For the Birds!

I've been doing so many things around the yard, I find that I like to play in my projects a lot. I don't mind weeding, I love the gardening, I enjoy building things, but I can't lie...the cutting of shrubs kills me. I think I'm just not cut out for the labor and have decided it's for men. Truly. After all, isn't that why they naturally have more upper body strength? Now, when I say "cutting shrubs",  I don't mean shaping boxwoods-- I actually love that--- it's the overgrown rhodadendrons, shade trees and large bushes and branches that are so taxing. So after I spend two or three days worn out from cutting, I look forward to some kind of reward. The reward this time, will be to build a bird house with the scraps left from other projects I've done, such as the potting bench, and log leg bench, and more {yet to share}. So in my search for inspiration I've found some ideas I thought you would enjoy two. Soooo, here goes-- 

I love the tall victorian design and color on this one. That style has always been so attractive and lovely to me.

The rustic simplicity of these play off the antique hardware well on these, aren't they great fun?

The roofs on these really caught my eye and how simple and inviting they seem. I love the open house idea:

The uniquity of this rustic bird home is darling...

while the cabin style of this A-frame blue roofed house is simply charming! 

I was truly inspired by this boot house as I was thinking of an old pair of unused cowboy footwear we have around here that no one fits any longer. Although this one is ceramic, I think a real leather boot house would be adorable fantastic...

I love all the twigs surrounding this one....

Then again, why not just make one out of twigs. Heaven knows we have plenty of those around here.

These beauties struck me instantly with all their color and garden style charm---

But truly, what got me best was the mix of charm, color, fun, antiquity, uniquity and rusticity (try saying that three times fast) of these functional houses. I guess we know what I'm leaning toward now, especially with all the old license plates laying around our garage. That is, if there is only ONE birdhouse in my constructing fun future--  ;)

Meanwhile, what is your favorite? Are you as inspired as I am?! We'll see what I come up with...but for now, I'm whistlin' a happy tune with all these great ideas. Just another reason I LOVE google!

                                                                           HuGs,

Just Sittin'

Okay folks, so I almost broke my finger for this one. Not lying. I couldn't type for long periods at a time for a month. But here it is and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you!

* A little preface: Now that our yard is coming together, I've been enjoying being out in it more often. I dedicate at least an hour a day to it. I've started looking around at all the beautiful areas that would make a great place to sit and enjoy the beauty or watch the children play, so the concentration lately has been on creating more seating. This, my friends, is where this idea originated.

 I had plenty of wood on hand:

(this isn't even all of it *sigh*)

and was discussing the idea of a bench with my 9 y.o. {mr. creativity himself!} and he started telling me of his big ideas to use logs from our log pile for legs. BRILLIANT IDEA! So glad he shared this with me. We immediately started drawing up plans for a visual and began putting our thoughts on paper.

I haven't always done this. I've learned the VERY HARD way that it is just simply a GOOD IDEA.

Then one morning, we siezed the opportunity to get started, and dug a few similar looking logs out of that log pile.

But they were uneven. SOoOo...

 Lesson #1: don't try to cut logs down with a chop saw.

I'm still having trouble learning that I can't do EVERYTHING on my own. And that patience is usually a key element in  e v e r y  project. So the first log flew back from the blade and my left middle finger took the blunt of the blow. It still hurts in all honesty. Just not as bad. And it's no longer purple. funny {or not so funny} how that color fades with time. Anyhow, my knight in shining armor husband {who regularly pulls his damsel in distress out of a bind} took out the chain saw a few days later and cut through those logs like butter to even them up a bit. {while I cursed myself for not having been patient in the first place}.

Once that task was completed, I got brave and pulled out that saw again. I began measuring... And cutting...

And nailing:

and enjoying a lot of help.

 Lesson #2---Don't nail a BENCH Together.

Because when I got that thing all put together and ready for the back to be put on. It just started falling apart. {yep, never said I was a carpenter} So why didn't I stick with the regular plan to screw those pieces together in the first place? Well, that is where the "patience in every projects" displays itself again. My honey was out of town on business and had to take the drill gun with him on that job. I was antsy to get this project goin'! That leads us to:

Lesson #3--- have your OWN tools on hand. Especially ones you use regularly, or (as in my case) daily. Just a time saving idea. 

So after screwing everything back together, I stood that bench upright. Heaved a sigh of relief (or two, or three...I wasn't counting.) and enjoyed the finished product:

Oh, did I say finished? ...not quite. I wasn't quite satisfied yet. So I went to look at my stain stash. AND...

gave it a nice coat of walnut colored minwax.    

Then after consulting with my honey about the sturdiness of the piece {I always go to him for this guidance when it comes to furniture} decided to add a couple stablizing boards:

Then a second coat of walnut minwax to darken it up a bit more.

