My Dog Ate My Homework And I Have A Pew Injury

Once again I am sorry for not posting in a long while.  This has not been a good year for me when it comes to medical issues.  Now, only one of the above statements is true and since I don't have a dog you can easily figure out which one.

Last Saturday evening I was sitting in church when, all of a sudden, my back went out.  Yep, I really did get a pew injury.

I have been laying on my hot pad, reading for the past few days.  My back is slowly getting better and I hope to have posts ready next week.  Fall is here and I am looking forward to pumpkins and cooler weather.

God bless,
Pam

Protecting Plants From Frost

Here in West Central Florida we can garden through Fall and Winter, but we need to be ready to protect our gardens from occasional frosts.  There are just a few simple rules to follow when covering plants to prevent freeze damage.

Do not use plastic to cover your plants.  You will still get areas of freeze damage where the plastic touches the plants, plus it does not provide high quality insulation.

Avoid Plastic 

Do use fabric to cover plants.  You will get good protection from frost and wind damage.  I use old sheets and can easily find mismatched pieces for a dollar at thrift stores.

Make sure that the fabric cover touches the ground all around the plant.  Any gaps will allow freezing to take place under the fabric.  You can anchor the fabric using stakes made from old metal clothes hangers.  Just cut off a section, then bend it into a U shape.

Cover Touching Ground

Remove the covers after daytime temperatures go above freezing.  Why protect plants from freezing just to have them die from heat exhaustion?

Don't get lazy and think that skipping one night won't make a difference.  It only takes an hour or two of freezing weather to kill a plant.

God bless,
Pam

The Graceful Envelope Contest

This contest is a competition for calligraphers and artist to see who can create the prettiest envelope.  It is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and The Washington Calligraphers Guild.  There are different categories according to grade for children and an adult competition.

I think that this would be a great contest for an art class or home schooled students.  No prizes are rewarded, but the winners do receive a certificate.

To see the decorated envelopes from 2012 or to get information on the 2013 contest go to the Washington Calligraphers Guild website.

I love to see art work anywhere I can and these envelopes are truly art gallery worthy.

God bless,
Pam

Burlap Rice Bag Pillows

I love to find new uses for those interesting items that sometimes find their way into our lives.  We eat a large amount of rice in our family, so I buy basmati rice in bulk.  Several times the basmati came packaged in plastic inside a zipped burlap bag.

The graphics on these bags are striking and attractive in a rustic way.  When I look at them and see how they are constructed with a zipper at one end, I think of a decorative pillow case.  Just insert an inexpensive pillow form, zip and you have a modern, casual throw pillow.

Can't you just see these in a casual, outdoor setting?  It reminds me that our grandparents would never have thrown a bag like this away.  They would have found some way to have made good use of it.  Think of the undergarments that were made of the printed portion of feed sacks.  I've heard of several instances where a woman was embarrassed when she realized that the printing showed through her dress fabric.  Nothing like being a walking advertisement for chicken feed.

I can also see this bag being cut up and turned into scrubbing pads or used as a carryall bag.  Just use your imaginations!

God bless,
Pam