Learning the Art of Blogging, oh My!

I have yet to unlock the key to effective consistent blogging.  I love put pen to paper or rather fingers to keystrokes, and I truly do love the idea of communicating thoughts, ideas, and sharing prose through a blog that reaches out and touches my readers in various ways.

I am not technically gifted to understand the intricacies of of the dashboard where all creative bloggers go to design those pages that draw you in, and I do not totally comprehend how to get those wonderful links to various products that we crafters, designers and homemakers want to "click" on to find out more .......

I would love to learn to share tutorials, mine and others, to engage followers and to be considered one of the must follow bloggers! Now wouldn't that be wonderful?

So I am off to the bookstore to find the book or books that will guide me through the world of blogging.

I will also get out my calendar and commit to dedicated blogging time so that it is not months between my entries and I will in 2015 work towards my goals regarding my alter ego of FarmGirl Sister and that will be my theme of posts, chronicling each achievement and even set back as I go.

You will see me organize my chaotic home and studio; you will get your hands dirty as we design and plant my garden this Spring; you will come right along with me as I tackle projects and repurposing challenges for my store Gladiola's Vintage Market in Branson West; and if you follow along for the hard stuff, you will be rewarded by going along on my very fun pickin' trips.

Fabulous Book Table from a wire spool

Oh I know you have heard this from me before.  After years as a caregiver for my Mom, and taking the last year to grieve at her passing, I want to work to accomplish those things she always encouraged me to do.  My Mom was my biggest fan and I want to show her even now as she watches over me, that I really can do the things she always knew I could!

Meet Eula, my pick up pickin' buddy

Crafting parties in my dining room!

....so here I go, off to learn to be a blogger you want to know!

I so hope you decide to follow along for the ride.

-til tomorrow, Stormy

A Keeper of a Flea!

Flea markets, we all know of them, most of us have a favorite two or three that we frequent for those fabulous must have treasures.  I love flea markets, will stop at any I see, and have many that I fancy for their amazingly talented vendors whose staging just draws you in.

My fleas are at Picker's Flea Market in downtown Branson, a fairly new flea market, less than a year open and located in the town's old grocery store.  It's well done with wide aisles, a variety of sizes of spaces, and so remarkable vendors with HUGE talents.

For those of you who enjoy shopping flea markets, thank you!  For those of you who are vendors at a flea, wow, you know how much work it really is ..... to take mostly cast off items and turn them into treasures that just have to go home with some lucky shopper.

We have to constantly keep our spaces looking fresh .... and Spring is upon us, the perfect time for a redo!

This is one of three of my spaces, and has attracted a lot of attention because we staged it complete with a full size bed in the center.  Its has been there for a couple of months now, so tomorrow, we are giving it a complete redo!  Out with the bed and in with the .............................., well you will just have to wait and see!

Tune in tomorrow!

Emergency Candles from the Pantry

It is not news to anyone of us to know that we have been plagued by severe storms across the country leaving thousands without power, for hours, days and even weeks.  It's heart breaking to watch, and scary to think, it could so easily happen to anyone of us.  Here in Branson, we experienced first hand a taste of it with the Leap Day Tornado this past February.  Our community was very blessed in that there was no loss of life, very few injuries, and although quite a bit of property damage, it could have been so much worse.  When the power goes out, the first instinct is to find a source of light.  Lighting candles is a quick short term light source, but candles, even if you have them, burn quickly.

However a trip to the pantry

and a stop at the junk drawer

and you can have an instant, long burning candle.

You will need a can of Crisco and a birthday candle for this instant, long lasting light source.

I prefer the small cans of Crisco to stock in my pantry as I don't use it often (actually hardly ever) and the larger cans, once open will turn rancid after time.  The smaller cans are also perfect for these emergency candles.  Again, you want to have a few small cans in your pantry, unopened.

Remove the plastic lid and inner foil seal. . .

Select one candle from your birthday candle stash

and gently push the candle down into the center of can.  

If you have read other posts about these Crisco candles they tell you to push a candle wick into the can using a skewer.  My thoughts are this, in a power outage who has time to search out their bag of candle wicks (if you even have them)  and then find a skewer?  Everyone has birthday candles in their junk drawer!  They are an easy substitute and instant wick!  If you use the large can of Crisco, substitute an emergency candle for the birthday candle.  (and if you don't have emergency candles on hand, you need to purchase several boxes!  Everyone should have emergency candles and boxes of matches in their pantry.

You will push the candle down, almost flush with the top of the Crisco, 

leaving just the wick and bit of candle protruding

light the candle wick

you will see a bit of birthday candle wax burn then float on the top of the Crisco

as the Crisco burns, it forms a clear puddle around the wick

it's wonderful and it burns smoke free, and odor free! (another reason to be sure to use a new can rather than a can that has been open and sitting in the cupboard for some time 

(however in an emergency use the open can if that is all you have!)

 After 15 minutes of burning, only a quarter size area of the Crisco has melted!  This candle will last for hours and hours!  

Just remember to clearly mark the top of the lid once you have done this to the can - you don't want to find birthday candle bits in your next pie crust..... ha!

I love this idea, and have now purchased small cans of Crisco, packs of birthday candles, and boxes of matches to keep in our emergency supply kits*.

2013 is going to my year of preparing for emergencies.  Watch for more useful tips and great ideas to help you be ready should the need arise.

'til tomorrow,

Stormy

P. S.  -  Watch for more on stocking your own emergency supply kits in future posts.