Pumpkin Topiary

My daughter has discovered Pinterest!    She pins at home, at work, and in the car pool line!   She found a picture on Pinterest she wanted to copy for her front porch.    It will be perfect because the stonework is very similar to hers and I thought it might not be too hard to make.    So for the past few weeks she’s been gathering up supplies and this afternoon I started working on it.    Here’s her inspiration picture:

I made the broom a few weeks ago and she brought the other stuff to her office so I could come by and pick it up.    I took advantage of our milder temps today and went out to the deck to get started on putting it together.   Please realize it is not finished at all!     This is just in its early stage.   Since I took the picture below I have sprayed the white Styrofoam base black to blend in with the kettle.    I still need to get a wreath to put on top of the Styrofoam so I can finish it off.

She bought a gel set to use on the pumpkins so that’s what you see on the large pumpkin (I see a missing star!).     Since these are Styrofoam pumpkins, I simply  cut a hole in the bottoms of the little and medium pumpkins for the stems to be inserted into.    I had to guess on the size but it worked out great.    Then I sealed them with Liquid Nails.    I’m going to let them “cure” overnight to be sure they don’t fall apart.    Then I’ll use Liquid Nails to secure the whole thing in the kettle.      We might stuff some moss between the pumpkins…what do you think?

Of course, now she wants me to come over and decorate her mantle and help her put things outside…..and of course, I’m going!    I haven’t got my outside decorated yet and probably won’t get it done for another week or so.    We’re keeping the twin grandchildren this weekend while daughter and her husband go to Auburn for the ballgame.    

Oh, and on my last post, I asked opinions on the hutch…the overwhelming majority said black which is what I liked too!     So in addition to working on the topiaries, I painted the hutch.    

 

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

Still needs another coat and then hopefully my husband will get it hung.

 

I also wanted to tell ya’ll that I’ve recently reconnected with an old friend.    She has a beautiful home and I’m helping her make a few changes that I hope to share soon.     You will be in for a real treat when you see her house!

Black or White?

I have this hutch that used to hang in my mom’s house.   I want to use it my den above my sideboard to put white plates mixed with some silver pieces.     Here’s where I want to hang it…..

I don’t know why I never can capture the true wall color….here it looks gray-ish and it’s a true khaki

 

Here’s what it looks like:

 

I’m removing the dowel rod since that screams “country” to me!

Would you paint it black or white?    Opinions please!!!

Blueberry Delight and 500th Post

I didn’t realize that my last post was number 500 for me!    I don’t have a give away but do want to thank everyone who has followed along on this journey with me.    Thank you!!!

I’ve featured  this recipe before but I don’t think anyone will mind if I share it again.    My husband doesn’t care for “congealed salads” (as my mama calls them) but this is one he would eat every day.     When I first shared the recipe I told about a restaurant where we’d meet at for lunch when we were first dating which served their version of Blueberry Delight.   The “girls” always saved a piece for him so I figured out that I might want to find a way to make it for him so I’d be his favorite “girl”!    

BLUEBERRY DELIGHT

• 1 (3 oz.) package blackberry gelatin
• 1 (15 oz.) can blueberries
• 1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 (8 oz.) package crème cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups chopped pecans 

In large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water (follow directions on box).   Drain liquid from blueberries and pineapple and stir into the gelatin.   Pour into 2 quart mold (or large Pyrex dish) and refrigerate until firm.

Mix together softened crème cheese, sugar, sour cream and vanilla and spread over the congealed gelatin mixture.   Sprinkle crème cheese layer with chopped pecans and chill for approximately 30 minutes.   Cut into serving size pieces and serve.

NOTE:  I ADDED THE CRÈME CHEESE MIXTURE AFTER THE GELATIVE HAS SET UP AND BECOME FIRM.   IT MAKES IT EASIER TO SPREAD.   I ALSO ADD PECANS IN WITH THE CRÈME CHEESE MIXTURE AND THEN ADD MORE PECANS ON THE TOP.

