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We are so lucky here in Southeastern Pennsylvania that we live only about an hour from the Burpee Seeds headquarters.  Ok, well, I’m lucky because I adore perusing and picking out seeds, my dear husband could care less.  In fact he laughs at me and shakes his head when I get all excited in January when the new seed catalogs arrive in the mail. 

Of course, the joke’s on him, because my obsession has rubbed off on the kids…ha!

So the four of us (the three kids and I) headed out to the Burpee Outlet store the other day….it was wonderful.  Hundreds and hundreds of vegetable and flower seeds to choose from.  But I behaved. 

We only spent a little over and hour there, and I used some self control and only bought 6 different types of tomato seeds (I get ever more excited about tomatoes, and have been known to try 10 different varieties in a season.)  And we only spent $56 which included some flower seeds for Makenna (really, they weren’t all mine.)   And ok, ok, I will admit, I had already bought a few packs at Home Depot a week ago

It is a sickness….I admit it.

But seriously, if you live not too far from Warminster, PA and like planting a garden, the Burpee headquarters is worth a trip.  All the seeds you could imagine, and all at a discounted price!

We were excited when Jarod made this cool bird feeder at cub scouts last night because we’ve really enjoyed feeding our wild bird friends this year, and the birds seem to really enjoy the simple Milk Jug Birdfeeder that Makenna made them last fall. 

He used an

*Empty Pringles can with lid

2 sturdy ‘plastic ware’ plates

Piece of string

Two screws and a washer

Cut four holes at the bottom edge of the can for the feed to go through. 

Next, punch a hole (that is barely large enough for the screw to go through) in the lid, and bottom of the can, and through the center of each plate.

Punch two holes off center on the plate and two holes an inch from the top of the can for the string to go through.

Screw a plate onto the bottom of the can with the washer on the base,  and then screw the plate and lid together.

Put the string through the other two holes.

(this picture shows the inside of your feeder and where the string is attached to the can.)

Attach the lid to your feeder!

To fill the feeder simple pop the lid off and pour in the feed.

*next time we make one we will use a similar size plastic container for more durability in the wet, since a pringles can is cardboard we figure eventually the rain will ruin it.

Lord, thouu hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.

Psalm 90:1-2

The house needed some ’spring-i-ness’ and the kids needed a project and this is what we ended up with for our home.

We’re previously made fabric covered yogurt cup vases, which I love, but I was looking for something a little quicker and less messy for this morning.

They spraypainted some yogurt cups.

Then broke out the beloved acrylic paints and brushes.

The greens are compliments of a euonymous bush that has been very happy inside on our fireplace all winter.  (Little does it know that in the spring it will be planted outside and most likely end up being deer food, like every other bush in our yard.)

We tried a small ribbon grouping the vases together…but I didn’t care for that.

So we went with a bigger ribbon, which is nice if your kids designs aren’t exactly what you envisioned for on the vases.  (i.e. you can hide the paint job.)

But we decided we would use them all seperately to brighten up different areas in the house.

See, they even make my bathroom sink look more ’springy’…if only cleaner too.

When there’s so much snow coming down outside I can’t help but think of warm, yummy food.  And this Garlic Bread at Cooking With Anne looks delicious.  Now if only I could get through the snow to the grocery store for some fresh garlic.

And for some tasty sweets, there’s this Homemade Taffy at Skip to My Lou.

What kids wouldn’t love  to play with these felt food items at Smashed Peas and Carrots.

I just love these soft baby blocks at Smile and Wave.  Perfect for a shower gift.

This messenger bag at Noodleheads is adorable!  What a great way to use some of the dozens of old pants I can’t bear to part with….and make great gifts at the same time.

I found this really neat little button in our fridge the other day.  

It makes the light go on and off.   It’s lots of fun!

Then mom complained about leaving the door open and something or other about breaking the switch…blah blah blah…you know how it is.   So I had to stop.

You should check your refrigerator, I bet you have one too!

If you have any of these….

Then you probably have too many of these…..   scattered all over your house.

So we took some toilet paper roll tubes and a juice carton and made a garage.

It only fits 8 cars, but they’re fun to make, and this way he can keep a ‘garage’ or two in a few different rooms to play with at will.

Some basic instructions.

We cut folded the end down on a juice carton and taped it with duct tape. 

Next we cut a long front side leaving it attached at the long top side to make a garage door that folded upward.

We cut the toilet paper tubes so they would fit in the carton without the ends sticking out.

We used a hot glue gun to glue the tubes in the garage.

Next we spraypainted the whole thing silver.

He made a ‘Jarod’s Garage’ sign for on the front of the door. (which refused to have it’s picture taken….I discovered that white on shiny silver doesn’t photograph well).

Insert cars.

The end.

Oh, and Make more garages to fit all the other cars.

This one thing I do,

forgetting what lies behind,

I press on towards the mark…

Philippians 3:13-14

We haven’t been doing too much crafting lately as sickness has been running rampant through our house for 2 weeks…yuck. 

But the good news is I spent lots of time discovering super blogs and lots of great projects to add to my crafty ‘to ‘do’ list. 

I thought I’d share.

At Whimsy Love I found these fun Paint Color Notepads which would be great for the kids to make for themselves or as a party favor or as little gifts for friends anytime.

The Inadvertant Farmer made these adorable Sock Kitties which are too cute, and a must make for our Alexandra who loves anything kitty.

I love this simple Wall Art at Secret Pie Shoppe.  She used Valentines for the holiday, but it would be adorable with circles, squares, snowmen…maybe letters in a favorite saying.  How fun!

These Ice Wreaths for your wild animal friends by How Does She? are so neat.   Since it is still (undesirably) freezing here I think we’ll be making these soon for our resident deer herd to eat so they quick snacking on all of my shrubs.

Perfect for Easter baskets and using up some fabric stash, these Secret Pocket Easter Eggs at Sew, Mama Sew will look beautiful tucked in everyones baskets this year. 

I guess it’s part of being the youngest that I always get stuff last.

Like my knit blanket. 

Mommy made everyone elses before mine.  Now that she FINALLY started it she said it’s going to take her 6 months to finish it.   6 months!   What am I going to do with a knit blanket in the middle of August.

At least I really like the colors.   I even got to help pick them out because I’m such a big girl.

Alexandra