A Tisket, A Tasket, A Yellow Picnic Basket

I have been wanting to share this story with you for a few weeks!  On April 20, my husband and I celebrated 28 years of marriage!  On an evening when severe thunderstorms were threatening and tornado watches announced, my sweet husband was still willing to go with me to an outdoor antique market in the woods!  Yep, that's what I wanted to do on our anniversary and he was happy to take me, even with the storm warnings!

I saw a lot of things, but this vintage yellow picnic basket had me at hello!  I loved the pale yellow color and that the lid becomes a tray when you lift it off.  The  hang tag said $65.   I wasn't sure I wanted a picnic basket for $65 and hubs definitely didn't think a picnic basket was worth $65!  

We continued to walk around the market, but I subtly kept bringing up the basket  - "I wonder if they would come down in price?".  .  .  "I've never seen anything like it" .  .  .  "It's such a pretty color and would look great on the screen porch" .  .  .  finally - "This could be my anniversary gift!"    With that he said - "If that's what you really want, then lets go get it!"

  

By now the wind was beginning to whip up and the skies were black, so we decided to "walk briskly" back to the vendor selling the picnic basket.  They were a sweet couple and came down in price to $45!  We warned them about the impending bad weather and to please take cover and with that, we very quickly made our way to the car right before it started to downpour!  

Don't get me wrong, I'm always happy to receive chocolate, flowers or jewelry from my husband; but this vintage yellow picnic basket and walking around an outdoor market with him was a gift/memory I'll treasure!

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Blessings,

"It's May, It's May - the Lusty Month of May"

Is that title too provocative?  Well, it a song lyric from an old musical.  It's the song that sings in my head when I think of May!  

I can't believe today is May 1 and that means Mother's Day is just 11 days away!   In honor of Mom, I'm having a Mother's Day Sale in my Hymns and Verses Etsy shop.  

For one week only (until May 8) all ready-to-frame hymn prints will be 20% off.  That brings the price down to just $20.  They are 8 x 10" prints on fabric and are ready to pop in the frame of your choosing.  What a quick and easy gift for Mom, Grandmother, or someone special in your life!   The frames shown above were all purchased at either Marshall's or Home Goods for under $10.

Just enter the coupon code MOM20 in the Etsy checkout to receive your discount.   I ship Priority Mail, so even the last minute orders should arrive before Mother's Day!

Thanks to everyone for your support of my little shop!  

Oh, and back to that title - can you tell me the name of the musical that features this song?

Blessings,

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It's an old-fashioned saying, but so true!  It's been rainy here the past few days and you can almost see the plants greening up and growing before your eyes!  

I'm anxious to begin working on my screen porch.  It's about to undergo a major transformation this spring!  The hunter green paint inside and out are about to be replaced with a more neutral color and I've been on a yard sale, flea, and craigslist search for a vintage glider for the porch.  And, remember those great barn doors - I have major plans for one of them for the porch as well!  

So, maybe my post today should be -

"Rain, Rain - Go Away!  Come Again Another Day" .  .  .  

                                                                                    so I can get started on those porch projects!  

P.S.  The pink umbrella was my great aunt's and has been hanging out in my coat closet for years!  I always thought it was too bright to really use - but to hang on the door and hold flowers - perfect!

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Blessings,

Tulip and Asparagus Centerpiece

Here's a quick centerpiece idea using fresh asparagus stems and flowers.  I chose tulips that I got after Easter.  They were potted tulips - buy one/get one free!   I love buying potted tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils right after Easter at half price.  That way, I can enjoy the blooms now and then replant them outside to enjoy for years to come!

I used this simple glass cylinder vase that I purchased at Walmart a few years ago.  I have used it for so many things like my Tulips and Egg arrangement earlier this spring.   Because the sides of the container are straight, it's perfect for this arrangement too.  You could also use a wide can or other container with straight sides.

The asparagus that I purchased had thick rubber bands around the bunch.  Place the two rubber bands over the glass vase - one near the top and one near the bottom.  Take a stalk of asparagus and tuck it under each rubber band so that it stands up against the glass vase.  Now continue on around the vase adding asparagus stalks placed tightly against one another until the entire vase is covered.  Near the end, I needed to add some smaller cut pieces for the top section to fill in a few gaps.

To cover up the purple rubber bands, I used jute twine and wrapped it around and over the rubber bands several times until they were covered.  Tie a simple knot and tuck the ends under the wrapped jute twine.

Because these were potted tulips and I knew I was going to replant them for next spring, I carefully removed the tulips from the pot so they were basically individual stems and shook the dirt off the bulb.  I arranged the tulips in the asparagus container and filled with fresh water.  If I were to do this any other time of year, I would get fresh cut flowers from the grocer or florist.   

I hope your week is off to a great start!

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Blessings,

A Living Remembrance of Our Loved Ones

I wanted to write this post last Sunday, but was so busy that I just couldn't squeeze it in my day.  Then Monday we had the tragedy in Boston and later in the week, the explosion and loss of life in Texas.  I just couldn't seem to get back on track.   Today is the beginning of a new week and I have lots to share!

Let's start with last Sunday.

It was a beautiful sunny day.  I got up and went downstairs as normal and looked out my kitchen window to see my weeping cherry tree in full bloom!   It was beautiful - full of pale pink blooms!  I stood at the window and couldn't help but think of my mother.  I lost my mom to cancer in 2005.  It was a long fought battle with a lot of painful memories for me.  At the time, I decided I wanted to plant something special in remembrance of my mother.  I wanted something that when I looked at it, I would see beauty and remember my mother full of life.  