I'll probably be slapping a clear coat of Polyeurathane on it, just to give it an all weather finish, but for now....

I'm enjoyin' just a sittin'.

And watching.

And listening.

And stopping to appreciate the world around me. 

  Something I haven't done a whole lot of lately.

So maybe it isn't the BEST built bench you ever saw, but it's ours, designed by me and my boy. And for a first, it didn't turn out too bad!

and the lessons learned were priceless {I'm thinkin'}.

Was the agony worth it? Well, I must say, seeing that bench sitting invitingly when I look out my kitchen window all finished and natural looking, makes me smile. BIG! And reminds me of the last and final lesson: #4--- Take advantage of what life has to offer just sittin' and enjoy the beauty of the world around you---In your own back yard.

XoXo,

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Visitors

This past week has been a fun busy. We had some really good friends come up early to visit on their way to a family reunion. We did some rafting:

 

Some travelin'...

Some beach Bummin'

Lots of visiting...

Yummy Eating...

Lots of Photography {more to come later-- Just think: Anniversary/ Family Pictures/ Senior Portraits}.

 

A great deal of goofing off {saving the best photos of this for bribes}. *Eh-Hem*...

A lot of haircutting-- {drat! No before and afters} and Jewelry making {In trade for photo sessions}

 I can't wait to share what they did for us. The pictures are amazing! In the meantime- our friends walked away with some beautiful pieces. I kept some to adjust, so before I send those off, I want to share them with you:

"Little girls Room Pink and Chunky Watch"

                                                              "Clear Blue Skies Big and Chunky"

~Personalized Baby- Pink and "Lello" Especially for Geneva

Soon to the boutique {hopefully by the end of the week} chain bracelets in happy summer colors! Here's a sneak peak, check them out:

What a great way to wrap up a wonderfully fun stay from our dear friends. *sigh*

Now back to reality...

XoXo,

Yummy Crepes

Years ago a friend shared this recipe with me. I just resurrected it this summer after years of unuse and wonder why I haven't made it in so long. I love this recipe and after having a true crepe in France, know that this is pretty true to authenticity. Crepes are great for any meal: Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. They are a fantastic way to revive leftovers too (asuming we aren't talking about a casserole). If you have a better recipe, please share! Meanwhile, I'm happy with this one:

The crepe to the left is filled with bacon, cheese and Salsa. The one to the right is filled with fresh cut strawberries, yogurt and cool whip.

Crepes
1 C. Milk
1/2 C. Water
2 Eggs
2 T. Butter, melted
2 T. Oil
1 C. Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in bowl and cover. Let sit 30 min. Butter or oil crepe pan, heat till butter sizzles or oil is hot. Add 2 T. oil or butter & tilt from side to side till bottom is covered. Cook aprox. 1 1/2 min. or till crepe is lightly browned on one side. Turn out onto paper towl. Repeat.
Crepes freeze well, stacked w/ wax paper between layers. Wrap stack in moisture proof bag. Thaw one hour before using.
Ideas for filling:
applesauce, yogurt, sausage gravy, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, bananas and cream, pie filling, spaghetti sauce and cheese, bacon &/or sausage. The possibilities are endless!
Bon Apetit!

Celebrating our Freedom

When I was growing up, we celebrated the 4th of July with lots of swimming during the day, a BBQ for dinner, an annual program celebrating all that has taken place in the name of making this a free nation and how the colonies came about, then we would cap off the day with card games as we waited for the sun to go down to watch the firework display or watch my brother practically burn down our neighbor's house.
Things haven't changed much since we've had children of our own. We do a lot of the same things with our own kids now. Because of my fond memories of those times, I have a great love for our Country and freedom. So, the moment I was shown this wall hanging a couple years back as our quilt group's project: {yeah, haha, "our"? As if I go much. *sigh*} 

 I fell IN. L-o-v-e! Truly. I was rummaging through my sewing closet the other day and remembered I had it and that a good friend had loaned me her beautiful example. Feeling the need to return the loaner, and having woken up early on the 4th of July, I decided to finish piecing it (with only two more strips to add) and sew the back on. After it was complete with binding, I was able to cart it over to the 4th of July breakfast and program we were going to, and give my lovely friend back her forgotten treasure. No, truly. She'd forgotten all about it! She was elated to see what she had done. I was relieved she was so tickled about it. (and had quite forgotten about it *eh-hem*) It was also really fun to show her my almost finished product:

I worked a lot more on it while we spent the 4th on the Oregon Coast at the Hallmark Hotel in Newport. The fireworks were incredible:

The sunset was gorgeous:

The view from the hotel was Amazing!

The perfect setting for finishing a project! ;)

 I'm quite happy with it and am very excited for next year when I can proudly display it in my home.

                                                   Hope you had a relaxing 4th as well!

                                                                    XoXo,