Wednesday walks 5-15

Our Wednesday walk took us around the block yesterday mainly because it started raining on us.  Typical Oregon, the rain comes when you least expect it.  :-)  But toward the end of the evening it was a very nice way to end the day.

Here are a few pictures of the things that caught our eye on our Wednesday Walk.

These Hawthorn trees are actually in our own yard.  

  

My spring flower mix I plan on planting here real soon!

Wednesday is the one day a week Skylar and I like to get out and see what's around us.  You can see what we are doing each week with our Wednesday Walks by visiting the posts tagged with the same title HERE!

Do you have a special day you share with your child?  If so, let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!  :-)

Eco-Tip:  During the cooler months before summer gets here, turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees F when you're home and 55 degrees F at night.  A good rule of thumb in the summer is to keep your thermostat at 72 degrees F too.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Our garden currently: The tulips are dying off

Since the tulips are dying off it's now time to plant your seed starts into the ground or in planters.  If you waited till the cold temperatures were done, like we did, you are perfectly fine with starting them now.  I always like to wait till I see the tulips dying before I start planting anything at all or even starting anything.

Here in Oregon the weather changes every 15 minutes, so I always like to play it safe.  Most stores have seed starts that you can purchase and not worry with the starting yourself, but starting your own is always fun and it's enjoyment for kids as well.

Here is a quick list of plants that are easy to grow and are a great way to start from seeds.

1.  Beans (Pole, Asparagus and Wax)

2.  Peas   (Sweet or Sugar Snap are a great start)

3.  Gourds (Birdhouse Gourds are fun for kids to grow and harvest) Give yellow squash a try too!

4.  Sunflowers (Any variety will sprout fast and grow tall)

5.  Tomatoes (Tomatoes get a bad reputation for being hard to grow but, they really aren't.  Try varieties like, 'beefsteak', 'Early Girl' or even Cherry tomatoes.

Oregon's constant change in weather.

Skylar and I started planting some of the seeds we had from last year and started getting things going for our garden-to-be.  

We used egg cartons for our planting.  They are not only biodegradable, they also make planting little seeds so much easier.

Skylar had a clever idea on how to use the cut parts of the egg carton.  Cut the closure tab off and turning it around to fit back in the holes the opposite way.  How ingenious, right?  Smart kid!

All of our seed cartons were set out on the kitchen table ready for the seeds.

Skylar and I sorted out what we wanted to plant right away and made another pile for seeds that can go right into the ground.

We labelled them and put them in the sun for a few days.  This coming weekend we will move them outside and let them soak up the sun's rays directly.

Hopefully in the next few weeks we can get our raised beds in order and start our garden soon!

Eco-Tip:  Planting your own seeds and saving them from year to year is a great way to go green and save you some money each year.  Be sure and save enough to have a full garden to support your eating throughout the winter season too.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Victorian Chocolate Company (GIVEAWAY)

South North South is giving away two boxes of the chocolates from the Victorian Chocolate Company and all you have to do is leave a comment on what kind of chocolate-covered candy you love.  That's it! 

There is a quaint little place here in Lebanon, Oregon.  It's almost like a hidden chocolate factory right here in our own town.  The candy man that works at this chocolate factory makes some of the most delicious chocolates that you've ever tasted.  He even makes his own marshmallows. 

The Victorian Chocolate Company offers handmade and hand-dipped chocolates from caramel and mint, to almond butters, and toffee.

With the chocolates you pick from a large display cabinet, he takes the time to wrap them up and make them special, even if the chocolates are just for yourself.

Skylar and I like to go in on some Fridays and pick up some special chocolates to help ease the end of the week.

Want to get your hands on a box of handmade chocolates?  Well, now you can.

South North South is giving away two boxes of the chocolates from the Victorian Chocolate Company and all you have to do is leave a comment on what kind of chocolate-covered candy you love.  That's it!   Contest ends June 1, 2013.

You can also earn additional entries by sharing this giveaway on Twitter and Facebook!

 To enter, leave a comment below in the Rafflecopter entry form and add your entry to the total.  Also, while you're here, leave a comment and let me know what your answer is. 

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:  Only one winner will be chosen at random through Rafflecopter and will receive two boxes similar to the one pictured above with their choice of chocolates.  The winner will be notified through email and will be mailed their winnings on the day after the contest ends depending on email response of your address.  There is no age limit on this contest, but allergies need to be taken into account.  Contest ends June 1, 2013, no exceptions and no entries will be accepted after that date.  Your email address, mailing address, or personal information is only for the contest and will not be sold or given to other companies whatsoever.  

Bathing bird

The birds are out more and more now that the weather is getting warmer and with that they are taking more baths in the birdbath.  This little Starling was bathing and munching on the bird feed throughout the day and I just had to share him.

Eco-Tip:  After having your morning cup of coffee be sure and save those coffee grounds for your garden.  Coffee grounds are a great addition to gardening compost and the worms will thank you.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Fingerprint Mother's Day art

For this Mother's Day I wanted to do a simple craft that was more personal, yet fun.  Over at The Crafting Chicks, they offer a hand print flower printable.  Taking that same concept and printing out a smaller version, we used out fingerprints instead.

For Jeff's mom, we did his fingerprints with Skylar's and with my moma, we did my fingerprints with Skylar's.  After the prints dried I framed them and gave Jeff's mom hers, but I have to mail my moma's to her, all the way to Arkansas, through the mail.  :-(

I paired my moma's art with a Mother's Day card from The Neighborhood.  Click here to get your own PDF file of this Mother's Day card.

To get this printable from The Crafting Chicks please visit their site.  And PLEASE give The Crafting Chicks some love while you're there.  There's some super crafty and fantastic girls behind that site.

And Happy Mother's Day to my own moma in Arkansas!

Circa 1978

For my own Mother's Day, all I wanted was breakfast made and to spend time with my son and his day.  This year is sort of bitter sweet because of Skylar and I moving in September.  We had a good day just enjoying each other and spending good, quality time together.  Last year I received a birdbath, so when we were sitting outside, in view of the birdbath, I got to enjoy just how wonderful life really is.

 

The love of others is really what life is all about.  Hope all mommies had a great Mother's Day too!

Eco-Tip:  Newspaper goes a long way when it comes to many uses.  It can clean glass, be used in the garden, and even used as packing material in boxes.  Newspaper has a wide range of uses and the best part is, it can be recycled to be made into more newspaper.  Don't forget to count on newspaper instead of other paper products when needed.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

Kite flying

On Saturday last weekend, after the Lebanon Fire District Open House, the wind picked up pretty good here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  It made for the most wonderful time to fly kites and that's just what we did.

Eco-Tip:  Conserve water more in your home by washing full loads of dishes and clothes.  If your washer has a setting to reduce the water fill, be sure and use it for smaller loads.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.