Category Archives: Uncategorized

Can You Believe It! Halloween Is Coming!

Recycle your coffee cans. Here are some fun, easy ways to decorate with recycled cans (if you don’t drink coffee, pick up some metal cans in the paint department at your local hardware store).

This sketch is the storyboard for this creative idea. Even if feel you can’t draw well, making sketches can help you focus on any project, and no one has to see the sketches!

Suggested materials:

coffee cans
construction paper
googly eyes
pom poms
craft glue
hot glue
double stick tape
muslin fabric
rick rack trim
chenille stems (we used Jumbo Fuzzy Sticks from Target)
corks
funnels (we got a 3-pack from Lowes for 3.69)
nuts and bolts
markers
spray paint

Here are three completed cans. We may do the others from the sketch in the future:

Frankenstein

For Frankenstein, we covered a can with construction paper. Allow at least one inch at the top of the can, cut slits and fold over top of can for a crisp fit.

We used:

A chenille stem for the hair
Mini pom poms for eyes
A metal nut for the nose
Rick rack for the mouth
Wine corks spray painted silver for the bolts. Paint the corks by securing them on a screw through a piece of cardboard or egg carton. Another, less kid-friendly option is to drill holes in the can and use real bolts!

Stitches were added with a Sharpie fine marker.
Facial features were attached with double stick tape. Nose and neck bolts were attached with hot glue.

Mummy

Materials:

Coffee can – empty and washed
One yard of muslin fabric (or any fabric scraps) cut into 2 inch wide strips
Black duct tape
2 large googly eyes (No googly eyes? Use black duct tape to create eyes.)
Hot glue (craft glue works well too)

How to create:

Attach a strip of cloth (see photo below) as a base for the eyes.
Glue the eyes to the cloth and add mouth cut from black duct tape.
Wrap rest of can with cloth strips and secure with hot glue or craft glue.

Witch

Can was covered with green construction paper.
All features were attached with double stick tape.
Rick rack trim used for the eyebrows and mouth.
Pom poms for the eyes.
The nose is a small cone fashioned from darker green construction paper.
Eyelashes and warts were drawn with a fine sharpie.
Hat is a funnel.

FUN CRAFT FOR KIDS

Spray paint a few coffee cans in different colors.

They look pretty nice without decorations, too!

Lay out a bunch of craft supplies including paints, markers, double stick tape, craft glue, and more. Let the kids play and create their own designs. The only limit is imagination.

USES FOR THESE CANS

These cans make really cute decorations but they have other uses, such as the vases above and these ideas:

Gift Container

All of the candy pictured on the right fit inside the can on the left. The stem is a lollipop wrapped in green foil. Great gift!!!

(Looks like Mr. Jack-O-Lantern got his nose out of shape!)

Candy or treat dishes for parties or trick-or-treaters!

The mummy “popped his lid” over the candy and popcorn!

Boo! Check out the lollipop ghosts from a previous blog, a quick and easy treat!

https://funclesarts.com/2015/10/30/last-minute-mayhem/

MINI GARDEN UPDATE

It’s coming close to Halloween and the garden is still doing well. Record-breaking warm temperatures and having an enclosed patio have kept our garden thriving. Hope there is enough time for this last group of tomatoes to ripen, or else it might be mini-fried green tomatoes!

Enjoy!!!

Roy and Kevin

Pinecones 103 – Decorating Ideas

Leave a reply

This week, for our third mini-blog, we create a pinecone ring that can be used as a base for a flower or candle tablescape, and feature some simple ways to use pinecones to decorate for fall. All this and oh my! The bears!!!

PINECONE RING FOR VASES AND CANDLES

You will need:

12 pinecones, each approximately 6 inches long (try to get pinecones that are close in length and diameter)
1.5-inch wide floral ribbon of your choice (we chose orange burlap)
22-gauge floral wire (our ring used 3 feet)

To create base:

Lay cones, tops up, in a row on your work surface.
Wire pinecones together starting 3 inches in from one end of wire and leaving one inch between pine cones and 3 inches of wire at the end.
Shape pinecones into a circle and twist free ends of wire together to secure.
Weave ribbon through pinecones, tie ends and tuck under base.

