foxglove. I feel guilty that I had neglected the gardens and yard, but if it wasn't scorching hot, the mosquitos would eat you alive. My yarrow has taken on new life around the rusty old discarded tricycle. (My friends give me junk they find on the side of the road. Thank you Sandra!

.

Kendall

My granddaughters dragged out the crochet set again, which had
been put away due the heat and never ending swarm of mosquitos.
I sat out this game, they were mad at me for winning

Mackenzie

My lantana and pompas grass love this cool weather!

If only they had looked this good all summer.

And finally......

The garden has been put to bed awaiting another spring.

Feeling A Little Crafty

2011-08-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

I was feeling a little crafty today, since the sweltering heat hasn't allowed me in the garden. I have taken my Gardenchick products to craft shows before but for the last year have become interested in making jewelry. My friends Becky and Dena introduced me to jewelry making at a girls weekend getaway. I haven't even begun to master the basics, but I seem to be drawn to the jewelry using repurposed materials, old photos, and unlike my usual taste "bling" from old rhinestone jewelry. My husband even purchased me a set of dremmel tools, and a table top vise last Christmas. They have been residing in their place of honor on the work table in my office, just waiting to be picked up and used. As fate would have it, several opportunities for craft shows have come my way, and I believe are a sign for me to pick up those tools and get started.

birds nest on old sheet music

My taste tends to be simple and natural, so I decided to try a few "birds nest" pendants that Becky showed me how to do. These are the results, and I don't think they look too amateurish. I ordered some little birds in cages from etsy, and I am waiting on some single bird charms to arrive. I want to dress some of the necklaces up a little. I plan on placing these on simple chains.

I love the website/blog just something I made

You can get directions for making the nests on the just something I made site along with a picture of a bottle she made. This is my version on an old Listerine bottle. I have also seen the nests made into rings or sewn onto sachets. So, if you have some unfinished plans just waiting for you to start, pick up your supplies now and get started, because it is definitely too hot to garden!

Child Labor

2011-08-29T08:10:00.000-07:00

I was working on some pictures for a magazine article on gardening with kids, so naturally I took pictures of my granddaughters. My granddaughters are smart, so involving them in working for my business is a little tricky. We had gathered lavender from my garden several weeks ago, and it had dried out. Now was the time to put that dried lavender to use so I had them "making lavender sachets" for one of the pictures. Those lavender sachets were so much fun, I now have quite a few to use in my lavender dryer sacs, and they have no idea their Nanny outsmarted them.

Working diligently on lavender sacs

Finally Made it to the Beach

2011-08-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ironically my last post in the winter was about my wanting to go the beach. This summer has been the most miserable in history. Hot, humid, and sauna like. I step out to work at 5:45 in the morning, and my glasses fog up. Now that is humidity! I have continued to water my plants in the pots, but our garden went to hell in a handbasket. I get some sick pleasure when reading posts on my yahoo groups that everyone's garden looks a mess, but feel terrible for farmers who make their livelihood from growing crops. We have salvaged tomatoes, very little okra, and a few cucumbers. Funny, this is the first year I have planted watermelons and cantalopes, and they have flourished. Guess they thought they were in south Georgia or Florida.

Anyway....my husband and I took my granddaughters Mackenzie and Kendall to Tybee Island, off the coast of Georgia. It is over the bridge from Savannah, so a day trip was in order for that beautiful southern city.

The weather was wonderful. While the temperature stayed in the high 80's, the humidity was low, and a slight breeze made the days and evenings great. Daily calls home revealed everyone in Chattanooga were sweltering.

Boats as they passed by our condo. Savannah is a shipping port so boats caring cargo from all over the world pass by as do these boats early each morning.

The Crab Shack is located back in the woods just after you cross the bridge from Savannah going onto Tybee Island. Great Low Country Boil, and the girls had fun feeding the alligators.

Wrestling gators at the crab shack

Beautiful sunset from our balcony

Wish I Were on the Beach

2010-12-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

I haven't gone to the beach in a couple of years and I am taking this dreary day to dream of a trip next year. Gulf Coast of Alabama, or Florida. It really doesn't matter as long as I get there.

My friend Shawn took this picture on her trip and I loved the simplicity of it. Shawn creates one of a kind treasures and hosts her Studio Thursdays each month in her renovated silo home. Proceeds go to the dogs she rescues and helps find "forever homes" If you are ever near Nashville, Tennessee you need to attend one of her shows.

Peppermint foot scrub

2010-12-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

Winter has finally made it to north Georgia, and I am not happy. I hate cold weather. We have seen a couple of frosts and today was windy with the highs in the 40's. Next weeks low is 19 degrees. I won't be able to function. I know all of you who live up north and have snow piled up to the windows are not having a lot of sympathy for me right now, but you realize I am a southern girl right?

I have taken about 10 days off from work and had hoped to get some things done in my business Gardenchick, clean up my office, and generally act like a housewife and do things like cook and clean. I can put a couple of checkmarks by some of those but I am still looking at dust bunnies on the ceiling fans. So who comes to visit and looks up anyway?

I have some of my products at a shop in Chickamauga called Bare Walls, and am sending some to a friends booth located in a new gallery in Chattanooga. My goal is to sale my products wholesale, and to place in shops locally. Tomorrow I have plans to go around to 3 Pet shops and take samples of my products.

Today I made Peppermint Foot Scrub, hence the title of this rambling post. As a nurse, my feet ache, and those clogs I wear are not easy on the heels. My foot scrub is made with sugar, brown sugar, cocoa butter, shea butter, and sweet almond oil. It is absolutely fantastic if I may say so myself. It always sales out when I send it to my friends Studio Thursdays, and people at work love how it makes their feet feel. The peppermint essential oil is cooling and great for stinking feet. Theirs NOT mine.

I like to make my products look unique, and give them a little something xtra to separate them from all of the other products available, so I added a black button to the top, placed on a scrapbook paper cut out.

You can find my products on etsy, just click on http://www.gardenchick.com/ and follow the etsy button.

If you are reading this locally, contact me, and especially if you are a retailer, I would love to have my products on your shelves!

Karen

Mystery Bulbs

2010-11-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

I found these bulbs in the GARBAGE CAN at work, and of course I had to bring them home. I left them in the basement until cooler weather, and brought them out last week for my granddaughters Mackenzie and Kendall to plant. We will wait to be "surprised" this spring. And yes, it was this warm last week, but a cold blast has now come through and we had our first frost.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

I love vintage postcards, but can't remember where I picked this one up. Not a lot of gardening going on this time of year, so I opened a booth at a local gallery in Chickamauga. BareWalls, located in the downtown shopping area is a mixture of antiques and local art. I enjoy using found objects to create something new. I find old furniture and paint it, make blackboards from old windows and mirror frames, candlesticks from old furniture legs, and anything else I can imagine.

I took this vintage postcard, along with others, and placed them on clean soup cans.( first paint the cans either black or orange). After that, I used a glaze that you can find at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and other craft stores, gave the card a couple of coats and filled with candy..

Be on the lookout for Old Christmas Postcards that can be scanned and printed. (I didn't use the original since they usually cost about 3.00 each). Print them on cardstock and make several. Fill the Christmas Can with Christmas Candy such as Candy Canes.

You can also go on etsy and look under digital downloads. I found vintage witches that were emailed as a file and had the local printer print them out for me. I will pick one of the leftover cans up at the shop and post a picture later.

Cucumber Blog Party

2010-08-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

The last blog party was a lot of fun with recipes on using all those zucchinis. Now we are on to Cucumbers!

Heres my post for what to do with your excess cucumbers.

Cucumber Dill Sauce

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 T salt
1/3 cup white vinegar
cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 cup sour cream
1 T fresh dill, chopped

Combine water, sugar, salt, and vinegar. When sugar and salt are dissolved, add cucumbers. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving. When ready to serve, drain cucumber, fold into sour cream and add dill. Makes 4 servings.

Visit these other great blogs and check out their recipes!

Becky's Cucumber Cocktails

Tina's Cucumber Lime Salsa

Cindy's Tzatziki

Janiece's Tomato Cucumber Salad

Nancy's Chilled Cucumber Soup

and thank you to MaryAnne of Torchsong Studios for being the "hostess" of this party!

MaryAnne's Creamy Cucumber salad
http://torchsongstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/cucumber-blog-party.html

CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway

2010-07-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

CSN Stores :Hot Days of Summer Giveaway!

The great people at CSN Stores contacted me about a giveaway for my readers. They have generously donated a one time use $60.00 gift certificate that can be used at any of their 200 online stores. That means you can find everything from gardening needs to dining room sets, cookware and dog beds!

And it is easy! Just leave a comment after you visit their site and tell me what is on your wish list for the gift certificate. I would appreciate also that you tell your friends, facebook, twitter, blog, whatever you can do to help me get at least 50 comments in appreciation for the great gift.

After I pick the winner, (randomly of course), I will send the company representative your information.

BE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, so I can contact you for your mailing info should you win.

Check them out, and I have my fingers crossed for all of you!

Karen

Zucchini Blog Party

2010-07-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

What do you do with that ton of zucchini that is now lining your kitchen counter tops? THROW A PARTY!
I am participating in a blog party with some fellow herb and gardening friends. Here's how it works.
I am going to post a zucchini recipe and then you head over to the other blogs and check out theirs. Kind of like a progressive dinner!

Lets start off with some Zucchini Pizza. Great for garden parties and afternoon snacks.

Zucchini Pizza:
3 1/2 (about 1 1/4 pound) zucchini, coarsely grated
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
2 c. (8 OZ) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 c. parmesean cheese, grated
1/3 cup flour
1T olive oil
1 c. spaghetti sauce
1 t. dried oregano
1/8 t. dried, crushed red pepper

Press Zucchini between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Comine zucchini, eggs, 1 cup mozarella cheese, parmesan cheese and flour in a medium bowl. Stir well. Spread in a greased 13 x 9 x 2 pan Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven, brush surface with oil. Broil 5 1/2 " from heat for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, spread spaghetti sauce on top of zucchini mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozarella cheese, oregano, and red pepper. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees an additional 20 minutes. Yields 6 servings.

Serve with salad and French or Italian Bread

Now for more recipes go to these blogs.

http://www.patriciarose-apotpourriof.blogspot.com/
http://birdworms.com/2010/07/21/zucchini-fritters/
http://theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2005/07/couple-zucchini-bread-recipes.html
http://sagescript.blogspot.com/2010/07/calibacitas-blog-party.html
http://soapandgarden.blogspot.com/2010/07/yummy-zucchini-brownies.html

Um Um, let's get cooking!
Karen

Tomato Invasion

2010-07-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

Nothing is better than a vine ripened tomato. We planted several tomato plants, both Rutgers and Better Boys. All have done great since we had consistent rain early in the season and lots of sun. Why is it that they all turn ripe at the same time? Next year I will try a later bearing variety, so that I will have a prolonged ripening schedule. I have cut up some for the freezer, taken many to work with me, and the chickens have gotten their share of the ones low on the vines. Now it is time to get creative. I opened our local newspaper today and seems the invasion is rampant in our local gardens since there was four different recipes. I think you will enjoy this one.

Southern Tomato Pie

4 tomatoes, thickly sliced

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 sweet onion, sliced and sauteed until transparent

1 prebaked pie shell (homemade or store bought)

salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese

1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar

1 cup mayonnaise

Place sliced tomatoes, basil and onion in pie shell. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Combine cheeses and mayonnaise and spread on top of tomatoes and onions. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 30 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. Cut into slices and serve warm.

