Dream Home

I love Log cabins and found 3 different log cabin pictures online from 3 different Log Cabin companies where you can buy the home plans. My dream home is a Ranch Log cabin..They are simply gorgeous!







I was born in Alabama and have lived in Ohio for way too long. I so miss the south! I would really love to move down south again.

Worlds Longest Yard Sale

The US 127 Corridor Sale is 450 miles of bargain hunting fun and is known as the world's longest yard sale. The sale began in 1987: it begins in Covington, Kentucky and runs south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, then switches to the Lookout Mountain Parkway, continuing to Gadsden, Alabama. It is always held the first Thursday in August every year. Originally, the sale was intended to prove the back roads have something to offer.

Thousands of people participate in the sale each year as vendors, and even more come to shop for that hard-to-find item or antique. Front lawns become storefronts and showcases for interesting items. Yard sales spring up every quarter mile; some are small with the contents of a basement displayed proudly o­n the front lawn, and some are large, with huge fields clustered with a hundred or so tents of professional dealers and flea market regulars.

People come from near and far to experience the longest yard sale in the world! Coming by car, truck, motorhome, and even plane, shoppers find all kinds of antiques, flea market items, and more! Whatever you're looking for, you'll probably find it at the US 127 Corridor Sale! You'll find so much good stuff that you might be tempted to rent a U-Haul and follow the entire route! You can plan to spend the whole four days and travel the whole 450 miles, or opt to spend time in a selected area and venture off the beaten path to discover new places and charm of the land.
As you go along your way, a few tips might help you deal with the locals:
Directions: The locals may be of some help as you try to find your way o­n the route, but don't count o­n it. Even though you're still in America, you might run into some language barriers among the charming southern residents with their unique dialects.

It might be useful to purchase a road map or look up some destinations o­n websites to plan your route ahead of time to avoid misunderstandings and wasted time. Getting a bargain: Don't be afraid to haggle and negotiate with the vendors and sellers. Some of the professional dealers might not want to barter, but you never know. Asking prices are almost always negotiable. And remember that you'll have to pack what you buy, so take it easy at first.

It's best to go with a set item in your mind to limit your spending. To get the best deals, be even earlier than the early birds; vendors sell from sunrise to sunset! Rain or shine: The shopping won't stop in any case, so be prepared for the weather.

In the four states that the route covers, (Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky) the summertime weather in August can get unbearable, soaring past 100 degrees; bring lots of bottled water and even some portable fans. Concessions along the way are selling cokes, water, and, of course, sweet tea.

There are also downpours to look out for; while they can be a relief from the heat, you might want to bring a poncho or umbrella along.

But most importantly, remember to have fun making split-second decisions about where to pull off and where to shop. Enjoy the different personalities you'll encounter; at o­ne table you might see a neatly arranged set of books, and at the next, eight track tapes. But that's part of the fun! Wander aimlessly or find exactly what you want. It's all up to you!

( I cant recal where I found this online - I love yard sales and have always wanted to go to this one!)

CornToss Bags For Fun or Profit

Last summer I started making and selling corntoss/ cornhole bags for profit. I went through close to a thousand pounds of corn, which is alot of bags. My husband made the boards as well and I would charge xtra to paint them.

I actually wasnt planning on making and selling anymore bags this summer but last week a very good customer from last summer stopped by and asked if I was still making them and I decided to go ahead and keep making and selling them.

I decided to put together a "Corntoss Bag for fun or profit" guide for $0.99. Which can be purchased here on my blog. Safe and secure payment with paypal.

My guide has over 30 tips on how I made and sold so many bags from home, how to make them and the game rules. I have sold every single bag from home, I did not have to go through ebay to do it.

Its a nice way to be able to stay home and make some extra cash.

The Hummingbirds have arrived!

The Hummingbirds have finally arrived! I just love these little birds. I will eventually get many many more come to my feeder.

