Friday, June 20, 2014

Wedding Inspired Tablescape


The hydrangeas  Mr. DIY gave me for Mother's Day have big beautiful blooms on them that are fading, but
I thought they were so pretty and wanted to bring them inside. 
Some pretty white chrysanthemums were calling my name at Trader Joe's and thought they'd be perfect with the hydrangeas, so I brought a $3.99 bunch home and put them together in a large white pitcher. 


As I set them on the table, I thought they would look  pretty as a wedding centerpiece. 
Maybe I have weddings on my mind because my brother is getting married (for the first time) in a couple of weeks. 
So, I decided to set the table in our breakfast room inspired my brother's upcoming wedding. 





I used plain white china dishes placed on silver colored chargers accented with green salad plates . The crystal is our wedding set by Waterford and the pattern is Maeve.


These silver plated napkin rings were given to me by my mother in law. I love the one with her name engraved on it. 
The napkins were found at HomeGoods. 


I just love hydrangeas, don't you?





We are looking forward to our brother's wedding coming up soon and I can't wait to meet his bride. 
This tablescape will definitely put me in the mood for the wedding.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Pam

joining:

Sunday, June 15, 2014

More Flowers For The Mountain Cottage and A Simple Irrigation System

 We spent last week at the mountain cottage and just returned home yesterday (Saturday).  
We were hoping to finish the upstairs half bath and start on the kitchen reno, but sometimes the best laid plans...
well, you know the rest.
 I won't bore you with the details.
Maybe just one...
It rained every day we were there... and we had painting to do outside.

Despite the rain and a few other things,
we were able to make some great progress and I can't wait to show it all to you as soon as it's finished.



In the meantime...



 ...Remember a couple weekends ago, we ripped out the horribly prickly holly shrubs and was going to just leave the mulch bare, but I couldn't resist bringing home some Autumn Sage?
 I'm so glad I did because it's pretty, very fragrant and butterflies love it. It's also an evergreen perennial.



 Well, a couple of days before we were suppose to leave for the mountain cottage, I just happened to find these little gems at a local greenhouse. It's called Germander which is a small evergreen herb. 

Then on one of our supply runs this past week, I couldn't resist these beautiful white Coneflowers. These perennials will fill out and grow pretty large. 


After everything was planted I looked at the weather report for next week and it said it wasn't going to rain.
At all.
Not even once.
Then I panicked and wondered how my new plants and flowers were going to make it a whole week in near 90 degree weather with no rain.



Well, Mr. DIY had a great idea to go back to Lowe's and pick up a timer and hook up a simple irrigation system. 


Here's what we got:


Mr. DIY cut the 50 ft hose sprinkler in half, then cut out the rubber separator.

Then, he inserted a connector with a hose clamp, so that it could be attached to the spigot.


A zip tie was clamps the end closed and the end was also filled with caulk. 


Timer was set and we're ready to water. 

It's a perfect impromptu irrigation that will keep our newly planted flowers and evergreens alive.

Can't wait for the flowers to fill in.

Pam



Saturday, June 7, 2014

A Little More Yardwork and Bathroom Update


As if 322 bags wasn't enough, we bought 30 more bags of mulch for our mountain cottage.
Compared to 322 bags, 30 was a piece of cake!  

Let me back up a bit...
All along the side of the cottage were these horrible, prickly Holly bushes that while tidy looking, hung over the sidewalk about a foot.  Both Mr. DIY and I had run ins with these bushes, especially when we were using the hose.  Blood was spilled on a couple of occasions.
Every time we walked by the bushes, we'd mutter under our breath   how we hated those bushes and how someday we were going to cut them down.


Well, that day was last weekend. We couldn't stand it anymore, so Mr. DIY got out his chain saw and cut them all down.

Every. Single. One.

On one of our trips to Lowe's we purchased the 30 bags of mulch to cover the ground.(Used up a bunch of bags on our fruit trees)
It was so much better than the prickly holly shrubs along the walkway!

On a second trip to Lowe's, I found these beauties and couldn't resist. (I know I have a problem)


They sat on the porch for a couple of days before I planted them.



There, all planted. 
 I know it doesn't look like much, but as the saying goes...Rome wasn't built in a day.
Neither was my garden at home. 
If you missed my last post, you can read about how our backyard garden evolved over the last decade HERE.
I plan to add some easy, drought and deer resistant perennials to fill up the space.
Eventually.


No more gardening  for awhile(I hope).
Can't promise anything.
We need to get back to finishing the upstairs bathroom, which by the way, has a functioning toilet!
Yay!





Here's what we're working on this weekend..I need to stain the wood countertop so Mr. DIY can install the undermount sink and the faucet. 
Oh, and install the faux plank wall
and finish the custom medicine cabinet
and install the light over the sink
and finish the storage shelves and the closet in the bedroom.

We plan to build a wood apron under the countertop and then I plan to attach a fabric skirt to the apron.
Can't wait.
When we get all of this finished we can start on the kitchen.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Pam