We placed lights in a vase with some fall colored faux flowers and surrounded the pinecones with more lights.

Here it’s shown without the additional lights on the pinecones:

CANDLES

A flameless candle in the vase also works nicely.

Without the vase, the flameless candle creates a more natural look.

MIX AND MATCH

Combine painted and unpainted pinecones with gourds for a colorful display.

Another angle:

Brighten a basket of natural pinecones with colorful flowers.

SCENTS OF THE SEASON(INGS)!

Here is a simple technique for scenting pinecones with your favorite fall spices:

http://www.mccormick.com/recipes/other/scented-pinecones

THE BEARS

The bears are wondering what they should do with all of these extra pinecones. They will have to check future blogs!

Enjoy!!!

Roy & Kevin

Pine Cones 102 – Not So Itsy-Bitsy Spider!

1 Reply

“No living thing is ugly in this world. Even a tarantula considers itself beautiful.”

– Munia Khan (poet) Source: Goodreads

For our second mini-blog, we created a spider out of pine cones and mini pumpkins. A fun project to do with your kids. Perfect for Halloween!

You will need:

Six 5-inch pine cones
One 3-inch mini pumpkin
One 4-inch mini pumpkin
Black spray paint (Satin finish)
1 black chenille stem (we used Jumbo Fuzzy Sticks from Target) cut to 5 inches
Craft glue
Two 1/2-inch googly eyes
One 14-inch platter

How to create your spider:

In a ventilated area, spray paint pumpkins and pine cones thoroughly. Use newspapers to protect surfaces.

Allow to dry.

Place 3-inch pumpkin upside down below and in front of the 4-inch pumpkin on the platter or whatever you choose as a base.

Add googly eyes with craft glue. (Some come with adhesive backs, use those if you have them.)

Decide which pine cones go where. We used larger pine cones as the back legs.
Place 3 legs on each side.
Bend chenille stem to create feelers and position under spider head.

Watch the bugs (and some people) disappear in fear!

Hint 1: This display is temporary because we will be using the parts for future holiday decor. Stay tuned! For more permanence, attach spider parts to platter with double stick tape.

Hint 2: If paint comes off pumpkins during assembly, touch up with quick drying, matching acrylic paint.

Be creative with your spiders! Use colorful googly eyes, make a purple spider or whatever you favorite spider color is, add stickers and designs. We’d love to see pictures of your creations!

Enjoy!

Roy & Kevin

Pine Cones 101

Leave a reply

” You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou Source: Goodreads

For the first in our mini-blog holiday crafting series, we feature one of several pine cone entries, starting with a centerpiece made with painted pine cones. This is an easy, fun, affordable idea whether you use pine cones you find in nature or buy at your local craft store (don’t forget to use coupons!). Here is what we did. (Figured you were “pining” to know all about it!)

PREPPING THE PINE CONES

If you find your pine cones in nature, they will need a little prep to make them usable for crafting and decorating.

There are a couple of ways to prepare your pine cones. The method we used was to bake them in a pre-heated 200 degree oven for 1/2 hour, and allow them to dry for a couple of days.

For more about pine cones preparation, check out this link:

http://tipnut.com/how-to-prepare-preserve-pinecones/

PAINTING THE PINE CONES

We chose orange and black for this fall and Halloween craft.
The cones were spray painted in a well ventilated area. (Our patio fit the bill.)
A disassembled cardboard box covered with newspaper protected the concrete floor.
One side was painted, allowed to dry a half hour, before turning over and painting the other side.

Stand pine cones up in saved egg cartons to allow for thorough drying.

Bonus Craft Tip: Save your egg cartons, they work well for paint projects and for storing small items such as beads and pins.

Plan ahead – avoid the fumes!

We prefer to use spray paints outdoors. If you are planning to spray paint pine cones, or anything for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas, do so before outdoor temperatures get too cold. For best results, spray paints should be used in 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

EASY AUTUMN CENTERPIECES

Once our black and orange pine cones were ready, we created these centerpieces using a glass trifle bowl and vase. Pump it up with a couple of mini-pumpkins!

Pretty and simple!

