***You guys, I don't know what's going on with the comments. They aren't appearing and they aren't showing up under the moderation tab. If you tried to enter the giveaway, send me a message through the "contact me" page. Entries close Friday, April  at 11:59 EST.***

On a bragging* note,  I recently worked with Brika to create a design for their collaboration with Lord and Taylor. I drew roses for days (weeks!) to create a pattern. Brika took it from there and created a beautiful* line of goods for Lord & Taylor's in-store Birdcage pop-up shop, and online they've featured them in their Must Give Mother's Day Gifts collection!

*You get to brag on your own website, right?

A giveaway from Canvas Factory

Every once in a great while I am approached by a company to review a product. If it involves me getting something for free I usually accept. A few weeks ago Canvas Factory asked if I wanted a free canvas print and a free print to give away. Of course I said yes.

I decided to do one of my favorite phone pics, a total mom-moment: the family at the beach building drip castles. The prices at Canvas Factory astounded me, but there was a sale going on that made the prices appear more reasonable. I have a feeling it's a permanent sale, I'm not sure they'd have any orders charging nearly $60 for an 8" x 8" print.

Ordering was simple and straightforward, they offer different options for the sides of the canvas so it's not just white/blank. I placed the order and it came within a few days. The quality is great and the image really makes me happy.

I was prepared to write a great review when I pushed the box out of the way and thought the label looked a little odd. It was then I noticed the label was an international one and suddenly the awkward language of the email conversation made sense. The company is based in China! It never crossed my mind that they could possibly be halfway around the world and schlepping a product I could just as easily have printed through a dozen places much closer to home.

All that said, I still have a code for a free 16 x 20" print from Canvas Factory if you're interested! All you have to do is comment below and tell me if you've ever had a canvas print made and where you ordered it.  Would ordering a print from China deter you from using a company if the price is right?

(Disclaimer: If I didn't make it clear enough above, I was given a product to review here. As much as I love free stuff, all opinions are my own.)

Again and again

Adding bits and pieces back into the bedroom. How do you even have a grown up bedroom when kids pretty much make every room "lived in"?

"Adding bits and pieces back into the bedroom. How do you even have a grown up bedroom when kids pretty much make every room "lived in"?"

I don't know how many times I've reworked my bedroom since starting this blog. It's a lifelong goal, I guess, because I can remember rearranging my bedroom as a young girl, removing all the drawers from the antique dresser, sitting on my butt, and scooting the dresser across the floor by pushing with my legs, using all my might.

The long and slow process of finding bedding I like.

"The long and slow process of finding bedding I like."

We've had 3, maybe 4? and not including the times the mattress was on the floor, beds. Green walls, taupe walls, tan walls, navy walls...a multitude of arrangements and changes in rooms. Once I get started on thinking about the room, the vibe I want, I fixate. Lately I've been taking some time right before bed to read books of my own interest, then read to and with M, and for some reason that got me thinking about nice comfy pillows for sitting up in bed to read.

I've been using pieces of fabric to see which colors or textures I like. I've made 2 sets of euro pillow covers then ended up buying a set of tan ones from Ikea (which are more like a place holder than there for the duration).

Draping fabric to decide on a long lumbar pillow. Bedtime reading comfort is a new priority.

"Draping fabric to decide on a long lumbar pillow. Bedtime reading comfort is a new priority."

We now have Sherwin Williams Blue Peacock walls, which is really way more green than blue; perhaps Teal Peacock is a better name. The bedding is a mix of Pottery Barn outlet sheets (Rosie Dot, which are organic but stiff and crunchy even after washing), a cotton and linen blend quilt from Target (far prettier in person),  giant dusty blush throw from Target, and the tan euro pillow covers from Ikea.

I found an old camp blanket in the giant truckload of fabric we inherited from Charlie's grandma that perfectly matches the throw. I want to make it into an extra long lumbar pillow...except that I'm just so tired of DIY projects. The satisfaction of "I made that" seems to have dulled and I feel like I won't value the pillow if I make it. I'll constantly be on the lookout for something more sophisticated. Of course, the other pillows I love, the ones that I would buy if I could, are around $200 (!?!?!!!) and are an impossibility.

