Bring some flowers inside!

I don't have a lot of flowers that I can cut and bring in since I am in the shade but I do have a few. I really love flowers and want to enjoy them inside and out.

 A simple arrangement for the kitchen:

Some for the counter in the dining room:

and don't forget the bathroom:

go outside, cut a few flowers and bring them in to enjoy

Front Garden/Porch Tour

I'm really enjoying sitting on my front porch lately. I updated all the cushions, painted the furniture and added some fun new touches since spring - like a chandelier. But it's really nice because it's covered so I never have to move cushions in when it rains , which it's been doing a lot of lately, and it's right off the living room so I can step outside anytime I like. Let me give you a little tour...

First , this is on the tree lawn around a new tree the city planted after our giant oak died and had to be taken down,   Hostas and impatiens...

This is the view from the sidewalk. We have a very small front yard. I added yellow this year which I'm loving and my sum and substance hosta is doing great...

This is to the side by the driveway. Hostas, ferns, astilbe, begonias and impatiens

Let's go on the porch. I put a planter right by the mailbox - sweet potatoe vine, begonia, petunia, impatien, vinca vine and spikes.

 It's hard to believe that all the furniture was found in the trash! I can't believe what people will throw away. A little paint and fixing up and it looks great!

I really love my new chandelier , the crystals sparkle in the morning sun.

 Birds and bunnies are my favorites...

This year I added yellow to my wreath.

Oh, and our city Garden Club gave me a little award for my garden

Hope you enjoyed the visit.

Recycled light cover

I found this beautiful light cover at my local thrift store for only $2.00 but I didn't know what to do with it - until I  thought upside down it would make a great birdbath!

 

It had a hole in the center where it would attach to the light so I just filled it with silicone. I set it on top of an old base I had which matched in color. I wish I took more pictures but here's the finished product. :)

 

 

Patio set redo...

Well it's been awhile since I've blogged. I have been so busy with the boys' school ending and baseball games and gardening and yard sale, etc. You get the picture.  Well I was able to get one of my summer projects done. I have been wanting to replace my patio set ever since I bought a new set of outdoor furniture last year. The old  set just looked horrible, here's a before pic...

The set functioned fine but I didn't like the look. So I went out shopping around for new sets and WOW! the price they want was way too high for me - $300-$500.  So I decided to fix up the old set. First,it needed a good cleaning . Then, a sanding and priming. I really took my time with the prep work because I don't want it peeling off!  I used Krylon for plastic on the slats, which are more like rubber, and I used rustoleum on the rest.  Then to my favorite fabric store - JoAnn's. I found a  beautiful  print on sale. I bought an old black sheet for the back of the chairs. If you've never recovered your outdoor cushions, you should try it , it's sooo easy, like making a giant pillow case.. here's the before cushion...

really comfortable but not nice to look at.

And here's the after...

I love it!

Here's the whole set. I was so excited how good it turned out, and it only cost me about $35.00 for paint and fabric...

What do you think!

Thanks for the comments - I used Rustoleum Hammered over Rustoleum flat black.

A sweet little surprise in the garden...

Well I haven't been here to blog in awhile! I've been soooooo busy working outside in the garden. I love being outside and when eveything starts growing and turning green, I just can't stand to be inside. The weather in Ohio has been very warm and after such a long winter, it's so nice. I plan on sharing all my garden areas with you but I'll start with just a few.....

I have  some perennials that are spreading, I just love it now that I can divide them and move them around.

I live in a mostly shaded area and only have one section where the sun shines.

I  am always amazed at how some people will throw things away!

I found these clematis in the garbage last year...

Welcome signs are scattered here and there...

And I love my garden bunnies! I have quite a few I will share with you another time.

Here's one of my most recent...

but while I was working in the garden I was greeted by the best little surprise ever...

a little bunny!

Do you see him? Isn't he adorable? He can probably just fit in your hand. I don't know where he came from and his family is not around. He's been munching on clover by my garage. Some of you might think a bunny in the garden is a problem,

but I think it's a sweeet, little,

 happy surprise!

Happy Gardening!

Fairy Door

Well it's taken me a while to get back to blogging. I've been busy outside, cleaning up the garden beds and dividing some plants. It's always fun when you finally have enough to move some around. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

One project I got done was this fairy door. I saw it somewhere on the web and thought it was soooo cute that I just had to try it. It didn't cost me a thing because I had all the stuff somewhere around the house.

Here's how it's done...

Find some scrap pieces of wood about 1 inch wide and 12inches long.

Make sure one piece is longer to use as a stake in the ground.

I used some metal thing that had wholes in it to screw it together.

Then I drew a curve at the top and cut it out.

I glued on to smaller pieces of wood cut to the width and a wooden doorknob.

Coat the whole thing with some exterior varnish so it will stay looking nice.

Staple some ivy around the top. Your done. Find a nice tree that has a groove at the bottom. Pound the stake into the ground. I cleared all the grass and added some rocks.

I just love the way it looks! It's in my front, on the tree lawn, for all the passer-bys to see.

Now I guess I should cut the grass...

Spring hasSprung!

Finally, after a long hard winter and looking at this , what seemed like forever snow...

the weather warmed up. Actually we have been about 20 degrees warmer than it should be, 60's and sunny - all week!  Nothing makes it feel more like spring than warm, sunny days. And looking around my yard I found this...

A sure sign of Spring. The daffodills and crocus have started growing!

Welcome Spring!

Now it's time to start cleaning up the yard and spraying to keep the deer away -they love crocus and tulips. I have a wonderful recipe to keep them away. You have to spray it about twice a week , but it works.

4 - raw eggs        1 cup listerine mouthwash( could be generic)     

 gallon jug( I use an old milk jug rinsed out)   water

Whisk the raw eggs and pour into jug; add mouthwash; add enough water to fill jug; shake. Fill a spray bottle with mixture ( sometimes the sprayer clogs up so run water through it ) Store in garage. It smells the longer it sits, so I usually spray at night.

                                         

More Home & Garden Show....

Here are some more pictures of the Home and Garden show. I'll have to say I wasn't impressed with the inspiration homes - they looked like someone just put the furniture in and hung up pictures - so that's why I didn't take any pictures of the homes. No decorating ideas at a Home and Garden Show - how dissapointing. I did enjoy the outdoor furniture arrangements - I hope you do too...

great way to display indoor plants outside!

love the bunny picture - too high priced for me

lambs inside a glass cage with candle

Look closely at all the little fairies! They are black metal silhouettes of fairies - cute idea!

Home and Garden Show....

Well it's taken me about ten days and some antibiotics to start feeling better. Hope everyone is having a loving Valentine's Day! I was able to go to the local Home & Garden Show here Saturday and I took lots of pictures. It's always nice to see some spring flowers when the weather outside is cold and gloomy.

Here are some of the beautiful garden displays...

the pink tulips "pop" next to white

I never think to put red and pink together

I love hydrangeas!

A country watering pump

an eye catcher

I had to take a picture of this, so simple but unique

add height with bamboo

St Francis - beautiful!

There were many beautiful statues and works of art.

 How I'm looking forward to spring, sigh.

 If it would just stop snowing!

I have more pictures to share with you next time.