 

Mmmmm-mmmm GOOD!

New Sofa and Chest

I’ve been on the hunt for a new sofa for our den for quite some time now.   I made two trips to Ikea to be ab-so-lute-ly sure about the Ektorp slipcovered sofa…one with a white slip and an additional khaki one to change things up.   My son was going to pick it up with his truck and bring it home but for some reason I just couldn’t send him.    Then on Monday I was out with a friend celebrating her birthday and we stopped in a high end antique gallery…this place is not your usual antique mall or flea market…you almost feel that you have to pay to go in!   I never go in by myself but she likes to shop there so since it was HER birthday, in we went!    Right away I saw this really pretty neutral sofa with beautiful lines and a price tag even I could live with.     I had the cashier call the vendor and she agreed to discount it 15% which made it even more attractive.    The next day hubby was going to check it out (i.e. lay down on it to see if he could stretch out) and we bought it!    I couldn’t’ be happier.    My main reason for not going with the white slipcovered one is that I would freak out every time someone sat on it I’d have to wash the slipcover…anal, I know, but that’s how I am.

Enough blabbing, here it is…

I know, totally different from a white slipcovered sofa but I love it!   Nice neutral color, rolled arms, nail heads….you’re talking my language now!    It has a chenille fabric that is so sofa and comfortable.   

 

AAAAAND…while I was out shopping yesterday for MY birthday I found this gorgeous painted and distressed chest that I first planned on using in the guest room I’m working on.   But once I got it home I did a switch-eroo and put it in the den and moved the chest that was in the den to the guest room.

The vendor told me this was a very old piece…I wish you could see it “in person” it is so pretty.   And then the vendor came to my house and bought a piece of furniture from me that I was going to put on Craig's List so I came out ahead.    I’ve bought several painted pieces from this vendor, she does amazing work.

This afternoon I’m working on painting a bookcase for the guest room.   I’ve made my template for the headboard and hopefully will get that cut out this weekend.    I might have to move into the guest room…it’s turning out so pretty, I can’t wait to share it with ya’ll.

Thank you for ALL of your wonderful birthday wishes, I had a wonderful day.  

Happy Birthday To Me!

dazzlejunction.com
 

Pumpkin Orange Spray Paint

Today I went in search of orange gloss spray paint to spruce up some old Styrofoam pumpkins I had.    

Seems like Krylon knew just what I was looking for!   

You can see that these pumpkins had seen better days.     After a couple of coats here’s what I got….

 

 

 

 

It doesn’t bother me that some of the mildew shows through…I think it makes them look more “realistic”

 

I’m helping my daughter make a pumpkin topiary for her front porch….this is what she found on Pinterest that we are using for our inspiration

The stone work looks just like hers.   I’ve already made her the broom and bought the black “kettle”.   I’m hoping we can get started on this project this weekend using the pumpkins I painted.   

I’ll be back next week to share my fall decorations.    

Have a wonderful weekend!

New “Copper” Mailbox

I’ve always loved a copper mailbox but the prices….not so much!    Recently my friend Diana  jazzed hers up with some spray paint and stained post.    So I got right on it and went out to create my own “copper” mailbox. 

Trying to use the pixel tool in Pic Monkey…so please excuse my attempt to blur out my address!

 

 

   Here’s the spray paint I used…

 

I thought since it said “high heat” it would withstand our brutally hot summers…we’ll see

The day I worked on my mailbox and post was when Hurricane Isaac hit so I was running back and forth between the times it rained!    Pretty funny, or at least my husband thought so!    I don’t like how the mailbox post turned out, maybe because I didn’t sand it, just slapped on some stain.    I might go back and paint it later on….or maybe I need a new post!     We’ve had a good bit of rain and so far it seems to be holding up.     My mailbox is a heavy duty type plastic and not metal.

