Pammiejo and friends

Garden Cupola

2011-07-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was enthralled by a post that I saw on the blog "Forever Decorating" by Terry. She is an amazing talent. I think she can almost do anything! I admired a cupola that she and her good-looking handyman created for her yard. I decided that my husband could help me make a similar one for my garden.

I found four old windows on Craig's List and drove a few miles to get them. I ended-up with ten windows - thinking that there could be some other creations down the line. It is so cute!

I placed a fairy and some succulents inside.

Quite a neat addition to my shade garden. Thanks, Terry, for the idea!

Coffee Sacks

2011-03-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

We went to visit our son in Kansas City a week ago and visited the Coffee Roasterrie there. We took a tour and did some coffee tasting. They also said we could have as many coffee bean sacks as we wanted. I love all the graphics on the sacks and I'm loving burlap right now so I picked up 5 sacks. A friend asked me what I planned for them....well, here's what I did with one of them. DH said that he thought it would be too "scratchy" to sit on - so I told him to not sit on it with his bare behind - problem solved. 4 more to use - I know there will probably be a pillow or two from them. Possibly more burlap experiences to have! I'm hooking up to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday. Go check out all the other things to do very CHEAPLY!

Burlap

2011-03-04T13:36:00.001-08:00

I love all the burlap I'm seeing out there. I did see "someone" on one of the blogs add a strip of burlap to a lamp shade. I liked it and decided I'd do that too. I pulled threads on all sides and a strip in the middle to weave my ribbon through.

It reminds me of a lady's hat from the 50s. I want to do more with burlap. Please visit My Romantic Home where Cindy shares all kinds of ideas on Show and Tell Friday.

Crafting a Planter

2011-02-20T18:38:00.001-08:00

I copied an idea I saw in a magazine (I think). I thought it was a cute planter idea. I was originally going to place a real plant in it but decided watering it and the damage water could do wasn't such a great idea. So, a fake ivy was the best I could do with what I had.

This arrangement is in my sunroom.

I bought 2 books that I had no interest in reading at the local Thrift Shop. I glued them together by their covers. My husband drilled a 3 1/2" hole through them both. I recycled a sour cream container to fit inside it. I placed florist foam in the container and stuck my ivy in there. Planter completed.

Check Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch for some really great ideas for making changes in your home.

Hankie Display

2011-02-04T10:57:00.001-08:00

I saw this idea in a magazine - not sure which one - but, they used an old spoon collection board to display old hankies. I had no spoon collection board so I was on "the watch" for that to use to display the old hankies I have. At an antique store last weekend I found one. I bought it and brought it home - sanded and painted it white.

Now, it displays some of the old hankies I've collected over the years. I thought it was a cute idea. I mentioned to the antique store owner and she also thought it was a really cute idea. I should send her pics of it! I'm sharing today over at Cindy's at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday. Check the hundreds of other ideas on her blog!

Valentine Thought

2011-01-27T10:41:00.001-08:00

Have pulled-out the Valentine decorations but wanted to add something new for this year. Heather Bullard has placed some great free downloadable prints on her blog and I used one. The French phrase says "The risk of love is simply love." I added some scrapbooking paper, a cutout heart, a pink (antiqued) frame and some tulle for a hanger.

Thinkin' about Valentine's Day!

Small Spaces - Big Uses

2011-01-19T08:02:00.000-08:00

So much wasted space between walls of rooms!! What to do with short little walls that have that wasted space behind them......I figured it out. I had DH take out sheet rock and create a plate rack on the short wall leading into our kitchen from the back door.

It can hold cookbooks........

...or it can hold plates. We're in the middle of a kitchen remodel so timing was right to to do it. We used that type of space in a bathroom once and created a medicine cabinet with sliding mirrors and it turned out great too. Be creative with those forgotten spaces!

Back Again!

2011-01-10T18:49:00.001-08:00

After a long break from blogging, I've returned. My summer was a difficult one as I lost my mother and spent the summer spending alot of my time caring for her during her last days.

Once you're out of the habit of blogging, it's very easy to just "not do it". I've missed doing it. I do have to say though that I continued to check out all the other blogs out there.

It's winter here in Kansas. We had our first big snow here today. We have accumulated 4 inches of snow. It has stopped but the cold will continue.

I find it hard to put all the Christmas decorations away completely so I usually don't and use "snow" for my theme. The mantle received the "tree" treatment along with some snow. It's been kind of fun to search out trees on clearance tables as well as pulling trees out from my Christmas decorations.

Enjoy pics of our Kansas snow and be glad you're not experiencing the temperatures! Glad to be back!

Rainy Spring Day

2010-04-23T06:55:00.001-07:00

The salvia is starting to bloom - this one is a perennial and it will put out blooms all summer. I just deadhead as the blooms become spent. Nice, easy plant to have.

I love the dainty little bells on the Lily of the Valley. They are short-lived blooms but do well in shaded areas and spread well to make a pretty ground-cover.

I think the spirea is so pretty in the Spring and I like the way the branches seem to drape.

Here is more of my effort at planting bulbs last Fall. This allium is blooming and more are on their way.

I got the Solomon's Seal from a friend and have several little pockets of it. It's a great plant for the shade and a perennial. It too will spread.

The dainty little teardrop blossoms on it are likeable as well. The blossoms will disappear and the foliage will be a good feathery look all summer - resembles a big fern.

It's once again Fertilizer Friday over at Tootsie's so see how her greenhouse has exploded with plant material and see what everyone else is growing as well.

More Spring Blossoms

2010-04-16T06:03:00.001-07:00

My four-year-old wisteria decided it was going to bloom - FINALLY! There aren't a ton of blossoms but there are several and I sure think they're pretty! My reward for watching and waiting for four years!

I have a crabapple that produced the most heavenly smell and absolutely beautiful blooms this Spring. It has lost them now and is all covered with green leaves.

It was a good couple of weeks though of gorgeous pink!

The pears in this part of the country have been really gorgeous - covered with white blossoms - their smell, however, is not so grand.

I love the Spring bulbs when they come up but in the Fall, I just have a hard time making myself go out and plant bulbs. Last Fall I did get some gumption and planted some new bulbs for me. Here are my huge hyacinths I planted. They have been so pretty!

I am a fan of the yellow one - I think it's a "she" - so dainty looking and so pretty!

Stop by Tootsie's to check on her greenhouse and to see what others have blooming! It's Fertilizer Friday!

Spring is a'poppin!

2010-04-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

It's Fertilizer Friday over at Tootsie's today so stop by and see the beauty of Spring. It's been a'poppin here in the past week. We've had the temperature go up to 80 and the sun has been shining. Makes those buds burst forth! Tulips have a hard time in my yard because the deer love them and before they can bloom, the deer have chomped them off. Daffodils are a different story. So, I plant alot of those.

Forsythia suffers from the deer too. This is the first year that I've been able to get noticeable blooms. The deer sample it all winter but I think the bush has reached the stage that it will be successful despite the sampling during the winter.

Our weeping cherry out front is loaded and really showing off this week.

Different colors show-up in the daffodils.

The vinca has spread and has such pretty little blue blooms.

Easter Bunnies in the Spring

2010-03-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday this week. Be sure to drop by and see her lovely post and others who are sharing their favorite items.

I've been absent from blogging for the past two months and have nothing to blame it on except the "Winter blahs" which would be "lack of motivation". But, Spring has arrived and it is time for the world (at least here in Kansas) to revive itself and life to begin again. My bunnies are out in force.

I was excited a few years ago to find this reproduction chalkware bunny. My grandmother had lots of chalkware items - I wonder where they went!

This chick is a favorite of mine and I also like the chocolate egg shell that she's in.

This wheelbarrow I've had for years and it seems I always can find a use for it regardless of the season. It was a good "investment" as decorating items go. Miss Bunny is ready to deliver her eggs - I made those years ago when obviously I had more time (pre-retirement)!

Pussywillow and forsythia are sure signs of Spring. I love seeing forsythia bushes in the Spring. The yellow balls of blossoms pop out you as you drive through the city.

Happy Easter and Happy Spring to you all!

Happy Valentine's To All!

2010-02-12T08:13:00.001-08:00

I'm linking to the Valentine Party over at Laurie's today. I've tried to keep my Valentine decorations to a minimum lest I acquire enough to constitute creating one more plastic tub of decorations to go in storage once February is over.

I'm a fan of cloches and have created them out of different pieces of glass I have around the house - now, that has created a storage tub of its own. I hope you have a great Valentine's Day and be sure to check on all those blogs celebrating today at Laurie's.

