Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wedsnesday

Adopt.....from your local shelter.Save a life.

Reindeer Treats

Hailey loves animals as much as I do so we always make sure we leave out Reindeer food for all of Santa's Reindeers besides the carrots we leave with Sant's cookies and milk.

In a bowl, add:


1/2 cup of Oats

1/2 cup of Cheerios

1 Tablespoon of colored sugar crystals

Pour in a baggie and sprinkle on your lawn on Christmas Eve or put in in a small pile outside someplace Santa's  Reindeer are sure to see it and snack on it.

Other things you can add: Edible glitter, crushed candy canes, raw carrot slices, raisins and nuts

This can also be given as gifts on Christmas Eve. Add this little poem we found on the internet:

Sprinkle on the lawn at night

The moon will make it sparkle bright

As Santa's reindeer fly and roam

This will guide them to your home.

Merry Christmas to all!

Soldiers Care Package

Wednesday we mailed another care package to anysoldier.com .
This box is full of snack and a picture Hailey drew for the soldiers to let them know we all care.

We included:
Cheetos
Doritos
Chocolate Pudding Cups
Nutrigrain Bars
Mallo Cups
Butterfingers
Tootsie Rolls
Beef Jerky
Slim Jims
Assorted Cookies
Trail Mix
Oatmeal Cream Cakes
Vienna Sausages
And for the Dogs we sent People Crackers

Have a Great Weekend!

We have a Winner!

Min: 1


Max: 76

Result: 29

Powered by RANDOM.ORG
 
Entry number 29 ...Michelle! We have DM her and she has 48 hours to reply with her soap choices.
Thank you all for playing and your support. We will have more contests soon!

Merry Christmas !

 

Care Packages

Our first two care packages went out today! We sent them via anysoldier.com . We pick this organization because it will pass on the packages to soldiers who don't get much or even any packages or mail.
We did a seach for soldiers looking for soap and chose a group that had both men and woman in it and as a bonus they are also a K-9 unit. They are a frontline unit in Iraq.

We sent one package for a man and one package for a woman.
Both packages contain:

5-7 bars of soap ~ They each reieved one bar of the specialty bar made just for them called Apple Pie and it is Red, White and Blue

Lip Balms
Body and Facial Scrubs
Tissues
Dog Toys and snacks
Toothbrush with a tube cover and paste
Disposable Razors

Woman's also included :
Tampons
Journal and some pens
Facial clay
Lavender Body Powder

Mens:
Shaving soap
Loofah
Small first aid Kit

We were hoping to be able to send two boxes a month but realistically that isn’t going to happen as we just don’t have the funds to do it. So now we are shooting for three a month. We will send the Male/Female boxes as above and the next shipment will be full of snacks and dog treats.


As you are all aware, we could use a little help. We have set up a section where you can add a donation to your order. This of course is not mandatory and we will not think less of you if you can’t. But, if you can, please do.

We also want to be able to keep this going until our soldiers are home. We can't do it alone. Everyone who donates , we are going to add your name onto the letter , unless you specify not to.

Thank you all for your help and support in this project. We appreciate you, but the important thing is the soldiers appreciate you.

Freedom Isn’t Free, Ask Any Soldier

Our First Giveaway!

Christmas is right around the corner and we are all cutting corners to get by so we have decided to run a contest to help you with your gift list.


We are going to give you your choice of two (2) free soaps in a beautiful gift tin. And we will ship to any US address you want. We are offering ten different combinations.

This all you need to do:


First, You Must Enter By:


Comment in this post which soaps you will pick if you’re the winner! If you are unsure at this point, visit my site by clicking here: Gift Baskets (If you win, you can change your mind so you are not locked into your choice here)

Extra Entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter (unless you already are) and comment here that you did so.

2. Join our blog and comment here that you did so.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and include “@haileysgarden” in the tweet. Make sure you comment here including your twitter user name that you did so . (Please don’t over do it, as I don’t want you to appear spammy to your followers)

4. Comment on any post here at Hailey’s Dragonfly Garden Blog and comment here the link of where you commented. (this is a daily option)

Giveaway Info:

Open to US residents only (shipping purposes). This giveaway will end Tuesday, December 15th at 9:00 PM EST. The winners will be picked by Random.org and will be announced Tuesday night or Wednesday, December 16th by Noon EST. The winner will need to claim their prize within 48 hrs or I will pick another giveaway winner.

Good Luck to All and Welcome!

Wordless Wednesday

Being Thankful

Yesterday I woke up……I am thankful.

Today I was able to tell my granddaughter I loved her….I am Thankful
Tomorrow I will have food on my table and be surrounded by my family….I am Thankful.

Being thankful this season will mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Our economy has been a mess and I think people will focus more on the little things they have to be grateful for. A hug, a smile or maybe even the fact they have a job.

