Tempting Tuesday - Help the Gulf Coast

The following items are from shops donating some or all profits to recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast. Good cause, shop well.

Tempting Tuesday - Up, up and Away

I spent a wonderful summery day dodging raindrops and building trellises for vertical growth in the garden. Up up and away!


1. Cuff links for the discerning gentleman in your life - make a fashion statement!


2. Decorate your walls with artwork inspiring you to take flight.


3. A lovely locket for your secret treasures.


4. Lunaria seed pods add to this ephemeral artwork.


5. This print reminds me of good friends and care-free summer vacations.


6. Don't be fooled by the fancy frame - this lovely piece is actually a 40 page journal!

Tempting Tuesday - Pretty Pink Wedding

We have the good fortune to be attending a family wedding this weekend - I thought I'd make this week's temptation a tribute to the happy couple! Enjoy!

Tempting Tuesday - Graduation

Happy graduation season - I've found a few great gifts for that special graduate in your life!


1. This striking pen from moonskywoodworks would be a stellar gift for any aspiring writer, signer, or new grad with a need for a cool pen!


2. These little laser printed beans from LaserBeamCreations actually grow real bean plants with the message still imprinted on the first leaves! Cool!


3. Earrings from PunkyJane celebrate the current graduation year in sterling silver.


4. This leather bound journal from julieboyles is handmade with lots of special details.


5. This special soap is for brainiacs only. KcSoapsNMore brings us this cotton candy, brain shaped goat milk soap. Bet you've never seen that before!

6. As the new graduate sets out on their journey through life, send them with a beaten copper tag from bellabeadstudio.

Thanks for looking, have a lovely week!

Selective Taste

We have a mysterious visitor to the garden... my suspicion is that the adorable woodchucks up the hill have something to do with this. However, they seem to have very discerning taste. In fact, the following photo illustrates the only damage done since the fence went up. I believe that this used to be a Buttercrunch lettuce plant.
Last time they really liked the romaine. Maybe they just felt like a change?
The rest of our lettuces were particularly beautiful the other afternoon- I love the way the varieties are so different. Here we have:

Rouge d'Hiver Romaine and Atlas Farm Red Leaf
Black Seeded Simpson and Red Freckles Romaine
Red Riding Hood and Atlas Farm (a local farm) Red Leaf

Framed by red beets, spinach, and laundry line.

Tempting Tuesday - Seedlings

Happy Tempting Tuesday - We seem to have skipped spring, had summer, and now have entered fall here in Massachusetts, but I am determined to keep the growing spirit alive. Here is a lovely collection of little sprouts for your enjoyment-I'll let the pictures speak for themselves- just click on the image to go to the shop!

Gardening - the good, the bad and the itchy

In the good news column we have the square foot veg garden. The cold weather crops are growing visibly by the day and we just enjoyed our first spinach salad. For any who may be interested, the home-made dressing was a blend of red wine vinaigrette, honey mustard, minced garlic and fresh parsley, pepper, salt and olive oil. Delicious.

In the bad news column we have a freeze warning for tonight that may wipe out our 2010 peach crop. Our tree is pretty big and we don't have any sprinkler system or other frost deterrent, so we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

And the itchy? I decided to pull some weeks on our back hillside, at least around the perennials we put in earlier this spring. Imagine my delight when carpets of poison ivy started appearing under and around the taller weeds. I've never before gotten a rash, but THIS COULD BE IT!
As a public service, here are a few poison ivy tips...-Leaves of three, let it be. Leaves can be toothed or smooth, green or red.
-Urushiol is the "poison" oil - only because humans seem to be extra reactive. Animals are not affected and some even EAT poison ivy (goats, naturally)!
-Some people seem immune while some seem extra sensitive. It is not wise to push your luck.
-Wear skin protection - gloves, long sleeves, long pants- if not washed off of clothes the oil can last for years.
-If you think you touched poison ivy, washing with lots of cold water within 1/2 hour may prevent the rash. Hot water will open pores and let more oil be absorbed.
-DO NOT mow (esp with bare legs!) or burn poison ivy. Emergency room visits can result.

For more great info you can go to http://www.poison-ivy.org/ - if nothing else they have an incredibly graphic rash collection!

I think we need to get a goat.