Some Simple Updates

I have had this metal bird decoration for several years.  Recently it occurred to me that I needed to hang some things from the hooks on it.  (Sometimes I'm very slow!!)  :)

I got the watering can and birdhouse in the Christmas clearance section at Target last year.  I cut the lavender from my yard and the key was from a set that I bought from Hobby Lobby.

I recently found these miniature Mason jars on ebay.  OMG, I was so excited!  Unfortunately it's hard to see the details, but they are adorable in person!

Last week when I found the old scale and typewriter, I also found this bright blue, green and yellow birdhouse.  I loved the galvanized roof and dragonfly on it, but didn't love the bright colors.

 I sanded most of it down and taped off the metal parts.

 I painted it white.

 Now I like it much more by my front door. 

Thanks for your visit! 

Pam

Another Successful Garage Sale Saturday

My Saturday morning garage-saling ritual paid off again this week.

My most fun find today was this Dayton Scale. 

The people were having a 'backyard' sale and there was a huge bottleneck to get to any of the items.  I saw the scale when I first walked in, but couldn't get to it for quite some time.  I finally got to it and, after the guy selling it told me someone told him it was worth a fortune, he sold it to me.  :)

Now it's time for my husband to restore it. He did an amazing job on this scale a couple of years ago, so I have high expectations for this restoration too.

Here is the link to that restoration

 I also found some other things--the typewriter is newer than most of them that I collect, but it was $3.  I just couldn't pass it up and that price!  There is also a Baldwin candlestick that I was thrilled to find, and some birdhouses.  I love the metal roofs on them.  The cookie tin was free. 

 I'll be sure to post about the scale after it is redone. 

Thanks for your visit.

Pam

My entry into Nifty Thrifty Tuesday Party is sponsored by Appliances Online and the Best Range Cooker.

I am linking to the following parties:

Debbie Doo's Newbie Grad Party

Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style 

Bicycle Art for the Living Room

We went to Southern California on vacation a couple of weeks ago.  The vacation started with a family reunion on a lake, then to the beach to see friends, then out to the Palm Springs area to spend time with more good friends.  We had a great time!   While in the desert, my good friend and I hit Home Goods.  As soon as I saw this picture, I was smitten!

I love canvas art, love flowers, love the bike, love the colors....  But, I had recently found a piece of typewriter art that I loved too.  I thought about it overnight, then rushed back to Home Goods and luckily it was still there.  I decided that I would change out the art as I change out the pillows with the seasons since I love both pieces.

I found these blue/green ticking pillows at Pottery Barn.  (I made the little pillows years ago)

I made this pillow recently.  You can see how to make one HERE.  I have a neat bicycle graphic that I will use on another pillow.  (The darn job is certainly getting in the way of all of the crafts I want to do!)

I found this birdhouse at Home Goods too.  It was on clearance. I love when that happens!

My sister and her boyfriend sent these beautiful flowers.



Thank you for your visit! 

Pam

There are only a few days left in the Palatin Remodeling, Inc. contest for Most Innovative Blogger.  I'd love it if you'd vote for me HERE.  There's nothing to sign up for, it's just an easy click and you're done.  (My blog is Our Adventures in Home Improvement)

I am linking to the following parties:

Savvy Southern Style's Wow us Wednesdays

Cottage Style Linky Party

An Explosion of Blooms for the 4th

Fireworks are illegal in our city this year due to the extreme fire danger.  We haven't had any fires right here, but much of the state has burned.  Very scary!  We will go see a professional fireworks show tonight which should be fun.

In the meantime, I am loving time spent in my garden.  As I've mentioned before, June and July are amazing months.  This year we have had extremely hot weather and lots of wind--not a good combination, so some things have been slow to take off.  I'm hoping the winds go somewhere else for the rest of the summer!

The wave petunias are starting to fill out. 

The pond lilies are blooming.

The daisies and coneflowers by the pond have gone crazy.

I love the fullness of this bed.

The flowers on the ladder were hit hard by the hot, dry winds.  I think if I leave the ladder there next summer, I will run tubing up to water each box separately.  I think I need a birdhouse on the top, as those flowers aren't doing very well. 

I am generally not a fan of orange flowers, but this daylily is gorgeous!

 Coneflowers, daisies and butterfly bush are looking good.

More daylily love! 

 I bought this birdhouse from Colby Cottage in Oregon years ago.  I love how the daisies and daylilies are enveloping it.  There is a Rose of Sharon there too, but it hasn't bloomed yet.

The other day I saw FOUR adult birds hanging out at this birdhouse. I think there are separate compartments (or apartments) :)   They sure are loud anytime we are out there.  Those parents are very, very skeptical of people and animals.

Thanks so much for coming by! 

Happy 4th of July!

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

Pin the Tail on the Bloggy Time Party at Debbiedoo's
Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party

>>

Renting Textbooks = Happy Parents + A Mama Bird

With two kids in out of state colleges, expenses are incredibly high.  My son decided to take a couple of classes this summer.  Imagine our surprise when the professor let him know that he needed the book, "Modern Industrial Organization" that costs $180!

We checked out CampusBookRentals.com and the exact book  can be rented for the summer for $29.74.  They not only have amazing prices, they also offer free shipping both ways!  We will definitely be ordering from them right away.

If you want big savings on book rentals, be sure to check them out!

**Update on the book rental.  I ordered it on Tuesday night and it was delivered to my son 800 miles away on Friday morning!  Great service!!



I am so thrilled that my birdhouses provide shelter for many birds during the summer.  The other night I was outside and was lucky enough to get a picture of the mama bird feeding her babies.  Boy did they squawk when she got close!!

Thanks for your visit!

Pam

I Love June in the Garden

June and July are my favorite months in my yard.  Just about everything is blooming and the hot, hot days of August haven't yet taken their toll on the flowers. 

 This is the beginning of the third summer for the plants around and in the pond to grow.  Everything is filling in nicely.  The daisies on the right are enormous!!

The lavender and some daylilies are blooming. The daisies and coneflowers are about to explode with blooms. I can't wait!

Several families have taken up residence this year. Some of the places look awfully full of nesting material!  I absolutely love that the birds use the birdhouses!

Thanks for coming by.  I hope everything is blooming in your yards now too!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

DIY Show Off's Project Parade

>

Ladder for the Garden

Last fall I found this ladder at a garage sale for $1 (!)  Since it was so late in the season, I left it in the garage until today. 

We started by making boxes out of fence boards for two of the shelves. 

My trusty aging technique of Apple Cider Vinegar and Steel Wool made them look older within an hour. Directions for this process are HERE

We secured them to the ladder and added drainage holes to the back where the box wasn't resting on the ladder step.  (you can see here how different the box looks just one hour later)

You may remember my post last December about the 93mph winds here that blew 60' trees down.  I don't anticipate winds that strong again anytime soon, but we do live right by the mountains and get windy days. I put 24" stakes in and we secured the ladder to them.  You can see them right now, but once everything starts blooming, they will not be seen.

I know it's early to be planting annuals, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have too many freezes from now on.  I planted these wave petunias in the boxes.

We secured this birdhouse to the center step.

And the potted geranium on top.  We'll see if the geranium is a keeper as the season goes on... Right now I like it, but may change it later.  :)  I didn't put anything on the bottom step because it'll be hidden very soon when the spirea in front starts blooming.

 I'm excited that there are daisies and coneflowers underneath that should envelope the bottom of the ladder soon.   I'll be sure to take more pictures as everything comes back to life.

Thanks for your visit!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

The Nester's Show us your Planties Party

Jennifer Rizzo's Show Us Friday 

>