Although I’m not rich in money, I am rich in love and how I can help others. I seem to get a little sad at times during the holidays, even thought I know I am loved by my family. This year has been a very rough road for us, but we are surviving. I take life day to day and am thankful for what I do have.

This holiday season brought to my attention how sad it could be not to be with my family or loved ones. Which led me to our soldiers. There are so many who are overseas and they can not enjoy a meal with their loved ones, or may not get a care package from home. So, to try and spread the love, we are starting a program to send care packages, letters and handmade blankets to the troops. See our website for the details if you want to help. Donations for Soldiers

What are you thankful for this year?

What means the most to you right now?

Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.~ Unknown

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Free Gift for You

We like to give back when and where we can. For the next month, we are giving you free gifts to say thank you for shopping with us.

Free Journals

Free Powder Containers with Puff

We will be adding new specials and freebe's every week from now until Chriistmas!

Happy Holidays to All!

And Thank you for Shopping with us!

Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Did you know that apple cider vinegar is a wonderful astringent that will help combat the alkaline residue that soap or other cleansers can leave behind? When your skin maintains the correct pH balance, it has a much better chance of fighting off dryness and infections.

Astringent Ingredients:
2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
10 drops favorite essential oil (not fragrance oil): try lemon, lavender or geranium

Mix water, vinegar and essential oils, shake well to blend. Using a cotton cleansing pad or cotton ball, apply approximately 1 teaspoon to the face.

No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and potency, use within 1 year

Enjoy!

Paradox of our Times

Paradox of our times

View more presentations from haileysgarden.

Wordless Wednesday

I Love Turkish Delight Candy

I love Turkish Delight Candy Bars. They are called Big Turk and are made by Nestle ,Canada, who also make Aero Bars, but that’s another yummy story.

Turkish Delight is a candy that originated in Turkey in the 1700's. It has a soft, jelly-like consistancy, and is usually flavored with rosewater, but I have seen it made with orange, mint or lemon flavorings.

Due to the difficulty finding Big Turk, I started searching for suppliers and found aome great recipes.

Recipe One

Cook Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Ingredients:
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 4 1/4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons rosewater
• 1 cup confectioners sugar
• Vegetable oil ot shortening

Preparation:
In a 9 inch baking pan, grease the sides and bottom with vegetable oil or shortening. Line with wax paper and grease the wax paper.

In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, sugar and 1 1/2 cups water on medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves. Allow mixture to boil. Reduce heat to low and allow to simmer, until the mixture reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and set aside.

Combine cream of tartar, 1 cup corn starch and remaining water in saucepan over medium heat. Stir until all lumps are gone and the mixture begins to boil. Stop stirring when the mixture has a glue like consistency.

Stir in the lemon juice, water and sugar mixture. Stir constantly for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, Allow to simmer for 1 hour, stirring frequently.

Once the mixture has become a golden color, stir in rosewater. Pour mixture into wax paper lined pan. Spread evenly and allow to cool overnight.

Once it has cooled overnight, sift together confectioners sugar and remaining cornstarch.

Turn over baking pan containing Turkish delight onto clean counter or table and cut with oiled knife into one inch pieces.

Coat with confectioners sugar mixture. Serve or store in airtight container in layers separated with wax or parchment paper.


Recipe Two

24 servings
3 envelopes Knox gelatin
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon rose flavoring
Few drops red food coloring
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup cornstarch (or more)

Bring gelatin, sugar and water to boil, then simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and add rose flavoring and red food coloring. Strain into buttered pan and chill 24 hours.
Mix confectioners' sugar and cornstarch. Cover a slab with the mixture. Turn candy out onto slab. Cut into 1-inch squares, being careful not to let them touch each other. Roll each in sugar mixture, and pack in an airtight container with remainder of sugar mix.

And if you prefer your sweets in liquid form, here is an adult drink!

1 shot vodka
2 shots lychee liqueur
2 shots Lemon and lime juice
2 dashes syrup of roses
1 dash grenadine syrup
1 mug lychee juice
1/4 mug cranberry juice

Shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with 6 cubes of ice. Serve in a martini glass with a whole wedge of lemon squeezed a little.


But, if you don’t have time to make it like me right now, I found a great candy store, Dan’s Candy Stand in Ontario, who carries them along with a lot of other goodies, and best of all , will ship to the US.
http://www.danscandystand.com

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

Just Relax!