This recipe was provided by Becky Byers to the timesfreepress (http://www.timesfreepress.com/) of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Karen

Organic Gardening Farming Magazine Volume 3

2010-07-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of the organic gardening farming magazine is out and my first article is in it! If you have not signed up for this FREE magazine with great articles you are missing out on a wealth of information.

My article is Herbal Weddings and I believe you will enjoy the history of many of our wedding traditions. Did you know todays version of the wedding cake may have evolved from the early Roman tradition of breaking a loaf of bread over the brides head after the ceremony? Or, that many herbs were woven into the garments of the bridal party to represent love, fidelty or protection?

Other articles I know you will enjoy include:
Propagating Herbs
Preserve Your Tomato Harvest with the Sun
Planting by the Moon and Other Lore
Going Native: How Gardening with Native Plants Helps Wildlife

There is no cost for the magazine. Sign up here: http://www.ogfm.organicgardeningfarming.com/ and receive it monthly. You can also view and download the previous two magazines.

Please let your readers (if you have a blog) know about this great resource.

Karen

Looking for some Killer Plants?

2010-07-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

It is Hot, Hot,Hot outside. Maybe you are looking for some "cool" indoor gardening ideas? I have been inside watching a little too much CSI, because the idea of checking out these "killer" indoor plants came up.
Amy at Growing Plants Indoors will occasionally send me a blog post that she thinks my readers may enjoy and I am only too happy to use them, especially on these days when the heat has melted my brain!

Like the Black Widow spider, the Venus Fly Trap ensnares it’s pray… and then unapologetically devours it. The plant emanates a sweet smell, seducing insects to land in its “mouth”. Almost immediately, the jaws snap shut and a powerful enzyme dissolves the insect into a digestible liquid.

Check out more of these insect eating plants at
10 Indoor Plants That Can Eat Insects

Enjoy, and stay COOL!
Karen

Free PDF Herb Guides at Herb Society

2010-07-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, have you seen the free PDF guides on herbs at Herb Society of America? Check them out here
http://www.herbsociety.org/herbs/profiles-and-guides.html

Dill: 2010 Herb of the Year

Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine: FREE digital magazine

2010-07-04T19:53:00.000-07:00

I would like to invite you to subscribe to this FREE online magazine. I have been asked to write a monthly column and am honored to do so. This is a new online magazine and I have read the pages cover to cover. Each magazine is about 38 pages with beautiful pictures and gardening information you can use. You will want to download and print out so that you can go back and read and reread. Everything organic is covered here. Examples of the first magazine include composting, planting an herb garden, starting from scratch in organic gardening, planting a healing garden, organic pest control, and many others.
There is not too many free things available now, and this one is worth more than many available on the magazine stands now. And an added bonus: No advertising. Grab your copy now at http://www.organicgardeningfarming.com/

July 4th: Food, Fireworks, and Fun

2010-07-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

July has started off pretty good. June consisted of 2 weeks of constant rain followed by 2 weeks of oppressive heat. We had record high temperatures and humidity that would fog up your glasses when you walked out in the early morning.

The fourth of July offered up a reprieve and low humidity and a slight breeze made it a great day to have everyone over for a cookout. Picnics aren't just for eating. It is for fun and family, and you have to work off some of those hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken breasts and deserts.

And this is where the fun begins. I admit, I was never able to play video games. Pacman was over my head, and when my sons were younger, they would grab the game out of my hands due to frustration. Now it is my granddaughters. Hello Kitty and My Little Pony have replaced car races and war games.

I vowed to purchase the Wii console after playing some games at a beach getaway with my girlfriends but never got around to it. Then came the offer a couple of weeks ago from Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment to have me "review" Vacation Isle Beach Party. Released in June, this game is great for the whole family. My granddaughters are 4 and 7, my sons and daughter in law are in their late twenties and thirty, and my husband and I are....well, anyway, it is fun for the whole family. Everyone was able to get in on the game since it allows you to select the difficulty setting for each skill level.

Don't worry about getting away for a beach vacation. This game is set on a fictional island and the realistic and lush scenery will make you break out the suntan lotion. You can pick from eight games, Slalom Skiing, Wake Boarding, Surfing, Stand Up Paddling, Ski Jump, Stunt Park and Hula and Fire Dancing (my favorite). Next, pick out a character, and you are on your way to earning sand dollars to use for purchasing beach gear and accessories from the "surf shack".

I was considering buying the Wii Fitness Game, but no need to after playing this game. The work out you receive is an added bonus to the fun that everyone will have.

If you have the Wii Balance Board, I understand it will add to the experience, but we had the Wii Remote and Nunchuck and had a great time with that. (The balance board is now on my wish list!)

So, grab your surfboards, waterskis, hula skirts, and those little drinks with umbrellas becauseVacation Isle: Beach Party will bring the party into your living room!

I want to thank Amy for sending me two copies of the game. I kept one of course to review and will donate one to our local shelter for abused women and their children.

Aloha!
Karen

Help Fight Hunger, Give Extra Produce to Your Local Food Bank

2010-06-23T06:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.ampleharvest.org/

One out of six Americans needs food assistance, but can't get fresh produce from the local food pantry. ONE OUT OF SIX. There is no excuse with the abundance of wealth in American that anyone should go hungry. I know first hand how slow the wheels of assistance turn in the government. If you have ever had to deal with trying to get assistance for someone, unemployment, food stamps, etc., I am sorry to say, it is a broken system. I hope everyone out there will take it upon themselves to help a neighbor in need, and not rely on our government to help. This should be evident in the current oil spill, and past devastating hurricanes. Political ideation takes precedence over the well being of the people out there who are hurting. I usually do not get political or religious on my blog, but enough is enough. It is time for those of us who have to help those who do not have. You may not be able to donate money, but you can donate your excess produce. If you are reading my blog, I am assuming you are a gardener. I already have an enamel bowl sitting on my counter full of squash, that if I don't do anything with it soon, will be thrown out for the chickens. This should not happen. Join http://www.ampleharvest.org/ in feeding your neighbor. Print off the flyer at the following link, and ask if you can place at your local markets, garden stores etc. Find out where your local pantry is and ask if they have registered with AmpleHarvest. Take your extra produce in this summer.

www.ampleharvest.org/downloads/GardenShop.pdf

Happy Fathers Day

2010-06-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day to all the great Dads out there!

My Husband Glenn

My Son Chad: Mackenzie and Kendall

My Son Josh: His two pugs Roman and Rocko

And my Dad, who I miss. I am sure he is looking down thinking I need to weed that garden instead of typing on the computer.

My Creative Space

2010-06-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

I am admitting here for everyone that I am scattered, and often unfocused. My family and friends won't find this a big secret at all I would like to think that we "creative" people are like that, but I think I just do not like to do the stuff that is not much fun. Thinking up new ideas, reading other people's blogs, cutting out things I want to make or do out of magazines, now that is fun. Straightening up my office, yuck! But agreeing to participate in this blog party "Where Bloggers Create", put me in high gear. I couldn't let anyone see the piles in my floor, scattered labels, and several coffee cups on my desk, so today was spent cleaning my office. I should have done this a long time ago, it is so much more conducive to creating. So here are my pictures. Of course, it is garden themed. I have collected many things over the years, and have sold a few and kept a few. The vision board is something everyone needs. You see mine includes both business and personal goals, what I want my business to be, the magazines I want to be featured in (of course Where Women Create is one of my goal magazines), the shed I want my husband to build to house my business, the places I want to go, and of course......the weight I want to loose.

Hope you enjoy. And don't forget to go to MyDesertCottage blog to view the others (list is on right of blog)

Share Your Creative Space at Where Bloggers Create

2010-06-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Annual Blog Party to Share Your Creative Spaces! Check out my blog June 19th to see where all my Gardenchick products (as well as myother artistic endeavors occur). I will be posting along with over 400 bloggers, my "creative space". Head over to http://www.mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/ on June 19th to peruse all the great blogs of talented women showing their special place to create. Bet you couldn't guess, but my space is a garden themed room!

Beautiful Indoor Gardens

2010-06-18T11:04:00.000-07:00

Every summer I put my indoor plants out on my deck, and except for watering and a little fertilizer, I pretty much forget about them. Amy at Growing Plants Indoors sent me information on these awesome indoor gardens. As I was scrolling thru them I noticed the one in Nashville at Opryland Hotels. I have seen this before and it is beautiful. The city of Nashville experienced the worst flood in their history a few months ago, and the hotel closed, laying off hundreds of people. I wonder if this beautiful garden survived?

My plan was to plant a cutting garden this year, but like most plans they were bigger than the time I had to put into it after the huge vegetable garden, a new fence, a redo of my perennial garden, etc., etc.,....
I love flowers indoors and to receive flowers for no reason. A fresh bouquet on the bedside table, or on the kitchen table can bring an indoor garden in without all the fuss. If you need a pick me up, order flowers today.....for no reason
Karen

St. Johns Wort

2010-06-15T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last fall, I planted St. John's Wort ( hypericum perforatum) in my Apothocary Garden. It has grown to about 2 feet and full of yellow blooms. The plant is named for John The Bapist. The word "wort" translates to plant, therefore, St. Johns Wort.
It has been used in herbal medicine for at least 2400 years.

Most people know St. John's Wort for it's use in mild depression and anxiety, but I have grown it for the flowers which I infuse in olive oil. The yellow flowers often turn the oil a deep red color. This red color comes from the pigment, hypercin, which is found along the margins of the petals. The oil has an anti-inflammatory property, and can be used as a message oil, or beeswax added to create a salve. Apply to bruises, sprains, burns, skin irritations or sore, aching muscles.

Plant in full sun or partial shade and allow plenty of room since the plant becomes a small shrub.

Harvest your plants on June 24th which is St Johns Day, and peak blooming season. Always harvest your plants in the morning, when the dew has dried, to get full effect of the essential oils.

St. John's Wort Infused Oil
Pick flowers and cover with olive oil
Place in a sunny window and infuse for 2 weeks, shaking every two or three days. Keep covered with oil
Place in the refrigerator, or a cool dark place after infused.

Image courtesy of Jennifer Anderson

USDA-NRCS Plants Database http://plants.usda.gov/

Don't Throw That Away, I can Use It In the Garden!

2010-06-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

This bottom of a wheelbarrow was given to me by Sandra, and I screwed the tub on. Plans were to fill it with lantana, but I have now decided to place a big fern in it, to add interest under an oak tree.

I was out in the garden yesterday and I thought I would share some of my unusual containers I have picked up along the way, or have been given. When you like junk, you seem to somehow attract it. In fact, my friend Sandra called yesterday to let me know of a sale, and we are going this afternoon. And how is it that you seem to attract friends who like the same junk? Go figure. We also like the same books to inspire us to buy even MORE junk. My best friend Becky and I are going to Minneapolis in September for a "Where Women Create" event, and as fate would have it, it includes a trip to the JUNK BONANZA! Life just doesn't get any better.

Hope these pictures inspire you to go buy some "recycled" containers. They look add interest and color to the garden, and the porch or deck.

hens and chicks in an old feed scoop

lantana in a log old wicker chair and enamel bucket add color to this corner of house under shade tree I only paid 10 for the chair years ago and it has been painted 3 colors. Moss rose in a scotts spreader adds color to the area around the patio. The soil is bad and the area has full sun, so containers are a good choice.This is one of my favorite finds. Found in an antique store, it made a perfect addition to the front yard perennial bed. Paid a little more than I usually do, but......it will last forever.

Happy Hunting!

I would love to receive pictures of your garden treasures to post on my blog

Karen@gardenchick.com

Memorial Day Poppies

2010-05-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

American Meadows Wildflowers

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was established after the Civil War as a time to place flowers on the graves of those who had given their life during the war. The day was celebrated at the end of May to allow for blooming of flowers to place on graves.