New and Refurbished

2010-01-18T07:42:00.001-08:00

My new cabinet hanging on the wall is a Christmas gift that my DH built for me. I had seen one like it in a shop picture that a fellow blogger had posted and he crafted it for me from that picture. I knew I wanted it black and it was hung over a dry sink (another item DH built) that was originally stained. It just didn't look right so he painted the dry sink and now it fits perfectly. I'm liking the addition of black to my living room.

While he was building I had him build a little table stool for my kitchen table. I really like it too - and as long as he had the black paint out - he might as well use it again. DH is talented - can build almost anything and, so far, I haven't come-up short on ideas!

Step on over to Between Naps on the Porch and look at all the other metamorphosis that take place using new and old!

2009-12-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

Every year for the last 27 years a group of our friends get together to have a Progressive Dinner. This year was no different. We always select a theme and this year it was "A Woodland Christmas". Decorations followed that theme as well. Our menu consisted of pheasant and venison and they were delicious.

The dishes even followed our theme. Between us we often have enough place settings, chargers, dishes, silver, etc. to have beautiful tables. Our hostess' tree even followed our theme. Her husband is a hunter and so that was our source for our meat and all the pheasant feathers you see.

Our dessert was a Yule Log. Notice the small plate next to it - egg white mushrooms! Don't we have some creative people? It was alot of fun to plan and participate in. Good times with great friends!

Christmas Creations

2009-12-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

I've been busy for the past month and have neglected my blogging. I did want to participate in Kathy's Cottage's Christmas though. I have visited Mary Carol Garrity's home in the past month and loved what she did on her front door - so I copied it (sort of). I did pay full price for the lantern but the rest I had left-over from Christmases past. Nell Hill's in Atchison, Kansas is the shop that Mary Carol Garrity owns and she also lives in Atchison. You may have read her decorating books.

I also received left-over bay leaves from our Master Gardener Herb Day last May and so I made two little bay trees to use in my Christmas decor this year. This is on my living room mantle.

Another purchase was this lantern from a shop called Gatherings on the Prairie in Junction City, Kansas. I made the tray it's sitting on from an old cabinet door I bought for $.50 at a garage sale (added some knob feet, paint, and some old window handles). The rest I created from leftovers from Christmases past.

Be sure to visit the other Christmas fans at Kathy's for ideas for Christmas.

Fertilizer Friday - Fall Glory

2009-10-23T07:41:00.001-07:00

This Fall has been a good season. Here in Kansas our Falls are unpredictable. Last year it was a yellow and brown Fall. This year we have brilliant reds, oranges, and "almost" hot pinks in the leaves. These are all trees from our yard that we have planted. We have had just the right amount of moisture and the frost has stayed away. This week though, the wind moved in and so our beautiful trees are losing their color swiftly.

The above trees are Japanese maples that have been gorgeous to the eye.

Sweetspire looks so pretty next to the weeping evergreen.

The Burning Bush is always a brilliant red. The above is an Autumn Blaze Maple that is so pretty this year.

Here is a cherry that is a burgundy color mixed with a brilliant red.

Be sure to drop by Tootsie's place to see what is going on for Fall around the country.

Beautiful Tables

2009-10-20T13:28:00.001-07:00

Our church women sponsored a brunch with "table viewings" to benefit missions. We had 22 tables decorated with a lot of different themes. There were so many beautiful tables. My pictures don't do them the justice they deserve.

How about a Coca-Cola theme?

I loved these dishes -brown transferware with the turkeys in flight.

My friend Sharron did the table above. Her tablecloth was made of burlap with a dark brown velvet trim. Sharron always goes "over the top". Look how she decorated the folding chairs around her table.

Lots of Fall themes. Look at those little pumpkin placecard holders.

There were several Christmas and winter tables too. I liked the red and blue together.

I loved these dishes with the birds on them. These were made by Lenox.

I loved the sunflowers with the black and white. It was a gorgeous table.

I loved this apple themed table too. It really picked up the red in the dishes.

Join others and their "tablescapes" at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. You'll see some more beautiful table settings!

Fertilizer Friday - Plants Come In

2009-10-16T05:59:00.001-07:00

Here is one of my tropical palms that likes it outside and like Tootsie - my spider plant dropped seeds in this pot a few years ago and now I have a big spider plant in here as well. Notice I'm using my new columns ("new" to me anyway).

I've been moving my plants inside for the past week as the temperature drops here in Kansas. Plants have done really well outside over the summer and I've had to split some to bring them in. I'm hoping they do well over the winter.

I've brought in a couple of geraniums and will bring more in to over-winter later. They can stand the cold pretty well for a while. I hate to strip the yard completely so early.

Here is my "trouble" over the winter and through the growing season. She simply disregards any attempts to keep her out of my yard and from eating my plants. She always has a couple of babies with her and one or two of her lady friends.

Drop by Tootsie's today and check out Fertilizer Friday.

New Read for Ladies With Books

2009-10-14T05:57:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted about any "good reads" I've experienced. Our book club recently read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. This book was written by Mary Ann Shaffer and finished by her niece, Annie Barrows. This is a book that enlightened me about the German occupation in WWII of the English Channel island of Guernsey. I did not know anything about this particular part of the history of WWII. This is a book about relationships of the people on this island as well as the story of the writer who comes to write a book about them. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The format of the book is different as it is written as letters between people. Once the reader gets involved in the story, that becomes less distracting.

It is our usual habit in our book club of using the books we read for hints at the refreshments we should have. Sharron selected this book but after reading about "Potato Peel Pie" she decided we would not care for refreshments such as that. So, she did choose to fix a potato pie - sweet potatoe pie with a praline concoction as a layer next to the pie crust. Oh, and she served it with "real" whipped cream. Was it ever good!

I would encourage you to choose this book sometime to read.

It Would Be Fall to You All

2009-10-01T12:22:00.001-07:00

Be sure to drop by Southern Hospitality to see the multitudes of ideas for Fall decorating that could inspire you in your own home.

It's difficult to take a good picture of a cloche without getting reflections off it.

Here's a fruit bowl, a glass container of pumpkins and assorted gourds with an amber sitting hen.

A picture from the early 20th century of a great-great aunt of mine with an arrangement in an urn.

A Fall grouping in a birdcage.

The kitchen table has a Fall arrangement as well.

Thrifty Finds - Cloches in the making

2009-09-27T14:12:00.001-07:00

What can one make from some bubbly glass shades from an old light fixture, washers, and old cabinet knobs? I made two glass cloches from them. I found the glass shades at GW for $1 for both of them.

I was trying to figure out how to put some kind of knob on them when DH thought up the idea of using a washer painted white glued to the top of the shade and then glue the knob on top of that.

"Brilliant", I thought. I used a plate I already had and a candle holder I had in stock for one. For the other I bought a glass plate at GW for $.50 and gave the cloche and plate to a friend. The pictures distort the bubbles in the glass a little. They actually are clearer than that. I like the bubbles in the glass though. It is reminiscent of old-time glass. I was pleased with the way they turned out.

Please take a look over at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures. People are finding "economical" treasures everywhere!

Thrify Treasures - Chippy and More

2009-09-21T07:32:00.001-07:00

This was a good weekend for me and garage sales. These are the three "big" purchases I was most proud of. I made some smaller purchases which may be mentioned in a later post. This arrangement with the pheasant feathers was only $8 - anyone tried to buy real pheasant feathers lately?

I'm debating with myself about painting the chippy magazine stand. This is old - see the decal on the side.

The chippy white column is one of two that I got. The other one is taller and needs some rotten wood taken off but I like them!

Be sure to stop by Rhoda's at Southern Hospitality for the other thrifty shoppers to see what they've acquired.

Fertilizer Friday - Fall Blooms

2009-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

The leaves have started to fall - certainly seems to me there are alot more falling earlier this year. The mums and grasses are in their glory.

Lantana really likes the weather we're having. It's been plenty wet and today the sun is shining.

Painter's Palette puts on these tiny red seeds in the Fall. I have this variegated shades of green but I also have a white and green that grows in the shade with the tiny red seeds.

The marigolds, orange zinnias, and mums fill this border in nicely for Fall. From the street, it's bright and welcomes Fall.

Be sure to bop on over to Tootsie's for Fertilizer Friday and see the Fall blooms in yards all over.

2nd Time Around Rain Barrel

2009-09-15T06:46:00.001-07:00

Second Time Around Tuesday seemed right for my activity this weekend. My friend, Diane (in the burgundy t-shirt), is a Master Gardener with me. She always gives 100% to any project she gets in her head. She was having trouble in her yard with "flooding" and she had tried everything to get it in control to no avail. Her final solution was to create a rain garden and to make her own rain barrels to use. She is now giving workshops on making rain barrels. My husband and I help her, as well as some other MGs. This is the rain barrel workshop she gave at our local Botanica, the Wichita Gardens this last Sunday. 28 rain barrels were made from cast off barrels from the Pepsi company. Diane has several in her yard and has them painted with cute flowers, etc. You would know I don't have the picture to show you of the finished product. This week 28 rain barrels were made. The workshop she had in the Spring had 40 made. Interest is big.

