A DIY Weekend :)

Photo Creidt: Curbly

Are you a DIYer? Seems I always have a LONG list of projects to get to. This weekend I got to a few of them -- I had motivation. Company is a coming :)

Although I did get to a few projects, we are still *in process* on most so basically I am going to *tell* you about them and then will share some photos -- BIG-reveal-style -- SOON.

So what do you think of when you read BABY ELEPHANT, HOT COCOA & INSPIRE AWE? Recently when I posted about the trees being removed, I posted this photo ......

Really shows the worn and dated paint on the house. Not a big fan of butter yellow and forest green. Well, I am not going to be living with that UGLY (sorry, no better word came to mind) paint any longer. The house is now Baby Elephant - a gorgeous light taupe color (Clark & Kensington paint from Ace) with Inspire Awe - a creamy, off white trim -- on Thursday, I will do the LAST job -- painting  the porch floor and steps. They will be Hot Cocoa - a darker taupe. It is AMAZING what paint can do!

Once  the porch paint is dried and cured a bit, I can put my vintage wicker furniture back out. Do you

Faithfulness Farm: Nebraska Junk Jaunt

remember my story of how I acquired my olden wicker set last fall? I was so blessed to find it and knew it was going to need some work to freshen it up. Work done. I've painted it and made some covers for the cushions and some festive pillows - they are sitting in the garage EAGERLY waiting to come out and party on the porch! I thought I would share a couple informative articles I found -- Wicker Furniture Cleaning Hints & Tips -- and -- Painting Wicker Furniture -- both very helpful for the wicker furniture enthusiast. I cannot hardly wait to show you my beauties!! BTW, this is another showing of that horrid paint AND can you believe that my porch had carpet on it? -- that was ripped up earlier this spring and the floor is ready for it's paint job :)

Now that my yard has so many more sunny spots sans the trees, I've been looking for gardening inspiration like CRAZY! I ran across this image on Pinterest.....

Samplers and Santas

AND was TOTALLY inspired. I've made 2 new little flower beds utilizing my galvanized wash tubs. I have the edging to finish on the 2nd one and will do the big reveal :)

ALL those projects and I also rearranged the living room -- I'll share WHY I did that later this week.

Isn't it great to have company come (my Mom & Dad from Arizona and #1 Son from Minnesota) to light a fire under the hiney and get some of the STUFF crossed off the list!

Wishing a WONDERFUL week -- I'll be putting finishing touches on THINGS -- can't wait to show YOU! What is on YOUR DIY list?

Adding this post to Yvonne of StoneGable's new Linky party -- TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS  - oh, what FUN!!

Low-Carb Living ~ Layered Summer Chicken Salad

One of my favorite summer delights is fresh berries -- and lucky for me, they can be part of a low carb lifestyle. I grow some strawberry pots but seem to have to fight the squirrels for those -- thankfully, I can always get them at Farmer's Market (our market opened last weekend -- looking forward to going tomorrow) during our season. Oh, and this salad is a GREAT fly-under-the-radar low carb recipe -- I served to a friend who was without a clue that it was low-carb -- love that! I plan to try it with blueberries and feta cheese in place of the strawberries and gorganzola....a combination of blueberries, strawberries and feta would make a GREAT red, white & blue salad for the 4th :)

Layered Summer Chicken Salad
(Printable Version)

7 cups torn romaine lettuce
4 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1 cup pecan halves
1 quart (3 cups) fresh strawberries, quartered

Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp splenda
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, finely minced

In deep 3-quart salad bowl, place half of the lettuce. Layer with chicken, cheese, pecan halves, remaining lettuce and strawberries. Put all the dressing ingredients into a mason jar and shake until well blended. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad. Serves 6.

Calories per serving: 478
Net carbs per serving: 8

Happy Flag Day!

I LOVE the holidays of summer -- Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day (okay, so the first 2 are not technically summer but they count as summer holidays don't they?).

