Thanks to Mother’s Day and the sweet people in my life, my container herb garden has grown again. I am now growing oregano, lavender, thyme, rosemary, spearmint, lemon balm, bee balm, chamomile, echinacea (aka cone flower), orange mint (aka citrus mint) and a few plants of basil. Hopefully I won’t have a problem finding a place in the car to move them to Charleston with us.

Last time I promised to share a culinary recipe with you, but I’m putting another first. I hope you don’t mind. I came up with my first herbal tea blend using clippings from my own plants. This is the first time I’ever ever made a tea using 100% from-my-garden herbs. You have no idea how pleased I am.

Iced Citrus Mint Tea:
spearmint {leaves}
lemon balm {leaves}
orange mint {leaves}
honeysuckle {flowers}

I used even amounts of each, except for the honeysuckle. I just threw about 6-8 small flowers in for taste and appeal (ok, busted, I just thought they were pretty.) I used my porcelain teapot because I read somewhere earlier this week that metal teapots weren’t best because they can taint the flavor of herbal tea. I boiled the water, dropped in my herbs and let steep for about 10-15 minutes before adding some honey.

It was a hot day and I spent most of it packing, so I was in the mood for something cold and refreshing. I chilled my tea and added ice for a very refreshing, light, iced herbal tea blend. It was prefect. After downing my first tall glass, I got myself a refill before heading into work for the night.

What is making you smile, lately?

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a sunny weekend. The past couple of weeks, here in southern Kentucky, we’ve had sunny, beautiful weekdays and rainy, chilly weekends. This is not conductive for our attempts to have a yard sale.  We’ve been on another minimalistic-living kick, lately, so its time to clear some stuff out.

However, my herb garden is not complaining. My mint and oregano went berserk this season {oregano is actually in the mint family}. My oregano grew through the drain holes and into the ground under the container. My plant grew so big, I was able to divide it into three healthy portioned plants and share with friends. My mint–do you know about mint?–yeah. Mint is very aggressive and grows like a weed with no help.

That’s not a complaint.

I already made a first harvest this past week. I reaped a quite the helping of mint. So much so that I covered a tea towel with leaves to dry, for myself, and filled eight bags to pass out to friends. I was surprised, though, by how many people asked what they could do with it. Other than lightly sprinkling it into summer desserts, I have two ways I use it most often.

To make my own natural air freshener, I like to put a pot of water on to boil and add some citrus fruit, a splash of vanilla and several fresh mint leaves. I lay a wooden spoon over the pot to keep from boiling over and periodically add water to keep from scorching the goods.

Mint also adds an extra refreshing touch to my iced tea.My favorite sweet tea recipe is:

4 tea bag regular black tea
1 tea bag Ear Grey
1 tea ball infuser full of fresh or dried mint leaves
3/4 cup of sugar

We use a regular size tea pot filled with boiling water to steep the tea. Then we pour the steeped tea into a gallon tea pitcher and stir in the sugar. Once the sugar is melted we fill the pitcher the rest of the way with cold water. Sometimes I like to add a little lemon juice to my glass.

Though I’m growing spearmint, any kind of mint can be used. I’ve also harvested some oregano, basil and thyme already. I’ll save that for another time, though.

Are you growing anything this year?

There are a few pieces of furniture which have been with me for more than a decade. They were with me through the growing pains of middle school. Held my computer and primping tools through high school. They furnished my first apartment and followed me through five post dorm room moves.

As many memories as they hold for me, though, they hold much more for my family. They were pass me downs from my father’s mother and I cherish them dearly. I’ve re-stained the cedar chest and spent a long time pondering what to do with my desk. It needed the most work, but made me the most apprehensive about changing.

I finally made a decision and worked up the courage to start on it, though. Turns out it needed a little more TLC than I had anticipated.

A little wood glue, nails, molding and paint and she looks perfect. Not new, but still worn around the edges, just the way I like. Its not a new piece of furniture and I wanted it to reflect that. I had originally planned to use a darker shade of blue with the white.  However, I’m far too fond of the raw natural wood next to that crisp clean white.

Now, she still looks worn, but freshened. Ready to collect some new memories.

Much like I’m feeling about this new year. A little worn out by 2012, but also freshened and prepared for what 2013 has in store. And in case I don’t see write you until then, Happy New Year. I’ll see you on the flip side.

Hey friends! Yes, I’m still alive and no, I haven’t forgotten about you. Anything but, actually. It kills me to go so many days without updating, writing, designing or posting anything for the blog. It also bothers me to see my readership and traffic  plunge downward because I don’t have the time to put into it as much as I’d like.

I’ve had several ideas of posts I wanted to write: recipes, Fall foliage photos, updates on life in general. Alas, nothing seems to write itself. One subject I’ve had on my mind the past several days is how much money my family is saving just by planning our dinners a few days in advance. Now, I know this isn’t some out of the box idea I was the first to just come up with. However, I wanted to share the tools we’ve used in doing so, so far.

