Jack? Jack Who?

My almost five year old grandson's favorite name is Jack. No, that's not his name. Whenever I tell him a story he asks me to name the main character, Jack. Many of his toys, including a favorite plush animal, a dog, are named "Jack". On my recent visit I read him the story, "Jack in the Beanstalk" which he loved.
Somehow the story led to a discussion of gardens, and my grandson became alarmed that crows might eat his garden. I told him that sometimes people put scarecrows in their gardens to frighten crows away. I decided to surprise him and buy a scarecrow. On our next visit to Wally World I let him pick one out.

 By the time we arrived home it was already dark. DGS grabbed a flashlight, and I grabbed a butter knife so we could "plant" the scarecrow. Everything was fine until we ran into a little problem. I started to dig, and I hit bedrock about three inches down. I'm busy stabbing the soil trying to find a spot to dig a hole. DGS is spinning the flashlight around, and I'm asking him to hold it still so I can see what I'm doing. DGS yells, "Nana! Look at all the slugs!" He flashes the light near me, and I am sooo close to kneeling on some. I somehow manage to stifle a scream. LOL

These suckers are HUGE! I run into the house to retrieve a bowl of eggshells left over from my blackberry pie baking marathon. I quickly crumble some and sprinkle them around the garden to repell the slimy intruders. I ask DGS if he wants to help. He replies that he's scared to touch the eggshells because they are too slimy and gross! All the while I'm thinking that nothing could be slimier or grosser than these huge slugs!

The next day I asked DGS what he would like to name his scarecrow (as if I didn't already know!). Of course, he chose the name "Jack".
Me: "I bet when you grow up and get married, you have a little boy
         and you name him Jack."
DGS: "I'm going to have a whole bunch of little boys! I'm going to
            name them ALL Jack! Then when it's time for them to come
            in the house, I can just stand on the porch and yell "JACK!!!!"
            and they will all come in the house at once!"
I'm glad he has it all figured out!

It's a Baby Challenge at Pixie Dust Studio this Week!

This week's challenge is a Baby Challenge. It's title is, "Is It a Boy or a Girl?"

I chose "Baby Girl" from the Oh Baby Collection. I made a similar card with "Baby Boy" hanging on a clothesline, but I liked it so much that I had to make another. I drew the onesie and pants myself. 

 I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge!

Enter your project HERE for a chance to win a Pixie Dust image of your choice and a Pixie Star Award Badge for your blog. Need some inspiration? Stop by the blogs of the talented Pixies to see the images they are showcasing. Their links are in my sidebar. Stop by the Pixie Dust Studio and see all of the adorable images that are available!

More Blackberries!

In my last post I told you that my grandson and I picked two gallons of blackberries. Well that was enough to make two blackberry pies and 10 half pint jars of jam. I had never made jam before, so I thought I would give it a try. It was soooo easy! It was also the best blackberry jam I have ever tasted! (Even if I do say so myself.)

Of course, my grandson helped! He helped roll out the lemons and then squeezed them. 

I found some fabric scraps in a grab bag at a nearby fabric shop and some raffia. I cut circles and then tied them on top of the lids. My daughter was so surprised when she came home from work!

Needless to say, the first jar disappeared quickly!

I found the recipe in Woman's World magazine, Sept.5 issue.
Blackberry Jam
3 cups blackberries

1 pkg. Pectin (I used Certo-Gel)

4 1/2 c. sugar

2 Tblsp. lemon juice

Crush the berries. My grandson used one of the handheld beaters that has a handle that turns. You could also use a fork or potato masher. Pour Pectin over berries. Stir constantly over high heat until mixture comes to a full boil. Remove from heat. Add sugar and lemon juice. Return to boiling and boil for one full minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam and pour into clean jars. Place lids and caps on jars. Allow to cool Completely. Place in fridge. Jam will continue to thicken.  Store in fridge for three weeks or in freezer for one year.
This recipe is so fast and easy!

It's Blackberry Season!

Right across from my daughters house is a HUGE blackberry thicket. My grandson and I picked two gallons of blackberries. He ate almost as many as he picked! LOL

I decided that we should make blackberry pie. I looked online and found a fabulous recipe at Simply Recipes. I made a butter pie crust too that I also found at Simply Recipes. 

It was sooo yummy!

Here's my little guy patting the berries dry.

Adding the sugar. It's so much fun cooking with him in the kitchen!

"School Is Cool" this Week at Pixie Dust Studio!

 If you have joined the Pixies on Pixie's Bookshelf, then you know who this little fella is. He's"Magnum Opus". You can come play with him, Honey, and Pixie during this month's book adventure. I thought he was perfect for this week's "School is Cool" challenge.

 I made this little apple shaped basket. Then I drew the windows, door, etc., colored, and cut them, and then glued them to the basket.

This is the back.

 I hope you'll enter this week's "School is Cool" challenge.

Enter your project HERE for a chance to win a Pixie Dust image of your choice and a Pixie Star Award Badge for your blog. Need some inspiration? Stop by the blogs of the talented Pixies to see the images they are showcasing. Their links are in my sidebar. Stop by the Pixie Dust Studio and see all of the adorable images to choose from!

"Tag! You're It!" this Week at Pixie Dust Studio!

This week's challenge is to add a tag to your project.

I used the image "Baker Fairy" from the Pixie Dust Goodies Collection. I made a paper bag recipe book filled with my daughters' favorite dessert recipes. I have two daughters so I made two books.

 One paper bag made four pages. Then I added a cover. Besides "Baker Fairy" I used "Pixie Pearl" and "Pixie Dust Moonbeam". Can't wait to give them to my daughters!

Create something and add a tag. Enter your project HERE for a chance to win a Pixie Dust image of your choice and a Pixie Star Award Badge for your blog. Need some inspiration? Visit  the blogs of the talented Pixies to see the images they are showcasing. Their links are in my sidebar. Stop by the Pixie Dust Studio and see all of the adorable images that are available!

It's Release Day for "The Candy Jar Collection" at Pixie Dust Studio!

Whoo Hoo! It's here! The Candy Jar Collection is available in the Pixie Dust Studio today!

Stop by and see the special price you get when purchasing this entire collection.

Today I'm celebrating Halloween on my blog! It's one of my favorite holidays!

This is "Candy Corn", and he is ready for a night on the town! The spider punch is MS. The spiders are plastic Halloween confetti. I even found some candy corn buttons from Dress It Up.

 This image is "Gumball Smiles". Everyone needs a Halloween costume! So I added some little confetti witch hats. A little spider web adds some decoration to the jar. I cut circles out of felt using Nesties, then added some stitching and a button. The stick pins were made by cutting the pearls off the top of corsage pins and hot gluing on some buttons. The Jack-o-lantern is a glittered foam sticker that was purchased in a set at the local Dollar Tree.
Stop by the blogs of our creative Pixies for more tasty treats from The Candy Jar Collection. You can get your own sweets at the Pixie Dust Studio. Thanks for visiting!