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Easy DIY countdown to Christmas calendar

Hello! The countdown for Christmas has begun! This easy diy countdown to Christmas calendar is a fun, memorable way for you and your family to keep track of how many days until that special holiday is finally here. With only a few simple steps you can create this countdown calendar that will give you an easy go-to for the “how many days until Christmas” question that gets asked multiple times a day.

DIY countdown to Christmas

To start you will need:

Little gift bags
Stickers
Markers
Ribbon or string
Thumb tacks
Treats

supplies for DIY countdown calendar

Step one:

Place a sticker on each bag and number the bags from one to 24.

making DIY countdown calendar

Step two:

Add some fun little quotes, sayings, or facts to your bags. Here are some suggestions:

___ days until Christmas
Christmas is in ____ days
Only ___ days until Christmas
I can almost count on my 10 fingers, 11 days until Christmas
Christmas means expressing surprise. __ days until Christmas.
It’s the most wonderful day of the year in ___ days

Step three:

Hang up 4 rows of ribbon with your thumb tacks and tie the numbered bags to each row. Have fun here, you can put the bags in order as I did; or you can scramble all the numbers so you have to find the correct bag each day.

Step four:

Add a treat to each bag. I used some delicious Canadian chocolate bars that a family friend brought down for us, as well as some candy canes, mini Hershey bars, hi chews, gobstoppers, and dum dum suckers.

countdown to Christmas calendar

This holiday season create a new family tradition with this easy diy countdown to Christmas calendar. The best part about using these little gift bags is you can reuse them year after year or decorate the other side next year for a different look.

Don’t forget to subscribe to receive some happy mail.

Enjoy your thanksgiving everyone.

Check out some other easy projects here.

Gifts for gardeners 2018

gift ideas for gardeners Here it is. The gifts for gardeners 2018 list.The Christmas shopping season is upon us! It feels like I just did a gift for gardeners shopping guide. No matter what it feels like tho…..it’s here. It is now! This year I have included a few of my favorites from Etsy’s gifts for garden lovers. I love buying from Etsy ( no this is not a paid ad) it feels like the gifts are that much more special. Another thing I like to do is buy gifts from those small locally owned businesses. They so appreciate the sale!! Have you ever purchased something from a small business or a boutique to craft sale and have them frown at you? Never. They love it!!

gifts for gardeners

My favorite Gifts for Gardeners 2018

I absolutely love this gardeners box! It is a perfect idea for the gardener who loves to save seeds!
Ok. Of course I had to include this totally awesome faux grass mat from Magnolia Market. I mean so fun!
I love calendars! This one from farmers almanac will satisfy the gardener in your life.
This little book is so amazing. Even if you are not doing market farming, the information about making beds etc. is top notch.
There is nothing like a good handmade soap! Your gardener will be excited about this lovely little piece!!
Another Etsy find. Don’t you love it! Perfect for the humorous gardener.
This planter from anthropologie is so cute. They actually had a large selection of things that you could choose from for gardeners.
My other, Etsy find is this driftwood planter . What a fun and perfect gift for the natural gardener.

I know that not everyone will love everything on this list. However most will.

I tend to be a more natural gardener.. a little leary of chemicals and pesticides. How about you? Some people wonder why I care when I mostly grow flowers. I think that I am careful because I do a lot of gardening without gloves, also my little kids are in there with me. Therefore I don’t worry as much when they are pulling on the plants and playing in the dirt.

Don’t forget to sign up for our emails. This will let you keep up with this little adventure of ours.

We are working on a new line for our Etsy Shop. Coming in March of 2019, we will have a new line of market bags and aprons…. Until then, I will be listing the dried flowers that we have from our 2018 growing season.

Peanut Butter Oreo Pie

oreo and peanut butter pie Okay you peanut butter lovers, this one is for you. What satisfies a sweet tooth more than a smooth rich piece of Oreo peanut butter pie. I got my inspiration for this Oreo peanut butter pie from my dad. Although all he can do is look at my pie in pictures, due to the fact that we live 1700 miles apart. My dad is the guy at thanksgiving that passes the classic apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie and heads straight for the richest, peanut butteriest, chocolatiest looking pie. One of the biggest things that draws me towards making this pie around the holidays is the small ingredient list. There is nothing better than whipping up a good looking pie in no time at all!

