Sister-in-law and a Country Garden

We had a wonderful day yesterday visiting Michael's sister.  When I go up I want to be like her.  Not only is her house always in pristine condition so is her yard and she works full time.  So envious.  I am going to share some of her pretties and hope you like them too.

Ruth at our Christmas Fiesta Party.....she will shoot me for adding this photo but it is so cute.

Beautiful Patriotic display on her shed.  Awesome!

Ruth's vegetable garden with upcycled pop can flowers.  

Another view of the vegetable garden.  Weed free.  I am just so jealous!  lol

Gorgeous Clematis

Vibrant, thick variegated Hostas

Another beautiful Hostas

Beautiful home for the birds.  Nests already in.

Rustic windchime, I just love wind chimes.

Pig wind chime

I thought this was just a neat look so wanted to share.

Another look I thought was neat.  A log rotted, it is just a cool look.

An old log

A look inside the log.

So there is just a taste of what I found in the country yesterday.  I should have spent more time taking pictures.  Hope you enjoyed.

 

Yea! My Yard is almost done.

It seems as though I have worked so hard and very diligently this year on my yard.  Poor thing has been so neglected for a couple of years.  Then I fell in love, yes in love with Pinterest and it gave me so many ideas and sparked my inspiration.  It is not perfect yet and in some pics you will see pots left, some things needed to be put away.  The wheel barrow got a flat tire so can't use it to move anything around.  Whew!

Remember I am not finished but wanted to share.

 

Upcycled window use, tub, chair and bread box.

Oh yes we have whirly gigs every where. 

 Flower Pots ! & 2 in front of the ramp.  Upcycled pots.

 

Upcycled Step stool and distressed, upcycled rusted tool box with flowers, 3 upcycled cans with flowers to add color.

Dustin's (in memory of my son) garden

 

Recycled tub with flowers, a metal bucket and 2 vintage water cans upcycled with flowers in them.

 

Vintage wagon wheel as part of Dustin's garden and a left flower pot.  Oops!

 

Wolves in Dustin's garden with upcycled pop can flowers.

 

 

Close up of the wolves and the upcycled pop can flowers.

 The house and an almost completed front yard.  Now to the back yard.  Oh my it is a real mess.  Wish me luck!

Small flower bed in front of the ramp with an upcycled fan blade as a flower.

If I can do this anyone can.  I had to take my time since my back surgery I cannot bend so I sat on my bottom a lot to get it done.  

 

 

 

Upcycle Birdhouse, Works in Progress

Pinterest which I am totally addicted to gave me inspiration to do a bird house since I had everything needed for the project. 

First I had to decide which vintage gas can to use.  I chose the one my Mom painted black in the 70's as I coudln't bring myself to use the great patina one.

Next was to get all the supplies I would need.  Drill, drill bits, license plate and hammer.  I attached the license with screws.  As I bent the plate I used a hammer with a glove covering the can not to dent the can.

Here is the finished bird house hanging from a tree.  This morning my Mom told me that the gas can had belonged to my Grandfather.  I would never had used it had I know.  Too late now it is finished.  I think it is cute.

Now for a project in the works.  My fiance had a massive stroke and he loves birds.  His computer is set up so he can see the birds eat.  Trouble was the shepard's hooks were such a pain to mow around so I had an idea to fix that.  I laid plastic down on the area that I will mulch in May and that will solve my problem.  My backyard has not been touched just mowed.  I have been working on the front since the warmer weather finally got here.  So please excuse the mess.  Michael had his stroke in 2011 and the yard has been neglected since then.  This year I am trying to get it whipped into shape.

 

Now last but not least.  I am working on a section that isn't close to being finished.  I have a chair with a pot in the seat.  Again my Mom had refinished the chair and now I have it out in the weather.  

I NEED YOUR INPUT:  Should I leave the chair as is or paint and distress it?  As I said this grouping is no where near finished.  One bit of the elephant at a time.

Have a wonderful day.

 

Reflection

Lately it seems that I have been reflecting more than usual.  Maybe it is that Spring weather is finally here.

There are only so many hours in a day and some times the day just flashes by and I wonder what have I done?  Have I just wasted my time today?

I decided that I needed to have projects that show where I spent my time.  The bad thing is I want to do more than I can physically do.  I had a spinal fusion in October so all bending has been ruled out.  Do you realize how much you bend in a day?

My butt is good for something and that is sitting on the grass and working.  See I am getting around that bending stuff.  Luckily I live on a small dead end street.  

I started edging my driveway yesterday.  No problems except a gas line and some major thick, tough roots.  So what should have already been completed is going to take a little longer.  I can't wait to see it all edged.  I love edged lawns.

Distressing Furniture is Stressing Me!

So I have been so busy gathering goodies for my yard.  You need to understand that since Michael had his stroke the yard has been left to tend to itself.  Not too pretty at the moment.

I going to try to distress my first piece of anything.  It has not been easy and of course I want it done right now!  I am going for this look except I am putting a really cool rusty toolbox on top filled with flower and a couple on the steps.  This is for the front flower bed #3.

 http://japaneseflowergarden.tumblr.com/post/27372120994

This year is the year of potted flowers.  I have some perennials if they get going as it doesn't look like it yet but it is early.  NOW us when they should be showing me something! 

Then there are some shutters that I just had to buy at an aucton. What was I thinking????

I know I am whining!  So sorry it's that I want all of this stuff and I am a newbie.  Wanting more than ever to spruce up the front of the house, curb appeal!  lol  Wait until I get to the back yard.....oh my!

Of course my electric sander wouldn't work, Mike's battery operated wouldn't work and silly me couldn't get the Dremel going until my brother-in-law came down.  I felt so dumb when he showed me what I doing wrong.  

I am going for this look with the shutters.

http://ideasmag.co.za/craft-decor/three-ways-with-shutters-2/

 

I have this project all painted and just needs put together.  I made some adjustments.  I am using old rusty wire to link them together.  Minus the door unless I find one or two.  I have searching everywhere for them.

 

http://s21.photobucket.com/user/Junokitty/media/Garden/Tinpots.jpg.html

 

Last I have all the pieces for my next project with some changes.  This has 3 buckets.  I will be using one bucket and 2 vintage watering cans.  It will look so cute.

http://thepinkhammerblog.com/2012/06/01/tipsypotplanter/

 

Then we will have 3 large pots with flowers and that will be it.  Of course I had to read an article on http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/  blog about "How to edge flower beds like a pro."  Now that is on the list too.  http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/07/how-to-edge-flower-beds-like-pro.html

 

I hope you follow along to see my finished projects.  My first attempt at doing something in the yard besides mow and pull weeds.

 

Have a wonderful day.