How do those home bloggers do it? It's been 10 years and I still haven't pulled the bedroom together, much less over a weekend. Do you ever feel like DIYing a solution doesn't maintain the same value as a purchased option?  

It's a free for all

Foraged greens for soup!

"Foraged greens for soup!"

As I last posted, the community garden is covered in green. Not only are there plots of cover crops, but there are a few large areas of lamium/dead nettle and chickweed.

Last Saturday I harvested dead nettle, chickweed, dandelion greens, and sorrel to make a pureed green soup. I'm not a big smoothie fan (they go down too fast for me) so a rich warm soup is a great way to enjoy the benefits of these "wild" greens.

Non nom: dead nettle, chickweed, sorrel, elephant garlic soup

"Non nom: dead nettle, chickweed, sorrel, elephant garlic soup"

I've been reading Katrina Blair's The Wild Wisdom of Weeds. From her book: Dandelions are rich in beta-carotene, calcium, iron, potassium, and Vitamins C, D, and E. Chickweed is rich in antioxidants, Vitamins A C D B6 and B12. From other sources I've learned dead nettle is an important supply of nectar to bees, anti-inflammatory, and also loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Cauliflower Sorrel Soup

This recipe was loosely based on Gayla Trail's potato sorrel soup recipe, though I couldn't find my copy of the book with that particular recipe (Easy Growing). I've probably loaned it to someone, which means I just need to go get another copy for myself. Her books don't come back readily.

• one onion, sliced
• 4 bulbs elephant garlic, smashed
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• one head cauliflower, pulled apart into florets
• 4 cups chicken stock (or vegetable....something rather bland)
• 8 cups mild flavored greens
• 1 cup whole milk
• grated ginger, salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Sautee the onion and elephant garlic in butter until translucent, but not golden. Stir in stock, add cauliflower. Simmer until cauliflower is soft. Add rinsed and drained greens and simmer until well-wilted. Blend with an immersion blender until uniformly pureed. Add milk, season with ginger, salt, etc.

Defending my turf

I've been planning the planting schedule for the community garden for about 2 months now. I use the term schedule loosely, there isn't much that's set in stone at the garden, I just happen to be the one who really enjoys the theoretical side of things.

Our biggest challenge in the space is grass. It just enjoys growing there in a way it doesn't want to grow in the typical lawn. Go figure. Every year we fight the grass back and it's just about the only weed we have to, well, weed.

While winter has taken most of the color out of nature, #littlesugarcreek #communitygarden is lush and green thanks to the #covercrops working for us!

"While winter has taken most of the color out of nature, #littlesugarcreek #communitygarden is lush and green thanks to the #covercrops working for us!"

This year we followed the suggestion of Grace Gershuny and planted 2 crops of buckwheat followed by a crop of winter rye (pg 54, Start with the Soil). The grass is indiscriminant and covers the paths as well. In those areas we dug out the grass as best we could and planted perennial white clover. The idea is to give the grass a bit of competition and suffocate it. In the spring we'll plant some rows with red clover and allow it to rest.

The result is a lush, green garden space in the dead of winter!

Part of my color therapy

"Part of my color therapy"

I took the picture of the garden this past Saturday as I spent time there note taking and surveying the area. There have been concerns voiced about the "condition" of the space, the need to till it all in and start all over again. On the basest level the idea simply hurts my feelings. Any thoughts beyond that begin an internal conversation about the biases of gardening, the status quo, and the misunderstandings of atypical approaches.

Fava bean forest at the #communitygarden

"Fava bean forest at the #communitygarden"

These approaches not only alleviate the summer weeds, but also offer a sustainable solution to a garden that operates on a budget of $0 (yes, literally). One where we loving tend the soil in a way where amendments won't be necessary, where we save seed from cover crops to sow again in another season. On top of all that we can use the cover crops for our own benefit: red clover for tea, buckwheat for a grain crop, winter rye for juicing.

Seems I end up defending my gardening approaches no matter where I sink my trowel. Honestly, though, I thought it was pretty nice to see so much green on a gray winter day.