Each participant did as much of the work themselves as possible. We provided guidance and tools.

Be sure to drop by A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words to see what everyone else is doing to recycle things just like Diane as done with the empty barrels from Pepsi.

Thrifty Collection - Beer Bottle Path

2009-08-31T09:55:00.001-07:00

This is a very thrifty post because we are recycling beer bottles at our house. We have had friends and family saving beer bottles for the past year in order to build a bottle path in the back garden. My DH finally decided we probably had enough bottles to build it - we had boxes and boxes of bottles. He started building a week ago and the path is probably 15 feet long by now and, guess what, we are out of bottles. We are shocked. DH says we used about 750 bottles and we probably need about 500 more to finish it. Who would have thought it? So, we are once again encouraging family and friends to "keep drinking". I am liking the way it looks - and what a conversation piece it will be!

Visit Southern Hospitality for more Thrifty Finds today. Lots of people have some great ideas to refurbish and reuse things!

Thrifting Treasures - 2nd Time Around

2009-08-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

I love garage saling - I always go without a definite thing in mind to "hunt for" because then you won't miss the "possibilities". Last week I found a lovely thing. This is an original oil on canvas painting of a beautiful arrangement of roses. I hope Mr. Robert Cox (who signed the painting) never finds out that someone sold his painting for $.25 - that's right - $.25! What a deal and I love it! Right now it's on top of the old chippy cabinet on the sunporch - it may move but for right now, it's there.

Go over to Diane's A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words and see the lucky people who found other treasures and have re-purposed them for their homes! Thanks, Diane, for hosting!

Julie and Julia - Movie Thoughts

2009-08-16T02:22:00.001-07:00

My husband and I went to see Julie and Julia yesterday. We really enjoyed the movie. I was apprehensive after reading reviews but I wasn't disappointed in the show at all. Meryl Streep is wonderful in her portrayal of Julia Child. I didn't know much about Julia Child until I saw the movie. She had a very interesting life and was a woman who enjoyed her life. She seemed to make the most out of her situations.

If you are a blogger or a cook, you will really enjoy the show. Amy Adams who portrays the character of Julie demonstrates the pursuit of the blog readership that all of us are after. She is also often frustrated in her food preparation - how many of us have been there? This is a movie about participating in life as well as blogging and cooking! You shouldn't be disappointed.

Thrifty Treasures - Weekend Garage Sales

2009-08-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Garage sales produced some pretty good things this week. Second picture didn't turn out as good as the first one. I was excited to find the Junk Market book for $3 - some old baseballs (my new collection to put in some container) for $.25 each - the fall tablecloth for $2 - some old porcelain doorknobs 2 for $1 - and the old colander for $.25. Pretty good deals this weekend! Check out Thrifty Treasures over at Rhoda's new blog address for Southern Hospitality. She really went to garage sales and has a lot to report on.

Fertilizer Friday - the Garden in August

2009-08-07T07:17:00.001-07:00

Today is Fertilizer Friday over at Tootsie's. Be sure to visit and see the lovely blooming flowers in Blogland. It has been hot in Kansas for the past week but we've had some showers too, so the flowers have benefitted. The above is my mandevilla just blooming away.

Coleus in a windowbox loving heat.

Portulaca loves the heat.Rose of Sharon bending over to the ground because of the heavy blooms on it.

Mariogolds and my little orange tiny zinnias are blooming. I grew the zinnias from seed started in the greenhouse this year (zinnias are in the back). A morning glory bloom - I've had to practice deer-protection methods on the morning glories - they are fenced in from every angle. The morning glories I grew from seed the deer don't bother (and they're not blooming yet),

Rudebeckia have really spread by reseeding themselves from last year so I have a good stand of them.

The fairy dancer amidst the begonias and impatiens.

My wagon full of impatiens - it does well every year.

Flora of Yellowstone - Fertilizer Friday

2009-07-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

While we were in Yellowstone, I was in awe of the bright, beautiful colors of the numerous wildflowers that we saw. I hopped out of the car several times to get close-up pictures of these flowers. Nature does a great job of fertilizing her own, does she not?

Be sure and drop by Tootsie's to see the other Fertilizer Friday flora presented throughout blogland.

Home Again!

2009-07-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Home again after a week of seeing the sights of South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. We saw absolutely beautiful country. The evening show at Mt. Rushmore was a moving patriotic show that was inspirational. The majesty of the sights throughout Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons was awesome to behold. Our country has so much to see and it is so beautiful to behold! It's always good to be home but sure am glad to be able to appreciate all that's out there in this great country!

Summer Vacation, Here We Come!

2009-07-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we head out on vacation. First we travel where we've never been before - to see Mt. Rushmore and the sites around there.

On to Yellowstone to see sites we've seen before and lots of things we haven't seen before.

On our way home we travel through some of the most beautiful mountains in the USA, the Grand Tetons.

So today will be "hurry, hurry, hurry" so we can RELAX in the coming week!

2nd Time Around Table

2009-07-14T06:17:00.001-07:00

This table is probably on its 6th or 7th time around. I found this table in my grandmother's chicken coop before I got married (over 40 years ago). She had used this in her home many years before that and it had been relagated to the chicken coop. I took it home and gave it a coat of avocado colored paint and antiqued it (do any of you remember that color??). In the 80's I tried to take the table back to the original wood but it couldn't happen without having it "dipped" so I didn't do that and instead painted it a dark forest green. My daughter was married in the early 90's and needed a kitchen table so she took it. It remained with her until about 6 years ago. It has been sitting up in a storage loft in our garage since then. I had DH haul it down and we painted it back to its original white and did some antiquing on it. It is now back on the sunporch for more years of use. It is indeed a sturdy little table with no broken legs or very big dings in it for its years and years of service. It's a precious treasure to me because of its history in my family.

Be sure to stop by A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words to see the other items having their 2nd...or 6th Time Around.

Thrifty Treasures

2009-07-13T06:42:00.001-07:00

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting Today's Thrifty Treasures. This is a place where you will find all sorts of sale items that people have picked-up to find new uses for in their own homes. I visited several sales this weekend only to think that most people are very proud of their junk and overprice it. I did find one garage sale that had great prices and I carted away alot of things - mostly for my backyard - my house is full to overflowing. Here are some of my finds:

A child's rake with just a tad of rust to give it "character" for $.25 (great price)!

A rusty wheelbarrow that will be filled with plants.

A bunch of seashells priced from $.10 each to $.50 (a starfish for $.50 - YEA!)

My favorite find - no markings on the bottom of it but I love it and I paid $4 for it.

Great garage saling this weekend!

Fertilizer Friday and Flaunt Those Flowers

2009-07-09T20:09:00.001-07:00

It is Fertilizer Friday over at Tootsie's and this week I'm participating for the first time. I've decided that I have the most blooms going on in my garden the end of June and first part of July.

My daylilies are putting on a show and I've got several different colors and sizes.

I thought this was a particularly good shot with the dew still on the petals. My son took these pictures with his new camera - still trying to get the best settings on the camera.

This is my mandevilla that I've had for 5 or 6 years. It's blooming its heart out now. I put it in the greenhouse every winter after I cut it back to the ground.

I thought this was a pretty great shot of a coneflower - and I have a million coneflowers blooming. Each year there are more - if one tried to grow them like that, you couldn't!

We have some water lilies that are blooming each day as well. Blogger is being very slow at uploading today so I'm going to call it quits for this week. Be sure and check Tootsie out. She is the "Queen" of growing gorgeous flowers.

July Ladies With Books

2009-07-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Last night we had our book club and Gail's choice for this month was Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. I enjoyed the book. It is the pre-cursor to The DaVinci Code also by Dan Brown. We talked about the people who won't read this book because of it's conceived "anti-religion" viewpoint - and we all agreed - it's just a novel, for heaven's sake. It proposes some futuristic ideas in it - some of which are in existence already (anti-matter). I'm also intrigued with the ideas presented about the role of the Masons (of which my own father was one). I just found the book to be exciting and intriguing - "Inquiring minds want to know.....more." Now, I'm ready to see Tom Hanks in the movie. Is the story next to impossible - you bet - entertaining - you bet!

Finally - Metamorphosis Monday

2009-07-05T14:11:00.001-07:00

This was the rickety old chair I bought at the church garage sale about 2 weeks ago. DH rebuilt the legs to make it a sturdy chair again. We painted it and made a new seat for it.

