Saturday, April 28, 2012

Pictures disappearing from my Posts

Has anyone else noticed pictures disappearing from older posts?  I am so upset!  How did this happen?  More importantly does anyone know what I can do to fix this so it doesn't happen again?

I have an entire post that is missing it's pictures.
Here's the link;
http://thedecorativedreamer.blogspot.com/2012/01/time-to-rise-and-shine.html

I would appreciate any advice any of you may have.
Thank you!



Thursday, April 26, 2012

I fixed the video!


Sorry!!!  I think I fixed my video for those of you who tried to look at it!  Ughh!  I didn't know I had a lock on it.  I've unlocked it now so please come back for a peek!

Thanks so much!



Good Morning Beautiful!

How was your night?  Mine was wonderful, and it's an even better morning!  The sun and warmer temps have returned last night and it's a beautiful morning for a tablescape.  

I decided to try something a little different this morning.  Instead of my usual posts, I decided to create a movie tablescape for you.  I've never made a movie before and found it to be rather easy but cannot figure out how to add the music.  Wait, let me go back, I can see where to add the music.  I just can't figure out how to get the song I want (which is one my playlist) added to my movie.  Duh!

As usual though, I've run out of time this morning again.  I hope you enjoy the video and if you don't have your sound off are enjoying the music from my blog right along with it!




Have a beautiful day everyone!

Be sure and visit the following for more tablescaping ideas and blogs.




Wednesday, April 25, 2012

I do NOT like to be so COLD!

I do not like to be so COLD!
I do not like to feel so old!
I do not like my bones to shiver and shake...
Or to be so stiff when I awake.

I do not like a sky so GREY!
I do not like a dreary day!
I do not like the SUN to hide...
Or to be too cold to go outside.

I do not like these cooler temps!
I do not like it, not even one glimpse!
I do not like this morning FROST...
Or to worry about the plants I've lost.

I want to see and feel the sweet SUNSHINE!
I want to see it's glow on this skin of mine!
I want to go outside and play!
And the warmth of summer to come and STAY!!!

I'm so very over this little cool snap!
That makes me want to take a nap.
I love my life here in the south, and truth be told...
Because I do not like to be so COLD!


I just couldn't contain myself any longer friends and felt the need for a little rhyme and rant.  I am sharing this little poem of mine today at
  Thank you Dr. Suess for teaching me well on how to compose a lighthearted gripe.  You are my hero!!!
I hope the sun is shining brightly for all of you today!  Thanks for stopping by!


Monday, April 23, 2012

We bought rocks!

For those of you who are more refined and accustomed to purchasing landscaping rocks this may seem like no big deal.  But for us, (and any of you like me) actually BUYING rocks, especially more white ones is just so dang funny!

I'm sorry, I guess you would understand a little more wouldn't you if you knew that the name of the next town over from ours is literally called "White Rock" and for good reason.  The area I live in has red clay and rock.  My front yard and backyard bedding areas are lined with rocks that I collected from around our yard over the years.  They often pop right up out of the ground.  Seriously!  In fact one of the biggest concerns we had about building our pool last summer was that we would hit rock.  Luckily, we are on a slope and had to build up as well as dig down so that did not become an issue for us.


We are still working on the back of our house after last years pool construction.  While there is still so much to do yet, and so little time, it's finally starting to come together.  

This is the area here that I spent the afternoon spreading rocks over.  

This is the first thing you pass by when entering our pool area from the side.  

It's also the area where the pump to the pool resides.  We have been working on ways to camouflage the pump by the steps.  It's not the prettiest thing to look at you know, but very conveniently located and necessary to have where it is to provide the best operations of pool maintenance.

After shuffling around a few of my pots and my old fountain I think it's starting to look pretty good.  Please ignore the half stained steps.  I am still poking along on the deck and railing staining.

Part of my progress has been slowed by poor weather on my only days off.  I can't believe the cooler temps we are having right now.  Just look at my poor flowers, that's from the cooler temps!

I am so glad my sweet little fountain is hanging in there.  It will eventually have to be replaced as it is starting to show some signs of wear but for now it fits the space just fine.  Not to mention I have so many other things I want to purchase for landscaping yet and a new fountain is not high on the list.


Originally I wanted to buy river rocks but after finding out they were $1.00 more per bag and contained less per bag we decided to just go with the marble rocks.  It will only be a matter of time before the clay adds more color to them and they will soon look like river rocks.  I even got quite a giggle out of seeing the brand name on this bag.  Who knew Vigoro sold rocks too?  LOL!

We've got a few bags left but the Mr. wants to take up my stepping stones by the pump so they will be used as soon as he redoes that.

Look at my poor Knockout rose, or Encore rose for those of you who do not know they are one and the same.  

Between this crazy weather and it being so top heavy it's started to droop like crazy.

I still have so many little odds and ends to finish up outside here it's unreal.  I am so used to getting things done.  Learning to be patient is hard.  These are some flowers that I purchased before Easter that still have yet to make it into pots.  I bought a good bit and many of them did already but these were the last and needed new pots.  I've finally got the pots last week but again with the rain and time I haven't been able to get them planted.  Maybe this week.

