An Eye For Details

I love barn doors.  For a while, I've had good plans to make our shed door look something like the picture above.  I think the project was a little frightening for my hubby, because even though I talked him into painting the door last summer, he just would N.O.T. tackle putting the trim on the door.

So I did.

Here's the door when we started, 11 months ago...  Ahem. 

Then he became frustrated becase after a coat of pink, yes, pink paint, ( he went and purchased it without me!), he had to paint the door again.   But, alas, I digress.  So I convinced him to purchase another color, and this was the final red. To give him credit, he did get the new paint for free since the pink also started peeling right away.  Maybe that was a blessing in disguise.

Please excuse the hole in the door, with a rope latch.  Someone likes to rig things.

Anyway, after the final red paint was applied, I think he was afraid to mess with the project any more, or he was sick of it.  I was MY idea, anyway, not his.  So it sat like that through the winter, and the spring, and we were well on our way into summer when I finally had enough. 

I hauled out the miter saw, the drill, and all the hardware and trim boards, which were primed and painted last summer.  And I did this:

And it makes me happy every time I look at it.  I still have black, decorative hinges I purchased at the Re-Store that I might add, but I'll have to wait for the weather to cooperate so I can touch up the paint first. 

What do you think?  Huge difference, huh?  And, it cost next to nothing to do. 

More Pallet Projects!

Looking for something to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon?  Need a cozy place to lay and watch the fireworks tomorrow?  Well, here you are, a project to finish in an afternoon...

Pallet Loungers!  Can you believe it?  I'm amazed at what people are doing with pallets ~ which are basically free wood, when you can find them. Here's a great tutorial on how to make these beautiful pallet upcycle creations.

Craigslist is the best source I've found, but businesses are often looking for free pallet disposal, so keep a watch out.  I wonder what these finished beauties would sell for? 

Here's a pallet planter made on the same Shoestring blog. Adorable!  But the most impressive project by far is this pallet house!  Here's the link to the full story in a magazine.

And you could decorate the outside of your pallet house with these pallet garden boxes and planters!

It just goes to show that if you set your mind to work, you will be rewarded for your efforts. 

Now go create!

Use What You Have

I've been working on a few outdoor projects this summer, in addition to the never ending list of things of things I want to do inside my house.  One of my favorite projects so far is this potting bench, which I just finished. Here's what it looked like before, just after I picked it up:

Excuse the black hose lying in the background!  I picked that from the neighbor's trash that morning, and hubby purchased a $1.82 hose repair coupling the next day to fix a little damage.  Two seconds later I had a nice new~to~me, heavy duty hose to replace one that always seemed to kink.  But I digress...

On the potting bench, every board on the upper and lower shelves had to be reattached and I had my lackey husband cut a new brace and shelf to replace the warped one that came with the piece. I did all the reinforcements myself, and tightenen all the fasteners and bolts. (Take note of that drab red door in the background, because it got a facelift this week too, but that's another post.)

I added a hose reel to one side, and cup hooks across the front of the new cedar shelf, to hang tools, keys and implements.  I really enjoyed working on this project, and it inspired me to google potting benches to see what others were making.  Here are a few noteworthy projects you might be able to make using what you already have around the shop...

I loved this fabulous Pallet Potting Bench from Digginfood.com...  What a great idea, and pallets can be found pretty much all the time for next to nothing. I know I have enough lumber behind the shed to make several of these, and I bet they'd sell on Craigslist...  I report back and let you know for sure. ;-)

Here's another from Re-nest...

And don't even get me started about all the amazing buildings and fences made from pallets on this website.  Seriously, I need a truck!  I'm now planning an addition to my storage shed after seeing how easily this went together. 

Inspired yet?  If not, just know that I reworked and sold this potting bench in a week's time, and on my own schedule.  Use what you have to get what you need.  It just makes sense!

Facing a Challenge

All my best intentions to post more regularly have taken a back seat to finishing the school year strong, and keeping up my responsibilities here at home.  Thank God for Proverbs 31 Amplified, which reminds me that I can't take on new responsibilities that cause the neglect of my present duties!

So, here's a little sneak peek at what I've been doing since my last post...

I was one of three sponsors for the ropes challenge course activity for some of our juniors and seniors.  The humiliation of wearing the harness and helmet is so small compared to the thrill of getting to have this great experience with such a fantastic group of young people!

Yup.  I climbed it. A 55 foot verticle wall is nothing for this homeschool mom!  I did it!

After conquering the elements on the big blue tower, we took a 100+ foot zipline to the bottom!  It was such a blast!  Challenge courses make great homeschool field trips!

Note to self:  Next time, make someone take pictures of me actually doing some of these things, instead of me always being behind the camera!

