Ken, I had to use dried dill; I couldn't find fresh ANYWHERE and I even went to the hoighty-toighty organic markets looking for the stuff. Oh, the garlic is in there! It turned a pretty color of blue as a reaction to the hard water we have here & the vinegar. :-) Next time I'll use distilled water & see if that makes a difference. I'm on day 2 of Linda Lou's pickle chunks, so next week I'll be back at it again! Kterlep, I bought those babies, so I don't know how many plants it took to grow them....sorry.

Good morning! So fun to share my projects here, you gals all make me feel so good. Let me answer a couple of questions. These blocks are just various lengths cut from an old 2x4 board. The 2x4's work well because they stand easily and you can do a different design on the back--so two sets from one like these are. You could use any size wood really. 4x4 blocks can be decorated on all sides and flipped. (Nice with photos on each side.) You can also just decorate a length of wood instead of blocks. I use DH's "chop saw" so it is fast and easy to cut them. Then I take the electric sander to them because they are usually pretty rough. A quick coat of acrylic paint and let it dry. Then just cut pieces of scrapbook paper and Mod Podge it to the face of the block. Let me just add that I "could" just decorate them by painting--but using the papers is fun, easy, and faster. I've been cutting letters with my Cricut--but you can buy sheets of letters in all sizes and colors, stencil letters on, etc. Some of the things I added were dimensional "stickers" that I bought for the summer theme. A whole sheet of them on sale at Michael's for $1.49. I also use small silk flowers or layered ones cut from cardstock, ribbons or strips of contrasting paper, leaves cut out of cardstock, buttons, rick rack, etc. That's the fun part and a great way to use up scraps of things since it only takes small pieces. The Mod Podge is great, goes on cloudy but dries clear and fast! Later I will try cutting some vinyl letters, but it is more pricey, so doing the paper letters is good while I'm learning. You can also use thin boards for signs to hang on the wall, and I've seen some "stacked" blocks and boards that are so cute too. Lots of this stuff being created on some of the blogs I've found on the Cricut message boards. And Grandma Bonnie on the Crafts forum here on GW does the vinyl designs for walls and even cars! Once I invest in some vinyl, I'll be able to adhere words and designs to plates, jars, the refrigerator, etc. Really any flat clean surface! (The vinyl can be damp wiped and easily removed--the Mod Podged paper would be difficult to remove.) It does take "time", mostly because I try this and then try that before I decide what to glue where! But it is one of the easiest crafts I've done and just so many possibilities! I've seen some words or names on the glass in a frame and would like to try that too. I've been collecting and saving ideas for things to make, Karen has sent me some good links to blogs and things that she has run across during her nighttime "surfing". (thanks Karen, love it!) OA, the painted sign can certainly be painted on both sides. I often do that if I plan to use it where only one side can be seen. Doesn't work so well if you plan to display it on an easel on the table for instance, so keep that in mind. Hope I've explained things well--if not, just ask--or email me if you'd like. I get so much inspiration and encouragement from all of you, would love to give some of that back as well. Luvs

Took all of my "stuff" today. What a good feeling, it is going to women who have nothing. I will again soon go through closets, etc. and take more things to them. Every time I go into either bedroom it amazes me that all I did was rearrange from room to room and took pictures down. Oh and of course window treatments are gone and I like the windows as is. Tomorrow the bedding will be washed and changed out for what I've got in the house. Total expense - 1 light bulb I broke taking a lamp shade off!

Sounds like a win-win situation to me. Maybe she could use another day or two to clean house for neighbors (for more money, of course).