Sweet Sunflowers

I decided this was the year to throw caution to the wind and plant some sunflowers up next to the house.  I started them indoors then transplanted them in the small flower bed along the side of the house.  They were a bit of a problem at first because of the hose that comes through there, but now they are maturing quite nice and I think they will look amazing once they get a bit taller and more stable.  

That side of the house was just boring, so I am hoping these sun worshiping plants make it seem a bit more brighter and bring some summer charm to the boring 'ole side yard.

We have lost a few due to a heavy rain fall we had here recently, but the rest have been doing quite nice.

I will have an updated blog post later on showing their progress.

So cute!  I just love the thought already!

And maybe I will get lucky and have huge sunflowers like years past.  :)

And take note of these quick tips to help Mother Earth.

    

I have found the heavenly Wipe of all Wipes

It's called the Wysi Wipe and I love it.  It is perfect for road trips, camping, and we have even used it during a BBQ in our own backyard.

They are amazing and come in packages of 2 to 1,000.  They are strong, durable, and the best part, they are biodegradable.

They start out as a cellulose round and expand into a cloth that can take on most jobs a regular paper towel can't even touch or handle. 

I've used them with my regular cleaners to clean the toilet, sink, BBQ grill, kid's room, spills, cutting boards, car messes and spills, hands and face, and even the tires on my car.  

And right now the Wysi Wipe company is having a weekly contest.  By submitting a photo of how you use the Wysi Wipes you can win a free bag of the wipes. 

    

Quick and easy Meatless Quesadillas

These are one of my favorite things to make on a movie night, or just a lazy dinner night in our house.  Everyone loves them and they are so quick and fast to make.

Here's what you'll need:

• Regular cheddar jack or 'Mexican" cheese blend shredded cheese

• Flour Tortillas

• Taco Seasoning Mix ( You can also make your own)

• 8 oz. Sour Cream (Fat Free)

And here's the process:

Combine the taco seasoning package (1.25 oz.) to the 8 oz of sour cream and combine completely.  Let sit for about 10 minutes to incorporate the seasonings into the sour cream.

Meanwhile, on an electric griddle, lay two of the flour tortillas and allow to heat thoroughly.  Don't allow to brown completely though.  And then flip over.

Coat the entire surface of your tortilla with the taco seasoning mixture.

Add the cheese......

Cheese is my weakness so I always add a lot.

Add another tortilla on top and allow to brown on both sides.  Flip only once and then cut with a pizza cutter into 4-equal triangles.  

Or, flip the side over for half a quesadilla and serve with the sour cream mixture, salsa, or guacamole.

Have you ever tried pineapple on the grill, or how about avocado on the grill?  It's rather tasty and I do recommend it.  The two pair nicely with the recipe from above!

Enjoy!

   

Preparing the perfect Bird Feeder

This bird feeder will pretty much do the job in feeding your local wildlife year-round.  It's one of the highest quality bird feeders I've found and works amazing!

The cedar bird feeder house I found is by Better Homes and Gardens and it's a good quality house that will withstand the heavy rains here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  It also has glass seed sides that way it's easier to clean and will last longer than plastic.  It was a bit more costly than the other ones out there but, it was worth it because of its durability.  Here is a few other bird feeders you can consider. 

Once the bird feeder for my yard was found, I then went on a hunt for the right post setup.  I wanted it high enough so that the neighbor cats wouldn't bother it, but I didn't want it so high that I couldn't reach it to fill it or clean it.

What I came across was a hanging basket pole with a bird feeder attachment on top.  It was the perfect size and shape for what I was looking for and it was a clean look too.  You can find ones similar to this one here.  But most garden supply stores or garden centers will have what you are looking for and what will suit your needs. 

The bottom of the pole was then screwed into place right under the bird feeder and that was it!

I then went with Pennington Seeds and Pennington supplies for all my birding needs.  I prefer Pennington because they are good quality products and they are reasonably priced for what I am needing.  But any seed company will do depending on what kind of birds you are wanting to feed, even sunflower seeds.

For the squirrels.

I even went as far as buying a bell seeder and tying it into place with a bit of recycled twine.

I placed the feeder on top of the pole, once I drilled it into the ground, then placed my bell seeder and my squirrel corn on the other end and it was finished!

Looks nice I think!

I think the local birds will be very pleased with this set up.  I placed a suet feeder in the side cages of the feeder too, just to add in a bit more choices for food.  Till summer end this will hang and throughout the summer I will refill as needed.  Now to get a grub worm bowl attachment and I will have a birds cafe of dreams in my own yard!

HAPPY GARDENING!