Beautiful pics Susan.

Margo - Happy you got your package. I like to keep the swings simple with just washable decorations so they can be hosed off if they get bird poo on them. Your DIL's pic is fantastic!

Thank you Amy for sharing your pics of the seed you'd sent and grow.

Here's some of mine (all good shade / forest-y loving perennials).

The yellow long spurred columbine (a bit weary from our early heat, usually brighter yellow).

And the lovely lime green Golden Feverfew I can't be without (and am still trying to propagate more - last year I got 6 cuttings growing over the winter - but lost them with that heat spell. This year I'll wintersow a bunch more seed). It doesn't take off like regular feverfew and stays a nice clump rounded shape. Early spring (that oxalis is a deliberate large flowered one):

In bloom:

Looks like I don't have a pic of the purple and white columbine handy (no time to dig through really old pics right now) - was from a McKana's Giant mix originally (but I separate them by color and grow the different colors in different areas).

Thanks for the pic Margo, looks great!

BINGO WORD #19 Simplify

Susan, I did get my package and loved it so much. I posted a few posts before your post. Thank you so much!

Ladies - Points Points Points - FEEDBACK please once your gifts are posted. It’s hard for me to tell with a few of the cards and gifts and of course I don't have a clue when you collected your seeds or if you bought them. I don’t want to guess wrong when handing out points.

1. Your sent seed - saved from your garden?

3. Your sent gift - did you craft the item yourself?

4. Your sent card - did you craft the card.?

5. DId you ONLY send the three gifts mentioned above and nothing else?

Post here or message me - either works. THANKS!!

Maggie, here's your answers to the questions you asked

1. Your sent seed - saved from your garden?

yes

3. Your sent gift - did you craft the item yourself?

yes

4. Your sent card - did you craft the card.?

yes

5. DId you ONLY send the three gifts mentioned above and nothing else?

yes

thanks for hosting both swaps this month. I had a great time and loved both my packages. Margo

Finally got back home-

Brooke, thanks again for the package received. I love the seeds - Marigolds boy o boy, Sunflower evening sun, and Tomato green zebra. Very much appreciated along with notecards and stickers. Thanks!

Your tracking # 9500113245367237074027

You're welcome Lorabell :)

BINGO WORD #7. Friendship

Brooke - great gift, those items are perfect for swappers.

Susan - fantastic color on those sunflowers.

We’re in the Week 3 Friendship Week (if you start counting on Sundays) and Week 4 Be Kind to Humankind Week. In recognition of both, SHARING is something that makes us all happy. And we’ve been sharing photos, ideas and recipes. But, there’s still time to share more.

POINTS POINTS POINTS - some of you missed a few of these that are still open.

I’ll announce the winners on the 29th. There’s still time in the month to earn a few points.

Open categories include:

• Seed Gift - 1 point for each pic of what you sent, 3 max points
• Recipe using squash 1 point
• Pic of your shared here squash recipe 1 point
• Books spell GIFT - up to 3 points, see post above with pic of books.
• Card Making Tips (Susan, I’d given you the point for your decorative punches tip - but your post disappeared, not sure why).
• Picture of something you're making / have made (not already in this swap) - a point each (sharing and pic).

And, check out the next post for final opportunities to earn points this month (or even without points, just have some fun and spread a bit of joy).

There's a new craze now where people hide painted rocks for anyone to find. Once you find it, you'll find a Facebook place on the bottom of the rock to post a pic that you found it. This picture is my grandson holding a bunny rock I painted for him to hide when we went to visit last weekend. When I came home, I found we have a local group doing the same thing so I'll be painting more rocks to hide.

Brayden hiding the rock. Someone posted they had found it.

Woo hoo! Be Kind to Humankind Week starts TODAY, August 25th. http://bk2hk.org/week/

Be Kind to Humankind Week (BK2HK) is our annual celebration of kindness that is recognized globally from August 25th-31st each and every year. It is basically a week of reflection and kind thoughts of others to make this world a better place. Of course we suggest practicing kindness daily, but this is the week you can take it to the next level. The week consists of seven days, each with it’s own unique theme, (But why limit yourself? do what you like whenever).

