Tidy Brown Wren, bringing order to your nest

We finally finished a much needed chore in the butterfly garden. This particular side of our house faces our driveway and parking pad and looked weird because it had no windows or architectural details - just lots of plain siding. To remedy that, we bought a wonderful rusty arbor/gate and placed it in the center of the wall. We planted Carolina jessamine on it and within 2 years it was covered with the vine and we've enjoyed beautiful yellow flowers for months. But, something was still missing. So we added a pyracantha bush on each side and started training it to be an espaliered form. Hubs made a temporary form for it to grow up on. Well, you know how sometimes temporary starts to become permanent? Yeah. The pyracanthas grew and became too big for the temporary form. It was becoming an eyesore. After much prodding, Hubs bought six 10 foot poles and pounded them into the ground, 3 for each bush. Then, because the bushes had grown into the forms we had to cut each individual ...

My garden is finally starting to produce tomatoes. I grew heirloom tomatoes from seed for the first time and it has been a learning experience. The hardest part was keeping moles/voles away from them one they were transplanted into the garden. I planted 6 Beefsteak plants and only have 2 left. I planted 12 Amish paste plants and only have 4 left. The plants that are left are doing well and I was able to can my first few pints of diced tomatoes. I use a lot of canned tomatoes throughout the year for soups, sauces, and other recipes.  My goal, this summer, is to can or freeze 60 pints of diced tomatoes and 100 pints of tomato sauce.  This week I canned 3 pints of diced tomatoes.  I think I've got my work cut out for me. I used a tutorial from a wonderful blog called Thy Hand Hath Provided .  This blog is full of very helpful foodie type posts.  What I liked about her way of canning tomatoes is that you can can in any amount.  By that I mean if you ...

I found a little helper out in the garden. This is a zipper spider or black and yellow garden spider. These spiders won't hurt humans and they do eat other bugs. This web reminds me of the webs Charlotte would weave in the book Charlotte's Web . I shall name our spider Charlotte (I've read they can hatch 1300 babies) Yikes! I'm linking this special spider up to:

Can you sit for a spell and visit with me?  I'll fix us some sweet tea and we can chat. This past week has been an emotional roller coaster for me.  Usually I don't share my personal problems with my blog readers but I've learned something important that I simply feel I must share.  It's rocked my world and it's too important to keep to myself. Several months ago I shared with you all that I have an inherited kidney disease .  My Dad and sister had the disease as well.  Up to this point I've been plodding along, visiting my doctor every three months and having whatever medical tests were required.  My kidney function has gradually decreased over the past 2 years but slightly increased 3 months ago.  One night last week, after my scheduled blood work, my doctor called me at home to let me know that my kidney function had dropped from 21% to 17%.  He told me that if it doesn't return to 20% in three weeks I will be placed on the t...

Jane at Finding Fabulous has started a new "party" for shop owners and crafters to showcase their handmade items.  I've listed a few of the items I'm selling in my shop.  If you like quilts, I noticed there are a few beautiful selections already listed. 

A little over a year ago I started doing  a weekly post entitled Monday Motivation.  Many of you have expressed appreciation for the reminder to take care of little household jobs that pop up around the house.  Truthfully, I don't get a lot of comments on the posts and my analytics graph shows the posts don't get a lot of traffic.  Since it is not my goal to bore my blogworld friends (or my real world friends for that matter), I've decided to change things up a bit. Instead of only listing a household chore on Mondays, I'll be adding some other tips as well as inspiring quotes and anecdotes.  Please let me know if you like the changes or not.  Also, feel free to let me know if you would like to see some different types of things here at TBW.  Today's Monday Motivation:  Cleaning out your magazines   *This post was originally published in August of last year.  It's Monday. Time for some motivation to tackle one problem you may fin...

We're big readers at our house. There are books in every nook and cranny. When our grandsons visit we pull out books we think they would enjoy. This photo was taken early one morning during their last visit.  The sun was just coming up and J wanted some Papa time.  So, still in their pjs, they snuggled on the couch and read a book. Because they live in Massachusetts and we live in Virginia, we don't get that snuggle time very often. To help with the long distance story reading, the kids set us up with a camera and Skype as a Mother's Day/Father's Day gift. So now, on Friday or Saturday nights, you'll find Papa and J reading a story together.  Now if only we could figure out how to snuggle long distance.

A few weeks ago we had Vacation Bible School at our church. I taught the 3 and 4 year olds for the week.  One of my student's moms brought in a basket of handmade quilted items as gifts for the teachers. I chose an adorable key chain that had chickens on it (of course). The mom handed me another little bundle and told me I "had" to have "one of these". I wasn't sure what "one of these" was. I opened it up to find this: And then I flipped it open to see this: Oh, cute!  My first thought was to put photos in it.  But I really didn't need a spot for photos.  I needed a place to put all of the member cards and punch cards for places I shop.  They've been slowly filling up my wallet and becoming hard to keep track of. So, I simply placed the cards in my new little holder: There's even enough room to keep these little encouragement cards I like to have on hand. This is one of the best gifts I didn't know I wanted!

We must be losing our minds. Hubs woke up Saturday morning and said "Honey, let's go get another chicken today". Then after our morning coffee he said "Honey, maybe we'll get two". I agreed, because we do need more chickens.  Our two current "girls" can't keep up with the amount of eggs we need.  Also, our chickens are the best bug eaters around.  We haven't had a problem with spider mites or squash beetles since we got them. So off we went to the chicken man's house.  He's an older gentleman who wears large black muck boots and talks to chickens.  (He also has a huge veggie/fruit garden that I'm envious of) An hour and a half  later we were back home with our two new girls. Meet Red. (front view) (back view-just in case you care) She's still a pullet and won't lay eggs until September or October. And then there's Babe. (front view) I love how little chicken's feet always look too big for their bodies....

