How Does Your Garden Grow...

Great! I thought I would show you around my little place today. When I stroll around outside, these are just some of the views that I see. I just love this time of the year! Cooler temperatures, green grass, abundance of blooms, and lets not forget the smell of autumn in the air. Inhale that wonderful scent, it is like pure happiness in a single breath.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend! Until next time.

Spider Webs

Early into September and you can already smell the scent of Autumn. Autumn is falling colored leaves. The smell of acidic oak leaves, and fresh cold morning airs. Autumn is also the time for cool damp mushroom growing, and for foggy mornings. Which brings us back to the main topic here-spiderwebs. The damp mornings fill the spiderwebs and spot the sluggish spiders with glistening dew drops.

Something about spiders and spider webs makes for a neat subject. Add a little morning mist or dew and they really light up. This image wasn't one that I had to travel real far to take, just went to the back yard.

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside...! You would be shocked if you thought the itsy-bitsy spider was confined to an occasional web in the field, but look what we find when the dew settles and the sun rises upon the scene. I swear there must have been at least a dozen of various shaped spiderwebs dotting the field! Who would ever have thunk that one?

Hopefully, you will get the chance to catch a glimpse of these amazing art pieces. A true masterpiece in the making. Enjoy and don't let the spiders freak you out. LOL

Everyone Needs a Home....

Awhile back at work, someone broke this bowl and I thought that it was pretty. However, I had no use for a broken bowl, or so I thought. One of my coworkers suggested that I take it home and put it in my garden and use it as a toad house. Well, that is interesting. As funny as it sounded, I liked her idea and off I went with the bowl. Several people asked me throughout the day about the bowl and each time I would tell them...well they would laugh at me.

So, I would like to show you my new neighbor. Yep, that is right toad houses really do work!

OK, so not everyone finds toads beautiful. However, a single toad can eat about 110 beetles, ants, June bugs, grasshoppers, moths and other bugs every day. That's right around 3,300 every month! Wow! Yummy!

I guess it only makes sense since toads are most active at night, so during the day they need a fairly dark, cool place to hide from the sun and predators. You will find me encouraging these bug-hungry hunters to have a nice long stay in my garden by providing this adorable affordable toad house.

I would like to suggest that you find an old bowl and place it in an area in your garden and before long you'll have a new neighbor, too.

Excuse the lull...

Whew - what a month and to think that September is creeping up on us very quickly. Excuse the blogging lull around here. I would like to say more than anything that I have been busy getting used to a new schedule around here with school starting soon.

However, that is not the case.

I can tell you though that I tried something new this week. Mack has been after me since day one of knowing him to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Well, I took the big plunge and I guess it is not so bad. I love the wind in my hair. I have a long way to go, but you have to start somewhere. So, here is a little video of my first journey out. Oh, and I have to tell you the boy was grinning from ear to ear. I think I made him a little proud. What a treat!

July Hostess Club/Technique Class

Monday nights class was all about Top Note magic. We covered three techniques, but that doesn't even put a dent in what you can do with this handy dandy little guy. We also used some of the new in colors. At first I was not sure of these colors, I thought they were so bold and bright, but after creating with them...well, all I can say is they certainly have grown on me.
We made three make-n-takes.

This card was made out of Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and then Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo CS. We colored the image from the Razzle Dazzle set with the new in color markers. Tied it up with the new Crushed Curry polka-dot ribbon.

I have been wanting to make one of these cute little purses. I just love the color on this one. We used Rich Razzleberry CS and then Patterns Designer Series Paper in Rich Razzleberry. We also used the jumbo eyelets with the crop-a-dile. Easy-peasy! How cute!!!

For the last card we took 1 inch little squares from the Razzleberry Lemonde DSP and glued them down on white CS and then ran it through using the Top Note Die. It was neat to see every one's cards, cause no two cards where alike. I just love my little quilt, I think it turned out fabulous.

We ended the night with yummy fruit pizza and three great projects. I can't wait to make some more purses, I just think they are the bomb diggety dog.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

July Church Cards

These are the cards that we made at Tuesday night card class. It had been a couple of months again since I went, so it was fun to see familiar faces and make some awesome cards. Thanks ladies for the fun and festivities. Have a terrific Tuesday!

Happy 4th of July

I accomplished my first 5k marathon today. I entered the 31st Annual Firecracker Footrace, in my hometown. Two of my good friends joined me. I mainly walked, but I did jog a little to pass a few folks. What a great feeling to get out and try something new. I hope to make this a yearly tradition and I think several other people do as well. I overheard someone say that there was at least 600 people signed up. Wow! What a great response, and better yet - money received benefits our high school track and cross country programs.

After the race I headed over to Huntersville to go tubing. We drifted down the Crow Wing River which starts at 11th Crow Wing Lake and meanders 90 miles to the Mississippi River.

Tubing is such a popular activity on this part of the river. I really enjoy my time relaxing and taking in all the scenery. The picture above shows tons of people and I'm glad to say that this only happens on/or around the fourth of July.

I had a great 4th and I hope you did as well.