3 | 2 | 24
What I Can’t Let Go Of:
(just like the NPR Politics podcast on Fridays- minus the “Politics or otherwise” disclaimer.
This blog is publicly, a politics-free zone, so all musings will be “Otherwise“.)
The wonder of new life!
It’s all around us. Spring has always been my favorite season.
Watching all the seeds sprout from the dirt and magically unfurl.
It’s downright thrilling to see! And the buds on the trees — branches that look bleak and barren are suddenly dotted with little buds breaking through the bark and soon bursting with the most enlivening color of green.
How do those little snippets of life do it?
And now, 36 years after I marveled at my own body, I get to marvel at our daughter as her body and heart nurture and grow a little daughter of her own!!!!
Live is wonderful and I am awestruck!
Yes, come early August, I’ll be a Grandma!
(Wow! That’s the most thrilling sentence I’ve ever typed for this newsletter)
I’m so very, very happy to share it with YOU first!
That picture? That’s our little momma-in-the-making with one of her new friends
(she was in The Falkland Islands last week — for business).
On the Blog This Week
I decided Grittles, our little ol’ man pooch, needed a bright Spring placemat.
This is so easy, it’s kinda crazy. And what a difference it makes (especially on our dark red brick floors).
If you have even a modest crafting stash, a doggie placemat will probably only cost you $1 — the price of the plain mat.
Don’t believe me? The bog post has all the details.
I’ve been using these $1 mats for years!
Sadly, I’ve been using them plain until fairly recently. I didn’t; realize all the potential they held.
This chinoiserie-inspired mat was the first one I shared. Again, very simple! It’s just a Sharpie and a stencil that I made.
The stencil svg file is in the House Mates Free Library available to all subscribers.
Plus I’ve been working on a blog post and video to help you Shop With the LTK app
to save time, money and stress!
Hopefully both will be live later this weekend. Watch for an email alert.
As you probably know by now, I use affiliate links in my newsletters and on my website. An affiliate link means that if you click on that link and then buy something, you pay nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission. I truly appreciate if you could use my links whenever possible.
It’s the first Saturday of the month, so that means “The Girls” have gathered together to share their favorite finds with you.
WoW! Spring is hitting hard here — in fits and starts! It’s left me, and my hydrangeas and dogwoods — so confused. But I am ready and jumping in to get ahead of the Spring gardening chores and the outdoor fun that lies ahead!
Okay, I’ll admit it, my knees and back aren’t quite like they used to be.
I’m treating myself to this baby. There are many versions, but this issue mine mainly because it’s the best value of the ones with the deeper seat/kneeler. Most are just 6-8 inches deep (that’s like a kneeler in church). This one is over 10-inches.
It also comes with two bags. Perfect for bug spray, phone and water bottle in one. Garden tools ini the other.
I was spoiled by some garden irrigation in our last house. Time to add it to this house!
This top irrigation kit is the one I’ve picked out for our large balcony across the back of the house.
And this larger set is for the large bed we have installed around the crushed granite patio we added. It has all the different components for trees, shrubs, and ground cover.
No irrigation setup is complete without a timer. This one is perfect to control the two irrigation systems independently.
Next on my must-have list, is a good pair of clippers!
This pair is designed for ease of use, specifically for arthritis sufferers. Fortunately, I am not there, yet anyway. But I’m not one to turn down “ease of use”
They are at a good price (at the time of this writing)!!!
But if you are just getting started gardening, or don’t have that much to clip, this pair is a good pair and a more budget-friendly price.
Now that the yard work is done . . . for today. It’s time to celebrate. Cold beverages, anyone?
Loving these rolling cooler patio carts! Genius!!
This is my hands-down favorite. It has heavy duty fold out shelves on each side. A built in place to mix, pour and offer nibbles. There is even a glass shelf on the open lid to hold glasses, garnishes, etc.
The tub is even divided so you can optionally offer cold, but dry food, or devote the whole thing to beverages.
If this is a budget buster for you, then this is my next favorite. I chose this one because the bottom shelf will be much easier to clean than the lipped shelves that most of the others have.
Here in the Central US, warm weather means flies and mosquitoes.
I discovered fly fans in Dallas where all the restaurants had them on their outdoor tables. They really work!!!!!
TIP: Use one under the table too around your ankles. And they’re great for camping. Plus they collapse, so they’re easy to take with you to picnics, outdoor concerts and such.
These use batteries or USB.
Now Let’s See What the Other Gals Found For Us
Lynn – Living Large in a Small House
Lora – Lora Bloomquist Create and Ponder
Anna – Sky Lark House
Cindy – Reinvented Delaware
Cindy – County Road 407
Sadly, this Cindy was not able to be with us today. Hoping she’ll be able to join us ini April.
But am so glad you joined us. I hope we were able to help you with snippets of shopping inspiration, and maybe even helped to stretch your budget a bit with some good deals.
Please let me know if YOU found something special this week. Send me a link and I just might share it with everyone next week.
Congratulations on your exciting news Diane! I know you must be on cloud nine!! Grands are the best 😄 Those clipper for arthritic hands are just what I need. Thanks for sharing them! happy weekend my friend!
Thanks so much Cindy! We are beyond thrilled!!!
Glad I could help with those clippers. You’ll love them,
Congratulations!!!
Thanks Debbie! We are so excited for this next wonderful journey.
Such exciting news. It’s the best thing. What a lucky baby to have you as a grandma.
How exciting to be expecting your 1st grandbaby; congratulations! Our daughter is getting married that month. Thanks for all the gardening recommendations; definitely anticipating flower season!
Thanks Lora! We are beyond excited. Congrats to you too! Sounds like we will both have a very busy and wonderful August!