Missing My Blog

I have been MIA for several months.

After starting a new job and being so busy that I didn't have time for posts,

and then, getting ill and finally, having surgery, I am ready to be back on the mend.

I'm healing and hoping to return to work soon.

I'm still reading my favorite blogs and keeping up on them. 

I see LOTS and LOTS of projects going on but not on my end. 

Doing certain times in our lives, we must rest and heal. 

It has been one of those times for me. 

However, I'm keeping my project list up-to-date and soon,

very soon, I hope to be working on them again.

Where I have been swinging and resting and healing ♥

~ Thanks for stopping by.... even if I haven't been here ~

♥

English Lavender

Check out my latest and greatest discovery.

bathing soap - lavender fragrance



 I cannot get enough of this smell;

it is such a lovely lavender fragrance.

I love the fragrance that lingers in the bathroom after I shower. 

It's not overwhelming, it's a clean, simple scent. 

I am going to keep several extra

bars on hand so that I never run out.

I am thinking of adding "Lavender" to my garden. 

I was looking for something "new" to add this year.

I don't know much about growing Lavender but I

did some research here and am going to give it a try this Spring. 

Lavender is considered a "romantic" plant.

Romans used lavender oils for bathing,

cooking, and scenting the air,

and they most likely gave it the Latin root name

(either lavare-to wash or livendula- livid or bluish)

from which we derive the modern name.

The flower's soothing ,"tonic" qualities,

the insect repellent effects of the strong scent,

and the use of the dried plant in smoking

mixtures also added to the value

placed in the herb by the ancients.

I want to make my own Lavender sachets for my closet and my drawers.

I found some DIY instructions from Martha Stewart here.

Lavender Sachets for your closet or drawers



Yardley has a few other scents in the bar soap but Lavender is my favorite.

~ Thank you for stopping by ~

♥

Petals of Happiness

I have started thinking about my Spring/Summer garden. 

Last year, I was able to get some starts off of the "Rose of Sharon"

bushes from a dear friend.  I have 5 starts that are little twigs but they were free to me.
I will nurture them with care this year to make sure they get a great start.


Also, last year, I planted a Hydrangea bush. 
I planted it after my visit to The Biltmore Estate / Gardens
on my honeymoon.  I had always wanted a Hydrangea bush. 
The bushes at The Biltmore were so beautiful. 
If you have never been, it's a must see. 

I also have 3 Peony bushes that will have a second
Spring/Summer season to grow and flourish. 

My favorite flower is the Daisy and I have a pretty good garden of them.
I planted them under an old windmill tower that isn't in use any longer. 


This picture is a picture I've posted before.  I love walking outside and cutting fresh flowers for my home.  They are usually around for several weeks.

The first sign of Spring in my yard will be the Tulips.


Every year I want to add something new to my garden and it has to be a Perennial.
Perennials come back year after year and help to make my garden maintenance free.


I haven't decided yet what I will add this year.
I'm thinking a climbing rose bush.


Do you have any recommendations for me?

New Camera

I was showing my husband something on my
blog a few days ago and he blurted
out that I need a better camera. 

Yes... he sure did.  He said,
"we need to get you a better camera."

I didn't think he even noticed the difference in the quality of my pictures compared to the quality of the other blogs I was showing him but bless his heart, he did.

Now, I don't think it will happen soon because he already

purchased my birthday present which wasn't really cheap. 

But... I'm looking ahead, researching camera's and hoping soon

that I will have a camera to use that is better quality.

I want to sign up for a photography class soon,

but will wait until I have that new camera.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

Baby it's cold outside......

~ The climate here in Indiana has been very challenging lately!

~ Snow is falling and falling and falling. 
Did I say the snow keeps falling?

~ Bitterly cold winds and gloomy gray skies. 

click on any picture for a closer view

Looking south out my front door

Looking northwest out my back door

~ Oh how I long for my Summer evenings on my porch swing with my iced tea.

