{Planting Seeds}

Spring has arrived here at last! This week we did some seed planting. Princess Pea had been saving seeds from various fruits and explorations in the playground, so now that the weather has warmed up a bit, we were able to get outside and plant them. First I helped her to set up some beans (kidney beans and black beans from the kitchen cupboard) to sprout in jars with wet paper towels. Then we went out to the balcony where she did all the seed planting all by herself. She had apple seeds, squash seeds, a peach pit, a chestnut, and some mystery nuts she found in the playground at preschool. Don't know if any of them will actually grow, but we'll see!

And then she bid them all ,"Goodnight little seeds! See you when you wake up!"

{Happy Monday - Picture Perfect Weddings}

This week for Happy Monday, I wanted to share this blog by my friend Cherry. She is a photographer based in California and this is her (mostly wedding) photography site. I just LOVE her pictures! Every time I see them they make we want to get married all over again just so she can be my photographer! Happy Monday!

{Paper Flowers}

I recently made some sweet paper flower decorations. They were so easy, but look quite effective!

1. Get 6-8 sheets of tissue paper (you can use all the same colour or alternate different colours) and lay them flat in a stack. You can also use crepe paper.

2. Fold the tissue stack accordian-style, as if you were making a paper fan.

3. Tie the middle with a twist-tie or piece of yarn or ribbon. I used a piece of rafia string. Don't tie it too tightly, just enough to hold it together. If you plan to hang the flower, make sure to leave a long end for hanging it from.

4. While still folded up, cut the ends, either rounded or cut a small triangle into them.

5. Take one end and unfold it a bit. Then very carefully, pull out each leaf of tissue to separate each one. Do the same at the other end.

6. Hang it up!

I experimented with various sizes and colours of tissue, different numbers of sheets, different cuts, and even crepe paper. The crepe paper doesn't hold the folds, but the petals separate nicely and the crepe flowers look great too. I love these flowers!

{For Japan, With Love}