THE ANATOMY OF A FLOWER POT

For me the 4th of July is summer's midpoint! By now my veggie garden is in full producing mode and my patio flowers in the big pot are dazzling! They are happy and vigorous and loving summer life!

Last week I shared our new PATIO.

Since then, I have had lots of questions about what I plant in those big patio pots...so I'm showing and telling the anatomy of a flower pot!

ON THE MENU WEEK OF JUNE 30, 2014

Are you ready for July 4th... fireworks... picnics... family... and a day to celebrate our great nation!
We are celebrating with all the above! StoneGable will host friends and family for a weekend of fun patriotic activities and lots of great food!

Remember to take a few minutes to thank God for America and to pray His blessing on our country!

STONEGABLE FEATURED AT TOWN AND COUNTRY

Today I'm being featured at TOWN AND COUNTRY LIVING. Jennifer has a magazine worthy home full of farmhouse appeal! 

Town and Country Living is one of my favorite blogs written by an very sweet lady!!!

Her kitchen makes me swoon!  Head over to see what she Jennifer put together about StoneGable and visit me at her CHARMING HOME SERIES

And don't forget... today's the last day to enter the StoneGable/Tiki Brand Giveaway! Great prizes!!!
Click HERE to enter!

EASY JULY 4TH DECOR

Independence Day is right around the corner! I like to give a little decor nod to this All-American holiday without changing a lot of my decor, spending half the day decorating or braking the bank!

Here's an easy way to show a little decor patriotism and do it in under 5 minutes...

PATIO REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY

This summer has been unusually beautiful! Sunny, slightly breezy and not humid! We could not have picked a better year to build a new patio.  

Once a week we have "family dinner night". So, the family is gathered and we are having iced tea and a few hors d'oeures before dinner. It's the perfect time to share our new patio.

Here's what the old patio looked like ...

STARS AND STRIPES SUMMER WALL ART DIY

What do you get when you combine patriotic themes with beachy elements? 

This dapper Stars and Stripes Summer Wall Art!

Here's a fun and so so easy way to bring a little summer sass to your decor!

It took less than an hour to make two of these fun, decorative summer pictures... I'll show you how...

THE SCOOP #124

WELCOME TO THE SCOOP #124

Before we begin our party this week I'd like to share a new addition to the backyard/porch area at StoneGable.

You might want to check out my new potting bench and kitchen herb garden.  I've tried to include lots of take-away ideas for you to try too...

ON THE MENU... WEEK OF JUNE 23, 2014

It's been an unusual summer so far... a little cool and not very humid.  The garden is taking it's good ol' time switching into growing-like-crazy mode. The weather has been perfect for lots of meals on the new patio! Dinner lingers so much longer outdoors and we are happy to let mealtime blur into watching the lightning bugs come out and the sun set.

Summer and I may have had our issues in the hot and humid past but this year... so far... we seem made-in-the-shade best buds!

Now here's what's on the menu this week...

A CURE FOR THE TERIBLE HORRIBLE NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY

Last Friday, I opened my eyes and rolled out of bed as tired as I got into it the night before!

 Five minutes later, with coffee in hand, I was going through the long checklist in my head of things that had to be done that day as I was checking my email on my iphone and trying to stuff sheets into the washer... while 3 dogs were barking and running circles around me...

SINGLE SERVE WEDGE SALAD IN A JAR

Wedge salad is probably the All-American salad!

Iceburg lettuce, tomatoes, aged cheddar cheese, black olives, bacon, homemade bleu cheese dressing and crispy croutons. What could be better?

This salad delivers big, pleasing bites of flavor... and will not leave you hungry!

Perfect for a summer meal... especially on-the-go!

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT BURLAP WEBBING BOW

Have you ever felt like you stumbled upon a great discovery? Something that everyone should know and if they knew it would be life changing for them. Well, maybe not life changing... but if they knew they would love it!!!

Something that is so so easy and inexpensive and really really trendy!

Okay, today I am sharing ... 1) How to make a perfect bow.... and .... 2) how to make it out of burlap webbing.... BURLAP WEBBING!

Yes, it is THAT great!  Just wait...

SUMMER POTTING BENCH AND KITCHEN GARDEN

One of the best things about summers at StoneGable are the outdoor spaces! We love to spend summer evening in the garden and back porch and patio.

Now I have a new favorite place to spend long summer evenings!

