Bargain trays and more...

 

These are the trays I got at Hobby Lobby for $2 or $3.  I used your suggestions and painted one white and one red.  Ok, actually I ran out of red paint and I think the white looks good.

  

I sanded the edges a little just because I like them looking a little used.

 

This little bird came from Kathy at http://kathyscottage.blogspot.com/ I love how it looks on the reindeer moss in my big apothocary jar.

 

 

These are the little snacks and flowers I put in the guest room.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

The guestroom is ready for company...

  

I like having twin beds for guests and they really are comfortable.

 

The TV is more for the grandchildren than other guests.

 

Our guests will have to make do with my sewing area in the room.

 

They even have a luggage rack.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Preparing for overnight guests...

I'll add snacks after a quick trip to the grocery store tomorrow.

 

The extra touches that count:

    A bed light for reading

    Current magazines, a new mystery

    Facial tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste

    Enough pillows to permit reading in bed

    Wooden hangers for clothes

    Snack Tray - Bottled water, salted peanuts, chocolates, snacks

 

 

Since my cousin Betsy and her husband are coming to visit from Florida, I wanted to have a little package for Betsy.  I thought one of the little trunks they have at Hobby Lobby would make a great gift and gift basket.   

The extras that I like to do:

    Put fresh flowers in the room (Just a small vase, not enough
    to overpower your guests)

    Put a candle in the room, along with matches for lighting it

    Put a small vase of flowers in the guest bathroom too

 

Can you tell me anything special you do when you are having guests?

I haven't seen Betsy in about 9 years and they've never been to our home, so I want their visit to be extra special.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

A great new book and a bargain at the Dollar Tree...

 

If you haven't ever read any of Mary Kay Andrews books you need to start with this one.  Her books have a little of everything.  Best of all, she writes about the South and most of the characters end up fixing up a house, buying antiques and doing what we all love.....collecting.

Her other books are Deep Dish, Blue Christmas, Savannah Breeze, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues.

She has a really cute website:  www.marykayandrews.com

Mary Kay lives in Atlanta, GA and is a "big time "estate sale buyer and garage sale buyer.  She's just like us.  I want to be her best friend!

 

I found these little birds at the Dollar Tree today.  What a bargain!

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Organizing my pantry...

 

Since Nicholas was visiting, I put him to work assembling these shelves  for my pantry.  Thanks to his Dad's carpentry skills and working with his Papa on projects, he knew exactly how to do it.

 

His sister Chloe was his assistant.

 

She did a good job too.

 

These shelves are going to help me get organized.  (I hope.)  As you can see, it's quite a mess right now.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

The bench is in place...

 

Mr. Bird Nest and son Chris moved the bench into the house yesterday afternoon.

 

It fits perfectly in the space I had measured.

 

The bench looks better with the rug and table in place.

 

A quick shot of the bench and my new hen.

 

It looks kind of bare back there.  Mr. Bird Nest cut the foam to size for the top of the bench.  I'm just not sure I'll get it done by the time my company arrives.  I've got Nicholas and Chloe visiting today and tomorrow. 

I had my sampler that our good friends Lindsay and Doug gave us for a wedding gift, rematted in red from its original blue.  I think it will pick up more of the red I now have in the kitchen.

 

I had a brainstorm in the middle of the night that the three Europeon pillows that I made recently would fit the bench temporarily.

 

I also put the pillows I made out of some Waverly fabric across the back.  Cute huh?

 

Now I have a question for all of you.  I got two shelves like this and painted them black for above the bench but they just are too dark.  I thought if I painted these shelves white that would look better.  You know I trust your opinions.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Almost ready for the hinges and the move in to the house...

 

Mr. Bird Nest got up early this morning and put the final coat of paint on the bench.

 

I just need to flip over the top and put one more coat of paint on it.

 

This will all be too heavy for me to carry into the house so we may have to call our son Chris to help with that.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen