Deer in the Yard

I was so excited when I saw a deer in the yard last Sunday. As a matter of fact, I yelled so loud that my visiting Grandson tore off my headset and almost broke them coming to see what I was yelling about.

Even though we were close to a National Park, I think there were just too many dogs near us on the little lake to make it desirable for them to visit.

OK, so I love that the deer visit, and my DD said, maybe I should put out a salt lick, but I know deer strip trees for food in the winter and I was afraid my landlord might not like that. So I'm not tempting them with food or salt into my yard.

Then I took a friend to look at my lovely row of Day Lilies at the side of the house. I noticed that some of the stems were trimmed back, all at the same height, you know, nibbling height for a young doe. All the flowers on the front had been nibbled off. I plan to bring some potted herbs and tomatoes. I think I need to make sure they are out of mouth's reach.

I still love my new house. And I love the deer. I just need to learn how to keep the deer from eating the flowers.

Economy - Changing Your Perception

The goal of Marketing is to make you believe that you really need something. It would be unfair of me to say that I don't try to persuade you, that you need my lovely flowers. I don't do a very good job at it though. Maybe I don't sell my flowers much, because I truly believe that they are a luxury and not a necessity. (See akaCINDERS over there --->)

I was watching a commercial for a NuWave oven and thinking to myself, that that monstrosity that we have taking up half our kitchen is a totally unnecessary thing. We have the tiniest kitchen, and we could use more storage. If we had a cupboard, with a counter top oven and electric range, we would have more room, and more counter top. OK, maybe you can't cook a large turkey in it, but I've cooked them out on the grill in the middle of winter before, and they're great. The perception is that you NEED an oven with 4 burners to feed a family. We NEVER use more than one burner at a time. Do you?

Now lets look at your house. How much does it cost to heat your house in the winter (cool in the summer)? Look at your family all sitting together watching TV. How much space is there around them, and between them and the TV? Is all that space necessary. The bigger the gap between them and the TV, the bigger the screen needs to be. Now look at the TV, hold your hands about 15 inches away from your face and frame your TV. How big is that?

I usually watch shows on my laptop. We have a tiny house with a 36" HDMI. My laptop screen at viewing range is 4 times the size of the TV. I usually watch TV on a teeny tiny portable TV. Last night the boy wasn't in the room and I thought, what a great thing, I can watch on the big bedroom TV. As I was watching I did this measuring thing. The big TV at it's distance was half the viewing size of my teeny TV when I watch it.

I realize that some of these suggestions are impractical for a larger family. You can't all sit around a laptop, but you can consider a smaller, not larger house if you are buying. They are easier to maintain and cheaper to climate control. And you can use a smaller TV.

Consider alternatives to your kitchen, or bath to make them more economical and spacious. And my very favorite, hang your laundry and fluff in the dryer to soften. You can even do this in the house in the winter. After all, you have all that extra space.

My point is, that we've all been brainwashed to think that we NEED certain things. We need extra space and a larger TV and a large capacity dryer and a smooth cook top range and the biggest fastest newest car. It's not that I don't think that if you have the money, you don't need to spend it to help the economy. It's just that if you don't have the money, you should check your perception of what you're actually using and need. Then you'll have enough money to come to my new shop and buy my lovely flowers.

Life on Mars - Gardening Bliss

Even though the climate was like that of the Angry Red Planet this week (in more ways than one) I'm just so thrilled at the outcome of my garden this week that I can forgive all.

I've been quiet this past week. I lost a loved one and am adjusting. Things in my home are a bit unstable and I'm adjusting. I've taken to walking to calm myself when I'm frustrated and I think I should have done that years ago. When I feel like I'm about to boil over, I just take a walk. Why didn't I think of that before. I have quite a temper, I would have been really fit.

Back in the garden....this week I was able to pick several handfuls of beans. I didn't plant a lot, so I didn't expect much and did get more than I hoped for. They are still producing. I picked through the turnips and found one great 2 1/2" diameter one. I hope the rest grow that big. The leaves are getting a bit lacy from the leaf eating critters though.

I love that the  bugs don't eat tomato plants, and I rotate the tomatoes so the tomato worms don't find them. Did you know that's how to keep them away? Never plant your tomatoes in the same place from year to year. Also, beans add nitrogen to the soil, so they beef up the soil for other plants.

Native Americans planted corn, pumpkin and beans together, to make a sort of symbiotic plant system. The pumpkins shield the ground (cooling and keeping weed free). The corn makes a pole for the beans to climb, and the beans add nutrients to the soil. Brilliant.

I really wanted to talk about my flowers today. Some of my favorites and my inspiration for my jewelry. Last year the yard was pretty bare so we got a few clearance rose bushes and I borrowed some Shasta Daisy roots from the lake.

I also dug up some Day Lilies that were behind the house in the shade and brought them into the light. The soil was so good that they all flourished far better than I expected.

And then there is the roses. There are three bushes, all doing well, but the biggest surprise was the climbing bush. The flowers looked pale pink at first and not attractive, but since planting have turned into a vibrant deep magenta. I'm really liking them now.

