DIV FREE BANNER

I know it's late but I thought

this would be fun to make:

CLICK HERE

THE POTTING BENCH

I never had a potting bench before but the people who owned our 

home before us left a work bench in the basement.  We carried

it out the back and up to the garage for a potting bench.

It has been handy lately and I as you can see I had a bunch of

bird houses sitting on it that I wanted to paint. 

 These were

all cheapos!

As you can see my husband put up an

 old school blackboard over it.

Yesterday I decided to use some paint that I had Menards mix for me that was really not the right color. 

  This was a good way to use it up:

The tins are for collecting plant 

seeds and make 

a nice gift!

The birdhouses have a new look.

  Some already got hung in the tree.

I am calling this one "GREEN GABLES"!  
I think Anne would approve.

SHUTTERS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM

After looking around for something different to go over the bed in the master bedroom, I recently found a shutter decoration for the wall and added some more shabby chic
 chalk paint to it
for a more rustic look:

As you can see - it was nighttime out when I took these pictures last night.  We got home late from dinner with our son and suddenly I remembered this party.  Our master bedroom is a modest size. I do wish you could see it in the daytime - there is a peach tree outside the window with peaches overlooking the Koi pond.  

An antique dresser:

A family picture from many years ago:

 There was teal in the bedspread so I have 

put some of that color in the room too.

My husband's Mother gave us this little table by the window:

The hand crochet coverlet was my $4.00 bargain at an Estate Sale:

I know you recognize the pillows I made

 from old linens and burlap:

I have had the teal matted Godey print for years but recently got the oval one below a booth at Midway and the other small square one at an Estate Sale here in Columbia:

Vintage items:

Here in Missouri there are ceiling fans

 in almost every room because it gets hot!

I was able to catch a quick view out the
 window early this morning too:

And how it looks outside - the top
 right windows 
are the bedroom looking out:

Photo taken from the deck looking down:

And out front after the Pussy Willow was pruned:

WELCOME TO "QUAIL CREEK COTTAGE" for BTTCG Blog Party

I was able to spend a good 4 days in the

 last 2 weeks  working out  of doors during some very nice weather and did some

 serious digging at the front entrance

to our cottage rancher.  There was so

 much to do inside but I just ignored all

 that and got out in the glorious weather.  

 My husband thought I was

 "loosing it" as I just kept removing the lawn one shovel at a time.  I told him "look how much less you have to mow now"!  Our new
 neighbor was glad to take some shrubs that

 I really don't want from back by the deck.  

I dug a large area from the driveway over to
the pussy willow.  I did rather rush things though as the frost date here is still 7 more days beyond today.  The hydrangeas I planted were "freezer burnt" Friday night when it dropped in the 30's but my neighbor
 assures me they will come back out.

We now live in a sudivision called "Quail Creek" so we decided to name our home "Quail Creek Cottage".  I am hoping to stencil a sign sometime to go over the front door.  This is the entrance to our cottage style rancher.  Some of you remember "Miss Tabitha" who loves being our new greeter at the front.  Inside we call our center room the great room and it looks down on the backyard where we will be putting in a privacy fence and extending the patio area.

  I love hearing the birds in our

new backyard - really a bird sanctuary there by the little creek.  The creek isn't our property but is right in the back where we can enjoy it. We had 2 men come and clear out all the nasty stuff other people that thrown in the creek.  Isn't it shocking what people do?  Shame on them! 

 After they cleaned out all the overgrowth, I threw lots of my flower garden seeds there so we shall see what comes up.  Every morning

 I see big bunnies hoping all along the creek.
  Tonight we saw a big fox just a couple blocks away so I hope he stays there. 

 Below, is one of the things that have gotten done - the chandelier in the
kitchen has now been hung!

I am also happy to have my clock back together as it had loose parts sitting in the bottom when we arrived
in Columbia:

I am thinking I never shared the shabby chic piece I got for my birthday a few months ago.  We sat it on this buffet which was at my store for years but now in our great room.  We
plan to hide the VCR player inside of it.

 I hope to be

showing you my downstairs tea room next week!

STEADYING THE LADDER IS AN IMPORTANT JOB

Lately, I've been doing some really important things......boring.......but important.  I have

had the job of steadying the ladder while my

husband paints up high. 

 We have those 17' cathedral ceilings above walls 
being painted in 2 rooms in our house
 and 12' in the master bedroom. 
 I imagine many of you never knew we had one of these?

I don't usually photograph him with my teapots or teacups. We found him (actually maybe a her?) in Casper, Wyoming many years ago but he/her is also a Colorado thing for sure and

 will stay here in repose with the house ready for a 

new owner who surely will love him. (at least a man will)

Since their is no furniture left in this room -
 we temporarily put the television on top the wood stove.
We are waiting to hear from the carpet
 people and the kitchen people.

Houses and situations are so different from one another 
where ever you live.  Where we live

in Colorado everyone has a privacy fence,
 the houses are very close side by side 
and everyone has a sprinkler system
 to water their yard.  For example, if you live in
 Texas -

 every subdivision has a swimming pool!

Oh and I have had some more jobs: moving the lamp around the room following the paint job, washing the switch plates, plug in covers and heat vent covers that go in the floors.  How fun! 

 While doing this difficult task for hours Sunday afternoon,  I watched  a lot of  GAC (Great American Country) which is a channel that carries "Flea Market Flip" on Sunday afternoons .  Now here is a program that I adore!  Have you seen it? The program features Lara who introduces 2 groups of 2 people who are given $500.00 each group to spend at a huge flea market. They go out and find 3 assigned tasks to create 3 things which they then work on and try to sell at the same (?) flea market on another day.

If you haven't seen this and you love DIY I think you should as it is very interesting.

This post is being shared at:
Home and Garden Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Home Sweet Home

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS BED

This last Saturday I got inspired to cut up a couple  old Christmas tablecloths and make

 a bed cover for our extra bed which is an antique full size.  (I later saw the red and green ck tablecloth came from Kohl's)

The red and green square table cloth was wide so I turned it across the bed and it was long enough on the sides - I just had to cut up and add another section to the top so I used another tablecloth with the snowman and Santa.  Of course this would not have worked if the fabric didn't go both ways! 

If my Granddaughter was here she would love to sleep in this bed! Doesn't this afghan bring a smile?  I found it at an antique mall in Denver where the gal hadn't even priced it yet.  It was laying on a chair as she was putting new items in her booth.  I picked it up immediately and thought it was great fun!

I cut up a third tablecloth and combined two fabrics to make a couple of Pillow Shams and make one extra toss pillow!   And underneath?  I recently found a nice 100% wood green and red plaid blanket for 1/2 off in a booth at an antique mall in Denver.

  Many of the booths at antique malls now have
 their Christmasy things 1/2 off.

Some of you might wonder if you can wash old

 wool throws and blankets, etc. The answer is yes, 

 I wash them with cold water and yes,

 throw them in the dryer too!

You might as well pour yourself some hot cocoa!  And enjoy a wonderful Christmas book too!

The picture on the wall above is called "Under the Mistletoe"!
It's formerly heavy bright gold frame is now vintage
 white thanks to my husband who has an open mind!