Well, hello! Happy Sunday, friends!
The mister and I are taking advantage of the today’s sunshine and warmer temps to prep for the holidays and finish up any outdoor tasks left to do. Decorating and washing whatever windows I can reach. They are so dirty! Again! How does that happen so quickly?
When the cool temps get here, I will hunker down to start crafting gifts, decor, and cards for the holidays. With the postal strike, not sure if I will get my cute watercolour painted diy cards out to everyone on time, but I am going to make them anyways and cross my fingers it all works out. What else can one do, eh? I can give them out to my coffee ladies at any rate.
Are you doing crafting for the holidays? Making gifts or decor? What is on your list of things to make? I’ll be sharing the card making ideas, the wreath making, and whatever else I come up with. Here in the how-to for the paper snowflakes I made last year. I love them! I kind of want to make more but not sure where I would put them all!
These 7 easy and beautiful ways to create a more sustainable yard and garden. From reducing waste and saving water to creating habitats and food for wildlife, taking these measures can make an impact even with small plots.
Gardening Bits
This article tells you how to go about getting a mossy ground cover. Exactly what I need for this part shade patio stone area that the landscapers created for me this summer. Plant it up or the weeds will come!
Gardening – Zone 3 fruit growing information. Of course, you can buy these plants for warmer zones, too, it’s just that they are hardy down to 40 below.
Fruit trees that are hardy to this zone. I thought this was a really good read! Also several links for where to buy these hardy fruiting trees and shrubs.
Fruiting berries for a zone 3 garden. I like what they say about the Haskap. I agree and so will not grow them myself. I grew them years ago and am just not a fan. The other ideas though! Great advice. Time to go looking for a black raspberry ; )
Growing grapes in a cold garden zone. I really want to try this Sommerset seedless grape. Think I will put one in the greenhouse, right beside the edge as they suggest. My Valiant is doing great outside on the southside of the house. It was here when we got here so cannot take any credit.
Jade Plant Care Guide: How to Care for a Jade Plant | The Old Farmer’s Almanac. I have a great affinity for Jades. I had a large one in my greenhouse on the acreage that stayed out there year round, in the SE corner, to bring luck, friendships, and good business fortune. According to feng shui, that is. It certainly seemed to work as I met so many lovely people through the greenhouse who became my friends, and the business thrived.
My Jade here at the new house, is in the SE part of my living room. They say you can place in in either the SE corner of your house, or the SE side of your room. I went with the living room as it is closest to the front door which is said to encourage friendships, and bring good luck, of course. Even if you don’t believe in feng shui (not sure that I do either, lol) it cannot hurt to place it accordingly, right? Btw, giving a Jade as a housewarming gift is the perfect gift to bring your friend happiness and luck in his/her new home.
Homey Bits
Read this fun verdict about removable peel and stick wallpaper. We put up peel and stick in our grandies’ bedroom last winter, turning a little boring box of a room into a lovely kid-friendly room. It turned out so well and I sure do love that Ikat tree pattern.
We only wallpapered one wall, but I gotta say… it was not easy. Hahaha. There may have been a few blue words used (by both of us) as we put it up. I’d take regular wallpaper over peel and stick for ease of putting up, but this stuff washes up well so it really is kind of the best choice for a kid’s room. Best of all, this pattern will grow with the kids for many years to come.
I’m going to share this one more time, just in case you missed it. Why and how to bake your pine cones. I only have spruce cones, but I bakes them all so they are good for my crafting, and safe to bring indoors.
Recipe Bits
Hallowe’en Candy Cookie Bars – use up all those leftover chocolate bars and treats with this cookie bar recipe.
This Cranberry Pistachio Bark looks yummy and simple to make. Adding it to my holiday treat list.
These soft drop style Christmas Sprinkle Sugar Cookies are definitely going on the list! o find some blue and green sprinkles.
These jam tarts looks super simple to make, but very yummy.
Cranberry sweet rolls. In the photo above.
Holiday Ideas & Bits
These 14 DIY Christmas Wreaths. Forage goods from the yard.
This ‘Trees’ holiday porch sign.
Simple holiday decor. Love these ideas.
Simple Holiday Decor Ideas
*Disclaimer. There are a couple of Amazon links on this post. As an affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from one of the links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went there on your own.
- 9 foot pre-lit garland with pinecones and berries.
- 18 foot pre-lit garland
- 9 food pre-lit norwood fir garland.
These are all the plug in kind of lights. Battery powered ones would not do well if our temps go down low. Plus, most of us have a plug in in our eaves, or by the front door, so plug-in seems more practical.
Making your own garland is super simple, if you have enough greens to clip from to do your space.
Overlap the tree trimmings on top of a rope/string, tie them in place with garden twine or florist wire. Make it as long as you need. I reused the same rope each year with fresh greens. Wrap a strand of warm white lights on green wire around your garland. I think green lights would look great, too. I am into the green this year ; )
The Marigold Potager - A Zone 3 Prairie Garden 
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