Right now these lovely bits of green are making me very happy.

Happy Tuesday friends!

moss graffiti

Moss graffiti may be one of the greatest things I have ever seen and I cant wait to try it somewhere.

Here's how you do it:

Put in blender, one can of cheap beer (or 1 1/2 cups buttermilk), a few handfuls of moss and a teaspoon of sugar.

Paint on wall in whatever words or shape you want.

Mist daily until it grows.

Just think of all the possibilities...

Source

planting an herb garden

There are few things as satisfying as being in your kitchen, whipping up something delicious, when you think to yourself this could really use a little rosemary... and then being able to walk right outside your back door and snip an amazingly fresh sprig of whatever it is you need.

You get to skip and traffic and annoyance of a trip to the store, plus you get extra fresh flavor, plus you save money.

And growing an herb garden is easy, rewarding and an all around good time.

Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Most of them can live happily in a pot or planted directly in the ground, though some you might want to keep in a pot as they are not good at staying in their designated areas.

These are a few of my favorite herbs to grow:
Basil: Fresh basil is really one of the greatest things. Its a wonderful addition to a variety of dishes, not the least of which is homemade pesto. Yum. Basil is a bit sensitive to the cold so if you live in a cold area you may want to plant it in a pot so you can bring it inside on especially cold nights. If you do plant it outside, pick a nice sunny spot. Also pinch off flowers to keep stems producing flavorful leaves instead of becoming woody.

Rosemary: Rosemary likes sun and should not be over watered. It is also a bit sensitive to cold and may be better kept in a pot so it can be brought inside on cold nights. If you do grow rosemary outside the plant can grow to be quite large. Rosemary can be used fresh or dried and is wonderful sprinkled on pizza dough or put in some olive oil with some Parmesan and eaten with some crusty bread.

Thyme: This one is is a great addition to a chicken marinade used at a summer bbq. Thyme is a low growing plant and is great for edging beds. It is a hardy plant so is generally ok being planted outside. Thyme is also said to be a natural antiseptic.

Sage: If you let it Sage will get large and woody, so cut it back regularly to keep it small. It is not particularly sensitive and should be ok outside. It has a peppery flavor and is great in Italian dishes. Its also a yummy addition to traditional Thanksgiving stuffing.

Lemon Balm: This is an especially pretty plant and it smells wonderful. You can dry the leaves to make a wonderful tea or put fresh leaves in fruity summer desserts. The plant is pretty hardy and can be happy inside or out.

It is my opinion that watching things grow and playing in the dirt are soothing for the soul, and its something I recommend to all.

an afternoon in the garden

With my parents out of town

it is my happy job to tend

the garden.

Calla lilies ~ baby green peppers

(which I am eagerly anticipating eating) ~

and unidentified purple flower loveliness.

{clockwise, starting at the top left}

a nap in the hammock ~ watering the flower beds ~

journal writing with Lucy ~ kitties like to chew sticks too ~

O the lovely scent of the Jasmine ~

and purchased on the side

of the road raspberry goodness.

Taking care of living

things, whether they be plant

or animal or person,

is a wonderful thing.

breaking the surface

Its a rainy, grey,

melancholy Monday

(the kind I adore).

And its a good start.

:)

Earth Day!

1. Slept in.

(not sure what this has to do with earth day,

but it seemed like a good idea at the time)

2. Rode bike.

3. Enjoyed the clouds in the blue blue sky.

4. Purchased a used pair of bright green wedges
for $5 that I am a bit in love with.

5. Adored the green and the trees and the world around me.

6. Planted.

some new jewelry

my porch that I love

Mint that I will plant between some stones in my backyard this evening.

my sweetie pie Margo