Our Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial day weekend is such a treasure. Sunshine and family make me smile. This year we have had a late spring where I live so this weekend was the perfect time to start a vegetable garden.

Next to our ugly rustic old barn we cleared out an area that has been used to store firewood for years. It was a perfect spot to start a garden. The ground was weed free, but still healthy and full of earthworms. 

We mixed in bags and bags of garden soil.

My oldest an youngest at work.

Next my middle and youngest set about planting.

Blueberries!

Herbs.

Corn. In a couple of weeks when the corn is tall enough we plant peas at their base. The peas grow up the corn stalks, just like garden stakes. 

Strawberries in bloom. Another month for these 'June berries' to be ready for the picking.

And what is a kids garden without a marble inlaid stepping stone?

We added netting to help keep the deer out.

I hope your Memorial weekend was a wonderful one!

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I've been featured!

I have been featured on Bluedreamer's Top 5.  Pop over to see a post all about... me :). Why I blog, what I like and dislike in blogs, some blogging tips I have to share, and more. Here:

INTERESTING BLOG OF THE MONTH~MAY 2011

(Thanks so much for featuring Holiday Haven!)

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Free printable flags for Memorial day and the 4th of July

Fun little flags to add to your celebrations!

To print: click on the photo above, to fully expand click a second time. Then right click on the photo and select print. Or once you have clicked on the photo select 'file' and 'print' from the top of the page.

Once printed, I cut out with an extra flap of the white paper on the left hand side of the flag and attached to toothpicks with glue.

                       Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

(If you are viewing this on your kindle you can get this and more printables by visiting aholidayhaven.com's free printables page from your home computer). Holiday Haven's home page.

Easy Hors D'oeuvre Recipe; Flavored Olive Oil & French Bread

An easy appetizer for the the upcoming holiday weekend. Family, food, and fun is on the schedule so I have put together this quick snack to keep everyone happy.

I started with these little oil dipping dishes. Any small bowl or raised edge dish would do well in their place.

Recipe: About a cup of olive oil and mixed in grated parmesan cheese, a teaspoon or two of blend of Italian herbs, and a heaping tablespoon of Johnnys Seasoning Salt. Additionally: You can also add finely chopped onions, garlic powder or salt, and onion powder or salt, adjusting seasonings to taste.

Prep time was less than five minutes.

And everyone in my household love it! (...even the little ones) :)

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Summer garden and home tips

Some beautiful ideas for summer: a fairy garden, how to get rid of aphids, planting pumpkins, sea glass candle holders and more summer fun!

Click links under photos to see full post.

Fairy Gardens- are so much fun to create! A great summer activity for the whole family.

Make your home a B&B- Summer company? Or just want to make a wonderful summer home? These are some fun tips to adding a little sparkle to home.

Watering plants while on vacation - My mom's tips for watering plants while on vacation. (And she is an amazing gardener).

May is the month for planting pumpkins -Depending on your area, generally from early May to early June is the time to get your pumpkin seeds in the ground.

 Get rid of aphids- A recipe for getting rid of aphids before the roses bloom!

Outdoor tablescape- a table in the garden makes a wonderful summer memory.

Sea glass candle holders -Using sea glass to create beach decor for summer.

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4 Summer Vacation Ideas

Our experience with renting a boat,  a camping checklist, ideas for  your family reunion, and some fishing tips. These posts from last year are full of tips to help make your outing wonderful! 

1. Boat rentals make for an unforgettable day Click Here to see our a bit about our experience and some tips.

2. Camping: Going camping this summer? here is my camping check list

3. Family reunions are a wonderful time of bonding, I have been fortunate enough to help begin this tradition in my family, here are my notes: Family Reunion Planning Notes

4. Fishing: What would summer be without a fishing trip? THIS POST has a checklist and everything I (as a mom of three boys) know about fishing :)

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Blue skys are calling my name...♪

How very lovely is spring.

And what a late spring it was. 

My tulips just now fading away...

lilly of the valley just now nodding thier heads...

hydranga blooms just begining...

sweet smells from a lilac shrub...

violas adding cheer...

my apple tree full of blooms...

and blue skies overhead....

... all are calling my name.

In this lovely season I slow down a bit,
take time to smell the flowers,
watch the bees buzz about,
watch the grass grow,
spend some time with my hubby and sweet children,
make sun tea and lemonade.

How are you spending this lovely season?

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Vacation Idea #45 ~ The Flying Bee Ranch

WISH i was on HOLIDAY

is a feature on aHolidayHaven  through the summer.

Click on the ::Vacation ideas:: tab above to see more.

Vacation Idea # 45

The Flying Bee Ranch

Bayard, NE

In the midst of the beautiful landscape of Nebraska, about 20 miles SE of Scottsbluff, you can find the Flying Bee Ranch, a 3300 acre working farm.

We had the pleasure of staying in the rustic guest cabin some time ago, an experience we will never forget.

The cabin had a full kitchen, a dining area, a quaint bathroom, and large bedroom. 

The bedroom had a queen bed and two sets of bunk beds. My children LOVED the bunk beds. 

Sunflowers grow wild on the side of the road in this part of Nebraska and we loved the cheeriness of the sunflower decor inside the cabin.

Things to do: 1.Relax 2.Enjoy 3.Bird watch

Outside a they had rv hookups and the friendly neighboring rv'er offered the kids a ride.

Chairs on the porch were we sat and had our cup of morning coffee and listened to the birds chirp.

The whole time we were there the cabin reminded me of a sweet little cabin in a watercolor painting.

We loved the full kitchen. There was an outdoor barbecue which had we stayed longer we would have taken advantage of and the ranch had a number of breakfast options.

We took the farm tour where we saw needle grass, a cute little turtle cross our path, we got up close to an ox (oxen are very gentle creatures), and admired all of the amazing scenery of the beautiful landscape.

The only drawback may have been the rattlesnakes. We did not manage to see any, though their holes were numerous, and with quick footed children we were a bit worried and ever on the lookout. If visiting a second time I would make sure everyone had good boots.

While there we visited Chimney Rock which is just minutes away, and a must for any who are interested in the Oregon Trail.

Other than the camping cabin they have options for rv'ers, a room in their main ranch house, trail rides, wagon rides, ranch tours, and more. You can visit their site at http://www.flyingbee-ranch.com/ for full details on this wonderful vacation destination.


(Link is not sponsored, and I am in no way affiliated with the flying bee ranch. Just sharing for fun :)


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Summer Recipe: Watermelon Coolers

With summer on its way I decided to try Paula Deens watermelon cooler recipe.

 Made with lemon zest, sorbet, and watermelon, this is truly a wonderful summer treat!

You can get the recipe here: Watermelon Cooler

Beautiful enough for a party, and it keeps in the fridge so it can be ahead of time.

We served this treat with leftover watermelon slices.

And, for the daring among us, I sugared some zested lemon slices.

Such a refreshing treat on this sunny day. 

This post is part of a Celebrity Cook-Along hosted by Happier Than A Pig in Mud. Visit to see this wonderful monthly blog party and see more recipes by Paula Dean tested by amazingly creative bloggers.



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