The Poppy came into favor based on a poem written by a Canadian Army colonel during WWI. "In Flander Fields" was written to commemorate the many soldiers that died on the Flander battlefields in an area between Belgium and France. In the poem, theColonel described how the poppies grew among the rows of graves.

Two women, Anna E Guerin in France and Moina Michael in the state of Georgia in the United States, were so impressed with the poem, they sold artificial poppies to help orphaned children, or people who were left in poverty due to the war. In 1922, Ms. Michael turned to the VFW (Veterens of Foreign War), for help in making the Memorial Day poppy official.

You can buy the official poppy of the Flanders Fields which is a symbol of the American Legion. The red poppy if probably the world's most popular wildflower and is available in the pure red strain at http://www.americanmeadows.com/WildflowerSeeds/Species/RedPoppyseedsallredsingle.aspx

Hug Your Cat Day

2010-05-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

HUG YOUR CAT DAY!

Both of my cats were aquired as drop offs. Tinkerbell, (and NO, I did not name her that, she came with it)
came to us about 9 years ago. Her owners could not keep her because they were having a baby. My son came in with her, and all the time I was shaking my head no, I knew she would stay. Like most cats, she has pretty much taken over, coming and going as she pleases, in and out of the house throughout the day. 5a.m. meowing at the window is not uncommon, when she has been out all night and decides it is time for me to let her in and feed her. And yes, she is spayed.

Tom, (isn't that an original name) showed up at our back door a few months ago. Is there a sign at my driveway that says "Drop here, they will love to feed you and let you in occasionally." I think Tom was a house cat at some point. He doesn't hesitate to slip past when the door is open and miraculously find the recliner or bed. He learned a valuable lesson last week. DO NOT mess with baby chicks. Their mothers are fiercely protective. He has the hurt paw to prove it and now walks a wide circle around them when going through the yard.

I have Catnip in my garden which neither cat seems to notice. I allow it to flower because of the color it brings to the herb garden.

Catnip (nepetalactone) has been reported to be 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. You can make your own catnip Mosquito Repellent with the recipe below.
Thanks to Susan Wittig Alberts Book of Days for this recipe.

Catnip Mosquito Repellent
2 cups catnip, washed
2 cups almond oil

Bruise catnip and pack into a clean jar. Cover with oil, put a lid on the jar and set in a cool, dark place for two weeks. Shake jar lightly every day, and push herbs under the oil to avoid mold. Strain into a clean jar, seal and refrigerate for up to 8 months. To use, rub on exposed skin. ( If your mosquitoes are especially ferocious, you can add other strong smelling herbs, such as rosemary, pennyroyal, basil.)

Tinkerbell and Tom Love their Catnip Kitty Cat Treats. Make your own treats using the kit which includes recipe, cookie cutter (bird or fish) and a big bag of catnip from my garden. Visit www.gardenchick.com/herbal-pets.html

Garden Thrift Store Finds

2010-05-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

My mother and I go to the Salvation Army Thrift Stores as well as the Goodwill stores about once a week. I love finding a bargain, and look for garden related items each time. Here are two of my latest finds. The cost $1.00 each.

The book is the 1958 Farm, Ranch, and Home Ford Almanac. I am always drawn to the 1950's colors of red, yellow and green, and have many garden related 1950's items in my office. (I was born in 1956)

According to the back cover, the 1958 Edition of the Ford Almanac is "crammed with exciting news, helpful how-to-do-it hints and colorful illustrations on what's happening down on the farm, and in the garden, too.

On page 55, which offers money-making sidelines, Mrs. Carl Collins (noticed how the women were identified by their husband's names), reported that many women are still a little afraid of cooking with herbs. They think of it as foreign, and complicated. "Poppycock!" states Mrs. Collins, Any woman can cook with herbs just the same as Mrs. Vanderbilts chef can. The secret is using them just like salt-in the same amount.
Mrs. Carl Collins (by the way her name is Mary), ran the Scotch Ridge Herb Farm in Kalamazoo.

Any one out there know if this is still in existance?

The corn holder is designed to hold a "stick" of butter. You place the corn picks in each end, and then roll the cob in the butter. I don't know the year of this piece, but again, those colors are what first attracted me. Won't this look great on the picnic table?

The next time you pass by the thrift store. Stop in. You may just find a few "treasures" of your own.

Monday Giveaway Lotion Bars

2010-05-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

I felt a little guilty about not posting very often, so I have decided to do Monday Giveaways. Like most people who blog, we like others to visit our blogs and would appreciate it if you could send others our way. If you like the giveaway just comment why you could use it and you will be entered into the drawing.
If you have a blog, I would appreciate a reference to my giveaway, a retweet, or a note on facebook.

Here you go:

These unique little Lotion bar tins are hand decorated using recycled scrapbook paper and embellishments. Inside each tin is a skin nourishing lotion bar created in small batches with cocoa butter, shea butter, sweet almond oil, and beeswax. All bars are scented with either essential oils, or phalate-free fragrance oils.

Just rub the bar between your hands to soften and then use on hands that are frequently washed or rough elbows and heels. Place back in the tin and when you have used all of the bar, recycle it to use with gum, mints, pills, or any small object!

You can these tins and even more can be found on my website, http://www.gardenchick.com/

Spring Garden Update

2010-05-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Whew, noticed I have not posted for over a month! You will see by the pictures though my husband and I have been busy. The garden has been planted, and with all the rain we have had, it has really grown. We have squash, beans, corn, okra, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. This picture was taken about a week ago, and already the beans are ready to be staked and run up a tee pee.

My three hens have returned after a 3-4 week absence (I thought the possums had surely gotten them) with 23 new chicks. Thelma and Louise are below. Emma was no where to be found for the picture taking.

Thelma and Louise

My hen Rosa (in the picture below) has been with me for 2 years. She is the only hen who has survived for this long. I raised her in the kitchen until she was old enough to go out. We have had a total of at least 10 hens and 5-6 roosters, but since they are free range, they tend to "disappear", either by way of hawks or possums.

Poor Rosa, due to my ignorance, was without any eggs of her own. I saw 7 eggs laying out in the yard and thought my hens had laid them all in one day. (That was my first mistake, I only had 4 hens, and I don't think they would have laid 2 eggs a piece that day.) At any rate, I placed them in the refrigerator before noticing that Rosa had built a cozy nest in the clean out space in our chimney outside and they had rolled out onto the ground. After realizing my mistake, I placed two refrigerator eggs under her. She didn't know the difference. I then obtained 3 eggs from a friend who has Buff Orphington hens. (Rosa is a banty Buff Orphington) Gently placed under her, she continued her vigil. Eggs are supposed to hatch after about 21 days. All my other hens paraded their chicks by Rosa daily. She continued to sit, and sit and sit. After 4 weeks I was just about to take them from her, and discovered she two baby chicks just hatched out.

My plans are to now build a chicken pen to house my chickens. I have heard that if you keep them in for about 2 weeks, they will return each night after free ranging all day. That is my goal so that they won't roost in different trees, across our busy road etc. Also, I don't have to search high and low for eggs. Hopefully they will lay in their hen box.

Sharing Your Seeds with Friends

2010-04-06T05:32:00.001-07:00

A great gift to give your neighbors and friends are seeds from you own garden. Susann at
Share-Croppers is sending me some of her seed packets to share with my friends, and I had to let you know about them. There are many varieties of flower and vegetable seeds, and herb packets are soon to arrive. VERY reasonably priced at $2.99/packet of 12. I plan on ordering more for a plant sell I am going to.

This is not a compensated add. Many of you know I am all about buying local and supporting small businesses. Any time I see a product that I think is unique, I want to let my readers know. If you like Susann's product, let your friends also know about her site.

Herbal Blog Party!

2010-04-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

Corey at Aquarian Bath is having a party! An herbal blog party, and has invited the following bloggers to share their posts.

~Tina Sams of from the Essential Herbal gives us a tour of emerging Spring herbs in Pennsylvania. Her Anise Hyssop photo is featured in this blog post. ~Cindy Jones of Sage Script also shows us what herbs are coming up in Colorado, and discusses plans for herbal planting.~Sarah Head of Tales of a Kitchen Herbwife in England shares a richly descriptive post on the first medicines of spring.~Lady Barbara of Lady Barbara's Garden in Oregon takes us on an exuberant Alice in Wonderland stroll finishing up with a treasury of Violet Magic.~Beth Brynne of the Garden Meanderings blog in Western New York also discusses emerging Spring Plants. ~Visit Maggie McMillan's lovely farm. What beautiful animals she has. Maggie shares about making biiter Dandelion coffee and Dock syrup.~Yael Grauer of Dirt Time is also "Embracing the Bitter" this month. Check out her post on Horseradish. ~Karen Vaughan of Acupuncture Brooklyn discusses the challenges and opportunities of Spring Time Urban Gardening.~ Aquarian Bath, 's contribution to the blog party is Shapshots from my Spring day in the Garden at Fair Share yesterday. You will definately want to check out the new and unique "US mint" bed we started yesterday.

Plant a Pest Repellent Herb Garden This Spring

2010-03-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

I taught a class at our local college on Herbal Theme Gardens. We discussed serenity gardens, apothocary gardens, and a tea garden. On one side of my patio I have my apothocary garden, calendula, chamomile, St. Johns Wart, Lavender, Yarrow, Catnip, and waiting until the ground is warm, comfrey and arnica.

We had an awning over the patio last summer due to the intense sun we have in our back yard from early morning until late in the evening. This year's unusual frequent snows, brought it crashing down, and I have been trying to decide what to do. After looking for patio umbrellas this morning on overstock.com (you know they have free or 2.95 shipping!) I think I have settled on a large one that swings out over a pole. This is the first year I have seen them and they are heavy duty and may be manipulated to provide shade as the sun moves.

Thinking back over last year's mosquito problem, I have decided an insect repellent herb garden needs to be on the other side of the patio.

Plants to include are Rosemary and Peppermint. You can crush the leaves and stems and rub them over the areas these critters like to bite; behind the knees, ankles, inside the elbow, and behind the ear. Or maybe you are like me, and any uncovered part is fair game. Catnip, Wormwood (southernwood), tansy, and feverfew, as well as mints, lavender, thyme, lemongrass, basil, and sage are reported to repel a variety of insects. Many of these can be planted in pots to place near steps or your front, or back door and any entertaining area. The pots can moved around where they are needed.

Like any room you may be decorating, a few accessories will provide color and interest. Gazing balls, birdfeeders, chimes, and birdbaths, as well as fountains, gathered around a comfortable chaise lounge creates a welcome respite.

The beautiful herb garden pictured above is from http://www.howtoherbgarden.com/

Herbal Healing Salve for Dogs

2010-03-04T12:55:00.000-08:00

Our dog Corky is 98 years old (in dog years of course). He has always been a scratcher and biter and frequently has reddened irritated areas on his legs. I think he has an obsessive compulsive disorder. . .

I have been working on several recipes to develop a salve for dogs to add to my other pet products and finally came up with this final product. "Bow Wow Boo Boo's" It is made with olive oil infused with calendula and chammomile, which offer healing qualities, shea butter, (skin soother)and the essential oils of lavender (healing, antibacterial) and tea tree oil (antibacterial).

The calendula and chammomile have been infusing in the windowsill for about 2 weeks. Shea butter was melted into the strained oil then beeswax was added and slowly microwaved in short pulses (30 seconds) until melted. After it was cooled down a little, I added the tea tree oil and lavender and poured into 2 oz tins. $4.95 on my website http://www.gardenchick.com/

I have made up several to take to the ChattanoogaEcoExpo in April, and I am mailing several out to local stores to see if they will place in their shops.

