News from the Nest, March 6

Ready or not, welcome to March! Seems like just yesterday was New Year’s Eve.

March is a tomboy with tousled hair, a mischievous smile, mud on her shoes and a laugh in her voice.

Hal Borland

I don’t like to wish the days away, but I am chomping at the bit to get my flower and vegetable gardens planted this year. As I mentioned last week, we are really upping our garden game, and I am so very excited about it.

We are also getting ready to do a little landscaping up front to remove some shrubs that we’ve never liked, and…this is a big project…to have the whole exterior of the house painted. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and after several years, I’ve finally saved the money for it. So, with any luck and the cooperation of Mother Nature, these will be done by the end of the month.

But, I am plagued by decision-making. Truly, never take me to a Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors if you have plans for the rest of the day. So, making decisions about what color to paint the entire exterior of a home is enough to cause anxiety of the highest order. That said, I have decided on Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter for the main color; the shutters will be Kendall Charcoal, and the doors will be Night Train. Benjamin Moore has a Personal Color Viewer site that allows you to upload your photos or use sample images they have to see how your color combination looks.

We are excited to have some college friends of mine come stay with us for the weekend! Guess we will be spending some time this week removing the inches of pollen that cover every surface in our home! 😁 Though I have to admit, I do get a giggle from seeing the cat footprints traipsing through the pollen across surfaces she’s not allowed. I could close the windows, but I enjoy the fresh air too much, and the pollen is a small price to pay. Luckily, we aren’t too bothered by allergies.

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good to know

I’m a tall gal, and I think as a result, I am prone to stoop and slouch. I am constantly reminding myself to sit up and stand up straight. The best way I have found to make sure that I do is to imagine a light shining out from your chest. Your light should shine forward, not toward the ground.

The computer function that has saved my bacon more times than I can count is Ctrl-Z (Command Z on Mac). For most programs, Ctrl-Z will undo your last action. So, if you accidentally deleted a whole paragraph, just Ctrl-Z to get it back.

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new on the blog

• This Elote Dip is a lighter version of many Mexican Corn Dip recipes as it is heavier on the fresh corn and lighter on the binders (the cream cheese and sour cream). I don’t want an appetizer to fill everyone up before dinner. Instead, I want just to tempt those taste buds.

• This Strawberry and Rhubarb Jam is my daughter’s favorite jam of all the jams I’ve made over fifteen years! I grew up truly disliking rhubarb, but am slowly changing my mind about this lovely colored vegetable. The rhubarb and strawberry play well together and shine in this jam.

• If you are new to jam making, this easy plum jam is a perfect first recipe.

• This post discusses Jelly and Jam Making Basics, including the main ingredients of jams and jellies, the role of those ingredients and why they are important, and the basic equipment for making jams and jellies. Additionally, we discuss the differences between various jellied fruits and vegetables.

from the knit + crochet studio

• You will love the crochet thermal stitch for the thick fabric it creates. It is the perfect stitch for this flexible yet substantial crochet potholder.

• This post shares a slew of knitted gift ideas and gift tags to attach to your finished projects. In addition to knitted gift tags, there is a sheet of crocheted gift tags. Make sure to nab them.

• Blocking makes such a difference in your finished project.

from the arts + crafts studio

• Watch the tutorial and use the printable guide to learn how to make flat Turk’s head trivets.

• Import images and cut fabric with your Cricut Machine to make pillows. I used outdoor fabric for these Monstera Leaf Pillows.

house + home

• I mentioned we were having houseguests this weekend! Here are some tips to make your houseguests feel welcome.
• Freezer and refrigerator organization ideas.
• Are you doing a little spring cleaning? This post shares many locations, organizations, and charities that gladly welcome your discards and donations.

a few fun finds

• Did you know you can order USPS stamps from Amazon? You need to check the prices because some are higher than you could buy through USPS, while others are lower. Currently, forever stamps cost .63, but you can get this roll of 100 forever stamps for $53, making them .53 each. They are last year’s design, but they mail the same!
• I just recently discovered that you could buy bleach powder, which is a game-changer for me! It is so much more convenient and concentrated, so the bottle takes up much less space. My biggest plus is that I don’t have to worry about the bleach splashing! It seems hard to find; I’ve never found it in my grocery store. Surprisingly, Walmart’s price was more than double Amazon’s price. But do check around before you buy to get the lowest price.

And, that’s a wrap, my friends. I *think* my new site will be done this week and I’m excited to share it with you next week. In the meantime, I’ll be bringing in the snowplow to get rid of the pollen and stressing over paint colors.

Have a great week!

Hugs,

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!