I didn't want to show you this area yet because I'm still tweaking it, but since I've been hinting as this for weeks I thought I'd show you my progress so far.  As you can see the lattice is up and stained by the bedding area.  I want to paint my potting bench off white so it doesn't blend in with the deck so much but cannot catch a break on good timing with that project either.  Oh well!

But here's my old swing!  I was able to finally get a fresh coat of paint on it.  It took four cans!  I had to go back to buy two more as I thought it would only take two.  Ooops! I still need to find some seat cushions that are the right size and am just using these I bough last year temporarily.  Hey, don't laugh, it works...for now.  Okay, you can laugh.  LOL!

Well, before I go I thought I'd show you the master of camouflage.  Just look at this lizard!  Have you ever seen one turn almost completely black.  I mean, he was one disappearing lizard!
  
I am joining
 today to share my latest.  Hop on over there and check a few other changes out there in blogland if you have the time.

Have a great day everyone!





Thursday, April 19, 2012

In Honor of Earth Day

Hey Ladies!  I made it!  I made it! I made it!  Yay!  Not only did I make it on time to Kathleen's Earth Day Tablescape challenge, but I literally "made" a few things too specifically for this challenge.  Woo hoo...hoo!  

Sorry about all that, but I just love when a plan comes together!  When I first heard of the tablescape challenge being Earth day my mind started racing.  I was thinking of all the possibilities that one could do but I could not get away from a few elements that I already owned that I wanted to use.  I just needed a new way to present them.  So for me...it was game on!  I love a challenge that spurs creativity! 

This post is going to be very photo heavy so I will try to keep the chit chat to a minimum.  Haha! Yall know how hard that is for me!  When I first thought of what I was going to use I wanted to do this scape outside on the patio by the pool.  Unfortunately, the rains came last night and today and there are threats of thunderstorms so I decided to play it safe and keep it inside.  Keeping it inside may have been a blessing in disguise though, as it challenged me yet again to change up a few things.  Regardless, I am loving this tablescape and I really hope you will enjoy it too!

It's so simple, but loaded with things that really do represent Earth day.


This is one of the first ELEMENTS I thought of that I wanted to use.

I had intended to use these three server dishes outside on the umbrella table so that they would surround the pole.  This four piece set which includes another serving piece that goes in the middle is a very old CERAMIC set that I purchased at a RESALE store last year.

I thought it would be adorable to use with ROCKS and added the tea lights for ambiance.  Since I had not intended to use the middle piece of this set, I now needed to come up with a centerpiece.

Insert my latest GARDEN purchase.  It just so happens, I had made a trip before Easter to a local GREENHOUSE to buy some plants.  There sat my CHERRY TOMATOES still waiting to be planted.  I plan to grown them in a pot on the deck but have yet to get a new big pot for them.

I love cherry tomatoes, don't you?

So, I decided to stick the whole carton down into one of my old pots, add a little moss and waalahh, instant centerpiece...and they smell so good too!

This is an old Terracotta pot that I've had for quite some time.  As you can see, I painted it myself.  It was one of a set of two that I made.

I love how over the years the paint has started to chip away and think it gives it even more character now.






The next ELEMENT I knew I would use would be these dishes.  

I'm sure you remember because I've recently used them but decided to show you the back so you could see they are made of TERRA COTTA.  Did you know the latin words for terra cotta are BAKED EARTH?

 Another ELEMENT I knew I wanted to use was my salad plates that are made out of RECYCLED plastic.  Pretty cool huh?

Then, I knew I had to use my BAMBOO flatware.  Atleast, I'm thinking it's real bamboo.  Haha!

My pretty blue iridescent glasses made it to the table for a few good reasons.  One, that are a glorious blue that represents water and are made of glass..glass being made from SAND.
But one of the other reasons I love is that I bought them from a yardsale, and that represents RECYCLING and RESTORING right?

Speaking or Recycling, how do you like the napkins I made?  How's that related to RECYCLING you ask?  Well, every time you use a cloth napkin that you wash instead of paper you throw away, you are RECYCLING!  I'll show you how I made these in just a minute. 

I made my place markers out of pop sickle sticks to represent garden markers that anyone could make.  I have this huge box of popsickle sticks that I bought when the kids were little and it was fun to find another use for them.  All I did was angle two sticks vertically, add a little hot glue and then place the three sticks horizontally across.  So simple!

Can you imagine my surprise when I found this fabric?  I know!!!  When I was thinking of all the ELEMENTS I would use for my EARTH day tablescape I was drawing a blank on the napkins.  After looking around for something that I liked I decided I would just have to sew up some of my own.  I had been thinking of something green maybe with a grass print or something.  Never, did I expect to find this!

I purchased one yard.

Cut them into 18 squares.

Then steam ironed the edges over once and....

...then twice to get a finished edge, rotating the folds clockwise each time.

Then I sewed a straight stitch along the inside edge pivoting around each corner.  It was very simple and something you can do too.  You could probably even do this technique with some of that no sew stuff too that you use with an iron.  Easy peasy!

Making your own napkins allows you the freedom to find napkins that are just perfect for any special occasion, even one like celebrating EARTH DAY.



I hope you enjoyed my table.  I sure had fun putting this one together.    Sorry so wordy, but I'm sure you knew I just had to give you all the details.  Didn't I tell you I love a challenge?

Thank you also for visiting me today!  
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Have a great day!