Another Month of Successes (Well, Mostly)

For the year 2017 I am making a concerted effort each month to try something new or make progress in five different areas:  culinary, skill development, art or craft, memory preservation, and household.

For the month of April I achieved success...well, mostly.
I failed to do anything related to the organization, preservation or presentation of family memories; however, I did make significant progress in the other areas.

I tried several new recipes this month.  I made chicken and potato pastry pies.  I made them one day for dinner and they were so good that I had to make them a second time.  The second time I made them for a picnic.  They were perfect picnic food.  Delish!
I used this recipe as inspiration for a kale salad with a warm vinaigrette.  I included bacon in my dressing.

I used several new recipes for Easter.  I made a loaded mashed potato casserole and garlic parmesan roasted asparagus...

...and carrot cake cupcakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting.

All delicious!

The special projects that I did around the house this month centered around my garden.
I stacked my galvanized tub and pails and planted some seeds that I had on hand.
I hope the plants come in nicely.  It will look charming if they do.

My major yard project was a bed in the front yard.  This bed had become hugely overgrown with vines.  My goal was to get it cleaned out during the month of April so that the boys could pick out plants for Mother's Day.  I thought that I wasn't going to get it finished as there was still a portion left to do here at the end of the month and a major storm front moved in, three days worth of rain, preventing me from finishing up.  However, today there was a bit of a reprieve and I not only finished the job but took the boys shopping for plants and even got them into the ground.
I wish that I had taken a picture of the bed prior to pulling the vines but I didn't.
I did take photos of the bed before and after the plantings.
Check it out!

There is still work to be done but isn't it beautiful?!?

In regards to working on new skills I did a bit more napkin folding (see my bunny below, cute, huh?0

and chocolate molding.  (More cuteness, huh?!?)

I, also, gave cornrowing a shot for the very first time.  I think I can learn how to do this adequately.

I spent a portion of the month with my camera in one hand and a guide book on basic photography in the other.  I still have a ton to learn but I am proud of some of the images I did capture.

This is my favorite!

Another month of successes I say.