Every year I plant my annual pots in some sort of *theme* -- this year is red, white & blues! I simply love these blue petunias and their white *stars* -- they seemed made just for my theme. I'll show more of my annuals in the next couple weeks.

Have I mentioned that in the summer months I only work a 4 day week? I take Thursday's off. It is my fluff my nest day and I simply love it. My current fluffing includes painting my front porch. It has been quite a job and I am really looking forward to having it completed. My antique wicker is all refreshed with a new coat of paint and cushion covers and I am looking forward to hanging my buntings and having my porch all *decked* out for 4th of July -- I'm having company. Mom and Dad are coming from Arizona and my oldest son will be here from Minnesota -- oldest son was born on 4th of July! :)

TIMBER!!

Do you remember me saying last winter that my favorite tree had been damaged in our last snow storm? As a rule, trees don't fair well on the prairie.

That prompted a visit from the *tree guy*. He said he would be able to trim and save this tree.

BUT he recommended the removal of 4 others.

That was such sad news to me.

I love these old trees.

BUT they were at the point of being dangerous.....and my yard gets little to no direct sunlight.

Things change -- better to have them removed before they come down on the house.

Looking to the brightside -- less leaves to rake in the fall AND no more picking up dead branches after every storm or blowing of the wind.

So after a day of downing and then stump grinding......

I am left with my pine AND one trimmed up old friend -- and the rest are a memory....

AND I've planted SUNFLOWERS because now the sun can reach them.

Things change -- change can be good!

Posting to Sunny Simple Sunday's!

Low-Carb Living ~ Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

This post is TOTALLY Pinterest inspired -- guess that is called PINSPIRED, lol. These are both recipes I have been wanting to try and both were FABULOUS...and easy, easy, easy. Oh, and the chicken most certainly melts in your mouth :)

The first recipe up comes from Grateful Belly AND ButterYum. Both of these blogs post some top-notch recipes. Each of these fabulous cooks put their own twist on this recipe and I too have twisted it up a bit.

Melt in your Mouth Chicken
(Printable Version)

4 boneless chicken breast halves
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix mayo, cheese, and seasonings. Place chicken pieces in a 9x13 baking dish. Spoon mayo mixture onto tops and sides of chicken. Bake uncovered at 375°F for about 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through.

The carb count of your final recipe will depend on the mayo and cheese you use. Mine had ZERO net carbs.

The next *recipe* up is for Green Bean Bundles inspired by Paula Deen . I say inspired because I didn't follow her recipe and actually struck out on my own. My Momma always cooked her garden beans with a couple slices of bacon in them and I LOVE the combination of green beans with bacon. I used some haricot vert (thin French Green Beans) from Sam's Club. The package says that there were 5 servings (3 net carbs each) so I divided into 5 bundles, each wrapped with a slice of bacon. I then roasted on a baking sheet at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!

Happy Weekend! I have a long list of projects that I will be working on....how about you? What is on your weekend list?

We Have Gooseberry Patch WINNERS!!

HAPPY JUNE!! I meant to get this posted yesterday evening and then life took over...isn't that how it works :)

First the THANK-YOU's! Thank-you to Gooseberry Patch for providing the cookbook for giveaway. Your cookbook are the BEST. And thank-you to all the contributors that make their books possible -- the BEST of the BEST!

Thank-you to bloggy friends, old and new for leaving such sweet comments. I have some fun things planned for the blog this summer and hope you continue to follow along!

AND my BIGGEST thank-you to my sweet daughter who always does all the work to determine who the winner (in this case WINNERS) is!! AND what a treat the winners are in for -- this book has quickly become my FAVORITE!! IF you did not win a copy and would like to order one for yourself, use the link below the book photo.

Gooseberry Patch's The Harvest Table

Okay -- now for the winners!!

Denise of  Ladybug Loves Lilacs  

AND 

Heather  of Heather's Blog-O-Rama  

CONGRATULATIONS!! You each will get your own copy of The Harvest Table and the Faithfulness Farm Apron & Tee Towel Set.