We just came in from a few days on the gulf coast.    It rained all the way down on us and then Tuesday night when we went out to dinner, we got caught in a terrible thunder storm!    Of course, it was sunshine today on the way home!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe Labor Day!   My son and his family spent the weekend with us….here’s my littlest grandson….he’s so darn cute (and into E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G)!

(can’t wait to move this ugly sofa back to the sunroom…..)

Are You Ready For Some Football?!!!

Saturday is kick off day in the SEC.   We’ve waited a long time for this day.    It’s one of the things I love about fall….football, tailgating, socializing with friends, good eats and the sound of 80,000+ fans cheering on their favorite team in the stadium.      Our favorite team won the National Championship 2 years ago, so we’re always excited to see what each year holds for us.     Good luck to all of ya’ll and WAR EAGLE!

 

Birthdays and Lakeside Dinner

This past weekend we celebrated the joint birthdays of my Birmingham grandchildren.     McKinley is 7 today…born on the day Hurricane Katrina hit!   Her brother Cade was 2 on August 18th.    For the last two years my DIL has let them share a birthday party with family and a few friends.    We met at a local park and thankfully it wasn’t extremely humid and left for lunch before it got too hot.

Here’s my sweet little grandson….look at those curls!

My baby boy and his baby boy!

My two favorite girls….Taylor & McKinley

Cade checking out the cake…he’s very food friendly!

After spending the afternoon with all the grown kids and grandkids, we headed to the lake to meet my sister and her husband at their lake place and dinner at the lake

We got there around 6:30….it was so peaceful and quiet. 

We ate at one of my favorite places on the lake…Sinclair’s.    We usually go several times during the summer but this is the first time we’ve been all summer long!

I love how you can “drive” your boat up to the dock and get out to eat

This was apparently a party boat as their music was blasting and they sped off really fast

There was a “school” of turtles gathered at the edge of the lake waiting for bread crumbs to be tossed out

Sunset at the lake…doesn’t get any better than this

 

Thankfully we have dodged the worst of Hurricane Isaac here in central Alabama.    We had a little bit of rain this afternoon and other than it being a little windy…that’s it!    I know our friends south of us aren’t as lucky.    We had planned on going to the beach for a few days next week but after seeing all the news reports, I doubt we’ll be able to go.  

My husband is on vacation next week and I have a lot of things I’d like to get done while he’s off (if we don’t go to the beach).   I’ve had to put on hold finishing the guest room until he can cut out the headboard for me.    We got the curtain rod hung last night and I’ve got to finish up with the drapes and paint the two pieces of furniture going in there.    I know I keep saying it, but I absolutely LOVE how this room is turning out!

I worked on a small project today.    After seeing my friend Diana’s (@Our Vintage Home Love) mailbox revamp I got busy and started working on mine.   I got it painted and the post partially stained before it started raining.    Hope I can finish it up tomorrow.   I’ve always wanted a copper mailbox but they were too cost prohibitive.    The copper metallic spray paint I used makes my mailbox look just like the copper mailboxes I’ve always admired.    There was an AT&T phone guy working in the neighborhood that even stopped to admire it!     Check out Diana’s post…you might get inspired to make a little upgrade to your mailbox too!

Guest Room Sneak Peek

Happy Friday!   I’ve been a busy girl the last couple of weeks.   We went to Ikea in Atlanta last week to buy the items I needed for the guest room, only to find out they were out of stock!   Although the Ikea web site indicated they were in stock and had been for 2 weeks!    So, I had to come up with Plan B on the spot.    Luckily, I was able to pick up everything I needed and still stay with “the look” I was copying going for.

Just as a reminder, here’s the room I fell in love with at the Southern Living Idea house that inspired this make over:

(source)

 

I’m just going to tease you a little bit for now because the curtains are not hung and I have not made the headboard yet nor hung a gallery wall.    Also, I haven’t decided on what I’m going to do with the chest and bookcase so until then, this is all you’ll get to see….

 

The sheet set I ordered should be delivered today so I can properly make the bed then.   