First of all, several months ago my parents introduced Billy and I to the Cozi Calendar app for our Android phones. Its probably on iphone, too, I’m not sure. Its an app that connects the family to one calendar and shopping list. It helps us keep up with so many schedules, plan ahead for dinner and share to-do and shopping lists. In the same app we can schedule our meals AND add the ingredients we don’t have to the shopping list. Then, they’re right there, available, for who ever is doing the cooking or shopping at that point in time.

And of course we use Pinterst to find most of our recipes. I wanted to share all of the ones we have tried:

• These green beans are delicious and suuuper easy to make.
• This brown sugar load baked chicken didn’t receive any standing ovations, in my kitchen, but it wasn’t terrible either.
• I’m not a mustard fan, but we tried the first recipe on this list and I must say: I AM a fan of caramelized honey dijon chicken.
• This slow cooker vegetarian lasagna recipe really is as easy as it looks. We used whatever fresh vegetables we had laying around and then fought over the left-overs.
• Oh. Em. Gee. Pumpkin pasties. ‘Nuff said.
• Billy was begging me to make more of these pumpkin pie muffins. The inside and outside texture combination was absolutely perfect.
• This yummy salad recipe has very quickly become one of my favorite go-tos for taking my lunches to work. I pack them in a mason jar with Ritz-knock-off crackers on the side.
• This is one of our most recent cooking experiments. We wrapped ours in flower tortillas.
• I loved this crisp recipe for summer breakfasts and snacks.
• I used to make a salad really similar to this back in the summer for hot day lunches–who am kidding? We live in Kentucky; every summer day is hot.
• This has become one of our go-to recipes for when we’re low on groceries and too lazy to run to the store. We always keep a little bag of red potatoes on hand just for this.
• We never buy brown sugar, any more.
• Delicious and easy breakfast recipe, but left out the broccoli.
• We’ve made these zucchini fries several time, but usually when Billy isn’t home. They weren’t his favorite.
• Tasty, but still not the same as Red Lobster.
• Tried this recipe with a box of devil’s food cake and it was quite possibly the softest, most moist cake I’ver ever eaten. Amazingly delicious, healthy and sooo easy.
• This pumpkin banana bread turned out deliciously,  however not so easy on the eyes. When I thought it was done… well, it really wasn’t. I’d totally make it again, though.

Ok, there’s my long list. Aren’t you glad I decided to make this one just about food? You’re welcome.

The biggest thing save us money isn’t that we only get what we need at the grocery store, its that we aren’t eating out because we already have a plan.

Again, I do apologize for not speaking for so long. I’ll try to work on mindfully setting aside more time. I’m excited to share my current design project with you, soon. Well, its more like a branding project. There’s been about as much planning gone into it, as design. I got to have my almost-limitless way with a local salon. Its been a fun one to work on.

BTW, What’s new with you since we last talked?!

Hey, Darlin! Aren’t these photos fabulous?  I’d like to thank my amazing friend, Laura, for letting me use these.  See more of her/our adventures through her lens on Instagram @parttimegypsie

We started harvesting squash, from our garden, a couple weeks ago and just harvested our first batch of green beans earlier this week.  We have quite a few tomatoes on their way to being ripe, too.

We had some company from our home town and spent some of the day lounging and the rest walking in the woods and eating great food.

One of Billy and I’s favorite things is having friends over for dinner.  Its something we actually do quite often for a few reasons, number one being that its nice to share the cost, every now and then.  But I just feel like if I can serve someone a healthy and delicious meal, then I’ve done something to have a hand in their care.

Does that make sense?  As I get older, I feel an overwhelming need to physically take care of those I care about.

Anyway, we had just picked our first batch of green beans and decided to pair those with some fresh squash and spice them with herbs from the patio garden.  All together, I added two large squash, several green beans, fresh thyme, basil and oregano and then I threw in some celery salt and black pepper.  We paired this dish with a choice of black bean and cumin burgers or garlic and mozzarella burgers.

It was delicious.  I actually had it again just last night, though this time I boiled the veggies {same spices, though}.

Have you prepared any fresh-from-the-garden foods, yet, this summer??  What’s your favorite recipe, so far?

p.s. See all those weeds in that garden? Don’t judge me.  I admitted from the get-go that weeding gardens is, by far, not my favorite thing to do.

My little garden has brought me so much joy, already.  I tried for an herb garden last year, but it just wasn’t in the cards, apparently.  Most of my seeds just didn’t start.  This year, however, we had more time to plan ahead and prepare.  Of course, Pinterest helped.

In my patio garden, I have some basil, oregano, strawberries, tomatoes, thyme, lavender,citronella and a patch of wild flowers.  I wanted something clever and cute to mark the plants.  Not because I forget which is which, but just to let others know and to add a little more pizazz, I guess.

I grabbed some spoons from a thrift store, pulled out my Mod Podge and got to work.  In no time at all, really, these babies were in the ground.

To get rid of the crisp clean white paper, I soaked it in some water and coffee grounds for a day.  Then, I simply drew out the labels, tore them out and Mod Podged them to the spoons.  I then covered them in a couple more layers of Mod Podge to seal and protect the paper labels.  We’ve had several rains since I installed the spoons and they are still holding up strongly.