Gratitude

We were interviewed recently for a feature spot coming soon on Woman Making Moves, http://www.womenmakingmoves.org/ and one of the questions was :
How do you keep yourself motivated?
My reply was, I read the reviews of my products. My reviews show me I’m on the right track and people do appreciate what I do. Right now there are three active blog reviews about my products.

http://reedwhatmatters.com/2009/09/haileys-dragonfly-garden-of-botanicals/

http://grrlysquirrelheartsgavin.blogspot.com/

http://blog.hand-craftedcreations.com/2009/11/haileys-dragonfly-garden-handmade-and.html


Every week I get letters from customers who tell me how much they love my products or a customer who is on twitter will tell me the wonderful things my soaps did for their skin. Another way I keep motivated is by watching my dreams unfold before me. I have always wanted to create something that would help people and now I’m living that dream.
I also want to leave my granddaughter Hailey a Legacy and I hope besides the journals I leave her, that I can leave her a successful business that was build on trust, need and love of what I do.

Four Thieves Oil

The new strain of flu’s are in the news daily. We had Bird Flu ,Swine Flu and now H1N1. The government is telling everyone to get a flu shot, which is something I’m not comfortable with. So I turned to nature to see what she has to offer and remembered I have a recipe for “Four Thieves Oil".

There are many stories about where it came from and why or who created it. Here is one story: The Four Thieves Vinegar. Perfumers by day, robbers by night. Four men made a concoction of herbs and essential oils in a base of vinegar and would douse their body with this before they went our robbing plague victims. They had a pretty good track record of stealing riches until the King found out and captured them, forcing them to give up their secret weapon against the plague. The herbal ingredients were wormwood, meadowsweet, juniper berries, rosemary, camphor, sage, cinnamon and cloves in a base of white wine vinegar.

Current Thieves Oil Recipe : The essential oils in this blend have been noted for anti-bacterial, anti-viral and antiseptic properties while stimulating the immune system, circulation and the respiratory system. According to research at Weber State University, Thieves Oil was found to have a 99% kill rate against airborne bacteria when diffused.

Recipe :

FOUR THIEVES OIL

1 part eucalyptus
1 part rosemary
1 part cinnamon
1 part clove
1 part lemon
Must be mixed and stored in glass.

Apply 1-2 drops of Four Thieves on the bottoms of the feet and on the nape of the neck.
Apply under the arms and on the chest.
Diffuse for 20 minutes or less at work or at home.
You can also mix with olive oil if you feel too strong. I recommend 1 tablespoon of each in a 2 oz bottle then fill remainder with oil.

To use as a disinfectant spray: Add one tablespoon of blend to a spray bottle with one cup water and one cup apple cider vinegar .Spray on doorknobs, cabinet handle, showers, anything you want disinfected.
To use as a hand sanitizer: In a small bowl mix one drop of Cinnamon, clove, rosemary and eucalyptus oil with five drops of lemon. Mix this with one ounce of distilled water and ½ teaspoon of Aloe Vera gel. Store in a squeeze bottle or travel size container.

As reported by Anahad O'Onnor in the NY Times:
A recent study by a team of surgeons, for example, found that a solution made with cinnamon oil killed a number of common and hospital-acquired infections, like streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The study found it was just as effective as several antiseptics widely used in hospitals. Another study by French researchers in 2008 had similar results, showing that at concentrations of 10 percent or less, cinnamon oil was effective against Staphylococcus, E. coli and several antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

CAUTON: Due to the cinnamon and clove contained, one must be cautious--it may cause irritation if improperly used. Fair skinned, blue-eyed individuals, redheads and those who tend to sunburn easily need to heed and dilute Thieves Oil blend in a carrier oil like olive oil , almond or macadamia nut before applying to the skin. I have used 1-2 drops of Thieves on the bottom of my feet and also at the nape of the neck. Other places could be under the arms, and on the chest. I do not suggest using this in a bath or in a sauna! Diffuse for only short periods of time--20 minutes or less at work or at home.

Guest Blogging

Last week I had the honor of being a guest blogger on one of my favorite blogs that belongs to my friend, Jen who has "Reed What Matters"
http://reedwhatmatters.com/

She will keep you engaged, she's warm hearted and funny. This is a must see blog. And you too can be a guest blogger. Just contact her via her blog page or on Twitter @ReedWhatMatters

This is what we posted on her site:



My Legacy to my Granddaughter, Hailey

Children …they are our future. But what are they learning? Where do they get there Wisdom from? Many, many moons ago children looked to the elders of the family or tribes for wisdom and advice. They revered their elders and honored them. Stories, antidotes and knowledge were passed down from generation to generation via our elders.

The world we live in now, is a different place. Children are taught by the state, parents are busy, story time doesn’t exist in most houses and children don’t always get to know their grandparents due to people moving for jobs or other reasons.

There are so many things we want to share with our grandchildren, but how do we do it? How do we share our thoughts, dreams and wisdom with them if we are not with them all the time? We journal!

I started a journal for Hailey the day she was born. I was blessed enough to watch her take her first breath in this world and got to hold her within the first 15 minutes of her life. I found a great journal, based on the song “I Hope you Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. (It’s a wonderful song, providing some great thoughts and wishes) I went home and shared my joy of her birth with her, in her journal. I write to her, not about her. This is something I will give her when she is older.