Have you ever had a hummingbird fly into your house? Well last summer a hummingbird flew in my sun room. I was dumb founded as to how I was going to get the little bird out without hurting it. It was flying around the room but ended up attaching itself to a beam on the ceiling. My first attempt was to open one of the doors and shooooo it out with a broom. That did not work so well then I came up with the idea of using a feather duster. It clamped onto the feather duster, I put it outside the door and off it flew, no harm! So folks! If you ever have a hummingbird fly into your house, use a feather duster. One of those cheap long multicolored ones you find at the dollar store that doesnt have any feathers in it but still considered a feather duster. I am sure you know which ones I am talking about.

Yesterday I was watching them and I noticed the male likes to sit on the deck rail and wait for the female to get some food and when she comes in he will chase her off.

A Necklace made out of all things- Corn!

I was watching, " Whatever Martha" which I find to be hilarious! On this particular show they were talking about a woman who makes necklaces and other items using corn..yes folks corn! As I was watching I thought to myself, " what the Hell and who in the hell would buy and even wear a necklace made out of corn? Mice, rats & other rodents love corn so I could picture mice eating away at this corn necklace and even taking it off to their nest and saving it for later. I know that people are really into recycling but this is a bit much! Whats next a pasta necklace? maybe some dried fruit?

When I was making & selling cornhole bags I used to tell all of my customers to make sure they put their bags in an airtight container, if not mice will get into it. One customer came to me last summer to order 1 bag as he left the bags in the garage and mice had eaten the corn out of the entire bag.

All I can say other than that is God bless this woman for being creative and trying to make some money. I am sure her products & profit will be eaten up in no time!

Check it out and let me know what you think:
http://www.cornwoman.com

Make a Birdfeeder out of a 2 ltr bottle

Make a bird feeder from a 2 ltr bottle. I found this on: The U.S. Geological Survey Prarie Wildlife Research Center web site. to get a lerger view to print go to:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov

Preserve flowers with borax- who knew?

Borax is an inexpensive naturally-occurring mineral with many household uses. You can even dry flowers with borax for household floral arrangements.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 1 week
Here's How:
Cut flowers you wish to preserve, with or without stem.
Sprinkle borax on the bottom of a small box such as a shoe box.
Add up to two flowers.
Completely cover with more borax.
Tape the box shut.
Let sit at room temperature for about one week.
When dried completely, strain off the borax powder; may be reused for more flower drying.
Tips:
Borax can be found in most grocery stores next to the laundry detergents.
This method might not work with cut flowers that have been placed in preservatives.
What You Need:
Borax
Small Box
Tape
Cut Flowers

How to Dry Flowers

Drying flowers is a wonderful way to preserve special gift bouquets, create a beautiful long-lasting arrangement or bring the splendor of nature indoors. And drying flowers at home is an inexpensive and effective way to add a special touch to any decor.getting startedThere are several sources from which you can gather flowers to be dried.
Perhaps you've received a bouquet that is too gorgeous to throw out or your garden yielded a particularly lovely harvest this year or your florist has an exotic species you'd love to use in a wreath. Save flowers from any of these sources and incorporate them into dried designs.basic materialsThere are three ways to dry flowers: hanging, pressing or using desiccants.
• To hang or air-dry flowers, you'll need floral wire, rubber bands and string.• To press flowers, you'll need a stack of heavy books or a flower press and wax paper or blotting paper.• To dry flowers using a desiccant, you'll need silica gel, borax or sand.planning & designWhen preserving flowers, it is essential to begin drying them as they reach their peak color—usually right before they bloom (the flower will continue to ripen as it dries).
While it may be difficult to tuck away a fresh flower just as it is reaching the zenith of its beauty, doing so allows you to enjoy it for years.basic techniquehanging: Strip the leaves from bottom of stem, tie the flowers in small bunches and hang them with the blooms down in a dark, warm, dry place with circulating air. Check periodically.
They are ready when they rustle to the touch.pressing: Line pages of a heavy book with wax or blotting paper. Carefully place fresh flowers onto pages. Close the book, place it under a stack of books and keep in a warm, dry area. The longer the flowers are pressed, the longer they will retain their color and the stronger they will be.treating with chemicals: Using an airtight container with lid, gently bury flowers in a desiccant (silica gel, borax or sand), secure the lid and store in a dry room for two or three days. Flowers are ready to be removed when they are crisp to the touch. Tip: when using silica gel, dry only like flowers together, as drying times vary from species to species.variationsCertain species of flowers such as statice, yarrow, bottle brush, craspedia, sunflowers, strawflowers, cornflowers and bright pink roses retain their color well after being dried.
Keep a supply of these flowers on hand to add a splash of color to your arrangements.safety issuesIf you are gathering flowers in the wild, you will want to take care not to pick scarce or protected plants. Check with your state's Department of Environmental Resources to get an updated list. In addition, check wildflower guide books for photos of poisonous plants and always ask permission before cutting plants from someone else's property.glossary• borax: available in drugstores and hardware stores, has the lightest granular formation of all desiccants, making it well suited to drying fragile flowers• desiccant: a granular substance that absorbs moisture• silica gel: considered to be the most effective of desiccants, it can be purchased in most craft stores and flower shops. It can be reused for many years; simply follow the manufacturer's instructions on the package
about the authorRebecca Churilla resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania. As well as designing crafts, she enjoys rescuing and restoring old furniture.

