Precious, Precious Water

charity: water promo featuring "Time Bomb" by Beck from charity: water on Vimeo.

My Latest Completed Quilt

Quilting a warm winter quilt makes a winter warmer for quilting.

(Double click on the picture for a close-up.)

Fabric by Alexander Henry.

Simple Treasures in Black and White

washed in grey for a brief moment of time from Paul Davis on Vimeo.

An English Skyscape

Up with the Lark...
Originally uploaded by law_keven

A thank you to law keven for sharing this photograph on flickr. Taken at Colchester, Essex, England.

Mama Smells Like Cheeseburgers

I just love the family at Blessed Among Men. See the latest cute thing one of the little boys had to say here.

Hansel Cottage from Carmel

Don't you just yearn to take a peek inside?

A thank you to linda yvonne for sharing this photograph on flickr.

Make a Pocket Calendar

Making CheapsterPDA
Originally uploaded by pigpogm

I finally got around to obtaining a pocket calendar for 2009 by making one myself. You can make one, too. Go here for a free printout and clear instructions, which are a bit different than the diagram seen here, but the same general idea.

I love how people share nifty things online for free.

A thanks to pigpogm for sharing this diagram on flickr.

Oh So Green

A Path Through Darkness Often Leads to a Brighter Future
Originally uploaded by bbsc30

"Entrance to Orton Plantation North Carolina."

A thank you to bbsc30 for sharing this photo on flickr.

Homes of the Faroe Islands

Porkeri
Originally uploaded by erik_porkeri

A thank you to erik porkeri for sharing this photo on flickr.

Incandescent

Incandescent
Originally uploaded by tommy martin

A thank you to tommy martin for sharing this photograph on flickr. His notes regarding this photo read: River Lowther, Cumbria, December 2005. (Prints are available.)

Ahhh.

"Thoughts on Simple Living": Musings of a Boat-Dweller

There is a well-written essay, "Thoughts on Simple Living," at We Live on a Boat today. You might want to take a few minutes and head on over there.

Dramamine is optional.

A Touching Video (with a Happy Ending)

Violet is One from Spencer Hale on Vimeo.

More Pictures of the Colorful Playroom.

Oooooh. Our cups runneth over. There are more pictures of the gorgeous play room we linked to yesterday. They are at the Kennedy and Friends blog. Wonderful!

"Colorful Playroom"

I am head over heels for this "colorful playroom" at Cookie Magazine today. See what you think.

Awkward Hill

Awkward Hill
Originally uploaded by flash of light

A thank you to flash of light for sharing this photograph on flickr.

England. How we love it.

Love for People, Love for Earth

macro water drop
Originally uploaded by Hypergurl

I'm so excited at my recent discovery of the GoodGuide website.

"Increasingly, you want to know about the impacts of the products you buy. On your health. On the environment. On society. But unless you’ve got a Ph.D, it is almost impossible to find out the impacts of the products you buy. Until now...

GoodGuide provides the world's largest and most reliable source of information on the health, environmental, and social impacts of the products in your home."

If you are intrigued by the quote I lifted from there, now you can go and see for yourself.

A thank you to Hypergurl for sharing this photo on flickr.

Borax: To Be Used with Care

danger!
Originally uploaded by although

Even though I don't suppose that any of you have been eating borax out of a box with a spoon, I think that some cautions are in order, since I have recommended its use. See this article here. While both baking soda and borax are natural products, borax poses some real dangers and must be handled with care. Here is the danger fact sheet from a distributor.


A thank you to scpgt for sharing this photo of an abandoned borax mine on flickr.

Beautiful Craftmanship from Gratitude Millworks.

Look at this little beauty from Gratitude Millworks. See and read more about this structure at Tiny House Design.

Quest for Chocolate

Nestle Chocolate
Originally uploaded by Joan Thewlis

Ever have a day when the only thing you can possibly eke out the energy to do is to eat chocolate? I am having such a day. Fortunately, I made some chocolate fudge sauce last night and as soon as I finish this post I am going to eat the leftovers with a wooden spoon, straight out of the saucepan.

Chocolate Fudge Sauce

In a small saucepan mix
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder with
1/3 cup sugar. Slowly stir in
1/3 cup water.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue stirring and cooking for one minute. Remove from heat.

You can serve this hot over ice cream. You can add milk to the leftovers in the saucepan the next day and heat over low heat and drink it up that way. In a chocolate emergency, you can, of course, eat it with a spoon of your liking straight from the pan.

Bye. I need to get down to my kitchen now.


A thank you to Joan Thewlis for sharing this vintage advertisement on flickr.

Winter Pine

Winter pine
Originally uploaded by James Jordan

A thank you to James Jordan for sharing this photo on flickr.

Lisette Living Room

WE 08'1011kd - 028
Originally uploaded by studio-d

Another view of Ross Chapin's Lisette Cottage.
A thank you to studio-d for sharing this photo on flickr.

"Mama of Knit Knit"

And now something about delightful little boys. Amanda Soule has done it again. See her latest (of a zillion) wonderful post here.

Saving Bottles

pretty bottles
Originally uploaded by K'vitsh

If you like to save pretty bottles, but have trouble with a sticky residue remaining on them after you soak their labels off, you can pour a few drops of cooking oil on the sticky places. Smear the oil into the glue with your finger, then wipe it off with a dry cloth.

Magic.

A thank you to K'vitsh for sharing this photograph on flickr.

Her Mother Flew Away

Is there a theme here? I think that I am simply appreciating my own three daughters, and the opportunity to be a mother, more than ever.

Today I am confident that you will be blessed if you go and visit mackin ink and read what Karey has to say. Bring tissues.

Loveliness from Jamie C.

There is a beautiful post over at The Family Chiara today. It's about sisters and mothers and playing and love. Go and see.

New Year, New (Small) Kitchen

One of my favorite holiday treats was taking a car load of stuff to Deseret Industries on Boxing Day, as is my usual pattern. (I love passing on some of my excess on the day after Christmas!) The delivery was followed by an hour spent in the store buying small-scale kitchen ware for a newly-set-up play kitchen we have put together upstairs in our home. I scored big time for little cash, and I spent the next few days making felt toys to round things out. It was great fun.