Back Porch Make-Over

I have been looking at my sad little back porch all summer wanting to do something to it, but not really knowing what to do until I found an inspiration porch on a blog. I wish I could remember where I found it so I could post the photo and give credit to it, but since I don’t remember let me just say that the inspiration porch floor was red and the spindles were white. My porch has been treated lumber since we added it to our house several years ago and truly ready for paint!

I picked a blue-green that I thought would look nice for the floor and enlisted my husband’s help to help with the prep work last week and then I started to paint. I think I picked the hottest weekend of the summer for this project.

Please forgive the empty window boxes. Perhaps I’ll fill them with something for the fall. I’ve got another project in the back of my car so I’m calling this one finished!

Cowboy

This week I have been really busy. I helped with Vacation Bible School two nights and even managed to make time to stitch up a "cowboy" scarf for Stewy. I have one cut out for Rusty but didn't stitch his up yet. He is a smaller dog and I'll have to make his smaller than Stewart's. Stewart refuses to wear pink so I thought that the "cowboy" theme would make him happy, it did!

Friday night I am editing this post to let you all know that my dear sweet Stewy escaped tonight and ran all over the neighborhood for about an hour! As luck would have it the farmer spread manure on his field behind our house and when I finally captured him, his scarf was practically brown from rolling in the manure! He promptly got a bath and I washed his scarf and collar as well.... grrrrrrr, I was not a happy camper!

Mamma Mia

I had a very pleasant day today....I took off work early and played with my friend Jess. We met her mother for lunch and a movie. I had a tasty Chicken Ceaser Salad for lunch and then we were off to the movies. We saw Mamma Mia and we all really enjoyed it. I think it was advertised as the feel good movie of the summer and it lived up to it....

On the way home we stopped at a cute little fabric shop where I bought some fabric for a project I have in my head....actually I have my project cut out and just needs stitched up... You'll get to see what I have in mind later this week.

If you are looking for a good, fun movie, go see Mamma Mia!

Kitchen curtains

I've been busy with a project all weekend, so stay tuned....I'm hoping to be able to post "before" and "after" photos by the end of the week. In the meantime, I made this little banner for Molly’s kitchen window to use instead of curtains. Her kitchen is black and pink and this banner is made from fabric and has some shoes and purses on the black background fabric.

The photo is not very good…I hung the banner on the china cupboard in my kitchen to get a quick photo and managed to get the reflection of my kitchen lights. I wanted to take a photo at Molly’s once I hung it but forgot so I’m glad even for this bad photo.

Two Little Bags

I've been checking various Etsy sites for a small tote bag that I could use while shopping. I love Vera Bradly and have one the right size but the handles are wrong....so I figured surely someone out there makes a cute little tote that would work for me. And one day while reading blogs I found someone who has a good eye for design and had a tote that was just the right size for me. So we emailed back and forth, and I found some material I liked. Actually I decided on two bags.

The really cool thing was that I went to the site where she buys fabric and looked through a lot of it and found just what I wanted....She was really good to work with....when I made a suggestion that she wasn't sure would be a good idea, she let me know and didn't just go with my hair-brain idea.... She wanted to work with me until we found something that we would both be happy with.

Anyhow, last week my bags came in the mail and the workmanship was great, I like everything about my little bags. If you are in the market for a bag, be sure to check out Carissa Rogers site at Apricot A Lot. I don't get any kick back or anything, just wanted to share my delight in finding such a gem to work with.

Happy Birthday Molly!

Today my daughter Molly is 21. How the time flies, has it really been 21 years already? The time has flown and is mostly a blur. But she is a great kid and living in an apartment finding her wings. The “before” photo was when she was celebrating her first birthday and the “after” is more current.

The Mark Harris song, “Find Your Wings” pretty much says it all.

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you I want you to know

As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off But I'll cheer as you fly.

Happy Birthday Molly... I love you.

Government Stimulus Check

Our government stimulus check came in the mail last week. I have been waiting for that check for a couple months now and I’ve been doing some planning as to what worthy project it should go toward. Last week my frugal husband got wind of the idea that I was planning some projects and would be financing them with the government check and he marched into the room where I was sitting and asked how much money I thought I would be getting of our $1,200 check and I boldly replied $600….duh! So after a tirade about me not paying in $600 worth of taxes, yada, yada yada…and I could think twice about that money with a daughter in college, yada, yada, yada, I am standing firm on this, and will pry my $600 out of his hands and spend it just like the President intended!

So how am I spending my hard fought for money? I found some very pretty purses on the internet and I’m having one made for me. As soon as I cashed my check I went to the mall. I have a weakness for the housewares department and I found myself in there looking at dishes and glassware. I found a very pretty set of 12 goblets and decided that they would make me feel great as well as make my table look good. I may even go back next week and get the matching wine goblets. (I only unpacked 4 of the 12 goblets so as not to startle my dear husband). I am also painting my bedroom furniture and well you know how that goes, a room starts out with a $24 gallon of paint and before you know it what started out to be a very affordable project has grown into a monster of a project! Anyhow, I’ll be doing a bedroom makeover with the remaining money.

How is everyone else spending theirs? Did you know there is a web site where you can go and let the whole world know how you spent your check. I might have to Google that to prove to my husband that a bedroom make over is definitely a worthy cause.

"after"

Ok, I took Joan's advice and didn't do anything at all to the gate, just brought it out front so when you are walking up my walk, you see my garden gate. I added some fresh cut flowers and some vintage garden tools.

I may bring it indoors this fall and use it in my bedroom...I can see some things hanging from it in my bedroom...

Thanks for your advice...although I was hoping to hear from my creative sister!!!!

Garden Gate

For the past couple of days I have been weeding in a garden that I haven’t worked in for a few years and today I found a gate in there,. I knew I had it…it was a trellis for a lovely clematis that was growing around it. Only problem was there were so many weeds who knew the gate or the clematis was there? So….. I had my husband remove the gate and I brought it up to the house.

Ok, now what can I do with it? The gate was from my home and I remember hanging on it and climbing over it as a small child so it has some sentimental value to it. I saw one like this hanging on a brick wall with a maple sap bucket attached to it with some flowers in it and it was really cute. So, that is one possibility… but where do I hang it? Inside? Outside? I’m thinking my husband might not be easily persuaded to attach it to the vinyl siding on the front porch…. So, inside? I’m going to be repainting my bedroom soon….could I paint it and use it to hang something in there?

I would appreciate any suggestions about what I can do with my gate!!! And of course, I’ll be posting an “after” photo!

God Bless America

Last night as I was reading blogs I was inspired to make a banner to add to my front porch. So I grabbed some patriotic looking fabric from my stash and made a banner to hang. I don't have a whole lot of red, white and blue in my house so a banner was just what I needed.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday!

Favorite Flag Photo

Today’s post is a photo of my house last July 4. I’m part of the favorite flag photo review at Kari and Kjsa’s. Be sure to stop by their blog to see other favorite flag photos. I like this photo of my house with the flags in the front yard. I like to put my flags out for Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

Do you have any 4th of July traditions? I was a soap maker for a few years and we always went to a craft show on the 4th and it was always a pleasant day for us. This year we are going back there for something to do….and to eat! We don’t usually go anywhere for fireworks although we used to always have a picnic at my parents in the evening and fireworks.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July.