Day Dream Believer

 Davy Jones died today of a heart attack at age 66.....

If you grew up in the 60's you remember the Monkees...I loved the show...

Davy was the heart throb...

RIP Davy  

Wednesday Women- Olympia Snowe

I was extremely disheartened to hear that Senator Snowe has announced her retirement......This state has now lost a great senator...But she was a moderate....she worked across the isle with Democrats for the good of the people....that is a death knell in the Conservative Party....Sen. Snowe voted with Democrats on issues concerning healthcare, women, gays, family planning that angered the right wing... she was punished, she was denied leadership because she would not walk goosestep with the GOP... this is a well known fact...Most of the moderates have been pushed out or defected to the Democratic Party....

I am not saying that the Democratic Party is perfect...it is not...Both parties need to start working together...the hate rhetoric of some as well as the push to introduce laws that punish anyone that is of a different philosophy, race, creed, religion & orientation has to stop....

I want to thank Senator Snowe very much for her outstanding service to this state and country....For showing common sense, logic in voting what she felt was best for this country...I have voted for her every election that she ran...even over other democrats....that is how much I admired her....Her advocacy for veterans was unquestioning, she helped the hubby and myself a number of times when we were getting the runaround from the VA...

I know that whatever path she chooses, this country will benefit from her wisdom, compassion and expertise....her voice will be heard...Of that I have no doubt...

"From her unwavering support for our troops, to her efforts to reform Wall Street, to fighting for Maine's small businesses, Senator Snowe's career demonstrates how much can be accomplished when leaders from both parties come together to do the right thing for the American people,"
                           President Barak Obama

Once Upon a Time...

In a Land far far away .....

were some beautiful little cottages...

 Hugh Comstock built the first one, Hansel, for his wife to put her rag doll collection that she made and sold....these tiny homes were inspired by the English illustrator Arthur Rackham...

Then he built Gretel......

soon more fairytale houses followed.....

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artists of diverse talents came...they relaxed & created, inspired by the beauty that surrounded them...

such as Mary Austin, Henry Miller, 

Ansel Adams & Jack London....

This blog is one I highly recommend you visit...It is such an in-depth look at these cottages, their construction and history...as well as the beauty of nature that surrounds them...

 I want to Thank Linda for letting me use some of her beautiful pictures...But you really need to visit this site to see the pictures she has taken of the insides and surrounding gardens....It is magical! 

http://talesfromcarmel.com/

I have had this book for years and recommend it .....Cottages by the Sea, The Handmade Homes of Carmel, America's First Artist Community by Linda Leigh Paul

Enjoy!!

Soda Bottle Light...

One of my Best gal pals sent me this information and I found one of the You Tube videos on it...I thought the greenhouse was cool...this is amazing and changing the lives of people in Manila.....it is literally lightening up their lives...

We really need to invest in green Energy for the future and Mother Earth's.... 

An Off Kilter week...

This has been one of those weeks where everything seem completely off...even my posts seemed weak...but I had a touch of the flu & I didn't get anything done, including my gate, but that is ok...there is always a new day,...or week!!....and it is ending on a yummy note...

I did make my little book last weekend... I learned so much that will be helpful in making a bigger journal...

This was a test run and I did different things to it just to see what the result would be...It was made from scraps but I had fun making it...but it was what I gleaned from doing this that was more important to me...

AND my seedlings are going crazy... the  soda bottle greenhouses are amazing...I have 8 of them so far...by the time I am done, my table will be covered!!!  I am really happy with the results.....

My Basil.....which began sprouting two days after planting..

My sage started sprouting after 3 days!!!  this usually takes a week or two to germinate so I was REALLY surprised to see the little seedlings working their way up through the soil....
sorry about the picture quality...it was hard to take without glare...

My sage....

Probably another reason they are doing well is using Johnny's seed starting soil this year...My favorite gardening site in the world!!! But for anyone starting seeds,  the bottle greenhouse is a great way to do it...

So the end of the week is ending on a better note...I went on a cooking spree today....I made homemade whole wheat bread, homemade chicken soup ( with our organic chickens) & Grammy's blueberry pie...

and Boston BBQ beans are slow cooking in the oven, cole slaw is slawing in the frig and Crock Pot Stuffed Cabbage will be slow cooking overnight...I love to slow cook...

So it looks like I am set for the week for meals...LOL

I am reading "Women Who run with the Wolves"...I got the book this week......my hubby saw the title and gave me a sideways grin and said..."yeah, that is you"...so far it is fantastic ...

I am ready for the storm coming tonight...not sure if it will amount to much...but we will be cozy inside...

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Bohemian Interiors

Photo Credits: Moon to Moon, Tumblr, Pinterest

The Virtues of Vinegar

I use vinegar more & more for just about everything...it is a very under-rated handy dandy all around cleaner for just about everything...I use white vinegar for cleaning & apple cider vinegar for health...make sure it is not "cider- flavored"..

I use a vinegar spray on my dogs for fleas...which works great but because we have such a problem with ticks here I do use Frontline...especially where Lil Guy has Lyme now.....

When I do the big spring clean-out of the chicken house, I use a vinegar wash then throw in cedar chips...I never have any flea problems  with the girls...This year I am growing Pennyroyal around the hen house as that is said to keep fleas away as well...ok so I am going off subject here...

My favorite clothes soap recipe is 2 cups Borax, 2 cups Washing Soda, 2 cups vinegar and a bar of Fels Naptha...

shave the soap and cook it slowly until dissolved..put all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket...add hot water until the bucket is full.....

This last me all month and the hubby generates alot of dirty clothes....made for pennies...makes the clothes smell great and really clean.....

A couple tsps of the apple cider in water is suppose to help many heath issues such a blood pressure & cholesterol (but as with all things always discuss health concerns with your doctor).....

Don't forget those salad dressing too...I like to use Balsamic for that...when you cook fish...place a bowl of vinegar on the counter and it will remove that fishy smell in the kitchen...same for your frig to remove odors.....

This year I am making Chives Vinegar...I have a ton of them so I might as well put them to good use..it will give the vinegar an mild onion flavor...

One tip I came across on pinterest.com is heating up some vinegar and soaking your paint brushes for 1/2 hour... this works so slick!...... When I first saw this I decided to put it to the test & see how well it really worked.... so I took a paint brush that had dried rock hard & was on its way out the door...I had to soak it a couple of times for a couple of hours but it was amazing how well it brought that brush back...I am able to use it again...

I have read where a few people complain that it does not kill all germs...I guess they expect a sterile area....I am not sure that is really possible to kill ALL germs but it does kill most as well as mold & bacteria...

The best thing about this...it is environmentally friendly....and great on the budget which is always a bonus..

This is my all time favorite site for tips & uses....

vinegartips.com

& the Farmer's Almanac site as well:

Household Uses for Vinegar

For vinegar lore try this place...

The Vinegar Institute

For more on health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar check this out:

Earth Clinic

For making flavored vinegars.. this is one of my favorite sites...great site for buying herbs as well...

mountainroseherbs.com

Hope you have found this useful...

Have a sparkling day!!!

Boho Jewelry

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Trailer Park Gypsy

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Yeah... I want them all!!!

Photo credits: unless otherwise noted all photos come from Pinterest.com