Here it is all fixed up with a toile covered seat. Notice I added a medallion in the center - I thought it needed that. Some people think that DH does everything - well, I did painting and recovering of the seat so I did take part in this chair's reincarnation. It will be used in various places all through my house. Click on the picture to see it close up. Thanks again to Phil!

Now, be sure to check in with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see the other changes that people envision in things that are cast-offs.

Finally Finished Birthday Gift

2009-07-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

I haven't been blogging for a couple of weeks. I don't have a reason - I just wasn't motivated, I guess. I did want to show you my birthday present from my DH. He's very good at looking at some drawing I make and building whatever for me. This was what I called a "jelly cupboard". It'll never hold jelly but it will be on my sun porch holding books, games, and other things that we might use out there. He did a great job and it's just exactly what I wanted! My birthday was back in June and he did say he'd build it then but it took him until this week to finish it. Thanks, Phil!

Thrifty Finds

2009-06-22T06:38:00.000-07:00

Today is my first time to participate in Rhoda's Today's Thrifty Treasures. Be sure to check out Southern Hospitality and see what your fellow garage sale, thrift store, and estate sale "peeps" are gathering.

Our church had a huge garage sale this weekend. I found two Sandy Gore Evans prints. This was my favorite one and it goes great in my hearth room - all framed, matted - ready to go.

A bird's nest, a plate, a little teacup, two bags of Aromatique potpourri, and a small dome that will make a good cloche were some more of the bargains I found.

This old rickety chair will be transformed by my husband. I have several old chairs I've picked-up at sales and brought home. He's transformed a number of them.

A Cloche Party

2009-06-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

It's a Cloche Party today. Check out all the great ideas for using cloches (and close variations) at A Stroll Thru Life. A teacup-pot combo with a sprig of ivy is in my dining room.

An old anniversary clock dome is what I used for this cloche. I found it at a Goodwill for $.50. So, in this one is a hen (salt shaker) on a nest of Limoge cups. This sits down in my very country family room.

This little cloche I found and it exactly fit a butter dish whose dome was broken a while ago. I like bows and what-nots affixed to their handles. I've really enjoyed looking at all the other cloches - gives me lots of ideas for changing my own. I tend to change my cloches with the seasons. I like looking at everyone else's ideas to see what I could do as well. Enjoy!

Met Monday for the Garden

2009-06-15T05:26:00.001-07:00

It was a weekend for garden tours. I went to a fabulous garden and when I got home to look at the pics that I took I found that I took far more pics of "things in the garden" than I did of plants in the garden. I think that means that I like the addition of hardscape in the garden. What to do with the old tree trunk after you've stripped it of its diseased branches - how about creating a birdhouse from it (not really useful but cute)? Note the glass doorknob for the perch.

How about recycling those vintage tablecloths that have stains or holes in them rendering them "unusable as tablecloths" into seat cushions for a darling picnic set in the garden?

How about recycling the old trumpet from a garage sale into a fountain with water cascading from its bell? Isn't the stand cute too? It looked like a mosaiced piece to me. I took many pictures in this garden - many ideas I've seen before in other gardens but still - I couldn't get enough of the eye-candy in this garden.

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for the many transformations you'll see in Met Monday.

Albino Euphorbia for Cactus Monday

2009-06-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

This is a new cactus that my daughter gave us for our 40th anniversary this week. This is a Euphorbia Lactea Crest grafted. Its an albino cactus that is grafted to another that is green in order for it to live. The albino cactus can not manufacture chlorophyll for its own food so it's grafted to another cactus to generate the chlorophyll. Pretty interesting! I'm anxious to see how it grows and changes.

It is Cactus Monday at Teri's Painted Daisies. Check out the artist renderings of cactus as well as other plants there.

Camp Horizon

2009-06-05T12:17:00.001-07:00

I went with my daughter/husband/kids to pick Kaitlin up from a week of church camp at Camp Horizon near Arkansas City, KS; today. She had such a good time and was full of stories from her experiences. She had no reservations at saying she was going back again next year. She got to canoe; camp overnight in a tent; swim; use the high ropes; use a zip-line; and best of all build christian relationships with adults and other kids.

Camp Horizon overlooks the Arkansas River valley. It's a beautiful scenic spot - close to one of the prettiest in Kansas.

Mom, Dad, and siblings were there to welcome her back home with hugs - only took a few minutes until arguing insued (why is that???). We're all glad she's back home and so glad she had a great experience.

Double-Dose of Ladies With Books

2009-06-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

I have been lax the past two months in posting about my book club and its latest "reads". Still Alice by Lisa Genova is a book about a woman experiencing early on-set Ahlzheimers and is written from her perspective. This is a very good book and gives one good in-sight into such an experience. This was Dayle's choice for us to read during the month of April.

The May "read" was The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard. This is a murder mystery which takes place in Kansas written by a Kansan. This was a good mystery - kept you involved until the end to find out exactly what happened. Ruby chose this book for May.

Derby Garden Tour

2009-06-01T05:30:00.001-07:00

Our suburban town of Derby, Kansas, sponsored its 3rd annual garden tour this weekend. Our little town has some great gardens. Today I'm sharing one that belongs to an outstanding gardener who works very hard in his yard. He's used hardscape as well as a wide variety of plants in his garden. The above mosaic is his creation he completed over the last winter - you see this just as you enter his yard.

He has a swimming pool which has been converted to a pond. It's easy to forget that is was ever a pool. You see towering Blue Spruce and all varieties of plants in this yard. He also raises Koi and has large, beautiful fish in his pond. It's hard to believe you're in central Kansas while looking and appreciating this landscape.

Bill paints alot of his hardscape every year and changes the color as well. Orange is the color this year. I appreciate almost as much the hardscape in a yard/garden as I do the plantings. More to come of other yards on the Derby Garden Tour.

Resilient Succulents for Cactus Monday

2009-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me how a species wants to survive. This poor cactus (sorry I don't know the name) was knocked over and half of it was broken off. I could have cried - but I didn't. I sat it back up and took care of it, like usual. Now a year later it has sent out new shoots all over the place.

Moving my 8 year old jade to a new place had tragedy strike. It too fell over and broke some major branches but here 4 months later are the new shoots replacing the branches. Sorry for this particular blurry picture.

It will look good once again as it gets rejuvanated. "I will survive!"

Be sure to visit Cactus Monday over at Teri's Painted Daisies and see what stories others have to tell.

Master Gardener Garden Tour

2009-05-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Master Gardeners sponsored a garden tour. To fulfill my obligation of volunteer hours, I worked as a volunteer in this yard - taking tickets or answering questions about the plants or other things about the garden. The above is a crown of thorns - there were several pots of these huge pots full of crown of thorns that were in beautiful bloom.

The owner had so many vignettes around the yard and patio - it took lots of looking and examining to see them totally. I was glad I had 4 hours to spend. See the little jester in front - I loved him.

Wouldn't you like sitting here drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper here?

Here is another one of those "head planters" - I've got to find one!

Notice the trunks of these trees that create a back-drop for this chair - these are the trunks of Rose of Sharon bushes that the owner had stripped off the lower branches. They are several years old so they are big bushes. I thought it was a great idea and this lends such texture to the yard. Note the visitor in the yard wearing a coat - it was chilly here in Kansas on Saturday - in the 60s.

7th Birthday

2009-05-11T08:09:00.001-07:00

Grandson, Phoenix, is seven years old today. He celebrated with all his family last evening (on Mother's Day). He had all of his living grandparents and great-grandparents with him to celebrate. He's a lucky little boy!

Happy Birthday, Phoenix! We can hardly believe it's been 7 years since you arrived in this world!

Phoenix did a very special thing for his birthday. He had a party and invited his friends but rather than bring gifts, they were to help him buy shoes for an orphanage in Africa (one of our friends is a missionary working there).

Read all about it here: http://africanfaithjourney.blogspot.com/

Garden Party

2009-05-06T06:10:00.001-07:00

Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is hosting a Garden Party today. Hop on over and see the Spring gardens ready to "show their stuff" in this new gardening season.

We are a little further behind the southern part of the U.S. for our planting time. I've just recently hauled out plants to put outside. As the spring and summer progress, things will fill-in.
This is one of my vignettes in the yard. This barrell has a pump that is hidden by the plants in the picture which recirculates the water and makes a nice splashing sound.

The pond plants are emerging and this will be heavily engulfed in plants come August (we'll be pulling them out of the streams). I love the sound of the splashing water.

We have had Koi for about 18 years. There's something relaxing about watching them swim. Of course, there are goldfish which liven the pond with their brilliant orange and their fantails. Welcome to a small part of our Spring Garden.

