First, thank you to everyone who left their sewing tips on my last post. I really appreciate it – there were so many good tips! Read the comments section if you’re a inexperienced sewer like myself – lots of good info there.
I can’t believe we’re in July already, can you? I also can’t believe the stores are putting up back to school stuff!!
You may (or may not) have noticed that I have a “Month In Review” button in the category section. The intent of ACN is to document our move to a more self-sufficient lifestyle and I made a promise to myself that I would try to learn/do at least one new thing a month towards that goal.
So I’m going to do a monthly wrap-up of sorts to not only remind me of all that I accomplished but also in case you missed a post (wouldn’t want than now would we~smile). A link to each post is included.
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I showed you my summer screened porch which is way too hot to use these days (except early early morning). But it shows how moving furniture around and the addition of one inexpensive item can give you a whole new look.
I joined Facebook which I love by the btw. But I still won’t twitter!
I re-purposed a broken chair for my underdeck patio.
I started planting a border along one side of my privacy fence that will be a mix of shrubs and various trees. Trying to keep the birds in mind but also want it to be pretty. But that’s on hold now until September unless we get some really cool temps or I find some nice clearanced trees and shrubs.
My daughter and I extended the fencing for our vegetable garden. We’ll be adding at least 4 more raised beds!
I showed you all the things we have growing now. The corn was pretty good but I only got 4 good ears. It’s not really worth the time and effort to grow but I do like how it looks in the garden. I plan on using the dried stalks for fall decoration. I also had to pull the Hubbard squash and one pumpkin due to squash vine borer damage.
I started a chair slipcover project. It’s very challenging for this beginner sewer and many times I’ve wanted to just trash it. But I keep telling myself that if I can get through this project, no matter how it turns out, I’ll have learned a lot along the way.
My husband built me a solar dehydrator. I used it to dehydrate some bananas (which took 3 days). Dehydrated bananas aren’t like the ones you get in the stores. Apparently the ones in the stores are more deep fried than dehydrated! It’s too humid to use it now but once we’re out of this weather pattern it’ll be back in use.
I showed you my colorful china cabinet redone for the summer.
There was also my fence art collection!
I made hose guides (well that was May but I forgot to do a Month In Review for May)
My husband built the blueberry hut to protect our blueberry crop (also in May)
And in between all of those posts I featured some good ideas from other people in “Sowing Seeds” (Inspiration category to your right) and books I’m reading in “Off the Shelf” (Reading category).
Whew! I think we did pretty good and we’re working on some more fun things this month.
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You’ve been busy Manuela. Obviously you don’t sit in your chair and look at blogs for hours on end like I can do. You inspire me.
LOL! No I don’t. I try to limit my time online – otherwise I’d never get anything done!
Manuela
You sure accomplish a lot in a month! Amazing!
Seriously Manuela–you’re like the energizer bunny. You get more done in a month than I even dream of doing in a year. And everything you do is so beautiful and creative.
LOL Stacey–I’m the same as you. I blame it on the heat and humidity here in FL
Good for you on sticking with the slipcover project. Too many times I have just given up on something that I might have gotten if I had borrowed your good attitude.
You did get a lot done. It is fun to see it in this layout.
Have a wonderful day…..
Becky
Looks and sounds like you have accomplished a lot – wish I could say the same.
Enjoy your weekend.
What a month!
I am never surprised to see you accomplish so much. You just get it done and don’t stand
around talking about it. 🙂
Happy Weekend
Great idea. I did miss a few. Thanks for filling me in.
You have definitely accomplished a lot, Manuela! I can’t even imagine doing half of that outside stuff with the heat and humidity we have been having here. Of course, it is always on the weekends, too, which is when I have the time to do my outside garden work!
You have had a busy summer. Thanks for sharing your photos. My favorite is the blue door. Reminds me of summers long ago.
Thanks for stopping by Cozy Blanket and posting on a blank post. Stop back again. I think I have fixed the problem,. See what happened to us today.
Stay cool.
Beautiful posts! What a lot of great projects. I can’t wait to see how your reupholstering comes along…looks great so far!
You’ve done a lot so far this summer! Your screened porch is so pretty. I looked at your last post and saw some of my dishes! I also got some of the Country Living things from Kmart.
Linda postagem! Gosto muito do seu cantinho ele e repleto de criatividade e bom gosto.
Estou seguindo seu blog a pouco tempo e já fiquei adepta.
Querida te desejo um ótimo fim de semana.
Beijinho..
I may have to do this month-in-review myself, I like it so much! Hope you wouldn’t consider that copying, which is exactly what it is! I wanted to tell you even if you find some discounted shrubs or trees, this is not the time of year to plant them. Maybe you already know this. Fall would be much better, as it’s just too hot now for the roots to survive the change. I love all your decorating ideas! We must be twins parted at birth. Or maybe I just wish that, because I can’t come up with all that you do, and still envy your style so!
Brenda
LOL – go right a head and do it too!
Manuela
Hard to believe it is nearly mid-July! You certainly had a busy June (and May)! Glad to hear that all is well after the scorpion sting. We encountered many insects and other creatures while on Jungle Safari in Nepal. My 12 year old was freaking out the whole time. Can’t say that I much enjoyed sleeping with salamanders. :/ Hope you are having a great weekend. Tammy
You are an inspiration my friend. I’ve taken to eliminating magazines and just getting great info from blogs. And you are among my top 5! I love to visit with you. We’re in the process of re-doing our bathroom and I wish that I had your energy.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Leann
I love how you have set goals for yourself then given a re-cap of what you have accomplished. You truly are inspiring and you motivate me to do better!
Hi Manuela,
I love your month in review, then if I miss anything, which I have, then I can catch up on it!
Love it and I think it is very cool that you want to learn new things, I feel the same way.
Hugs, Cindy
Hi Manuela! Oh, I’ve got to sit down now – you’re making me tired! Look at all you’ve been up to! I love your yard and garden and I’m just all over that precious little cabinet filled with cuteness!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
It’s fun seeing your month in review…lots of great projects! Thanks for stopping by, Manuela!
Hi Manuela, your garden looks wonderful. I love the sound of a blueberry hut. I have never tried to grown blueberries; I will have to do some research and see if they will grow in Guernsey. Best Wishes, Gillian
Wow, you have been a very busy girl. Soo many grat ideas. Thank you for sharing w/ us xoxo Clarice
You are amazing Manuela…so busy…and so productive!
Like you, I am trying to learn one new skill per month.
Last month I tried my hand at natural fermentation (sauerkraut)! My dad told me how his dad used to make it in the cellar…it was easy but a little scary at first because I wasn’t sure if it was safe to eat till my dad grabbed a pinch in his fingers and gobbled it up! Hahahah! This month I am trying to teach myself some basic HTML programming (NOT my forte’…YET !). Can’t wait to see what you come up with next my friend1
Love,
Tracey
x0x
I have all the things needed to make the china cup bird feeder and my dh was supposed to make it for me. Not sure what happened, but he never got it done. I love yours and all of your home and yard!!!