 Do you have anything growing this year?

What’s cookin’, good lookin’?  A strawberry blackberry crisp, I hope.

This is a new recipe I’ve learned this summer.  Its great for breakfast an anytime snacks and easy to change for different tastes.  One lasts our family about a day and a half.  They’re small and simple.  This one I’m showing {photos} you here, is a double recipe, though.  Normally, I make it in a smaller dish, like a bread or meatloaf pan.

Filling: The night before, I cut up and mixed my fruit together with a generous amount of sugar.  I add a splash of lemon juice, for extra flavor and tartness. I cover and put it in the refrigerator. {if you use canned fruit, skip to the next step}

Topping: The next morning, I spray my baking dish to avoid sticking and then threw in my berry mixture.  Then I mix together one cup oats, one cup flour, one cup brown sugar and a hand full of nuts {I’ve been using almonds, so far}.  Add about 1/2 a cup of butter and mix until its a thick and even clumpy mixture.

Spread the topping over your berry/fruit mixture and then sprinkle with some fresh mint {or dried} on top and throw it in the oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes {or until browning and bubbling}.

How easy was that?  I bet after one time, you won’t even need a recipe to follow.  Its so easy, so tasty and oh-so-perfect for summer.

Also, get creative with your fruit.  Maybe some peaches?  Also, throw some ice cream next to this bad boy. You won’t regret it.

Side note: its healthier and easier than pie.  Now, if that doesn’t get you cooking, I don’t know what will.

While riding our bikes around the neighborhood, one afternoon, Billy and I found something.  Someone apparently had quite a bamboo garden and decided they wanted a new look.  A heaping pile of bamboo sticks.

*freebie* Mama can use that!

With visions of bamboo creations in my head, I planned to grab the car, as soon as we got home.  I started a list even: fence around the garden, a wind chime, perhaps tomato cages.  I was ready to get work.  Today, I want to share my wind chime with you.

Materials:

• bamboo
• hand saw
• drill
• twine
• fishing line
• paint & brush
• spray fix
• key ring

I planned out my design, before making any moves, to avoid mistakes.  I used the hand saw to cut all my bamboo pieces to size.  I found that when sawing bamboo, it works best to only saw in one direction.  Before I started putting anything together, I painted my bamboo pieces with acrylic paint.  After they were dry, I used spray fix {like clear spray paint} to lock and seal my pretty little design.

I used smaller pieces of bamboo, twine and a key ring to build the top part of my chimes.  Then I used drill with a tiny bit to make holes in the top pieces, as well as the hanging pieces.  I strung fishing line through the holes and tied to secure the chimes to the top.  I found that you could pull and turn the tied fishing line so that the knot was actually inside the bamboo and, therefore, unseen.

Now these pretty little things hang happily on my patio, where they sing soft songs to my herbs.  I’m not sure, really, though.  These little girls make it hard to hear anything other than their giggles and squeals.  Plus, their sounds really isn’t loud, so you don’t worry about it bothering any neighbors {I’ve really heard of people who can’t stand wind chimes}.

I have another one cut and ready to paint, but was home some little hands would help.  I’m also putting the finishing touches on the fence around our vegetable garden.  I’ll be sure to share photos soon, though.

Do you have anything handmade in your garden?  Or maybe plans for something?? Tell me about it!

Hey, darlin!  How’s the weather?  Grilled anything magical lately?

We came up with this yummy deliciousness, not long ago.  We picked up some fresh asparagus last time we were at the grocery store and wanted to try it on the grill.  I know, that’s not too creative, but it was new to us.  Since it was my first time, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

I rolled  the veggies in olive oil and generously doused them with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  I had some skewers from a past grilling experiment and used them to wrap and secure some strips of bacon around the spears.  Then we placed them directly onto the grill for about 10 minutes.

They were easy and delicious and we’ll definitely keep them on the menu for future nights.

This past weekend, my Grandmother and I threw my little sister’s wedding shower.  I think its actually the first shower I’ve ever had to plan.  She gets married in June and I am in charge of the hair, makeup and photography.  That will most definitely be a busy day for me.

I didn’t plan anything too fancy.  Her colors are blue and black.  I pretty much decorated the party with my bare hands.  The only thing we purchased were the groceries and eating ware.

You can only imagine how please I was when my sister gave the thumbs up on brownies instead of cake.  Brownies are most definitely above cake, on my list.

For our drink, we made up something new.  We brewed regular black tea {like making sweet iced tea} plus one bag of Tazo Vanilla Rooibos tea.  We then added Granny Smith apples, strawberries, mangos and fresh spearmint leaves.  Yum.  Writing that recipe down in the book.

The crowd wasn’t huge, which made for a more relaxed and personal setting.  We played a few fun games and some lucky ladies won a fabulous facial scrub I made.  I’ll most definitely  have to share that with you sometime.  Its truly amazing.

And then was the flower girl.  She is definitely my child. Haha I can’t wait to watch her perform her duties, next month.  This should be interesting.  Stay tuned, friends.