I've been playing around on the computer during the day when I should be cleaning my house. I decided to start a Tidy Brown Wren Facebook fan page to show off some of the organizing, staging, and upcycling projects I've worked on.  Check it out and let me know what you think. Tidy Brown Wren's Facebook Fan page I'm also so stinking proud of myself for figuring out how to take a screenshot of my Facebook page.  I know some of you young folks are probably rolling your eyes, but this grandma is happy to successfully learn something new.  (I didn't even cry or mutter while figuring it out!) Here's the tutorial I used.  This screen shot shows that I downloaded Fireshot , but I found an easier way and left Fireshot in the dust.

Years ago we used to visit my aunt and uncle in the western part of our state for long weekends.  Usually those visits included a hike in the mountains and a picnic dinner.  One of the tips I learned from my aunt was to keep a list of picnic items and store it with all of the non-perishable items in the picnic basket.  That way, you'd always have your list and most of the items ready to go at a moments notice.  Here's my list: Items to keep in the basket: picnic blanket table cloths plates, cups, napkins, silverware salt and pepper serving utensils (spoons, knives, tongs etc.) matches hot pads to handle hot food garbage bags aluminum foil ziploc bags for leftovers wet wipes roll of paper towels first aide kit sunscreen/bug spray Items to grab before we go: cooler ice food condiments charcoal (and lighter fluid if needed) folding chairs What would you add to the list? 

I've always loved zucchini and summer squash.  My favorite way to cook them is to chop them up and saute them with butter, salt, and pepper.  Yum, yum! However, my husband has texture issues.  He doesn't like the seeds or the cooked texture of them. "Mushy" he says.  "Seedy" he whines. Well, I finally found a way to cook them that he declared "Delicious". First, wash the squash and using a veggie peeler, slice from one end to the other, creating a ribbon. Here's what you'll have when you're done.  This was one large zucchini and two medium summer squash.  When you're slicing each side of the squash, stop slicing when you get to the seedy part.  I save these for lunch the next day and cut them into pieces to eat with hummus. Saute with homemade Italian dressing (recipe to follow) for just a few minutes.  You don't want to overcook these babies or you'll have mushy.  Use as much dressing as you want to.  I probably ...

Well, I've decided to put the new linen table runner into my Etsy shop.  And while I'm on a linen kick, I decided to make these and put them into the shop as well. I call them "Playful Petal Pins".  You can wear them on your clothes or your handbags. One or more would also look cute on a plain pillow. This next one is my fav.  I want to keep her . . . but I won't. This one matches the mother/daughter apron set I have in the 'NIBBLING section of my shop. The shop sections are the same as the sections here on my blog. NESTING:  things for making your home a bit nicer NIBBLING:  things you'd find in your kitchen like aprons, dishtowels, etc. NJOYING:  things that make you happy just to look at them or wear them

We have two unusual trees on our property that keep life interesting around here.  The tree is called a Catalpa tree . In the spring, the tree leafs out quickly and presents us with beautiful flowers.  You can smell the flowers all around the yard. But then, just when summer is in full swing . . . they arrive and devour every leaf in sight. Yes, I'm talking about the Catalpa Sphinx Moth  worms. They love the leaves on this tree and can defoliate one tree in a matter of 48 hours. All that's left are the little seed pods that hang down, lonely swaying in the breeze. But, just when we think all hope is lost, our hero comes to the rescue.  The Yellow Billed Cuckoo eats these worms like they are candy.  He grabs a worm in his beak and thrashes it back and forth before consuming it whole. We know he has arrived when his familiar kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk call is heard. We always hear him but rarely see him. After the last of the worms is eaten our poor Catalp...

I'm a reader.  I'm a non-fiction only reader. I'm a non-fiction, learn as much as I can, reader. This is what I'm reading right now. The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery I like to tag pages to reference later with mini post it notes.  There is so much to learn about in this book.  Sometimes I can only read a few paragraphs and my brain is full.  Well, it's a good thing I have all Summer to work on it.  What are you reading right now?

Yes, I know.  You probably think I've lost my marbles.  I am now cleaning my cleaning tools.  Specifically my vacuum cleaner.  But hear me out:  To function at it's best, a vacuum should be cleaned regularly and it's filters changed frequently. Let's get started: 1.   Read the care booklet that came with your machine.  It has important information from the manufacturer in it.  Not all machines are created the same. 2.   Learn how to change your filter.  Always keep several filters on hand.  It's usually cheaper to buy them in bulk. 3.   Learn where the secondary filters are in the machine.  The secondary filters are often ones that you simply rinse out and allow to dry rather than ones you have to replace. 4.   With the vacuum cleaner unplugged, turn the machine upside down and check the beater brush.  Frequently you'll find thread, hair, twist ties, etc. wrapped around the brush.  This extra fluff an...

It's too hot to work outside so I've been inside sewing up a storm.  My latest project? A linen table runner upcycled from a ladies dress. I used the buttons from the dress to adorn each end of the runner. 12 buttons in all. The linen material is so summery! Do you like my new/old table?  Hubs brought it home one day.  While visiting his mom and dad, he saw in it their neighbor's trash.  They were moving out and threw their solid oak kitchen table out for the garbage.  Gotta recycle!

Summer storms or overstressed power grids can cause the power to go out. I try to be prepared and take things in stride. Hubs bought me these oil lamps 20 years ago at a yard sale.  I just love the hexagon pattern on the base.  It reminds me of chicken wire or bee hives.  I keep these lamps cleaned and filled with unscented lamp oil so that we can use them when needed.  We keep the matches handy too.  Hubs and I grabbed our books and sat at the table for a few hours, just reading and chatting.  The house was quiet and still, except for our voices.  It was a nice change of pace.