Happy Valentine's Day 2019

Hi everyone and Happy Valentine's Day 2019!

Hope you all have wonderful fun plans for today! As I sit here and write, I am looking out my window at rain, all day started late last evening and will run into the a.m. hours on Friday as well. 

I love the rain, and being cozy, so long sweater dress cardigan hairy warm socks and pull on slippers are the dress of the day.
 
Catching up on YouTube videos as well, have some fun people I follow, inspiring, of course House Hunters, organizing, purging and more.

I am also finding for January 2019 and into this year I will use my Journal spiral Monthly Weekly type calendar Planner. I have found that the Plan Ahead 8 1/2 x 11 Spiral Planner does the trick as it will display each month and also the day to make notes. Notes pages at the end, I like to take it with me in my bag, easy carry. Last year was Blue this year Teal, my very fave color so I'm a happy girl!

I started utilizing this one last year and did the overlap into this year, they run 16 months. I got mine off of Amazon but CVS also sells these and they go out of stock pretty quickly seems. 

I love the large size, the fact that it will lay flat and has inside tabs for the months. The paper is a nice quality too, I love paper! This year, linked above, has beautiful floral designs and is a 2 year model. I already have my 2019 so I missed out but it's not too late to start and record your January notes if you choose.

Notes to Self /February

After doing some research I have found it is best to get your Taxes done asap in the beginning of the year for many reasons, with personal i.d. theft running rampart it's best according to several publications and also CPA's. This year lots of changes.

February is such a short month, and hoping Spring will not be far behind, gardens need to be tended to, seeds can get a head start, and if your auto, like mine, has all the stuff due this month, it is good to document it with notes for the next year. 

February Health

Man oh man is Winter in the desert Southwest region dry and rough on the organ called out skin!

I have personally found that I must drink tons of water and get lots of rest and sleep to keep my skin okay during this winter time. I am also utilizing all Vegan and organic products that I can find that do no harm to the animals. I do find them easier on my skin, less chemicals that can sometimes be very unnecessary. I will say at my age now, I am noticing changes, little, but changes in the skin. Adjusting.

With that said, I have adopted the WFPB life style a few years back and am extremely passionate about it. I will never go back to eating the old way again. I feel so much better. 

The Whole Foods Plant Based no Oil concept sure made a huge difference with me personally. I follow
Dr John McDougall and the Forks Over Knives as well as many others related to this topic.

Everything I learned seems to be incorrect in many ways, and doing the research I do understand it now. Very interesting as the body, given the chance, can and will heal itself from lots of dis-ease and other issues. Mind blowing!  

If you are interested, check out all the free information and recipes to read and or try. Jane Esselstyn is on YouTube with her Mom, Ann Esselstyn, great videos, lots of fun and easy! 

Dr Esselstyn has been paramount in this movement as is his son Rip, the fire fighter that has changed many fire house fire men way of eating. I have all of this families books.  The family rocks as does the McDougall's, John and Mary. Doctors and Nurses with tons of free information and scientific data to back up everything. 
Dr Michael Greger, of the fab NutritionFacts.org site with free videos, information and more, bless him!

End of my ranting, the picture above is of my one special French doll that I have, her heels have broken, ceramic, and some of her fingers under those cute pink gloves, but that face! I believe she is of a paper type and hand painted, the eyelashes to die for. I love her, beautiful clothing as well. 

So take care, have a wonderful Valentine's Day, have a chocolate covered strawberry for me!

till next time....................

=^.^=

Three years later, From Chanty Love to Terrarium Revisited

 

Well hello! Strolling in the yard I was checking out these Terrariums I made way back in June of 2011. The original post here.

 

Wow, they have stood the test of time, they have been outside in and under a patio all this time.  I guess that really says something for the chandeliers themselves and the E-6000 glue I utilized to attach the wrought iron bases.

 

The little tea cups were also glued on two small clay pots for height.  They are a little worn but love the patina and crazing they have now.  I love the character. 

There was one that didn't last however, the base came off, but I still have some more glue so will be repairing that one soon.

 

I just recently re-planted this one with some succulents.  The little moss plant has lasted all this time and her roots cover most of the bottom but there was just enough room to add some little pieces from the garden, a little pinch start here and more little handfuls of dirt!

I got dirty nails! lol

 

 

This was one of the largest, now over-grown, very heavy, I frankly cannot lift it, and he sits proudly in full sun!

 

The birds love the water in the cup so I try and keep it filled at all times.  The little hummingbirds will sit a top the cup too, so darn cute.

I use this as my little test garden, sticking in pieces of everything to see if they grow.

 

 

This one is also a large size, planted with one plant of the tiny ivy. She has taken over! Same plant from way back. Ivy is a hardy little thing.

 

By the way I only use Miracle Grow, dirt and the time released fertilizer.  I credit this stuff to my green thumb up to my elbow, lol. Miracle Grow has been my go to everything garden for almost forty years! I swear by it.

 

 

The "stained glass window" sits atop the table and behind the planter. I made this for
my dear Mother, who had hung it in her dining room window, so the light would filter through it each afternoon.

Then it was a new old window, much more colourful, clear and hung with a gold chain from a swag lamp.
 

 Just before she passed she asked me to take it back, so I did.  It's been inside and out and all over, but I like it in the garden the best now.

It has weathered well and I will keep it in the garden till it falls apart. It is on it's way, broken glass and all, but stands for part of my heart in the garden.

 

 

Little coloured stones, I think from Big Lots garden section, fills the place where the candles used to be.  Since it is so hot here, we are now in the triple digits, candles are out of the question, and you really cannot see the chandy "arms" anymore the plants have covered them up!

Maybe I will have to get the little cutters out!

 

 

I made these at my last home. It was a task to get them here to quaint little cottage in one piece, but they made it!

 

I hope you enjoyed the re-visit! I enjoyed looking to see if
 and how everything was holding together!

Surprise for me!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week.

 

xo Kat =^.^=

Join me at:
Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday
Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesday's
Ivy and Elephants, What's it Wednesday

music Tuesday, Uncertain Smile, The The

find it on Amazon.com
Fabulous music, and piano! Enjoy.

homekeeping handbook Martha does it again!

ok, it's not like I haven't been keeping house and home for, lets say, a ton of years, but this book by Martha is just too good not to have around for reference.

Bravo Martha! Another great one! Tons of info, fabulous tips, not to mention just gorgeous pictures.  It is a must have for sure, check it out at the local library first to make sure. It runs about $28 or so, well worth it.

a whopping 744 pages, Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook, The Essential Guide

to Caring for Everything in your Home, 2006 covers all aspects of homekeeping. 

this would, of course, be a great book or gift for a newlywed or that "seasoned homemaker" like
me!

kat =^.^=