View from my kitchen window - unfortunately, most of the beautiful blooms were blown away by wind and rain this week!

I purchased a small weeping cherry tree and planted it in the back yard.  It has grown these past eight years and is full of life and beauty.  As I looked out the window last Sunday at the tree in the beautiful spring sunlight and thought about my mother, this hymn came to my mind - 

"Blessed assurance, Jesus is Mine!

Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long."

It's been years since I've sung this old hymn, but I know it was God who gave me this song last Sunday morning.  My mother loved to sing and I know that someday I'll see her again and we will sing praises together in heaven!

I got myself ready and went to church.  The second song we sang was .   .   .

"Blessed Assurance"!

Isn't God's love and care for us amazing!

If you have recently lost someone you love, think about planting something special to remember them.   Care for it and watch it grow!   It will be a blessing to you as this weeping cherry tree has been to me!

Using an Old Door as a Photo Prop

Quick post today - this is a super busy week for me with taxes still not finished, our annual neighborhood yard sale this weekend, and filling Etsy orders!  It's also going to be a gorgeous day here, so I may have to take an hour of gardening therapy in my flower beds too!

I did want to take a few minutes to share one of the first blogging secrets I learned from Marian, Miss Mustard Seed.  When you have a day with terrible lighting inside, take a photo outside with a prop, like an old door!  HERE she is using a door as a backdrop even in the rain!  I ran right out that day and purchased my first old door!  

It's painted white on one side and is stained and varnished on the other side.  It is sooooo heavy - not like the hollow doors in homes today!   I keep it on my back porch to use as a photo prop. 

I actually have this chalkboard sign hanging on my front porch with the same flower basket on the same table just like I do here, but the lighting out front was horrible and I had a limited time frame in which to take pics - so I moved the chalkboard, table, and basket to the back porch to use my old door photo prop.  You can see how I made the this old cupboard door into a chalkboard HERE!  That was one of my first blog posts and oh my, I think my photography has improved and boy have my rooms changed since then!

It has also helped me get some brighter shots and close ups when I can't get good light inside.   

I hope you are having a fabulous week and that you are not a procrastinator like me and your taxes have been filed!   

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Blessings,

Buried Treasure in a Burn Pile - How I Found Some Amazing Old Barn Doors!

Last Thursday I took you shopping and one of the stops was my favorite roadside junk shop!  It was a fun day, but I left out the best part. 

Shelf unit made from old crates

As I was looking through the old doors, the owner approached me and asked what I was looking for.  I asked him if he had any barn doors?  I had purchased a small barn door from him last year - you can see what I did with it HERE.  He said he didn't have any, but knew where there were some in a burn pile!  My response- you've got to be joking!  Where and how do I get there?

He told me that this burn pile was at his nephew's home and just a mile down the road!  He also  told me about his nephew's successful business - he buys old barns that are going to be torn down for land development and takes them apart and sells the old wood and fixtures to builders, designers, etc.

Two rusty tin cupolas rescued from a barn to be torn down!

He said he would take me there and we could see if the doors were still on the burn pile and show me his nephews business!  I tried to contain my excitement and said - Let's go!

As we approached the property,  I  could see the large burn pile from the road and as we drove closer, saw that it was at least 12 feet tall.    We drove up to the pile of treasure in the middle of a field - that's right, I drove my white Chevy Malibu through a field!   I can only imagine what the Amish neighbors were thinking!

The wood in the pile was amazing!  Most of it was chippy white painted siding, but there were 2 massive barn doors that would have been sliding doors.  I also thought I could see a smaller door near the bottom of the pile. There were also several half stable doors sticking out here and there.  I couldn't believe these great pieces were in a burn pile!

We went inside the large barn, turned wood shop/warehouse owned by his nephew.   It was ahhh mazing!  I didn't feel comfortable taking pictures inside, but it was a large open area with the perimeter stacked floor to ceiling with beautiful planks of barn wood!  I asked him how he advertised the business - because the plain people don't use modern conveniences - especially not a computer and know nothing about how a smart phone works or what can be done with an Ipad!  He told me that it was strictly by word of mouth!   He is obviously quite successful and doesn't need the modern advertising methods!  I got a little private tour and was shown some of the treasures he has saved from old barns that he has torn down! 

Stacks of structural barn timbers

We asked - Why would he throw away what was in the burn pile?   He told us that when you spend 15 days taking down a barn, transporting the wood to your shop, removing the hardware, etc.; towards the end, you just want it to be over!  I think we DIYer's can relate (on a much smaller level of course)!  My friend asked how much he would want for some of the items on the burn pile and he said if we wanted any of it, we could have it!!!  Obviously, nothing was going to fit inside my Malibu, so I asked if I could come back with my husband with the minivan and he said we could!  

On Saturday, hubby and I went back and were greeted by the owner.  We dug out two half stable doors and one amazing half door with a cute window!!!  Then we dug deep in the pile to uncover some of the "smaller" barn doors with the original large hinges!  We somehow got them into our minivan with the help of rope to hold the rear hatch door down! 

I know this is a wordy post, but I just had to share my amazing days digging through a burn pile of old barn wood!  I now have a favor - do any of you have any idea what I can do with these pieces!!!  My husband would like to know my plans for them and exactly where I plan to store them!!!!  Can any of you relate?

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Blessings,