Sunday Bits of Inspo #81

The first weekend of June. Isn't it lovely? I sure am loving these longer days. I've been planting up a storm, and moving the tender plants into the greenhouse to harden off.

I am trying some chaos gardening this year. Very unusual for this gal who tends to like formal plantings and nice straight rows of vegetables. Instead, in a couple of the beds, I have just tossed in a mix to see what happens.

I have developed something called allergy induced asthma so am coughing and wheezing as I go about my planting. So, on the agenda this month is change! I will be starting with The Plan diet to (hopefully) narrow down what is giving me hives, causing gut issues, and worsening my arthritis. This diet was actually designed to help you find your weight gain triggers so you lose weight. I'm going to see if I can figure out my arthritis triggers (and hopefully lose weight, too). Will let you know how it goes. Besides the garden work, yard work, and housework, I'm also going to fit in a wee bit of stretching, yoga, and exercise, too. Wish me luck!

I thought I would share that in case anyone else is having issues with their tummy, or losing weight, or anything else that you think might be food related. It is an elimination diet and you slowly reintroduce foods. Hey, you can do anything for 20 days, right?

Love June! Tis the last month of school for the kids, means ice cream breaks and rhubarb strawberry pies, sunshine, longer days, so many things to look forward to this month. These are a few things on my list...

House hunting with my son.

My birthday

Father's Day

Book club meeting on Tuesday

Sunshine, dinners out on the patio

Planning and designing the garden renovation

Here are this week's Gardening Bits...

The dwarf tomatoes were shoved into the mini greenhouse on the deck while the temps were near frost last week.

I think I've shared this lovely cottage garden with you before but I promise you will enjoy seeing it again. This is a great time to peruse the pictures for ideas while we're in planting mode in our own gardens.

I've also shared parts of this one before but sharing again as I love those zinnias in the potager. Will be adding either zinnias or cosmos to the corners of my food garden beds. Love them both equally.

This post with 10 steps to an edible garden.

These 3 before and after edible gardens.

Homey Bits

I really loved this garden tour. but mostly, I just want to know where to buy one of these fantastic water tanks! If anyone has ideas, please share! I love the look of it, would fit in most all gardens nicely.

Wondering how to make your porch or patio more inviting, more relaxing? Check out these ideas. So many pretty ideas. I love to add cushions to the chairs on the deck and the patio... but at our house, they're just like the extra pillows on the bed... hubby walks over to the chair, chucks the cushion in the corner, and settles in... so, cushions only on the chairs that I sit in.

This tiny cottage is just about the perfect mother-in-law suite. Love the backsplash tiles!

This cosy apartment is about the same size but has a totally different vibe. Is super cute.

Straw Bag

Straw Tote Bag

Large Leather Tote Bag

Green Straw Bag / Straw Tote Bag / Leather Tote Bag (comes in several colours)

You all know me and my love of tote bags. They are great for outings, travel, going to London Drugs for 'just a couple of things'. How is it that I always come out with way more than I went in for? I was going to post only straw bags but then saw that leather one and thought, man, that is just about perfect, so added it as well. To check out the prices and colours, just click on the picture, or the link below it.

Recipe Bits

Easy sourdough lemon cake.

These sourdough thumbprint cookies look so good. A twist on the classic.

We have a 4 way apple tree, meaning a tree with 4 different apples grafted onto it. I swear one is a crab as the apples are very small. They are also only yummy for a few days time. After that, they become mealy and yucky. I would love to juice those apples this year Make both apple jelly and juice, and not just toss those apples into the green bin.

We bought a juice maker a few years ago ( it makes juice, jelly, sauces). We made grape juice last year (so very yummy). These juice makers are in many Scandinavia households as concentrated juices (saft) is how they make juice. No dry powder mixes, no frozen concentrates. Instead, the concentrated saft is sold in bottles at the grocery store (like a cordial). You mix it with water, make it as strong or weak as you like. Use your garden fruits for making your own healthy juices.

Easy fermented lemonade! Mmm. Any kind of lemonade and I am in!

Easy sourdough lemon cake.

Blueberry muffins.

Frother

Magic Bullet

Ninja Cremi Ice Cream Maker

*Disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate, if you were to purchase an item(s) from any of the links, I get a wee small amount of money to support my blog. It does not cost you any extra to purchase through my link than if you went to that item through your own search. Many thanks for your support!

Then there is this Wendy's Frosty recipe... found the recipe on TikTok, am hooked.

2 cups chocolate milk

1.2 tsp of vanilla

1 tablespoon of Jello Chocolate instant pudding

Mix with your frother. (or a blender) Stick it in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. Boom, instant yummy treat for you and the grandies. Add Bailey's or instant espresso coffee in it for a something special kind of treat. For a malted treat, add some Ovaltine. Or add chocolate protein powder.

That is all the goodies I have to share this week. Though I will add, if you see the coupon pop up show up on your Amazon shopping, click on them! You can save from $2 to $25 or even more, depending on the item and the coupon. Very worth your while.

We are off to my granddaughter's 3rd birthday party this afternoon. Grampy built her this super cute mud kitchen out of scrap wood and pallets, while I painted it up and found some cute small pots and pans for her to cook with. Let the mud cake making begin. She is going to be so excited.