Simple Wood Sign for July

Baby, it's hot out there! We are in the middle of record breaking heat here in the northwest and I am trying to stay cool (without an AC). Last night hubby and plopped the lawn chairs in the middle of the sprinkler, made a cold cocktail, and sat for an hour. And it isn't even July yet!! But, it will be tomorrow and I decided I better get SOME kind of fourth of July decor on my front porch. 

When you have a bright yellow door and your everyday summer porch decor is in bright yellows, greens, and oranges, adding red, white, and blue is just a bit much, even for this color loving girl.

Adding Texture with a Vintage Woven Chair

Grey, gray, greigh (?)--however you spell it I have a bit too much of it in my furniture repertoire. In my front room I have a small grey loveseat and three grey chairs. It happened accidentally, you know, gathered a chair here and chair there without realizing it was all getting a bit boring and same.

SO, I have been on the lookout at the thrift stores for a cute, colorful, vintage, adorable chair in excellent condition for a great price. But, that wasn't happening...until I spied this vintage, woven Palecek chair at Goodwill.

While it wasn't colorful, I loved the texture and knew I could have some color fun when recovering the seat.

Thrifty Thursday Reporposed Tray and Camp Stool

I am working on 5 kajillion projects right now that I can't wait to share with you. Today's Thrifty Thursday project is one of those. It is quick and easy and requires no tools or construction or even paint. Using a great brass tray I showed you last month and a sturdy camp stool, I made a hip, little side table.

Thrifty Thursday Wall Pocket

I have been looking at this homemade letter holder/desk organizer (?) at the thrift store for a few weeks. When it went to half price, I decided to get it.

I had a few ideas for it: plant in the skinny pocket, use it in the kitchen for wooden spoons, or use it on our desk to hold paper. But, I decided I wanted it on the wall in my entry between our TV room door and coat closet.

Thrifty Thursday Baskets

Baskets tend to be a dime a dozen (ok, well more like $24/dozen) at the thrift store. There are plenty of them and I always look at them. I want unique, well-made baskets that will have a place and a purpose in my home. 

When I spied these two next to each other at the thrift store and saw that they were in my back porch colors, I knew I could use them for wall decor.

Hubby did ask, "Aren't you about done decorating the back porch?" 😁 Yes, dear, I am. These two baskets were the final touch on the long wall that the loveseat is on.

How to Build an Easy Peasy Plant Stand

Anyone else have a citronella plant? I have never seen them before, but found some at our local nursery and decided it would be the perfect addition to my cozy, back porch. It smells divine and will hopefully keep the mosquitos away. 

A $1.50 garage sale basket and some leftover porch 2" x 2" spindles came together in about 20 minutes to make an outdoor plant stand for my citronella plant.

Heavy Metal Thrifty Thursday Finds

It's been a hot minute since I have posted--life in the spring is always busy. 

I haven't done much thrifting recently, but did find a few fun things this week. Metal seems to be what my eyes have been drawn to and I found some treasures I am loving. 

Thrifted Back Porch Decor

Last week I headed back to Montana to help the youngest move out of the dorms and into her first rental home (where I painted the cabinets), and then I got some bonding time with my precious 6 week old grandson. On the way home I decided to check out a few of the small town thrift stores along the way. I was not disappointed. 

A metal hose holder for $1 was a must since I already had a vintage, metal hose reel on my back porch (SEE HERE). I wasn't sure how I was going to use it until I spied a rattan lantern in a box that was just coming in. For $2 I knew it needed to come home with me too. I am guessing this was originally from Pier One or World Market--it is fairly heavy duty and well made.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! While driving home at dusk earlier in the week, we could see the humongous, pink, super moon rising above the trees. We quickly pulled over and walked towards the moon, trying to capture its beauty with cell phone cameras--it didn't work. As we turned around to leave, I saw the sunset setting and still reflections on calm water and snapped some decent photos of that instead of the moon. Sometimes, turning around, changing our focus, gives us an even better view. 

Jesus was everything the Pharisees thought he shouldn't be. He loved those deemed unworthy of love, he broke the rules and laws, he taught in new ways with new ideas, and folks simply did not understand or trust him because they were so focused on the big, shiny religion and laws they had known for so long. Jesus helps us when we are looking at something a certain way to turn around and see an even better picture with him if we are willing. When we have a new perspective and understanding about something--a verse, a rule, a religion or church, a way to love--it can be difficult to recognize the beauty in it because we have been so set on seeing what we want to see. Don't be afraid of a different view. It is okay to find truth and beauty in something you weren't even looking for.

Repurposed Thrift Store Hose Reel

When I spied an old, metal hose reel at a new, local thrift store, I knew I could find a way to use it somewhere. And for only $5, it definitely needed to come home with me.

It took about 5 minutes to decide where it's new home was going to be--on the back porch wall between the back door and kitchen window. And while I like it as is, I came up with lots of fun, different ways to use it.

It makes a great bottle holder. I wouldn't leave the bottles out there all of the time, but the hose reel makes a unique way to hold favorite wine and liquor bottles when entertaining outdoors. Set up a table underneath and you have an awesome back porch bar spot.