Last of the Halloween Projects

One thing I know about myself, when it comes to many projects, I'm a 90 percenter.  Meaning I get to the point where it's 90% done and I lose interest.  Or I become obsessed with the final details and think I will find the perfect thing to finish.  A lot of times this works in my favor, I do find a great way to get the project done.  Other times, I settle.  So, here are a few of the Halloween crafts I've been holding onto the past two weeks.

My tree.  It needs a lot of work.  I need to join a swap and get some better ornaments!  This year Kenna asked if we could make a popcorn chain, so how could I say no?  She rarely wants to craft with me.

I am happy with my raven from the Dollar tree.  I added the hat and the sash, of course.

My side hutch.  I had to take this picture before my family ate all the M&M's!

I picked up this skull at Walgreens a few years ago.  It's about as goulish as I will go.  It creeps out my friend, Cathy.  I made the Boo blocks a while back.

These are Pumpkin-On-Stick.  I grew these two years ago and dehydrated them.  They were very bountiful, but prickly!  The stems and leaves had some vicious thorns, so I haven't grown them since!

This is one project I obsessed over.  I wanted an x-ray of a human body to put aside my skeleton keys.  I ended up having the best results printing on vellum paper, using the "slow drying ink" and "fast print" options on my printer.  Before this it was putting down too much ink.  Push came to shove and I needed a way to display it.  I settled on a quickly made frame using paint sticks and tacks.  I would love to change this, but for now, it will do.

 

I had to borrow these skeleton keys from Kenna, she collects such weird stuff for a person of her age!  I stamped out the card, of course.

My mantel is a little bare this year.  I purged a few items after last year.

A photo I embellished.  I struggled for a word add.  Call me strange, but I didn't want to disrespect this lady by using "wicked" or "witchy" so I went with "vexed" and I'm happy with it.

A few jars from an auction box lot.  I found the labels on the internet.  I know the arsenic came from The Graphics Fairy, can't remember where I found the other one!  Notice my spun head girly that I got from Laurie!  Love her!

Last new addition, some cuties from the Dollar Tree!  I like 'em a lot.

That's it.  I probably should have divided this up into at least three posts, but knowing me, it's better to just get it out there!  Hope you all are enjoying this October.  Before we know it, the chill will be here!

Rednesday Yummies

Hello Rednesday friends!  I'm a little late today...golf again.  It was excruciating.  Our heat index today is 110°.  It's VERY humid to boot!  Like walking into a sauna.  We're expecting some severe storms to night.  Hopefully not too severe and hopefully it cools it down a bit.

Today I'm sharing pictures of my garden girl and out first decent tomato haul.  Our first tomato came really early this year (June 24th) but it's been sparse pickin's until now.  The plants are just filled, though.  It won't be long and we'll be overloaded with tomatoes and start giving them away.

These are the best looking tomato plants I've ever had.  I really don't like using chemicals in the garden and will only do so as a last resort.  In years past this has meant that my tomatoes, although producing, looked awful!  Well, this year we had a wet spring and the tomatoes were showing signs of blight right away.  I found this product called Soap Shield from Garden's Alive.  They sell lots of environmentally responsible products.  I would HIGHLY recommend this product.  The directions said to apply every week to 10 days, but let me tell you, I only applied it twice.  It's been 6 weeks since my last application with no signs of disease.  I am VERY happy with the results.

I love this picture...even though it's a little out of focus.  This is two tomatoes grown together.  Doesn't it look like a heart?  Coincidentally, the tomato is called "Juliette."  One of our favorites.

Yum!  Yum!  I think Italian sausages with peppers and onions will be on the menu this week!

Please make sure to check out the other Rednesday posts over at Sue Loves Cherries!!!

Rednesday....Gnome Siting????

It's been a while since my last Rednesday post. I certainly not for the lack of red. More the lack of ambition and time! I am postponing my window washing today to put up this post! I have a timely picture to share today.You see, two days ago I picked my first crop of lettuce! Some red varieties....of course! I had a great idea some months ago that I would start my lettuce inside (as I often do) but instead of putting them in the garden, where I have to share with the furry critters, I would plant them in this large, $1 washtub I bought last fall at the Mega-auction! Another advantage? I can bring in the tub when the weather gets a little chilly. Iowa Springs are notoriously volatile! It has worked like a charm!

I will tell you, I did not punch drainage holes in the bottom (heavens, no!) I filled the bottom with five 1-gallon milk jugs, to fill the space, allow for drainage, reduce the amount of soil needed, thus making it lighter to lift! In all my vegetable gardening I use the Square Foot method developed by Mel Batholomew. He has a great book on the subject! I highly recommend it.

So what else is on my patio right now? A footed washtub planted with daffodils. Not at peak, yet.My chives, in a minnow bucket bought at neighbors garage sale a few years ago!Then, there's my rosemary.....what's that next to it??? Some kind of strange gnome???
No, it's Santa! I guess rosemary does look a bit like a Christmas tree! He found his way to me two weekends ago at another awesome auction. He was stuffed in a box lot of hideous (my opinion) yarn and macrame Christmas items. Mom spotted him! I completely overlooked him! Thanks Mom! He is BIG, 8 1/2" tall and in wonderful condition!

Here's the label. I am tickled to have him! Since he was so well hidden, I picked him up for a song!

So, I will be heading over to Sue's this evening AFTER the window washing, to check out the other Rednesday finds! Hope you do, too!