May Day Celebrations

Hello everyone! As promised, here are our May Day pictures...

We made cone baskets out of scrapbook paper for our Tussie Mussies.


I used these pretty labels that Clarice shared earlier this week. Thank you , Clarice!


We bought some pink carnations and also used ferns and roses from the garden.


Grace's Tussie Mussies...


and Emily's...


and Benjamin's. Our neighbors were very happy with them!


And finally, our Maypole cake. I took strands of ribbon, pushed them down the top of a straw, then stuck it in the middle of the cake. Our grocery store made the cake for us. Wasn't that nice? ;0)


Thank you for looking at our May Day pictures!

Happy May Day!

"The merriest month of the year arrives bringing with it sunshine, birdsong, apple blossoms, budding lilacs, and longer days to enjoy life as spring's promise is finally fulfilled. Start the month off on a high note with the celebration of May Day!" -Mrs. Sharp's Traditions

Creating May Day baskets are as fun as making homemade Valentines. Today, the girls, Benjamin and I will be making simple paper Tussie Mussies, filling them with flowers (mostly store bought) and leaving them on the doorknobs of a few neighbors. Last year we delivered them to family and friends that lived nearby so this in an option if you don't know your neighbors.

Another idea is to make a May Day cake for dinner. Frost your cake with white icing, then decorate it with a tiny Maypole made by inserting a straw into the center of the cake. Glue thin multicolored ribbons on the top of the straw and pull them out to the side of the cake.



Oh, let's leave a basket of flowers today
For the little old lady who lives down our way!
We'll heap it with violets white and blue,
With Jack-in-the-pulpit and wildflowers, too.
We'll make it of paper and line it with ferns
Then hide--and we'll watch her surprise with she turns
And opens her door and looks out to see
Who in the world it could possibly be!
-Virginia Scott Miner

I will be back soon our pictures from our May Day celebration! I'm wishing you a wonderful first day of May!

~Scenes From Our Weekend~

Hello everyone! As you can see the Texas wildflowers are in full bloom right now!


Bluebonnets, Daisies, Indian Paintbrushes...


Our Saturday started with a trip to the Farmer's Market. Fresh red romaine and Buttercrunch lettuce ...


Also, some local honey...perfect for toast!


At a local resale store I found this cardboard cupboard for $1.00! The artwork is done by Marjolein Basten, one of my favorite artists.


I tucked it into a corner on the patio.


There are envelopes and shelves inside for seed packets and mini gardening tools.


Saturday afternoon I got out some fabric scraps for a little sewing.


I made these mini strawberry pincushions while watching the new Charlotte's Web movie.


I added mini beads and pearls to a few of them...


I hope you enjoyed these scenes from our weekend. Tuesday is "May Day" so I will be back soon with some fun ways to celebrate it. Have a great week!

"Show and Tell Friday"

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!" Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, a new antique find, an old love letter. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there's a story behind your special something, that's even better!

If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your "Show and Tell" on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky.


My "show and tell" is a doll house known as Daisy Cottage. Fortunately, it doesn't still look like this! I bought it at a yard sale in 2005 for $20.00. I was going through my doll house phase so who knows what I was thinking!


Half of the shingles had already been removed so I got to busy taking off the rest. The ones on the front refused to come off and I thought about sanding them, but I'm just not that patient! Time for Plan B.


I decided to "paint" on some shingles and the lumps of leftover wood and glue helped to give it that rustic look. ;0) I also gave it a fresh coat of yellow paint and painted small daisies on the trim and shutters.


I will freely admit to stealing borrowing the idea of painting the tree, bushes and...


...Wisteria on the sides.


For the wallpaper in each room I used scrapbook paper.


I got cottage style furniture on Ebay.


The bathroom furniture came with the dollhouse.


If you look closely you will see a pie cooling on the stove.


Now all we need is a family to move in!

Fussy Day Chicken

Sandra hosts a Slow Cooking Thursday each week and we happened to have a crockpot meal last night so I thought I would join in.

It's called Fussy Day Chicken because once it's in the crockpot you can forget about dinner while you tend to your fussy baby. Or fussy 7 year old. ;0)


Fussy Day Chicken

-1 whole chicken
-Barbecue Sauce:
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons chopped onion
2 tablespoons honey
3 shakes worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
dash of pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until well blended. This sauce may seem spicy when tasted before use, but it is not as spicy on the meat.

Put chicken, legs up, into slow cooker. Pour barbecue sauce over and inside chicken. Cook 8-10 hours on low.


The meat falls easily from bones and sauce makes gravy for rice or potatoes. All that's left is to fix a salad!


For more crockpot recipes be sure to visit Sandra at her place, Diary of a SAHM!

Also, for those of you who asked, my Show and Tell will be a weekly feature so be looking through your treasures for something to share tomorrow!