I tell her about things we did together and include pictures. I press flowers that she has given me. I share my thoughts on life and events that are going on in the world at the current time (nothing too heavy or depressing though…this is not a place to purge your pain. I keep personal journals for that, that someday she will also have when I’m gone) . I share quotes and poems. I pass on advice, wisdom and knowledge. This journal is for her story, through my eyes.

So, start a journal for your grandchildren. Pass on the joy you receive with them being in your life. Hailey is my sunshine. I’m lucky enough to see her everyday so I have a lot to write about. . She was also my inspiration for my business; Hailey’s Dragonfly Garden of Botanicals (http://www.haileysdragonflygarden.com)

So, go get a journal or even a notebook and tell your grandchild what fun you had with them when you were both sitting on the kitchen floor and banging on the pots and pans like drums. Tell them how they made you laugh when they splashed in the tub for the first time. It doesn’t matter what you write in, as long as you share from the heart!

Joyful Writing,

Dakota Dawn

Mule Camp Market Fall Festival

We decided to try a local Fall Festival called Mule Camp Market. What a great time we had. Our only concern last weekend seemed to be the weather, but Mother Nature kept us in mind and it didn’t rain until Monday!
Hailey was off school on Friday, Oct 9th so she helped me sell soaps and was part of our TV debut. We were interviewed live on Gainesville Channel 18. I was very nervous as I have never done a TV interview but we heard it went really well. (We hope to see a copy of it soon). It also turned out to be very successful, as many people stopped by to buy our soaps after seeing us on TV.
It was a lot of work to get ready and to set up but I must say it was well worth it as we met many people in our area and made some new friends.
We debuted three new soaps and we have decided to keep all of them.
We have added :
Butter Bar, Australian Pink and Raspberry Vanilla Oat.
We also conducted a drawing for a $25.00 gift certificate and the winner is....... Julie Hayes from the Atlanta area!



Til next time, Enjoy!

Giving Back!

For the last few months, due to your purchases, we are now able to give back! We donate up to 10% of our sales to various charities every month. We do this by donating products or gift cards for fund raising events.

Some of the charities we have assisted so far:

History Starts Now- They are dedicated to stop Child trafficking in our country.
http://historystartsnownyc.blogspot.com/2009/09/blog-post_23.html


Camp To Belong - The mission of Camp To Belong is to reunite siblings placed in separate foster homes or other out-of-home care for events that encourage emotional empowerment, social maturation, positive outlook, fun and sibling connection
www.camptobelong-ga.org


11th Annual Sister Run 5K Run/Walk, Fundraiser for Ovarian/Gynecologic Cancer Aliance in FL

The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League (www.magdrl.org)


Charity Bachelor Auction benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation New Hampshire


12th Annual Community Charity Baby Shower Michigan http://www.waynemetro.org/

Tuna Kitty Cookies

Tuna Kitty Cookies

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 (6 ounce) can tuna in oil, undrained
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or bacon grease
1 egg

Combine all ingredients; mix well; add small amounts of water if mixture is too thick. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to 1/4-inch thick. Cut shapes with a cookie cutter and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until firm. Allow to cool on wire racks.

Note: Before you cook for your cat, it’s recommended that you seek advice from your veterinarian as to what food/ingredients are appropriate for your cat. If you are doubtful about any ingredient, replace it or simply leave it out.

Need a cute cookie cutter? We have what you need!
Bone shapes, Hearts and Dragonflies
http://www.haileysdragonflygarden.com/Pet_Corner.php

Enjoy!
Hailey's Dragonfly Garden of Botanicals

Stray and Feral Cats

And homeless near a thousand homes I stood
And near a thousand tables pined , and wanted food.
William Wordsworth

Stray and feral cats need your help . Many of the strays you see wandering around most likely belonged to someone at one time. People move leaving them behind. Or people decide they no longer want the responsibility so they toss them out or drop them off in a different neighborhood.

Either way this cat is now homeless and winter is coming. Some strays can be caught and relocated to a new home via a rescue group. But many of the strays are feral.
A feral cat is the wild offspring of domestic cats and are primarily the result of people failing to spay or neuter their cat or abandonment of their cats. These cats survive as best they can - near restaurants, shopping centers, parks, dumps, or in rural areas. Feral cats often live in loose groups, or colonies, and usually go out of their way to avoid human contact.

A pair of breeding cats can have several litters per year, and their descendents can theoretically produce about 250,000 kittens over a five year period.
Without human intervention, many of these cats have short, painful lives and often die from disease, malnutrition, exposure, by car accidents, or predation. Feral cats are almost impossible to socialize unless captured as small kittens. Like other wild animals, they should not be handled without following instructions from feral cat rescue groups or shelters.