I cannot wait for these days again ♥

~ So, since I cannot go outside in this frigid weather,
there is only one thing left to do!

Yes, the only thing left to do is to make peanut butter cookies.

Oh... I had to taste one while it was still warm,
fresh out of the oven and Oh, so delicious.

Recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine together -
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

yelp, that's all you need,
makes approximately 16 cookies.
mix all ingredients together,
roll into 1 inch balls,
bake at 350 degrees for 11 to 12 minutes
and enjoy some delicious peanut butter cookies.

So, while the cold, frigid weather lingers,

and we wait for Spring.

~ We will enjoy some cookies and wait on
mother nature to bring back her warm Summer days of beauty.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Not Feeling Sew Well

~ Look who is sick and has to go to the hospital!

~ OK, so this is not my real machine but I can't

use my machine because it is ill and not working correctly.

~ So, she is going to the hospital today for a cleaning and fix. 

~ I haven't been able to use her in a while and

my sewing projects are backing up.

~ I can't wait for her return so I can do some

sewing projects that have been on hold.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Sweet Smell

~ There is absolutely nothing better than the sweet smell

of sun dried sheets fresh off the clothesline.

~  And what's more, this "solar drier" will also help me save energy!

~ It was time to change the sheets. 

Instead of switching to my other set,

I just decided to wash the current sheets and put them back on the bed.   

~ Usually, I can't hang sheets outside because it's so windy. 

The wind just blows them right OFF the clothesline onto the ground.

~ We sometimes call our home "Windy Acres"....

as you can see, there is nothing to BLOCK

the West wind or the North or South wind :o)



Click on picture for closer view



It looks as though the sheet is dragging the ground but it isn't. 

Now, I have to finish hanging the rest of the sheets....so I need to go. 

It's so nice out and NOT windy,
maybe I will wash the mattress pad as well.
Oh that sweet, sweet smell. 



~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Candy Jars...

~ I have been wanting a couple of candy jars for around the house. 

I found 2 perfect jars at the thrift store for .99 cents each. 

I ran them through the dishwasher and they are like brand new.

~ It was like God knew exactly what I wanted and led me to them.

 

~ Well, He does know what we want or need,
but He doesn't always give it to us does He?

~ God only gives us what is for our own good or for the good of someone else. 

~ God must of thought I deserved to find exactly what I was looking for.

HOWEVER....

When you start buying the candy for the jars to match the room,

{Houston, we have a problem}

(click on any photo for closer view)

After dinner mints...
and oh how they match our guest room!

♥

I usually see these at baby and/or
bridal showers but now I can see them in
my guest room and sneak one or two or three now and then.

The pastel colors are so perfect. 
I ♥ them,
AND
not only are the pretty but they taste good too.

I love this candy jar because of the red handle on the lid,
it matches my kitchen colors and a couple
of other canisters I have but this is a smaller jar and I love the way it leans.
{cute size}.

This candy jar has candy corn in it... and
WAS HALF FULL.

It sits on the ledge that divides the kitchen
and the dining room IN FULL VIEW...
* * this could be trouble * *

I'm already thinking of the different holiday candies
I can put in here throughout the year.
◕ ‿ ◕

Thanks for stopping by....

if you were here,

I'd share my candy with you.

♥

~ Lisa ~

Wild Life around The Little Yellow Home in the Country

~ I love catching photos of the wildlife around our area.  Our 2 favorite photos so far are the red head woodpecker and the owl.  We could of had one of a skunk Kevin trapped in a cage but I passed on that one.  Maybe next time, I'll get brave. 

Not a very good picture.... he was swinging and moving as I took this shot.

He was so big, he cast a shadow over the
 room when he came to the feeder to eat.

Kevin snapped this picture,
he couldn't get to close or the owl would fly off.
The birds go crazy when Mr. Owl is around, they chirp LOUD and fast....
I would too if I thought I was going to be someones dinner!



Thanks for stopping by...
♥
~ Lisa ~