Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sunday Photo Feature

Our backyard wildflower meadow.
Photo1
We threw some wildflower mix seeds in a bare spot last year and this year we’ve got ourselves a little meadow!
photo2
It’s not very big but it seems to attract a lot of butterflies and bees!
blueflower
Every week there seems to be a new little flower popping up!
whiteflower
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Thanks for stopping by.

wildflowers
Hope you’re having a great weekend and don’t forget to enter the book giveaway in the post below if you haven’t already!

Comments are off - see you Tuesday.

Friday, May 28, 2010

June Book Giveaway

Cover
XXX  This Giveaway is Now Closed. Thanks Everyone! XXXXX
Hi everyone! I’m doing the June Book Giveaway a few days early as my husband is actually off the next four days and we have some family fun planned. So no computer for me for the next few days!
Page1
I thought Paula Deen’s book Savannah Style would be a fun read for someone for the summer. I think it’s written exactly the same way she talks – down home and friendly.
Page2
There are lots of gorgeous photos to illustrate the different chapters. Photos by Debra Whitlaw Llewelyn
page4
This is a collaboration between Paula Deen and her assistant/designer Brandon Branch. Each chapter has Brandon’s Style secrets.
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As always, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You don’t have to have a blog or live in the U.S. This is a great time for all of you who have never commented to come out and say “hi”.

I’ll post the winner Wednesday, June 2. So you have until Tuesday night to leave a comment.

flowers
I do have a photo post scheduled for Sunday as usual, otherwise I’ll be back Tuesday with my little kitchen project.

I hope you all do something fun this holiday weekend!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Hydrangeas Are Pretty!


Is there anyone that doesn’t like Hydrangeas? Don’t tell me if you don’t! They’re my very FAVORITE flowering shrub in the whole world!
Angel
I thought I’d share a few of my bushes that are in bloom. Some varieties aren’t in bloom yet.
Oakleaf
Mostly the Oakleaf  above and

sideview
Nikko Blue and Endless Summer Hydrangeas are in full bloom.

border
The neat thing about this border is that I propagated almost all of those Hydrangeas! I think it’s really easy to make more of these and it’s a great way to stretch your landscaping dollar as long as you have patience and don’t need/want an instant garden.
blooms
I’ve been working on this border for about  4 years and I have another little bush that I propagated that I’m going to move over here as soon as the blackberries that have creeped to the outside of the fence are finished!
Notquitethereyet
Here’s I post I wrote last year - Blooms On A Budget that describes how to propagate them. You’ll see some of the same Hydrangeas in this post and see what a difference a year makes!
DogwoodTree
Picketfence
Then there are the Gardenias…!
Gardenia
I wish there was smell-a-vision for blogs! The scent in the backyard is just amazing because the Jasmine and the Gardenias are in bloom at the same time! Really just heavenly! 

As always, thanks for spending some time here today!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Painted Halltree



Come on in! “They” say that a foyer should set the tone for what people will find in the rest of your home.
photo1
I guess people will know I like red…and dogs!

goodwill
I finished painting my Goodwill halltree. Here it is waiting for me at Goodwill.
after
Here it is all painted.  I first primed it with Kilz spray primer and then used  3 coats of Behr California Poppy in satin (it probably could use another)!

BASKET

I didn’t get around to distressing it and glazing it. I think I’m going to live with it like this for a while and see if I even want to do that still. The basket the flowers are in is also from Goodwill.

mirrors 
As are these little mirrors that I painted the same color as the halltree.

flowers

I’m not going to show you the entire foyer just yet as I have a few more things that I’m changing.

redmirror
This is the first house I’ve ever had that even had a foyer and this one is teeny tiny but I cram a lot of fun into it!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh, I few people asked what color I used for the mirror in the post below - Periwinkle in Satin by Krylon (spray paint from Home Depot).

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sunday Photo Feature

Walkingmaxie
Walking around the town pond with Maxie.

Redbud
I think I took these photos in March/April.


pond
Swing
That white structure in the back is a porch swing.

fountain
pollen
Pollen and tree blossoms!

Turtles
Turtles – sometimes they venture out and cross the road.
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duck
Comments are off. Have a great Sunday!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Feeling Blue


Hello! Thanks for stopping by today! I realized that June is just a week away and that means it’s time to start thinking about my screened porch.
Mirror
This year I’m feeling kind of blue and white. Maybe because it’s already so stinkin hot!
hydrangeas

Thinking about blue and white makes me feel cool. I picked some hydrangeas and put them in a milkglass vase from Goodwill. A little bit of the garden on the porch for us to enjoy!
buffet

Blue, white and yellow? Cause I don’t know if I’m up for repainting that buffet.

picture
The last couple of years I’ve used a lot of apple green and yellow on the porch.

fairy
But I’m ready for a change!

Bunny
I don't have the money to change everything but I think I can make a slight color change without doing so! I think that will be enough to give me the feel I want - sort of beachy, coastal. 

I know you all want to know how I’m doing with my to do list? Well….
redprimer

making progress... but still painting! It needs another coat and then I want to distress and glaze it. I don’t know how people manage to paint a big piece of furniture in one day! I’ve never been able to do it.  I did plant my herbs as you can see in the post below. I did not even get started on my kitchen project so that’s moved to next week. Hopefully, I’ll be able to post the completed halltree on Monday! I’m lovin it red!
closeup
Wishing you all absolutely wonderful weekends!