My Love for Gardening and Sunday Morning Coffee

I am about to embark on the second year of my kitchen garden, and I am so excited. Last year, my experience with spring gardening led to such a fruitful harvest!

I love writing my weekly Sunday Morning Coffee post. This is not only a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun. It’s a place to share the things that genuinely make me happy.

Raised garden beds with growing plants on a sunny day.

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Lush garden with vibrant plants in wooden raised beds along a sidewalk, featuring arched trellises and a shaded atmosphere.

A few weeks ago, I posted about last year’s kitchen garden project, and I must admit there was quite a discussion on my Facebook page! There were a lot of questions and incorrect assumptions about my gardening, which made me laugh (and cringe at times).

Many people criticized me for planting a garden near exhaust smoke and cars. Of course, that made no sense, as they assumed we parked our vehicles in this space in our backyard. A car can’t get to our backyard since the driveway is covered with our raised vegetable beds.

The most frequent request was for pictures of the grown garden, so here they are! I cannot wait to share my gardening experience this spring very soon.

Lush vegetable garden with assorted green plants and a wooden trellis in the center, surrounded by green foliage and garden structures.

For a long time, I have described my gardening skills as mediocre. Why was that? I hadn’t taken the time to educate myself about gardening. For years, I was a spur-of-the-moment gardener.

I would decide it was time to garden (which was based on no research on the right time to plant or what to plant), race off to a big box store, and buy the biggest plants I could find. Based on what I read on the label, I would immediately plant them in the ground.

Usually, my efforts led to a short-lived garden with little success.

Until last year.

I am pleased to say that my kitchen garden was one of the most researched and thought-out projects I have done in a long time.

I can’t wait to improve it with all the gardening knowledge I gained. It’s going to be amazing.

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Kitchen Garden Revival by Nicole Johnsey Burke

3 Tier Raised Garden Bed

Vegetable & Flower Wicker Basket

3 Pack Garden Pruning Shears

8-Piece Garden Hand Tool Set

Tomato Trellis Tower

My Latest Project

Floral pattern with red, orange, and yellow flowers on a brown fabric background.

I shared a sneak peek last week of my jean jacket embroidery project. The photo below shows what I initially thought I would be doing.

A brown jacket next to assorted fabric swatches in floral, solid, and patterned designs, arranged on a wooden table.

It turns out that this became one of those “make it up as you go along” projects that involve watching a YouTube video—or two. or ten.

The project has changed a lot since I started. Initially, I was going to use different fabrics, like those used in quilting.

But I had this fabric and cut the flowers from the inspiration fabric instead.

Assorted embroidery threads in various colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, and green, are arranged on floral-patterned brown fabric.

I debated, trying to decide whether to use free-motion stitch embroidery on my sewing machine or hand-stitch it with embroidery floss.

As you can tell, I chose the much more challenging option of hand stitching.

But I love it.

Close-up of a floral pattern on fabric, featuring a large orange and yellow flower with green leaves on a textured brown background.

I promise to share the entire project when I am done.

Singer Sewing Machine

Woman with long hair in a brown denim jacket and black top holds a coffee cup. She has a brown bag over her shoulder and is wearing a necklace and bracelet.

Women’s Denim Jacket

Simthread 63 Brother Colors Embroidery Machine Thread Kit

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My Biggest Challenge This Week

I am speaking at the ALT Summit today in Palm Springs. It’s a conference I have been to for the last four years, and it’s a lot of fun. I have presented every year, and this year, my topic is:
Leveraging AI for Influencers: The Right Way to Use AI for Your Business.

It’s a great topic, and I have many things to share.

Yet, all week, I struggled with my schedule as I had initially decided to drive to Palm Springs today, make my presentation, and drive back on the same day, about six hours of driving.

Fortunately, my husband decided that was a bad idea, so we came to the desert on Friday for a fun weekend of relaxing, golfing, biking, and embroidering (see above).

We will be driving back later today, and I am so happy my husband is much smarter than I am!

Finish the jean jacket project.
Plant and finish the kitchen garden.
Finish two more new easter crafts.

A woman in a wide-brimmed hat sits at a wooden table with coffee cups, a book, and a pour-over coffeemaker. A lit candle is nearby.

Camille Styles shared The Art of Doing Nothing: How to Create Your Own Personal Retreat Day. We all need to unplug and rediscover ourselves.

Pancakes topped with a pat of butter on a blue plate, surrounded by sliced strawberries, with a gold fork and a colorful fabric napkin.

Yum! Cup of Jo shared Pancakes That Taste Like Blintzes.

A modern wood-paneled house with large windows, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and trees under a blue sky.

This Seaside sanctuary is so cool!

A modern kitchen with a large island, six wooden bar stools, white cabinets, and two hanging light fixtures.

Here are 6 Kitchen Trends on Their Way Out in 2025, According to Designers. Of course, I strongly disagree with half of them!

A plate of rolled-up tacos filled with cheese, arranged around a bowl of creamy avocado dip. Lime wedges and whole limes are placed nearby on the wooden table.

Ok, these Cheesy Quesadilla Dippers
look delicious!

Hanging above a white kitchen island, two pendant lights with speckled glass domes, black cords, and gold fixtures add a touch of elegance to the space.

Farmhouse Pendant Lighting

Electric Salt and Pepper Grinder Set

A stylish blue countertop oven featuring three control dials and a glass front door, labeled "Our Place," perfect for crafting dishes like baked parmesan crusted chicken to perfection.

6-in-1 Our Place Wonder OvenAir Fryer & Toaster Oven

And what a week it was!

7 Ways to Enjoy Lemons This Summer
I love lemons, lemon decor, and Meyer lemon recipes. Today, I’m sharing seven ways to enjoy lemons this summer. Until this year, I have not used much lemon decor while entertaining, even though I love it. I think you might like…
Celebrate Summer with Three Delicious Mixed Berry Recipes
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the vibrant flavors of fresh berries. Here are three standout recipes that highlight the best of summer’s mixed-berry bounty. Whether hosting a gathering or simply looking to elevate your meals, these mixed berry recipes…
What I Wish I Knew Before Buying an Embroidery Machine – Mondays in the Craftroom
Fifteen years ago, I bought my very first embroidery machine, knowing absolutely nothing about machine embroidery. I was excited, inspired, and completely intimidated all at once. But then I packed it away.
June Wreaths and Sunday Morning Coffee
In this week’s Sunday Morning Coffee, I am sharing the newest addition to my Window Wreath Template collection, including the newly released June wreaths and a look at how this creative project continues to grow. I am also sharing my latest…
Why My Husband’s Office at the Beach House Is Now a Bedroom
Why My Husband’s Office at the Beach House Is Now a Bedroom might sound a little dramatic, but honestly, it is a great idea. Transforming this rarely used office into a fifth bedroom may have been one of the smartest changes…
DIY Embroidered Cocktail Napkins – A Handmade Summer
This week for A Handmade Summer, I created the cutest embroidered cocktail napkins inspired by my favorite iconic cocktail glasses featuring bows, hearts, and golf motifs. But instead of purchasing expensive hemstitched napkins, I decided to make my own. Not only…

A white ceramic bowl with a ribbed design on a conical base, shown against a plain background.

Ceramic Fruit Bowl

Kira Home Belle 9″ Modern Industrial Pendant Light, Chrome Finish

White Ceramic Deviled Egg Plate

Three glass jars with lids containing assorted candies: one with clear-wrapped candies, one with colorful chocolate-coated candies resembling those found in plastic Easter eggs, and one with colorful wrapped taffy.

3 Clear Glass Apothecary Jars

Simply Southern Cottage Lecompte Area Rug

Seagrass Storage Basket Bins with Lid

A dining table set with pink tablecloth, gold utensils, flower centerpieces, and wooden chairs.

Martha shared the Ultimate Bridal Shower Checklist and Timeline for Celebrating the Bride-to-Be. This is awesome!

Spring is here (at least in my mind), and I have so much to share on my blog this week!

How to Make Copper Foil Easter Eggs DIY
The Truth About Eating a Healthy Breakfast: With Four Delicious Healthy Breakfast Recipes
My Obsession With Abstract Wall Art
Oreo Ice Cream Truffle “Martini” Desserts
A Spring Refresh at our Airbnb Waco Home
Lemon Decor for Your Table