Lightning bugs and summer nights

Sometimes you have to stop. Just stop and see what's around you, have you ever had a moment where all the sudden you were right there? In that moment, not worried about what happened today or what's going to happen tomorrow?
I have those a lot.

Tonight I was sitting on the porch swing watching my girl running around the yard with her best friend catching lightning bugs. I don't think I'll ever forget​ it. The smell of petunias potted up on the porch, the slight breeze sorta pushing the heat of the day to the side and bringing that night smell with it. The sound of them laughing. Really laughing. Not at a joke, or a cute meme, but at the pure joy of running and catching those tiny, green,  magical lights. Right then there was nothing wrong in the world.

  Ahhh I'm becoming one of those old sentimental souls, but I'm ok with that!

Making the best of it and other pretty things

  I know, you don't have to say a word. By now you've seen my about me section is true. Shiny things distract me, I did warn you.

  So here we are 5 months since my last post and hoping I don't see something that needs tended to before I get this all wrote down! Seriously though I'm going to try harder I promise.

 It's June and everything is starting to bloom, I've been working on the outside of the house, flower beds and a wee vegetable garden. I'll catch you up on all my little projects I've been working on. Nothing major but making it seem more and more like home.

 Very first thing is my little vegetable garden. I'm so proud of it! It took me 2 days to get this little spot worked up with a shovel and garden trowel but I did it! I'll give you time to celebrate. Ok ok that's enough it's not THAT big ;)

I have 25 green bean plants, several rows of rape greens, zucchini, one lonely sunflower, five tomatoes, one tomatillo and Abigail Ruth's three watermelon plants. Oh and I have three cabbages and 2 peppers also but they're around front in the flower bed.

  Between the weather, some health issues and pinching pennies the big garden I wanted wasn't coming along as fast as I needed it to so instead of just leaving it at that and hoping things would clear up so I could get my big garden in, I decided to use the space I had already chosen for flower beds and put in as much as I could. And BOOM, there it is growing. Never let any setbacks dictate your situation!!

  I based my design off the Square foot gardening method. This is a great book to read on how to get started.

The basic short version is planting crops in 4ft squares in a way as to maximize production and cut down on weeds. Mine didn't end up in squares but I applied the math in my seed spacing. Get a lot more in a smaller space. Hey if you only have a patio or have a big lot but can't tend to a big garden then this is something you'll want to check into!

 Picked some greens out of my little garden yesterday, about enough for one serving haha! But they're washed and in the fridge, it's rained all day today so tomorrow I should get another batch. Can't wait for fresh greens with supper.

  Tomatoes are looking great too, lil baby tomatoes on most of the plants. I've one cherry tomato, one yellow tomato (Lemon Boy), 2 regular reds (Mortgage Lifter)       and one heirloom sandwich type (Brandywine). Green beans have blooms, just a few but it won't be long now! I'm so excited! It's been along time since I've had my garden space. More soon! Gotta go get supper going now, Apparently this kid needs to be fed more than once a day (I promise I'm kidding)

Peace and love y'all!

 Amy

Well this is gonna be fun!!

12 packs of seeds. Various herbs for the kitchen and medicinal, 3 kinds of tomato (Roma, Cherry and canning) and a packet of heirloom bell peppers (multi color at that)... These seeds never stood a chance. After a 5 minute lack of sounds coming from my 4 yr old I knew something was up. Sure enough, there in the middle of my bedroom floor, a pile of shredded seed packets and a bowl holding what seeds she managed to not get on the floor. (Thank goodness I'm mid reno of my bedroom and thus have no carpet!) All the packets, not one or two, all! Why? I don't know. I asked. She says cause they looked cool. Of course they looked cool, they were on my shelf of mommies things never to touch. So after sweeping the floor with a make up brush for what seemed like hours (ok so a good 15 minutes) I had all the seeds in the bowl. Now I have a variety pack of herb seeds, a variety pack of tomato seeds and a pack of pepper seeds since those are easy enough to identify. The tomatoes I know, just no way of knowing which kind is what seeds. (I seriously hope I don't end up with 75 cherry tomato plants and 2 canners!!) Even still not so bad right? BUT.... Have y'all ever really looked at herb seeds? #TheyAllLookTheSame!!!! .. so
.. I'm just gonna throw them all in a flat of seed starter and see what happens. Surely at some point they'll become recognizable by smell probably before sight. Ahh the joys of parenthood.. At least I know at 39 I still have cool stuff!!

Moving, Chaos and Chickens (possibly not in that order!)

So it's been awhile. Sometimes I forget things, like the blog I created. Thank goodness the kid can talk right!? Anyways here I am. And I've put post it notes on my mirror so maybe, just maybe I can do better this time!

 We've moved since we last spoke.

View from the back porch of the new place. Great right?

 I'm rather excited about having somewhere to grow stuff. To grow the kid. The dog. Chickens! It could be I'm a little to excited about the chicken part but y'all I really miss having chickens and a garden. Really, really miss it. I grew up helping in the garden, helping Mama can the vegetables. And up til I moved to TN in 2008 I've always had one, and always had chickens and was fairly self reliant. Well it's back to all that for me. I'm kinda sick of paying store prices for sub par food. Sick of not knowing what's in it or on it. I've been gathering jars along and along so I'm ready. Oh yeah except for the part of actually putting in the garden! And building the chicken coop.. minor challenges right?

Oh oh oh! The new house has a nice shed out back!! Guys do you know what that means? I finally have a place that's not in my bedroom or dining room to do my Mosaic! To photograph and store my sales stuff! An actual workspace! Swoon! It's an absolute mess. We've been cleaning it out for days but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I guess that's all for now. I have lots to talk about now. Maybe something you'll find useful (hey entertaining at least). Peace and Love y'all!

 -Amy

Here we go!!

  Well I suppose I should start this whole blog adventure (and believe me its gonna be an adventure) off by introducing myself.

Me and my mini me Miss Abigail Ruth

 I'm Amy, a 39 year old mama of a 4 year old beautiful little girl. I currently live in Southern Middle Tennessee but was born and raised in Wellborn Florida. I love to cook. Love to make stuff. What kind of stuff you ask? EVERYSTUFF!! I have a huge problem with getting sidetracked and taking months to finish seemingly simple projects. I am easily distracted by shiny things. I am the worlds worst at motivating myself to get stuff done. Maybe that's why I want to blog, to have something that holds me accountable.. Or it could be I am distracting myself from that giant pile of laundry i seriously need to fold.. Whatever..

 Anyways people keep telling me I need to share my stuff so here we go. This isn't the typical blog, its gonna go all over the place like my brain does regularly. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do or say at any given minute. Consider yourself warned!!

  Anyways it's myself, my fiance Randy (I know, I know, bless his heart right?) Our daughter Abigail who runs the show, our lil dog Tink who is a Pug and Whiskers the cat who is crazy as a betsy bug. So I can't wait to share some of my life and ideas with you! 

 Have a blessed day!

                         Smile at someone random today! 

 Peace Out, Amy