Old Lattice - 2nd Time Around

2009-05-05T07:17:00.001-07:00

Last year the strong Kansas wind whipped my plants to "smithereens" so we tried to think of a way to keep that from happening. We have a "storage" area on the back part of our lot hidden away from the neighbors where we store "yard leftovers" - rock, screen, lattice, brick, wood pieces, etc. We had the leftover lattice from a rental we once owned. That renter had lattice everywhere ("overkill", one might say). We tore it out and kept it. We've used it before on an arbor for a year but then decided we wanted something different there. So, here the lattice is again used as a backdrop and wind barrier. I do have a couple things to hang on that lattice but am still looking for a sun I know I have somewhere. I'm hoping my plants will look better and I won't have to be running out to stand pots back up after they've blown over.

Be sure to check out Diane's blog, A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words for 2nd Time Around Tuesday. You'll see lots of ideas for using something another person has discarded.

Angels in our Midst - WOYW Wednesday

2009-04-29T06:14:00.001-07:00

She looks like she's floating through the green of the trees, doesn't she? Actually, this is a stained glass angel my daughter made for me and she's hanging on a glass wall of our new sunporch. I love how the light shines through her - the colors are so vivid and she does look good floating on the new green of Spring.

Check out Barb's fellow bloggers at Grits and Glamour to see what is on their walls.

Cactus Monday

2009-04-27T09:00:00.001-07:00

I am a cactus/succulent fan. They seem to be easy to grow and require little care (sometimes I think they thrive on neglect). The above plant is a "paddle plant" or Kalanchoe thyrsiflora. I love the shapes and the coloring on each "paddle". I haven't had this one very long but it already has grown a couple of new paddles.

This one is Huernia schneideriana (Red Dragon Flower). It roots very easily - I've had pieces fall off and take root in the pot below it even - so I've got several of these growing. They grow longer and then will develop shoots off of each "tentacle".

Join other cactus fans over at Teri's Painted Daisies for Cactus Monday.

Ol' Rocking Chair for 2nd Time Around

2009-04-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

This ol' rocking chair is probably going around for the 3rd or 4th time. This is the first piece of furniture that my husband and I bought. We bought it for $.50 from my dad who paid that same amount at an estate sale. We sanded it; stained it; rebuilt the seat; and uphostered it. Now, in the 40 years that we've had it we've reupholstered it at least 3 times. We've never refinished it though, so we must have done a good job the first time.

This chair rocked my two babies and it's the perfect baby-rockin' chair. The arms allow you to rest your arm in the right place for laying a baby back to give a bottle. It's solid so it never has squeeked - silent, for a baby to go to sleep. It tilts the adult back in just the right position so that a baby can be on your shoulder and not have their head bashed into the back of the chair. Owning a good rocker with a baby is a must. Will I ever get rid of it - heck, no! It holds too many memories and it still doesn't squeek!!

Check Diane out at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words for those other items living at least their second life in a loving home in 2nd Time Around Tuesday.

Vintage Trunk for Thursday

2009-04-16T06:31:00.001-07:00

This is an old trunk that was in my parents' basement for years. It was covered in army green canvas like material. My husband and I stripped all that off exposing the wood underneath. We then painted it and stained it.

We lined it with muslin and it now holds pictures from years and years - you know how they collect! When a person talks about their house burning down or a tornado coming and what would be the first thing you'd grab - here are all those pictures! I think I'd need a pack mule to "haul" it. The trunk serves well as a lamp table.

Be sure to visit Colorado Lady for the other vintage thingies people have stored and/or displayed in their homes. You'll see some precious treasures.

The Walls on Wednesday

2009-04-15T05:31:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check Barb's other participants on What's On Your Wall Wednesday at Grits and Glamour.

I've had other blog entries that have been about things that my paternal grandmother "gifted" to me through the years. These things today I received after she passed away. Her "estate" was a hodge-podge of things she had saved from her heritage all packed away in cardboard boxes - nothing very big. This sign is a framed tin piece and I remember it hanging in my grandparents' apartment back in the 50's. It now hangs in my living room and it is in excellent shape.

These plates are from her as well and hang in a guest bedroom. The top plate is marked "Prussia - Royal Rudolstadt". My grandmother was also a "labeler" and it has a piece of tape on the back telling me it belonged to my great-great grandmother. The bottom plate with the poppies on it is marked "Limoges France" - no piece of tape this time.

I am more convinced all the time that we should mark things or label them in some way so we know where pieces come from and why they are important to us. It's our history!

A Thousand Acres - Ladies With Books

2009-04-08T07:12:00.001-07:00

Janice's choice for our book club this month was A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. This story has been made into a made-for-TV-movie starring Jason Robards as the father. Our club thought it might be worth viewing together. The book is a modern take-off on King Lear. It's a family farm story so if you come from a rural family or are currently in one, you will have some identification with this lifestyle. This family is definitely a dysfunctional one and there's not much "fun" in the "dysfunction". I enjoyed this book. I thought it portrayed the "family farm" story pretty accurately. It was slow starting so it was Chapter 6 or 7 before I was really interested. Read it - I think you'll also enjoy it.

Janice baked a wonderful apple pie for us to eat for our refreshments....could there be a better food representative for the rural American life?

Easter Activities

2009-04-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

What's Easter without all the egg dying? Yesterday was the day for the grandkids to plan and create their beautiful Easter eggs.

Mom had a couple of dozen ready for them - some hard-boiled and some blown.

This guy doesn't look real happy but he was a dyin' fool - he had lots of ideas for his eggs. He made some pretty wild colors by mixing them.

It was fun to help referee as well as make some suggestions. Even Great-Grandma was on hand to watch and appreciate the fun. Those eggs will be our deviled eggs next Sunday.

Fenton Glass for Vintage Thursday

2009-04-02T06:56:00.001-07:00

My aunt passed away probably 6 years ago and her daughters had an auction of her household after her death. My mom and I went and I bid on several boxes of items. One of the boxes that I got was a box of this Fenton lime sherbet glassware.

I have a friend who has an extensive collection of this particular color of glassware and has it under black light - it glows and is great eye-candy when it is featured that way. I do not have it under black light - but, have considered doing that.

I bought it ,not so much for the color, but because it was from a family member. I know some of the pieces are from the 40's and 50's but other than that, I'm not clear on the age of it all.

Vintage family collectibles are precious to me. Be sure to check Colorado Lady for the vintage collectibles that others have on this Vintage Thingies Thursday!

2nd Time Around Secretary

2009-03-31T06:24:00.001-07:00

I knew a man that would frequent garage sales and auctions to find pieces of wood furniture and he would rebuild or refinish them as a hobby. He always had a houseful of furniture that was for sale at a good price. He had this small secretary and I couldn't resist. It's always been in my guest bedroom.

As you can see, I've never had it stocked like a secretary should be stocked for use (not too many people have ever used it - maybe even no one). I see so much of the painted furniture out there in black and white and I do like the looks of that but there is so much furniture out there made with such pretty wood, I hate to see it ever covered up. Plus, DH would absolutely throw a fit if a piece of gorgeous wood was covered with paint.

Be sure to visit Diane at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words for Second Time Around Tuesday for other precious (or bargain) pieces.

Blue Monday is for the chickens!

2009-03-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

It is Blue Monday and Smiling Sally is hosting so check out her blog to see all the blue. My "Blue" is a table square that my good friend, Dayle, made for me for Christmas. She is an excellent quilter and is always creating pieces of art with fabric.

This square sits on my antique oak pedestal kitchen table and since I have lots of chickens, my table centerpiece currently has a chicken on it to go with the chickens in the squares of the table square.

Have a happy BLUE MONDAY!

Vintage Thursdays - It's a Picnic!

2009-03-26T06:00:00.001-07:00

Once again I'm participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday sponsored by Colorado Lady. Today I'm sharing my collection of vintage metal picnic baskets. These were popular back in the 40s and 50s. I've gathered these from flea markets and garage sales.

There are many on the market that are in the shades of brown and tan so if I buy one now, I'm looking for other colors. These are perfect for storage but mine are all empty - which is not very bright on my part. So, I've decided that I need to store some of my excess dish towels, pot holders, etc. in them.

Be sure to visit Colorado Lady and see all the other "collectors of Vintage" out there in blogland.

It's Toile, Y'all!

2009-03-24T05:50:00.001-07:00

There's a "Toile Party" at The Pretty Organized Palace today. Go over and investigate the different ways people use toile in decorating. I'm a fan!

I had a good friend of mine make valances for my kitchen/hearth room of red toile. She added the gingham check border to it. I really like red and have tried to use it in my home in different ways. I'm very happy with my toile!

Happy Toile, Y'all!

