Square Foot Gardening Take 2!

So this year we are starting our second year of Square foot/raised bed gardening. We've decided to expand! One bed at our house and one in the Community Garden.  We started the one in our backyard on time but didn't get to start the Community Garden right away due to rain and the fact that they were still building the plots.

This is the garden in our backyard May 16

We used this plot last year and it's still in great condition!  We're using out knowledge of what did better in the sun or shade and changing the line up! Hopefully we've made the right decision.

Backyard Garden June 4

 Only a few weeks later and the garden is already showing progress!

Backyard Garden 6/16

 We decided that we had some extra room and wanted some herbs right away.  I have never had luck with cilantro so I figured I would get some thats already started.  I've also learned through some research that as soon as your cilantro and basil start to have flowers they wont produce any more leaves and it's best to throw some seeds in the ground every couple of weeks!

Backyard Garden 6/28

 We have Squash, Zucchini, Thai Basil, Rosemary, Sweet Basil, Cilantro, Plum Tomatoes, Carrots, and Cucumbers!

Backyard Garden 7/11

 Only about two months in and it's overgrown!! I hope we didn't crowd it too much!! We were a little worried when all of the flowers kept falling of the squash plants. We actually found that it's very common if there are too many males they just fall off!!  Also once they've pollinated the females they'll fall of as well because you'll only get fruit from the females!  Maybe we'll get brave and try one of the many squash blossom recipes on the internet!

Our first harvest from our backyard garden!!

This is our first pick from our garden and it sure looks yummy!  Just two months in and we've already gotten some yummy veggies!!

Community Center Garden

Our garden did SO well last year we decided to add another! They're kind of expensive to start so when we heard out community was starting a Community Garden where we could pay a refundable deposit for a small, medium or large plot we were super excited!! (Ok maybe just me) :)  The hubby and oldest son started the garden and found the dirt filled with glass and just pretty crappy dirt.  After a week the garden wasn't looking too good and it wasn't allowing the water to drain. 

Community Center Garden June 4

  So we added removed half of the dirt and some organic garden soil and some of our compost. Surprisingly all of the plants transplanted well!

Community Center Garden 6/16

Community Center Garden 6/16

Community Center Garden 7/4

Just a few weeks in and it's looking great!

Austen and Neil (courtesy of the Capital Flyer)

 My husband and oldest son were even pictured in the base paper!

My big helpers!

Of course I have the best helpers ever! I'm surprised they're even dry in this picture because I think they really only come to play in the hose! 

Unfortunately our first harvest from the community garden has already been enjoyed by the rabbits!  So sad! They even ate all the leaves down to the stems! This made us decide to put up a fence whether or not it's "allowed"!

I hope you enjoyed visiting our garden!  If you have a garden going be sure to link your blog below! I can't wait to see what your growing!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jessica Percifull

Baby Sea Cow "Manatee" Costume

So I wanted something original for Riley's first Halloween costume.  He's so "fluffy" that I wanted something to match.  I thought, pumpkin- nah, marshmallow- nah, Michelin tire mascot?- too much! LOL  So we were actually walking around Lowe's here in good old  Clinton, Maryland and saw a Manatee lawn decoration and the light bulb went off! 

We are originally from Florida and The Manatee is by far my favorite animal.  It's sweet, friendly and innocent.  Just like my little bear.  So I attempted to create a Manatee costume without a pattern!  I bought a yard and a half of gray fleece (50% off), 2 Black buttons ($.50 on clearance), and some black "floss" to make the nostrils.

I think he like's it don't you?  All I have left to do is put velcro down the front and I think I might make some little pants for his legs with the leftover fleece, since they hang out :)

Menu Plan Tuesday!

I'm a little behind this week and I keep thinking of different things to make so I thought I'd better get on here and "write" it down!

Tuesday- Mexican Bake

Wednesday- BBQ Pork Sami's

Thursday- Katie and Norms for Lasagna!

Friday- Organizational day (May be eating out due to exhaustion!)

Sat- Buffalo Chicken Sausage pizzas!

Sunday- Chicken Parm and Zucchini

Guess I better get started on tonight's dinner!


Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica Percifull

From Garden to Grill!

Well our garden is doing GREAT!!  The squash, zucchini and cucumber that is.  So far we have gotten 3 zucchini, 2 yellow squash and 2 cucumbers!  Today we used two yellow squash, 1 zucchini and a cucumber in our dinner. 

I sliced the zucchini and squash pretty thick, put them in a large ziploc with a thickly sliced sweet onion and poured in some balsamic vinegar, olive oil, crushed garlic, salt, pepper and a couple table spoons of sugar.  Let them marinate in the fridge for a few ours then grill til tender! This is by far one of our favorite side dishes- we make it quite often in the summer!

I also sliced up a cucumber from the garden, with the other half of the sweet onion, and a tomato from the farmers market.  I marinated those in some apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil from the garden and a couple tablespoons of sugar. YUM!

Also pictured were some AMAZING ribs and Grilled Garlic bread- and you thought garlic bread couldn't get any better!!.
Happy grilling!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Jessica Percifull

Freezer Paper Stenciling!

I'm addicted!!  It's SO easy and fun! You can tutorials all over the internet!

I stenciled Austen's name on the back of his art smock,

and I stenciled an Autobot symbol on one of Riley's onesies.  I'm in the process of making a few more onesies and will post pics when I'm done! 

*EDIT*

Ok so this is my favorite!!!  It took a little longer because of the details but it really wasn't too hard at all!!

Jessica Percifull

Dress Shirt to Kids Art Smock! & Tutorial

When Austen started Pre-K last year, mid-school year, I really wanted to make him a cute art smock.  Since he started mid-year I really didn't have time to make anything.  So we just bought a XXL Kids Dress shirt so it would be nice and loose on him.

Well they never used it.  This year in Kindergarten I'm sure he'll need one so I decided to take the dress shirt and turn it into an Art Smock.  I also had some cute ribbon leftover from Riley's tag square that was blue camouflage which is perfect for this little project.

The first thing you want to do is line up the sleeves.

Then Cut the sleeves at desired length- remember you will be folding the ends under twice so I left an extra inch.

Turn sleeves inside-out, then fold the ends 1/2 inch, press then 1/2 inch again and press.  Sew along the folded edge to seal the hem.

Then flip the sleeves right side out and attach the ribbon onto the ends of the sleeves.  I sewed along both sides of the ribbon.

Then unbutton the collar.  Attach the ribbon along the edge, I tucked the end of the ribbon around to the underside of the collar when I sewed it on.  Make sure you sew both sides of the ribbon and don't over the button hole with the ribbon.  Once you have the ribbon on your can wiggle the buttons back in.  You shouldn't have to make button holes, the will just be under the ribbon. (This did take a little bit of wiggling)

Next I loosened the top of the pocket and attached the ribbon across the top.  Be sure to wrap the ends around when you sew.  Then reattach the pocket.

Next you will need to remove the buttons down the front and mark where you want to put velcro.  I put 3-3 inch pieces down the front.  I put the rough part of the velcro on the side that had the buttons.  Sew each piece on.  I sewed all four sides.

Then you'll need to line up the inside of the matching front and mark where you want the smooth part of the velcro. 

Once you have the velcro on you can attach the ribbon to the front of the shirt, on the other side of the smooth velcro.  Again sew down both sides and the ends of the ribbon.

There you have it all done!

I am going to add one more step when I have time tomorrow.  I'm going to Freezer-paper stencil Austen's name on the back of the smock.  I can't wait til he sees it in the morning!

Gathered Clutch!

I saw this tutorial and couldn't wait to make it! Thank you Noodlehead!

When we went to PA for Labor Day My hubby's cousin actually had a final project to do for her sewing class and I suggested she make it.  So we went and both bought fabric and she completed hers after we left, me on the other hand got busy with daily things and put it on the back burner. 

Well they came down for a short visit the other day and she brought hers, it was SO CUTE!!  I couldn't wait to make it!! So I was determined to make it by the end of the week.  SUCCESS!! I love it!

I attached a handle to hold it.

Here's the inside pocket I added for my cell or lip gloss or something. A girl can never have too many pockets!

On the other side I added an extra row of card slots, the tutorial just had 2.  There is also a middle divider.  I put interface on the divider, full length, after I saw Jenny's was a little flimsy.  We though that would help it stand up a little better.  It definitely did.

My handle is a little long but I actually like it that was so I don't have to fumble too much to get it on, especially since i usually have a little man on my hip and another one asking me 20 questions :)

I love it!

Jessica Percifull