My Happy Potting Bench

Finally, I am finished with this post that has been sitting in draft since the first of May!  Boy, am I a slacker!  Seems I can't finish one thing before I'm off on another!  Well, today's the day, and I am ready to reveal the makeover of my potting bench!  Hope you enjoy!
I love being outdoors and puttering around with my plants.  One year we had some leftover scrap pieces of teak from a dock project at our sailing club.  The Mr. being the thrifty man he is scooped them right up and brought them home.  After listening to several years of me wishing I had a potting bench, he built me one!  I used to keep it over by the fence, way back in a corner of our back yard.  That is until this year, when I brought it out and placed it right in the middle of our deck.  I am loving it, as it is much more usable here in so many ways.  This is how it looked when I first moved it this April.

Not too bad, I had a few accessory pieces but it was still looking kind of tired and shabby!

I started with the little lantern above.  It really need some new paint!  

A little yellow Kryon and it's looking bright and cheery now!

Then, I noticed the wooden tool box was looking really shabby!  I found this cute little stick on from the dollar tree, applied it, and added a coat of modge podge on top to secure it!  It's simple but add's just the right touch of interest, don't you think?

Then I decided to move the tool box to the lower shelf and free up the top for potting!

My blue candle lanterns also received a fresh coat of blue!

 

This iron piece was purchased as a front door mat and I really did use it as one.  But, after listening to many guest and family members complain of the hard knobs and the heels of their shoes getting stuck as they entered our home I moved it to a fence in the back yard.  I decided to move it here, after moving the potting bench up on the deck.  I just love the extra design element it adds to the whole scene.

It fits the space perfectly and I can hang things off of it if I want!  On the top shelf I've arranged a few fun outdoor items.

This potted plant w/a birdhouse and few mosaic birds from Kirklands.

This is a handmade ceramic pineapple bird feeder, I purchased a few years back from our Craftsman's Classic Fair.  You are supposed to thread an apple or pear through the metal and hang from a tree.  However I do not choose to feed and encourage our squirrels as this would surely do, so it's more an ornamental piece for now!

And a few odd looking wood pieces (added for support) needed a little extra something.  I added these stamped pebbles from the dollar tree to both sides, for a little interest.

On the lower shelf I added a few whimsical hooks I picked up sometime ago from Michael's. 

My extra pots were moved and tucked nicely underneath the whole bench.

I love having my potting bench right on the deck in a space I use so often.  It is so convenient having it right here in the middle of things!

It is such a fun sight to behold and I can entertain off of it if I need to as well!  I know it's busy and cluttered but it is primarily a POTTING bench! 

This is my happy place, and I really enjoy it!  What about you?  Do you have a happy place, that just makes you smile and feel good?  I would love to hear about it!

Thanks for stopping by!  I am joining the following party today!  Please be sure an check out more amazing and fantastic changes here at;

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for Metamorphosis Monday!

 

Let me know if you dropped in and made it all the way through today okay?

I really appreciate it, and I love hearing from ya!  Always!!!

Mary

Thrift Shopping

I was lucky enough to find time for a few thrift shop stops this week.  My first stop netted some pretty good deals.  This was at one of our local thrift stores called, The Good Works Store.  I just have to take a moment to tell you how this store came about.

  When I first moved to our town over 7yrs ago, I did some volunteer work for an organization called Good Works. It was just in it's beginning stages.   It is a non-profit Christian based organization that does home repairs and remodels for the less fortunate in our area.  Our town is located in one of the wealthier areas of our county, but right at our back door in a neighboring town are some of the poorest.  This organization was formed by local Christians who saw a great need for their neighbors, that was going unmet.  It is supported by all volunteer services, and donated items.  As this organization grew so did the donations!  So large were the donations that they often exceed the demand.  While storage is quite adequate the donations are often more than can be used at any one given time.  This surplus of items became the inventory for the The Good Works store.  All proceeds go right back to Good Works for purchases of items that sometimes are not always donated, such as shingles, nails, siding, etc.  The store is open only a few days a week with limited hours but is open to everyone!  Here is a sampling of my lucky finds this Thursday!

I purchased this picture for $5.00.  It was the Gold frame I was after! Love it! I have been doing a little adjusting of my wall decor in the dining room and wanted a gold frame to fit a print that I had in a dark wood frame.  Watch for more on this redo in an upcoming post.