Tea Time

2009-03-20T06:32:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday our church circle was treated to a "Serendipi-Tea" presented by this lady, Marlene Lorenz. She gave us lots of information on the history of tea as well as tea etiquette. We learned a lot. If you've never had a tea with your friends, you should. It is a lot of fun, particularly if you can "let yourself go" and get into the spirit of it by dressing the part and investing the time to have all of the "niceties" of the tea (scones, sandwiches, cookies, clotted creme, etc.)

As you can see, some enjoyed the "dressing the part". We saw some lovely outfits!

I have a "costume closet" at home and have different outfits, hats, and accessories - doesn't everyone? I have a couple of friends who have such a closet too. Enjoy life - let yourself go!

Blue Willow for Blue Monday

2009-03-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Today I'm joining everyone over at Smiling Sally's for Blue Monday. Be sure to see all the blue that is out there. A lot of people are fond of that color.

I have Blue Willow dishes that I love. These are my "everyday GOOD dishes". I have them displayed in this plate display rack DH built for me in the dining room.

I also have a fairly large collection of hens on nests. This picture shows you a few of the blue ones that I have.

Vintage Thursdays

2009-03-12T06:16:00.001-07:00

Hop on over to Suzanne's blog at Colorado Lady to see what other vintage things people are holding onto.

My paternal grandmother was a random saver of things. She would save odds and ends of things mainly from her grandmother. She started "gifting" these things to me when I was 12 years old. I know I didn't appreciate them then, but I certainly do now. This particular compote is marked "Prussia" on the bottom with a "B". I know little else so if some of you out there have some knowledge - I'd welcome more information on it.

This cup is from the same person. It has my great-great grandmother's name etched on it along with "St. Louis World's Fair 1904". These are placed in a nice display cabinet for all to see. I'm hoping that one day one of my kids will treasure these things like I do.

2nd Time Around Settee

2009-03-10T06:24:00.001-07:00

Back in the late 80s I found this settee at a garage sale covered in burgundy corduroy upholstery with a little white paint smudge on the back of it for $50. I thought it was such an unusual piece due to its lines that I wanted it. I was sure it could be such a nice piece. It got shoved from one place to another - it was in my daughter's room, her apartment, my parents' home and then finally it came home to roost when we remodeled a new bedroom for ourselves. I had it recovered (which jacked the investment considerably). Every room it's used in will be decorated around this piece of furniture now. It is a sturdy piece and the upholsterer said it was very unusual (I agree - have never seen another one like it).

Be sure to check out Diane's 2nd Time Around over at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words. You will see lots of refurbished treasures there.

Wichita Garden Show

2009-03-06T17:40:00.001-08:00

This week through the weekend is the Wichita, Ks. Garden Show. This garden show is one of the top ten in the nation. People come to this garden show from all surrounding states as well as from all over Kansas. This year there were 4 "center" gardens. These gardens are huge with thousands of dollars spent by local nurseries to present prize-winning gardens.

This garden I'm featuring today is by Scenic Landscapes of Wichita. Scenic has won "Best of Show" year after year. The owner is so creative. You think that surely he has exhausted his "best" but the next year he returns with a garden that is so creative. This year his theme was "upside down trees". They were just that - trees placed in upside-down. It was simply gorgeous with plantings in those bowls made by the roots at the top of each tree.

Scenic always has a water feature running through it. They are always "natural" looking like you would find them in the woods.

This opening in a stone wall looked into a small grotto with a small table and chairs. It was completed by a small chandelier and a lamp. Such a neat feature! The picture at the top of my post shows my favorite feature in this garden - it is made from old doors opening to a screened-in pigeon home. The structure was made from cedar logs. The doors could open and close. SO CUTE!

I enjoy attending and working as a Master Gardener for the local county Extension Service. I helped with children tours and seminars. I attended several seminars: Rain Gardens/Rain Barrells, 2009 Plants of the Year, Tropical Plants for Kansas. I really enjoy this week of the Garden Show!

Ladies With Books

2009-03-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

Ladies With Books met this week to discuss the book Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring. Nancy was our hostess and here she is posed with the book as well as the pineapple upside-down cake she served us. As I've mentioned before, our refreshments usually come from some food(s) mentioned in the book and this was. This book was a really good read. This is a book about family dynamics, love, and forgiveness. It takes place in Wisconsin and told through the voice of an 11 year old little girl (who has some very adult understandings of human dynamics). You won't regret reading this. Without fail, every member of our book club enjoyed this book.

Texture on the Wall

2009-03-04T04:47:00.001-08:00

I love old wood and I have several different things built from old fencing and old barn wood. This piece was one the first original art pieces I ever bought and I bought it from a local artist back in the 70s. It hangs in my family room which has antiques with a real country feel to it. This painting portrays the Kansas countryside really well. It's difficult to tell from the picture but the center of the windmill is a knot-hole in the wood. I love the "texture" this piece adds to my room.

African Faith Journey

2009-03-02T10:19:00.001-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to my friend, Holly Heyroth (above). Holly is currently serving in the mission field in Tanzania. Holly is a hometown girl who grew-up in our local United Methodist church. She went to K-State and graduated with a degree in education and a specialist in ELL (English as a second language or ESL to some of you). She also has had a calling in her heart to serve as God's liason to those who are in need, particularly in Africa. She came back from college to serve our church as a youth director for several years and in the summers she would spend a few weeks in Africa doing some substituting for English teachers who were on leave in local adult education programs. She is convinced that this is what the Lord wants her to do. So, in January Holly departed the United States for Tanzania to serve in an orphanage there.

Holly maintains a blog about her service there entitled African Faith Journey. I would encourage you to take a look at her blog as she enlightens everyone about her adventures as she nurtures children who are very much in need in Tanzania. If you would like to know more or be in correspondence with Holly, comment on her blog. She does a wonderful job of enlightening and moving your spirit to one of servitude.

If you belong to a group who would like to take on a charitable activity, Holly can give you numerous ways for your group to have a part in her mission there. She will let you have a very personal relationship with these wonderful children she serves.

Please take a look at Holly's blog and enjoy her adventures.

Greenhouse - Metamorphosis Monday

2009-03-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

We had your ordinary walk-out basement area which didn't get used as a patio area because it was too dark and there was no breeze. So, when we added a sunroom on the deck above, we enclosed the walk-out and converted it into usable greenhouse space. I have a greenhouse which was placed on one end of our storage shed when it was built but when I watered plants in there during the winter, it was so crowded I would have to move plants out to get to others to water - let alone have an area for working on plants. I really needed more greenhouse space. We put in a ceiling; painted the flooring; added lots of lighting and brought in some of the plants.

Below are the "after" pictures. We revamped my old door - another "door project" - by adding the shelf on top.

I had found wooden brackets for the shelf at Lowe's but they didn't look right so I went to a local antique store and they had reproduction metal ones just like I wanted CHEAPER than Lowe's wooden ones.

I plan on adding more plants. I'm waiting for the weather to warm-up to move them from the other greenhouse.

I now have seed planting space and room for a lighting system. I have some seeds going now and plan on adding more.

Be sure to visit Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch for the other make-over projects for Metamorphosis Monday. You'll see some great ideas which may inspire you.

Landscapes - What's On Your Wall Wednesday

2009-02-25T05:55:00.000-08:00

I love landscape pictures - particularly of farm country. I have several that resemble the Kansas countryside in which there are barns, wheat fields, fencing, and I have them showing a variety of seasons. Most of my landscapes are originals by local artists. This particular one is a watercolor. I love the colors depicting Fall and the character in an old barn.

Go over to Barb's at Grits and Glamour for more of what is "on the wall". You may be inspired.

Spode - 2nd Time Around Tuesday

2009-02-24T03:59:00.000-08:00

This summer I found these Spode plates at an estate sale. On the back of the plates it says they're from "The Spode Blue Room Collection 'British Flowers - Rosa' c. 1831. I got them for $3 each which I didn't think was such a bad price. I have Blue Willow pattern dishes and several other blue and white pieces so these pieces went along nicely with that collection.

Join the rest of the bloggers in 2nd Time Around Tuesday hosted by Diane at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words. You'll see lots of 2nd hand treasures over there.

Old Fence Boards - Metamorphosis Monday

2009-02-23T09:47:00.001-08:00

What can a person do with old privacy fence boards when the fence has "had it"? Well, this is one project my DH did with them. This "settle" has been on my porch and then in my herb garden for years and I can still sit on it - so it's sturdy! DH has made several projects from old fencing. I'll share them off and on in my blog.

Be sure and drop by Susan's Between Naps on the Porch to enjoy Metamorphosis Monday and to see what other projects are out there in Blogland.