Surprisingly, I wasn't very store the next day.  So that day, we did some of this:

Yes, we've been taking dance lessons!  My daughter is going to prom in a few weeks, and for the last five weeks or so, we've been going once a week to learn ballroom dancing.  She asked me to join her in the lessons, and I have for most of them.  The foxtrot is my favorite, followed by the rumba.  They've also learned West Coast swing, which I've not practiced much.  It's all great exercise, too, which is a bonus!

What have you been up to this week?

Johnson's Beach

My daughter and I were blessed to be able to hitch a ride to Pensacola with friends, so we have spent a week visiting the beach and the Naval Air Station. 

Johnson's Beach in the Pensacola/Perdido Key area is absolutely beautiful and we have thoroughly enjoyed it.  I'm currently reading The Contemplative Mom by Ann Kroeker, so this is the perfect spot to savor every page.

We've done alot of walking on the beach, collecting treasures and getting exercise in the beautiful sunshine. 

There are lots of picturesque spots on the beach...

Apparently we have an earlier spring break than most of the East Coast, so the beaches are not crowded at all!  Hope if you're on break this week, you're having as much fun as we are!

What I've been up to!

Sunday was the big day for my friends Kevin & Chrystal. 

We arrived at the empty facility at 8 AM, and with a handful of teenagers and two adults, we transformed the space into this by noon.

My friend Jacquie made this magical winter wedding cake with fondant, truffles and snowflakes. 

It was amazing (and exhausting) to be part of such a wonderful event! 

I'll be back tomorrow with more pictures and updates on my Pantry Challenge progress.

New Perspective

There was a real lack of beauty in this home office space before.  I was utilizing what I had, and really had no inspiration to guide me.  Without vision the people perish, you know.  So when I saw what Nester had done with her new space, I knew I could do something similar. 

I started by selling what I had, and made $140 towards my new furniture.  I kept watching Craigslist, and found the table, chairs and buffet (pictured near the end) for $150, so my net cost for those items was a whopping $10.  Easy peasy. 

I still had the problem of finding a printer stand, and when the china hutch showed up on CL for $65, I knew it would be functional and beautiful in the space, so I made a call.  The woman who owned it said she would deliver it, (an almost 2 hour drive!) for $20!  That had to be God!

I think the furniture is beautiful, and it matches this room, which is primitive and cozy. 

One of the main reasons I needed to make a change was that I had no place to effectively study my Bible.  I'm a book person, and have loads of commentaries, translations and also use my computer, so I needed something functional.

Now, what I have is functional AND beautiful!  The idea of using a table like a partner's desk where people can sit face to face is fabulous!  Remember this post?  It's also beautiful. 

One of the things I love most is that the whole family likes it.  We've had opportunity to sit together to work on projects, and there is room for everyone.  Best of all, we don't have to clear the table so we can eat dinner!  I love that.

Even the hateful cat seems to approve! 

Did I mention that when the china hutch was delivered, the woman offered me $50 for something she liked from my house, so my hutch was $35 out of pocket and delivered?  That brings my final cost for the transformation to $45!

Isn't God amazing?!

Makin' a list & checkin' it twice!

I've just added my lists for Holidays and Finishing 2009.  It's been a push to get anything done but school and school functions this week, and I'm grateful for the crockpot, so hot meals are ready when we are ready for them. 

I have a few favorite things that I make in the crockpot, and a few recipes to convert from oven to crockpot, which usually requires a test run just to be sure everything works smoothly.  If you're blogging, would you share some of your favorite crockpot recipes and link back here?

This is my favorite from this week:

Crockpot Swiss Steak

1.5 pounds round steak

1 16 oz. can whole tomotoes

salt to taste

pepper to taste

two large carrots, peeled, sliced in 1" pieces

one stick celery, sliced thin

one large onion, sliced thin

That's it.  Just cook on low all day, or high for about 4-6 hours.  Serve over brown rice.  Yum!

Finishing Strong

The year's end is approaching quickly.  I recently attended two seminars (which accounts for my lack of posting!) and in both, I have been inspired to both start new projects and to finish current ones.  My goals for this week are to continue my posts on the homeschool classroom, to begin my Finishing List for 2009 and to begin my preparations for the holidays.

Looking over the calendar, the next few weeks will be very busy, and now more than ever, it will be important to be organized and prepared for what is ahead.  Otherwise, I will not make any traction.

Rather than enter this hectic time of year in a state of panic, I am choosing the ways of peace.  I refuse to jump on the wheel with all the rats in their own race!  Instead, I will run the race, with patience, that He has set before me, for I am looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of my faith.  (See, finishing is of Him!)

I am committed to continue schooling on a daily basis, even when "life" wants to creep in and push school work to the side.  I know it must be done.  We are making good progress and will complete what our hands have found to do.

I will take the time to prepare nourishing, hot, homemade meals for my family and we will eat them at the family altar, the dinner table.  I will spend time doing that which I enjoy, and what is precious and important.  I will be inspired and I will inspire.  And I will complete what I have begun.

