Saturday, June 23, 2012

Summer: Vacation Bible School and Yardsales

This is the time of year for 2 things I love: yard sales and Vacation Bible School.

I am the director of VBS at my church, so May and June are full of busyness as we pull out all the stops getting everything ready: planning, promoting, training, painting sets, writing skits and puppet shows... Fortunately, I have a great team to help as I could never pull this off by myself!

Last year we were set in Egypt:

This year the theme is God's Amazing Wonders:


The other thing I love this time of year are yard sales.

Here are some things I will be working on when VBS is over:

Sometimes I wish I could clone myself so I could get several things done at once!
Oh well, something to look forward to!



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A "New" Back Porch for Mother's Day


As you may, or may not, recall, I made my kids a deal: I would make lunch for Mother's Day if they would put the roof panels on my back porch.We have very hot summers here and I wanted the shade, as well as a covered space to keep the rain off in winters.

It's not finished yet, but it is certainly more comfortable and on its way!
This little farm table has been in the garage for several years and finally has a home.
There wasn't a place for these chairs in this new house, so they have been keeping the table company.

I made little "sundresses" for the chairs. Now they are well- dressed for the summer.

This is the far end of the patio. I plan to make curtains to surround the fountain, while still letting in a little of the foliage. It's also a good place to store pots.
Husband brought this birdcage home one day from a yardsale, proud of his $10 bargain. He was really proud of himself when we ran across one a couple years later in Napa, selling for $200.
Lots of pots with lots of flowers!
I especially love lavender.

I also like to add lots of accessories, just like indoors.
This little painted chair says "Bloom where you are planted". I painted it many years ago for my old craft room, works well out here.
Croquet balls fill an old metal planter.
A detail from an old building in Southern California.
Garden Angel made from old chair parts and finial.
View from the other side. French doors lead into the family room.
Looking out to the yard (so much work to be done!)
Someone gave me this little dresser a few weeks ago and I didn't really know what to do with it, so it sits here for now until I figure it out. Also, the storage comes in handy out here.
My favorite little helpers, they especially love to water everything!

I still want to paint the cement in a checkerboard pattern, paint the walls gray, make curtains for the posts, add lights and ceiling fans...but it's a nice spot to sit in the morning, or have lunch, or read a book...

Saturday, June 2, 2012

May Craziness: Laundry Rooms and Farmer's Markets

I told you a couple of weeks ago that May was going to be a crazy, busy month, and last week just proved my point!

On Sunday, we celebrated Husband's birthday a little early, since Daughter was going on a long-awaited trip to the UK.

On Tuesday, we headed 3 hours north to Ashland, Oregon to get some work done on my dad's property. The laundry room had been closed up for awhile, but we are finally getting new coin laundry machines, and it really needed major work!
Lovely, isn't it? Some of the plaster on the walls was falling off, the wainscotting was warped, there were spiders everywhere... it was a disaster!
It's starting to look a little better!

On the next trip, we will install the laundry machines and add some flair. I am working on a little table and some special art for the room (think Shakespeare & laundry!).

Home to babysit the grandkids on Thursday, then, on Friday, we took Daughter and Friends to San Francisco for their trip. We stayed the night with my mom who has moved into a new condo.
This is the view from her balcony! You can see the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, sailboats in the harbor...I could just sit out there all day! But, then I would miss all the other wonderful things about San Francisco.
The Ferry Building at Fisherman's Wharf

We had some fabulous meals, took a walk along the wharf, and on Saturday, went to the Farmer's Market before heading home. Now, we have Farmer's Markets in every town around here, but this one is really amazing!
Every kind of fruit or vegetable you can imagine!
Heirloom tomatoes!
Flowers of every variety!
Cute signs and fun people watching!
Orchids!
Sweets!

I love a visit to San Francisco!