Hillside Garden

We went ahead and finished the hillside garden today.  Abbie didn't think we'd finish it by sundown, but somehow, we did.  He has worked so hard and shoveled so much.  Today, I got a taste of shoveling and it is back-breaking work.  I'd forgotten how hard it is.  We started this project two weeks ago.  We laid the rocks for the lower section and moved dirt in.  Yesterday, we finished adding dirt (lots and lots and lots of dirt) and plugged in several bulbs and some flowers.  Today, we dug out, laid rocks and did the dirt for the upper section.  And, I went ahead and got flowers from here and there to stick in.  We ended up using half the day lilies that grow at the end of our pool.  There were some tiger lilies in there as well.  And I went ahead and threw in some of the tulip bulbs I had left over.  All we need to do now is add a little mulch and keep it watered and happy.  I hope all the babies aren't too shocked from being moved around, and that they will perk up in a day or two.  The forecast calls for rain tomorrow and the next day, so that will help.  Speaking of help, John Campbell was super helpful today - he helped me replace dirt and grass in the area where we removed all those rocks two weeks ago.  I couldn't have done it without him. 

The whole reason for putting this flower bed in is to keep from having to mow this hill.  It is a real pain to mow.  Hopefully, we've curved the bed so that the mower can get really close without having to go too steeply up the hill.

 In front of the waterfall and flower beds, we have lots of work to do.  There is a ton of gravel and small rocks surrounding the entire pool.  We've removed one side, now we need to do this end, the other end and the side against the house.  We hope to put down some kind of pavers instead.  Right now, I'd be happy with just plain old dirt.  Anything but all those little rocks.  Moss would be nice on this end too, to soften up all the rocks.

Side view - there will be a smaller hillside flower bed on the far side of the waterfall.  That will have to wait until the fall, or even next year.

Silhouette Love!!!

Remodelaholic is doing another fabulous giveaway!  This time it is a Silhouette cutting machine - very desirable!!!

Check it out HERE!!!

Switchflops and Sewing and Backyarding

Last spring I bought a pair of Switchflops at the pool/spa store.  My husband didn't want me going with him to get the water tested after that.  But, I got a pair and some straps.  Then, I found them even cheaper at a drug store here in town - they were called Sierras flops and the straps fit between both kinds of shoes.  So, I have a dressy pair and a casual pair, and straps.  I want to try making my own straps, using instructions found here. 

How To Save With SwitchFlops By Making Your Own Straps

SwitchFlops have several different bases. The real savings come with being able to change out the velcro straps. As a matter, of fact if you are crafty you could probably do the same thing with a regular pair of sandals. I will show you how to make your own SwitchStraps or alter sandals that you own right now.
The straps for these sandals are probably a little bit pricey for me cause I have 5 kids but the idea is really cute. However, if you want to make your own here's how:
Materials:

• Measuring Tape
• Velcro
• Ribbon, Buttons (whatever creative items you can find to use)
• fabric glue or glue gun

1. Measure the sandal strap.
2. Cut two pieces of velcro using the measurement you did above.
3. Glue the ribbon, buttons or whatever other decorative items you use to the velcro in a "v" shape.
4. There you go, velcro it on to your sandals.

By the way, you can put velcro on existing sandals too if you like and follow the instructions above to make straps for it.
I will be listing a video for it on YouTube shortly.

Okay, also on my "to do" list for this spring/summer is to learn to make drapery panels for my huge windows.  I can't find curtains that I like and they are very expensive.  The windows in the living room and kitchen are rarely covered, so I would really need only dummy panels.  I also have some Pottery Barn fabric that matches my duvet in our master bedroom, and would like to make drapes for that room, but can't afford to screw up the fabric.  So, I want to buy an inexpensive sewing machine and try to make drapes.  And if I can pull that off, I might even try some simple roman shades for the smaller windows in the bathroom, kitchen and play room.  Think of the money saved if I can learn how to sew a huge square of fabric with a liner.  And it will be exactly the fabric I want, not some pre-measured, overpriced thing from the internet or a store.

