Friendly Decor

Last night we went to the home of friends we don't see very often - busy lives get in the way.

They have been in their current home just a little over a year.

I wrote about Carol's amazing 4th of July decorations here and last night I fell in love with her "everyday" decor.

Greeting us as we drove up to the house was this sweet little girl on her bench resting after a tea party.

Sweet creatures and flowers fill the front garden.

The grandchildren love playing on the swing Bob built from an old tractor seat.

I want, no I NEED some beautiful heart pavers like those that weave through Carol's garden.

On either side of the front door seating is provided to enjoy summer days.

The interior is as lovely as the front garden.

Carol found all these chairs at bargain prices in vintage shops.

She recently created these beautiful succulent gardens gathering sun from the plentiful windows in the dining and living rooms.

Dinner was family style in the nook right off the kitchen instead of the more formal dining room.

Beautiful floral dishes with white handled flatware and pastel glasses make a beautiful table setting.

Had I known the color scheme, I would have selected a green or pink can for the Trader Joe's roses I gave Carol instead of the yellow.

 Two of the chairs are yellowed wood with floral seat cushions while the other two are pale shades of green and blue.

Every corner is filled with eye candy including a little high chair in my favorite color palette and a floral painted stool.

I love the vintage window embellished with broken tile and the little wooden lamb on rollers below another weathered window.

Fun items in green decorate tops of cabinets and ledges.

A cherry colander and a beautiful sieve hang alongside bright aprons.

 While dinner cooked on the grill we had time to enjoy the back garden.

Bob built the amazing kaleidescope planter on the patio.

Just as in the house, little touches greet one from every view in the garden.

A rusty tricycle looks right at home in the garden as does the fat cat piece they just purchased in Avila Beach over the weekend.

Birdhouses and teacups are scattered throughout the flower beds.

Yummy food . . .  good friends . . .  a beautiful setting  - all made for a wonderful evening.

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I am sharing at

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Cedar Hill Ranch - The Scoop

A Stroll Through Life - Inspire Me Tuesday

Alderberry Hill - Make the Scene Monday

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Kathe With An E - You're Gonna Love It

Dwellings - Amaze Me Monday

My old classroom stool . . .

When I was cleaning out my classroom after 24 years at the school, I debated on whether to take the stool with me.

I painted the stool with checks and stars about 15 years ago and had it in the corner of the dining room holding a plant.

When we put in the window seat, there was no room for the stool so off to school it went.

I am glad I didn't leave the stool behind because yesterday I came up with an idea for it.

The stool looks so big in the garden because I had to put it on top of the table to keep Lulu away.

A quick coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Greek Blue and some sanding turned a has been into an updated model.

I love how the white, yellow, and blue show through after sanding.

When I updated our bedroom just 11 days ago, I did not have a little puppy who might knock over a vase of flowers.

The stool sits next to the bed and dried hydrangeas that don't need water make a more practical arrangement.

A basket full of magazines sits on top and books sit on the rungs of the stool.

An old stool . . . a little paint . . .  a new look.

I haven't decided what to do with my green chair.

That is a project for another day.

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You can find me at these parties

No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

Rooted in Thyme - Simple Sweet Fridays

Redoux - What Have You Redone?

It's Overflowing - Share Your Creativity

Funky Junk Interiors - Party Junk

On Little Lulu Time

Each morning, at 2:30 a.m., Steve and I question our sanity.

As Little Lulu whimpers to go out, and we flip to see who has to get up, we look at each other and say, "what were we thinking?"

For now, we are housebound, until Lulu can be on the beach, at the park or with other dogs - October 1.

Watching, in essence a toddler, is time consuming so my hangout for much of the day is the garden.

Each day I gather the necessary supplies so I can be creative while watching Lulu tear through the garden with an even shorter attention span than me.

Yesterday's project was to crochet an edge around a rectangle of fabric (an attic find) to make a little tablecloth.

If you notice, the pillow on the chair in the next photo is the same fabric.

The pillows matched my old window seat and the fabric for the table cloth is a remnant from making the window seat cushion

I drew the early shift when Lulu decided she needed to go out and thought it would be fun to stay and play - in the dark - so there I was at 5:30 a.m. doing my hula hoop while Lulu played tug-of-war with a rope.

