Your Early-Owl Access to Garden Notes is here!
Get early access to order the Garden Notes collection!
Introducing the Owl and Ember Garden Notes Collection!
I have teamed up with Owl and Ember for a new collection just for gardeners. As small, woman-owned businesses we want to reward our loyal supporters, so we are giving you early-owl access to the new Garden Notes Collection! We are thrilled to introduce you to Garden Notes, our new gardening journal and planner! And to go with Garden Notes, we have three all new exclusive sticker sheets — perfect for Garden Notes or any planner!
Right now, this collection is available exclusively for MMM and Owl and Ember subscribers!
If you are already a subscriber, you should have recieved an Early-Owl access email. If you aren’t a subscriber yet, sign up below, and you will get the link to order right away:
I’m so excited to introduce you to Garden Notes — truly a labor of love!
As always, let me know if you have any questions. And thank you for your love and support! Happy gardening!
Cheers!
Angela
Garden Notes: a New Journal/Planner
a sneak peek into my latest journal/planner coming soon!
Happy March! I hope you are well. We had a wonderful week of warm weather last week, and now we are snowed in once more. But that’s spring here in Colorado — and I can’t complain. We are thankful for every drop of moisture here!
Big News! I have created another journal/planner, and I’m so excited to share it with you! It’s called Garden Notes — and it is the perfect little notebook for gardeners of all types. I have been using a garden journal for a few years, but none of them were quite right. They were either too detailed, not detailed enough, too fancy or too basic. I needed something practical. So I created one myself, and it seems to be JUST RIGHT!
Garden Notes next to some of my seedlings which are thriving in the Greenhouse.
Technically, this won’t be available until April in the Owl and Ember shop. However, I know many people, like me, are getting their gardens going now! So, for our subscribers, we are offering Early Bird Access. On March 15 (yes, the Ides of March — no reason to beware), subscribers to Mid Modern Mama and Owl and Ember will recieve a early-ordering link. Our early order supplies are limited, but we want our gardening friends to be able to use Garden Notes as soon as possible!
From the Garden Notes product description:
Garden Notes
Garden Notes is a simple notebook: a place to make notes about your garden. It looks both forward and backward: both journal and planner. It’s a place to mark the months and the sowing which lies ahead as well as to reflect on the blossoms and harvests as the weeks of your growing season slip past. As you garden, year upon year, it also becomes a record. What flourished? What perished? When did the tulips emerge? The carrots ripen? The dahlias sing?
Whether you are a beginning gardener, a small flower farmer, or a dabbler with pots on a balcony, Garden Notes gives you a place to noodle about your plot of earth. With blank space for sketching, spots for list-making, lines and dots, and lots of freedom, this notebook leaves room for making it your own while providing just enough suggestions to help you get started, too.
Garden Notes is the perfect gardening journal – created by Angela, a passionate gardener, and designed by Holly. In creating this journal, Angela looked at the scribbled notes she keeps about her own garden – pasted into a not-perfect journal. She considered the notes she and other gardeners want to keep:
What is planted where?
When was it planted?
When was it harvested?How well did it do?
What should we change next year?
Those big questions are particularly important when a garden is buried in snow, but the gardener like Angela is ordering seeds and plotting for spring. Frustrated by gardening journals that just didn’t quite work, she created her own. The result is Garden Notes – a beautiful, simple notebook with room for everything.
Garden Notes is designed for every plant-lover on your list! I’ll be creating a video sneak peek later this week, so be sure to watch for that to come, too!
So, if you aren’t subscribed, be sure to drop your email below. I will never spam you nor will I sell your information. Promise!
Looking for some gardening inspiration? Be sure to check out these links. And if you aren’t following me on Instagram, do it! I share all kinds of gardening goodness on my feed.
So what are you planting? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers!
Angela
Before & Afters and Valentine's Day Ideas
Valentine’s projects, before and afters, and more!
Happy February! We had a delicious snowstorm yesterday, and it is brilliantly blue with more than a foot of snow now. Gorgeous!
A mid-storm shot from yesterday. The raised beds are fully buried in snow. So thankful for the moisture!
And today in the brilliant, cold Colorado sun. These little trees continue to delight!