What if??

Leadership Institute

I'm attending a conference tomorrow for entrepreneurs.  If you are in the Tulsa area, you should check it out.  The cost is minimal, and the information will be priceless!

Hammock time!

The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show this week for those willing to get up in the wee hours of the morning and wait patiently for the shooting stars.
In North America, the best time to watch will be between midnight to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, but late Tuesday night and also Wednesday night could prove fruitful, weather permitting.

Kitchen Sneak Peak!

More to come, but for now I'm off to help hubby with the sink and faucet install!

Pray for us! LOL

Do Something! The Kitchen

I love Craigslist!

This morning, my kitchen looked like this:

Now, it looks like this:

Yes, the countertops are history.

No dumpster, no hauling fees, no special trash run to the landfill!

We listed them as free on Craigslist before we ever even got them unattached, (which I don't recommend, by the way!), and within 20 minutes we had a call from someone who wanted them. And then another someone, and then another... We have had 7 calls! I couldn't believe it!

She and her husband are having to downsize and are working with a very small budget, so she was more than pleased to come and haul away my sink and countertops! She will be back in a week or two for the backsplash, which I couldn't manage to get removed before she arrived.

Anyway, we were so blessed to be able to give them away, and with hugs and tears, Patty from Cookson gratefully received our gift.

What a joy, to be able to give and to have my own new countertops installed tomorrow. I'm excited to see how different the kitchen looks, but just as excited to be able to be a blessing to someone in need.

Our Heavenly Father does all things well.

Now, I'm off to clean all the cobwebs I uncovered in the cabinets...

Do Something!

Slow and steady wins the race. That's my renewed mantra...

Since school is winding down and summer is heating up, it's time to get the porches in order. Hammock stands are out, flower beds are a work in progress, and I spent the day cleaning and fluffing the back porch.

I'm using all my galvanized items on the back porch, so I gathered them up and started potting my ferns and planting seed. Purple and red morning glories are in one container, and will hopefully climb up the post on the north end.

I repositioned furniture, including this $20 folding table from the HOW Foundation. I purchased it with the umbrella, and was excited to find one very similar in the Pottery Barn catalog for $349! I think you can also purchase them at TJ Maxx for $60, but I like mine for $20. The asparagus fern was a 6 pack for $2.29, and I used two in this little glass container.

I purchased these lanterns years ago when we were doing alot of tent camping, so I dusted them off and hung them with jute cords. Lanterns are also very popular in the PB Outdoors catalog right now, so I'm glad I had these tucked back.

The cannas are more red leafed than what they appear, and will have bright red flowers as well. The hummingbirds love them, so I can't wait for them to bloom.

I have had my eye on a palm plant at a local grocery store, and when I went in today, they only had one left. I made them an offer on it, and got it for $6! I was quite happy, as the same size at Lowe's were $40 last Saturday!

Fluffing the porch made me appreciate the space again. It's like my Little Creek Cottage just grew a new room. I can't wait to have my tea out there in the morning.

But for now, the sun has gone to bed and so must I! Good night!

A Great Eye For Style...

One thing I've discovered is that I have a pretty good shopping eye, when it comes to style for the home. I can see something in a magazine, or online, like this Urn in the EddieRoss Etsy shop, and find it a week or two later for a dollar or two. So, I'm now the proud owner of a Milk Glass Greek Key Urn, just like the one in Eddie's Etsy shop, for a mere $2.

Oh, and I have one of these...
And one of these, that he recommended here.

The problem is, eventually my house begins to look like this junk shop...

And I realize again that there is a breakdown in the system!

While I want to sell on Etsy, Ebay, Craigslist, and so on, I don't want to live in a junk store while I'm doing it.

There's a reason little antique shops, thrift stores, and junk shops are loaded down with **stuff**. And, to make matters worse, I have two major problems with selling.

First, I have NO GARAGE. So, I'm limited as to where I store my finds until they are sold.

Second, I am a procrastinator when it comes to listing items for sale. What's up with that?? I like the buying, the shopping, the hunting if you will, but I dislike taking the pictures and writing the ads.

So, I have a dilemna.

I'm not going to live like this...

Any suggestions? I need help!

Do Something...

Summer will be a busy season this year, because I'm doing something. Not that I haven't been, but I'm making an effort to do 15 minutes of "extra~ordinary". My first SOMETHING is a new Etsy shop.

Since I'm already out gathering for my own nest, I thought I'd try finding a few things that others might enjoy having around their homes. I'm focusing on the magazine, catalog, and home design book ideas I've been studying lately to spruce up my own place, and I've already found a few little items to list.

I have more coming, but in the meantime, tell me what you think about my items, and feel free to make any suggestions or constructive criticisms that might be helpful! Really. ;-)