Centerpiece...

This is just another way I like to dress up my table with things that I have.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A project continues...

I bought this island back in July and I'm finally getting around to doing something with it.  It really gives me a lot of extra storage and a nice work area.

I had a hard time deciding how to paint it or stain it.  I'm not sure you'll be able to tell what I decided with the progress I've made.

I've stained the top and I'll put polyurethane on it  The bottom is going to be black.  I first had to sand it, prime it with Kilz and now I'm adding the black satin paint.  I know it looks disgusting now but I'll pretty it up, don't worry. 

Hopefully, I'll be able to show you the finished product by the weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A good smelling addition to the kitchen...

I've had this hurricane globe on the screened porch all summer and I finally decided to bring it inside.  All I did was wash and dry it very carefully.  Then I put a vanilla candle inside (my favorite) and added a bag of coffee beans.

I'm a tea drinker and don't even like coffee, but I do love the smell of it. 

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Before and after...

I've been looking at this at Hobby Lobby for a month or so and just couldn't decide if I wanted it or not.  The paint color was kind of strange but I finally made up my mind.  It has a bird on it and I had to have it.

The pink and black were kind of strange colors to me.

A little bit of shiny black paint and it's a treasure to behold.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Front porch almost ready for fall...

 

I've gone ahead and put a few things on my front porch for fall.  My little pumpkins I've had for about 15 years.  After Halloween, I just turn their faces around until Thanksgiving.

Soon too it will be time to plant pansies in these pots and with just a little care and feeding they should last all winter.

This door hanger and tin I bought last year at a Southern Living Home Party.  I added Eucalyptus, ivy, some parts of my $.99 cent wreath, a bird and some twigs.   

Apparently some people have trouble with silk flowers, ivy and fake plants.  I live within a budget and in order to do that, I have to reuse arrangements.

When the fall season is over and I begin to look for what I can arrange for Christmas, I pull everything out of this holder.  The trick to keeping all these pieces clean and looking fresh is to wash them in the dishwasher.  Some silk flowers you can't do that with and those I swish around in warm soapy water, spray with water to rinse and lay on dish towels to dry.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A quiet Sunday in the garden...

 

These are some herbs that look a little worse for the wear because of the low rainfall this summer.

 

I got this little bird feeder somewhere in NC.  My grandchildren love to help fill the feeders in the fall, winter and spring and this is one they can easily reach.

This plant flowers almost all summer long with these beautiful lavender blossoms.

You can see how big my butterfly bush on the left has gotten to be.  For anyone looking for a gazing ball, I recommend stainless steel.  We get a lot of wind on our hill and I never need to worry about it breaking.

This is the same plant as the lavendar one but in white.

This is a favorite plant that doesn't even need water and it has a pretty butterfly attached.

Last year we cut all the Confederate Jasmine off the arbor just to clean it up.  As you can see, it's almost covered the entire arbor in one year.

This is a little Gardenia I've been trying to grow from a cutting.  Nicholas made me this stone on Mother's Day when he was 2 years old.

I've had this stone about 10 years.  Since my sons call me Mom I had to have it.

I just love ajuga.  It has the most beautiful colors, takes very little care and can be transplanted almost anywhere.  I need to pull all those leaves out of it that I see.

My back problems this Spring and Summer have really limited my ability to work in the yard but I'm going to try doing more exercises and getting into better shape to do it.

We have two big yard projects for fall.  First, we are having one more River Birch tree taken out, then we are having our Leland Cypress topped off just a bit and finally having our maple trees all trimmed. We are having a tree trimmer come to do those projects.  Our last big project will be to pull out all our privets along the driveway.  They look beautiful but require more trimming than I am going to be able to do at some point.  I can still work and control all the beds around the front of the house and the back yard but some of it just has to be cut back. 

I envy those of you with patio homes (Brenda - http://feeds.feedburner.com/typepad/thebrendablog.  Our lot is about an acre and it's a struggle to keep up with.  One of the tips I have learned over the years is to plant my beds full.  You have less problems with weeds and you can really get some great color.

Yesterday I filled up the hummingbird feeders one more time.  We love watching them and as long as they are here we will feed them.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen