succulents

i love having plants around the house to add color but usually the only color my house plants yield are brown.  in fact, one of my air plants is dying as we speak.  i don't know if i should consider it a huge failure or accomplishment that i may successful kill a plant that boasts only requiring air to survive.   when i choose plants for my house they can't be any geeks off the street they gotta be handy with the steel if you know what i mean.  ok maybe not that hardcore but hardy at the very least.  i truly only trust myself with air plants and succulents.  both of these plants are tough and have hundreds of varieties to keep you interested.   if you know me at all you know that i have a tender spot for all things miniature and wouldn't you know it, both air plants and succulents come in mini sizes.    

recently i was inspired by a gap store display, simple mason jars filled with succulents.  as a lover of both mason jars and succulents i was a little disappointed in myself for not thinking of this on my own.  since i was already doing a hundred projects on my last crafting spree i thought adding one more wouldn't hurt.

so i gathered a few mason jars and purchased small succulent plants from lowe's.  i had two criteria for the succulents: the plants must require little to no drainage (since they would be in a glass jar) and they had to have fun textures and shapes.  i ended up with four mini succulents which turned out to be way more than i needed for 3 mason jars.  honestly picking out succulents was like picking out a puppy, they are all so cute and need a home.  how could i just pick one?  

after i planted the mason jars i had two plants left over.  so i searched the house for something that could house the remaining succulents.  i ended up using an old candle holder.  i found these amazing candles years ago and bought them in bulk and have since used the candle holder for spoon holders while cooking, bacon grease storage, cotton ball & q-tip holder.  basically if has needed to be held this simple cermanic white jar has done it.  

  

the plants have now been settled in for a few weeks now and so far they have all survived. as the cold and barren months approach i am glad i will have some color to remind me of summer.  

countdown

 i am finally feeling better thanks to a new diet.   last friday, i had so much energy i was nearly manic, doing so many things that i just haven't been up for lately.  we made an scd-friendly date night meal, jb and i cleaned the house top to bottom, we bought new bedding and dog food (but not at this same place. don't worry, i wasn't that out of control), we looked at dining room furniture, we went to two different grocery stores, i made these delish muffins, we washed our new bedding and made the bed, we rearranged household items, we solved the problem of world hunger, then finally watched a movie, i began my crafting craze- all between 6 pm and 1 am.  i was a little out of control. 

i think i wore jb out.  i asked him to help me vacuum and he said, " but i thought we were watching a movie".  i replied, "well we are but first i want to make muffins and while i do that can you please vacuum and move the table and put that rug under the table".  he just laughed...and then vacuumed.  when i finally settled down to watch a movie i started a quick project (that spawned 2 more craft projects the next day).

the project i worked on was quick and easy.  i saw the idea for this project on a blog i enjoy reading.  did you know last friday, september 16, marks 100 days until christmas?  maybe you did know because stores are already putting out christmas merchandise. 

 i don't know about you but christmas always manages to sneak up on me.  not just in terms of presents and all the hoopla that can go with christmas but more about my own heart. each year i sit in christmas service and regret that the holiday season just happened and i wasn't as intentional as i hoped i would be the year before.  this year jb and i want our hearts to be ready for christmas and to enjoy what can be a hurried season.  so as we watched "the dilemma" on friday i made this paper chain to help us count down to christmas. it is my hope that it aides us in being more intentional.  each day as i see it hanging on our dining room wall it helps build my anticipation for the celebration of Christ coming in human flesh and the hope that that brings. 

i did do something different to my chain though.  since i know jb rips the chain, i have scattered a few surprises in the links for him.  some are fun, "give your wife a kiss" and others have on them scripture for us to read together regarding christmas.  so today is day 95!  a perfect day for you to start your paper chain.