Monday, March 27, 2017

Misc.


We received some cold weather!  I didn't want to take any chances with my strawberries or covered box so out came the sheets!



We have gotten a lot of rain lately too.  Some of my new strawberries have gotten green leaves but now I have to worry about them getting too much water!  Always something for this gardener to worry about!!



I made a few bars of hand lotion for the first time.  
Shea butter, Coconut Oil, Beeswax and Lavender Oil. I didn't know if it would turn out or not!



The lotion bars did turn out well so I will be making more!  Easy to do too!  Now to find some oval containers to put them in.  Any suggestions??



Did you know if you turn your Greek yogurt upside down in the refrigerator that it will keep longer?   I am the only one eating it here and it lasts me a long time.  Try it!



My friend Ann came over for another quilting day.   Good thing she comes every once in awhile so that I will get some done on mine!



I like to have homemade mixes on hand to use.  Here is a ranch dressing mix, an onion soup mix and a taco mix.  Does anyone have any mix recipes to share?



Sometimes one has to make a BIG MESS to be creative.  Sounds like a good excuse anyway!!



Can't resist including a picture of my favorite little "buddy" Coco!  Hope to visit with you again next time!

20 comments:

Granny Marigold said...

Your hand lotion bars look great!! I'm not sure where you could find oval containers though. Maybe the Dollar Store?

Did you see my copy-cat raised bed yet? Today I put in onion sets and sowed some lettuce. Hopefully it's not too early.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Granny Marigold, I do like your raised bed! I would probably gave liked it a little higher for my back but love the greenhouse covers. Thanks for the idea to look adt the Dollar Store for the oval containers. I had not thought of that! Was just thinking Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Nancy

NanaDiana said...

Love those hand lotion bars. I don't know of anything that comes in an oval container anymore. Wonder if you could make the next bars in something round? It might be easier to find a round container.

I haven't put any mixes together in a long time but that is a really smart idea.

Glad you had fun quilting with your friend. xo Diana

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi NanaDiana, I was not thinking when I bought the oval thing to put the lotion in to harden. I have not looked yet but will keep my fingers crossed that I can find something! Nancy

Betsy said...

I love the idea of the lotion bars. Another blog friend sent me one as a gift and I love it. It sits right by my knitting chair and I use it every day. I can't think of anything for you to use as a container though. I hope your strawberries continue to do well. We're still having some freezing weather so no flowers or plants here yet. I hope you have a lovely week.
Blessings,
Betsy

Margaret said...

That's one big benefit with your box/stand - it's so much easier to cover and protect from frost than a big bed!

I did not know that about Greek yoghurt - it's a staple at our house so I'll have to give it a try!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Betsy, I like the lotion bars also and they are so easy to make. You should give it a try. Looking forward to nicer weather to get going on the courtyard! Nancy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Margaret, The covering for the box is not as protective as a cold frame so disappointed that way. For someone that doesn't eat a lot of yogurt turning it upside down really helps. Nancy

Cat Lover said...

Hope all is well with your raised beds. We are to drop below 32F tight I believe but it is still way to early to plant anything here yet.
Your lotion bars look lovely. Love the ingredient list!
Coco looks very sweet!
Have a good week.
Robin

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Cat Lover, I am hoping my raised beds do well also. We spent enough money on them! Yes, I like the ingredients to make the bars because they are healthy. Nancy

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

Can't wait to see how your strawberries do! I have never had much luck with them, I need a new system. I tried hanging pots, but the birds kept eating the berries. Last year I planted them in giant pots with the currant bushes...now I'm praying they all survived this harsh winter. Fingers crossed! Everything is still under snow here, the only green I see so far are the chives popping up. Love them, they never fail!

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Mountain Mama,
After moving here I miss my chives and hope to get some going in a pot somewhere. Since Coco eats everything and they are from the onion family I am afraid to plant them where she can reach. I do hope my strawberries do well. They are in a 4x4 raised bed. Maybe I will have to try giant pots like you do. Pictures of them? Nancy

Gloria said...

Hi Nancy, So hard not having good wifi. Did you find that problem in rv parks when you traveled? Anyway, I am here now and have enjoyed reading your last two posts. I love making lotion bars, so easy and fun and they make such nice gifts when you want to give a friend a cute little something, just for fun. I hope your strawberries do well in their new location. I will be really interested to see how the self-water goes as summer arrives.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Gloriade, When we full-timed in our fifth-wheel it was years ago (about 14 or so years ago) and we used a little black rectangle gadget called pocket mail! We had to hold it up to a pay phone to get and send our messages. Pretty neat at the time. We would type the e-mails in the fifth-wheel and Bob would load them into the pocket mail gadget. We also went to libraries and used their computers. My lotion bars are oblong and I don't have containers for them. I just bought the mold to make them so hate to buy another. Maybe I will just wrap them in netting or calico unless I find the correct size container. I only have one box that is self watering. Have fun traveling! Nancy

Gloria said...

Hi Nancy, In answer to your question of wrapping your lotion bars in calico or netting, I have only made them in the fall or winter and I know that coconut oil melts into a liquid over 80 degrees. I don't know if that would happen mixed with the other ingredients but I would take care when storing them to be sure they are kept in a cool place. Enjoy.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Gloriade, Thanks for sharing. I will have to consider that. Nancy

Henny Penny said...

I will be glad when these little cold snaps stop happening and spring stays around. Little Coco is so sweet. I think soap making would be fun. Your bars turned out really pretty.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Henny Penny, Yes, I too will be glad for a stretch of nice weather! Coco is sweet but so spoiled! That is not soap but hand lotion bars that I made. Nancy

Mutiny in the Garden said...

I love those planters! It is in the sixties and sunny here in Chicago today and supposed to be even warmer. I went outside and did a little mucking around for clean-up but it is so wet out, there is no planting that can be done just yet. ~Stacy

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Hi Mutiny in the Garden, I am so glad that you visited and left a comment. Since I have a courtyard which is sand it is not too wet to be out puttering around. Loved the sunshine today and being outdoors for awhile. We live about an hours drive from Chicago! Almost neighbors! Nancy

Progress in the Courtyard!

  It was so nice to look out my bedroom window this morning and see the Clematis blooming instead of a pile of snow.  It is a rainy day agai...