I left our Christmas decorations up longer than ever this year, but they are all put away at last. And OMG! Remember our Mudroom Makeover last summer? Well, all that work made putting Christmas away SO EASY! It took less than two hours to undo it all, and it all had a dedicated place to go, too. I was a little shocked, actually. I knew it would be better, but I hadn’t realized how much better! Amazing!
If you are new around here (Hey! Welcome!), here’s a little before and after so you can see what I’m talking about:
All of that good storage and organization made putting away the Christmas decorations so much easier! This transformation was part of the Mudroom Makeover. Check out the whole thing here!
If you are organizing at your home right now, or even just thinking about it, I have tons of organizing ideas here.
A Little Before & After
Speaking of Before and Afters! I am in the midst of a little renovation project that is now more than 6 months in the making. But we are close! When we redid the Mudroom, I found two amazing doors at an architectural salvage yard. They are midcentury — taken out of a church. I love them! You can see one of them in the Mudroom Makeover reveal. Well, the other is our new front door. And a new front door meant that everything else around it looked even shabbier than it had before. So… the light fixtures were replaced (after months of waiting for delivery), new house numbers are on order, and here’s the big excitement: the mailbox! Seriously. It doesn’t take much to make me happy!
It’s not new! It’s the same old mailbox which is probably original to our home. There are several other houses in the neighborhood with the same mailbox, so I suspect it was one of the options when these homes were built. It’s lovely — heavy steel with great functionality. But it had been painted several times and was rather sad looking. So I took it to a local shop where they sandblasted the old finishes and rust spots away. Then they powder-coated it in a cherry red. I added a simple chrome handle, and now it’s the as shiny and cool as… well, maybe not a Maserati, but perhaps a vintage Fiat?
Just wait until it is all together! For very little money, we are finally bringing some big changes to the front of our house, and I can’t wait to show you how it has all come together. Just a few finishing touches to go!
Valentine’s Day Ideas
But here we are on the cusp of Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day! I have lots of fun DIY ideas and gift ideas, too, for Valentine’s Day including two new budget-friendly gift guides: one for kids and one for anyone. And don’t forget to check out the Galentine’s Day cards, too. I love Galentine’s Day, and these are fun and easy to make, too!
Wherever you are, I hope you are warm and safe and healthy! Happy weekend!
XOXO
Angela
Planning for Spring
Ordering seeds, learning about soil blocking, and DAHLIAS!
We had the most beautiful hoarfrost last week — thick and icy, coating every tree and plant. Absolutely magical! Of course, it obscured the fact that a few hundred yards from where I took these photographs, the Marshall Fire had destroyed entire neighborhoods a few weeks ago. Today I dropped off some items for friends who lost their home, and if you still feel called to help, there are more than one thousand families who are struggling from this trauma. The Boulder Community Foundation is taking donations to help people who lost their homes in the Marshall Fire. You can donate here.
Though we aren’t even to the end of January, I’m beginning to plan for spring. I start my day in The Greenhouse each morning — checking on the plants, watering, taking cuttings, potting up, and soaking in the warmth and a little Vitamin D.
If, like me, you are starting to think about spring, I have some ideas and resources for you!
Starting Seeds
Now that I have The Greenhouse, I’m getting serious about starting plants from seed. In the end this should save a lot of money (I hope), and allow me to have a greater diversity of plants — particularly water-wise and native plants — in our garden.
This year I am trying the seed blocking method for starting seeds. You don’t have to have a greenhouse to do this — a sunny windowsill would work just as well. You also don’t need a lot of equipment. Just three things: trays, a seed blocker, and a trug or bin for making the soil mix.
Colorado flower farmer @blossomandbranchfarm has a great tutorial on how to start seeds using the seed blocking method. She recommended these particular trays which are perfectly-sized for the seed blocker — and happen to be perfect for the shelves in The Greenhouse, too.
Her tutorial is in two parts. The first includes all of the why and a glimpse into how it works.
The second video includes her peat-free soil recipe. Another big reason I’m planting seeds this year: I can grow peat-free. Using peat in gardening is an enormous environmental issue. More on that later, but suffice it to say: going peat-free is much better for the Earth, and it’s important for us all to do our part.
