April Showers bring May Flowers...

Hi Everyone: Happy Spring! This is the time of year when everything feels new. When I was a little girl, every spring my grandma Mary would spend her weekend in her garden. Me and my sister and brother would help her plant her garden each year. I loved her bed of purple violets under her washroom hut. Each season I would pick a bunch of her purple violets in a little nosegay that just fit my tiny hands, and placed them in her special crystal basket that sat on her piano. I remember her pink roses were the size of teacups. You could have garden tea party with them. Grandma Mary would always make fresh lemon-aid for us with her bright yellow lemons fresh from her garden. This would be a tasty treat as we worked into the morning planting herbs, vegetables and flowers. I remember the garden would be watered after the long day of planting, the beautiful flowers would be coved in drops of water, the magical sent of the yellow broom plants and roses and the Gardena plants made God's natural perfume to enjoy for free. I often wondered as a child and even today, if our gardens are what heaven must be like, peaceful, colorful, joyful, and heaven scent. I remember being a little sun burned after a hard morning of planting. We would all sit down to fresh tomato salad and turkey sandwich lunch with my grandma and we would all enjoy her beautiful garden outside. She would always say to us has she gazed into the sun-light reflecting off her watered garden "always stop and smell the roses , a garden is like life it always growing, with time and love". You now what? She was right!

Peace & Love,
Happy Spring Time LOVE, Susie



Snap Pea Mint Salad

Supplies are :

Directions:

Prepare a bowl of ice water then bring a large saucepan 3/4 full of salted water to a boil. Add the sugar snap peas and simmer until bright green and almost tender, 1-1/2 to 2 minutes. Drain right away and move to the ice water to stop the cooking. Let sit for 5 minutes, then drain and set aside. To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallot, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. To serve, place the sugar snap peas and thin strips of mint in a bowl and sprinkle with the dressing. Toss to coat the ingredients evenly. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with mint sprigs. Serves 6 people.

Susie Homemakers T Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Ingredients:

•  2 cups water
•  1/2 cup sugar
•  3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
•  2 tsp. maraschino cherry juice

Directions:

•  Stir all the ingredients in a pitcher.
•  Pour into tall glasses filled with ice cubes or crushed ice.
•  For a sweeter pink lemonade, stir in maraschino cherry juice.
summer classic can also be frozen into ice pops or mixed
with other fruit juices, such as orange, pineapple,
and white grape.
•  Makes about 3 cups.






http://www.themarketonline.com/

Bring springtime in your home with the Markets, private collections of candles. I love their Market 3 candles and the crystal rose bowls in all shapes and colors.



http://www.themarketonline.com/

This fabulous pinched pleat panel is made with 100% silk dupioni and dyed with the finest, environmentally safe dyes, lined in 100% cotton and overlayed in a shimmery 100% silk lurex.

If you're looking to drape your dining room or bedroom in pure spring style then you must go to the Antique Drapery Rod Inc, Inc. This company produces historically authentic accessories for the trade, traditional retail, and now, you can buy from them online. Antique Drapery Rod Inc, manufactures over 600 types of drapery hardware in wrought iron, carved wood, cast stone, tortoiseshell bamboo, and a new heavy chrome Bauhaus Modern collection; ready-made drapes in silk Dupioni, suede, linen, velvet and organza; four-poster canopies and European bed coronas, window hardware and more.

http://www.annasova.com/

For those of us who wish to lead our lives without these toxins, now we have Anna Sova. Sumptuously elegant wall finishes, sensuous silk bedding and draperies, hand finished bamboo hardware, vibrant hand printed cottons, Italian jacquard sheets, and the most luxurious cotton towels you will find anywhere.

We are radically different because these luxuries are organic, eco-safe, earth and body friendly.

If you're looking to drape your dining room or bedroom in pure spring style then you must go to the Antique Drapery Rod Inc, Inc. This company produces historically authentic accessories for the trade, traditional retail, and now, you can buy from them online. Antique Drapery Rod Inc, manufactures over 600 types of drapery hardware in wrought iron, carved wood, cast stone, tortoiseshell bamboo, and a new heavy chrome Bauhaus Modern collection; ready-made drapes in silk Dupioni, suede, linen, velvet and organza; four-poster canopies and European bed coronas, window hardware and more.

IRIDESCENT MODERNS BEDDING

These hand-stitched quilts, beautiful modern shams and bed-skirts are made with bright vibrant colors that are warm and inviting.