There are programs at most cat rescues and local pounds to help the feral population with reduced priced spay / neuter programs. The programs are usually offered because the cat population is so huge, its impossible to find homes for them all. A lot of cats that end up in shelters are put to sleep. So they offer this catch and release program for strays and feral cats. If the cat or cats in your area are wild and not just strays most shelters will provide a trapping cage to collect the animals. Then you just drop them off one day and pick them up the next, setting them loose again in the area you found them.

Other things you can do are build cat shelter for them for the winter. There are many good sites out there that will give you ideas if you are interested. The boxes I have created are from this site.:

http://www.urbancatleague.org/SheltersMike.html

The shelters are made out of storage bins. They are very easy to make and an efficient design.



Leave some food and water out in the area they are in.

If you find a litter of kittens, try to bring in the mother and babies to a cat rescue, as they try to find homes for them.

Most of all, if you have a cat, spay / neuter them.

If you are thinking about getting a cat, remember it’s a commitment of care, feeding and love you will need to supply besides vet costs for shots, check ups and other possible care.

A cat can give you many years of love and are a priceless investment.
Enjoy
Hailey’s Dragonfly Garden of Botanicals

Stand By Me

I love music! So I had to share this with you.

I belong to a few Yahoo groups, and a friend, Robert Miller, also know as Grandfather Oak,from one of my groups sent me this. He states and I quote, "Below is a link to one of the best pieces of sound engineering work I think I have ever seen. It is a composite audio/video of song whereby additional Tracks were laid in by different singers and musicians from different places Around the world. The finished product is tremendous! The song itself is that classic standard "Stand By Me" originally released In 1955 by The Staple Singers and released again in 1961 by the Drifters.This composite version is a real toe tapper, so turn up the speaker volume and enjoy:Listen all the way to the end!!"

Stand By Me | Playing For Change | Song Around The World from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Paulie Our New Garden Friend

We just wanted to share a picture of our new garden friend, Paulie, the Praying Mantis. He is living in our Morning Glories.

Olive Oil truly is Liquid Gold

Olive Oil is Liquid Gold

For more than four thousand years, the olive tree has been a symbol of peace, longevity and abundance. Gifted by a goddess, revered by ancient cultures, and protected by emperors, the olive tree and its precious fruit have played important roles in civilization.

Dubbed "liquid gold" by Homer, olive oil has been used for food, medicine, magic, beauty, and divine rituals. Baseball star Joe DiMaggio is even said to have soaked his bat in olive oil. And the history continues as more and more people are turning to all natural beauty remedies and healthier eating habits.

Today, I would like to share some ways to use olive oil in your beauty routines.

Lips: Alleviate chapped lips with straight olive oil. Dab on lips... great at bedtime.

Nails: Warm a small dish of olive oil (not too hot) with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Soak nails for 5- 10 minutes. This softens cuticles while it strengthens nails.

Hair: For a simple oil treatment, warm several tablespoons of olive oil (again, not hot). Rub into scalp and hair. Cover with a shower cap or small plastic bag. Leave on for 20-30 minutes. You can also put a small drop in your palm, rub hands together then rub on your hair to get rid of frizzes.

Feet: Apply olive oil to your feet at bedtime, but on some socks and wake up with soft feet in the morning.

Bath Oil: Use 2-3 tablespoons in your bath to soften and treat your dry skin.
(be careful getting out, as will be slippery)

Skin: Applying olive oil to your skin after being out in the sun may help reduce the damage caused by sun exposure.

You can also use Pure Olive Oil Soaps. They are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids that nourish the skin. You can now get a bar today on our site.

http://www.haileysdragonflygarden.com/Hemp_and_Olive_Oil_Soap.php

Enjoy!

New Addition

Greetings,

We have just added a new friend to our favorites list.
http://reedwhatmatters.com
Please check her blog out. She is funny and informative!

Enjoy

Homemade Furniture Polish

Tired of paying high prices for furniture polish and oils. Then make your own.

Furniture Polish Recipe

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

It works as good , if not better than any commercial polish I have ever used and my wood furniture looks great!

Enjoy !

Bruiser's Biscuits

Bruiser's Biscuits

3 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cup Quaker oats
1 cup milk
1/2 cup hot water
2 beef or chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 cup meat drippings

Dissolve bouillon cubes in hot water. Add milk and drippings and beat.

In a separate bowl, mix flour and oatmeal. Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and mix well. Press onto an ungreased cookie sheet and cut into shapes desired. Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Turn off heat and leave in the oven to harden. Refrigerate after baking.

Note: Before you cook for your dog, it’s recommended that you seek advice from your veterinarian as to what food/ingredients are appropriate for your dog. If you are doubtful about any ingredient, replace it or simply leave it out.

Enjoy!

