Daylilies, oh how I love thee...

I have many different types of daylilies in my garden.  I got all of them from gardener friends or family. Most of these I only planted 2 summers ago and they have filled in quite abundantly.  I might even have to thin them out next summer.  Anyone want to do a lily/flower trade?

These ones I just transplanted this year, from some that I originally planted at my parents house probably 17 years ago.

Homemade cleaning solutions.....

About  year and a half ago I quit buying cleaning products and I searched online for some recipes to make my own.  I thought I would share some with you.  I have saved tons of money and I like that the stuff I am making is safer to use around dogs and kids.  After all, I don't really think clean smells like "pine forest" or "fresh lemon scent" or "spring rain" ... clean just smells like no scent at all.  Recipes below.

SUPER SHOWER CLEANER
(works so well I couldn't believe it when I first tried this...now I will never use anything else.  Found this one via Pinterest).

1 c. Blue Dawn dishsoap
1 c. HOT white vinegar (heated to almost boiling in the microwave, about 1.5 min)

Pour dawn into a clean empty spray bottle and add heated vinegar.  Spray on shower/tub and leave for 15 minutes.  Wipe gently and rinse with warm water.  It will make the shower sparkle!


ALL PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER
1 c. white vinegar
1 c. water

Mix together in a clean/empty spray bottle.  Spray on and wipe clean.  Great for the countertops and highchair, etc.  Smells like vinegar (of course) but the smell disappears as soon as it dries.


STRONG ALL PURPOSE CLEANER
1 tbsp. clear, non-sudsing ammonia (available at the grocery or hardware store, one bottle has lasted me over 2 years and it still has a lot in it).
1 tbsp. dye free (clear) laundry detergent (I use Seventh Generation, because I also use it for the laundry).
2 cups water

Mix all 3 ingredients in clean/empty spray bottle.  Spray on soiled surfaces and wipe clean.  I use this one on the stove and bathroom sink and when the counters, etc are really dirty.


GLASS CLEANER
1 c. isopropyl alchohol (rubbing alchohol)
1 c. water
1 tbsp. clear non-sudsing ammonia

Mix in clean/empty spray bottle.  Spray windows and wipe off with newspaper (or paper towels, however, I think newspaper works even better and it saves $).


KITCHEN SINK CLEANER 
1/4 c. baking soda
1/4 c. bleach

Make a paste and apply to sink. Let sit 10 minutes and rub gently with sponge.  Rinse clean with warm water.  The baking soda is abrasive but won't scratch and the bleach disinfects.  This makes our white porcelain sink sparkle, which is great since it gets pretty dirty and stained.  This is the only time I really use bleach around the house, except for the occasional load of laundry.

*Update - I no longer use bleach to clean my kitchen sink.  See my new method here.

FURNITURE POLISH
1 c. olive oil
1/2 c. lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a clean rag.  Spread evenly over furniture surface.  Flip cloth over to dry side and polish dry.


Try these recipes out and let me know what you think!  They work great and save money.  Plus, you will feel like you are in Chemistry class again!

Moments...

Some mornings I decide to get up early thinking that I will get a jump on the days tasks and also try to get my workout in.  I did that today and of course all my "helpers" decided to get up early too.  I set Pip down to play while I made the bed and a few minutes later I found her crawling around with the morning sun coming through the windows.  I took this photo and it reminded me of just how fast they grow.  It is the small moments that mean so much.  In taking this picture I felt like time was suspended just for a moment.  Now, as I type this she is eating cheerios off of her high chair tray like a dog.  So, back to the crazy life. (Crazy, but good!)

Roman Rosemary Potato Pizza....

When I was in high school a bunch of students and teachers went to Italy for a class trip.  We visited Rome and I had the best "pizza" ever.  I was finally able to recreate it!  It has homemade crust, potatoes, rosemary, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese and a dash of salt and pepper.  Recipe below.

Pizza Dough:

1 tsp. sugar
1 c. warm water
1 tbsp. dry yeast
3 c. flour (more or less)
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. vegetable oil

In large bowl, dissolve sugar in water.  Sprinkle yeast over and let stand 10 minutes or until foamy.  Measure flour and salt into a separate bowl.  Stir oil into yeast mixture.  Stir half of the flour/salt into the yeast mixture (I do this in my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook).  Add the rest of the flour until the dough can be gathered into a sticky ball (this may even require a little extra flour).  Knead dough by hand for 5 minutes or let the mixer do it.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 10 minutes.  Using a floured board or countertop, shape dough into a circle and stretch until slightly larger than the pizza pan (I use one that is about 12 inches).  Transfer dough to an oiled pizza pan.  Fold oustide edge over onto itself to create a thick crust.  Add toppings (see below).  Bake at 425 degrees for 13-15 minutes.

Roman Potato Pizza:

1 large russet potato sliced extremely thin (1.5mm - thinnest setting) using a mandolin.
2-3 tbsp. olive oil
1-2 cloves garlic finely minced
1-2 tbsp. parmesan cheese
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
dash salt and pepper

Drizzle unbaked prepared crust with 1/2 of the olive oil.  Sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese and garlic.  Lay potatoes in a single layer slightly overlapping on the whole pizza.  Sprinkle remaining cheese, garlic and salt and pepper, then drizzle a bit more olive oil.  Scatter the fresh rosemary on top and bake until edges are browned for 13-15 minutes in the upper middle rack.  Serve while hot with another drizzle of olive oil.  Then Mangia! Enjoy!

Our porch...

Since we moved to this house (4 summers ago), I have been wanting to decorate the porch.  It is truly a great space where I would love to spend time relaxing...if I had time to relax, but I digress.  So, in the past years I have spend a lot of time gardening and landscaping around the porch, which will always be an ongoing task.  I have also scanned craigslist and yard sales for furniture, etc. to use.  This summer, I finally feel like we have "something" although I still think we have a long way to go.  At least now we can sit out there and hang out, as we did the other night while my dear friend, and business partner, Sarah, learned how to sip whiskey with my husband.

Front porch.  The smaller porch on the side leads to the mudroom.  I would eventually like to connect these two porches and make one huge wrap-around farmer's porch.

Seating area (also known as the whiskey sipping area).  Found this wicker set on Craigslist for $80.  Not sure I love the all wicker look, but it's okay for now.

The cast iron park bench was a road side find.  The vintage milk can was my grandmother's (who owned a sort of antique shop).  The table and chairs are new, and they make a great place to have summer dinners.  The blue wash stand table was salvaged from an old farmhouse.

Porch lit up at night.

Simple bouquet...

I love lavender.  Today I cut and dried quite a bit of it, and I also decided to make a simple little bouquet that will look nice dried as well.  The house smells so good!  I am planning to make lavender glycerin soap too. (I will share photos when I do).

From Left: Santolina (great dried and used to keep moths out of closets, etc.), lavender, yarrow, blue grass, and  heliopsis.

Lavender and Santolina

Heliopsis, Blue grass, and Yarrow

Finished simple bouquet

Smells so fragrant!

Happy Breakfast...

The other day while making breakfast my eggs randomly formed a smiley face in the bowl before scrambling.  This was the start to a few great days!  I couldn't help but share my happy breakfast.  Have a happy day!