Wash Stand Redo-Part One

 This has been one long weekend, starting with a Friday evening cruise with the Mr. then on Saturday, our Sailing Club had our annual Jimmy Buffett party!  I was in charge of the decorations with another member.  We always enjoy that part of it almost as much as the party itself.  LOL!  Fun, fun, fun! Rested up today and cleaned the porch!   Then Monday our club is hosting a Memorial Day Cookout in the evening after sailing.  We have had heavy thundershowers roll through everyday for the last 3 days.  It hasn't been a washout nor has it put a damper on all the activities.  Whew!  I am already tired and isn't over yet!

Luckily, Friday afternoon I got a jump on my wash stand redo.  Do you remember this cute little (VERY DIRTY)  wash stand that I got at a yard sale last weekend?

After giving it a thorough washing, and sanding, I was ready for some paint.

 I already had spent the week searching the paint isles at Walmart, Lowes and Home Depot, in hopes of Oops Paints that would be a color I wanted. Unfortunately, I struck out!  No luck there this week!  I did find several colors I really liked in spray paint but wasn't quite sure that was the way I wanted to go.  After thinking it over, I decided to look through what I already had on hand.  I narrowed it down to these two. 

Both of these were older Ooops paints that I had picked up and used on previous projects.

While I like the color green of the larger can I didn't want to go that dark on this piece.  The smaller can was nice but not quite green enough.  So as I've done many times before I made my own custom mix.  I simply poured the darker green into the lighter color until I got the shade I was looking for.

If you look closely at this can you can see the shade it was in the middle.  Then you can see the color I created around the rims after I mixed in the darker green.  Perfect! 

And here it is!  A nice springy green!  As you can see I also have moved it to the front porch.  I really like it here for now.  I have much accessorizing to do but for now I'm pretty pleased!  I still need to find the match to my window box planter so it's not installed yet and resting nicely on this table. Cute!

However, I do have a bit of a dilemma!  I can't decide if I want to glaze or distress this piece, both, or leave it as it is.    I kind of like it how it is!  It's got enough imperfections already without adding more!  What would you do?  I'm really hoping some of you will offer your advice.  I keep seeing so many lovely pieces out there, so I know y'all wouldn't steer me wrong.

Here's a few more shots to give you a better perspective.

Let me know what you think, Okay???   I know it's a busy weekend for everyone and may take a while for you to see this.   I'll be happy to hear from you whenever you get around to it!   Hope your having a great Memorial Weekend too!

Please be sure and check out more wonderful makeovers here at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for Met Monday

Jesse's Apple Carving

Today I am introducing you to someone very near and dear to my heart.  My oldest son, Jesse.  He will be 20 this year in August.  He is currently attending culinary school in Charleston, SC.  He lives in an apartment down there with another roommate and also holds a job at MUSC as a prep cook for their World Cuisine Station.  He is a very busy and responsible young man who has decided to stay down there for the summer.   I miss him like crazy, but  I can't say I blame him, who wouldn't want to live in Charleston!  He still has another year of school after the summer break and is learning so much in his current position.

Yesterday he surprised us by coming home for a quick overnight visit on his day off.  It's always too quick for us Moms!  This afternoon while I ran my errands, he went shopping for a new chef's knife at his favorite store Williams- Sonoma.  Then this evening before he left, he decided to try out his new knife on one of my apples. 

That's my husband in the background wondering what is going on.  Both me and my younger son are jumping around taking photos and yelling, "Quick, cool, come look!"

And this is what he left us with!  

I guess he knows how much I like birds!  It's a beautiful swan!  I really did not know he knew how to do these fruit carvings so well.  He has told me about doing these in class but I had no idea!

 I love it!  It is so adorable, I don't want to eat it!

These pictures of the swan carving were taken a few hours later after he finished. The rechargeable battery in my camera died right in the middle of all that snapping I was doing while he was carving.  Ugghh!

He said it would turn brown rather quickly but so far it hasn't.  Yayy! 

