Boston Fern...another of my favorites.

 
Boston Fern...another of my favorites. I like to have them on the northern exposure of the back deck all summer. They dry out very easily so they have to be watered often. I like to submerge the entire pot in water overnight every other night or two.

How To Take Care Of A Boston Fern

Boston ferns are popular houseplants and proper Boston fern care is essential to keeping this plant healthy. Learning how to take care of a Boston fern is not difficult but it is specific. Below, we have listed a few care tips for a Boston fern so that you can provide everything your fern needs to be happy and beautiful.

The first thing you need to do for proper Boston fern care is to make sure that it is in the right kind of environment. Boston ferns need a cool, place with high humidity and indirect light.
When you care for Boston fern plants indoors, it is a good idea to provide additional humidity for them, especially in the winter. Most homes are rather dry, even more when heaters are running. For extra humidity care for Boston fern, try setting your fern’s pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water. You can also try lightly misting your fern 1 – 2 times a week to help it get the humidity it needs.
Another step in how to take care of a Boston fern is to make sure that the fern’s soil remains damp. Dry soil is one of the number one reasons that Boston ferns die. Check the soil daily and make sure to give it some water if the soil feels at all dry. Because Boston ferns tend to be planted in potting mixtures that are high in peat moss, it is a good idea to soak the pot of the Boston fern once a month or so to make sure the peat moss is fully hydrated. Be sure to let it drain thoroughly after this.
Boston fern leaves will turn yellow if the humidity is not high enough. If your Boston fern’s fronds are turning yellow, make sure to increase the humidity around the plant
One of the lesser known care tips for a Boston fern is that they do not need much fertilizer. Fertilizer should only be given to the plant a few times a year.
Boston ferns are susceptible to some pests, especially spider mites and mealybugs. If your plant becomes infested, make sure to treat the plant as quickly as possible to keep it healthy.
Boston fern care is as simple as making sure the plant is in the right environment. If you make sure that your fern is getting the right care for Boston fern plant, your plant will live for many years to come.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/boston-fern/boston-fern-care.htm

Wave Petunias

Wave Petunias

A little more expensive than the common petunias but sooooooo worth it! I love to mix in a sweet potato vine for a pop of color.
I have not tried all the Petunias out there but I love the smell of the dark purple. I walk out the back door and the scent is heavenly. Takes me back to my childhood and the memories of my mothers garden.

https://www.google.com/search?q=wave+petunia&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#client=firefox-a&hs=BxC&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=wave+petunia+pictures&revid=2055595814&sa=X&ei=RtXPUb_lHZPo8wT7hoDQDg&ved=0CLABENUCKAA&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48572450,d.eWU&fp=2fae72860b8c04cb&biw=1280&bih=638

When to Plant Your Clematis    http://www.homeofclematis.net/html/pl_02.htm

Whenever the ground is workable clematis can be planted. Clematis react to the seasons much like bulbs. In the summer and fall there is vigorous root growth storing energy for top growth and flowers the following spring. Come spring, clematis will produce two or three feet of top growth before you notice any root activity. For this reason, in mild regions fall planting is ideal. If one chooses to plant in spring or summer, it is useful to periodically pinch out the growing tips.

If you choose to plant in the fall, you will want to prune the following spring, no matter which pruning group your clematis belongs to. Although this will inhibit flowering for the first year, it will help promote root development and produce a bushier plant.

If planting is done in the heat of the summer, it is essential that sufficient water is provided to keep roots moist and cool.

Practice Free Motion Quilting

Practice Free Motion Quilting

Using scraps of fabric you have on hand, make a small placemat sized "quilt" and put some beautiful varigated threat in your machine. Lower the feed dogs and begin in the corner or on the side,doesn't matter. 

Sew away and when you finish you have a nice little quilt that is so handy to in many places through the house! 

As I try out a new free-motion design I sew without thread  until I feel comfortable with the design. Relax relax, relax.... that is the key to free motion quilting. Its only thread and fabric.

Recycled Brown Bag

For my great grandson's birthday present (I actually do this for all childrens gift's, just something I have learned oner the years) I took it out of the packaging and was looking around the closet for a gift bag to slip it into and OOPS!  None of the ones I had  was large enough.....what to do????

Well I love to recycle and I love brown paper bags so I grabbed my stamps and ink pad and paper punch. 

I used another bag to tear and glue a cover over the printing on the front of my "new" bag.

The "Owl" motif  has been his talisman since before he was born so I have several stamps and punches just for him!

 His room is decorated in greens, leaves and feathered friends, mostly owls.

I traced the owl pattern (that had from making his bed skirt) onto a page from an old music book.

The owl's eye lids were a hit for tiny fingers.

I squeezed in a little crafting before the partyand not another package looked anything like this one from great grandma!

Baby's 1st Birthday Party

Baby's 1st Birthday Party

Went to my great grandson's 1st birthday party yesterday. What a cute one it was. The theme was a book named "The Hungry Caterpillar".  Baby wore a Hungry Caterpillar tee and wasn't sure what all the excitement was about. He had rather crawl around under the tables and chairs!

Sure is hard to catch a good expression by the time the flash goes off ! #$%^&.

The balloons represent "The Hungry Caterpillar" and 

were floating above the table where the theme food (all the different things the "The Hungry Caterpillar" ate throughout the book) were placed for the guest to nibble on. Tent cards in front of each food item told the story of what he ate each day and "He was still Hungry".  Spinach for "leaves" with salad dressing, cupcake "ice cream cone" cupcakes, etc. 

Cookies representing the different foods mentioned in the book.

And a tiny little individual cake just for the birthday boy!

Such a fun day and a great idea (Pinterest?) Maybe!

Halloween Door/Wall Hanging Quilt

Well, Halloween is just around the corner!

I love the colors of fall.  Over the years have made many trick or treat bags, placemats, table runners, and door/wall hanging quilts with a Halloween or Thanksgiving theme. 

Below is a design I digitized, embroidered, quilted and fashoned into a cute little hanging for the front door or some place on the wall that needs a splash of color during Halloween. My great grandson loves the special little "Family of Pumpkins".