Anna Sova eco-silk is a luxurious, lightweight fabric with a crisp feel, a smooth texture and a wonderful luster. We use organic nut soap finishing instead of harmful formaldehyde sizing.

Our 100% silk 110 gram weight dupioni drapery and bedding are made with eco-safe dyes. Our dyes have been independently tested and found to contain no herbicides, pesticides, carcinogens, volatiles or semi-volatiles.

People ask me Susie what does DIY mean? It means DO IT YOURSELF.

Many people today cannot afford to higher help to redesign or makeover their homes.

So the DIY generation is here to show you how. Susie Homemaker T is a big part of the DIY generation. I was asked by Paintideas.com to be their DIY Spokesperson for Spring they asked me to design DIY project using their wonderful products by Rust-Olum http://www.rustolum.com/

Here is one DIY project your going to love. Stay tuned for the DIY column here at www.SusieHomemaker.com

Springtime DIY with Susie Homemaker T This spring it is the DIY time for your home here are a new projects your going to love to do around your home with your family.

JUST DO IT!

Distressed Ivory

Vintage look of warm, weathered wood. Transforms everyday items into cherished antiques.

FENCE BENCH Project #2045 Rest your feet

This project was shared by Susie McAuley the real
Susie Homemaker T.

Ingredients:

•  2 cups water
•  Old garden bench
•  Drop cloth
•  Sand paper
•  Paper towel
•  Damp cloth
•  1 American Accents Distressed Ivory Decorative Finishing Kit
•  Included in the kit:
•  Ivory base coat
•  Antique topcoat
•  Sanding pad
•  Paintbrush
•  Gloves
•  Idea booklet

Product Info: DESCRIPTION

 I found this old fence bench that had turned dark with sun and time. What was once someone's trash is now a beautiful addition to the garden.

1.Find a spot outdoors and cover the ground with a drop cloth. It's always best to do these kinds of projects in the shade.

2.Sand off any loose paint so that you have a smooth finish -- no chips.

3.Wipe the bench clean with a damp cloth and let dry.

4.Brush on the ivory base coat and let dry. Because this is a distressed finish, one coat should be just perfect.

5.Use the enclosed sanding pad to sand away the ivory paint in areas that would naturally distress. (Edges show off the distressing technique the best.)

6.Apply the dark brown topcoat to areas that you have sanded and then wipe it away with a paper towel. The longer you let the topcoat soak into the wood, the darker it will appear. If the color isn't dark enough, apply it again.

7.Once the bench is dry, find a perfect shady spot for it in your

Susie Homemaker T helpful planting tips!



Here is a idea to what you should plant and when.

March 15 th to April 10 th

Vegetables: Potatoes, onions

Annuals:  Pansies

Perennials: it's okay to separate

Plant's that start emerging ,it's still is early to plant new ones.

It still freezes often at night, even though we have some warm days.

April10th to May 1 st

Vegetables:  peas, root crops, lettuces, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages

Herbs: Chives, parsley, thyme

Annuals:  petunias, alyssum, snapdragons, bacopa

Perennials:  the perfect time to plant any perennials that already have their natural leaves emerging. 

This is a great time to divide your perennials that are over grown. Be aware that not all transplanted perennials will bloom the year they are moved.

It still frosts usually pretty lightly. If you plant warm weather plants this early you MUST pay attention to the weather predictions, and be ready to take measures! If you have planted, but frost is predicted at night, you should water heavily and cover plants in the ground, and bring potted plants inside.

May 1 st to June 15 th

IF THE FORCAST IS WARM

Vegetables:  Tomatoes, Peppers, Corn, Eggplant, Okra, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers, etc.

Herbs: Basil (we recommend planting in pots, be sure to move inside if nights will reach below 40. Basil will thrive in the heat!)

Remember: "pumpkins in June is plenty soon!"

Annuals:  all annuals can be planted now.  It's best to wait until mid May to plant the really weather sensitive impatiens and begonias.

Perennials:  mid and late season blooming perennials should be planted now.

Now is the time to just do it!

Keep plants watered and fertilized and watch them take off!

Any transplants need to be watered regularly so roots can develop before the heat hits!



Have a great spring see you all on TV and read my article a column for more Susie Homemaker T Ideas for all Four Seasons of the Year!




Look for Susie's personal interview with writer Lisa D. Martin of the Dallas Morning News. Lisa talks to Susie about being the real Susie Homemaker and the growth of the Susie Homemaker Company T Empire.