Here are a couple of different versions:

More pine cone and holiday craft mini-blogs coming soon!

Enjoy!

Roy & Kevin

‘Tis the season for holiday crafting!!!

Leave a reply

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein Source: Goodreads

We love making holiday crafts, but always seem to be doing them last-minute. Never will forget finishing handmade family Christmas ornaments in the car one Christmas Eve! (Sometimes having a 2-hour drive is a good thing.) This year, we are starting our holiday crafting early and thought we’d do a few “mini-blogs”, short posts featuring some of our favorite holiday craft ideas.

This week, we offer some ideas to make the crafting process easier and less expensive. Here are a few things we do to get ready:

BRAINSTORM

Write down any and all ideas you may have for holiday crafting. At this point, no thought should be discarded! The next day, re-visit your master list and factor in time and price constraints to develop your final craft plans for the season. If you are crafting with a partner, toss ideas back and forth. Very often, you’ll come up with good ideas which evolve into even better ones when two or more people are working together.

FIND INSPIRATION

Crafting ideas can come from anywhere. Check out crafting websites, borrow books and magazines from the library, watch craft segments on television, take a walk in your local park, or look at the decorations in stores and see if you can create your own versions.

HAVE A REALISTIC PLAN

Do you want to make things for every holiday that’s coming, or maybe just for one holiday? Do you have time to do what you would like to do? Keep your schedule in mind and be realistic about what you can accomplish. If you are following instructions, read them thoroughly before starting your craft.

GATHER MATERIALS

Before you start work on your creations, gather what you need in one spot and make sure you have everything you need. Check lists work great!

NATURAL MATERIALS

If your projects involve working with materials you’ve gathered in nature, do your research about how to clean them.

We have several large pine trees on our property and gathered a bunch of pine cones for this year’s first craft project. They needed to be prepared before using. The website below offers how-to’s if you are working with fresh pine cones. Check out our next mini-blog for some pine cone craft ideas that will take you from Halloween through New Year’s!

http://tipnut.com/how-to-prepare-preserve-pinecones/

COUPONS

Don’t forget that money-saving coupons for craft stores are available on-line or in your local newspaper. This time of year, the stores are battling for your craft dollar, so there are some great coupons. Take a look before you shop. We ask that you do not shop at Hobby Lobby – their corporate philosophy is not socially responsible.

HAVE FUN!!!

Remember to have fun and enjoy the process!

Enjoy

Roy & Kevin

September’s Bounty!!!

1 Reply

This week’s blog highlights a new (for us) kitchen gadget, a classic tomato salad, a garden update, and of course, the bears! Plus, we are announcing an exciting venture for the holidays!

SPIRALIZER

We just bought a spiralizer, a cool gadget that makes noodles out of vegetables.

Our new Oxo spiralizer is easy to operate and clean. If you get one, read the instructions and handle with care because the blades are sharp.

The first time we used it was with a combination of zucchini and yellow squash. We sautéed our “noodles” with olive oil, salt and pepper. Next, an English cucumber got spiralized. We tossed the cucumber noodles with vinaigrette and served it cold.

Both dishes were delicious! We highly recommend this kitchen tool. It is easy to use and makes healthy eating fun!

CAPRESE SALAD

In Rhode Island, it has been a GREAT year for native tomatoes! They are delicious with a sprinkle of sea salt or in salads, but with our basil plant thriving, this year’s tomatoes called for Caprese salad.

Caprese salad is made with tomatoes, basil, extra virgin olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese, balsamic vinegar (hint: warm vinegar for a few minutes – it will thicken and sweeten), sea salt and ground pepper to taste.

GARDEN UPDATE

“I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend.” C.Z. Guest – Actress/designer (Source: Quote Garden)

Sea grass we planted years ago has returned. The bee looks bee-fuddled!

BONUS PHOTO:

We had a visitor on the top of our patio fence. (This grasshopper is much smaller than it appears here, thank goodness!)

VEG ART

This year’s edibles – a great crop!

Another version of the picture at the top of the blog with our 2 types of peppers, tomatoes, oregano, basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme. (Surprisingly, the parsley didn’t make it!)

