Christmas in July...or August

I have a confession...I am not a planner.  I don't do lists (my 11 year old daughter makes them for me), I don't think way ahead, I don't like to have a schedule.

I can put a positive spin on it, call myself a free spirit, someone who lives in the moment and not ruled by a schedule.

And for many things, this quality is a good thing.  But, not always.  So as strange as it is for me, Christmas has been on my brain as of late.

For the past three years I have shared the 12 Days of Christmas in November/ December.  I have shared ideas such as my junky signs

or stocking hangers 

and this ribbon star.

And while I enjoy sharing my love of Christmas, quite frankly coming up wit these ideas in an already busy time of year is taxing.  

So, what am I going to do about it?  Not do the 12 days of Christmas? NO! I am going to plan ahead, work on the projects now, photograph and perhaps even schedule the blog posts now.  

I think I need to put on my Harry Connick Christmas music and get cracking.  Wish me luck!

Silver Baby

Celebrating 25 years of marriage today! 

A few things I have learned after 25 years: 

1.) You need to have the mindset that marriage is for a lifetime, i.e. if you have issues, you better work on them and work them out together.

 2.) You can't change each other--maybe train, but not change so try to see those annoying habits as endearing or something to laugh about. Work on changing yourself if you need to, but not each other. 

3.) Tell each other what you need/want, DO NOT assume your spouse knows. Yes, it would be nice and lovely if they had a clue and could figure it out on their own--they don't and can't so just tell them. 

4.) It is okay to go bed angry. Sometimes a good night's sleep is all an issue needs to get resolved. 

5.) Support each other, take care of each other, love each other well. Problems arise when we become selfish and only worry about taking care of ourselves. 

6.) Pray for your spouse daily. 

7.) Find laughter in the little things--life is funny, being married is funny so enjoy the wild ride together!

Sunday Verses

Ode To Paint

Oh wonderful paint,  how I love you.

Without you, I don't know what I'd do!

You have the power to transform this,

Into beautiful.colorful bliss.

You turn old, battered wood,

Into something that makes me smile and feel good.

Find more ideas at Funky Junk Interiors

Lemonade Lodge

Mmmm, doesn't a weekend at Lemonade lodge sound lovely?  A cozy place in the woods where lemonade of all types and varieties are served to you all day long in tall icy glasses?

This Lemonade Lodge is a little different, but just as fun ;).  I made this for my friend's son, my friend that gives me all of his wonderful barnwood scraps and leftovers.  I used some of those "scraps" to create this lemonade stand.

I started with pallet 2x4's and built two rectangles.  I connected these with a cupboard door chalkboard across the front.  I used pallet wood to make a bottom shelf

and a shelf in the middle.

It was pretty darn sturdy at this point, but adding the outside boards completed the sturdiness factor. I didn't take any more process pictures, but it is pretty simple construction.  I used barnwood and some half round peeled branch pieces (I don't know what they are called) my friend had given me.  I screwed the boards in and used a nail gun on the half round pieces. 

The back or inside has some great storage.

I then made the sign part using two long barnwood trim pieces and a pallet to keep it light.  I painted the lemonade freehand.

I used leather belt pieces and a block of the half round on the sides of the stand to hold the sign in place.  I like to make the lemonade signs removable for easier storage.

I created a little napkin holder from some of the leftover half round

and used a camping tin cup for the straws.  

Locking wheels and a rusty hook on the side for a towel completed the stand.

Lemonade anyone?

Find more ideas at Funky Junk Interiors

Why I Blog

As I shared a few days ago, I have been blogging for 5 years now.  Wow, five years has gone by quickly and many things have changed in that five years.

But, the thing that hasn't changed is the why part of blogging.  I started a blog because I was inspired by so many other bloggers and I wanted to do the same.  I wanted to share my ideas with the hopes that someone else would see them and think, "Hey, i can do this!"

I appreciate it when you share pictures of creations you have made that were inspired by something you saw here on the blog.  

Monica did just that when she emailed me these pictures of a potting bench that her father and her family made for her sister and brother-in-law after their baby girl died.  Monica's family blessed them with a yard makeover.

This story is close to my heart as most of you know, we too had a baby that died.

Didn't they do a beautiful job?

Thank you Monica for sharing, for letting me know that blogging is not in vain and that God can use something like a blog to bless others. 

Sunday Verses

Throwback Thursday

I have been blogging for 5 years?

5 years? Really?  My how time flies when you are having fun.

I like to look back at my beginning posts.  Oh, the pictures were so bad (they still aren't great, but I do try!).  But, the projects were fun and decent and me.  

One such project was this cabinet I made from old wood and a drawer.

I made a door from the old wood

and then added some shelves, croquet balls for feet, and a croquet stick for a handle and "crown molding".

I do recall attaching those feet was tough, but worth the effort.  Hmmm, I have some newly acquired drawers and a croquet set in the garage...

Industrial Barnwood Side Table

An overhead projector?  What is that?

This is what my daughter asked me when I told her that this little cart most likely held an overhead projector.  I didn't even have the luxury of having an overhead my first years teaching and now kids don't even know what they are because they are so old.

Sigh...But the new technology means these little carts are obsolete.  When I spied one at the thrift store I knew it would be perfect for a side table.

Some paint (I used Chalk Paint as my first coat--the red so thr paint adhered well to the metal.)

and a barnwood top secured with screws from the underside

transformed this out of date school fixture

into a fun rolling table.  A bonus is the height can be adjusted.   

Find more ideas at A Stroll Through Life

Sunday Verses

Meet Scrappy

Scrappy is a good puppy,

energetic and happy.

He likes to run and play,

and make you smile every day!

Find more ideas at Donna's

Home and Family Shout Out

My pallet bench tutorial finally got a shout out on the Hallmark's Home and Family Show.  They shared the wrong blog address, but oh well!  I have asked them to change it on the web page.  It was still fun to hear it mentioned!

Chippy, Happy Chair

Color makes me happy.

It reminds of wonderful things such as the ocean and the beach, Mexico or the Caribbean, the mountains and streams--happy places.

This "wood-upholstered" chair puts a smile on my face.

It is whimsical and fresh, something it definitely wasn't when I started.  I forgot a before picture, but it was blonde, scratched wood with a plastic covered, fabric seat.  

Now it is cheery and invites you to have a seat.

The back of the chair was already the two wood pieces so I just painted each one a different color.

Have a seat, I will get you a margarita.