Cupcake Cones

Hailey will be 6 years old tomorrow! Where has the time gone!
Well, I’m in charge of making cupcakes for her class. I wanted something different that the kids would love, would be easy and that would make Hailey happy. She is very particular about things so I let her approve such things first.
While surfing youtube I found this great idea -cupcakes in ice cream cones!( if you click on title it will take you to the youtube video) I showed it to Hailey and it was a hit. They were so easy and fun to make and Hailey was able to help.
First Make a batch of cupcakes as you normally would. Then take a ice cream cone, fill with some candies. We used gummi bears as that is one of Hailey's favorites.
Next, peel off the paper of the cupcake, put some icing on top around the edges and invert the cupcake on the cone. Then add icing and decorate anyway you want.
(We didn’t add the additional cake on top like in the video, but they turned out great without it)
They are really great and Hailey is very excited about school tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Black Walls

I am looking for a new design for my bedroom and ran across this site. It shows decorating ideas using black walls! I personally would have never ever thought about painting my walls black, but now that I see some of the rooms, it may be an option. It looks very sophisticated and soothing to me. What do you think?

To see more, click on the title to go to the page.

Spinach Lasagna

I love to make meals that I toss together and let cook. This is one of my favorites!
Enjoy!


Spinach Lasagna
Serves 8
Prep time is 30 mins

INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups non-fat cottage cheese
1 (8 ounce) package part skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg
8 ounces lasagna noodles

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large pot over medium heat saute spinach, onion, oregano, basil and garlic in the olive oil. Pour in spaghetti sauce and water; simmer 20 minutes. In a large bowl mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and egg.
3. Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a lasagna pan. Place 4 uncooked noodles on top of sauce and top with layer of sauce. Add 4 more noodles and layer with 1/2 sauce and 1/2 cheese mixture, noodles and repeat until all is layered, finishing with sauce.
4. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven for 55 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Dog Cookie Kit

One of our new creations. A dog cookie kit. We only want the best for our four legged family members so why not make him a batch of cookies.

The cookie kits come with a jar of dried peppermint leaves, a cookie cutter and recipe card. We also sell tin cookie cutters that are so cute and will last a lifetime.

The fresh flavor of mint helps to freshen your pet’s breath and Mint can also be soothing to the stomach and nervous system and help alleviate nausea.

We also include new recipes for your cats and dogs in our newsletter which at this time is published quarterly.
Here is a recipe to get you started.

Dog Treat Cautions
If your dog has any known food allergies or is on a restricted diet, consult its veterinarian before serving these recipes. A good rule of thumb is that treats should account for no more than 10% of a dog’s diet.
Sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets. Be sure to introduce new foods slowly.

Basic recipe
Makes about 2 dozen biscuits
1¾ cup whole wheat flour
1¼ cup oatmeal
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together, then pour in oil and water.
2. Mix well until dough is firm. Roll dough out on a floured board and cut into shapes.
3. Grease a cookie sheet. Use a spatula to carefully transfer biscuits to cookie sheet. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown.
4. Cool. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place or freeze.
Variations
Cheese and Herb: Add 1¼ cups grated cheese and 1 teaspoon rosemary or thyme.

Enjoy!

Artist uses drumsticks as his brushes

 

Full Article http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/all-drumartist.6944570aug02,0,2943567.story

A friend of mine sent me this news article about his friend and I just love the concept. What an creative idea. I really think it would be fun for kids to be allowed to paint this way as something different.
So, go get a piece of canvas , some drumsticks and paint. Turn on the music and let them create! If you dont have canvas, try a t-shirt , pillowcase or even a piece of a sheet.
Let me know how it goes. Also if you have any other ideas of things that could be used instead of brushes, please share.

Release the creativity!

Rockin Bird- too cute !

I just love this bird!!!! Thought you might like it too!
Enjoy.

Beetle Mystery Solved

The Beetle mystery has been solved! Seems the beetle I was asking about is called a "Eastern Hercules Beetle". I can thank Scott from PA for the identification.


This beetle was on my back porch a few different times. He would hang out on one of my chairs for a day and leave only to show up again. This happened a few times. I took pictures the second time. He really is huge.
I havent seen it lately, so hopefully he found a better home than my porch chairs.
Here is a site with some great pics http://bugguide.net/node/view/4461
And here is some general info http://centralpets.com/animals/insects/beetles/btl6044.html
Enjoy!!!

