pretty + simple

nature found

Sometimes while snowshoeing through the woods you'll find amazing little treasures to fill your pocket(s).  One of nature's little offerings in the midst of a season that sometimes feels non-ending. 

And then one wonders.  What exactly does one do with a perfect little acorn top? 

You keep it safe, deep in your pocket.

You bring it home.

You kindly place it atop Mr. Weather Owl ...

whooooo indeed is most fascinated by his new-found hat!

 

And then... you smile.  :)

Because you feel so very clever.

found

Last weekend Gordy and I came across these little ladies:

I am really loving their living arrangements.  So clever.

And no.  We didn't take any home.  :)

Although I am keeping my eye open for a little red barn.

~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~

 

summerlike

the weekend included my favorite pancakes topped with homemade strawberry rhubarb sauce 

made with strawberries from last season and rhubarb from this season

yum is a good word for this combo

 

lilacs were snipped and sniffed while the ladies worked on the bug control

a robin's egg found while mowing the lawn

the perfect blue, don't you think?

the hammock made it's way into the backyard again

naps and a good book found a home there too

and a campfire added to the glory of a warm, sunny weekend

of course there were also a few spins around the yard on my trusty, rusty Starliner

 

it even sports a working headlight in case I get all crazy and decide

 to take a spin down main street after dark ;)

* * * * * *

{ fancy Starliner bike found via craigslist for a steal of a deal } 
 

 

applelicious

Do you want to know what tastes super fantastic this time of the year?  It all started last fall while hanging out with the apples.  Each year the owners make freshly squeezed apple cider from the many apples that are just waiting to be used up.  We helped make the cider so in return we have gallons of this gold stored in the freezer to enjoy all year long.  The cider press is nothing fancy but does an unbelieveable job at getting the job done.  Who knew?!

I love this apple cider served ice cold and not hot.  Nothing has been added to it either.  No spices, no sweeteners... just a little love and loads of apples.  :) 

 

Of course it helps to serve it in my vintage Looney Tunes juice glass.

This is what greets me with my last sip:

 

"That's all folks!"

* * * * * * *

-::-   Have a wonderful, spring-filled weekend!   -::- 
 

Happy Monday!

Look what I found this morning over on Etsy!  My teacup bird nest has been featured in the Treasury West department!  Take a peek:

Each one of these beauties would be perfectly happy at my place.

I had just a couple of minutes here to bring you the bird nest news and I'm running a bit late so I'll leave you hanging out with the birdies!

{ enjoy your day! }
 

spring has sprung

Spring has been welcomed with open arms over here.  Yesterday I was home for the day and it was such a beautiful, sunny day complete with spring breezes.  The perfect combo to start the season by hanging laundry on the line.  I *love* hanging laundry out.  Love, love, love it.  It's such a mind-quieting task.  All troubles fall to the wayside.  Maybe it's the extra vitamin D I'm soaking up or the fresh air filling my lungs.  I think I need to start a new business:  Pretty + Simple Wash Line Laundry.  Have a wash line?  Fresh laundry and sweet dreams guaranteed!  Ask me how!  :)  I could lure new customers in with my fancy clothespins:

Or maybe they'd be captivated by my fancy polka-dotted rubber boots and thrifted wicker laundry basket:

 

Ah yes, I can see them lining up now...

How's business at your wash line?
 

garden secrets

This year I'm adding one more thing that I'd like to grow in our garden.  Loofahs.  My sister grew them last year and just one plant produced a bountiful crop.  Thankfully there was even enough to share with her *favorite* sister.  That's me.  ;) 

 

These homegrown loofahs have wonderful exfoliating properties for your whole body and can also be cut into smaller pieces to use in your kitchen to wash dishes or scrub those dirty vegetables.

They are 100% natural and biodegradable.  Now you can't beat that!

 

I did a little window shopping over on Etsy and noticed that this seller has homegrown loofahs and each order receives free loofah seeds  So there you go!  Some to try, some to plant, some to share!