Directions:

ingredients for peanut butter oreo pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

oreo peanut butter pie

Separate Oreo filling from the cookie and set filling aside. Leave 5-6 Oreos whole, for garnishing at the end. Put cookies into a large ziplock bag or food processor and crush down to crumb size pieces.

oreo pie crust

Melt butter and mix together with Oreo crumbs. Press mixture into a pie pan. Bake crust for 5-7 minutes.

oreo pie ingredients

Mix the filling of the Oreo, peanut butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Let rest until crust is cooled.

oreo pie filling

Spoon the filling onto cooled pie crust. Let chill for 1-1 1/2 hours.

oreo and peanut butter pie

Garnish with a layer of cool whip over the entire pie or just a dollop on each piece. Break the last of the Oreo cookies in half and place on each piece of pie. Cut and enjoy!

When I moved away, I left with many teachings from my dad, in which I am thankful for. As thanksgiving nears let us know what you are thankful for. There is always something to be thankful for. And of course, I’m always thankful for that last piece of peanut butter Oreo pie.

Here are a few pies to die over.

This pecan…

This apple…..

and this twist on pumpkin.

The pumpkin dessert, I promise……amazing.

These links are not affiliated…just personal favorites.

Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Hey, hey! Turkey day is almost here. This year we are hosting the big shindig. I thought I would share an easy Thanksgiving centerpiece with you. I am all for simple, simple, simple. I don’t do well with to many things and pieces….how I manage everyday life is quite a mystery! Anywho….back to the easy thanksgiving centerpiece.

I do not like really large centerpieces where you can’t see the person you are across from. Of course this works pretty good with bickering teenagers…. I prefer to keep the centerpieces low.

thanksgiving center piece supplies

Like most of my DIY’s, I encourage you to use your imagination. You can use this as a guide… if you do not have everything that is called for…use something else.

Supplies for the easy thanksgiving centerpiece:

cake platter or pedestal bowl
Spanish moss
moss balls ( found at craft stores)
textures balls (I made mine but found at craft stores)
small gourds
table runner

spanish moss base

Place the Spanish moss onto your base. Spread it around until you are happy with the amount.

spanish moss

With your fingers, make small openings in the moss where you will set your first 4 items. This will help hold the balls in place.

moss balls

Put your moss and textured balls into the indents you have created. This will be your base of the arrangement.

gourds in centerpiece

Take your gourds and put them around and on top of the balls. You can add as many or few as you would like. Also if you want, you can place any extra gourds on the table runner next to the centerpiece.

thanksgiving centerpiece

I found the Spanish moss at Jo-Ann Fabrics.

My cake platter came from Target

The moss balls can be found at Michael’s

Here are some textured balls

and a cute grey table runner.

Gourds can be found at any grocery store.

These links are not affiliated.

What do you like to put on your table at Thanksgiving?

Check out this easy DIY holiday project. These cards will be the finishing touch for your gifts this year.

DIY Nature-stamped Holiday Cards

Well, well those greeting cards are going to start filling your mailboxes before you know it. Nature-stamped holiday cards are fun and easy to create. The best thing about these cards is each one is different and you can add your own personal touch. We were inspired by our love of nature and DIY personality. The holiday season will be here before we know it, so get ahead of the busy time and start with making these fun and easy cards.

Supplies

Card stock
Nature inspired stamps (pine tree twigs, leaves, pine cones, evergreen twigs,etc)
Paper cutter
Speedball block print ink
Plexiglas for ink rolling (any flat surface works)
Ink roller
Pens, markers, ribbon

Optional:

gloves to avoid getting ink on hands
Newspaper for work area
Stickers, glitter, etc.

Step 1:

cutting card stock

Cut card stock in half and fold each half in half to create 2 cards. Set aside.

Step 2:

Spread ink evenly onto prepared space.

Step 3:

Press twig into ink. Make sure the entire twig gets emerged into the ink to ensure the full effect of the stamp.

Step 4:

Press twig firmly onto card stock. Set aside and let dry.

Step 5:

Add your creative touch with markers, ribbon, glitter, and stickers.

nature stamped cards

With the holiday season quickly approaching, get ahead of the game and make your holiday cards early. We hope you enjoy making these easy nature-stamped holiday cards. Remember, let your creative mind sore! Enjoy your last few days of fall.

foraged wreath from your yard DIY

Do you look for a new wreath every season? Did you know you can make a foraged wreath from you own yard…or your neighbors? With a few foraged twigs and leaves you can put together a wreath in no time at all.