I mentioned to husband that I wanted to do a plank wall behind the headboard but really didn’t get a response so I’ll take that as a “yes”!   I’m going to call our carpenter friend to come over and see what he can do about that.     On our way back from Atlanta, hubby had me call our painter to come paint the bedroom last weekend….apparently he didn’t want to spend the weekend painting!

 

Anyone else feeling a little fall-ish?    The temps here are a little more bearable….not so much humidity.    So I went out to Michael’s this week and picked up some fall items to incorporate in the den.     Once I get those out, I’ll be sure to share.

We’re heading to Birmingham tomorrow for the joint birthday parties of my two grandchildren that live there.    One will be 2 and the other 7!    They are 5 years and 5 days apart!   

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The Rest of the Story

I’ve been reluctant to share the drama that resulted in my sudden job loss at the end of May but since I’ve mentioned it several times (thank you for all your supportive comments and prayers) I decided it was time to tell “the rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say.

First a little background.   I have been a legal secretary/paralegal for 25+ years.   When I remarried 9 years ago my husband didn’t want me working full time so I was lucky enough to work for a friend 4 days a week, off on Fridays.    Fast forward a few  years and due to an on-the-job injury which resulted in me being out of work almost a year, I then found a job working 3 days a week.     That company went under (it was in real estate) so I started working 2 days a week for an attorney friend until he decided he needed me  3 days a week.    That was perfect, I was off Mondays and Fridays, and worked 3 days a week, 6 hours a day.     Can’t get better than that!

In March 2011 we brought on another attorney, a former judge.   I loved working for these two guys, and I thought it would be a job I would stay on at least 6 more years which I planned to retired permanently.    

The Tuesday after Memorial Day I got to work and there was another girl there!    It had been mentioned to me that they were “thinking” about bringing on another person who was bringing in files from her former boss, but there was nothing in stone about bringing in someone else.    Now this ain’t my first rodeo (thanks Dr. Phil) but I knew it was completely unethical for a non-attorney person to bring files in from another lawyer, that was money walking out his door!     The attorney I had worked for the longest was on vacation, which I didn’t know anything about.   The “new girl” had taken over his office, knew his computer password (I did not) and basically took over my job.    She “ran” errands (which I normally did), was out of the office for several hours, opened mail (after I had already checked all the mail) and he had left her the work I normally did.    She sat in on a domestic relations consultation after telling me she knew nothing about domestic relations, that was my job, that she was hired to work on SS disability files (the files she brought with her).     This all happened on her first day at work.   A situation occurred on the 2nd day that was totally out of my comfort zone (not to mention unethical) so I left for the day and e-mailed one of the men that I wouldn’t be back that day but  asked them to get in touch with me on the following Monday so we could address my concerns.    NO ONE EVER CONTACTED ME!     No phone calls, no e-mails, nothing.    I was devastated to say the least.

I went ahead and filed for unemployment and after about 4 weeks was notified I had been denied.      I naturally assumed my former employers had objected to my filing for unemployment but have since found out the Dept. of Industrial Relations objected to the filing.      We had a phone “hearing” a few weeks ago which resulted in the final denial from the Dept. of Industrial Relations for my unemployment compensation, even after my former boss stipulated they “fired” me.   

The hearing was a joke!   The idiot guy that conducted the hearing wouldn’t let me or my boss get in a word at all…he ran the show from the get-go.    I could have appealed that decision as well but it just wasn’t worth it.    I was experiencing anxiety and stress and depression from it all so now it’s over and done with.    However, my former boss has stayed in touch with me, we have gone to lunch a couple of times, and he  indicated he will be calling me to come back to work….but I don’t plan on returning.      I feel much better after finding out they did not object but wanted me to get my “pennies”.      However, they are compensating me since I got denied.    

So now you know “the rest of the story.”    I know this is hard to believe but sometimes I miss having somewhere to go every day.    Of course, it’s obvious I’m leaving out some things with regard to the “new girl” that took my place but I’d rather not get into that.     I just want to move on with my life and start this new chapter.   