Today we Saved a Turtle

Greetings,
Today we saved a Eastern Box Turtle. Hailey and I went shopping for some new shoes and school supplies. When on the way back home , there was a brown and tan lump in the middle of the right lane. As soon as I saw it I just knew it was a turtle. I keep on driving as there was a lot of traffic behind me. But I just couldn’t leave it there. I had to turn around and try to save it. So, that is just what we did.
I turned around about 1/2 mile down the road or more and just hoped we wouldn’t be too late. And low and behold, that little turtle was ok and on the move again. He made it over to the middle of the left lane and he was on the move. It was perfect where he was, as there was a left turn lane where I could pull over safety, and scooped him up. In the nick of time I believe as a rush of traffic was coming.
I put him on the floor of the passenger seat and brought him home. Needless to say Hailey thought this was so cool that we could save this little turtle. We took a few pictures of him and she named him Thomas the Turtle. Then we walked out back, went down into the forest and set him free.
According to the quick research we did on the net, he will be very happy there and have plenty of things to eat.
Regretfully hundreds if not thousand of turtles lose their life on our highways. So , if you ever have a chance, please help a turtle out. Get them to the other side of the road or drop them off in a local wooded area or field where they will be safe.
Long live the Turtles!!!
To learn more about this turtle http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Contribute/box%20turtle/boxinfo.htm

Homemade Playdough Recipes

Kool-Aid Playdough
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
2 cups boiling water with 1 package Kool-aid (any flavor)
3 tablespoons corn oil
1/2 cup salt
1 tablespoon alum

Mix ingredients and knead with flour (may take up to 1 extra cup). Use more if the dough draws moisture in high humidity. Keeps well, has a nice fragrance and is very colorful and very flexible.


Salt Playdough

•1 cup salt
•1 cup water
•1/2 cup flour plus additional flour
•Saucepan
Directions

1.Mix salt, water, and flour in saucepan and cook over medium heat.
2.Remove from heat when mixture is thick and rubbery.
3.As the mixture cools, knead in enough flour to make the dough workable.


Easy Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup water

Mix together well. You can put dry Kool-Aid or Jell-O in the mix if you want colored dough.

Enjoy!!!

Soap of the Week

We are so proud of our new soap creation "Ocean Storm Warnings" . This was our first attempt at layered/swirled soaps and we couldn't be happier. We scented it our Ocean Storm fragrance and it is perfect. We have decided to keep this in our lineup under Specialty soaps.
Our inspiration for the name came from the TV show Deadliest Catch. Mike Rowe was talking about a huge storm coming in and the sky was so many different colors, and this was our interpretation.
Enjoy!

Homemade Skin care

We all need to save some money, so here are some ideas for homemade face masks.

For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

For Normal/combination skin mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 minutes then rinse.

For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 minutes then rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry.

And if you rather use a clay mask, we carry them for all skin types.

Take care
The Staff

Birthday Specials

My son Mike and his very best friend Jake (my other son) will be celebrating their birthday's this month (See our calendar on the web site for all our fun events and specials) So, it got me thinking, first, what to get the boys and then how can I share the fun with all my customers? A sale, of course! So to celebrate, we are going to offer FREE SHIPPING, no minimum for one week. This special will run from July 21st to July 28th only. So shop til you drop and save some money in the meantime!
Enjoy!
The Staff

Playing Gardener Today

Today was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining and the breeze was blowing. It was just too nice to sit inside on the computer all day. So, we decided to do some replanting of our porch plants.

First we went to Lowe's and got some Miracle Grow potting soil and rescued a few discount plants, including a potted rose bush.

Next, we have never grown roses, especially in a pot, so we did a little research about it and found a great site.
http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/containers.asp

Lastly, we upgraded each plant we have to a larger pot. There is just something about playing in the dirt that I just love. Then cleaned up the mess, sweep off the porch and sat back to enjoy our labors. All the plants look very happy now! LOL

Dog Treats

Homemade Dog Treats


Note: Before you cook for your dog, it’s recommended that you seek advice from your veterinarian as to what food/ingredients are appropriate for your dog. If you are doubtful about any ingredient, replace it or simply leave it out.


An Apple a Day Dog Treat



2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple -- chopped or grated
1 egg -- beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
3/8 cup water


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray. Lightly
dust work surface with flour. Blend flours and cornmeal in large mixing bowl. Add
apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water; mix until well blended.
Roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of
desired shape and size.
Bake in preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed 1 hour
to crisp treats. Remove treats from oven.Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag
and place in refrigerator or freezer.


Visit our Pet Corner and see all the new toys we have added!

Benefits of Handmade Soap

Conventional soaps available in stores today are not really soaps at all, but detergents. Detergents are petroleum-based products that tend to leave your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight. Thankfully there is an alternative soap that offers multiple benefits when used. Because handmade soap has become affordable, its popularity is growing rapidly as a chemical free alternative to conventional soaps.

Get Back to Nature

Handmade soaps are made with natural ingredients instead of cheap imitations which may cause irritation. Coconut, olive, and palm oils are carefully blended to create a skin smoothing concoction that cleanses the skin without drying it out. A variety of natural fragrance oils can also be added to the handmade soap for additional moisture locking effects. An example of the types of fragrance oils used include: orange, vanilla rose petals, almond, avocado, jojoba, cottonseed, etc. Most importantly, homemade soaps are respectful of nature by not testing their products on animals.