A word of caution, essential oils should not be used on cats. You could make this product with just the infused oil, shea butter, and beeswax for a cat.

February is Sweet Potato Month

2010-02-23T07:20:00.000-08:00

I love sweet potatoes and in honor of sweet potato month, I thought I would consider them in this years garden. I have never grown them before. There are many varieties so visit your local nursery to see which one is good for your area. The picture here is from http://www.burpee.com/ and given it's name Georgia Jett, I thought it would be perfect for my Georgia garden. But it is actually best suited for the northeast.

Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing, although we sometime use the terms interchangeably. They are both unrelated to potatoes. Sweet potatoes are in the same family as morning glories. Yams, a tuber, are from the lily family.

Sweet potatoes take about 4 months to mature, and should be planted in soil that is high in organic matter. Plant after all danger of frost in your area.

Plant the sweet potato slip (a small rooted piece of the tuber), about 12-18 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart.

While regular watering will help prevent splitting, you should stop watering about 3-4 weeks before harvest.

Provide your growing potatoes with a weed free area until the foliage grows and provides a natural mulch.

Sweet potatoes mature in 100-140 days depending on the variety. Gentle dig up your potatoes before a killing frost. Their skins bruise easily, and damaging the roots can cause them to decay in storage. After you harvest, dry the sweet potatoes for 3-4 hours. Store them in baskets or boxes lined with newspaper or straw. Place them in a dry area where the temperatures remain 80 -85 degrees for about 2 weeks. After they are cured, you can store them in baskets or boxes lined with newspaper. After they have cured, store them in a place where the temperature is 55-60 degrees (cool basement or outbuilding is a good place for this) and the humidity is high (about 85 percent). They should store well for several months. If the roots appear to be damaged or decaying, remove them.

Sweet potatoes contain carotenoids. Carotenoids help stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance. They are a better choice for diabetics than white potatoes.

I found a great recipe in the magazine MaryJanesFarm. http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/ October November 2009.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Acorn Squash with Apples and Pears.

1 acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1" chunks

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1" chunks

2 apples, cut into 1" chunks

2 pears, cut into 1" chunks

1/2 t cinnamon, ground

6 T butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss with butter until evenly coated.

Place mixture in a 10" cast iron skillet, bake for 25-30 minutes

6 servings.

I like to cook the sweet potatoes in a microwave or bake in the oven until soft. Split open and add butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans. Great!

Evening primrose

2010-02-13T11:28:00.001-08:00

What an absolutely gorgeous day today. 60 degrees and sunny weather. We worked out in the yard, raking, cleaning and burning. I peeped underneath the mulch in my herb bed and saw catnip beginning to grow. My St. John's Wort, yarrow, and lavender all survived. My oldest lavender was beginning to look "woody" and was falling over, so I took it out. I will probably regret that this summer since it gifted me with many lavender blossoms. As I looked around my garden, I was thinking about how to expand it, and what new plants to put in. I remembered some evening primrose seeds I had received in an herbal swap with a group on the Essential Herbal yahoo group. After researching more about evening primrose, I realized these were the pink buttercups I remembered as a young girl at my grandmothers.

There are many different species of evening primrose. All are in the Onagraceae family.
The pink flowered one shown above is a perennial. (oenothera speciosa) This species has a tendency to sprawl and can quickly spread to form extensive colonies. It is a prolific selfseeder. As it's name implies most evening primroses open their flowers in the evening and close them in the afternoon. In the southern most regions of the U.S., which is their natural range, they open their flowers in the morning and close at evenings. The buttercups I remember, were open in the morning.

One yellow variety (oenothera lamarckiana) is an annual which has naturalized throughout the U.S. Their blooms are up to 2 inches across and they open in late afternoon.

Both of these species do well when planted in full sun and well drained soil. They are a great addition to a wildflower meadow, along roadsides, and fence lines.

The entire plant of the evening primrose is edible, and the delicate flowers would brighten up a salad.

Evening primrose oil, which is made by pressing the oil from the tiny seeds, is often used cosmetically especially for reddened skin, and conditions such as eczema. It is also high in omega-6 fatty acids (EPO which is the good kind).

To plant, gently rake the soil, clearing of debris, and scatter the seeds. Lightly cover. The seeds need light to germinate.

The seeds attract birds, especially finches, and the flower provides a nectar source for hummingbirds. Honeybees and bumblebees collect both the pollen and the nectar.

Since the flowers give off a sweet scent, I think I will plant these around my patio, and along the fence beside the bedrooms. Open windows in the summer will allow the scent to drift in.

.

Arctic Blast Headed for the East Coast

2010-02-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, we won't get anything like the storm headed for New York and Washington D.C., just drizzling rain, grey skies, and 44 degrees.

Toasty warm inside, I was looking through some information in my ever growing pile of "need to keep" and found a great source for those who love wildflowers and would like to know more about planting and growing them.

I ran across a free seed catalog from WildSeed Farms (1OMB download) that you may want to check out. It’s jam packed with beautiful photos and detailed information. Topics include:
When Should I Plant?
How to plant wildflowers
Starting your wildflowers from seed
Seed Germination
Seed Storage
What is an Annual, Perennial, Biennial?
Weed control
And much more.
This is a catalog so they do include information about their products, but the pictures and information could help you plan your garden, teach your kids about a wide variety of flowers and herbs, or assist you in some educational/craft projects.

*if you have a blog and are looking for new ideas or material for your blog, sign up at http://www.blogenergizer.com/ for their free emails. Each email has sources/freebies etc., that may be of interest to your readers.

The wildflower picture came from www.dailyyonder.com/wild-lady-karnack-texas

Say it Ain't So.....6 More Weeks of Winter

2010-02-03T07:26:00.000-08:00

The last 2 weeks have brought two snows to our area, and unfortunately I was at work for both of them. As an ICU nurse, I can't just walk out on my patients when the snow starts, so on the first snow, I left the hospital and made a 1 1/2 journey home. It normally takes me 25 to 30 minutes. 1 mile from home I was stuck, and had to start out on foot, with my husband picking me up a few minutes later. The second snow, last weekend was even worse. No one on our night shift could get in, so the nurse manager and I worked 24 hours. I have decided I am too old to do this. It took me two days to recover! So.....when Panxsutawney Phil and Chattanooga Chuck both predicted 6 more weeks of winter I was in a foul mood.

We have never had groundhogs or woodchucks as they are also known as, in our yard. Maybe it's our area, or the fact we have always had outside dogs which can barely tolerate a squirrel. But groundhogs can be a nuisance to many people, and when they come out of hibernation in February, they set their sights on digging burrows in your yard, or waiting for those first vegetables in your garden as a tasty meal. After all, they have a hungry brood to feed after mating and breeding in March. Groundhogs produce their brood of 4-5 babies one month after mating.

There are a few things you can due to discourage ground hogs from taking over your yard and garden.

Scare them.

Groundhogs do not like shining things that reflect sunlight and move in the breeze. On article I read suggested tying Mylar balloons to shrubs around the garden. That doesn't sound too pleasing to my idea of how my garden should look, but if I was bothered by groundhogs, I guess I would try anything. There are also "animal scaring" balloons you can purchase at garden supply stores. These have faces with big eyes on them. If you come to my back yard you will see old CD disc hanging from fishing line in a few trees. This was my husbands idea of scaring off the crows. I think they worked pretty well, but my granddaughters used a few as pinatas, knocking them down with a garden rake.

Keep Them Out of the Garden
Groundhogs generally will not climb an unstable fence, so install a 3 to 4 foot barrier of a "floppy" fence around your garden.

Humanely chuck a woodchuck out of your yard.

Visit http://www.humanesociety.org/. Click on animals, then select Wild Neighbors, then
woodchucks. Information on permanently removing woodchucks from your yard using humane methods can be found. The idea is to remove their burrows after they have born their young and raised them to be independant.

Ever the optomist, I don't believe we are in for 6 more weeks. Today's high temperature is expected to be 51 and as I write this is 42. The sun is shining and the outside is calling me.

Hurry Spring
Karen

the woodchuck picture came from http://www.annerobertson.com/
Information on co-existing with groundhogs came from an article in our local newspaper timesfreepress.com

Moonflower Seeds

2010-01-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

Whats a girl to do when you can't work out in the yard yet? Clean your office. Laying under a pile of "stuff" I found some moonflower seeds that someone had mailed me. The postmark on the envelope was 2007 and I have decided to see if they will germinate. I love to plant seeds that I know have been in someone elses garden and not just grown from seed. After researching a little about moonflowers I have learned a few things:

Moonflower seeds need to be "nicked" and soaked in water prior to planting. I use a fingernail clipper. If you have older seeds like I do, place them in a moistened paper towel to see if they will germinate.

While they prefer to be planted directly in the soil, you can start them indoors but should use peat pots that can be planted directly in the soil, making the hole two or three times larger than your peat pot. Plant your seeds or transplants after all danger of frost in your area.

Moon flowers are considered an annual or tender perennial vine. They reach a height of 8-10 feet, so you will need to trellis them or have them grow up a tree or post.
Plant your moonflower seeds in full sun.

The bloom on the plant is white, so these would be a good choice for your "moongarden" or all white garden.

Moonflowers are fragrant. Planting them near a open window, or near a porch or patio would bring fragrance to the area.

Water moonflowers regularly, but do not overwater.

They will bloom from late spring to early winter depending on your area.

Moonflowers self sow, so if you are not interested in volunteer plants, deadhead the blooms and throw away.

To save the seed, collect when the bloom fades and allow to dry, or you may allow the pods to dry on the plant and break them open to collect.

One word of caution: If you have children or animals that may try to eat the seeds, they are poisonous.

I will keep you posted to let you know if my 3 year old seeds germinate.

Karen

2010-01-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

If you are a gardener your New Years Resolutions always include plans for the garden. Start this New Year right and start planning now. What are your goals?

Start your new garden journal now write down each goal on a separate page.

What do you need to complete that goal? Order seed books? Get your seed starting supplies?

If you want to build structures visualize them on paper with a vision board. Get out all of your old magazines (I know you keep them, don't let anyone tell you you are a hoarder! Garden magazines don't count) Cut out pictures you like and create a "vision" board of your idea gardenand the things you want in it, and where you want them placed. Cruise the web during these cold winter days for free plans or plans you need to order.

Need to replace any tools? Go out to the garage or garden shed and take stock of what you need and write it down in your journal. As you attend spring yard sales or estate sells you may be able to pick up some for less money.

Take a walk in your gardens and decide what can be divided or moved.

Order seed and flower magazines for inspiration.
Think back to last years garden. Too many tomatoes? Not enough green beans? Plan now for what you will need this spring.
Visit your local library and get fresh inspiration from gardening books. Have you been wanting to learn to compost? Wondered about companion planting?

Hoping you the best garden ever in 2010

Karen

2009-12-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN

MERRY CHRISTMAS

KAREN

Mistletoe

2009-12-12T05:18:00.000-08:00

My husband and I took my granddaughters to Christmas in the Streets in downtown Chickamauga last Saturday. Each year the street in front of the Merchants is closed, and vendors set up. One of the vendors was the local boyscouts who were selling reindeer food and mistletoe.

What does Mistletoe have to do with Christmas? Everyone has heard of "kissing" under the mistletoe. As early as the 16th century the custom of bringing the hostess a sprig of mistletoe to hang from the door or light fixture was documented. Any female lingering under the sprig was a target for a kiss.

