Ok, I’m so tickled!!!! My pumpkin seeds are hatching!!!  I took these pics this morning and it’s been 10 days since I planted them.  I’m amazed at that second pic – actually seeing the plant coming out of the seed – like it’s shedding the seed.  I dooooo realize we (me and my pumpkins) have a long way to go but seriously, the fact that they actually hatched is a pretty big deal!  #1 I bought those seed packets last year and didn’t realize they actually have an expiration date on them – #2 I’ve never planted seeds before and #3 It hasn’t been that consistently great sunny warm weather yet.  If anyone has any pumpkin patch wisdom to pass along, please do.  I’m wondering about how many pumpkins come off a single plant . . . I planted 3 seeds in each container – should I plant them all??  🙂

Does anyone know the name of this bush?  It’s about 6′ tall and in my backyard.  It didn’t have any blooms last year but this year it’s gorgeous and it smell’s good, sweet.  I have no clue what it is.  😉

I saw this idea on Pinterest and it worked out perfect.  I have several cinder blocks left over from the old back porch and a boat load of scrap wood.  The last time we saw temps above 50 degrees, I pulled out my little hand held circular saw and cut some wood!  Can’t wait for some fire pit nights. 😉

I have heard about these crock pot bags but hadn’t tried them yet.  They caught my eye on the grocery shelf last week so thought I’d give them a try.  I was extremely pleased with the outcome.  No fuss, no mess, no scrubbing, no clean up and I could put my crock pot away when I was done, not having to leave it on the counter until I ran the ceramic “insides” through the dishwasher!  I will definitely keep these in-stock! 😉

FYI – This stuff is great.  Jason told me about it.  He found it at Home Depot, but not all Home Depots carry it.  It’s an exterior matte finish paint that only comes in white or a dark red.  This is what I used on the potting bench.  It brushes on pretty nicely and is ONLY $15 a gallon!!!  I’ll be painting my Pumpkin Patch fence with it too.

P.S. If you’re not quite done painting, just cover your brush or roller with Saran Wrap or foil and it will be perfect for a day or two.  You can even put it in the freezer if it’s going to be awhile before you use it again.

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I am totally obsessed with these 3 things:  my corner clamp, my large rolling cart and Spax screws!  Since the weather has been so fantastic (well, last week) I started working on some “outside” stuff.  I began my potting bench over the weekend and it’s coming together quite nicely.  I have a bunch of wood scraps still in my yard so I pulled out some 2×4’s and some 4×4’s from the pile and starting cutting.  I keep my saw on this cart I found at Harbor Freight.  I love that whenever I need it I just pull the cart out of the barn and set it up.  I also lovvvveeee the “corner clamp” I found a few months ago (also Harbor Freight).  It came in super handy this weekend trying to screw 2×4’s together, it holds the boards tight and keeps them square at the same time.  My other obsession is Spax screws, my son told me about them.  I imagine their more expensive butttt you don’t have to pre-drill!!! They are heaven in a box, lol.  I did however, have a tough time trying to screw the 2×4’s into the very old and very dry 4×4 posts from the old back porch.  I remembered a tip from Wayne – rub a little soap onto the screw and try it again – like butter (Thanks Wayne)!!!  Bar soap or liquid soap it doesn’t make a difference (I had liquid – Bath & Body’s Mint & Eucalyptus, lol).  Now I just have to get some 1×4’s for the top and bottom shelving and paint it 😉    I’m including the links for the potting bench (Pinterest) and the clamp, cart and Spax screws:

Potting Bench:  http://tinyurl.com/hrq8hmo

Corner Clamp @ Harbor Freight: http://tinyurl.com/6uxaslb

Large Cart @ Harbor Freight: http://tinyurl.com/z9czy6d

Spax Screws @ Home Depot:  http://tinyurl.com/jgbjd5q

I love this website.  Just sign up with your email address and they’ll send you a daily “deals/steals” email.  No matter what you purchase, shipping is only $5!!  They have some cute and unique things.  I bought these adorable iron Bumblebee Napkin Rings – a set of 12 for $20!!  Check them out: decorsteals.com

I’d seen this on Pinterest a long time ago but hadn’t tried it.  I have two pairs of boots that fold over in my closet and take up extra space, space is a premium, lol.  I finally remembered to track down a pool noodle I had used for a party prop.  I found it in the barn over the weekend and cut it to fit the height of my boots (simple sharp kitchen knife).  LOVE!!  Perfect solution to droopy boots in your closet.  😉