Summer Yard

Planting and digging in the yard has been a daily joy. When we moved in our house 5 years ago, the yard had no charm. The property had been where the barn was for the farmhouse below. I needed some landscape help and had some professional help in planning and planting.  So glad we did that.

I wanted the privacy with trees but the charm of a cutting garden. We picked our favorites and went from there. With the plantings in place it was up to us to keep it going.  

 

Our weeping plum tree starts out sparse and by summer turns out full. 

 

This vintage cage is perfection as a stand alone our full with cucumbers 

I love working under the trees. It is my patch of a secret garden. I can escape the worries of the unrest or pray regarding the events around us. 

My favorite time is the foggy, hazy start of the day. I love the promise of a new day. 

The plants do require me to come out and ground myself

This is an area I am developing this season. I moved some of the metal I found at a garage sale. The chair was $5 and the metal art was $12. I was thrilled to find those at an artist house that was moving. No one had looked outside!!

I am joining Debra @ Common Ground for All About Home

https://www.commonground-do.com/2020/08/welcome-august-at-all-about-home-51.html#more

How are you keeping sane during theses times?  

Di

 

Walk About

We have a weekly date to get out of the house. We pick a remote place and take the grands to see nature. This week we were able to walk around the grounds of a place my daughter works. 

I hope you can find some beauty outside

Feed and Grain Sack Glory

I love to shop and use feed and grain sacks in my house. It brings a bit of charm and texture in the room.   I have several quilts that feed sacks were used as the backing from my great grandmothers family.  I have several chairs reuphostered by 2 artists that I adore.  I also use scraps to creat fabric rolls, ribbons and embelish clothes.

 

Ann, from On Sutton Place, has a great post on grain sacks https://www.onsuttonplace.com/antique-grain-sacks/.  Feed sacks and grain sacks were used by manufactures for dry goods and animal feed.  Grain sacks usually are hemp.  I love both.

 

GiGi @ Belladesigns & Antiques, https://bellaantiquesdesign.com/,is extremely talented at upcycling feedsacks. She did my sewing chair, stool (the top lifts up) and sweet bear. As she is sewing she prays over the piece and it’s future owner. 

One of my favorite places to get feedsacks is in Pennsylvania @ http://www.pheasantrunantiques.com/ in West Sadsbury. When we visit my daughter I love to go to.  I missed my spring trip there, hopefully next year!

  

Hubby recovered both of our steps stools. The bottom one was his mom step stool and he would not get rid of it. I am so glad we kept it. 

I also love old tool aprons as well. Of course, I had to buy this one it has Hubbard on it! 

Those pillows up front use the tool aprons to hold romotes and books (smart girl GiGi). 

I hope you have some Sunshine today. We have rain So I will continue cleaning and reorganizing.  I can’t wait to show you my painting area and the supplies I just got. 

Di

https://thecottagemarket.com/a-morning-cup-of-joe-filled-with-features-and-linky-party-10/

Lockers, Storage and Style in the Garage

I want a shed but hubby is not ready to build it yet. The garage is where most our family and friends enter the house. So, I wanted to make it my outside office, storage, garden space. 

Since I store my Etsy shop goodies out here, I wanted a more organized space. My first order of business was to label and box all the items listed and to be listed in my shop. But where to store them?

 
  This was my inspiration lockers from Pottery Barn (they are no longer available). 

I also loved these lockers and the tutorial from Rustic-Crafts blog, 

 Now, I had to find some. My lucky day came when Gina, from Gazebo Farms, https://gazebo-farms-vintage-market.myshopify.com/ had a live sale on line. There they were my lockers. I bought them after measuring. Her husband delivered them to me. 

They were delivered, now I could set up my space. I started with my farmhouse table as my Desk  

The corner shutter shelf was made by hubby.  I just received The sweet 1904 Flower Guide. 

My old tools are my favorites to use in the yard. 

 I finished the setting with a watercolor by my friend Donna Courtney and my garden glove creation to hang cut flowers. I love to sit here now. 

Hubby also recovered this step stool.  It was his moms. 

To the left are my garden supplies

To the right are my lockers 

I really enjoy styling these.

  I now store my boxes, boots, books and frames. I have a master book with the item and # of box and where box is located. Now if I can keep track of that book. 

Di

Butter Pat Story

I love ironstone   I was introduced to ironstone by a sweet lady, Betsy, in Mount Dora   I collected yellow ware for years. My first ironstone was a butter pat. I was with my mom and she wanted a soap dish. I fell in love with the simplicity of the butter pat. It would be perfect to hold my rings. 

I tucked my package in my purse. A few days later, I remembered my purchase. It wasn’t to be found and mom didn’t have it with her dish. I looked in the car, no package. It must have fallen out. 

Many months went by, mom and I went to Rennigers in Mount Dora for my birthday. We found the most delightful dealer with ironstone. A casserole is what we bought. She had some pats so I added that as well. We all laughed that I better not misplace this one!

I put my beautiful casserole in my cabinet. I was totally hooked. The pat, again I could not find it. What was going on? 

I finally bought a floral butter pat for my rings. I just was not meant to have an ironstone one. 

Certain years I got a new ironstone casserole from mom. I bought a sugar bowl and gravy boat for myself. 

 

When my mom passed away and I was packing up her china cabinet there was an ironstone butter pat. Oh my did I cry. I grab it up and held it close. All of our antiquing trips and all I want was for her to be here. 

I really don’t know when she got this. I never saw her buy one but I sure was glad I had it. I finally got my ironstone butter pat at the right time. It has a special spot in my cabinet. 

  It is now HOME.   Di

What are your favorite collections

JoinIng Common Ground https://www.commonground-do.com/2020/07/all-about-home-48.html. All about home