July 2012 – Bluebird Hill Art

Pocket Pillow

Greta has always loved the face pillow I made a while back, she especially loves pulling the felted beard and mustache out of the pocket on the back side. So one Friday afternoon, I was feeling a little restless while my entire house napped. So I headed back to my sewing room and whippedContinue reading “Pocket Pillow”

Okra Gumbo

Okra is a beautiful plant that thrives in hot, dry weather. It has prickly leaves and beautiful long yellow flowers, that when pollinated, close and grow into tasty okra. I planted my okra in the front yard, near the steps to the sidewalk. It gets plenty of hot sun in this area, and is thriving.Continue reading “Okra Gumbo”

Quiet Book

Colorful pages of Greta’s quiet book. This entry is a sneak preview of the upcoming August Etsy shop listing. I will be putting some of my summer projects up for sale, and while this book will not be for sale, there will be other similar ones. This is Greta’s quiet book, made for car trips,Continue reading “Quiet Book”

Rainy Day Play: Finger Painting

I have been wanting to finger paint with Greta for quite some time. Actually, since the first moment I knew Greta was in existence, I have day dreamed about making art with her. Forget names, I wanted to know what kind of art my future child would be interested in. So I had thisContinue reading “Rainy Day Play: Finger Painting”

Mt. Mitchell to Little Switzerland Adventure

Nice sunny day drive to Mt. Mitchell. Our family tries our hardest to be tourists in our own state. We have made a point to explore as many areas as possible. Last weekend we set off for Mt. Mitchell to do some hiking and sight seeing. It had been a couple years since ourContinue reading “Mt. Mitchell to Little Switzerland Adventure”

Mommy’s Medley Banana-Peach Pancakes

Greta has been a carb fiend lately and rather than loading her up on processed carbs, I like to bake for her whenever possible. These are the pancakes I have been working on perfecting over the past six months. I wanted whole grains, no added sugar, hidden veggies and/or fruit, and minimal ingredients. These pancakesContinue reading “Mommy’s Medley Banana-Peach Pancakes”

Broiled Tofu

I love tofu. I know, that sounds weird, but to me, tofu is like the egg. It is versatile, can be used in a variety of recipes, and can take on any flavor. In my opinion, the best tofu is the deep-fried stuff that comes with Pad Thai. Since I am not a proContinue reading “Broiled Tofu”

Backyard Beautifying

We have been in our house almost five years now and it seems we are just now figuring out the best use of our space. Take for example, the yard. There is a shady corner, just off the deck, that I struggled with for four years. I kept trying to grow grass. It keptContinue reading “Backyard Beautifying”

Rainy Day Play: Shadows

Yesterday evening the sky darkened with thunderheads. And then… it poured! Hopefully the rain the will stave off what looks to be a really early fall. Greta found this leaf outside yesterday, and from this you’d think it were already October! The forecast is showing rain off and on the rest of the weekContinue reading “Rainy Day Play: Shadows”

Best.Pizza.Crust.Ever.

Adapted from Food Network Kitchens, Making it Easy, 2004. Best.Pizza.Crust.Ever. 1 cup tepid water (105 degree water) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 2 teaspoons agave syrup (you can also use honey or sugar) 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (optional) 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for kneading 1-1/2 cups whole wheat flourContinue reading “Best.Pizza.Crust.Ever.”