I am so proud of him in so many ways!  Mostly I am just so happy to have spent even the smallest amount of time with him this week.  I thought you might enjoy as much as we did, seeing what this sweet boy left us.

I am linking to the following party today,

It's Show and Tell Friday @http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Have a happy Memorial Day Everyone!

It's a busy weekend ahead.  Enjoy! 

Outdoor Dining

I am so excited to be joining Tablescape Thursday today @ http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/.
But first, I have a confession to make..I have been holding out on you!   I've been waiting for just the right time to break out my outdoor table setting!  I wanted to wait until everything greened up a bit and began to bloom.  So today after cleaning up outside and putting it all together it was finally time!

I have purchased several outdoor dish's that I have wanted to show you for some time.  I say several because I bought a set of four dinner plates and four salad plates that coordinated.  Then later I found 4 more salad plates that I loved in another pattern and could use with the dinner plates as well.  So today you will see the original dinner plates paired  with the new pattern of salad plates.  I think you will see why I fell in love with the newest ones  immediately. 

We will be dining outdoors this evening!

 Moving in a little closer now, I have to brag on my centerpiece.  Aren't they beautiful?   This is what I was waiting for..my beautiful Hydrangeas.  They make such a lovely setting!

I used my two smaller crystal hurricane candle holders for the flower vases.

Just gorgeous this time of year!  I love these flowers so much!  Don't you?

I love the black iron cutwork "look" of these votive candle holders from the Dollar Tree.

My newest yard sale bargain stemware was an unexpected surprise addition. I just had to work them in with this setting and I think they compliment the Hydrangeas beautifully!

The black and white check napkins were another beach outlet purchase. The monogrammed flatware actually was a great find a Tuesday Morning. And now for the plates...

The plastic dinner plates are from Walmart.  They are part of the Better Homes and Gardens summer decor. I just fell in love with them when they came out.  I purchased four of these and four of the salad plates.  My salad plates are the same pattern but lime green and white only.  Cute, cute, cute!

But as cute as these are, I don't think come close to the second set of salad plates I purchased.  I fell in love with these birds the minute I saw them at Tuesday Morning.   The plates are melamine and a bit more durable and absolutely fantastic!  The first plate was in the shade, but the rest show how beautiful they are.

I brought out these pillows I have upstairs on an old wicker set.  I love plaid and made these myself some years ago.  I was thrilled when I remembered they would match this setting so well.

I hope you enjoyed this beautiful outdoor table scape as much as I do!  I sure had fun putting this one together today.  Now, I just need to go get that dinner started and I'm ready!

Leave me a comment if you please, I sure love hearing from you!

An Evening Stroll Outdoors

 

An evening stroll around the yard shows many things in bloom!  I also wanted to sneak in a few of my favorite outdoor corners.  I am linking up with the following parties today;

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ for Outdoor Wednesday and to...
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ for White Wednesday (for the first time!)


  Hope you enjoy the tour...

Along the stairs to the back deck the gardenias are in full bloom!

Is there any sweeter smell?

I love this little corner by the deck with Ivy and Herbs and few  other florals.

My Oak leaf Hydrangea is always a sight to behold!

Another corner of the deck holds one of my ferns (Kimberly Queen) so pretty with the Oak leaf backdrop.

Along the side of our house offering more privacy to the screen porch the Loquat tree is towering!

And blooming heavily this year, ripe with fruit! Can you eat these things?  I dunno know!

Continuing along the side of the house, the Hydrangea's are finally blooming!

And so blue this year too!

This is probably the closest to true color I could capture.

But I did manage to capture someone else...This is "Patch" she is one of our twins!

Moving towards the front of the house now, the Rosemary bush that is ever expanding!

And the other twin, our sweet " Misty ".

Then joined by her sister in a rare moment...

Of sisterly love!

Ending our walk in the very front of the house, you must see my newly planted gardenias!

They are just beginning to bloom..

And are ripe with buds...Yay!!!

I can hardly wait to sit on the steps or on the front porch and soak in the smell of summer!

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!

Happy Outdoor Wednesday!