On a much happier note, we had a huge yard sale this weekend and made out like bandits!    I hope to use that money to finish up the guest room and hubby’s bathroom.     The purging and decluttering took a month getting ready for that sale but the end is in sight.     It feels so good to get rid of so much stuff….I hope I never let things get to that point again!

Guest Room Inspiration and Help With Painting Over an Ugly Paint Job

I’m smack dab in the middle of cleaning out one of our spare rooms.   It’s my son’s old room but for quite some time now it has been used as a “drop zone” for everything.     Actually, I’m surprised Hoarders didn’t give me a call!!!     Where did all this crap stuff come from?     After getting rid of everything in the room, I still have plenty of stuff I just can’t part with.    The closet is about 1/2 way done so lots of the keep stuff will go in there.    I just ordered a mattress and box springs so I’m on a deadline to finish up for that delivery.

Here’s what I have in mind for the room:

(source)

This was the bedroom I fell in love with at the Southern Living Idea house in Senoia, Georgia when we toured it back in June.     I’d love to have planked walls but doubt I can talk hubby into that.    But I will be using buffalo check pillows and curtains, buying white bedding and linen colored duvet & shams.      Also, I found this fabulous DIY headboard here and am going to try my hand at making one ..

 

(source)

They made a template for the headboard, cut it out and covered it with a drop cloth (one of my favorite go-to fabrics) and finished it with nail heads.

Now for the “ugly paint job” question….I have a bookcase (very cheap) and a french provincial 4-drawer dresser that I spray painted black a few years ago.    The dresser finish is too shiny.    My questions are:    what color should I paint the bookcase and dresser?     Should I use a primer before painting?     Just to remind you, here’s what the color scheme will be:

• natural color headboard (made with drop cloth) with bronze nail heads
• white bedding
• linen color duvet for the foot of the bed
• natural buffalo check curtains and 2 euro pillows (see inspiration pic from the Southern Living Idea House above)

Right now the  current wall color is a pale, pale grey and I really don’t want to have to repaint but I might have to….the wall color looks very similar to the one behind the headboard I’ve featured.   

Here are some ideas I like…..

(source)

 

(source)

 

Then I would paint the bookcase a solid color.    But I’m not sure how these would work with my linen and cream bedding….thoughts?   

Now that I go back and look at the two dressers, I don’t think they would work.    I’m totally confused!!!!    I really don’t want to do just solid color because I wanted to do something a little different on the dresser.    I love that grain sack dresser though!

Okay, enough of these “!!!!” and not enough of these (ideas)…..can you help a girl out?

Down Memory Lane

Tomorrow (Monday) my sister and I are taking our mama to  visit her oldest and dearest friend as well as tour the county just south of where we live now and where I did a lot of my growing up.     Not only am I a true child of the South, but we grew up in Lowndes County, which is smack dab in the middle of the Bible belt and well known in the history books as having played a major role in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s.     I was witness to the march from Selma to Montgomery, saw Viola Luzzio’s car where it landed off Highway 80 after she had been shot while driving a civil rights worker back to Montgomery (her body had been removed by the time our school bus passed by the next morning); remember our bus being escorted by the National Guard when the first black students boarded our bus for their first day at school in Hayneville, Alabama, and many other events of that era.     

My mother’s parents relocated to Lowndes County in the 1940’s from North Carolina after 3 of their sons were stationed in Alabama.     They remained there until the 1970’s when my uncle (who never married) and grandfather moved back to North Carolina.    My grandmother has passed away the night man walked on the moon!    My mama and daddy got married in the “parlor” of my grandparents home and I have many fond memories of growing up on their farm.     It has passed through at least 2 different families since my uncle sold Canaan Farm (as it was named) and it bears very little resemblance to the time my grandparents lived there.    My grandmother and uncle worked the grounds until they were a true showplace….today there is no evidence of their hard work short of a few trees that still remain.     The inside of the home was gutted and has lost a lot of it’s original charm as it was “modernized” to fit each family’s needs.     However, driving up in the yard brings back many many memories for me.