JOKE OF THE WEEK: “Gardeners know all the dirt.” (Source Bing.com /images)

THE BEARS

The Bears feel like stars, because this week, on September 9th, they celebrate Teddy Bear Day!

ANNOUNCING: HOLIDAY CRAFTING MINI–BLOGS

It is never too early to begin holiday crafting. This fall and winter, in addition to our regular posts, look for our weekly holiday crafting mini-blogs. These mini-blogs will offer some of our favorite craft and decorating ideas for the upcoming holiday season.

Check out the blogs which feature the decorations shown above:

https://funclesarts.com/2014/10/29/halloween-blog-3-the-final-chapter/

https://funclesarts.com/2014/12/06/the-christmas-season-is-here/

Enjoy!

Roy & Kevin

Washington, DC – What a Trip!

1 Reply

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Saint Augustine Source:Brainyquotes

Last week, we took a vacation to Washington, DC. This was Kevin’s first trip to our nation’s capital. Roy has been there a few times, but not for many years.

It was so exciting to go together and see the monuments, museums and more!

This week, we share some of our trip photos, a couple of ideas for recording travel memories, a garden update, and, of course, the bears!

TAKE NOTES

We took daily notes about what happened during our travels and sightseeing. At night, we would review our day, jotting down the details we remembered on the hotel’s notepads, in our case, the highly recommended State Plaza Hotel. This resulted in a pile of notes, which are great reminders of our DC adventures.http://www.stateplaza.com/?src=ppc_yahoobing_brand&utm_source=yahoobing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand

Notes were about:

Airport TSA screenings (Roy got patted down because he forgot to remove his metal bracelet)
Fun layover in Charlotte, NC, with folks from Shelton, CT (great package deal took us way out of way)
Learning the Metro system in DC
Talking to the hotel desk clerk trainee named Simone about the Olympics and Gold Medal gymnast Simone Biles and Gold Medal Swimmer Simone Manuel (it was Simone day!)
Getting upgraded to a deluxe suite in our hotel (thanks, Simone)
Trying fresh beets, which we actually liked! (So much better than canned!)
The free gallery exhibit of miniature architectural models we ran across unexpectedly in downtown DC
The monuments
The Smithsonian
The Library of Congress
Macy’s – DC (a.c. was welcome – plus we needed socks)
Dupont Circle – enough said!
The Disarm Hate Rally
Metro employee who thought Kevin smelled good (he had sprayed some sample cologne at Macy’s)
The New England folks we met everywhere (thanks Red Sox hats!)
Visit to the Kennedy Center
The singing bar back
The singing flight attendant on the flight home
So many people from so many countries speaking so many languages. As Maya Angelou wrote, “We are more alike my friends than we are unalike.”
Two fun visits and great food with Kevin’s nephew Mark, his girlfriend Richelle and their cat Babou (Thanks!!!)
How much we love vacationing
And much more!

TAKE PHOTOS

OUR VIEW

This was the view from the hotel window in our kitchen (thanks, again, Simone!). Walking distance to the monuments!

THE MONUMENTS

A little bit closer to the Washington Monument than our window view. Thanks to the beautiful young Russian woman who offered to take our photo while we were trying to selfie without a selfie stick.

THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

Kevin reading one of Lincoln’s speeches engraved on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial

and Kevin in front of the reflecting pool.

THE SMITHSONIAN

Roy in front of the American History Museum. A little Ice cream would have been nice on this hot day. This Good Humor truck is from 1967.

THE KENNEDY CENTER

When Roy was a theatre major at UMass in 1991, he acted in a production of The Playboy of the Western World by John Millington Synge. Out of 500 plays judged nationwide, it was one of just five chosen to be performed at the Kennedy Center. On the left is Roy back then, and on the right, Roy last week. Good memories both times. Very special – and walking distance from the hotel!

Stunning sculpture of JFK in the lobby of the Kennedy Center. Awesome!!!

SHARE YOUR TRIP

We know how much children love receiving mail. With this in mind, we sent a postcard from DC to each of our great nieces and nephews. This nice postcard book from the Smithsonian gift shop had photos of a lot of the places we saw. We got 33 beautiful postcards for $8.95!