The Days

Show them that you care

Sacrifice Our Wants For Other’s Needs Sunday

Drive Courteously

Motorist Consideration Monday

Spread kindness, one heart at a time

Touch-A-Heart Tuesday

Offer a helping hand

Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday

Treat others well

Thoughtful Thursday

Come together

Forgive Your Foe Friday

Say something nice

Speak Kind Words Saturday

How You Can Help - Share your experiences

Share your experiences with kindness on your website, blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc, and mention us! (OR HERE in this post!).

Brit and Company has a great page for it https://www.brit.co/be-kind-to-humankind-week/ - things anyone can consider doing all the time, most for free (every day we have a choice, spread pissiness or spread kindness and joy).

So, let's hit the last week of August is Admit Your Happy Month spreading kindness and joy :-) I'll be handing out points - four points max - one for each kindness you share that you do starting now and post here by 29th noon your time. Let's inspire one another!

Hi Margo - One town here, Pleasanton, has been doing that for quite awhile now and has a Facebook page plus multiple news articles about it. It's such a thing, I've been surprised no one had posted here before or shipped one another rocks for their garden. THANK YOU. (2 points on the making it category although it also fits the Humankind week theme!).

And, Google Image painted rocks comes up with some lovely ones. I'm impressed with what I can see of your bunny.

Squash Casserole

Prep:25 minCook:55 minYield:6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 cups large diced yellow squash and zucchini
• Vegetable oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon House seasoning, recipe follows
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup crushed butter crackers (recommended: Ritz)

House Seasoning:

• 1 cup salt
• 1/4 cup black pepper
• 1/4 cup garlic powder

Total:1 hr 20 minPrep:25 minCook:55 minYield:6 servingsLevel:Easy

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Saute the squash in a little vegetable oil over medium-low heat until it has completely broken down, about 15 to 20 minutes. Line a colander with a clean tea towel. Place the cooked squash in the lined colander. Squeeze excess moisture from the squash. Set aside.

In a medium size skillet, saute the onion in butter for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and mix all ingredients together except cracker crumbs. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

House Seasoning:

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Card tip: Use foam tape and squares to add dimension to cards. You can make cards look 3 D this way.

Something I made and have on Etsy:

Thank you Amy!! Cute Etsy shop :-) And, I also like the addition of 3D bits to cards, it really takes them 'to the next level'. Don't Ritz crackers (or potato chips) just add that perfect touch to any casserole?

Bingo Word #6 Forgive

here is what I have been doing all day. CHOPTAG tomato tasting. ( I made the sign}

beautiful day in Ohio .

Susan, That looks like so much fun! What does choptag stand for? I'm sure that's a silly question but I can't figure it out

not silly at all. Cincinnatti Heirloom Open Pollinated Tomatoes Associates Growers We started in Cincinnati. I lived in Dayton and a guy in Middletown Earl got me interested in his growing methods. My first chrekee purple and I was hooked. This is the first time in 10 years we had it at my house in Dayton. It was a blast putting it on. I don't even mind the clean up tomorrow. I have to return a lot of stuff to neighbors.

Had to go to my Weight Watchers meeting today. Two of us were headed to the same parking spot. I was keeping what today's kindness was in my mind so I let the other driver take it and parked somewhere else. I needed the extra exercise anyway.

Bingo Word #15 Neighbor, hmn - think I'd better double up so we get a winner before the end of the month.

We're also waiting for Brooke to get her package, I think Lorabell just got it out Friday noon so may not have arrived yet.

Lorabell has posted Sept OBF if you'd like to check it out.

Bingo Word #14 Kindness and Bingo Word #17. Seed. Will probably do 3 words tomorrow as well. If that doesn't do it, for sure words on the 30th will :-)

Received my happy package from Lorabell I just adore it. She sent seeds sweet pea Alan titchmarsh, nemesia shooting stars and nicotiana deep purple. Wonderful choices! Also the cutest painted wooden plaque I can't wait to hang up...I'm still cackling at the saying sooo cute. And 2 beautiful pop up cards, one with flowers and one with a dragonfly! Thank you so much I love everything. Thank you Maggie for another wonderful swap :)

Bingo Word #19 SIMPLIFY

Bingo Word #7 FRIENDSHIP

Bingo Word #18 SHARE

Drumroll - GREAT Participation this month!!!

