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My Garden

4/29/2019

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My Grandmother and Aunt always had/have amazing vegetable gardens during the summer. I remember helping with watering them and picking the ripe vegetables. However, this gene did not get passed down to me. Every year I attempt a garden and every year I kill it without a signal vegetable or fruit. I like to blame it on the soil in my area rather than in my lack of attentiveness.

​As for this year, I am trying it a little differently. Instead of messing with our poor foothill soil. I am planting everything in containers. I am going to try a few plants: tomatoes, blueberries, and blackberries. I am also going to attempt growing Greek pepperoncini from seeds since a plant is impossible to find. Jack talked me into getting a few strawberry plants, as well as, some squash. Those, however, went into the old raised bed that I didn’t even get a chance to clean up.

Now that my garden is planted, I hope it grows and I don’t kill it within the next few months!
 

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Norte Dame Fire

4/16/2019

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My heart breaks seeing the news footage of Notre Dame on fire. I was on my way out of town when my Godmother texted me saying it was on fire and for some reason, the university was the first thing that popped into my head. It wasn’t until Jack texted me that I googled it on my phone and was in total shocked. Here was this beautiful cathedral that was centuries old engulfed in flames. There is something to be said about watching a tragedy happening to a location you have visited, rather than just seen on TV. I was horrified watching the Twin Towers collapsed, but it wasn’t until I visited the 9/11 Memorial that I grasped it, it had become more than just footage on TV. In 2005 I went to London and excited several of the tube stations that were later bombed and it was a different filling since I had been there. I knew what it looked like; it was a very different feeling than watching the 9/11 attacks live.

I explain all of this because I have been blessed to visit Notre Dame three times. I also just realized that each time was during a different phase in my way back to faith. The first was before the idea of converting to Catholicism even crossed my mind, the second was when I was in the RCIA program and the lase was after I was confirmed and living in the faith. It was also the last place I ever got to go to with my father. I should also mention the last time we were there was a few days after the Paris shooting, However, sad that trip was, it was also my favorite. The city was quiet and the weather was dark and wet, but it was incredibly beautiful. Several times I cried during the trip. The stress of what was going on in my own life, the terrorist attacks and doing something to help a friend heal. I clearly remember walking into Notre Dame that last visit and felt a warm embrace and brought me so much comfort and peace, I started to cry.

​There is something so amazing about Notre Dame, its so hard to explain. My only hope is that it can be restored to its former glory so others can experience its magnificence.

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Barn Door Table

4/15/2019

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This has been a project I have wanted to do for about five years now, ever since my grandmother passed away. I used to love playing in the big old red barn growing up that was at the very back of her property. Last spring I finally convinced Jack to go with me to help pick out some of the old barn boards. Not only did we come home with lots of the unpainted boards from the inside, but we actually took the barn door! Literally. Technically there was only one door left and the barn looked bad with only the one and I quickly realized that it was the perfect size for a table, so we took it. And then it sat in the garage for the last year. Since the weather has been so nice and we finished the garden gate and currently waiting on the next project, I decided it was the perfect time to make our new table.

Front side of the barn door
Back side of the barn door
I started by using a heavy-duty paint stripper to get off as much of the weathered damage on the front so it would better adhere to the new backing. I stained the plywood before attaching it to the barn door to prevent the newer wood showing through. 
We then used Liquid Nail and some screws to attach the former face of the barn door to the stained plywood. I wanted to make sure the table was going to be sturdy and not flex. Also by doing this first made the other side of the door much easier to sand. Once the glue dried overnight we cut the door/plywood to the size we wanted. Then I sanded the new tabletop, a lot. I started with 220 grit sandpaper and then went to 150 grit. I repeated this process several times until I could rub my hand across it without getting splinters.
We bought 2 x 1 boards and used them as trim around the original barn door. This framed it out nicely, as well as, hid the sides of the plywood. Next we attached the new tabletop to an old outdoor table stand we had. The new boards were to new looking and the sanded down the door was lighter after being sanded down so I decided to do a quick light stain of special walnut before sealing it with a clear coat. I used an outdoor varnish and put three thick coats of the sealant, letting it dry fully between each coat.
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The finished table turned out better than I ever imagined! It’s such a great way to turn something so memorable from my childhood to something I will see and use all of the time!
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Barbie Cake

4/13/2019

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I am a Barbie Girl in a Barbie world…Anyone else grow up in the '90s and is having flashbacks singing that song, or is just me? It's been in my head since I was asked to make this cake weeks ago! I loved Barbie as a kid and this cake took me right back to all of my favorite memories of playing with them. I'm pretty sure I even had a Barbie cake one birthday, but it was no way this pretty!
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The top layer has a hand painted vintage Barbie silhouette on white fondant then sprinkled with some black pearl nonpareils. I traced out a cutout of the silhouette using a detail knife and painted with black food coloring mixed with white writing icing, the same way I did on the cakes last month. To finish the layer I just added a black and white striped ribbon to the base. For the bottom tier, I pipped on rosettes using a large cupcake star piping tip and thick buttercream. I filled in any space between the rosettes with a little more buttercream before piping on a border on the top next to the ribbon. To complete this sweet little girl's cake I added a matching black and white striped bow with a little sparkly rhinestone in the center. This cake is perfect for a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World!

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Easter Egg Wreath

4/5/2019

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I believe this is the last holiday wreath that I needed to make! I have one for all of the other holidays and seasons, and sadly this beautiful Easter egg wreath kept getting push back on my to-do list. I bought the supplies maybe a year or two ago but wasn't able to get to it until now.

I wanted to keep it simple with just a few Easter eggs and flowers, I even bought an oval wreath that was slightly egg-shaped. I glued some of the longer flowers in place before adding the Styrofoam eggs. Next, I added a few more longer flowers and filled in with the smaller ones. I completed the wreath with a big pink and white gingham bow.

The pastel colors on the dark-colored wreath is so simply elegant and perfect for springtime!

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    From Me...

    I created this blog to share my creations with hopes that it will inspire others to show their creative side.

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