An Amazing Log Planter {Guest Post: Sweet Sparrow Design}

Diana and Tara are the creators of Sweet Sparrow Design, eco friendly products for children, moms, and home. I have just come to love their products as well as the country life that they live! I was talking to Diana a little while back and she brought to my attention this log planter! I'm all for a great repurposed project! I wanted to know all about it!! So when I opened my email to find the story behind the planter, I couldn't wait for you guys to see it too! So here ya go...

The Story Behind the Original Country Log Planter...

I can across the idea of a log planter this spring on Pinterest. Yes I am on there once in a while, although I really try and limit my time there. As I saw the planter I knew I had just the tree right on our own country yard to make one for ourselves. I talked about it with my husband as this was no small task. This tree was a huge tree that happened to be hollow inside. We actually did not have to discuss it long as my husband thought it was a great idea and it would really “fit” our style and yard when it was done. The evening we started on it Mr D. went up the tree as high as he could with a ladder and cut down some of the limbs one at a time with his chainsaw. We had other trees that we did not want to damage in the area. I of course was supervising on the ground and telling him how to be safe and letting him know how great he looked manhandling that chainsaw! This is a similar cottonwood tree still standing close to the one we took down.

 

 Finally we were far enough to pull the last part of the tree over with the tractor. As my husband was towing the tree to position by our patio we were chuckling and teasing. We do not do things small around here. This tree planter at its largest point measures 8 feet in diameter! Now I have my HUGE planter and my husband has his HUGE stone. A couple years ago I watched him work for days at digging and towing this big stone out of our bush. It now sits proudly on our front yard.

I think my planter is doing great this year and I am very happy with how it has turned out. If you have time I would love it if you would come by and visit the Sweet Sparrow Design shop I have together with my daughter on Etsy or visit us on Facebook and see what we are up to when we are not busy with country living. We are so excited to have just arrived at over 700 fans on our facebook! Diana

Thanks for sharing this with us Diana!! I only wish I could cut down the tree in front of my condo! Make sure to also follow Sweet Sparrow Design on Twitter!!

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Summertime with Sweet Sparrow Design

Today I'd like to welcome Tara, one of the great ladies behind Sweet Sparrow Design! Besides having an amazing shop that she runs with her mom, she has quite a full plate! Take a looksie (or readsie??).....

Summertime is a BUSY time for our household... we live on a 7-acre farmyard and my husband works full-time as well as farms (full-time too)... so the yard work and gardening keeps me hopping! 

Then there's the shop, Sweet Sparrow Design, that I run with my mom, and I also have a vintage Etsy shop, curious kitty Vintage ... oh, and I have an almost 2 1/2 year old boy. :) Did I mention it was busy? I also have a large vegetable garden and do lots of canning/freezing. Recently, we have been enjoying fresh potatoes, raspberries, cucumbers, peas and green beans. I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with canning... it feels like soooo much work (and it is!), but I get such satisfaction from seeing my pantry (and freezer), fill up with of all kinds of goodies that we'll be able to enjoy throughout the next year. So far this summer, I have canned raspberry jam, pickles and bing cherry preserves, and put lots of raspberries in the freezer. Yum! I know my husband and son will love to be my taste testers. :)

If you've never done any canning before, something easy to start with would is jam. Here's an easy recipe I use for my Raspberry Jam.

Cooked Raspberry Jam Yield: 8 cups Ingredients:
6 cups prepared berries
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 box CERTO Light Pectin Crystals (or another brand) << I like the Light version because it's not so crazy sweet! 
Preparation of fruit: 
Crush berries one layer at a time. Sieve half of the pulp to remove some seeds, if desired. 
Directions:
 1. In large saucepan, stir together prepared fruit. Combine CERTO Light Pectin Crystals with 1/2 cup of the measured sugar. Add to prepared fruit. 2. Bring to a boil over high heat. 3. Add rest of sugar. 4. Return to a hard boil for 1 min. 5. Remove from heat. Stir and skim for 5 minutes to prevent floating fruit. Pour into warm sterilized jars to 1/4 inch from rim. Cover with lids and screw rings on tightly.

All done! See... wasn't that easy?? Enjoy! Tara

That looks so delicious! Thanks Tara and Diana for stopping by today and sharing!! 
Ya'll will want to stop in and check out Tara and Diana's shop Sweet Sparrow Design! They have THE cutest Ecofriendly goodies for babies, moms and home!! Here's just one of my favs....

Ok, I couldn't stop with just one....

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Guest Post: Let's get to know Kim! Singledou[b]t

Hello New Friends!  I'm Kim from Singledou[b]t.

  I'm excited to be here at I Know the Plan I Have for You.  When thinking of something to write, I wanted to do something different yet really introduce who I am.  I hope you enjoy.

Blog Name: 

Its a combination of "Singled Out" and "Single Doubt" 

I wrote a post about it recently.

Important things to know about me: 

I'm sarcastic so before I go any further, I feel you need to understand that. Its for your own protection.

I'm addicted to coffee. 

I'm deathly afraid of tiny little mice and large flying water bugs.

I say I am a runner but most days you have to bribe me with many riches to get me to actually run. 

I'm funny... at least to myself. 

I have Misophonia so just beware... its an actual thing people... ;) 

I have a weird obsession with Katie Holmes these days... not sure why... I secretly want to be her friend. Not Tom's. He's gross. 

I'm learning Spanish. If you see a random Spanish word pop up, I apologize... no i don't. 

What Am I Passionate about?

Blogging, Writing, Jesus, My Church, Photography, Knitting & Creating.

Thanks for taking time out to read this post and getting to know me a little better.  I'd love it if you stopped by my side of the web: SINGLEDOU[B]T

You can also find me here:

ETSY | TWITTER | PHOTOGRAPHY |  PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

THANKS Jill for having me!

Thank you SO much for hanging out today Kim! I totally had to Google Misophonia ;) So that's what it's called! Now you guys can all Google it too {just so I don't feel like the only one!}

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Guest Posting at Family Ever After

I hope you're all having a great weekend! Here in Missouri we have been so spoiled by 60 degree weather and now it's been cold and rainy for the last couple of days. I think I forgot its still winter! Today in going to finish something that I've been working on all week but because its a surprise, I have to wait to show it off to you too :-(! But I am excited to show you what I did to this bench!

you can see it tonight over at Family Ever After where I'm guest posting! Don't miss it!
Thanks for  stopping by and if your not already one of my wonderful followers, I would love it if you'd stick around!

I'm sure you've heard by now that Google Friend Connect (where we all click to follow eachother) might be going away completely, so I have added the Linky Followers tool. You can find it right over there ---->  on the right side of the page. Please follow me on that and I will follow you back as well!

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