My own flowers are not so literal. They are just impressions of these beauties that I love so much. You can find all of my flowers at akacinders.com or on Artfire at http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/akaCINDERS

March 2012 Giveaway

I have been promising you a giveaway and I've been so busy that I haven't taken the time to do it. You are in luck, because I've been so far behind I am going to give away TWENTY, you hear it right twenty brooches. That's $240 worth of lovely merchandise. And it's not even going to be that hard for you to win.


What's the Prize? One of my lovely Pick a Bouquet Brooches So cute to wear for Summer and the Spring holidays and Men can even wear a s boutonniere. These are so cute on a t-shirt with jeans too, or on your purse strap or a fabric headband. Very versatile.


Speaking of Spring Holidays, this giveaway is kind of like an Egg Hunt. Not on the Whitehouse Lawn, but at my New Website akacinders.com.

The first 20 people who can find the hidden coupon code on my website will get a brooch of their choice. There are only a few requirements

You must wear the brooch and pass out my business card to interested friends (after all, I'm looking for you for advertising)

You must pay shipping only for your brooch (International buyers will be refunded the difference between priority and first class as I will ship international first class)

You must follow the link to my Artfire shop for your brooch.

You will receive a coupon good for $12 off of the purchase price of the brooch (full price excluding shipping). If you choose to purchase additional items, remember Artfire patrons receive and additional discount.

Here is a clue, the hidden page is on a hidden page on akacinders.com. Click a link to find a link to the page.

Sharing - Keeping Busy Crafts

I've recently become obsessed with crochet. I made the cutest cupcake hat for Luna and learned a new stitch. I have loads of yarn sitting around an loads of time, so as long as I don't get distracted trying to watch videos and crochet, Luna will have lots of sweaters/booties this winter.

How about you? Have some time on your hands and want to try something new?

Try these cute DIY Rope Bracelets from honestlywtf.com - cute.

Ever want to try those Rolled Fabric Flowers? jonesdesigncompany.com has a tutorial for you. Gonna have to try these myself.

How about sprucing your house up a little. I love these Vintage Wall Art Shelves found at Better Homes and Gardens, sooo much. I think I'm hunting in the room next door for some.

Hope you have a wonderful New Year and I'll bring you more ideas to spruce up your home next week.

May 12 Giveaway - Gardening Gloves, Apron and Seeds

What a Prize! This is one of my favorites, because I love to Garden. Gardening gloves, a Cute Cupcake Apron and a HUGE package of cut flower seeds.

The Apron is a discontinued version of this Cupcake Apron from Poppy's Garden Gate.

Remember to get this Giveaway you have to follow the basic rules HERE and Tell me what your favorite flower is. Easy one today. 

The winner of The Poppy Trio Necklace is ToastyAngel by default. The only entry.

Sorry about all entries that were lost by the Blogger Snafu. I will keep this contest open all weekend. Contest now ends Midnight EST, May 15th

May 10 Giveaway - akaCINDERS Poppy Trio Necklace

Finally recuperated from a busy weekend and fun Mothers Day celebrations. I love working in the Garden. This year we planted a few more perennials, Hosta, Peony, Roses and a Poppy.

The new little Lilac bush is almost in bloom too. It's going to be a wonderful Summer here.

Oh Prizes? Did you want Prizes? Here she is. A lovely Poppy Trio Necklace made by me, for you. All you have to to is follow these rules HERE and be a follower of my Facebook Page akaCINDERS. Just leave me a comment that you are following both, but  if you are using different aliases, you might want to let me know both your FB and Blogger or visitor names.

That's all there is to it.

Good luck! This Prize will be shipped at the end of May when the Month of May giveaway is over.

Come Back tomorrow, cause you could win 2 months of add space on my Blog!

I got a little ahead of Myself Yesterday and Announced the Gift Certificate Winner instead of the Skate Deck Key Tag Winner. What a Gorm (new favorite word). 

The winner of Friday's $30 gift certificate is kalliope kreations, CONGRATS!

It's Daffodil Time

I finished turning more than half of the Garden, broke down the compost bin and moved it to a better location. I always leave it right in my garden, because the decomposing food and garden wastes work great to add nutrients to the soil. It's a great place to plant tomatoes around, but I think I'll plant them where the compost bin was last year.

Moving the bin was a little tricky, because I had to keep only the bottom, decomposed compost and had to move the fresher compost back to the bin. Our garden in on a hill, so I put the bin at the highest end, so nutrients will flow down in the rain. Smart huh? Last year was the first year, and I had to rush the garden, no time for real planning.

The garden is almost ready for planting, and if the clouds break, I plan on spending another lovely day out in it today. Maybe I will even get out my onion sets and plant my potatoes in the canvass bags. Lettuce and peas should be planted now too, but my beautiful big tomatoes and peppers will have to wait a few weeks.

We have crocus up and the daffodils are just about ready to pop. The lilac bush and Cherry tree have a long way to go though. Not like DC where the Cherry Blossom festival waits. Hope I get there some day.


I'm really excited about the flowers. We don't have a lot in the yard, but we have a few. I'm going to try to get a few more this year. There are a lot of perennials down at the lake and we are just a few yard walk away from it.

Hope you get a chance to work in the Garden today. It's a wonderful way to refresh and revitalize after the long dark Winter.