Robin's eggs

A robin's eggs nest in one of my arborvitas..They have all since disapeared, I think something ate them..because they did not hatch and they all disapeared. :(

How to make a YOYO placemat

by Lesley DietschyCreate these charming placemats for your dining room or kitchen table using handmade Yo-Yos. It's a great project to use up your fabric scraps or you can buy fabric to match your decor.Placemat Dimensions:12" wide x 18" long (approx.)54 Yo-Yo's needed to make one placemat
Yo Yo PlacematSupplies:
4 inch circle template (cut from plastic or cardboard)
100% cotton fabric scraps
tracing pen or pencil designed for marking on fabrics
quilting thread
invisible thread
hand sewing needle
scissors
thimble
How to make a Yo-Yo:Instructions:1. Using a fabric marking pen or pencil, trace desired amount of circles onto wrong side of fabric being used. Cut out circles.2. Thread a needle with about 10" of quilting thread and double knot one end.3. Hold a 4" circle with the wrong side of the fabric facing you. Fold 1/4" of the circle's raw edge toward the wrong side of the fabric and secure it with a running stitch close to the fold. Continue folding and stitching around the entire circle. 4. When you reach the beginning point, gather stitches tightly. Be sure that the right side of the fabric is on the outside of the yo-yo.5. Smooth and flatten yo-yo so the hole is in the center.6. Knot and cut off excess gathering thread.7. Join the Yo-Yos together where they touch with a few whip stitches using Invisible Thread.Tips:Make sure to use a strong quilting thread. You do not want the thread to break when you gather the fabric. Start the first stitch underneath the folded edge to hide double knot. The top side of the Yo-Yo is the side with the hole in the middle.
How to make a Yo-Yo Placemat:Put Your Skills to Use:1. Using a 4" circle template, trace and cut out 54 circles of desired fabric.2. Make the yo-yos as described above.3. Once all 54 yo-yos are made, arrange the yo-yos in 6 rows and 9 columns until desired design. Tip: If using scrappy fabrics, try not to place yo-yos together that are similar in color.4. Join yo-yos together as described above.5. Repeat instructions for each placemat.Variations:Try using smaller circle templates which will make smaller yo-yos. Please note: the smaller the yo-yo, the more yo-yos you will need to complete the project. Arrange yo-yos in different designs. i.e. create a square within a square look simply by using 3 colors. One color for center yo-yo, one color for inside square, and one color for outside square. Make a wall hanging using the same technique with fabrics to compliment your home decor.
Care and Use:It is not recommended to use these decorative placemats for everyday dining. To clean placemats, hand wash using a gentle soap like Woolite and rinse with cold water.About the Author:Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the creator/editor of The Home Decor Exchange and the Home & Garden Exchange. The Home Decor Exchange is a popular home and garden website featuring resources, articles, decorating pictures, free projects, a shopping marketplace, and more.