Mistletoe is actually a parasitic plant, receiving its nutrition from other plants. The mistletoe plant has been describe as early as 23 BC by Pliny the Elder, who reported the belief that the appearance of mistletoe on the sacred oak was a cause of celebration since it occurred so infrequently. It was also believed that it contained the life of the oak tree after it had lost it's leaves in the winter. When cut from the oak tree it contained some of the sacred power of the oak. Many ancient religions including the Romans, Greeks, Celtics incorporated Mistletoe into their ceremonies and myths. With Christianity, many of the mystical aspects of the mistletoe were abandoned, but kissing under the plant was "okayed".

Mistletoe has also been used medicinally throughout the years for a wide range of conditions. Epilepsy, fertility and conception, healing of ulcers, were a few of the uses of Mistletoe. Most recently Suzanne Somers brought mistletoe to the forefront again, when she reportedly used it in her holistic treatment of her breast cancer. The drug used is Iscador, made with mistletoe extract.

Mistletoe is widely available around Christmas, and you would be better served to purchase it than try to start it in your own tree. It often harms the tree that it chooses as it hosts.

Winter Wonderland North Georgia Style

2009-12-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday we awoke to a beautiful layer of snow. We don't see that much here, especially so early in the season. By 9:00 the sun had come out and the snow was almost gone. But, I couldn't resist taking a few pictures. Click on the pictures to get a better view. My oldest lavender next to the gate is covered with snow along with the new ones I planted this year. My calendula, which is STILL blooming, was untouched after the snow melted, and continues to hold on to it's blooms today. The chickens came out, pecking and hunting for bugs, oblivious to the snow which they had never seen, being born this spring.

Todays temperature? 59 degrees and windy. The low for tonight is a forcasted 28 degrees. No wonder my poor plants don't know what to do.

Karen

Where Did October and November Go?

2009-12-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

Would someone please tell me where the last 2 months went? I last posted in September!!!. I did have two bouts with the flu which is unusual for me, the worst was after I received the H1N1 Vaccine. I work in an ICU, and we have had several cases so I thought it was best I received the vaccine. I have never received the flu or pneumonia vaccine, and am rarely sick, but this year....
Okay, that accounts for October, but no excuse for November. But to catch me up

A new blueberry and rasberry bush were planted.
My grapes and all the new bushes have been mulched for the winter.
The garden is cleaned out and waiting for next year
A carolina jasmine was planted in front of my house. I love jasmine and can't wait to smell it as I walk out the door this spring and summer
A crape myrtle is still in it's container waiting for it's home
All my outdoor plants are in the house, but on sunny days get to go out on the deck.
Pansies were planted for a little fall color and are poking their little heads up from the leaves on sunny days.

On a sad note, my favorite little banty rooster was scooped from his perch by an owl right in front of my husbands eyes. He was out on the deck around 5 one morning, (had heard a noise), and out of the sky came an owl. We didn't find out until the next morning it was Roscoe.

Most of my Christmas presents have been purchased, but the tree is not up yet.

Looking forward to getting back on track with the posting and the upcoming new gardening year.

Karen

Is It Fall Yet?

2009-09-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

Is it Fall Yet? I can't wait, so I purchased some outdoor furniture covers for the patio and then started my decorations early. I like to create little "vignettes" with some of my favorite junk. This old black bicycle sat under a tree all summer with nothing on it, just waiting for me to dress it up. You can take a piece like this and use it seasonally. I found this scarecrow at Old Time Pottery in Murfressboro, Tennessee when I went up to take some of my Gardenchick products up for my friend Shawn's monthly Studio Thursday. I always stop there since it is about an hour and a half drive from home. They had the scarecrow on sale (of course, I am cheap), and the sign I got from Shawn last year. My new sign from her says Boo! Ya'll and will go on the bike at Halloween along with a pumpkin added to the scarecrow. Add a Turkey or Pilgrims for Thanksgiving, and a Christmas Sign for Christmas along with Christmas Yard Art and some presents in the basket. I found a spring sign I purchased from Shawn last year in the closet while "organizing" last week, and it will be perfect for spring. It is bright pink with black writing and says "Please Be Seeded". I want to get ivy started around the tree and purchased a pot at a local nursery. After dividing it into three pieces, I planted it in this area and covered with tree mulch. Yard art can be fun. Just pick up one piece and decorate around it all year long.

Hummingbirds

2009-09-05T08:06:00.001-07:00

We have had the tube hummingbird feeder hanging off of our deck for several years , and have received many visits. It wasn't until I hung this butterfly feeder in the lantana on my deck, that we have really seen an increase in the visits. The butterfly feeder has several round indentions on the top that are supposed to hold fruit for butterflies, but I didn't want to mess with the flies and gnats I thought it would attract. Both hummingbirds and butterflies like the yellow lantana and we have seen several butterflies too, but the ruby throated male hummingbird and several femails make daily visits to the feeder. Hummingbird feeders should be taken up in October in my area when the hummingbirds migrate south.

You can make your own sugar solution for butterflies and hummingbirds. Mix four cups water with one cup of sugar. Boil the mixture for at least 30 seconds to discourage mold growth. (not in a microwave, it breaks down sugar molecules and may change the nutritional value. Let the solution cool before filling your feeder. Store any leftover solution in a clean jar in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
You do not need to add red food coloring. (the solution we purchased was red, but the decorations on the feeder should be enough to attract the birds.and butterflies.) You should not use honey, because it encourages fungal growth and could contain botulism organisms that can kill the hummingbirds. The solution should be changed every 4-5 days if placed in a sunny location, and once a week if in the shade. Every time you change the nectar you should thoroughly clean the container with hot water.

Chick Update

2009-09-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Emma and her 9 chicks

Roscoe and Rosa

In the spring my granddaughters and I purchased 4 little chicks from an elderly gentleman, and brought them home. One of the smaller chicks died after a few days but that left us with 3. After raising them to an age where they could go into their pen, two of the chicks mysteriously disappeared a few weeks apart leaving Rosa, our only hen. I knew she was lonely, so I obtained some free grown chickens, thinking maybe they could be some protection from whatever was getting the chicks. We think they were being snatched from their roost in the trees from a racoon. No, one by one, those were taken. 3 more chickens in all. We didn't even hear a cackle at night, and found no signs of the chick snatcher until one day when the huge black and white hen was gone. I found her carcass up in the pen with nothing left inside. All that was now left was Rosa (boy did she have some luck!), and a little banty rooster Roscoe,who had lost his mate to the perpetrator. I had let them out of the pen to roam our yard thinking that maybe they had a better chance to "getaway". One morning, my husband informed me he had heard a terrible commotion about 3 a.m. and had gotten up to try to see what was getting the chickens. He couldn't see, but heard Rosa's last cackle down near our small barn. We went out on the deck that morning to look around and low and behold who do you think came running up from the barn? ROSA! That chicken must have 9 lives.

But wait. The good news? One of the hens we thought was gone, had not seen for weeks, was seen coming out from under our ornamental grass one morning with 9 baby chicks! We now have 12 chicks and Roscoe thinks he is the proud papa.

Natural Mosquito Repellent

2009-08-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

The mosquitos have been terrible at my house for the last few weeks. Of course they are more active at dusk and dawn, just when it is finally cool enough to work in the gardens.

Some things you can do to avoid mosquitos include wearing light clothing, keep the sweat wiped off as you work outside since mosquitos love sweat and moist skin, avoid using perfume, cologne, and scented lotions.

If you want to avoid harsh chemical repellents which use DEET, you can make your own from your herb garden, or obtain essential oils.

The following essential oils work well against mosquitoes, flies, and ticks:

cinnamon oil

lemon or regular eucalyptus oil

citronella oil

castor oil

orange oil (fleas) Orange oils can be photosensitive, so avoid the sun when using

rose geranium oil (ticks and lice)

You can use one oil or mix and match. Use 10-25 drops of essential oil to 2 tablespoons carrier oil or alcohol

carrier oil choices include:

olive, sunflower, any cooking oil, almond oil, witch hazel

Use vodka as your alcohol source

You may also use aloe vera gel.

Mix the essential oils with your carrier oil, alcohol, or aloe vera gel. Rub or spray onto your skin or clothing (check a small area of clothing to be sure the repellent doesn't stain) Pay special attention to areas they like to bite such as behind the ears and knees, inside the elbows and the ankles. With me, my neck and face seem to be their favorite target!

Here are a couple of recipes from eHow using Catnip

Use catnip oil to make a spray. Mix about a half-teaspoon of essential oil of catnip with 1 cup isopropyl alcohol and 1 cup water. Shake well and spray lightly on clothing, arms and legs. Do not use on children, pets or people sensitive to catnip.
Brew a catnip and vinegar spritz. Crush 2 cups catnip leaves and add to 3 cups white or rice vinegar in a quart jar. Seal and store in dark cupboard. Shake every day for 2 weeks. Strain mixture into clean jar and refrigerate. Use as a light spritz on clothes, arms or legs. Some say the vinegar keeps the mosquitoes away, other say the catnip does the work.

Gather 2 cups catnip and 1 cup rosemary leaves. Crush the leaves by using a rolling pin or scrunching them with your hands. Put the leaves in a clean jar and cover with 2 cups unscented body care oil or vegetable glycerin. Store in a cool dark cupboard for 2 weeks. Shake the jar lightly every day. After 2 weeks, strain out the leaves and pour the oil into a clean jar. Refrigerate and use the catnip body oil as needed.

Here a chick, there a chick, everywhere a chick chick

2009-07-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

My friend Sandra plants hens and chicks everywhere (sempervivum tectorum). She planted several for me last summer in an old red wagon, but I allowed them to get too much rain over the winter, and many rotted (there was no drainage in the bottom of the wagon, our mistake). I transplanted what was left in an old wooden box a few days ago. They are supposed to be easy to grow, but for some reason, I don't have much luck. I am going to try them again, because I want to plant in some unusual containers to take to the market.

Plant your hens and chick in a sandy soil or you can mix one part soil, one part sand, and one part peat moss. The area must be well drained and receive full sun at least 6 hours a day. You can divide your plants at anytime by breaking the clumps apart with your hands. The plants roots do not mind being disturbed. Replant. Any chicks that fell from the main plant can also be planted. Water sparingly.

Horehound ( Marrubium Vulgare)

2009-07-23T10:28:00.001-07:00

I planted my apothocary garden, and Michele at Possum Creek Herbs gave me a horehound plant for free. I have heard of horehound cough drops, but was not very familiar with the plant. It grows quite large (up to 2 feet tall) and is not the prettiest of plants so it was planted at the back of the garden. Horehound is easy to grow, and will tolerate poor soil conditions, heat, and drought. (Sounds perfect for the weather we are experiencing in the south). The only thing it cannot tolerate is wet and heavy soil.

The horehound plant's leaves are soft and wooly and will bloom small white flowers the second year. You can harvest the leaves the first year, and immediately before the flowers bloom in the summer the second season . You will want to cut the plant back immediately after it flowers the second season.

Horehound has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. It posseses strong expectorant qualities and has been used for respiratory problems in children and adults. You can make a tea from the leaves, and soft stem, but it does have quite a bitter taste so you will want to sweeten with sugar or honey. Making a horehound candy is more palatable.

Horehound can be quite invasive since it self seeds and has been known to cover entire pastures. ( Horehound is a member of the mint family) Don't let this stop you from adding it to your healing garden though. Keep an eye on it, and keep it in check. Also, be sure you are buying the correct horehound, since there are a couple of plants which are known as horehound but not related. Check the plant tag for Marrubium vulgare.

The potency of horehound quickly diminishes after it is harvested, so immediately cut the harvested plant into little pieces, dry, and store in an airtight jar in a cool dry place. It will be ready for use in making horehound candy and tea.

Horehound Candy

Make an infusion from your harvested horehound. Use twice as much water as leaf. (ex: 2 cups water, 1 cup leaf (and stem if you wish). Bring the water to a boil and pour over the horehound. Allow to steep 30 minutes.

