These are flowers from my mother-in-law’s yard.  They were taken last August when we went to Vancouver Washington for our annual visit.  I was going to post these pictures closer to spring or summer but it has been so cold and cloudy for so long I needed a little brightening today.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

This is my single-most favorite thing of all from the DIY Blogger House.  It is an arbor made from two old doors.  I’m not sure how they made it, but I’m going to find out.  I am determined to make one of my very own next Spring.  Because I love EVERYTHING about this arbor.  I love the color.  I love that it is cute and quirky.  I love that it is a DIY project.  And I love that old doors were upcycled and not trashed.

Thanks for stopping by.  I Have a great weekend

I found this cute little wheel barrow/planter at my favorite thrift store today.  I think this is the first thrifted treasure I have used “as-is” (except my dishes).   I love the rusty front wheel and the scuffed, white-washed finish.  It is the perfect little accent to balance my step ladder/planter.  While I was working on getting this planter in just the right spot and filling it with flowers, my kids were enjoying a lazy summer evening.

First popsicles for dessert, slurped up quickly before they melt.

Followed by splash time.

 Hope you are keeping cool and enjoying your summer!

      This little corner of my flowerbeds has needed something with a little height for some time.  I have been unable to decide which plant, tree, or shrub to plant.  That is until I found Carlene’s blog “Organized Clutter“.  She had the very clever idea to use a step ladder as a planter to add height and visual interest to a garden.   Perfect solution for my cottage garden and for my pocketbook.  This project only cost me about $10.  I stole repurposed my husband’s stepladder.  I was one flower pot short so I bought one for $2.  I bought the flowers for around $8.  Please stop by and visit her blog.  She has wonderfully fresh ideas and beautiful lush gardens to inspire you.

     Here are some follow-up pictures from my Landscape Design post yesterday. As you can see, I have my work cut out for me.  I wish this part could be as easy as coming up with a plan.  I take some solace by telling myself that all the hard yard work I’ll be putting in this summer (and probably next summer, and maybe the summer after that too) will be worth it.  For some reason, outside work just seems harder than inside work.  Maybe, it’s because I love interior design.  Don’t get me wrong.  I do love gardening.  It is peaceful and relaxing to me.  It is also very gratifying to watch all the seeds and bulbs you’ve nourished bloom and beautify your yard.  But getting my yard to the point where I can even start to think about planting is hot, sweaty, dirty, and makes my muscles grumpy.

      So, my muscles and my disposition are grumpy after working on this little island in my front yard.  In the picture on the left, you can see the old fence in the background.  And in the foreground is an embarrassingly overgrown with weeds, and infested with snails, eyesore.  In the picture on the right you can see a bit of the new fence in the background and an eyesore that is well, still an eyesore.  I wanted to just start over in this spot, everything has to go including much of the soil.  I decided to flatten this spot and move the dirt to the backyard (top, right picture).  Hopefully, I will be able to share much prettier pictures with you soon.