I previously posted about our last trip to Lowndes County here.    Since my mom turned 92 she has a hard time getting around.     I’ve been anxious to take her back for a visit as I’m afraid it won’t be long before she is unable to get out for another excursion there.      She is very excited about seeing all the familiar sights and visiting with her friend.     

Do you ever take trips down memory lane?   

Kitchen Vignettes

Recently my sweet blog friend Kelly over at Talk of the House featured some vignettes in her kitchen.   If you missed my post about her gorgeous house, you can see that here.       I have very little counter space in my kitchen but I still like to make them pretty.     I would love to have butcher block counters and new cabinets but since I don’t, and that probably won’t happen anytime soon, I try and make the most of what I do have.     A few years ago we replaced the old Formica counters and added tile floors.   My husband wanted me to use granite but I didn’t want to go that route until I could replace the cabinets and add hardwood floors…maybe one day!

 

Here’s the view when you come into the kitchen….this is the longest counter I have.    We took the doors off one set of cabinets and added the plate rack.    The guy that originally built it made a big ol’ mess out of it so when I had the cabinets painted, another person tried to correct the first mess.    I  want to have them redone because it’s hard to find plates to fit…I plan on having this cabinet reconfigured so that I can use it better and instead of having three openings, I think I’d like to have one for the plates and above that, a larger area for platters, pitchers or other decorative items.  

 

 

I love using trays and/or baskets throughout my house so I set up this little vignette using a silver lamp, old scale and a couple of breadboards.     (Love my tomatoes – from my in-laws garden)

 

I love having family pictures in every area of my home….I placed this one of me and my “babies” here so I can enjoy it every day.    When my husband and I got married 9 years ago, we had family pictures taken at the beach and this is one of my favorite ones from that time.

 

Hand soaps placed nearby on a cute scalloped dish

We had this built over the stove a few years ago for display.    It’s so hard to photograph because it’s painted dark but I enjoy highlighting some of my favorite pieces here.  

Other than two other little countertops (and I do mean little) that’s all the counter space I have.     If you want to see how Kelly decorated areas in her kitchen, you can see that here.

Thanks for dropping by my home this morning, hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler

Today I’m sharing a fabulous recipe my daughter recently made.    She found it on Pinterest so I’m linking it to the link on her Pinterest page.    

(source)

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cobbler!

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking pwdr
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 quarts strawberries, washed & capped
• 4 oz. cream cheese, cut in small pieces

Preheat oven to 350 F.      Melt butter & pour into a 9x13 baking dish.     In a small bowl, mix egg, milk, flour, sugar, baking powder & salt.     Pour over the butter, but do not stir.    Add the strawberries & cream cheese pieces. Bake for 45 minutes, or until top is golden.

This stuff is heavenly!    I know it’s too hot to heat up the kitchen but this cobbler is well worth the effort.

 

I’m knee deep in decluttering and getting ready for a yard sale.    I’ve spent the better part of 4 days in my son’s old room (which had become a hoarder’s paradise) throwing out, sorting, and purging.    Last Saturday hubby and I cleaned out our two (!) storage buildings and went to our house in the country which is basically used for MORE storage to get more junk stuff.     We’re staging it at my mom’s empty house so we can go over and set up & get things priced in our spare time.     Now I just have to tackle the closet in son’s room to make it a craft/office storage area, buy a new bed & bedding and I’ll be done with that project.     I’m in  purging mode so I have to take advantage of being in that frame of mind.    Next up will be the laundry room.   

Still haven’t decided on a new chair for our den but I’m really liking the  Jennylund by Ikea (thanks Kelly for the suggestion).   

 

 

I  also like the gray and white checks

AND the dark gray

 

We’ve had so much going on this summer it’s been hard to find time to head to Atlanta to get my sofa but maybe things will slow down in the next few weeks and I can get over there.

Better get off my hiney and get some more purging done!