Clare Davis Etheridge

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Sunflowers on Earth Day

As yesterday was Earth Day, we planted our Sunflower seeds. Some were arranged nicely in pots to get them started and some were chucked into the dirt and see how they do!

We are growing ‘mammoth’ sunflowers this year to see how tall we can get them. Mr Y is having a race with Grandma and Grandad who also have ‘mammoth’ sunflowers to grow across the pond in England. Seeds have all been planted at around the same time, so let the races begin! Grow sunflowers grow!

How tall will they get I wonder? Rest assured I will keep you updated on the sunflower growings, photos and measurements, no details spared. Betcha can’t wait! We only planted them yesterday and I am already looking out for sprouts…

Are you racing sunflowers? You should!

Weekly photos 16/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

A busy week was had and a productive one too. Monday night/Tuesday morning saw a lunar eclipse which produced the fabled ‘blood moon’. We got up at 2am to have a look and it was no disappointment. The moon was almost fully eclipsed and a faded red. My husband got a picture of it, so I have borrowed it!

We are in full bathroom re-do chaos but the little light is shining at the end of the tunnel, so all is well. Never mind that the only sink is in the kitchen, the only mirror is propped on the floor in the dining room and there is no door to the bathroom! I can’t wait for a new shower.

The weather has been fab and everything is growing and sprouting in all the right directions.

1. The Blood Moon captured by my hubs and posted on his Instagram page

2. A two tone leaf on a green bridge.

3. Pom pom bunny!

4. The bathroom re-do continues, here is a glimpse of the original floor tiles. Coincidently, we are using very similar tiles for the new floor.

5. My friend keeps chickens and I got to chat with them this week.

6. Our little apple trees are in blossom.

7. At last the daffodils have popped out.

8. Easter egg in the garlic.

I am linking up with Em at The Beetle Shack again this week, go see her photos, they are gorgeous. Have a lovely week.

Six Word Saturday

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

It has been a lovely day today, a perfect mow the grass and clear out the shed day! We moved out the bazilion plastic plant pots. The ones you keep because they will be useful one day and before you know it, you have a shed full. So, we had a plant pot cull, swept out the cobwebs and put everything back. All nice and tidy, for now.

Are you having a Spring clean? Planting lots of seeds? What are you growing? Got a Six Word Saturday? Do share.

Happy Easter and happy Spring!

Through The Lens Thursday 16. Together

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I am hiding out in the library sitting on a nice squishy chair with a little round table to write on and keep the books I have already chosen to check out. We are fully into the Spiderwick Chronicles, so I have book 2 ‘The Seeing Stone’ and a couple of Tony DiTerlizzi books to have a look at too.

My house is full of the noise of a bathroom being re-done – drilling, crashing and some swearing.
So here I am in the lovely library putting together my Through The Lens Thursday post.
This week was ‘Together’, and as I gathered my mid morning frothy coffee equipment, I thought they were the perfect ‘together’. I make the coffee in a Chemex, froth up the milk in my metal frother thingy and serve it in my favourite coffee cup. Ta da!

Do you have specific mugs or cups for tea or coffee? I totally do, some of my mugs I would never drink tea from and some would never contain coffee! For instance, I would never ever have tea in this coffee cup. Never.
Are you doing Through the Lens Thursday or another photo challenge? Do share! Are you strange like me and only drink certain drinks from certain vessels?

Pom poms in the Springtime!

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Yesterday I made a few pom poms with my new pom pom makers and I can’t believe how quick it is to make these little fluffy cuties with a proper ‘maker’! I feel like a cheat, but I am sure I will get over that. So. Darn. Quick. Hurrah. I am actually thinking that a pom pom rug might not take the rest of my life now!

Anyway, less rugs, more Spring.

I made some little Springtime critters and of course some carrots for them to eat.

I started with a pile of pom poms all ready to sew together.

Here’s how.