GIFTS

During our travels, we came across plenty of tempting items that would have made great gifts. We travelled light this trip – only with backpacks (highly recommended if possible), so the postcard idea worked well for us. Had we had more room in our bags, the museum gift shops would have been the place to fill them.

Travel without travelling! Explore your favorite museum’s gift shops on-line for interesting and unusual items.

ACTIVISM

We care deeply about many issues. While planning our trip, we discovered that the Disarm Hate Rally was scheduled for Saturday, August 13th, a date we would be in DC. The Disarm Hate Rally was sponsored by the LBGT community in response to the Orlando massacre. Its goal – sensible gun law reform.

Here is a link to learn more about Disarm Hate:

http://www.disarmhate2016.info/

GARDEN UPDATE

The garden hung in there pretty well during our four-day absence.

We came home to a bounty of red and orange peppers and tomatoes ready to pick and enjoy! The flowers continue to grace us with their beauty!

WATER

We watered the plants the morning of our trip at about 4:15 am.

We bought these watering globes for about $8.00 each. They helped keep our plants watered, and they are pretty, too!

TIN CAN MAN UPDATE

As we hoped, our garden tin can man is weathering. Let’s call him Rusty!

Check out our previous blog for directions on how to create your own tin can man!

https://funclesarts.com/2016/04/23/help-the-earth-yes-we-can/

FOOD ART (all from our garden)

THE BEARS

The bears are enjoying showing off their DC postcards and hats!

Enjoy your world!

Roy & Kevin

An Olympic-Sized Post

Leave a reply

“If you dream and allow yourself to dream, you can do anything, and that’s what the Olympic medal represents.” Clara Hughes – Canadian cyclist and speed skater and 3-time Olympian with 6 medals won in 1996, 2000, 2012.*

We love the Olympics! It’s a month-long celebration of great sporting events, drama and human interest stories. Opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics 2016 in Brazil are tomorrow, Friday, August 5th. But the Games have already started. Glad to see the U.S. women’s soccer team won their first match, 2-0! Go USA!!!

This week, we feature an easy chicken nacho recipe perfect for watching the Olympics, family-friendly Olympic activities, a garden update, and, of course, the bears!

CHICKEN NACHOS FOR OLYMPIC-SIZED APPETITES!

These chicken nachos are easy and delicious – a gold-medal snack!

Ingredients:

two cups diced rotisserie chicken
1/3 cup water
one tablespoon low sodium taco seasoning mix
3/4 cup fresh or frozen corn
6 oz. tortilla chips
one can fat-free refried beans, heated
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno slices
one cup shredded cheddar cheese
one small tomato, diced
one cup shredded lettuce

Toppings:

olives
guacamole
taco sauces
sour cream
salsa

To prepare:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In skillet, heat to combine chicken, taco seasoning and water.
Spread chips on parchment-covered sheet tray.
Heat chips in oven for 5 minutes.
Remove chips from oven.
Spread with refried beans.
Cover beans with chicken mixture.
Sprinkle corn over chicken.
Dot with jalapeno slices.
Top with shredded cheese.
Heat in oven for 7-10 minutes.
Remove from oven and top with lettuce and tomatoes.
Serve with your choice of toppings.
Makes 6 delicious servings.

FIVE TIMES NEAT!

“I always thought it would be neat to make the Olympic team.”* Michael Phelps, five-time Olympian and 2016 USA flag bearer at the opening ceremonies in Rio on Friday.

FAMILY OLYMPIC ACTIVITIES

The Olympics make for great family television viewing. They also can be educational and fun! Here are a few ideas:

Geography: There are many websites online where you can find free maps to print. Print out maps and have your kids find host country, Brazil, and competing countries on their maps. You also can have a geography competition. As athletes and their countries are announced before events, who will win the race to find the athelete’s country?

Culture: Go online to explore the culture of the nations represented, including their foods, history and arts.

Inspiration: Use the Olympics to discuss goal setting and how working towards your dreams can be rewarding.

Athletics and fitness: Use the Olympics to encourage youngsters and yourself to be more physically fit and try new sports. Play and hold your own mini-Olympic games.