I've already been stalking fabric online and have found some nice things.  Now to get busy and get to work!  Not to mention the work I want to do in the back yard.  I just need some pavers and a lot of dirt.  Then, get some things moved around and get the hidden bulbs out of the garage to drop in.  Of course, Abbie has no idea I'm planning this, but like the rest of my outdoor endeavors, once I spring it on him, he will get into the spirit of the thing after seeing the possibility of how it will turn out.

Bulbs

It got to 70 degrees today and my porch was looking a little winterized.  I needed some green out there!  So, I went out to get some daffodil bulbs.  I ended up getting those and also getting some other bulbs and some pansies to fill in where the snow has gotten some of them.  They were ultra cheap and will perk things up until the spring bulbs come up.

I already have bulbs around my crepe myrtle and they are poking up.  My bed in the front of the house is looking a little beaten down.  I hope my Lenten roses come back. I haven't even looked around out back, but some of the bulbs I got today are for an area back there.

I also saw this post and was instantly drawn to the chicken feeder planted with bulbs.  All afternoon long, my mind kept going back to that image.  Lissa's home is so beautiful and I give Humble Pie a peek daily.

So, I went on with my day and was finishing up my potting this afternoon as the boys played outside.  I looked in the garage for something that was rectangular.  No such luck.  I had a quick inspiration - I would go to the local thrift store and give myself five minutes to streak through and see if I could find something that would work.

While inside, I found some fake terra cotta planters that were made of stiff foam.  Not quite it.  I was praying for God to guide me where I needed to go in the maze of booths.   That is when I found this.

About 16 inches long and 4 inches wide.  Some kind of brass finish, though it wasn't solid brass.  The finish was in good shape, but there were spots that wouldn't buff out, so I decided to paint.  I thought white with some glaze would bring out the details.  Since the boys were playing well together, I decided to give it a go.

Here it is primed.  I liked it so much, I thought about leaving it that way.

Then I decided to have a look at the bottom and maybe give it a few squirts of paint. Glad I did...



Since I had some cream colored spray paint from my music chair project, I used that and immediately liked the warmer tone.  Balancing the planter on another spray paint can was really helpful.

Now to decide what kind of glaze to add.  I want to give it about 24 hours before glazing.  The painting steps are quick and simple.  It is the waiting between steps that takes patience.  I'm thinking a blue/grey tone for the glaze.  It won't take much - just to make the corners and details around the rim pop.

And, after all that playing, Jackson Wynn came in and made a nest.  He was asleep within minutes.  John Campbell snacked around some and then headed into the bedroom.  He's eating a lot lately - definitely going through a growing spurt.

 My sweetie pie!!!

Music Chair

We've almost finished the little music chair I got at the Salvation Army.  All that's left is permanently attaching the seat.  Abbie replaced the seat bottom by tracing a pattern with the old wood.  We sanded and filled in a few spots.  Then, primed and sanded and did about three coats of cream paint, sanding lightly between each coat.  I'm doing pretty good at sanding and Abbie has the wood filler and gluing down.  We need to work on our spray painting.  We had a few drips on each coat, but sandpaper takes it right off.  I thought about glazing it but wanted to keep it simple.  The chairs in the background are next on my list.

My husband likes natural wood - he wants to see the grain.  We have a ton of oak in our house - all the floors and cabinets.  It is just too dark for me.  I enjoy the floors, but would like to paint or at least re-stain my cabinets.  This chair was a pretty shade, and I would have kept it natural if it weren't for the damaged veneer on the lyre.  I've never been much on white painted furniture, but I like how the cream color turned out.  It is cloudy today and the absence of sun isn't helping my photos.  I love the pretty, happy shade of blue.

So this is my official music chair.  I'll give lessons in this chair and practice in it.  To see some really good makeovers, click on the buttons below.  It's a party!

Fabric for Chairs

I'm loving this Robert Allen Kiki Pinata.  I think it would do nicely in the kitchen chairs.  I need to find something coordinating for the windows.  We have a ton of windows in our kitchen, so I need to find something I'd love to keep for a long time.

Still looking...