Sunday Bits #59 (diy plant food, wrapping ideas, cookies, last minute gifts)
- themarigoldgc
- Dec 10, 2023
- 6 min read
Happy Sunday and second Advent! My second candle, the candle of love/peace, has been lit, while we bake some Lucia buns (lussekatter) for the 13th. Hubby glazed ours with a bit of lemon glaze and we used cranberries instead of raisins. A nice glass of mulled wine is the only thing missing ; )
We started wrapping our gifts, got about halfway done last night and then petered out. We hope to finish up tonight (hubs and I wrap together, we have a routine that we've been doing for many years). My son and dil's stuff is packaged up and ready to go to the post office first thing tomorrow morning. Just need to add a few baked goods to the box and tape it up!
How are you making out with your gift buying and wrapping? Did you stick to your budget? We thought we were done with the shopping and then noticed (as we were wrapping) that one stack was lesser than the others. No idea how that happened, but we are heading back to the shops again to pick up a couple more things. And then we are done! For real this time. And... for the record, we did not stick to the budget this year, haha. I think we are both excited this year, first year in the new house after the renovation, living close to family and friends Hubby has been home to help with everything this year so we are able to bake more, do more... is going to be such a lovely Christmas.
Here are this week's great Gardening Bits.
This one, about greenhouse gardening is very good. Here on the prairies, we are not growing oranges inside the greenhouse, unless it is attached to the house and more like a sunroom, but it give you lots of ideas for how to set up and use in all areas. Here on the prairies, use your greenhouse as a season to grow longer in fall and earlier in spring.
How to control pests in your greenhouse is informative, also. Like that the author gives bee friendly ideas/options. I will just add that you should remove yellow sticky tapes when you start to open up your greenhouse in spring, to prevent bees, beneficial insects, and hummingbirds from getting stuck on them. Also, if you are going to spray with anything, including a simple soap spray, do it in the evening when bees are not active and close it up tight for the night. I like to rinse all the soap off the plants in the morning before I open up for the day.
This (USA) interesting read about the 20 best seed companies. I start looking right after Christmas is over ; )
For my west coast readers, Charles Dowding's December blog post. Is interesting for the rest of us, too, as he gives the numbers on his no-dig versus dig garden beds. As a no-digger, I always like to read his blog for the tips, ideas, and the comparison results.
This read about growing microgreens, from a Canadian grower!
All these interesting read...
Can you reuse potting soil? When should you not reuse it? See how this author makes hers go further and last longer.
Growing yarrow. You guys... I love yarrow. The bees love yarrow, and so do butterflies. However, it can and does spread. You gotta stay on top of it. I literally pull it out, leaving just a smaller clump. This is also how I keep things like lemon balm and oregano in check. In spring, when you start seeing new growth, just start chopping (with a shovel) and pulling out the new growth at the sides to keep it at the size you like. Or, grow it in a pot. Here's how-to about yarrow.
Well, this is just the greatest idea! How to make your own cut flower food. with normal, everyday ingredients that you have in the home.
My helpful hint... I learned a couple of things when I worked for a florist, a great many moons ago. The first thing they do when they get their shipment of flowers in is to give them a good chop and pop them in fresh water with plant food, let them sit for anywhere from a few hours to overnight.
Therefore, to keep my roses fresh for a good 10 or more days (or other flowers), when I bring them home from the local grocery store (yep, that is where I get mine from), I do the same tricks I learned from the florists. Fill your vase with fresh, cold tap water.
Next, give the bottoms of the flowers a good chop, anywhere from a half to full inch off the ends, or more. If you want shorter stems, chop off more. The key is to give them that really good chop right away. Stick the flowers in the fresh water and let them sit for a while. Can be 20 minutes, can be several hours. Then get your actual flower vase ready with the flower food and fresh cold water. Cut the flower stems to your deisred length, cutting the ends on an angle to allow more surface for them to take in the water, pop them into the vase. They will last you a long, long time!
Design Inspo Bits
Still sharing kitchens with you all! Maybe you need inspo? Maybe you just want to look at pretty pics, like I do ; ) This blue one has amazing beams and I kinda like that granny chic backsplash, too! This other blue one is so pretty! Love the lights above the banquette seating, the slate floors!!! The wood and blue comination. So many lovely little details in this one.
Check out the kitchen and laundry room in this lovely house!
Diy Ideas
Here is another tuturial on how to make giant paper snowflakes. I am obsessed with these super simple to make holiday decorations!
Little wrapping paper snowflakes to put on your parcels! These are cute.
Christmas gift wrapping ideas. These are super upscale looking, you all! You are going to loooove these ideas!
America's top 10 most disliked holiday candies! Funny, my husband loves #9 and daughter loves #5!
Here is a quick video on how to make a lovely double bow! So elegant and perfect!
This super cute Vintage Seed Packet Flower Pot Wreath is too early to make now, you gotta pin it for spring! Or make it for your gardener friend for a great gift idea. It really is adorable!
Recipe Inspo Bits
Check out these recipes! They all sound yummy, if you are looking to add a few baked goods to your list yet?
Hard Tack Candy - this looks so good, old-fashioned yummy treats.
Salted Brown Butter Marshmallow Treats! Upscale rice krispi squares!
We made the chocolate chunk ginger crinkles from last week's Bits post... you guys, they are super yummy! They make a regular ginger cookie something special! My hubby loves them and he generally stays away from all things gingerbread!
This Christmas tree charcuterie board! I really want to make this for our family Christmas but we tend to all eat way too much food as it is, lol, so not sure.... maybe for entertaining ahead of time? I want to do, just gotta figure out when.
Need some last minute gift ideas? Here are some of my favourites!
This lovely watch is on sale at nearly half price! It is a fitness tracker, blood pressure, and heart rate monitor, too. I love a good traker watch but it has to be pretty, too. This one is!
Or this earth friendly pack of 6 brushes. I would love to get something like this : )
These vintage looking frayed ribbons are fabulous! I bought this pink combo, plus the dusty blue.... love them so much that I am ordering more! I need (hah) the green one now that I know how gorgeous they are in real life!
Prefer velvet? I have this forest green velvet ribbon and absolutely love it! The silver is super pretty, too! This rose gold trio of velvet ribbons is similar to the gorgeous one used in the wrapping ideas link above. These will get here just in time for you to wrap up your last minute gifts.
Or maybe you love the look of satin ribbons and bows? The green satin ribbon is my vibe this year, will get to you in just a few days. This bronze and gold satin ribbon trio is gorgeous, too.
My son-in-law is big into cars and boats. Is always cleaning them, puttering with them. This cleaning putty is something that he would really like to get. Is a great stocking stuffer idea. Add these microfiber clothes, too.
These back seat covers are super to keep the truck seats clean, hair free. Comes with two doggie seat belts.
*Disclaimer - As an Amazon affiliate, if you purchase an item(s) from one of the Amazon links in the post, I get a wee small amount of money to help support my blog. It does not cost you any more to purchase through my link than if you went to that link on your own ~ happy shopping!
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