So, what am I starting? I have ordered seeds from several sources including Prairie Moon, Botanical Interests, and Baker Creek. I plan to start a variety of perennials including varieties of Agastache, Yarrow, Goldenrod and Baptisia as well as annuals including a wide range of Zinnias, Dill, Penstemon, Nasturtiums, Queen Anne’s Lace, and Salvia. I’m planting for the bees and other insects — lots of umbellifers and blooms with big, open centers which are easy for pollinators to find. I am trying a LOT of new things this year and several I’ve never heard of including Rattlesnake Master! We will see how it goes!
The Grand Garden beds after being planted last summer. The pink blooms in the foreground are Red Birds in a Tree (Scrophularia). They are planted out with Geum, Yarrow, Scabiosa, Bee Balm, and Verbena.
In planning my gardens for this year, not only am I thinking of the pollinators and hummingbirds, but I am also aiming for more cut flowers to bring into our house. That was one of the most pleasant and wonderful surprises of my garden last year. I was able to cut bouquets weekly — almost daily — to fill our house with flowers. I’ve always wanted such a garden! And last year was the first time I’ve achieved that on a regular basis.
Roses, Dahlias, Cosmos, Scabiosa, Zinnia, Gladiolus Murialae, Salvia, and so much more from last September’s garden offerings.
So, as I think about planting, I’m also plotting a bit for myself. Fortunately, the pollinators and I have similar tastes!
Dahlias
Creme de Cassis which was absolutely gorgeous in my garden last summer.
Dahlia Cornel Bronze — a stunning and consistent bloomer last year.
I have also ordered dahlias — not native or water-wise, but oh, so glorious! I’m planting 20 different varieties — most just one tuber each. They won’t all come up, of course. That’s the way it goes with plants! Last spring I planted three varieties two of which came up and bloomed. They were beautiful and did well, so I’ve gone all in for Dahlias this year.
I ordered tubers and cuttings from a range of farms and sources this year including:
Some of these growers still have tubers left, and some will have a second sale period this spring. Floret Flowers also has an amazing guide to dahlia sources if you are still looking for some of your favorites — or are starting your own dahlia obsession like me.
I’m working on several tutorials for gardening ideas and lots more for the spring including a gardening journal/planner which will be in Owl and Ember’s next product release just in time for spring! That is a true labor of love, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
More soon! Until then, happy planning!
XOXO
Angela
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Happy January!
A January update from Angela
My nasturtiums are living their best life in The Greenhouse!
Happy January, friends! I hope you are well and are enjoying some good, winter weather! We have had some really good snow here in Colorado — much needed! And it is finally cold, snuggly, build-a-fire weather which we have missed!
If you are still working on your thank you notes from the holidays — or need some help getting started — check out my guide to writing a fabulous thank you note! I’m still working on mine. I’m not perfect, but I certainly make a good effort!
Perhaps you are feeling a need to get back to planning or journaling — or even to make a start.
I have some guides and ideas for planning and journaling — processes which I see working together, but many people do one or the other as a practice. Check out the resources below for ideas, tips, and some of my favorites, too.
And if you are working on some simple home improvement — reorganizing, decluttering, or repurposing, I have some thoughts and ideas for you. I’ve done it all and hopefully learned a bit along the way. Hopefully these ideas will help you, too!
Lastly, Valentine’s Day is just a month away! Eek! If you are starting to think about Valentine’s projects and crafts, decorations, or gifts, check out my Valentine’s Day guide for ideas.
If you are on Instagram, be sure to check out my 2021 highlight reels. 2021 was a great year for projects, and it was fun to go back and chronicle them all!
And, if you missed my earlier announcement, I am taking two classes this year which I’m sure will spur all kinds of interesting conversations. First, I am taking Wanderlust, a year-long art journaling class. It’s really my first introduction to painting techniques and tools. I am just thrilled about everything we are learning so far and look forward to my Friday lessons.
Additionally, I am beginning the Colorado Master Gardener program this week! I am thrilled to embark upon this adventure in learning and volunteer work. More on that at a later date!
What adventures await you this year? Always learning; always growing.
Lots of love!
Angela
Happy New Year!
a message for the New Year from Angela
Several of you reached out this week in the wake of the horrible fires in Boulder County.
