News From the Nest, May 20
Happy Monday!
You may have noticed that I was absent last week. Thanks to all the kind messages I received inquiring if everything was O.K. It is so nice to be missed.
On Mother’s Day, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a one-week break from the blog to catch up on my neverending to-do list. Specifically, I’ve had the new light fixtures, mirror, plumbing hardware, paint, and fabric for a new shower curtain for our guest bathroom for the past nine months. I also wanted to do some decluttering and do some much needed trimming in the yard
I hit the ground running on Monday and Tuesday when I repaired and painted the bathroom walls.
We hung the new mirror Wednesday morning, and I started painting the trim on the ceiling. This is when it got interesting! Before we go further, I think it’s important you know that, over my lifetime, I’ve attended three Cirque du Soleil performances where I gleaned a good deal of acrobatic and gymnastic knowledge.
With that knowledge and skill set, I was entirely comfortable standing on the third rung of a ladder, holding a paint can in one hand and a brush in the other, and stretching my left leg out two feet to the edge of the bathtub, which is on the same level as the first rung of the ladder. Sounds reasonable, right?
Fast-forward to me visiting the Ortho Urgent Care, spending the rest of the week in a knee brace, icing my knee and popping ibuprofen regularly, and binge-watching A Gentleman in Moscow (which I LOVED and was the only bright spot after Wednesday!). It is worth noting that it could have been much worse if I hadn’t had all that Cirque du Soleil training under my belt!
So much for knocking down my to-do list! I’m chomping at the bit to get out of this brace to finish what I barely started!
Table of Contents
It’s World Bee Day! 🐝💞
A much-deserved day for some of the hardest working but most underappreciated and threatened little critters in the animal world.
- Give the little black and yellow workers some love by planting an assortment of bee-friendly plants in your yard. Your garden will thank you, too!
- Insect hotels can benefit bees, especially solitary bees, which comprise most bee species. Unlike honeybees and bumblebees, solitary bees don’t live in colonies but make individual nests for their larvae. Insect hotels provide these bees a safe place to nest and lay their eggs. Learn how to make your own insect hotel.
New on the Blog
- A Brownie Sundae is a delightful dessert to cap off any meal. This Brownie Sundae Recipe takes it further by adding toffee chips to the brownie and ice cream, and then a hefty drizzle of caramel syrup over the whole kit and kaboodle! This post also gives ideas to make a Brownie Sundae Bar, which will a a perfect ending to any upcoming backyard barbecues or gatherings.
A Question for Dog Owners
Does anyone have a Pelsbarn Cooling Dog Bed? If so, what are your thoughts? My Elsa runs HOT and I’m looking for options. She is a digger, so I need one that doesn’t have a gel core. Any input or guidance is much appreciated.
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
- I made these Linen Cocktail Napkins with a Crochet Edge years ago and they are still in regular rotation in our home. I’m not even close to a seamstress; if I can do this, so can you. I’m also working on my other Grandma’s 50+-year-old sewing machine, so while you do need a sewing machine, you don’t need a fancy one. And the crochet edge is quite easy…I walk you through it.
- A Super Easy, Chunky Crochet Blanket Pattern from my friend, Louise.
From the Kitchen
- If you find yourself with little bits of leftovers, need to optimize your freezer space, or are looking for ways to make food preparation quick and easy, consider ‘cubing’ your food. We always have an assortment of frozen cubes of food in our freezer!
- Along the same lines, these Fruit Infused Ice Cubes are one of the tricks I use to ensure I get enough water throughout the day.
- Make this delicious fresh strawberry tart recipe to take advantage of the fruit’s bounty during spring and summer. Fresh Juicy Strawberries nestled in a sweet cream cheese filling and a buttery tart shell, then topped with a strawberry glaze, make a beautiful dessert.
- This delicious and easy curry chicken marinade recipe can be whipped up at lunchtime for dinner that night.
- Use any leftover curry marinated chicken or any leftover chicken for these curry chicken wraps.
From the Arts + Crafts Studio
- This Monogram Pillow is much easier to make than it looks! It is the perfect craft for sitting in front of your favorite TV show as it doesn’t require much attention to fill in the outline with embroidered French Knots.
In the Garden
- If you have a yard with a lawn, landscaping, vegetable gardens, and flower gardens, you are always doing some garden maintenance almost year-round. Granted, some seasons and months are busier than others, but it seems there is always something you could or should do to prepare for the next season. These Garden Maintenance Printables help you stay on track with what needs to be done and when.
In the Home
- It’s been about a year since I made this bar cabinet from an unused corner cabinet, and it is being used regularly now since I discovered how much I love Old Fashioneds! 😉Use the tips I shared to transform any piece of furniture into a bar cabinet that suits your needs.
Some Fun Finds and a Few Favorites
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.
- Just in time for Father’s Day, the Meater’s Thermometer is on sale. I got Terry one for Christmas, and he is enjoying it.
- Terry and I both use these Losei Earbuds and have nothing but good things to say about them. They are much more economical than many brands and on sale right now.
Thanks for visiting! I need to figure out my game plan for the week, but I’m fairly confident it won’t include ladders…yet!
Have a great week.