Foraged wreaths are so amazing. Each one is unique. The best thing about a foraged wreath from your yard..or your neighbors is that you made it!! A foraged wreath does not need to be perfect.

What is a foraged wreath? The word forage basically means “in search of” . In this case we are in search of natural materials for our wreath.

I am going to give you a supply list. This list is just the basics that you need for making your wreath. Please feel free to add anything you find to your wreath. We are making this wreath without a wreath form. The form will be made from foraged materials.

Supplies

floral wire
needle nosed pliers
clippers
bendable twigs/branches
foraged goodies

In the above photo, I foraged hybrid willow branches, young maple branches, hydrangea blooms, cedar clippings and ash twigs with seeds

Step 1 making the wreath form

willow branch wreath

Take your longest bendable branch and make the desired size circle leaving the rest of the branch free. With your non dominant hand hold the branch together where you connect the circle, then with your dominant hand wrap the remaining branch in and around the circle.

willow wreath

To add your next branch. Insert the thickest end of the branch through the base about 6 inches. Hold the branch with your non dominant hand to the top inside of the wreath. With your dominant hand wrap the branch in and around the base until you have wrapped the entire branch. Weave the end of the branch into the wreath. Continue adding branches until you reach you desired thickness. Use the clippers to cut off the ends of the branches that are sticking out. Like I mentioned earlier. There is no rules! Make your wreath as thick or thin as you like.

Step 2 Adding foraged materials

foraged materials

Divide your foliage and flowers into small bunches and secure with a small piece of the floral wire. For my wreath I used 3 bunches. It works best to have your greenery in the back of the bunch and your focal floral in the front.

wreath making

Attach the floral wire to your wreath base. Lay your bunch on the base and wrap securely several times around with the wire. Add your next bunch just below your first secured bunch and wrap with the wire.

wreath making

If you are only going to put the bunches part way around the wreath base. Attach the last one in the opposite direction as the rest to give the end a clean finish.

Add other items you have foraged the same way with the wire.

Finishing

To finish the wreath. Wrap the remaining end of the wire around the stems on the back of the wreath form.

Cut a piece of wire about 4″ in length. On the back of the wreath at the top weave the piece of wire through some branches and back out. Twist the 2 ends together. This will be your hanger for your wreath.

wreath making

foraged wreath

Blissful Canadian Butter Tarts

Canadian butter tarts It’s that time of year when my thoughts turn to how fast summertime went and all the while trying to enjoy this beautiful fall weather. Baking traditional Canadian desserts is one of my families “must haves” at this time of year. Butter tarts first came to Canada in the early 1900’s from France. Growing up in Canada, we had butter tarts every holiday season, with some for special occasions throughout the year.

Directions and pictures

To make butter tarts you will need a mini or regular muffin tin, two mixing bowls, a whisk, a fork, measuring cups, measuring spoons, and a rolling pin.

Filling

The ingredients you will need for the filling are ½ cup of brown sugar, two tablespoons of vanilla (intimidation vanilla works), ¼ cup of butter, and two eggs.

Crust

½ pound or 1 ⅛ cup of shortening (butter or lard will work also), two cups of all purpose flour, and ½ cup of water is need for the crust of the butter tart.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla until butter chunks are gone and brown sugar is dissolved, to make a foamy filling. Set aside.

In a separate bowl combine flour and shortening with a fork or pastry blender until contents becomes a crumbly mixture.

Add water and mix until mixture becomes a soft dough.

Get surface ready to roll out dough by dusting with flour.

Roll out dough until it is about ⅛ inch thick.

Using the edge of a ⅓ cup for mini tarts and the edge of a 1 cup for larger tart cut out circles of dough and place into muffin tins.

With muffin tins prepared, use a tablespoon scoop 1 tbsp. of filling into the mini tarts and 2-2 ½ tbsp into the regular tarts.

Once all tarts are filled with the filling, place into oven for 15-20 minutes or until the filling starts to bubble.

Let tarts cool for ten minutes before removing from the muffin tins and cooling completely on a cooling rack.

Blissful Canadian Butter Tarts

These melt in your mouth butter tarts will be a family favorite.