Add 1 cup honey, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1 Tablespoon butter to 1/2 cup of the horehound infusion. Bring to a simmering boil, stirring constantly. When you drop a bit of the syrup into a glass of cold water and it forms a soft ball, remove the pan from heat. Pour it out onto a baking sheet where it can cool enough to allow you to work with it. Roll into balls and wrap in parchment paper. Store in a glass jar, in a cool place. You can start taking the candy when you notice the first signs of a cold.

* While horehound has been shown to be safe for use, do not use with babies or small children. As I always warn, if you are pregnant or lactatingALWAYS check with your physician before taking any medicine or herbs. If you have any medical problems, including gastric problems (horehound may stimulate the gall bladder), consult your health care provider before taking.

Thanks to Gardensablaze for the picture.

Living in a Green Home

2009-07-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Most of us are out in our yards and gardens, busy with weeding, watering, and bringing in the "fruits of our labor". I guess my house has suffered a little (a lot). Working full time, helping my mother, granddaughters, and trying to run my Gardenchick business, little time has been left over for the dust bunnies, cobwebs, and kitchen sink. I remember my grandmother would be out in her yard, pulling weeds and gardening, while dishes were piled in the kitchen sink. Now I know why. Weeds and dishes, they are always there, so why bother? But at some point, either embarrassment, or the inability to ignore it any longer, the house cleaning must be done.

There are a number of reasons to choose natural cleaning products, most importantly, the lack of harsh chemicals on your household surfaces, and the cost.

Most natural cleaning recipes include these common household products: Borax laundry booster, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, washing soda, and distilled water and lemon juice. Essential oils such as lavender, tangerine, and sweet orange, and tea tree are an added plus for either their scent, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or grease cutting abilities.

Laundry Softener:
1 quart white vinegar
1 cup dried or fresh lavender buds
2-4 drops lavender essential oil

Place the lavender is a clean glass mason jar. Add the vinegar and cover with a plastic lid or plastic wrap. Allow to sit for one week, then strain. Add the lavender essential oil. Depending on the size of the wash load, add 1/2 to 1 cup to the final rinse water.

Degreaser:

1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup baking soda
5-10 drops citrus essential oil(tangerine, sweet orange, lemon)

Make a paste of the ingredients and use a damp cloth to wipe off. Great for greasy stove tops

Bath Scrub

1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
10 drops citrus essential oil (tangerine, sweet orange, lemon)
5 drops tea tree oil (optional, tea tree has anti fungal properties)

Window Cleaner
1/4 -1/2 liquid Castile Soap
3 T white vinegar
2 cups distilled water

Combine in a spray bottle, and shake gently before using.

Looking for a gift for the new bride or for a housewarming? Combine the ingredients, recipes, and different colored spray bottles and containers in a basket along with sponges, and dishclothes in a brightly colored basket. I found cute plastic spray bottles in fuschia, blue, and orange at the local Dollar Tree.

The picture above is from http://www.organizedlife.com/ There are some good ideas on seasonal cleaning, and you can download free printables to organize your cleaning of every room.

You can find more recipes in the August-Sept 2009 Issue of MaryJanes Farm
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/

Fourth of July

2009-07-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy 4th of July!

"You may think you have overeaten, but it is only Patriotism" (Erma Bombeck)

Amber Resin

2009-06-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

There are so many essential oils available, that I will never be able to sample them all. Some I use for their medicinal quality, others simply for their fragrance. I tend to lean toward the sweet smelling floral ones; such as jasmine, neroli,or ylang-ylang. Vanilla is another scent I love. Others such as patchouli are a little too "earthy" for me. I use lavender a lot in my bath salts, linen sprays, monster spray and dream pillows because of it's calming and sedative properties. But I admit, it's fragrance is a little too medicinal for me, and I often pair it with vanilla, tangerine, or sweet orange. In my dream pillows I mix it with other "sleep herbs" such as roses, chamomile, and hops. (Gardenchick)

I was at the local "green" market the other day looking for some dried St. John's Wort. The essential oils are nearby and I can't resist taking a few "sniffs" of the samples. I kept smelling the most wonderful scent and finally located it. It was amber. A small rock size piece of this resin could be smelled through the package. The only description I can use to describe this is "exotic" It is a little expensive. This small rock size piece was $3.99, but I snatched one up, knowing I would figure out what to do with it later.

Amber is not an essential oil however. According to EdenBotanicals (Marge at Naturesgift says they are THE place to purchase your amber and I always listen to Marge!), the term amber "generally refers to either Baltic amber or to fragrant amber resin." The baltic amber is fossalized tree resin and used primarily in jewelry. The fragrant amber, is a semi-solid mass of tree resins mixed with essential oils, bees wax, and fragrant plant powers. Each amber resin maker uses his or her own, unique secret formula for making their resin.. Eden Botanical's is known as Amber Essence.

I decided the easiest way to start out using this scent was as a body powder. You can create your own body powder by taking 1 cup arrowroot or cornstarch and placing it in an airtight container with about a pea size piece of the amber. Close the container and allow it to sit for about a week.

Body powders are great for this summer weather. After a hard day in the garden, they will make your skin feel silky smooth, and help to keep you cool and dry.

You can either place your finished powder in a shaker container to buy online, or why not "repurpose" a pretty salt and pepper container? Maybe you can find a salt and pepper shaker at a local thrift or antique mall for a unique gift for family and friends. I often see the old body powder containers at flea markets and antique shops for a reasonable price, and you could pair this with a "powder puff" from your local dollar store or Walmart.

You don't have to limit yourself to amber. Ground rose petals and a few drops of rose absolute essential oil would also make a fragrant and attractive body powder.

*picture from http://www.edenbotanicals.com/

Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway-Winner

2009-06-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

Ta Dah! And the winner of the gift card giveaway is: Kariteimo@gmail.com

Here's how I Picked the winner. It was very scientific. All the names were placed in a bowl. You received more than one entry if you tweeted,facebooked, or blogged, so a couple of peoples names were in the pot (bowl) 3-4 times. I then reached in and Wa-Lah! Out it came.

I will contact the sponsor, and give her the address, and she will mail the gift card.

Congratulations, hope you send me a picture of your project.

Karen

Summer Solstice

2009-06-22T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's Official! The summer solstice occurred yesterday marking the first day of Summer. Like most of you, I didn't need a calender to tell me that. Did I miss spring? Sweltering temperatures in the 90's with a heat index in the 100's has lingered here for the last week or so. We were out in the garden early yesterday morning to weed and water, and by 9:00 a.m. the heat was oppressive.

Sol +stice is derived from a combination of Latin words which mean "sun" and "to stand still". In the Summer Solstice, the sun reaches it's highest peak in the sky, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year. The Summer Solstice

has been celebrated by civilizations for years, both Pagan and Christian.

Herbs and flowers played an important part in these rituals, believed to have magical powers.

The herb, St. Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum)) was thought to ward off evil spirits , and is often known by the name of chase-devil. The name St. Johns Wort came about after the Catholic Church established the Feast of St. John as an alternative to the pagan midsummer celebration.

Today, St. John's Wort is widely used to treat mild depression. The bright yellow flowers are often used in tinctures, tablets, capsules, and teas. A perinneal herb, hypericum perforatum can be grown in both sun and light shade. A wild growing weed in many areas, it will spread easily, and should be planted where it can be contained.

*The St. John's Picture is from www.wikipedia.com

Fathers Day

2009-06-21T13:30:00.001-07:00

Dad, I miss you, but felt you in the garden with me this morning.
Jesse H. Johnson
September 27, 1926- August 15, 2008

Herbal Tub Teas

2009-06-20T05:51:00.001-07:00

I gathered up my courage, and early this morning went out to gather the lavender off of my plants. Who knew bees got up so early? I hadn't even heard my little rooster attempt his weak crows this morning. Anyway, not to be deterred, I dove in and started clipping back the stalks. The bees could have easily moved on to other plants, but no, we both were determined to get the lavender. I won without incident. I read if you showed no fear, the bees would not sting you. They must have fell for my ruse, because we both were working as fast as we could with only a few warning buzzes to move me back. After the lavender dries (I am placing it in a brown paper in the back of my hot, closed up car for a few days), I will to make some fresh lavender buds. I have a mixture left over that I use for the tub teas I sell and it still smells wonderful. I will add a little lavender essential oil to freshen it up.

What you need:

Heat sealable tea bags (Large) (http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ or http://www.thesoapdish.com/ )

dried herbs (I have lavender, rose buds, calendula)

milk powder (I am using coconut milk powder purchased from (http://www.thesoapdish.com/) but you can use any kinds of dried milk powder. I have used honey powder before which smells delicious.

oatmeal (not the instant kind)

Essential oil (optional)

Mix the ingredients. I usually use equal parts oatmeal, powder, dried herbs and a few drops essential oil.

Place in the heat sealable tea bag and iron the top shut or in a muslin bag.

Place the bag under the running water, or make a tea from it and pour into your running bath.

I have some great tub teas on my website. Just go here to purchase www.gardenchick.com/tub_teas.html

Want to learn more? Check out Tina Sam's blogpost at http://www.theessentialherbal.blogspot.com/2008/12/holiday-herbal-gift-series-17.html

Lavender is Blooming

2009-06-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

I love lavender, and planted this one plant last year next to our patio. I put the old garden gate behind it, and the sign hanging off the back says "Lavender". A little hemp beehive and old yellow metal chair complete the scene. I am going to cut this lavender this morning, and it should have been much earlier. Lavender should be cut right before the buds open. The honey bees have been dining on the lavender and someone is going to have some great lavender honey.

There are so many ways to use lavender. Cooking, in healing salves, tub teas, sachets, and many different ways. I cut mine and place in a brown paper bag, and place that in the back of my car, or on the dashboard in the sun. It is so humid here, I have trouble getting herbs to dry by placing them outside in a shaded place.

Here is a recipe from the blog http://www.abouthyme.com

Lavender Lip Balm

This lip balm would be great for sunburned or chapped lips since lavender is known for it's healing properties
½ cup cosmetic oil (apricot kernal, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil) ¼ cup fresh lavender flowers lavender essential oil 1-2 tsp pure beeswax, grated

In a clean lidded jar, steep the lavender flowers in the oil for a week. Strain into a small saucepan, add 5-6 drops of essential oil, and place over low heat. When warm, begin adding the beeswax. When you've melted in the first teaspoon of wax, removed from the heat and test for hardness by placing a little on a saucer and putting in the refrigerator. After a couple of minutes, check to see if the gloss has congealed. If it isn't hard enough, add a little more wax and reheat. If it's too hard, add a few drops of oil and reheat. When done, pour into a small lidded jar and let it cool.

This is one of the blogs of Susan Wittig Albert, the best selling author of the China Bayles mystery series.

In My Garden

2009-06-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

What a difference 5 weeks make. We planted the garden less than 5 weeks ago, and you can see how the rain we have had has really helped the garden grow. I think we have watered only twice. Once at planting, and a couple of days ago. We have corn, green beans, okra, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers. There are small tomatoes and peppers already.

chick update

2009-06-09T06:58:00.001-07:00

Aren't my babies getting to be big? They are now in their own HUGE pen. I tried the first few nights to corral them into their house, but found that they liked roosting in the trees, and it was getting a little embarrassing knowing they continually outsmarted me. This pen is on the side of the hill on our property and is shaded by huge trees. I still need to get a couple more hens for the two roosters.

PrairieFlowerFarm Blog

2009-06-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am always finding these wonderful blogs, and then can't remember how I got to them. There are so many creative, and talented women on the web, and I could spend all day reading blogs.