Oh, and that awesome soap you can find here!    
 

{ favorites }

Favorites.  I have a few of them.  One of them being bowls.  I have a slight addiction to bowls.  Ask anyone that knows me.  Better yet I should've taken a picture of the kitchen cupboard with my bowl collection.  It overfloweth.  I can't help it!  I've gotten very good at nesting them together in order to add more to the leaning tower.  The world is full of amazing bowls and I'd like one of each please.  :)

A dear friend of mine recently gifted me this amazing felted bowl.  The colors are perfect and it's just the right size to hold my ever changing treasure collections.  The best part is that when I accidentally drop this bowl there are no tears shed.  It's like this was made for me!

{ rumor has it that additional bowls can be found here }

I think the pink one would be lovely for Valentine's Day!  Of course that spring green colored one would be fine by me too or those fingerless gloves... or....
 

Happy Friday friends! 

Go ahead and pick a favorite for yourself!

long life

I found this Longlife sprout jar at the thrift shop (for cheap!) a few months back knowing full well that come mid-winter it would be put to good use.  As you may remember we are crazy for sprouts over here.  Winter gets to stay as long as it darn well pleases whether we like it or not so in return I sprout.  It tastes just like you harvested fresh goodness from the garden.  The grocery store sprouts do not even compare to homegrown.  Seriously.

This particular sprouting jar is far better than the expensive model I purchased last year.  This beauty sports a plastic rim and a brass screen.  Last year I used a metal ring and screen but with the jar being inverted most of the time and draining any water remains... it starts to rust and that's not an issue with the plastic ring.  So if you wondering which one to use/buy I'd highly suggest the plastic.  Although you can use cheesecloth as well.  Just put that over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band.

If you've never grown sprouts, you should... it's so easy!  Purchase sprouting seeds from your local food co-op or check at your local grocery in the bulk area.  I usually add about 2 tablespoons of seeds per jar and then fill the jar about 2/3 full of water and soak overnight.  The next morning I rinse them thoroughly (and always keep that screen on) about 3 times - making sure to do this for about 30 seconds 2-3 times per day.  Do this every day for the next 4-5 days.  Each day you'll see progress.  By day 4-5 you'll be ready to enjoy sprouts on everything from sandwiches to soup to eggs or your salad or a smoothie... see what I mean?  There's no stopping!  Once the sprouts are done, I put them in a container in the frig but they never last long so now I've got 2 jars going.  Oh, and did I mention that this is all very inexpensive?!  Yep.  And they are high in nutrients too.  It's like getting spring in a jar everytime!

Ok now if you're still with me I just wanted to say thanks for the well wishes on the shop.  You know that I'm a bit of a greenhorn setting it all up and very much a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of a gal!  So all those bits of encouragement from you mean the world to me.  Please be sure to drop by every so often, the shelves are slowly being stocked and I've got plenty to share.  ~xoxo

Now... how about some sprouts!?

winter's unexpected treasures

Yesterday I made chicken noodle soup.  I was looking for carrots to add to the soup but we were completely out.  Then I remembered the garden.  Last fall before the ground froze and the snow started falling, I covered the remaining carrots that I had left in the garden with straw.  Shortly thereafter the snow fell and insulated the garden just as Mother Nature had intended to do.  The *only* thing I forgot to do was put a marker in the garden indicating where to dig in the middle of winter.  Whoops.  No gardening guru awards for that!  Somehow, by the grace of a lucky star my shovel knew exactly where to begin digging and soon I was pulling up carrots!  In the middle of January!  A winter miracle.  They were beautiful.  Crisp, orange, and dirty.  Although dirt under your nails in the middle of winter really isn't so bad.  Our carrots always seem to be a bit short but it really didn't matter this time around.  I was just so excited that I found them and I didn't have to run to the grocery store!  Homegrown and winter harvested.

Oh and that chicken noodle soup?  It was the best ever!