Bobby and I have been very busy lately rearranging the landscaping to make room for my potting bench and a quaint kitchen herb garden.

And I'm thrilled that I have a space to putter and plant and clip herbs and listen to the birds... right off my back porch! This is a part of StoneGable I have never shown before.

Here is the potting bench's new home...

THE SCOOP #123

I love SCOOP days! I sit with my computer all evening and ooooh and aaah over all the great post all of you share! What a wealth of creativity!!!

Make sure you too are visiting eachother! And maybe even pinning and giving some love on facebook!

I'm also sending a gentle reminder that my StoneGable curated collection by Joss And Main is in it's last 2 days...

10 TIPS FOR A PERFECTLY ORGANIZED SPICE PANTRY

I love to organize!  But that does not mean that I am a super organized person!!! Not at all! I would say I am average, at best!

My spice pantry is a great example of a very disorganized and costly mess! It had not been cleaned and cleared out in a couple of years.

So one afternoon I got motivated and tackled the mess, got it organized and under control... OH what a difference!

Here is what it looked like before...

ON THE MENU WEEK OF JUNE 16, 2014

There are some dishes I could eat almost every day... and quite a few I am sure to eat a couple times a week! Like cucumber salad and caprese salad and fried spinach and caesar salad! Oh yum! 

Of course, they are on the menu this week... I hope you will try my favorites too. Who knows... they might end up being your!

Here's what's ON THE MENU...

THE FATHER'S LOVE LETTER

Thanks you my Abba!

Happy Father's Day!

MY INSPIRATION BOARD

I've never done a decor board in my life... but better late than never!!! With lots of gorgeous furniture and decor items from JOSS AND MAIN I could not help myself and had a blast making a couple of my room over... if only virtually...

STRAWBERRY HAND PIES

It's strawberry season here at StoneGable!

Oh, YUMMY!

Let's make a summer sweet treat... strawberry hand pies! These hand pies are so so easy to make and even easier to eat on the go!

Hand pies can be made with any in-season fruit... but strawberries ripe and ready now...

DINING ROOM REVEAL AT A STROLL THRU LIFE

I am so thrilled to be over at my dear friend Marty's at A STROLL THRU LIFE as a part of her series PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!

I'm sharing my dining room reveal. It's finally done (if there is such a thing) and you can travel back with me to see the gutted room and each step along our 2 plus year journey from this...

STONEGABLE COLLECTION IS LIVE AT JOSS AND MAIN

I am over-the-moon thrilled to announce that the StoneGable "Refined Farmhouse Living" Collection is NOW live at JOSS AND MAIN!

If you like StoneGable style, then you will love this sale! It's almost like shopping my house!!!

I've been waiting months to share this collection of easy, livable pieces that won't go out of style!!! And the best part of this collection is the price! These pieces are very affordable...

THE SCOOP #122

Welcome to THE SCOOP #122...

I'm so happy to be hosting again... my good friends and fellow hosts are letting me tell you all about the StoneGable curated collection by  JOSS AND MAIN before we begin...

THE BEST OF THE NO-SEW IDEAS

Let's have a little "pillow talk". 

Are you ready? No, not that kind of pillow talk... decorating pillow talk, of course!

Pillows are an easy way to change our decor!  We all love them and use them and like to change them !

They add color and sass and weight and can be an instant makeover to a room!

And making pillows can allow us to create a one of a kind accent for a whole lot less than buying a designer original!

But many of us don't have the time, or skills or inclination to sew pillows... that's why I have put together... 

THE BEST OF THE NO-SEW PILLOW IDEAS... all in one place!

And 4 other talent blogger have put together the "best of" 4 other NO-SEW categories too!

ON THE MENU~ WEEK OF JUNE 8, 2014

I've been introduced to the wonderful world of SUSHI after resisting it for years. But at a recent outdoor party I tried my first California Roll and I was hooked!!! I don't know if I'll ever eat raw fish (it's a texture thing) but I sure love the beauty and taste of Sushi!

I'm trying my hand at making Sushi on Sunday... my kids are excited... my husband, not so much. He's such a meat and potato or pasta kinda guy. I hope he will at least try some!

I have all my sushi making equipment and most of the ingredients... and if all goes well I'll post about my adventure... this could be my new obsession!

Now here's what's ON THE MENU...

THE GOSPEL IN 4 MINUTES

Please take just 4 minutes to watch this fabulous and eternal truth in a fresh way!

GREAT video!

May you be blessed!!!

Happy Sunday!

10 ESSENTIALS OF A COZY GUEST ROOM

I love staying in fancy hotels... okay, luxury or boutique hotels! I probably could live in one! It's all about the special amenities and beautiful bedding and decedent room service and fluffy towels and ... I could go on and on!

Obviously, I don't get to stay in those hotels often.  But just recalling my infrequent stays makes me feel relaxed and pampered!

That's just the way I want StoneGable guest to feel!

We are having guests this week and I'm getting the guest rooms ready...

Here is a list of 10 essentials for creating a cozy guest room...

VINTAGE SUMMER BENCH

Every once-in-a-blue-moon you find a real gem... one that no one else seem to see... maybe because it's hidden under all kinds of other vintage goodies.

But you have an eagle eye for these kind of things... and notice it right away. You recognize it's real-deal chippiness, and it's great rubbed off paint... it has won this beautiful patina from years of wear!

This is the vintage summer bench...a-once-in-a-blue-moon find!

BIG BIG EXCITING NEWS... SAVE THE DATE!

SAVE THE DATE!

I have been bursting at the seams to tell you my good... no, wonderful news! And good news for you too!

JOSS AND MAIN, the fabulous, members only, online site that offers the worlds best brands at up to 70% off has asked me to curate one of their spectacular collections!

Yes, ME! I am beyond thrilled!

Mark your calendars for

TUESDAY JUNE 10, 2014

because you will be able to browse and shop all things StoneGable at a greatly discounted price!!!

JOSS AND MAIN has searched and searched to find the perfect home decor items that fit the "Refined Farmhouse Living" of StoneGable....

Look at the pieces they have found straight from my living room!!!! This is just a tiny sampling... it's like shopping my house... at discounted prices!

There's my Curlacue chest!!!!  From chandy's to baskets and bowls, JOSS AND MAIN has done a wonderful job finding pieces that have StoneGable style!

The Refined Country Living collection will go live on Tuesday June 10, 2014 at 9:00 PM and many of the items go fast. You must be a member to get in on this great sale.

Please join me! I'll send you a free special invitation to HERE

Join me... Join in... and spread the news. 

I'll be back with more peeks at all the wonderful goodies in the Refined Country Living collection! LOTS to see and to buy!!!!

I have been compensated by Joss & Main for curating a collection. But all the opinions are mine.



I am partying with...
MONDAYS FUNDAYS

ELEMENTS OF SUMMER~ CHIC BEACH IN THE DINING ROOM

When I think of summer the first thing that comes to my mind are shells.  I have always had an affinity for them since childhood... collecting sea shells from summer trips to the beach and displaying them in pretty bowls all summer long was a favorite thing to do. Some thing never change... I still like to pull my collections out each summer and show them off...

THE SCOOP #121

I'm hosting this week! YEA! Let's get the party started...

CHIPOTLE APRICOT CORNISH GAME HEN UNDER A BRICK

I think sauces, marinades and rubs are transformational! They can take a plain piece of meat and make it absolutely scrumptious... heavenly... luscious... yummy! 

As part of RATTLEBRIDGE FARMS  MYSTERY INGREDIENT CLUB, I was given the challenge to use chipotle chilies and come up with a dish! Thanks, Michael Lee. I love this ingredient!

So what does this girl do with a can of chipotle chilies? No problem... I made a fabulous thick marinade for little chickens called Cornish Game Hens and grilled them stuck under a brick!

Here's a step-by-step tutorial of my new favorite summer recipe...

ON THE MENU MONDAY~ WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2014

Happy June! It's strawberry season in my part of the country... and that means I'll be busy making yummy strawberry jam! It makes my whole kitchen smell just heavenly!!!  You can find a scrumptious how-to-put-up-jam recipe on my sidebar. If you have never canned anything this is a great way to start! It's the perfect no fail recipe!

Make sure to stop back tomorrow... I have a real special recipe to share!
Now, here's what's ON THE MENU...

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP...

I remember saying my nightly prayers as a little girl. Every night... without fail! They were part of the nightly routine... brush teeth, wash face, say prayers!

Somewhere between being a young teenager and a college student nightly prayers just faded away. I'm not sure why. 

Up until today I have not prayed at night on a regular basis. But that is about to change...