What's On Your Wall Wednesday

2009-02-17T14:55:00.001-08:00

I've posted before about my love of quilts. It's hard to decide what a favorite pattern would be. In the 80s I was team-teaching second grade. My team mate, Peggy, was diagnosed with cancer. She fought a hard battle but she passed away after several years of battle. She was in and out of the hospital many times during those years. She had substitute after substitute. If you've been a team-teacher before, you know it's hard to team-teach in that situation. While Peggy was receiving chemo one time she made this counted-crosstitch for me while she sat for hours taking her chemo. When she gave it to me all framed she told me how much she appreciated my "hanging in there" with her. Peggy did expert work in every craft she did. She knitted me several things and was constantly making something for someone. This piece of needlework has always been on a wall in my home since then and it will always be there to remind me of my good friend and team-partner, Peggy.

Be sure to check-out the other walls at Grits and Glamour for What's On Your Wall Wednesday!

Kansas City Union Station

2009-02-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

This weekend we took a "family" vacation to Kansas City. Along with shopping we included a trip to Union Station. There are many activities within Union Station to enjoy. Union Station was built in 1914 and due to the loss of railway passenger rail services, the use for a major railway station is not in need. So, this magnificent building has been "recreated". It houses a wonderful science center with many hands-on exhibits for children. The grandkids really enjoyed it. We enjoyed a 3-D movie about dolphins and whales on a big IMAX-type theater.

There was an exhibit of Abraham Lincoln and Russian Tsar Alexander II who have been compared historically. No photos inside so posing as Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln was the best photo op you could have.

The interior of Union Station was beautiful. It has been well preserved.

I could imagine the thousands of passengers emerging through these doors daily.

There are several restaurants inside.

This is a photo of the ceiling complete with the huge chandeliers.

A New Award

2009-02-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

I have been given an award by Eleanor at Thatchwick Cottage (all the way in South Africa). She indicates that inside this avid reader (meaning "me") there lurks a writer. She could be correct but I haven't tried much since college days - maybe writing a blog is that "lurking writer" coming to fruition. Anyway, thanks so much for giving me this award, Eleanor. I really enjoy reading Eleanor's blog because her life is so different from mine and yet we still enjoy some of the same things. Please check out her blog.

The rules for this blog award are the following:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Now I must think about those that are deserving of this award.

Creating a Pond - Metamorphosis Monday

2009-02-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

In 2000 we had a new home and we wanted a pond. In our previous yard my DH had built a couple of ponds. As with all "ponders", you always build BIGGER and he did. This first photo shows the area before the digging began. DH built this pond completely alone - with me helping every once in a while to lift a rock or "consult".

The above picture shows the new pond after it was completed and newly landscaped. The photo below is just a "higher" view of the pond - you can see there are two ponds with streams connecting the upper and lower ponds.

The photo above and below shows a much more mature pond. We enjoy our pond and we're constantly "tweeking" it - adding and removing plants.

Be sure to check over at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for other major changes people have made for Metamorphosis Monday.

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

2009-02-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

Ladies With Books met this week to discuss this month's "read", The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood. As usual, our refreshments were from the book. Sharron, our hostess, made "cosmos" (cosmopolitans) for us to begin with. We also had a delicious lemon double layer cake with an "out of this world" cream layer in-between. Since the "cosmos" gave us a little 'freedom', we had a lively discussion of the book (well, maybe a really lively discussion). I enjoyed the book. It even made me want to pick up knitting again - tried it many years ago - made mittens even! If you enjoy knitting or if you have experienced grief in your life, you too will appreciate this book.

Trash to Treasure Door

2009-02-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Be sure to visit Diane at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words for the treasures that people have built from "trash" others have gotten rid of.

Here is a door that is used now in our family room as a "backdrop". I wanted an old country looking door for the bathroom door off our family room in my old house. We went to the salvage yard and found an old door that we thought would be the right size. When we got it home, it had to be completely rebuilt in order for it to fit the door opening - so my DH did that without much complaining. At first I put a shade and curtains on it but then my daughter started doing stained glass so I had her make a window for that door.I loved that door and couldn't bear to have it stay with our house when we sold it - so we removed the door and put the previous door back before we started showing our house. Now the door has supports on the bottom so it stands alone and I still get to appreciate it.

Super Bowl With Friends

2009-02-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

We went to a Super Bowl party last night and had a great time. We ate really well - chili, potato soup, and snacks galore. Our friends Ruby and Steve hosted. This is a yearly get together and there is always a pot (as in small time "betting"). We all put in a dollar and pick a number for total points at half-time and total points for the game. I won the pot for total points for the game - a whopping $7.50. I get accused of "always winning". I don't, of course - but I have won more than once! I always say it's due to my vast knowledge of football and really analyzing what could happen during the game - NOT! I actually could have cared less who won or by how much. I did watch the game with only minimal talking going on amongst we women (the men there would have some comment on that). Men always watch in a different place!

Ruby made sure we all had the 3-D glasses to watch the commercials. These are pics of us modeling our glasses!

It was an exciting game and it was fun to watch! A really good time was had by all!

What's On Your Wall Wednesday

2009-01-27T13:47:00.001-08:00

A new treat to watch is What's On Your Wall Wednesday being hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour. Go see what things people are placing on their walls.

I am a quilt fan! I've quilted and own several quilts, wallhangings, miniature quilts, and table-runners. Several years ago our church had a drama group that performed the musical "Quilters". The drama group decided to make some added funds by putting together a quilt and then having a silent auction for the quilt. The participants and some of their friends made any quilt blocks they desired. Only requirement was the measurement of each block. We all took turns hand quilting it after it had been put together. It made a quilt sized for a king-size bed. We auctioned the quilt and made $800 for the mission projects. Those of us who helped with the quilt felt like we were losing "our" quilt so before the owner took possession of it, one of the artists in our church sketched the quilt with "pen and ink". Anyone who participated in the making of the quilt was given a print. I had mine matted and framed.

My print hangs in one of my bathrooms which has a "quilt theme". I'd like to think that things I have hanging on my wall have some personal connection with me and not just a random thing to fill a space. This is a treasure to me. It holds so many memories.

Trash to Treasure Church Pew

2009-01-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

Be sure to visit Diane over at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words to see what others do with things that have been thrown away by someone else. My treasure today was pretty close to a "dumpster dive". Actually, a very good friend of mine had an old 8 foot wooden church pew sitting by her dumpster several years ago and I asked her if I could have it. She said I could. I took it home. It needed lots of repair and we didn't need it to be 8 foot long. My husband cut it down to 4 foot which wasn't easy because it was curved and the ends had to be taken off and reattached. He completely reglued it. We decided to paint it after it was repaired. I've had this pew in my home since then. My friend has had some regrets about letting me have it!

The picture above the pew is also a T to T. I asked my brother and sister-in-law in California to get me a grape drying rack and they did find one at a winery. I used a Coors poster and decoupaged it on it. It's also been in my home for a very long time.

Trash to Treasure Birdcage

2009-01-20T05:57:00.001-08:00

I bought this birdcage sans bottom at a garage sale this past summer for $1 only it was a dark green. So, when everything else was getting painted white, I threw it in and painted it as well. It will be fun to put seasonal decor in it. Right now it's out in the new sunroom.

Be sure to check out Diane at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words. There are lots of people transforming others' trash into their very own treasures.

Before and After Wet Bar

2009-01-18T15:31:00.001-08:00

Downstairs we have a really very nice sized family room . We had this corner that just looked like it could be used for a wet bar so nicely. So we put a wet bar in. It has a sink, microwave, and a small refrigerator. I have some nice glass things that I wanted to display so we made some of the cabinets lighted with glass fronts for display. We used granite for the counter top and Saltillo tile for the floor and backsplash which matches the other tile used throughout our home. My husband did the design for the backsplash. The shelf above the microwave I use for display of seasonal things. It's been a handy thing to add to our family room.

Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting Metamorphosis Monday. Hop on over there to see more dramatic changes around blog-land. Thanks for hosting, Susan!

Another Birthday

2009-01-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

My oldest child reached the ripe old age of 37 this week. I barely feel like I've lived on this earth for 37 years - I can't believe she has! We had a family gathering to wish her a "Happy Birthday" and she got to partake of her requested menu. She said that best of all, she didn't have to cook and that was her favorite part.

Heidi is an energetic, busy lady. She's accomplished alot. She has a masters degree in music education. She's been married 15 years. She's a mom to three. She's an elementary music teacher and a Contemporary Praise director at her church. She's just added a third job to her already busy life - she'll be teaching a college class this spring semester for a local university. Now, if she can just keep her life balanced - do you think it's possible? Probably having an understanding and supportive husband would be a major part of all that and she does have that! Happy Birthday to my oldest and deeply loved child!!

