Projects for 2 houses

Because both me and my older son

are moving in the next month

there are a lot of projects going on

in my garage!

 This is actually a golf bag stand

which I painted and made into a 

project/garage organizer. I had been

looking for some idea to keep my 

silk flowers out of the way until I use 

them at different times of year

and this works great!

 Below is a bulletin board that I made into 

a portable place for the grands to play cars

and trains, it can be tucked into the side of

the play area and not take up too much room.

 The stools below are for my sons house,

the ones I painted had white legs...

 This is what they look like now!

He is going for a rustic modern feel

and I get to do the decor:) so fun~~

Redone Chair

There were 2 of these chairs

which sat in upstairs rooms at

my folks home. 

When we emptied their house they came to me.

 Below is the new look.

 For some reason I had the stain bleed

through the chalk paint which

has never happened before...strange!

So some of the areas had a faint pink tinge:)

Also finally got the last cart from my garage

lined and into

the shop where it sold promptly.

Doll House Upcycle

This Fisher Price doll house was the best

garage sale purchase I have made

 for my grand kids. 

They play with it every time

they come over.

It is a typical hard plastic.

Because I am a person who likes things to

"go together" I decided to give it a little make over

so it will match the kids play nook I am

going to have in my new place.

I wonder what my grand daughter will have to say

about it however? 

She may not be very happy that I got rid of the pink!

Memorabilia in Use

I've been focused on thinking of ways to keep

my new little house more organized.

(I will be moving in a month)

It is exactly the same floor plan 

as the house I've been renting for 1 1/2 years

 so I should know what works and

what doesn't!

So for my stamps, bills, pens etc I used a 

wooden box with a handle I had in my garage.

The inside has all kinds of sizes of compartments too.

On top with Mod Podge, I used a water color

I did a few years back, vintage pattern figures

from my moms stash, a postcard written by

my mom to me and some fun papers etc.

 The file box below will store all my files

so I can eliminate a desk and save space.

This also has vintage pattern figures as embellishment.

I may add some type of lettering later.

I

February

"February is the uncertain month,

 neither black or white 

but all shades between by turns.

 Nothing is sure...

Each year is new and strange in February.

 It's promises, if any, are like

 shadow pictures on the wall;

one cannot grasp and hold to them;

 blow out the light and 

they are no longer there."

Gladys Hasty Carroll

A Literary Walk #15

 I had to retrace my steps a bit on this one,

as I mistakenly thought this area was 

further north, so back to south England

I went!

                                     

18 miles

 A walk around Kent 

 with Frances Hodgsen Burnett

 The picture above is of Great Maythem Hall,

the "real" Misselthwaite Manor of

the Secret Garden, where Frances H B

lived while she wrote the book.

These are pictures of the gardens there...

 Kent

Favorite Book

I don't remember how young I was when I first

encountered the cross little Mary of this book.

I believe my Mom read it aloud the first time,

so I must've been quite young as I began reading

for myself at 5.

No matter, it had a profound impact on my life

and reading it again was just as wonderful

now that I am older. I have probably read it

at least 20 times and it's magic

never gets stale.

Favorite Quote

"The seeds Dickon and Mary had planted 

grew as if fairies had tended them.

Satiny poppies of all tints danced in the breeze by the score,

gaily defying flowers who had lived in the garden for years

and which it might be confessed seemed rather to wonder how

such new people had got there.

And the roses--- the roses! Rising out of the grass,

tangled around the sundial

wreathing the tree trunks and hanging from their branches,

climbing up the walls and spreading over them

with long garlands falling in cascades---

they came alive day by day, hour by hour

fair fresh leaves and buds--- and buds---

tiny at first but swelling and working Magic

until they burst and uncurled in cups of scent

delicately spilling themselves over their brims

and filling the garden air."

Also on a serendipitous note, a dear old

lady passed away this past week who once

told us that her most favorite book

was this one...that was my first thought

when I remembered her life.

Winter Wonderland Party

This was the 2nd party I did the decor for.

It was for a non-profit Avonlea Acres 

 winter wonderland theme

                                       

The curly willow was cut from my good friend Renee's

back yard and then painted white and teal.

I attached small photos on the branches of

all the former and current residents.