September is National Sweater Month

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Deborah

No really, I think we should have Parliament designate September as National Sweater Month here in Canada. Seeing as we will be seeing the white stuff fall soon, what other month could you possibly designate that would do the sweater justice? I think I will be starting a petition, right after I save the world from the dang aphids…..

Can you tell I love sweaters? Sweaters are perfect for those days where a heavier coat isn’t quite necessary, but you need that little bit of warmth a sweater provides (plus they look really COOL).

I have been cruising the … Read more...

Attack of the Aphids!

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Deborah

One day your plants are all happy and healthy with their flowers smiling towards the sun…the next day, they are droopy, with yellowed leaves and hanging their flowers like a dejected teen who has had his first go round of asking out a girl go horribly awry.

Upon closer inspection….. APHIDS!

Millions of the little suckers ALL over the leaves and stems sucking the life blood out of your hard earned efforts. Plus, here I was at the Homestead, 30 minutes from the closest store and I was refusing to jump in the car wasting precious gas and spending money … Read more...

Home Remedy ~ Poison Ivy Update

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Deborah

Hubby & I were in the car a couple weeks ago heading from the Homestead back south when one of the radio stations we listen to along the way had listeners call in with their home remedies for Poison Ivy. Which was extrememly appropriate given that hubby was just getting over a bout from the nasty vine.

One of the Callers said he swears by Cider Vinegar or Malt Vinegar. Just dab some on a cotton ball and swab the affected area. What did hubs have to lose? So he tried it….AND IT WORKED! It took the itchness away almost … Read more...

MMMMMM…..Cookies….

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Deborah

With the exception of home-made bread or an apple pie baking in the oven, one of the most wonderful aromas to come out of the kitchen are that of fresh baked cookies. Does not matter the kind either. Although I imagine home-made dog cookies don’t quite cut it…

The smell of buttery, ooey-gooey cookies makes your mouth water instantly at the first whiff.

Here in our household we have a large repertoire of cookie recipes, but we are really partial to a few standby’s that are easy to throw together and bake when we are pressed for time.

Chocolate Chip … Read more...

Clouds….Are Cool…

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Deborah

They are never the same from one day to the next. I am always awed about clouds and how they look.

Some are like an artist’s brushstrokes lightly swiped across the sky like so…

Others can be angry looking, sending notice to those in their path that they better take heed…

And others are just the perfect backdrop for a stunning sunset…

While some make it look like the sky is on fire…

And sometimes there are just NONE!

And then there are those pictures that sunset/scenic/trigger-happy camera people take just for the sake of it….

Somebody please take the … Read more...

Fall is Around The Corner…

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Deborah

I love Summer and hate to see it come to an end. I know my days of roaming around in flipflops and shorts are almost over. My wild flowers are fading and the flower heads are getting ready to scatter their seeds for next years re-birth. Even the leaves of a few Maples are already showing their Fall colours…way too early for my liking….they are pretty though.

The past couple weeks have seen the nights cool considerably here on the Homestead. I even had to break out the sweaters on a couple days last week, much to my dismay…. and … Read more...

How To Make A Feather Pillow…

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Deborah

Spending time up here on the Homestead has a lot of advantages. Like watching beautiful sunsets, reading a good book, killing ants by the millions before they invade your house and enjoying the local flora and fauna.

Not to sit around too much (idle hands makes for idle brains), I got to thinking….and I have discovered that there is a fantastic by-product to feeding the local Mallard duck population.

I have even prepared a Video Tutorial for you too. Please make sure you turn your sound up….

This project may take me several summers of feather collecting before I actually … Read more...

I Can’t Believe He Ate The Whole Thing…

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Deborah

We had the pleasure of our Daughter and her Husband up to the Homestead for 9 days (they left yesterday). While here, they enjoyed the sun, the stars, the wildlife and kayaking on the lake.

Our son-in-law is also a great cook, and I sincerely appreciated the help in cooking duties giving me some much needed breaks from the kitchen. As their time with us was winding down, there was a mish-mash of ingredients and leftovers to do something with. A little of this and that but not enough to make full meals out of.

So what to do them?… Read more...

How To Make iPhone Mitts

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Deborah

Warm, fuzzy, practical mitts for iPhone users, or any other touch screen electronic device. No longer will you have to pull off your gloves to answer an email or a phone call. Just slide your fingers out the end and you have instant access to your touch screen. All the while, keeping the rest of your hands warm and cozy. When you need to keep your fingers warm, fold the upper portion in to envelope your fingers.

Whether you are digging for your keys in your purse or trying to insert change into a parking meter, these are ideal for … Read more...

How To Identify Poison Ivy…

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Deborah

BEFORE you come into contact with it…. Like my husband did….

One word for you…. I-T-C-H-Y!!!!!

As the Old Saying goes…’Leaves of Three, Leave them Be’.

The above plant is one of many on the Homestead, this one was trying to sprout where I planted Nasturtiums. It has since been eliminated. There are still many, many of them left around the property, but mostly in places we do not frequent (back bush area). We are now highly mindful of what it looks like and where it is growing.

Hubs was trying to pull out some maple tree suckers and weeds … Read more...