New Use for Old Teacups

About a week ago I posted this picture to the Mary Jane's Farm chatroom. I was overwhelmed by the response. Everyone really like my teacup clock!

I had found a picture of one like this in a magazine about 3 years ago. I held onto the magazine and kept collecting teacups.

Finally I went to Lowe's and bought this huge round piece of wood.(It was precut and already sanded).

Finally I spraypainted the clock with a soft yellow. I had to paint it many times.

The clockwork I bought on e-bay for next to nothing.

The hardest part was drilling the hole for the clock hands and the clock work. My dad came over one afternoon and helped me . (Gotta love dads).

Voila!

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone! You'll notice I managed to get a gnome in the picture also.

So, as you can see I am still obsessed with the gnomes. I love this Lady Gnome. I am starting to look like that.

Anyway, remember the tiller I bought on e-Bay. Buyer beware. It didn't work. My dad and I bought a new spark plug, new gas with the correct mixture, we tried to start it. I guess we looked like we had no clue because my neighbor, Bob came over with his son , Nick and tried to help us. Bob tried some kind of spray, undid and redid the spark plug, checked the lines. After all of this we still couldn't start it. My dad gave me the "cut your losses" look.

I figured I would either sell it for parts or give it to someone who could take it apart and reassemble it so it worked properly.

As you might well imagine, I was not very happy with myself. I did not want to throw good money after bad so I

figured it was time to get my hoe out. It was a very depressing

thought.

The next morning the birds were singing, the sun was actually out, I had just had my first cup of tea when I looked out and... and... I rubbed my eyes...My dad was there with a mantis!!! Ooh we cranked it up and I tilled every single raised bed section. I am even eyeing new places where I can till and plant. I am so very thankful to my dad and mom. I am blessed to have them in my life.

And they are getting a ton of tomatoes and cucumbers this summer!

More gnomes.....

More gnomes.. I just can't seem to get them out of my head. You can't really read the sign in the second picture but it says "Stop Oppressive Gardening". I saw that motto on the "Free the Gnomes" website. It just cracks me up every time I think of it. I know, I know I am easily amused.

Gnomes on the Brain

I love gnomes. I was working on this blanket in Maine and am finishing it up here at home. I have been putting gnomes on dishtowels, pot holders, sweat shirts, coffee sleeves... you name it!

More Rain...

More rain today. Ugh. I am ready for an end of the rain already. Just a little warmth would be nice.

I did get a chance to work on sewing more hand towels. I also was able to paint the background for my May ATC cards for the swap on Mary Jane's Farm Girl Connection. I think that this month's card is going to be fun to make.

Believe it or not, in between raindrops I was able to go outside and get rid of junk in the garden. I had held onto some metal attachments from my old gazebo. I went through them and kept some plain ones for tomato stakes but I did get rid of about 8 of them that I could honestly find no use for. I am trying to use more recycled items in my garden but I also have to let go of and dispose of items that just make my yard look like a junk yard.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow there will be some sunshine...

More Gardening

I was lucky today. It was damp and a litle raw out today and the sun hid behind the clouds but it did not rain. I woke up early - ran to Walmart to pick up some cheap pots and ran home to get started.

I moved about 8 cement paving blocks from the side of the house into the garden and placed my re-potted herbs on them. I can't wait for summer when the herbs are blooming and I can sit on the bench just smelling them!

I was lucky because my neighbors' children Annalisa and Nick came over and helped me to start all my seeds and then helped me label them and place them into the two little greenhouses. Wouldn't it be a magnificient thing gto have a permanent little greenhouse in the yard? One can only dream...and dream...and dream!

I am hoping that the rain will hold off tomorrow as well so that I can get the rest of my seed into little pots. I am going to try to make some out of newspaper.

There is nothing better than spending the day out in the garden , getting dirty and bone tired, and then coming in and taking a hot shower!