The latest I found caught my eye because of the colors (I love red), and her slide show of pictures. Funny how so many people have the same taste. And then, right before my very eyes, was a chicken tea towel to embroider. Do you know how long it has been since I have embroidered anything. Let's just say way too long. I couldn't resist the the chick tea towel pattern FREE! I received and downloaded the pattern in less than two minutes, and can't wait to get started. Please visit Linda's blog www.prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com and pick yours up! She is also having a giveaway for the tea towel.

Home Depot 100.00 Gift Card Giveaway

2009-06-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

The rain has finally stopped here in North Georgia, and I know you all have projects you are anxious to get started on for the house and garden. My husband and son finished putting the roof on our new deck, and before it was even finished I was telling my husband how I wanted a garden shed/building to house my business Gardenchick. There is a wonderful two story one at Home Depot that has my name written all over it!

I was contacted by Home Depot and offered a $100.00 gift card for the readers of my blog! What a great giveaway to get your home and garden ready for summer, and what Dad would not love a Home Depot gift card for Father's Day.

Here's how it works. Go over to Home Depot's Garden Club site and look through the popular gardening DIY projects. Then submit on the comment section of this post, the “DIY gardening project” you would like to tackle or what you would buy if you win the $100 gift card on my blog. BE SURE AND LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN!

Also, tell me if you tweet about it, blog about it, or put it on your facebook page, and you will get extra entries increasing your chance of winning!

The contest runs from June 1 through June 21st Fathers Day.

The Home Depot Gardening Club can also answer any of your gardening questions within 24 hours and has great coupons, tips, and DIY advice on gardening, lawn care, landscaping and outdoor living projects. ENTER NOW!

Enter here: homedepotgardenclub.com

Good luck, and happy gardening
Karen

Time to Garden!

2009-05-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

Finally, a few clear days to finish up the garden. It has rained steadily here for the last month. We have the corn, beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes, okra, green beans and cucumbers planted. I swear, I saw those green beans come up and grow overnight!.

My chickens are in the yard daily, and boy have they grown with all the green grass and weeds. They are still small enough to catch by tricking them with their food, but Sunday I am going to fix their pen, and they are going to learn to live outside and not in my dining room. They can really make a mess. The final result is 2 roosters, 1 hen. I am going to have to find a couple more hens to keep the boys happy.

I haven't posted for over 2 weeks, due to a stomach bug, and then into my chest. Thanks for those who checked in on me. I am never sick, and this has really gotten me into a funk! But, I am back now, getting ready to go to Chicago in the morning. I was selected to Pitch My Products at the Country Living Womens Entrepreneur Conference. I am taking along my "Mackenzies Garden Products" and hope the judges love my products. Tomorrow, before I will leave, I will post a new giveaway. I was contacted by Home Depot to give away a 100.00 gift card! Just in time for the summer and Father's Day.

Send me good thoughts!
Karen

Baby Chicks are here: What Kind Are They

2009-05-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

Little brown and orange chicks with feathers on their legs. Bantam chicks. Anyone know the name?

My granddaughters and I could not resist the sign that said baby chicks for sale 1.50. Okay, so they can't read. I couldn't resist it. We stopped at a little house where an elderly couple lived. They had a huge garden plowed, about 50 or more tomato plants to put in, and the elderly man said he just didn't garden like he used to! They had peacocks that strutted for the girls, goats, and lots of chickens on this little place tucked in behind other houses. We picked out our 4 chicks three which were two weeks old, and one (because it was smaller and sweeter according to the girls) that was one week old. Next a stop at the feed store for chick feed and a feeder. We had an old cage that had been used for transporting something at one time, and in they went in the back yard. It was a beautiful day and they enjoyed the grass under their feet. They stayed in my office during the day because of the next week of constant rain, and unfortunately we lost the youngest one. An appropriate burial took place at my granddaughters house, officiated by my son. I think it is his turn to take over this practice, after years of me assisting with the burial of dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, lizards..............

Now that they are getting larger, I think we are left with two roosters and one hen. They are little bantam chicks with feathers on their legs. Can anyone identify them?

The feed store is going to have sexed chicks next weekend. The owner said they sold out of the last chicks in two days and says that plants and seeds are selling like wildfire. I think everyone is taking this self sufficiency idea seriously. I want to buy about 3 more hens and think that will be enough. We have a very large fenced in area, but chickens can clear out an area with their scratching in no time. I also have a portable pen my son will bring me, but it will hold only about 3 chickens at a time. We can move this around outside the fenced in area to give them more room. I can't let them roam freely because of neighborhood dogs, and the last chickens we had chose my deck railing to roost at night. Chicken poop everywhere.

Send me all your comments on raising chicks, coops etc, and help me identify these chicks.

Create a Healing Garden

2009-05-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Lemon Balm Chamomile

St. Johns Wort

The current garden project I am working on is an apothecary garden. I want to make more tinctures, oils and salves for myself and for my business , so I have plans to fill it with a number of healing herbs. Like any herb garden it will need to be planted in full sun, and drain well. Any of the mints may need to be contained. Yarrow, and St. John's Wort can be invasive, so I haven't decided if I want to plant in one big bed, or use raised beds and containers.

Some plants I am considering include:

Calendula (calendula officinalis)
St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Comfrey (symphytum officinale)
Lemon Balm (melissa officinalis)
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita )
Passionflower (passiflora incarnata)
Bee Balm (mondara didyma)
Yarrow (achillia millefolium)
Catnip or Catmint (nepeta cataria)
Echinacea (echinachia augustifolia)
Aloe Vera

www.christopherhobbs.com

Mothers Day Gifts

2009-05-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you who read my blog, but haven't visited my website, this is a PERFECT time to do so. Great mothers days gifts can be ordered today, and still reach you by Saturday via priority mail. As an incentive for shopping with me, I will charge you regular mail charge, and ship Priority. This mothers day, and for all your shopping days, choose to buy locally, or from someone (like me), who takes pride in their products, makes all the bath and body products in small batches for freshness, and is not an impersonal big box store! I will hand change the shipping when processed as it will show up priority on your cart.

Visit me at www.gardenchick.com

Happy Mothers Day

Karen

Here's some great ideas just in case you need them. A great gift basket could be made from these. If your mom lives out of town, give me her address and I will ship there with a note just from you.

Torchsong Studio 10th and final week of contest!

2009-05-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

Torchsong Studio will be hosting the 10th and final week of our blog contest.Maryanne is offering something a little different to close out the contest.A lead-free pewter garden pin with a little glass ladybug charm in the middle and garden tools on either side.Just comment on this, or any of the other blogs participating for a chance to win one of ten pins to be given away. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A CONTACT email.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.
Aquarian Bath
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics

Our final contest - check back on May 8 for the list of winners!Thanks everyone for participating and for playing!

Blueberries-Grow Your Own

2009-04-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

We started off with three blueberry bushes in our garden a few years ago. We are down to one. One succumbed to the Barbie Jeep, and I have no idea where the other one disappeared to, so blueberry bushes are on my list of purchases when I visit the Chattanooga Market next Sunday.

Most blueberries need a different variety near them to encourage a lot of fruit. The one bush left standing bears very good and is a "rabbiteye" variety, which grows well in the south, and is a more compact variety. We will need to look for a different variety which is for our Zone 7.

Be sure and choose the right variety for your climate. My blueberry bush is hardy in Zones 7-9 so be sure an check with your local nursery before purchasing.

Like most fruits and vegetables, blueberries do best when planted in full sun, but will tolerate some shade. When planted in moist, well drained soil, rich in organic matter, your blueberries will provide you with a bumper crop.

Blueberries are different from a lot of fruits, however, due to the fact that they prefer an acidic soil. (pH 4.5-5.5) You can amend your soil with soil sulfur before planting a new bush or sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH. You can pick up a soil testing kit from your local nursery or submit to your local agricultural extension center.

If you are planting a new bush, remove all the flowers or fruit the first year. Doing this will help establish the plant, and provide you with a bigger crop next year.

Plant your blueberry bush according to directions, then spread a deep layer of mulch over the soil around the plant. Pull it back away from the stem a few inches. This thick mulch will provide protection not only from the cool weather, hold in moisture, but keep voles, mice and other pests from attacking the plant underneath the mulch.

Blueberries are easy to care for, and should not require any pruning the first 5-6 years. After that, you may cut away any old stems to the ground, allowing new limbs to take their place.

Top dress each year with compost. The roots of blueberries are very sensitive, and can be easily damaged if you over fertlize. If you do use fertilizer, use it at a rate 1/2 or 1/4 of the recommended amount on the package.

Netting or fencing may be needed to protect your plants. The birds love our blueberries, and if not caught in time, can eat half your crop before you know it, and Granddaughters can really clean a bush off in record time!

If you don't have the space, or your soil is poor or stays soggy, blueberries can be grown in containers. Choose large containers, and plant in an acidic potting mix.

Blue-Blueberry Muffin

1/4 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla1

1/4 cups blueberries

1 cup plus 2 tbsp cake flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup chopped pecans,

optionalTopping:1 teaspoon sugar mixed with 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375°. In large bowl, cream butter, sugar, and lemon until light, about 4 to 5 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Mash 1/4 cup of the blueberries and beat into batter. Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.Fold dry ingredients into batter, a little at a time, alternating with milk. Fold in remaining 1 cup berries and pecans Divide into 8 paper lined muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin with the sugar and spice mixture. Bake until muffins spring back when lightly touched, about 20 to 25 minutes.

For more blueberry recipes go to http://www.blueberry-recipes.com/

Week 9 Blog Contest - Nature's Gift

2009-04-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

At Nature's Gift we have been pleased and excited about hosting this week's contest. The hard part has been trying to decide what to offer as the prize!
We chose Deluxe Personal Inhalers from our new shipment, filled with the winner's choice of several healing synergies.

We'll ship one of these pretty purse-sized inhalers filled with your choice of our SineEase Synergy, for easing sinus pain and congestion, Happy Morning Synergy, recommended for easing the nausea of morning sickness, but also helpful for motion sickness, etc., or our research based depression fighter "Citrus Smile."

To be entered in the contest, respond to this post, here, and at all the blogs listed below.

And to make the contest even more exciting, ONE lucky entrant, drawn from one of the listed blogs, will receive a signed copy of Marge's Book "Essential Oils and Aromatics".

You may check these links for some of the reviews. From the Journal of the Northeast Herbal Association, or from The Massage Therapy Journal.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.

Aquarian Bath

The Essential Herbal

Herbs from the Labyrinth

Earth Day 2009- Growing "Green" Kids

2009-04-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

My first earth day celebration was in 1986 when my oldest son Josh was in the first grade. His school hosted many activities including beginning to recycle at his school. This project was sponsored by a number of "room mothers", including myself, and approved by the principle.

Today, 23 years later, I am enjoying introducing my granddaughters( 5 and 3) to gardening and a love of the outdoors. One minute they are playing with their dolls, dressing in high heels and make-up, the next catching minnows in a little branch running down our property, and digging for worms. You can see my granddaughters on my web page at http://www.gardenchick.com/ .

Earth Day is April 22 every year, and is a great way to reinforce your committment to use less energy, eat locally, and save our natural resources.

Here are some simple ways to introduce children to "green living"

Create a green living reward chart and receive stickers for participating in green activities.
Decide what your reward will be for a certain number of stickers.

Have them decorate a pot and place a houseplant in their room. Situate in the correct light for their plant and water it when it is thirsty.

Remind them to turn off the lights, television, stereo, and computer when they leave the room.