The Reader and Book Club

2009-01-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Ladies With Books went to see The Reader for which Kate Winslet won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globe presentation last night. We had read the book quite a while ago but wanted to see how the movie measured-up to the book. We found that they had changed some things about the book (as they always do). However, overall, we felt it was a good movie based upon the book. It was a good movie but certainly not a story from which you leave feeling "good". The movie is rated "R" and there is good reason for it - nudity - so, if you go, be prepared for that. I would strongly recommend the book though - a very good read!

This week we had Ladies With Books and Erlene's choice for our book was An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination which is a memoir by Elizabeth McCracken. I wish I could recommend this book but I can't. Erlene said it was one of her top ten reads but I couldn't make the same statement. We talked at Book Club about what appeals in a book to one person and makes the book "wonderful" is not necessarily the same for another.

Trash to Treasure Bench

2009-01-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

This was originally a maple twin bed that I bought at a garage sale for $15. I had my DH make a bench out of it. He used everything from that bed - rails and all, adding only a few extra pieces of wood to complete it. I got the idea from Margo over at Robojunker. Making "something from nothing" is what she does best. She loves junk.

This is the finished bench which is now sitting in my new sunroom. Phil (that's my DH) is a miracle worker! Check over at Diane's for other Trash to Treasure ideas.

New Sunroom

2009-01-05T08:32:00.001-08:00

A two-month process is basically finished. We wanted to add a sunroom onto the back of our house using the upper deck to make a room that would be useful for most of the year. We also wanted to enclose the lower walkout and use it for more greenhouse space (our little greenhouse that is part of our shed is just crammed with too many plants and I had to let too many die this year for lack of space). We still have some "unfinished business" for the contractors to come back and correct but it is basically finished. The above picture is what it looks like from the back of our house.

This is on the upper level looking out to the backyard - you see the pergola on the left and the shed in the center. I'm lovin' all the glass (I know I won't love the cleanin' of the glass though). It is winter in Kansas so we have no green to look out and see - but, just wait until spring, summer, and fall - there will be a "show".

This is in one corner of the sunroom. I should put this set on "Trash to Treasure". I bought this wicker set for $90 at a garage sale - it was solid and needed painting. All this space needs now is decor and plants. When it turns a little warmer we can move some plants up here to add "green".

This is a close-up of the walk-out part below which I will be using shortly for placing plants and doing some seed-planting for the coming spring. When I get more done inside, I'll show you this workspace - it's large and will be so nice!

One Last Christmas Post

2008-12-27T17:18:00.001-08:00

I have to make one last Christmas post about the decorations in my friend Janice's house. She has an artist's heart and mind. She took an old artificial tree - removed some of the branches - found the white spray paint and sprayed the tree - she then decorated in a grand Victorian style. One year she used all old costume jewelry on it and it was great! Now, it's a combination of beads, gold, white, and pink - flowers and ornaments - all in the Victorian style. Please click to see it larger! This is just one of her trees - all of them equally grand!

Sharron's Christmas Brunch

2008-12-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

I have a very dear friend Sharron who delights her friends yearly with a Christmas Brunch. Sharron has many talents and among those are being a great cook and a very savvy decorator. Her theme this year was "A Candy Cane Christmas" (she has a different theme yearly). So, here are the napkins with candy cane rings.

Here is the serving table all done with candy cane trees.

The mantle close by all done with red and white candies.

Her giant candy cane collection!

Sharron has an eye for 'prims' as well so here is her tree in a prim candy cane decor. Don't you like her Santa? (I'm prejudice - I have one like it, both made by my husband quite a few years ago.)

I liked her little signs on the tree along with her candy canes.

Loved the grubby candy cane candles with her rocking horse and rusted jingle bells.

She had gifts for each of us (she always does)...jars of white chocolate peppermint scone mix all tied-up with a ribbon candy ornament.

This is Sharron lighting her peppermint candles.

Here are some of us partaking of her great brunch. We had lots of fun laughing, telling stories, and catching-up with one another.

This is the group of us .

Thanks, Sharron, for being the terrific person you are and for being one of my dearest friends!

Trash to Treasure Tuesday

2008-12-16T05:23:00.001-08:00

My Christmas present from my DH is finished and in place. This started as an old door from my son's house (see the glass doorknob beside the screen on the left side of the laptop). The main purpose in its creation was to give me a place to have my laptop besides being on the bar area of the counter. DH put a little drawer in it and everything. The idea was taken from Joy at Joys of Home.
Joy has done numerous things with old doors in her home. Below you can see how a chair fits just perfectly with this little "desk-ling". I want to recover the seat of the chair one of these days to coordinate with my new piece of furniture. Thanks, Joy, for the idea. Most of all - "Thanks to my multi-talented husband for making it for me!" Be sure and check out Trash to Treasure Tuesday with others at A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words.

A Paula Deen Christmas

2008-12-15T07:57:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The Christmas Friends group had their 26th annual Christmas Progressive Dinner this weekend. We had "A Paula Deen Christmas" for our theme. All of our food came from Paula Deen recipes. The slide show will show you clips of our time together. We had great food; wonderful fellowship; beautiful decor full of Christmas cheer. Hope you enjoy it - we sure did!

Children and Music

2008-12-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

My grandaughter Kaitlin had her first orchestra concert last night. She began violin in September. It's amazing to see how much children learn in a relatively short period of time. The fifth grade orchestra of the district did a great job last night. Kaitlin's mom is a music educator and started in music when she was a kindergartener with piano lessons. She started in band when she was in fifth grade too. She's learned to play numerous instruments. Music is a huge part of her life and always has been. I feel like music is a good discipline for kids. I believe statistics show that children involved in music are less likely to be involved in disciplinary procedures, and drugs; and are higher achievers academically due to their involvement in music. My involvement in music starting in elementary school did provide a life-long hobby and enjoyment throughout my life. So, I say "Yea for music in schools!"

Patriotic Trash to Treasure Christmas

2008-12-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

I've shown my patriotic Christmas tree before. It is in my family room and I've had it for many years so I'm always picking up ornaments and other things for it during the year. My SIL was here for an early Christmas several years ago and when she went back home to Stockton, CA; she was telling a friend about my patriotic theme. Her friend had a patriotic Mr. and Mrs. Santa that she was going to get rid of at a garage sale and she gave them to my SIL for me. That's what I found among the Christmas packages from California. They sit on my mantle every year among the garland and flags. Be sure to stop by Diane's at A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words to see the other Trash to Treasure things people have to show you.

Christmas Decorating

2008-12-05T06:12:00.001-08:00

I have two old eggnog sets (does that make a collection?). I love the red and green and the silhouettes on them. I find though that most people do not opt for eggnog when other choices are there - so I rarely use them for eggnog. I LOVE eggnog!

I changed garland this year on my living room fireplace. I read on someone's blog to make a garland thicker by twisting them in with an old garland (duh - what's so hard to think about that??) so I did that and I'm really happy with it. I went with gold anhd white on the mantle.

My Hoosier filled to the brim with Santas - if you look really close you'll see the sign on the left-hand side which says "simplify" (not so much!). I pick-up those little Santa mugs at garage sales all the time for a dime or quarter (not like I need anymore).

My hearth room mantle - I cross-stitched the red and red/green stockings before I had grandkids so they're all similar. Grandkids came along and I made them out of burlap - so that if there are more grandkids someday, I can always find burlap

Books

2008-12-03T06:09:00.001-08:00

Last night we had Ladies With Books book club here at my house. My choice was My Antonia by Willa Cather. I think the majority of us liked the book. Cather is great with descriptions and character development. The one objection I did hear was that plot was somewhat lacking. It wasn't an exciting book but it was a book demonstrating the ability of one who knows how to how to use the English language. I liked the book. So, if you're one who enjoys history and the learning about the lives of those who settled these prairie states, choose this one to read. We always try to serve a refreshment that reflects our chosen book. The one desert mentioned in the book was chocolate cake so we had the chocolate sheet cake that's made with buttermilk and cinnamon with a great frosting! However, my favorite refreshment I served was "Czechs' (Chex) mix". The character of Antonia was Bohemian (possibly from Czechoslovakia). I did have to mention it before anyone "caught on". I thought it was rather clever myself!

Family Time

2008-11-29T17:47:00.001-08:00

The family is home for the holiday. I decided we needed to do a picture for a Christmas card. We thought the woods out back of our house would make a good background. So, chilly though it was we headed for the woods to find the perfect picture spot. Above are my two kids.

This is one of the pictures I decided was good. We took our own pics using a tripod with our camera - so, getting kids to "smile" in a decent manner and everybody get their body in the right place - it took lots of shots! We faded the edges which I think looks different.

We took several shots this far away until Heidi figured out we needed more of the faces and less of the woods! Isn't that a neat log to sit on though?

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

2008-11-26T05:00:00.001-08:00

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