Here is a fun link from Real Simple about hosting your own Olympic games!

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/family/olympic-games-kids

GARDEN UPDATE

Its been quite hot lately and our garden is doing very well. We just picked our first batch of 15 tomatoes, and have had one each of our red and yellow peppers. We should have listened when the package said “spicy red peppers”!

Our coleus is thriving, and we didn’t expect it to bloom! A nice surprise!

The herbs are doing well, too. The flamingo is impressed!

The “Let’s Grow” sign from our last blog has found its outdoor spot.

FOOD ART

Our first crop of tomatoes (can you find all 15?) with a fun background.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Q; Why does the Olympic torch always start in Olympia?

A: Because its hard to put out a Greece fire.

source: Chetchatblogspot.com

THE BEARS

The bears love the Olympics! They made their own medals from cardboard, ribbon, wrapping paper and scotch tape. Try this easy craft for all your winners!!! In what Olympic events do you think our bears will medal?

Enjoy the Olympics!

Roy & Kevin

*Quote source: Brainyquotes

Summer Garden!!!

1 Reply

“The most lasting and pure gladness comes to me from my garden.” – Lillie Langtry*

We have had a busy July with some extra work responsibilities. It’s nice to have the beauty of our patio garden to enjoy!

This week, for our 80th blog post, we feature a quick shrimp & vegetable recipe, stencilled signs, a garden update, and, of course, the bears!

EASY SHRIMP AND RICE

This dish is a perfect weeknight meal. It’s quick, easy and delicious. An added bonus on a hot summer night – no oven required.

INGREDIENTS:

Two cups of instant brown rice, cooked according to package directions
1 lb of 41-50 shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails off
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 lb frozen mixed pepper strips
1/2 lb frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
Two tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 rib of celery, chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup frozen peas

HOW TO PREPARE:

Saute onion, mushrooms and celery in one tablespoon of oil until tender.
Remove and place in a Dutch oven.
Cook frozen peppers and broccoli/cauliflower mixture in microwave for 5 minutes and add to Dutch oven.
Toss shrimp with garlic powder and red pepper flakes.
Saute shrimp over medium heat in second tablespoon of olive oil until just pink.
Add shrimp to vegetables.
Stir in cooked rice.
Add frozen peas and soy sauce.
Stir, cover and cook on medium low heat for 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

Make your own combination, add water chestnuts, bean sprouts, cooked carrots or whatever you like!

TRYING SOMETHING NEW: PAINTED SIGNS

Inspirational or humorous stencilled signs are very popular decorating items for home or garden, but can be very expensive. Why not try making your own?

A found piece of aged wood, and some inexpensive stencils, foam stippler brushes and acrylic paints from Michael’s (look for coupons!) made this project easy. Our stencil set had a full alphabet, punctuation marks and a leaf pattern, which went well with our, “Lets Grow”, message.

A couple of tips:

If your stencils come with directions, read them. (Maybe we will next time!)
Don’t rush. Do a letter at a time and allow it to dry. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so this crucial step will not take too long.
Sand paper and accent paint can help correct smudged letters.

We love how this sign came out and it has a special place in our garden. Which leads us to:

GARDEN UPDATE

“The Earth laughs in flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson*

We got this beautiful bird house, expertly painted by Roy’s soon-to-be five-year old great-niece, Kinsley, with the assistance from grandma, Lyn. Kinsley has a great eye for color combinations. After seeing photos of our garden, she knew where the bird house needed to go. It color-coodinates perfectly with our pot-full of pink and white petunias! (Thanks Kinsley and Lyn!)

This is a fun craft for any age. The unpainted birdhouses are available at craft stores. (This one came from Michael’s.) Acrylic paints do the trick. They dry fast and hold up pretty well outside. As an added bonus when working with kids, they wash off easily with soap and water.

Add embellishments to make your bird house festive; customize for different themes and holidays!

The Plants:

The warm summer weather has been a boon for our garden. The pepper plants, especially, are responding to the hot, humid weather. The flowers also are thriving – as long as we remember to water at least once a day!

