garden signs

I made a couple garden signs. One was for Bernie in Colorado, and the other was for my Sister here at the lake.. Brenda is called Bee or Beezer, so I did some little  bumble bees to hers. May DAy surprises this spring.. so finally putting them on my blog. I guess I should do one for me sometime.. Bernie's is painted on a piece of wood fence, and I painted on the back and front so if it is seen thru the wire garden fence, we would see some color..and not plain wood. For Brenda's I had an old hand saw, and used ribbon and tulle to hang it . They were both tickled "pink" at their surprise !

Pink Bike

Finally the rusty old bike is painted pale pink..and polka dotted.. Robin over at Candy Creek has been telling me for years to paint that old thing.  I wish my paint was more pink, but  I may run across a brighter pink in spray paint. This color is called ballet slipper, and it is not my favorite pink..and I am normally one that loves any color pink.  But for now it beats that rust that covered it before ! I got this bike at a junk store for $36 when we were building the lake house, hauled it to Colorado were we were living and used it there till we moved. So Robin , when you get here in July.. you will be happy to see it NOT rusty !  Oh we are going to have some new adventures in junkin' !

Magnolia blossoms for Mom

Many years ago we planted a 3 foot tall magnolia tree in my Moms yard.. And now it is so tall, Mom has been gone for 3 years now... and when I went by her old place I saw the tree in full bloom. I sure wish that tree was in my yard now. I am sure the blooms are extra sweet because of you Mom !

My Mermaid

I have wanted a Mermaid for our lake house.. so finally saw one at a cement yard ornament place.. we drove past  it and spotted it hanging on a building in the lot.. it looked like it was going to be huge..so a month later I went back to check it out.. It was only 3ft. tall.. and oh so afordable.. It is cement so kinda heavy.. brought it home, primed it, and painted it.. added some glitter sparkle.. all mermaids shimmer... then the bling of diamonds..from all the treasures they find in the deep blue sea..She is hanging by the back door entry.. since it is the door visitors get to first from the road.. our front of the house faces the water.! Stop by and say Hi to the mermaid !

Beachy SIgn

We see this style of signs in Florida.. there is a really fun one at LuLu's Homeport, in Gulf Shores Alabama.. at the bestest eating place in Florida. LuLu is Jimmy Buffets Crazy Sista !! We usually drive 2 hours to get there just for a nice time. LOVE  IT.  SO we decided to add names and places of friends we want to go see.. We definitely must see Debbie in New Jersey, and Ashley in Canada..  and so far we still need to go see the Mermaids at Weekiwatchee. Other than those 3 destinations, we have been to all the other spots !  We have our condo rented for September at Navarre already..  Of course there is the sign All Roads Lead to Sonic..being such Sonic drive-in fans.. and Sonic was started in Oklahoma. Notice the signs pointing to the Shower on the deck...and to the swimming hole.. oh come on spring.. we need to jump in the lake !

Hoppy Easter !

I love making frosted sugar cookies... and love eating them even more.. I saw some Easter bunny cookies on Pinterest,

 and then did them my way.I have a recipe for the cookies and frosting I have used for years.  Pastel colors scream SPRING ! They were sooo yummy! Next I bet I bake and decorate some flower cookies !

Ottoman

Thanks to Pinterest I saw an idea for a new ottoman.. Just liked how they reused an old  coffee table. I pinned the idea.probably will never use the idea..but someone may..I continued pinning things for weeks.. like we all do..it is my cyber "hoarding" space. Well in Oct. while we were spending 2 months on the beach we were out shopping and  I ran across some fabulous cow hides.. YES ..cow hides.. I love them..even tho I am more of a girly girl in decorating. I petted it and left..Since I had no use for one. Next day sitting on the beach it hit me. OH i could make that cowhide into that ottoman. A large one to scoot up to the sofa to make it feel like a lounger.. sooo back to town we went to pick thru the hides..$100 for hide...so here it is Dec..  I had been driving past my fav. junk store..never seeing the perfect table to reuse.One day I took dear hubby and off we went junking..40 miles from home..the 3rd place we went.. boom there it was..The legs were perfect. Paid the lady $38 ..she was shocked I would just want the legs off the table..well it was  rectangle shape..and the top of the table was shaped so it would not work..and I knew how prices plain new legs at Lowes are..so load up table... lets roll.. Hubby cut me a 28" X 28" square of plywood, rounded the corners..off I went to town to buy a cushion and some batting and nail heads.. Of course all the cushions were 24 x 24.. Well I ordered a memory foam pad off the internet ,$48and cut it up in to 2 28 x28 squares..and now I have enough of that to recushion the settee at the foot of our bed.. so that will be  getting a lift soon.

.but first.. glued the foam on with hot glue in a few places to hold it steady while I wrapped it in the hide. thicker than normal upholstery fabric.. but got it done..stapled it all on with staple gun... then trying to  keep the nail heads all in a nice line was tricky..ended up using some masking tape as a guide. The legs off the table I sanded lightly, primed with Kilz, then two coats of Colonial Cream. and mixed me up some antique glaze of  Asphaltum color paint (craft paint and clear glaze 50/50) brushed on the antique, let it set for a few min..them wipe off excess.. After that dried I used the glaze mix and spattered the legs with  a toothbrush..let that dry and sprayed them with a quick mist of clear coat paint. SO here it is.. LOVE it.. I may actually sit on the couch now.. there's a place to put my feet up !!! so adding up the nail heads and other things I bought to finish the job.. I spent a total of $190 !