To make the carrots, I made three poms in graduating sizes and them sewed them together. I made a very loose pom pom with green wool and cut it unevenly and sewed it on the bigger end to make the carrot leaves. I trimmed them a little to get a better carrot shape, but not much. Now we need a bunny to eat the carrots.

The bunny is two pom poms, one big, one small. They are sewn together loosely with a little white pom pom for the cottontail. I cut out ears from felt and sewed them on.

The hedgehog friends are single pom poms with a nose made from a felt cone and sewn on. I trimmed them into a more hedgehoggy shape and set them on their way.

I am sure these pom pom friends would love to help in an Easter egg hunt or take part in an Easter basket!

Do you like to make a pom pom? What do you make with them? Anyone know how to even make a rug……?

Weekly photos 15/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Last week was filled to the brim with sunshine and flowering trees. Out came the flip flops and the nail varnish. The nail varnish on toes is my way of gently persuading my feet out into the open air. It is a chilly, rainy day today, so they are safely tucked up in boots again.

So let’s have a glimpse of that sunshine again along with the dog guarding the new shower base, Mr Y helping remove the bathroom floor and waiting outside Trader Joe’s. The last photo is of some pretty wallpaper we found under the skirting board in the bathroom. Makes we want wallpaper in all the rooms again, look at those teeny flowers, so lovely.

I am linking up with Em at The Beetle Shack for her Weekly Stills Series.

Happy Monday! Have a fab week x

Six Word Saturday

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Boot camp at the track this morning and look who I saw, just hanging around!
Share your Six Word Saturday on Instagram or here in the comments! Seen anyone famous lately?!

New necklaces at CatsEatDogs

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

I have been busy making new jewelry this week, once I started making these necklaces which can be worn short or long, I couldn’t stop! I still have lots of ideas for more. They are so easy to wear and go with almost everything.

I have listed the necklaces in the pictures in my Etsy shop and each photo is a link to the item if you fancy popping over and visiting my shop.

These necklaces like to be worn alone or together at different lengths, the knots slide to adjust the length.

I have used acrylic faceted beads which are lightweight with just the right amount of sparkle and lots of wooden beads including some lovely vintage wood (the last photo). I think the vintage is my favourite!

What are you wearing this summer? I love to pile on the bracelets and necklaces but not together, usually a pile of necklaces or an arm of bracelets!

Happy weekend.

Through the Lens Thursday and Ten on the 10th April 2014

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

A lovely sunny day for Ten on the 10th this month, so I thought I would snap a few pictures of the wonderful tree blossoms which are only around for a week or two before the leaves pop through and the trees are green.

I do love the flowers, but they make me sneeze, not really bad allergies, just enough to be inconvenient!

Looking back on April 2013 Ten on the 10th, Spring is a little behind this year, but as long as we get a Spring and Summer doesn’t come too early to heat us all up, I am not complaining.

I have taken the photos on the Canon and my iPhone.

Lots and lots of tree blossom!

My Through the Lens Thursday offering. The prompt today was ‘Books’, so I took a photo of my cook books. I had to use the tripod to get this as the books are in a dim corner.

The last photos are taken on my phone. I saw this sign in the road, so of course I had to get a pic.

My neighbour’s Magnolia tree is in full bloom and smells wonderful, air freshner for the outside!

I hope you had a sunny and fab day. I really like the little snapshot each month I get from just taking ten photos on the 10th day. Fancy doing Ten on the 10th or Through the Lens Thursday? Jump on in!

Weekly Photos 14/52

Published by Clare at CatsEatDogs

Last week really saw the trees starting to bloom and we had our first tornado warning trip to the basement. Lots of rain, wind and hail and a tornado touched down about three miles from here, yikes!

The garden is getting planted and we bought and build a composter which is totally encouraging everyone to eat veggies just so we can compost the peelings!

Here’s to a happy sunny week ahead! Do you have a weekly photo round-up? Share in the comments! I am linking up with Em at The Beetle Shack for her Weekly Stills collection.