Bingo will end tomorrow - I'll post as many words as it takes :-) .

I've already mentioned that points for SIMPLIFY were pulled out and we have Laura and Susan as dual winners in that category.

OVERALL points winner for OBF August Admit You're Happy Month is AMY. Congratulations Amy!

Congrats Laura, Susan and Amy.....

Susan, what was the Best Tasting Tomato at CHOPTAG?

Happy Tuesday!

Annie

Congratulations Laura and Susan!

Thank you Maggie for a great month of Happiness and fun!

hello thank u for the win. I have been half here this month. I want to post my zuchinni recipe{lots of cheese} but never got it pulled out to copy. I will say that Lucky tiger was the best cherry. Of course taste is a matter of choice.

my favorite grown my tasting fav red my fav stripe always a favfav hybrid

Still need 4 words WOW Maybe tomorrow

Susan - I'd not heard of any of those varieties! They look delicious.

BINGO WORD #1 ANGEL

BINGO WORD #13 HERB

BINGO WORD #9 GIRLFRIEND

cough .. cough .. so, did I mention there are 2 Bingo winners - check your words and let's hear from you!!

I believe I have BINGO!! Please double check me Maggie but the last two words appear to have clinched it for me. Margo

Yes Margo you are one of the two Bingo winners here :-) Congratulations!

You pulled out the ones I needed. Bingo. Just in time. Great month.

Susan congrats! And, that is funny :-) Tossed more old Sunsets yesterday and almost clipped tomato pages from it for you - had a "fresh tomato" Bloody Mary recipe. But no biggie - they just squeezed some fresh tomato juice in with their purchased thick tomato juice to make. Didn't need the mag for that.

September swaps for both OBF and Fotess are posted by Sept. hostesses. Prizes will be mailed early next week - ok to pop in here or message when you get them.

Margo and Susan, Congratulations!

I had to share the fall garden.This is the pumpkins trying to find sun.

Can u smell the clematis ?

Susan, your garden is really pretty!

Only another gardener sees the beauty I see . Thanks

B

Maggie, look, the hummingbird is getting close. He's sitting on the arm that's holding the swing. Lol

Thank you Margo!! Finally packing up prizes and such for August swaps and it's GREAT to see someone using a gift you've sent. Made my day! I didn't pop in on your hummingbird question on the other thread as I have a couple of Anna's (they're the hardiest) that overwinter here - or at least do until there's a few snow storms. I'd keep feeding until you don't see one for a week or two - you might get stragglers who stayed close to feeders migrating late.

Oh I love that swing whether the hummer uses it or not. It sure did rest a lot in between eating. I think our weather will be warm for a bit longer. I imagine our first frost might chase it away although the weather said that's not til October some time.

Maggie, you are so awesome! I received your sourdough starter in the mail today I'm so excited to try it. And thank you so much for the cute card and booklet :)

Brooke - I hope you love it as much as I do! Just had a cornmeal waffle for breakfast today. I'm happy to answer any and all questions. :-) And, thanks for letting me know!! Here's the King Arthur flour reviving starter post - http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2015/05/01/putting-sourdough-starter-hold/ (I do think they add one extra step just so you throw out flour and buy more :-) ).

Maggie, Thank you so much for the sourdough starter and recipe booklet. I have not made this in probably 20 years and I am super excited to have the starter and begin to make the recipes. I always loved the starter when I had it before and remember it made the most delicious things. Thank you also for the beautiful fairy card, it is adorable. I also want to thank you for the beautiful blue bookmark. Amy

Maggie I loved the combo of gifts u put together so nicely. I will take a quiet time to plan out how to use my starter. The Angel is beautiful. I will find a special lace for it. And need to get my craft area together to start the stamping an making cards and wrapping paper. You did a beyond the normal job on this package.

Susan and Amy - So happy to hear!! If you have any questions at all, just let me know. :-)