As many of you may know, my community has been devastated in the last 24 hours. I live in Broomfield — halfway between Denver and Boulder, neighbors to Superior, Louisville, and Lafayette. Yesterday, as we drove home from Texas, news of a massive wildfire started to spread. As we approached Denver, the clouds of smoke rose ominously on the horizon. And as we got closer to home, we could see the glow of the fire. It was within miles of our home, and last night was sleepless — watching the evacuation orders. We are fine, but as many as 1000 homes have been destroyed. We drive through the fire area every day taking our child to and from school. In fact, our child’s school may have been burned — we don’t know yet.
One of my friends found this burned page of a planner in her yard — the lists and plans and dreams consumed by the flames. I am learning today of many friends who lost their homes. There will be so much to do in the days and weeks and years ahead
While we are safe and did not sustain any damage, many of our friends and neighbors were not as lucky. The Boulder County Community Foundation is collecting money which will be distributed to the fire victims — currently estimated to be nearly 1000 families and individuals. If you have resources, I encourage you to make a donation at the link below.
Even with such somber news, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year! Thank you for supporting Mid Modern Mama in all of its iterations this year. From Instagram to YouTube, Amazon Live to Pinterest, and here on the website, your love and support has meant the world to me. Thank you for your questions, your comments, you clicks and saves. Thank you for purchasing using affiliate links. And thank you for making suggestions, too.
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2022!
Yours,
Angela
Preparing for Christmas
Resources to help you have a merrier Christmas season!
Christmas is coming! And I have all kinds of resources to help you prepare. If Christmas is a big part of your life — as it is mine — I have all kinds of projects, giving guides, and so much more to help you have a happier, more beautiful Advent and Christmas season.
Most exciting: the new update Decorating the Greenhouse for Christmas! We just finished putting the finishing touches on The Greenhouse, and I wanted to decorate it for the holidays. I was inspired by my own Scandinavian traditions, bringing touches from my own Norwegian traditions as well as incorporating what was already in my garden into the festive scheme.
I’ve included the three links below for your reference! The Christmas link includes a variety of content including projects like embroidered Christmas stockings, recipes, and more. The Giving Guide includes budget-friendly gift suggestions for all kinds of people on your list.
Budget-friendly gift suggestions for everyone on your list! Lists include:
My Favorite Gifts | Gifts Under $15 | Gifts for Mid Modern Lovers | Gifts for Children | Books to Give Gifts to Make | Wines to Give | Bubbles for the New Year
And don’t forget to order your copy of the new and improved edition of The Nice List! It’s available in my store below, and I’m so excited about this redesigned resource. It isn’t too late to use it and allow it to help reduce your stress level this season.
Merry Christmas, friends! I’m so thankful for your love and support all year.
Love,
Angela
The Best Thanksgiving Recipes
Some new takes on traditional Thanksgiving fare including a few new vegan recipes, too!
Thanksgiving is coming, and I have been making notes and thinking about our menu this week (on my meal planning pages in The Nice List Christmas Workbook, of course!). A few friends got together and decided to do a recipe exchange, so I have a bunch of great recipes to share with you! Whether you are looking for some new Thanksgiving traditions or need to infuse some excitement into your favorite standbys, here are some wonderful and simple Thanksgiving recipes to make your holiday table particularly special.
Let’s start with dessert — because why not! My family is SERIOUS about pumpkin pie, and I’m probably risking my inheritance, but I’m sharing our incredibly delicious pumpkin pie recipe with you, my friends! Enjoy!
Desserts
The World’s Best Pumpkin Pie
Our family is serious about pie. This is our favorite.
3 Ingredient Pumpkin Fluff
A yummy pumpkin treat from Cait at Cait’s Cozy Corner.
Sweet Potato Pop Tarts
Nicole from Our Robin’s Nest has a new take on a classic.
The Turkey
I will tell you, I always do my turkey following Alton Brown’s brined turkey recipe. I have used it dozens of times, and it never fails. So for all things turkey, trust Alton.
Vegetables
DAIRY FREE GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
a vegan take on a Thanksgiving classic from Jenna of The Urben Life
Sides
Cranberry Fluff Salad with Pineapple
Jen Cowan of And Hattie Makes Three swears by this delicious treat
Sweet Potato Casserole
A vegan version for Team Marshmallow from Nicolle of Our Tiny Nest.
Here’s hoping your holiday is a safe and healthy one!
