Birds, Bee's, Flowers and there's a Tree Outside

Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the pollen in the trees...wait, you mean that's not the way it's supposed to go!  Well, that's certainly the way it is around here!  LOL!

Please don't look too closely because the floor of my screen porch is covered in pollen again.  I have already thoroughly cleaned this porch once but it's back again.  Atleast this time is just a dusting and will clean up easily.  Just another beautiful reminder that spring is here, right?

I hope you won't mind, but I just couldn't pass up a chance to get back in the game with this tablescape challenge of Birds, Bees, Flowers or Trees from Cuisine Kathleen's.

It's been quite awhile since I've been able to play with you ladies but I hope this setting won't disappoint.  Also, please excuse the overcast look of my photos as the sun keeps going in and out trying to decide what it's going to do today.  

The best thing about this setting was I had everything right here at home at my fingertips.  All I had to do was pull it all together.

I had no problems finding flowers.

And certainly no problem finding any birds around here too.

I was especially excited to bring out my newest acrylic glasses that I bought from work several months ago.

They are acrylic hobnail glasses.  I saw these just last week at Hobby Lobby as well.  They also have them in different colors at HL if your interested.

I thought this flatware since it is so outdoorsy went pretty well with this setting too.

More birds... see I told you had lot's of birds!

Finally, because you have been sooo patiently waiting, let me show you my most favorite part of this setting.

This is it!  I actually had one thing with bee's on it!

One small little honeycomb candle holder that I picked up at a garage sale somewhere.  

Since it was so small and I didn't want it to get lost on the table I decided to make it a centerpiece by creating a whole cloche around it.  I love, love, a challenge!

Then to finish it all off I decided place markers were in order here.

Yep, those are actually old rusty metal markers I've used in my real herb plants.

Just print out a piece of paper with some names, a piece of tape and you are good to go.  Care to to be my guest and join me today?

Your always welcome!

And we can certainly talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees!

Please be sure and visit the following parties for more beautiful tablescape settings at;

 Let's Dish Cuisine Kathleens

and

Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP

Have a great day and great weekend everyone!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Making Memories of US

One of the best things about not having a full time job is definitely having more time to do the things I love.   I have already been doing quite a bit of catching up on things I love to do these last few weeks.  Things like working in the yard, planting flowers, organizing and cleaning the clutter away, planning projects and planning trips.

 Time to travel in our new to us camper is first on my list!

  We are getting closer to taking our first trip in just a few weeks and I can hardly wait.  I have been very busy making sure we have everything in order for our first trip.  Of all the things I've been getting together, one of those prep ideas included artwork for the wall behind the settee.  We creative types are somewhat picky about decorating our spaces right?  LOL!

   I really wanted to find something that spoke to me.  You know, something with words.  However, after searching high and low for just the right saying, I just could not find what I wanted.  I found lot's of signs that were very close, like the right colors, or fonts, the right weight or size but still just not quite what I had in mind.  After feeling satisfied I had exhausted all the best local places to find my sign I decided I was just going to have to make my own.  I am still having to remind myself that I actually have time to start and complete projects now days. It's a very good thing!

I decided I would use canvas because it is so light weight and that is very important in a camper.  I was pleased as punch to find just the right size I wanted too!

I painted my canvas with some leftover sample paint that I purchased last year when I thought I might want to paint my den this color.  That, by the way never happened.

Then because I was multitasking all day I brought my canvas back downstairs. Once I was in the kitchen and near the printer in hubby's office, I started playing with what I wanted it to say.

I typed out several different fonts and sizes using Word.  I also downloaded a free graphic from The Graphics Fairy.  I wanted something very scrolly to go in the corners and this design was perfect for me.

This is how I transferred my designs and my words onto my canvas.  

I used transfer paper and taped my printout over it, then traced them onto the canvas.  After getting my designs transferred, I simply painted them in by hand.  Could not have been any easier! 

The hardest part was decided exactly what I wanted my sign to say.  I knew I wanted it to say something about a Getaway Cottage but was lost after that.  Then I thought about what all of our camping trips have meant and the words "making memories" came to mind.  So, I googled those words and found the title to Keith Urban's song and knew I just had to use it.  Pretty sweet huh?  I'll include a link for that at the bottom of this post.

Here's my sign all finished and waiting to go in the camper.  I was thinking of putting a glaze over it but decided not to go that route after all.

I used a few of those adhesive strips with velcro (that you can remove easily) on the back to secure it to the wall

And Wah laah!  We now have something customized just for us to look at while dining and camping.

Thanks so much for dropping by!  

Hope your having a wonderful day!

A Season of Change

Check out these two pictures I took this weekend.

This was taken on Friday.

This one was taken today.  Notice anything?

Okay, let's try again.  Again, this taken on Friday, look at the side yard in this photo.

Now again look at the yard in this photo.  Notice anything now?  I thought so!

  Isn't it just amazing how in a few days our yard has begun to green up so dramatically?

Well, I certainly am excited about it!

In fact I am excited about a lot these days.

My beautiful dogwoods are such a welcome sight.

And the purple Homestead Verbena is calling my name.

This little angel is saying prayers of thankfulness for sure.

I am so grateful to be home more now after retiring my "full time" retail shoes.  

Don't get me wrong I love working and will most likely find something again, eventually.   But working 40 plus hours a week and most every weekend is not for me.  I need time to rest, time to enjoy my family, time to live in my own world more then I need the success of climbing the ladder.

I need time to bloom here at home again...

...and time to enjoy the beauty all around me.  

I have spent my first week of retirement planting flowers all over.

Getting our outdoor space ready for the season.

And what an exciting season it is! 

It's just a few subtle makeovers here for,

Metamorphosis Monday.

But oh what a...

 ...welcome season of change!