Course Dessert

Prep Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup soft butter
2 large eggs room temperature
1/2 pound shortening lard or butter
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup cold water

Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl add the brown sugar, vanilla, soft butter and eggs. Mix until well blended. Set aside
In another bowl add the flour and the shorting. Mix with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles small peas.
Slowly add the cold water and gently mix until combined.
Roll out on floured surface until dough is 1/8" thick
Using the edge of a ⅓ cup for mini tarts and the edge of a 1 cup for larger tart cut out circles of dough and place into muffin tins.
With muffin tins prepared, use a tablespoon scoop 1 tbsp. of filling into the mini tarts and 2-2 ½ tbsp into the regular tarts.
Once all tarts are filled with the filling, place into oven for 15-20 minutes or until the filling starts to bubble.
Let tarts cool for ten minutes before removing from the muffin tins and cooling completely on a cooling rack.

The best way to serve a butter tart is with a warm cup of coffee, and a room full of family and friends. If you enjoy getting new recipes, reading gardening tips and tricks, and following my journey as a small flower farmer, subscribe to my blog midwestcutflowers.com and follow me on pinterest and instagram. Try not to FALL for this amazing treat, they are sure the LEAF you smiling!

Crazy summer

So I am not sure what happened to the posting once a week thing…. but any who here I am. This summer has been crazy. Has yours seemed busier then normal? The flowers have been doing great. It has been a blast planting new varieties and seeing what they do. As like last year. Next year I need to double again. It takes a lot of blooms to make a decent sized bouquet. I also need to plant more foliage.

When I went out this morning to cut….I wore a sweatshirt. It felt amazing…but I am not ready to let our summer go just yet. I am still hoping for a few more hot days. How about you? Hot days or sweatshirt weather?

A quick hello

Hey it’s me popping in for a quick hello. “Hello” I am just going to give you a quick update on what is happening here…..a lot. Remind me not to make any appointments in the month of May or June!! It is way to crazy to try and keep up on the outside stuff and be responsible and take care of “my real job”.

Flower stand and flower bike — My flower stand

I am going to try and post an update or a recipe once a week (ha) during the summer. The updates will be pictures of what I am doing with the flowers and a quick blurb.

Also if you want to know what I am dreaming of pop over to pinterest and follow my board…..dreaming I know but who knows. I might get to a few of these wonderful ideas.

fresh cut flower bouquet — bunch of flowers

This is year 2 doing the flowers and my flower stand. Things are picking up. I planted double the blooms as last year and for next year I have to double that. It takes a lot of blooms for one bouquet.

On the agenda

So there are a lot of things on the agenda.

I am working on a recipe post for a super yummy fruit pizza.
I am trying to clean out my raspberry patch because the weeds have gone crazy.
Putting together plans for a hoop house.
Pulling up grass along the fence and planting perennials for cutting
Trying to fit all this in among laundry, kids, cleaning, appointments, sleep, exercise (what is that anyhow

A few things I am loving

Linen has had my attention for awhile this dress. Lovely!
Cold coffee…. my dad would never….this cold press from caribou is fab!
Waxed canvas bags, this one is a fav.

10 must do garden hacks

garden hacks you must do

If you follow me on pinterest you will see that I have created a garden hack board. I loved these garden hacks and I bet you will too. There are so many cool ideas out there…check them out!

1. Making rows

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I absolutely love this rake idea.

2. DIY plant markers

diy plant markers

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These little plant markers are so cute. I love the organic natural look of them. Super easy to make!

3. DIY soil testing

DIY soil testing

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I did this soil test last year. It is a pretty interesting thing to try. Would make a great science project!

4. Milk jugs to cover seedlings

milk jug to cover seeds

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Sometimes those little seedlings just need a little help.

5. Composting for beginners

composting for beginners

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I love composting. I can get a little nerdy about it….but it does wonders for your soil.

6. Growing potatoes

growing potatoes

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I attended a garden expo with my sis in law this spring. This was one of the things they talked about in the vege growing class. I am excited to try it. A few years ago I did something similar with tomato cages but this will keep things together a lot better.

7. Improve your soil

improving garden soil

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If you take the time to amend your soil you will not be disappointed. Even if you just do 1 little thing you will see results.

8. Grow plants from cuttings

grow lavender from cuttings

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So this can take a bit of time but once you do it you are hooked.

9. How to make cut flowers last longer

how to make cut flowers last longer

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Love the suggestions.

10. Growing with landscape fabric

growing with landscape fabric

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I am such a fan of this method! Highly recommend it. It will make your weed wars so much easier and I think that my plants were way healthier using it. The fabric can be used for years. It is a bit of an investment but worth the money!

Be sure to check out some of my other posts. 12 awesome gardening sites not to miss.