Quality Supersedes Quantity

Handmade soap manufacturers take pride in the quality of their products. Most ingredients are hand-picked, sorted, and manufactured to produce a top quality product. Unlike conventional soap, it is said that homemade soap may even contain healing properties due to the lack of chemicals in the ingredients. People who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can find relief by switching to an all-natural and chemical free handmade soap.

Handmade Soap Does a Body Good

The skin is the largest human organ as well as the body’s first line of defense against dehydration, temperature, infection and harmful substances. Handmade soaps give your skin the care it deserves by gently cleansing and locking in moisture. The fragrances used in these products can also stimulate health. Cinnamon, for example, has the ability to increase blood flow.

Spa-like Luxury

Life can be hectic at times and a humble luxury like a special bar of soap can be rewarding. A fragrant, handmade bar of soap is a simple indulgence that fosters a feeling of relaxation as well as the ever important feeling of being pampered. Handmade soap is a luxurious tool in keeping your skin healthy. With its creamy lather, wonderful fragrances, and now affordable prices, pampering yourself has never felt so good.


Creative Works of Art

Perhaps the most appealing factor about homemade soaps is that they allow the soap manufacturer to be creative and experimental with different natural products. Adding oils, essences, natural exfoliates, and creating new and exciting designs and shapes. Nowadays, homemade soaps are able to have a variety of looks and the possibilities of ingredients are endless. Bars of soap can appear to have glass swirls or can even be embedded with chunks of oatmeal.

Homemade soap is nothing like the chalky bars of the days of yore. Modern soap manufacturers have turned making soap into a marketable hobby that produces the finest, silkiest bars that look and feel luxurious. The secret ingredient to handmade soap is imagination. From intricate designs to beautiful aromas, handmade soaps are a simple luxury that nobody should do without.

Found on Article Base

My claim for tecnorati

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Humidity Kills

Yes, I too make some mistakes. I don't normal tell the world, but I just have to share this with you.

I was cleaning out a picture folder today, trying to get rid of any old product photos or photos I no longer need and I ran across this.




The humidity must have been higher than I thought one day that I decided to make some bath bombs. (I know, you never make bombs when its humid, I know ) This was my first try. They puffed up like yeast bread rising. They really had a mind of their own. The picture above was only taken to share with a friend of mine as it was just too funny, but what the heck. Learn from my mistakes. Never, but never try to make bath bombs when its raining or humid out.

Good luck!

Im back

Ok, I never did find those notes, so Im starting again. This time I promise to keep up with it better ( My promise to all my facebook friends who keep hounding me).

Vending

Greetings,
We have been so busy since the idea to blog was sprouted. I recently just returned from an outing in the Ocala National Forest. This is the first time I had to set up my tents and boy was that fun.
First, it was soooo hot. I got the tents out of the bag and tried to do them myself but that was not working. Gratefully a neighbor, Theresa, saw me struggling and came to my rescue. She and I put the 2 tents up in no time. I was so happy I forgot I had to tie them down. I went to my car and started unloading and the next thing I knew both tents were picked up, literally, by the wind and tossed over. Holy Mackerel ! Not a good thing. Some more help came and we righted the tents and only sustained damage on one leg. And of course Theresa was there again to my rescue and we bent it back and used a ball bungee to hold up the corner.
You can bet I will never forget to tie them down right away again. What an adventure!
But here is my final set up. I had a great time and made a lot of new friends.

New Beginnings and Introductions

Blogging.............me........WOW!!!! Never thought I would have anything to say. But when the idea was introduced to me (again), hundreds of ideas went thru my old mind.

But, here I stand, in front of the classroom, per se, and I'm a blank! My thoughts went on vacation and I'm not sure how to get in touch with them ( because of course they did not leave me an itinerary.They are like that at time.Just get up and leave when I might need them)

What I can do is introduce myself. I am Hailey's ( yes, there really is a Hailey) Nana. Grandmother. Grandma. MeMa etc. I am the creator and researcher for all our products. My name is Dawn. Hailey is my five year old granddaughter who is the love of my life. She has taught me many things and if it wasn't for her, I would have never started this quest. It is because of my love for her that I started looking into more natural and organic products.

So, I will be back. I'm sure the thoughts left me at least a note, somewhere, on my desk. But I need to try and find it. There are sooo many "notes" to myself on my desk. New ideas, things to do, things to create, thoughts, price lists, inventory sheets. I think I will clean off the desk, get re-organized for this adventure (locate my thoughts) and I will be back .....soon!

Happy Thoughts,
Dawn
Hailey's Dragonfly Garden
http://www.haileysdragonflygarden.com