Here's a close up of a few more items. 

This metal basket is meant to hang off of this hook.  I bought it for $5.00 also!

I think it is a candle holder as it has a long glass insert.  You could also use it as a vase too!

I bought this ceramic candle pillar with the intentions of using it as a base for a stand to hold my cloche.  I immediately thought I would paint it black but am really loving the yellow finish of this piece.  It has a slightly goldenrod tone with a nice glaze and cleaned up beautifully!

I also purchased this light for $2.00.  It's quite a gamble as it has some rusted up spots that I hope I can sand and paint well enough.  I was hoping to clean it up, give it a fresh coat of paint and put it in my half bath.  I like the style of this more then the standard builders grade I currently have in there.  We shall see!  If not, I'm happy to know that $2.00 is still going to a very worthy cause!

Then today, Friday I was able to drop into two more of our local thrift shops.  Here is the combination of today's finds.

This pretty ceramic cobalt blue plate just sang out to me for $1.00  Wish there were a total of four of these, but I do have other thoughts for this single plate.

And this cute little tin jug was only $1.00 also.  Wonder where this might end up?  Hmm?

And this set of four napkin rings is looking kinda rough,  but for $1.00 I couldn't pass them up.  A little paint job and they will be better then new.  The metal is in great shape. it's just loosing it's coloring!

Well, there's my thrifty finds this week.  Pretty good huh? I'm linking up with the following parties;

http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/ for Garage Salen Party

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Please be sure and check out more great deals here as well!

And I just have to leave you with this, just a thought, I'm thinking...

Too colorful, or just right???

IDK!!!

Thanks for stopping by, be sure and let me know you were here if you do!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Mary

Do you remember this?

I am joining the following parties today;
http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/ for Vintage Thingy Thursday
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/ for Transformation Thursday


I want to show you a few projects I have been working on and a few I still have to do.  I am going to start with my Vintage Thingy first.  It is also a transformation project but is my only vintage piece today.  This used to be in my backyard over by a tree!  It had a fern sitting on it and it was black and rusty.  I have had this for so long!  Every since I have been married it has been an outside piece but when I was a girl it used to be in my room.  Sorry, I forgot to get a before photo.  Here are some fun and wonderful after shots though!

Do you recognize this?  If I am correct this is an old Record Player stand!  The record player goes on top and the albums went on the bottom.  It may be an old T.V. stand because that is what I used it for as a girl in my room.  And the bottom would be for magazines, I'm guessing!  Well that's my point!  I'm not 100% sure of it's original purpose.  Anyway, it makes a great plant stand as it is now.  I just spray painted this piece and moved it from the yard to the front porch. The Mr. is going to add another piece of our old counter top and I will be able to use it more to display things as well.  I can hardly wait until that is finished!

Speaking of finished!  I have finally finished both back porch lights!  Having to tape them off, was not fun, so I procrastinated big time on the 2nd one but here they are before and after!

Beautiful!  Yay!

While were on the lights, the Mr. decided to tackle a project of his own.  Our pot lights on both porches were looking very bad.  At over $8.00 a replacement, we decided to try a little paint project first to see how they would hold up.  We have completed the back porch, and they look so much better!  I really notice details so this kind of stuff really bugs me.  I didn't do before photos either on this, shame on me!  However I do have some on the front porch to show you how shabby they were looking.  Here's the before and after on these!

World of difference!  Love it!

Finally, I have one more fixture project to tackle.  Actually it's two as I have two of these on the front porch.  My ceiling fans look horrible!  They have started to rust and always look so dirty!  I am thinking of painting them with that ORB stuff everyone keeps talking about.  What do you think?  We talked about how it may affect the fans, but the Mr. seems to think it will not be enough paint to bother them since there is supposed to be a protective housing over the motor.  (He's pretty technical minded!)  So hopefully, before too long I will have the afters on these too!  Only I'm not sure about what to do with the white blades..Black maybe?  I'll take any and all suggestions on this one!

Thanks for visiting me today!  I love all your comments!  You ladies are the best and are really helping me spruce up the place quite a bit!  Let me know if you stop by, Okay?

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!