Memorial Day....

When "Memorial Day" comes around each year, my mind always go's to my grandfather "Daddy Tom"!  The photo above is of my sister, on one of the many trips we have made to Hollywood, Florida, to visit my grandfathers grave.  "Daddy Tom" died because of a war wound he received during his many years of service as a "Chief Warrant Officer" in the U.S. Coast Guard, during WW2.
I'm proud to say the USCG has always been a huge part of my family.. My Father, Uncle, Grandfather and both my "Lt. Son" and "First Class Son-in-law" are serving careers in the USCG.

The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:
You can observe Memorial Day by

visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

by visiting memorials.

by flying the U.S Flag at half-staff until noon.

by flying the "POW/MIA Flag" as well.

by participating in a ""National Moment of Remembrance": at 3pm to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day.

by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

My thoughts go out to all who gave their lives, and to those who have and are serving our great Country. 

Family Room tables.. drab to fab!

I've had these three heavy duty tables for many years, and now that my entire design idea has turned to "White", it's time for them to make the change!
    At first I thought of 'Spray Painting", but, since I had  full gallons, of both "Primer and Cabinet Enamel" I thought better of buying new paint, as my cabinets came out beautiful and very durable. Time to  take them all out on the deck, and sand with my handy-dandy electric sander.   I want the 'Distressed' look.. so I did sand them to create 'worn' edges... after the paint, the 'worn edges' did not show? 

  The tables had only varnish on them so all I had to do was take off the shine... was  very fast work!

The first step in painting was the 'Kilz Primer"..... That first coat went on so beautifully I could have not even used the paint, it covered the wood so well.  For some reason "I love to paint with a brush"... relaxing to me!

Our weather here on the "Gulf Coast of South Florida" was in the 90's, so inside they went for the first coat of paint...The  paint went on so smooth.  I did let the first coat dry over night then applied a second.   

What a difference!  Really.  I have to tell you, my husband thinks "I've lost my mind" ( whow! In July we will be married 30 years!) Painting everything "White". "He will be a believer", when the entire house has taken on the "Soft hues" I'm after. ( to be quite honest, at this point in our lives, he really does not care what I do with the house.. he trusts me.) 

I'll tell you, "After living with dark wood for all these years"... 

"It's time for a change"!

I have a "Wine Rack" that I use as a stand, for the "Bird Cage" (notice it to the right of the end table, above),  blond wood, hmmmm?

Think I should paint that also?  Poor "Choopie and Molly"!! Their next!

"Run for your lives birdies"

Now I need to "Beat up the wood" a little,,,, but , it's so nice and clean looking?

Ok, Ok, when the outside is a bit cooler I'll take them on the deck, and do a bit of "distressing". But 'not today'... it's in the 90's again, and I'll surely pass-out!

To be continued......

I'm linking up to 


Second Round of Fabulous Friday

Master Bath, The Window (part 3) continued.......

Working on the "Master Bath" has been both fun and alot of work... It's starting to give me more ideas as I go along.  I started with no real plan, just I wanted it up dated and interesting, soft, pleasing to the eye, with my "White Theme".
I needed to put up some molding to frame the window... it did not have any, as do most of the windows in my home.... I purchased, from the Home Depot, 3" white molding. Measured and with my trusty "Miter Box" saw, I got to work.

I have used this really nice "tool" before,  I always find a way to make a mistake.. So, I went slow. Held the wood to the window frame and marked the desired cut with a pencil... "By Golly, I think I did it"!

 Then disaster happened!  I cut the top piece of molding "WRONG"... upside down! I did not take a photo of this mistake... Being really upset with myself, "Not wanting to buy another strip of molding for one (1) 22" piece",  I simply cut a new one from the scraps then pieced together, in the center of the length. Know what? I was so careful with the 'caulking'... you will never know it unless you get "Real Close".

 After caulking the seams, "It came out better than I hoped!"

Then out came the "Paint".... It's time to rid myself of the "Brown Metal" look!

"Squeel with Delight" moment for me!!

My first post on this window "Transformation" I showed how I made the 'Shelf"... Instructions for the easy window shelf, click!

Total cost for the window redo... left over paint and nails, glue and glass. Molding $8.79, .50c twine...  
my kinda price!

"Not bad",,, Not bad at all!
(yes, I'm so happy with myself)

Now it's time to "Panic and do a bit of research"... my plan is to '"Tackle the Tub and Tile.... It's an 80's creamy color"

I want "White"... white everything!  On to read about "How to paint your tub and tile"! If I, by chance, make a mess of it.. out they go and new will take it's place.. (I really don't want to spend that kind of money! but?)

Wish Me luck!

I'm linking up to

Along for the Ride


Weekend Wrap up @ Tatertots and Jello

Follow Me Fridays @ Trendy Tree House

Remodelaholic

 Shabby Nest

May and June in my yard.

"May and June"

 

Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months in the garden year: cool, misty
mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun, followed by breezy afternoons and chilly nights. 
The discussion of philosophy is over; it's time for work to begin." 

-   Peter Loewer   

I believe he is talking about the weeds!

