weekend shots

I adore this curtain I bought at a yard sale.  I have two and plan on using them as maybe table cloths.

I am completely thrilled with my Dichondra Emerald Falls.  It is trailing out of and through the coconut.

I could finally walk in the garden when it began to dry from the rains.  

These are in our rows of green beans.

Milkweed.

This mushroom looks like the entrance to a dinner club for fairies the way it makes a 

perfect awning at the base of this tree.

I had never seen this plant before.

literally on the library holdshelf

These are a few of my favorite things!  I actually have had the first book by Sergei Boutenko checked out for a few weeks.  I have eaten clovers, searched for dock and made a face mask.  Have green at your fingertips is so much fun.  I have found myself wanting more information about wild edibles, where to find them, what they look like, what to do with them and how to preserve them.  I can't wait to get the other three books and get outside!  Hopefully the large snake population around this year will leave me alone while I hunt!  And the only sad part about all of this is that you can't do it year round, it's just a spring/summer/fall thing.  Enjoy it while it lasts!

days of our play care

What to do today?  I have been wanting to incorporate easy (and quiet) things to do while we are inside.  Which isn't very often these days.  But when we do come inside it is usually so I can cook lunch or because it's raining.  I wanted to create wall pockets with manilla folders but just couldn't bring myself to buy any.  So I wound up making folders from construction paper that I already had on hand.  I have seriously enjoyed tucking worksheets in the pockets during the day and the kids really like checking to see what they have to do after nap time or before lunch.  I have also found several websites that offer free worksheet printables for all ages.  I have even divided crafts into sandwich baggies and tucked them in there.  So easy!

Here are some links if you are interested.

One

Two

Three

Four

do you know plantain?

Are you familiar with Plantain?  Plantain is pretty common in yards everywhere... especially ours.  I always felt that maybe I could do something with this plant or weed as it is commonly called and thanks to a fantastic library book I found that something!  The leaves can be used in salads and I followed a recipe for a facial mask that is very refreshing and that is said to eliminate toxins in the skin, treat skin conditions, tighten skin and even reverse wrinkles!  That's no weed!  That's a backyard miracle worker!  

Plantain Skin Smoothie

1-2 cups plantain leaves

1/4 of an avocado, peeled and pitted

1/2 cup water

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.  Apply to any are of skin that is experiencing discomfort.  Let it dry, rinse it off.

Mine took around 30 minutes to dry.  I first removed my make up then applied it before my bath and rinsed it after.  

Here is the cool book the recipe came from.