The buzz on a clean porch

Maybe I am a bit of a tree hugger, well I don't like to kill things. I carry spiders outside, I flip crickets across the yard, but I can't outright stomp or squash creatures. As long as they aren't bothering me, I won't bother them. I couldn't stand looking at my dingy porch ceiling and rails any longer and it was time for a cleaning. 

I had one small nest of buzzing yellow jackets in the corner and I tried to stay out of there way. They took the smell of bleach, held on tight while I sprayed the water hose all around them and they didn't move from there nest of pearls. 

Here is the dirty part of the ceiling.

 

 This is after it is cleaned. All I used was a scrub brush and bleach and water.

 The clean is on the left and look how gray and dirty the right.

 The whole house could use a good scrub, but I see the porch more often walking in and out.

 Very gray and dirty here.

Much better!

 I didn't clean one corner.....I just figure they will be gone soon after the babies hatch and then I can knock it down. I noticed a spider that was their neighbor, wonder who tries to eat who?

There is something about the beauty of nature.

Blessings Come in Small Packages

 I do not mean to write a sad blog post, but I just can't 'not' write something about my Crissy Cat. She has been with me this past 8 months and with me every step of the way while I worked on this house. Anytime I was outside cutting something, or carrying lumber, getting anything in or out of my car, she was there. I owe it to her to thank her for her loving support and sometimes her willingness to help me in her own kitty ways.

 Crissy showed up just before Christmas Eve (Crissy) and she was a stray kitty, and a little wild. I tried to find her a home, but no takers. I got her fixed and decided to try her as our pet. She didn't do well inside the house, but she would come in the back porch most nights or if it was raining or too cold. She was a happy outside kitty. She was always ready for breakfast and then dinner, like clock work.

 She would help me walk the dogs, even if we headed blocks down the street, she was right there following us and keeping the poodles in line. She kept all the trees trimmed with her claws and counted the birds for me everyday. One of the birds was actually her buddy and would swoop down to play with her.

Sadly, this morning, Hudson and I found Crissy in my garage after she had been mauled to death by what appeared to be a dog. She was in one piece, but lifeless. We had to go and buy a shovel to bury her under her favorite tree. Hudson made her a cross and I put up a plaque with a little bird on it that read Love. She loved us and was always there for me and I will truly miss her sweet little 

Crissy Meow. 

Most cats are pretty, but Crissy was just stunning and beautiful. Her hair was long and flowing and her eyes glowed with delight. Tears fall on my keyboard as I type this, knowing I won't get to hold her or pet her again. She had a short life, but I am glad I got to spend it with her.

She was a my little blessing.

Old Toilet Turned into Functional Laundry Basket

I have a gorgeous old Victorian Wicker toilet that I just adore. It is meant to slide over a toilet and look elegant, however, the newer toilets are taller and it won't fit. I wanted to use it for something, so....it does look like a chair and the lid opens up. Hmmmmmmmm.

 Her she is in all her Glory

 Pick out some fabric, a little cushion for the seat, staple and glue gun required.

 Cut board to fit over the lid hole.

VOILA! She is grand again!

 I found a basket that slid under it just the right size!

 Close up of seat and details.

 You can barely see the basket which is perfect.

Isn't she a charming Laundry Basket?

All mixed up, but it's OK! Mixing Fabrics

I saved Hudson's baby bed which is an old iron bed. I took the front part off so it is now a little coach or maybe even a small day bed. I wanted to mix it into my back porch which has a lot of fun colors bouncing around in there. I had a lot of scrap fabrics of different colors so I began to piece them together in a patchwork style pattern. I made a slip cover to fit the mattress so it could be removed and cleaned.

 Even though the patterns are all different, they all have some aqua in them and they blend together.

 Even the red color pillow fit once I added a rolled rose in the aqua fabric.

 The black and white floor goes with most anything and it is such a cozy room. The pink lights give it a glow!

 

I even mixed up the flowers yellow & red in a vintage green grease container. 

Have fun with fabrics and try Mixing it Up!

Victorian Couch Makeover to Beach Cottage Chic!

I had this old Victorian Couch that I got at an Auction 8 years ago and have been lugging it around through my moving. It finally has a home and I have a plan for it! I wanted the Beach Cottage look, not the traditional Victorian style.  First, I attached the stuffing as close a fit as I could. There was plenty of it, but it had to fit in all the right places. I stapled this on.

 Then I began to staple the fabric on in the creases of the couch and around the arms and backing.

I wanted to paint the couch.... The brown was too traditional.


I had some gorgeous rope trim I was dying to use and I wanted that Beach Cottage look...

 I painted the couch white, and then began adding the rope around the edges, which hid the staples and unfinished edges of the couch.

 WOW! Isn't she gorgeous?

 As you can see here, Lil Dog thinks she found a new bed, NOT!

I made a little knotted rose on the ends because they had been broken off and didn't match. This hid the imperfection. I think it looks Beach Cottage Chic!

Art in the Ordinary, The Gypsy Beach

Sometimes you happen upon a place, that is an unexpected oasis of enchantment. The images that are before you were only a small glimpse into the world of an interesting person who lives in a lake front cottage that has created an outdoor art museum of Lost Lures. As creative as I am, this was a rare sight that even took my breath away. I only took a view photos, because it didn't seem possible to even be able to capture what my eyes were seeing in real life. It was a magical moment, when all you can say is Wow. I can't reveal this secret cove, I can only let you peek into this moment.