I took a stroll through my garden today

clicking my camera away

The new buds and blooms

kissed by the rain

How I love the spring

and yes, everything you see

was planted by me

This one plant, the "Diana Rose" was my

friend's "Ingrid"

She is watching from above 

 The Trumpet Tree
survived freezing
although my camera did not do it justice

The gardenia is blooming 

Bird feeder swaying

 Hawaiian Hoya

She protects my deck

The day lilly

the dirty bird bath

it's usually full of crows

Bleeding hearts in bud

Orchids bursting out

Oregano is doing well

 Zinnias with their first flower

started from seeds

Grapefruit for breakfast tomorrow

I could go on and on but the last one

I need to show is the 'Ginger'

and my little lady

she watches over it all

May your gardens flourish

as your heart smiles

I'm linking to
Outdoor Wednesday

The Great Outdoors Link Party 

 

Bathroom reno, the window, part 2...

I call this "Bathroom Reno, part #2"... I started with the "linen Closet"

You can see this Here

The photo above is my upstairs "Bathroom Window".  Although the bathroom is a nice size with separate shower and tub and a 6' vanity, the window has always reminded me of a 'gas station window'.. no matter if I put up a 'silk window treatment', it's still small and ugly!

My first thought was shelves on the window.. but how?

Then the 'light bulb' came on. I remember some 'Macrame' twine I found a few weeks before at a garage sale... it was blue, as that was the new color of my house.. blue and white!

I also had some jalousie window panes I found many months ago in a trash pile.. I cut one into three separate pieces. To fit the width of the window. I only used two, not wanting to over due it!

 

 First I used curtain rod holders in the upper inside of the window frame.. this will hold the twine. I cut the length and used 4 times the length for each side (glass holder).  I then tied a knot for the first pane of glass (doing my best to measure the second exact).

I then slid the glass between the two sections of the hanging twine.  (I do hope I'm explaining this correctly?)

You know, I did this on my kitchen window also many months ago,  the kitchen window is perfect for small potted plants, (that is another story).

It worked!  Now for the "Ugly Window".

The metal of the widow itself was brown and not very attractive.  Also the window was not framed with molding. So off to my local "Home Depot"!  I bought 3" white. Wanted to save myself a bit of work, but, knowing me, "I'd paint it anyway"..... I am saving this step of the "Bathroom Reno" for post #3.

Here is the finished "Window shelves"... not bad!

To be continued.........................

I'm linking up to


Shop The House Sunday @ Finess your nest

 

"My French Columbine"

It took me three years to grow a "French Columbine"!

Really, from seeds, only two plants grew to size, but never a flower!
Again last year one plant did grow again. It just died back as winter took over (yes, we on the Gulf Coast of Florida do have winter).

This week I was so excited when I first saw the 'Bud' coming, and laugh or not "I talked to this little plant"... cheering it on as the bud finally opened!
Aquilega is a native plant of Europe ; they vary in size, smaller types are as little as 4" in height, larger varieties can grow to as high as 35".
Columbine is a plant of the Aquilegia family... having distinctive bell-shaped flowers with spurs on each petal. They also come in a variety of colors. Mine are "White"!

Just to show that you can see whatever you want in the meaning of things, it turns out that back around Shakespeare’s time 400 years ago columbine flowers got a bad reputation as having something to do with the seamier side of sex. It was those five horns on the flower

No matter the meaning of the word "Columbine", I only know it as the sweetest little flower.  Although  I have not seen many growing in the gardens I may have walked through, I so have loved this little flower from afar. 
From what I read these little flowers grow in shady spots. Fields if you may.  Well mine is growing in full sunlight and now that I know this, far be it for me to transplant it to another spot! I will surly kill it!

Oh the joys of the garden... and my little "French Columbine"  

Excuse me while I go out and cheer on the next three buds, promise not to stay out there in the garden too long. They say a "Thunder storm is coming"!

I'm linking up to


Fertilizer Friday

A thinking and remembering week for me....

This week, 12 years ago I lost my "Mother"... she picked "Mothers Day" to leave me and this earth.

 Changing my header photo today, I did it for "Mom"... her favorite flower was the "Black Eyed Susan" and my garden is so full of them this year....she must have had a hand in the re-seeding of last years, "one meager flower" ... Yes, I planted "one", and it re-seeded the spot all the flowers are on.. I did nothing at all, except let them grow!  In fact, I transplanted about 25 of those little seedlings around the yard.  My neighbors think I put alot of work into my flowers.  "Little do they know".  I take the compliments with a big smile!

This year the "Black Eyed Susan's" are spectacular! 

The "thinking" is of all the people I have lost over the years. My dear friend, "Ingrid", passed away two years ago and I miss her so much.  We did lunch together, so many times during  the years.  It's just no fun going out without her. How we laughed together! Everything was fun to "Ingrid".  Shopping and spending money we should not have, was even more fun. Our "Junkin days" as Ingrid called them, you know garage sales and trash pickin. Ingrid never trashed until she met me! She was from Sweden, "they never did that"!

                  Ingrid would have loved seeing the "Black Eyed Susan's"                                                                                                                                            

You know, "I think she sees them, as she smiles down on me"

This post is me rambling tonight... Thinking much too much, but oh so happy to have loved such wonderful people. "Mom and Ingrid"
There are a few more people in my life, who have passed away. Although I was saddened by their death, Mom and Ingrid were the two that "touched my life the most"!
   This post, and my new header, is for you two ladies!  "Rest in peace" Save me a spot in your new gardens.

I'm joining "Tickled Pink Blog Hop", because I am "Tickled Pink" over my "Black Eyed Susan's"

"Tickled Pink Blog Hop" @ 504 Main"


You too can link up to the "Blog Hop" below! 
Have Fun!