GUEST GARDEN PHOTOS

We visited Kevin’s brother, Warren and sister-in-law, Sharon, this past weekend. They have a beautiful assortment of flowers. Here are a few pictures:

Kevin was pleased to see that they have a tiger lily plant, which they grew from a clipping taken from Kevin & Warren’s childhood home In Meriden, CT.

A second recent addition to our garden landscape and a nice surprise from this visit was Roy’s belated birthday gift, a trio of beautifully blown glass solar garden lights. (Thank you Sharon & Warren!)

FOOD ART

Light on the red onion.

JOKE OF THE WEEK:

How well is your garden going to grow? Only thyme will tell! Source: Nestinstyle.wordpress.com

THE BEARS

The bears are admiring our new “Let’s Grow” sign (featured image).

Enjoy & stay cool!

Roy & Kevin

*Quote source-brainyquote.com

Happy Birthday, America!!!

Leave a reply

Where liberty dwells – there is my country. – Benjamin Franklin*

As we celebrate the founding of America this 4th of July, it is important to remember that we are a nation of immigrants. In this time of turmoil, we think our future is best served by building bridges, not walls.

This week, we feature gifts for kids, a patriotic dessert, garden update, and, of course, the bears!

GIFTS FOR KIDS

Children love getting mail, and we love sending packages to our great nieces and nephews. This year’s 4th of July mailing included holiday-themed pencils and erasers, toy cars, silly straws, hair clips, necklaces, bracelets, candy, cookie cutters (for the parents) and, of course, American flags.

DESSERT

Patriotic ice cream sandwich sundae

Here is a delicious sundae you can make with ice cream sandwiches.

You will need:

ice cream sandwiches
fresh strawberries, cut in fan shape
fresh blueberries, frozen
strawberry jelly, microwaved in jar (no lid) for 20-30 seconds
whipped cream

In the photo above, we pressed frozen blueberries into the sides of the ice cream sandwiches and topped with strawberries, whipped cream and a drizzle of warmed jelly. Even though the fruit was frozen and the plates were cold, during assembly, the ice cream sandwiches began to melt, especially when we drizzled with the strawberry jelly. Delicious, but messy. New thought: Simplify!

To make a simpler 4th of July ice cream sandwich:

Microwave 1/4 cup strawberry jelly for 20 seconds.
Place ice cream sandwich on a plate.
Top with frozen berries and whipped cream.
Drizzle with warm strawberry jelly.
Enjoy!

More good stuff:

Last years 4th of July post:

https://funclesarts.com/2015/07/02/lets-be-independent-together/

GARDEN UPDATE

Summer has finally arrived, and our patio garden is thriving! Our crop already includes seven tomatoes and two peppers. Here are a few photos:

The whole thing!

Another angle!

The bee is fond of the pink Impatiens!

Peppers and tomatoes!

Blooming beautiful!

FOOD ART

Be fruitful!

A TRIO OF HOLIDAY RIB (not BBQ) TICKLERS!

What did one flag say to the other flag? Nothing – it just waved!

What is red, white, blue and green? A patriotic pickle!

Why did the duck say “bang!”? He was a fire quacker!

Source: academictips.org

THE BEARS

The bears had a visitor in honor of the 4th of July and Pride! #Orlandostrong

“Then join hand in hand brave Americans all, by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall!” – John Dickinson, founding father of the U.S.*

*Quote source: ibtimes.com

Enjoy!

Roy & Kevin

	roydrewartsetc on Thanksgiving post number one!…
	roydrewartsetc on New Holiday Blog Project!
	roydrewartsetc on Happy, Bunny-Filled, Colorful…
	roydrewartsetc on Happy St. Patrick’s…
	roydrewartsetc on St. Patrick’s Day 2…

Funclesarts

Because creativity can be simple, affordable, and it makes life more fun!

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Can You Believe It! Halloween Is Coming!

Pinecones 103 – Decorating Ideas

Pine Cones 102 – Not So Itsy-Bitsy Spider!

Pine Cones 101

‘Tis the season for holiday crafting!!!

September’s Bounty!!!

Washington, DC – What a Trip!

An Olympic-Sized Post

Summer Garden!!!

Happy Birthday, America!!!