Mining Monday: Memorial Day Ideas

Wow, would you look at that - I'm trying to do things a week ahead?  Who is this and what are you doing with my blog!  Just kidding... sort of... Let's see what EASY and quick ideas come my way to get ready for the upcoming holiday.

Before we start having lots of fun, it is important to remember why we celebrate this holiday.   It's time for a bit of history.  Memorial Day started as "Decoration Day" in 1868, after the Civil War. It was renamed "Memorial Day" in 1882 but it wasn't declared the official name by Federal law until 1967.

A traditional observance of the day includes the flag being "raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all." Wikipedia

As the wrestling coach at our high school, many of my husband's former athletes (and several of my field hockey players) have gone on to serve in our nation's armed forces.  Having a son, some of his friends did, as well.  On Memorial Day, their service stands out in our minds.  Thanks goes out to you all.

We appreciate all you have done and continue to do.  Now, let's celebrate this together!

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

This first one is not only for decorating, it's useful.  Fantastic! It also gets me thinking about other ideas using other washi prints.  Oh goodie!  Pop over to The Sweetest Occasion to see all the details.

Better Homes & Gardens has this sweet idea for serving up fruits with your red, white & blue theme.  Just so happens I have some parchment paper on hand, but I could see using scrapbook paper to REALLY jazz it up.

Here's another decorating idea from Martha Stewart, and we all know she's the queen of that!  My grandsons would enjoy these.

This decoration is super cool and inexpensive to make.  I will probably try this with fabric, because, well, you know me!  Multiples and More will tell you all about it.

Wait till you see this tablescape from over at Hoosier Homemade.  I totally have to try the blue jean serving platter!  You MUST go see what she did!  I love the pockets to hold silverware and napkins.  Whitt had better watch his jeans... might need to "borrow" them!

It just so happens that I have a Sizzix that can make star cutouts.  Using AliLily's idea, I could whip up a super quick star banner like this.

I would like to end by suggesting this book for children. Eve Bunting is an incredibly talented author and her messages are clear and touch the heart.  You can find it on Amazon (The Wall) or at your local library.

I will have some food ideas next week.
For now, hugs from NH,
Carrie

PS.  As an Amazon Associate, we receive a small compensation for anything purchased through our links.  We appreciate you support!  Thanks!

Five Friday Favorites: Week #2

Good morning, friends!
I am back in search of things I've seen that I love this week.  Let's think warmer weather, shall we?  Puleeze?!

How about starting with something to eat.  This one stopped me in my clicking tracks: Loaded Mashed Potato Balls!!  Bacon, potatoes, cheese?  They have it all!  Head over to Centless Deals to find out how!

 

Lindsay has some fantastic creations she's sharing with us all as freebies off her blog.The print below is one to purchase, but go to Lindsay's site.  Read about WHY we have to be careful about pinning and listen to her.  Follow the pins BACK to their source!

We love scrabble.  Here's my Friday Favorite Game Idea.  This site tells you how to make it.  Yay!

Here's my Friday Favorite where flowers are concerned: I told you I was thinking warm weather... with that around here come lilacs!  I can't wait! Here is an entire article from Midwest Living about my favorite floral.  Sigh...

Here's a crafty Friday Favorite - looks like fun!  It's a Rag Rug Tutorial by Sugar Bee Crafts.  It looks very do-able.  What do you think?

Hope your weekend is wonderful.  Enjoy and have a great day,
Carrie

Wow! Laundry Soap Lasted!

Good morning, friends!

I just HAD to let you know about the laundry soap I made back in April.   It was 1 lb of each of these:

• Baking Soda
• Washing Soda
• Borax

and 1/2 bar of Fels Naptha soap, grated. (You can see the original post HERE.)

I HAD to report back on it!

When I originally made it, I gave it 4 1/2 stars.  I am going to now say: 5 stars!  Not only is it phenomenally inexpensive per load, it cleans like a whistle and NO problems for the people here who need fragrance free. 

I made the first batch on April 28th and finished up the container 5 weeks later!  We are literally talking pennies/load here, people!

I still thing the Fels Naptha is strong, but I will live with it and grating it is the hardest part, but ALL GOOD!

Let me know if you decide to give it a try - questions?  Just ask!!

Carrie

Wordless Wednesday: One of my Mother's Day Treats

Welcome, friends -
It's Wednesday and that means an image I'd like to share.  Today you can see the adorable gift I received from my grandsons - luv, luv, luv it!  It's absolutely perfect and I can't wait to head into the kitchen to use it.  I will have to give something similar a try for you all to win for one of my aprons of the month!

For now, here it is:

Hugs to my boys! 
Memere (AKA, Carrie)

Be Grateful --> Finding Hearts

I found this wonderful little video the other day that I just had to share.

There's a line in it where she says that "whatever you are looking for, you will find".  I think this goes both ways: look for good in life?  You'll find it.  Look for bad?  You'll find it.

I heard a story once about a salesman who walked up to a man in a new town.  He asked him: "What are the people like here?"  The man asked him, "What were the people like in the town you just left?"  He told him they were negative, unpleasant, etc.  His reply "That's what folks are like here."  Another salesman walked up asking the same question.  Repeating his question about what folks were like where he came from, this salesman replied that "People were easy to talk to, friendly, etc"  The man's final reply was that THAT was what people were like here.

You get what you expect.  You get back what you put out.  Not 100% of the time, but enough that there is value in being positive and thinking the best of situations and of people.

This video by Hailey Bartholomew, is called "Finding Love". It's 2 1/2 minutes and lovely. Take a moment to watch it today. I was glad I did!

Quilty hugs on this lovely day, Carrie

Monday Mining: Tomatoes... What on Earth do I do now?

Good morning, friends!

You might have seen my pictures of the tomato plants I started.  A-L-L of the plants I started.  There are quite a few - oodles, really.  I am realizing that now I need to figure out what on Earth I am going to do with them?  How will I plant them?  Where?  Any tricks?

I thought it would be a great use of today's Monday Mining to go out in search of tomato info.  That being said, let me ask YOU, as well!

1. When do you plant your tomatoes outside?
2.  How do you plant them?  Buckets?  Raised beds?  Right out in the garden?
3.  How do you protect them?
4. What are your favorite types?

**Leave me your thoughts in the comments, if you would!  I'd love to hear what you do!

Till I hear from you, here's some of what I found.

Five Tips for planting tomatoes:

Interesting - they suggest this weekend is an okay time to plant them and that the chance of frost is gone.  That would be lovely if my 5 zillion plants were big enough!  Not sure they are.  Now the squash, on the other hand...

I was thinking about containers for the cherry tomatoes - something we could put on the deck? 

Holy cow, have you tried this?  I know where there are some buckets (...ahem...sap house...) but I am not sure where I'd hang them.  Do they have to be on the house?  That wouldn't work for me... Fun concept, though.

I found this good video for beginners, like me!



This last bit talks about when and how to transplant.  I am a wee bit worried since mine are much smaller at this point.  Bummer!  Come on guys, GROW!

These are NOT mine, but the image from the Country Basket.

Well, you can see I need advice.  Anything you can share with me to help make this successful?  Thanks in advance!
Carrie

Happy birthday, Whitt!

Today is hubby's birthday so today's saying/photo is created in his honor.  Happy birthday to my best friend!  I am pretty sure love makes OUR world go around.  Hugs!

Would you like to download this for yourself?  Head here to PicMonkey to download.


I also found this absolutely wonderful video I'd like to share.  It's a story of love.  A TED talk out of Australia.  I hope you enjoy it.



Enjoy your day - hugs,
Carrie