Turn off the water when brushing teeth. This will save a couple of gallons every day. Did you know Americans use 100 gallons of water each day, and that is twice the rate of other industrial nations

Purchase a resuable bag for your groceries. Keep in the car for those quick trips into the grocery store or local farmers market

Visit a local farmers market. On average, food travels over 1500 miles to get to our plate. Introduce your children to locally grown food, and discuss how this helps local farmers, saves gas, and is much more healthy.

Plant a garden. Even if it is small, or a container garden. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, onions, are some of the vegetables that can be grown in a container.

Plant a tree in your yard.

At the grocery store, look for products with recycled content such as toilet tissue, paper napkins, paper towels and facial tissue. We could save over 150,000 trees if each U.S. household replaced just one typical box of facial sheets with recycled sheets, 500,000 if each household replaced just one roll of 75 sheets of paper towels.

Buy school supplies made from recycled materials, and encourage the school to use recycled school supplies.

Use water bottles that are not disposable.

Have at least one all vegetable meal each week. A farmer uses an average of 6 gallons of water to grow lettuce, but 1,000 to produce a cheeseburger with lettuce. Feed for cattle is very inefficent to grow. When you do make your own burgers, use locally grown, grass fed beef. It taste better and is better for you.

Recycle and reuse: Recycle cardboard, plastic bags, paper, and aluminum cans. A cardboard recycling center on my way to work has one special bin to donate small amounts of cardboard to a local charity. Instead of buying containers for your kids rooms, have them decorate cardboard boxes to hold their pencils, supplies, jewelry pieces, cars, etc.... Donate used toys and clothes to a local thriftstore, or have a yard sale. Shop thrift stores and yard sales. Not only does it save money, it is reusing what someone else does not want.

Shop Wisely- Do you really need it?

Karen

www.greenandsave.com

www.kaboose.com earth day activities for kids

Compost Your Coffee Grounds

2009-04-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

This morning, like so many other mornings, I emptied my old coffee grounds in the garbage. I admit it, I don't have a compost pile. I have meant to make one, but........
While drinking my fresh cup of coffee, reading the ads in the back of Mother Earth News, I came across an ad from Peace Coffee (www.peacecoffee.com) with ideas on uses for old coffee grounds. In the morning, my coffee grounds will be taken down to my newly plowed garden and dumped. I promise. (if it's not raining).

Did you know:

Coffee grounds provide a good source of nitrogen for your garden.

They can be applied directly as a top dressing to acid loving plants such as blueberries, hydrangeas, and azaleas. I have all three plants, so no excuses.

Combine your coffee grounds with browns such as leaves and straws to generate heat. They act as a green material. For large amounts of grounds added to the compost bin, add 1 teaspoon lime or wood ash for every 5 lbs to counteract the acidity of the grounds.

Use your coffee grounds in vermicomposting (worm bin).

Sprinkle used grounds around plants before rain or watering for slow-release nitrogen

Encircle the base of plants with a coffee and eggshell barrier to repel pests

To make a gentle fast acting liquid fertilizer, dilute a half pound of wet coffee grounds with five gallons of water.

Source: Picture from www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost.asp

Information: www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost.asp

www.peacecoffee.com/blog

Herbal Giveaway from the Rosemary House

2009-04-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Bertha Reppert (1919-1999) was the founder of The Rosemary House and our mum. She was a Renaissance woman ahead of her time when she opened a herb and spice shop in a conservative East coast town in 1968. Convinced that once everyone learned about herbs they would love these plants as much as she did, she became an avid educator about the secrets of herbs. Lecturing, writing and always promoting herbs, Bertha Reppert became a mentor to many. This weeks prize is a copy of her last herbal and one of our very favorites.

Bertha Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal features 365 herbal essays one for each day of the year. Written like she is speaking to a friend this book is fun, informative and easy to read. Many folks have told us they reread the book every year and make their own daily notes in the margins. Be sure to leave a comment to this post and at the other participating herbal blogs (see the links below) for your chance to win this clever book (an $18.00 value) filled with herbal lore, recipes and crafts (priceless)

Sisters Susanna, the herbalist, and Nancy, the culinary artist, continue to share their Mother's love of all things herbal at The Rosemary House, the herb and spice gift shop, and at Sweet Remembrances tea room.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over, post a comment on these blogs for additional chances to win this weeks giveaway AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Herbs from the Labyrinth

Patti’s Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House (where a list of winners will be posted on the 24th)

Check back we have a couple more weeks of give-aways!

Gardening by the Moon, Part One, The Phases of the Moon

2009-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

What was once old is now made new

I have said a number of times my love of gardening was handed down by my grandmother and father. I vividly remember when I was young, my grandmother waiting until just the right time to plant,according to the moons phase, and the signs of the zodiac. Was it a new moon? This was the best time to plant above ground annual crops. After the full moon? In go the root crops such as onions and potatoes. My Dad often consulted the Farmers Almanac to see when to plant.

The resurgence of organic and natural gardening has reignited a growing interest in lunar gardening. Added to an arsonal of weapons such as composting, companion planting, and organic fertilizer, planting by the moon can significantly effect the harvest and quality of the vegetable garden People may mistakenly think this idea is rooted in folklore or superstition, but there is actually science to back it up.

The Earth is in a huge gravitational field. As the Moon travels around the earth, it's gravitational pull on the earth creates the daily tides, and also affects the smaller bodies of water, including moisture in the soil.

New Moon:

During the new moon, the tides are at their highest. The Sun and Moon are lined up with the Earth. This is the first quarter and one of the two waxing phases. Seeds germinate easily, so it is the best time for planting, specifically annuals that produce their yield above ground, and their seeds outside the fruit. Examples would include: lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, celery, and grain crops. Cucumbers are one exception to this rule. Any activity that relates to growth and expansion should be undertaken in the waxing phase or the time between the two phases before the full moon.

Second Quarter:

The second quarter is another waxing phase, occurring immediately after the new moon. The second quarter produces good leaf growth, and is the ideal time to plant annuals that produce their yield above the ground, with their seeds inside the fruit. These would include beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Vining plants can also be planted during this time.

Any vegetable picked that is for immediate use should be picked during the waxing phase.

Full Moon:

This is the third quarter. The full moon is the waning period of the moon, or the time it's energy is drawing down. The moonlight is decreasing, and putting energy into the roots of plants. This is the time to plant root crops such as potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, and peanuts. Perennials, biennials, bulbs, shrubs and trees should be planted during this waning phase. Transplanting should be done during this time due to active root growth taking place, as well as pruning.

Fourth Quarter:

Due to the decreased gravitational pull and moonlight, this period is considered to be a resting period. You can cultivate, harvest, prune, weed, spray and transplant during this time. Drying, preserving, conserving your harvest is best done during the waning phase of the moon.

Also, mow your lawn during the 3rd and 4th quarter, as growth will be slowed during this time.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to all.

Karen

Week 7 of the herbal blog contest

2009-04-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to week 7 of the herbal blog contest! This week we are featuring Aquarian Bath your source for all natural gentle soaps, herbal balms, salves, deodorants, and spa pillows. Aquarian Bath's soaps, balms and salves are either unscented or lightly scented with only pure essential oils. This week, enter to win you choice of a Lavender Spearmint Lip balm in a 0.15 oz tube OR a Lemon Lime Lip Balm in a 0.25 oz slide tin, and 20% off on your next order with Aquarian Bath.

The Lavender Spearmint Balm is made with Extra virgin olive oil, Shea butter, Beeswax, Castor oil, Spearmint and Lavender essential oil.

The Lemon Lime lip balm is made with Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Castor oil, Beeswax, Jojoba, Lime and Lemon Essential oils, and Zinc Oxide, a mineral used in sunscreens.

To win one of these lovely balms, enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning! Entrants must include their email address to be eligible to win. US and Canadian residents are eligible. You can receive additional chances to win in the following ways:

* Tweet about this blog contest on twitter.com including @aquarianbath in the tweet. Come back and log your tweet with a comment to receive 1 additional entry.
* Visit and join Aquarian Bath's fan page on Facebook. Leave a comment so we know you joined to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a comment about your favorite item from Aquarian Bath's etsy or 1000markets stores to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a purchase with Aquarian bath to on etsy or 1000markets to receive 3 additional entries.

*The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.
Aquarian Bath
Make a purchase from one of these 9 host blog's online stores to receive 2 additional entries and leave a comment at the host's blog's contest:
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

One lucky winner from one of the 10 host blogs will be contacted to receive 2 free soaps of their choice along with their lip balm and 20% off coupon, so be sure to visit and enter at all 10 blogs.

The winners will be announced at the Aquarian Bath blog when the results are in from all participating blogs. Enjoy.

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May

Georgia Garden Bloggers

2009-04-07T05:20:00.001-07:00

Are you a Georgia Blogger? Then drop by http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ and add your name to the list!

Dogwood Winter

2009-04-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day today. The high was 72 degrees. The picture above is a little pink dogwood tree that we bought several years ago for "cheap" at a flea market. I didn't think it was going to make it but this year it burst open in bloom several days ago. The picture on the bottom was taken at dusk after a long day outside cleaning out the chickweed and various weeds. My Stella de Ora daisies have now formed 3 huge clumps after only peeping up from the mulch about 2 weeks ago. The bed also includes rudbekia, what I call society garlic (little purple flowers on shoots), bee balm, a peony bush, and purple coneflower. These are all coming up throughout the bed.

Not to be fooled by this wonderful weather, no planting has been done. Tomorrow begins a week of cool weather, with the highs in the 40's and lows down to 30. Guess this is what they call Dogwood Winter. Oh well, I enjoyed the day while I had it. I am sure there are those out there with snow still on the ground.

Prairieland Herbs Healing Wands

2009-04-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to week 6 of the herbal blog contest! This week, enter to win a .15 oz. Healing Wand from Prairieland Herbs! These healing wands contain herbally infused certified organic olive oil, locally produced beeswax, vitamin E, essential oils of tea tree and lavender, and are the perfect size for your pocket, purse, or diaper bag. They work wonders on cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, dry skin, hangnails, etc. To win one of these useful and natural healing balms, simply enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!! Don’t forget to include your email addy so we can contact the winner! The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Herbs from the Labyrinth

Patti's Potions

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

Bella and Gracies

2009-03-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

I have met a lot of people along the way while trying to grow my business, and I am always amazed at the people who are willing to share their time to help you. Karen at Bella and Gracies is one of those people. Karen graciously agreed to post my blog content regarding gardening with kids on her blog and site. I would like to share her site with you and the darling dresses she makes for little girls. Wouldn't these make unique Easter dresses? I encourage you to support indi businesses this year, not only local farmers markets, but those hundreds of women who are crafting their businesses.

Choose to be happy

2009-03-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

Refusing to listen to the constant barrage of bad news doesn't mean you're sticking your head in the sand, but each day we have two choices: to be happy or not.

Which do you choose?

www.goodnewsnetwork.org

2009-03-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is Week 5 of the Herbal Blog Contest. Friday March 27th to Thursday April 2nd.

Featured this week are moisturizing Lip Balms from Patti’s Potions Natural Soaps, Ltd.
Did you know that most lip balms contain petroleum products that are NOT eco-friendly? This is your opportunity to experience fine natural oils in your lip care experience. Food-grade lip-safe flavorings and essential oils may be used to add flavor to the lip balms. No sweetener is added. Ingredients: calendula infused olive oil, shea butter, natural beeswax, jojoba, castor, & vitamin E

To win TWO of these luscious lip balms, simply enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!! Don’t forget to include your email addy so we can contact the winner!

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs. We are unable to ship out of country at this time.

PrairieLand Herbs

HerbsfromtheLabyrinth

Patti’s Potions

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

This contest is closed, but there are several more to go. Each week until the middle of May, a different give away will be posted. Tell all your friends to enter!