Odds and Ends

Look at the pretty butterfly. He's having a little lunch on the delphinium.

 He just flitted around so I could take pictures of him. Isn't that flower a spectacular color?

 Hubby cut out the hole in the seat of the ice cream parlor chair, so the purslane sits in the chair.

 Another delphinium. I absolutely love that shade of purple.

 Little shasta dasies came back this year.

 Finally added a pot of petunias on the old milk can.

 I made an umbrella cover. I was so sick of having to buy new umbrellas every few years. In the hot Texas sun my red umbrella faded to pink pretty quickly. Hopefully this gives it a little protection. I just added little velcro dots, so it is easy to take off when I want to open the umbrella. I used my coupon at Joanns to by outdoor fabric. Kinda looks like Dr. Suess's  Cat in the Hat.

 Another little project. The wires under the desk. I have lived with them for 5 years.

 I bought a few of these and I'm in love with how they work. I used them to secure the surge protector to the underside of the desk.

 Corraled all the loose wires. Too bad I can't make the modem disappear!

 One more look.

Alot of randomness going on this week. Hope yours is a good one!
Leslie

Laundry Room Today

Some of you will remember my laundry room mini re-do from a few years back. I thought I'd show it again. It hasn't changed much.

 The sampler was made by me when I was about 9 years old- my first one.

 Little red shelf made for me by Hubby. My little apron collection is hanging on the heart shaped hooks. The second hook from the left has an embroidered apron that was worn by my Grandma. The rest were found at thrift stores. I love the colors!

 I added the red and white curtain to hide the ugly plugs and water hoses. Still easy access. The little sprinkle thing for ironing was my Mom's. I remember her using it when she ironed.

 I have been making my own laundry soap. I absolutely love it and the smell is wonderful. I followed this recipe from Stone Gable. I even found a vintage spoon to scoop it out with.

 Here is a view of the whole wall. Very hard to photograph, because it is just a tiny walk through space.The vintage picnic basket was found at a thrift store. I keep all my cleaning supplies in the metal pie safes up above.

 The sign was made by me from an old cabinet insert.

Here's the original post.I won't show the opposite side-it has changed from my cute little storage cupboard to Hubby's brewing area. He stores all his home brew supplies there. It's got to go someplace.

More to share in the garden next week. Hope you are getting some wonderful weather. We made it through the Texas storms, just fine, but there were alot of bad storms around Dallas.The sun is shining today! Have a happy Mother's Day!
Leslie

Odds and Ends

I have been busy in the craftroom. This banner is made from a vintage linen. Aren't the colors pretty?

 This is from a cutter scrap quilt that I got at First Monday Trade Days.

 Some vintage looking embroideries that I stitched and framed in hoops.

 Wouldn't they be cute in a nursery? Just listed all these in my Etsy shop. I hope you'll go on over and check it out.

 Some garden photos. This is the first time I've tried growing anything from seeds. It is morning glory and will twine up the metal trellis.

 This is the jasmine right now and it smells delicious!

 Mt first clematis bloom. So excited. I am really loving gardening this year. I still don't know what I'm doing, and I've made lots of mistakes. The bunnies ate all my annuals in the front yard. Darn. Any suggestions for bunny problems? But I'm having so much fun. What's happening in your garden?

 Getting ready for son's college graduation. Concerts and trips. Exciting and busy times. Hope you all are having  good week!
Leslie

Bluebonnet Trail

We took a drive and went on the Bluebonnet Trail last weekend. There's something about seeing a sea of blue wildflowers that makes me so happy.

They are so pretty close-up

and along the edges of fences.

Indian paintbrush also gets in on the action. What a pretty color combination.

Got to see lots of these-

and these cute little babies.

Went for lunch and antiquing in the town of Waxahachie. It has a beautiful historic courthouse on the square, surrounded by antique stores, shops and restaurants.

On our drive in the country I saw this old fixer that needs alot of love. Look at that beautiful brick work and stained glass windows. I'm a sucker for an arched front door. Swoon!

Also saw this house on Main Street in Waxahachie for sale. It's on an acre plus of land. Farmhouse style-right down the street from the historic library and square. I could see myself in this wonderful house. What about you?

 Here's the listing if anyone is interested-Listing on Realtor.com  What fun fixer upper project this would be!

We had a fun day and it was nice to get out there in the wonderful weather. We are kind of rained in this week. Hope your week is going great!
Leslie

More Backyard Progress

This is where we started. Hubby dug out the grass and it sat all through the summer and fall and winter. 

We finally got to finishing the flagstone patio and walkway.

 Here is the view from the old patio. Our yard is super small. We had to find some way to add some interest where there was nothing before. We added the arched trellis and pathway along the back of the house.

 We did this a year ago. It was just a slab to begin with.This is in progress, not quite finished yet.

 Added the curtain panels made from drop cloth to block out the late afternoon sun.

 We made a little water feature out of my old red pump that I've been saving for about 25 years. The water trickles into a galvanized bucket. Love the sound.

 The pergola makes the old plain slab feel more like an outdoor room. It was a very fun project. I'm really lucky-I do the design and make all the lists and Hubby and I do the construction. Well-he does most of it with my assistance.

 We bought this little trellis kit off of Craigs list last year and it sat unbuilt in the garage for a year, Finally put it together this spring and stained it.

 View of the pergola top.

 This is what I was spry painting last week. A thrift store find. Comfy chairs.

 A little seating area-remember the patio is pretty small.

 Here's looking towards the trellis.

 I planted a clematis at the base and I hope it climbs up and around.

 Here's looking back.

 We did this project in 2 phases-pergola last spring, flagstone this spring.

I'm so happy it's mostly finished. I need to plant a few pots of flowers, but we have been eating outside and enjoying our new space. It's really pretty at night with the little bulbs all lit up and hanging. What have you been up to in your garden? Or are you still having cold weather? I hope you can get out there and enjoy some spring weather.
Leslie

I'm In the Garden

Here's some progress in the back yard. We've been adding to the garden every year since we moved in. Here's a before of one corner as we were digging out the grass.

 This was after I planted 2 little rose bushes.

 We replaced the fence, so the vine was cut way back (I'm hoping it will come back). We added 2 crepe myrtles and lambs ears. The shasta daisies are getting ready to bloom soon. Wow, I almost sound like a gardener! I'm going to have Hubby cut a hole in the ice cream chair seat to hold the pot of purslane.

 Here's the opposite corner. 2 more rose bushes.

 This was this morning. The jasmine has really filled in. The rose bushes are getting huge. More lambs ears-I had to rip some out as it was starting to grow over onto the lawn.

 We have bordered in all of the beds with a brick border. I  am spray painting patio furniture this week.

 Here's a close up of the red tip photinias right now.

 This is so pretty, because the stem of the shoot is bright purple.

 I'll share the patio next week, if I get the furniture finished. I've also made some banners that will be listed in my Etsy shop soon. Love the vintage prints.

We're getting ready to go see the bluebonnets next week. I can't wait. Spring is going fast, and it's warming up more here. Soon we'll be talking about summer.
Hope you are enjoying your spring!
Leslie