At 6:00 a.m. it was light enough for me to read while Lulu settled down and played with her toys.

On and off throughout the day, when I needed to be outside, I worked on a "heart" project.

Sitting quietly (me, not Lulu) allowed me time to look around and enjoy the flowers.

A neighbor brought by some sunflowers and I managed to find time to arrange them on a table in the dining room and take photographs.

I finished the heart garland I made for Suzan of Simply Vintageous and actually found time to run to the mail center to send it off.

Lulu is in bed, I was able to edit all my photos, and write a blog post.

Each day is a little easier - who knows what I will accomplish tomorrow?

I do know it will have to be something I can work on in the garden.

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I am joining the following parties

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson- Share Your Cup Thursday

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Common Ground - Be Inspired

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative 

Using Up Canvas

Do you ever walk past the same scene day after day and suddenly realize that it needs to be updated?

This little girl is keeping us at home more since the vet told us no beach and no contact with other dogs for another 8 weeks.

After her outing to the vet, Lulu was tuckered out so she slept in the garage with me while I created something to replace the American flag wreath on the door.

I dug out some heavy canvas from my stash of Steve's scraps and sewed up a little bag.

My original plan was to do a reverse stencil with the words, but I couldn't find any alphabet stickers the right size.

I traced around metal letters with pencil and decided that for this little project, a Sharpie would work just fine.

Some thin lines were added for detail and then my bag was complete.

I broke my August rule of using what I have by purchasing the dried yellow flowers at Michael's.

Ribbon ties the bouquet together and the bee clothespin keeps the bag from falling open.

A quick little project adds some yellow to the front door.

Do you think when people drive down our lane they can tell that we like primary colors?

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I'll be sharing at the following parties:

I Gotta Create - Wildly Original Link Party

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesday

Finding Time To Create

We have never had a puppy so the learning curve is huge and the time commitment is even bigger.

I had time to look at blogs, but I have had little creative time since Friday.

Yesterday I found a few great ideas on some of my favorite blogs.

Today, in between walking Little Lulu, playing with Little Lulu and having her follow my every step, I fit in a few little projects.

Inspired by the bottles in a birdcage at Chateau Chic, I looked for bottles in cupboards around the house to put in my one little birdcage.

I have more bottles sitting on a shelf in the garage and I see a project in my future with those bottles, wire, metal shapes and jute.

Steve and I find perfect sand dollars on nearly every beach walk.

We have taken to picking up the sand dollars, but passing them on to strangers who are searching without luck.

It is fun to see the reaction of shell seekers when we offer a perfect sand dollar.

If we don't find anyone on the beach, we set them on the wooden bench at the end of our lane for others to enjoy.

I still have plenty of sand dollars for decorating and  I like how Beachcomber put shells into mason jars tied with simple rope.

Mason jars, shells and sand dollars, jute - I have it all on hand so it was a quick and easy change to our summer mantel.

Steve swapped the beach painting I loved for our little red wagon (rusted beyond salvation) because the beautiful beach scene went to a show this morning.

Yesterday I saw a beautiful potting bench on Stone Gable and it made me think about the weathered little cart I had seen earlier in the day at our neighbor's yard sale.

When Lulu was sleeping, I rushed over and the cart was still there - for $3.00.

My idea for the cart also involved the weathered wood I saw on Knick of Time.

This morning, Lulu sat at my feet while I painted an old wooden door with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Emperor's Silk.

The door is one of a set that Steve accidentally knocked off its hinges when he was putting away his car.

I saved the doors knowing one day I would have the perfect project for them.

I replaced a white knob with a yellow polka dot knob, added a canvas banner I made several months ago and filled up the shelf with essentials for my gardening.

The little cart and red door are on the side of our house that is rarely seen -  the spot where we store our kayaks, kayaking supplies, extra patio chairs . . .

Installing the little bench has me in the mood for fixing up this side of the yard.

If Lulu cooperates, it just might be tomorrow's project.

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I will be at these fun parties

Cedar Hill Ranch - The Scoop

Elizabeth & Co. - Be Inspired

Between Naps on the Porch - Metamorphosis Monday

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday