What is it about dirt that makes me so, so happy? Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't like to live in it, I just like to visit it, but still, when I am working in a garden, down in the ground, it's like all of a sudden I feel connected to... life. This year my family has rented part of a farmers property to go organic! It's actually a neighborhood effort and Farmer Jim (which is what my kids call him) has a little over an acre fenced off that will become twenty or so rows of delicious plants. We have … [Read more...]
Archives for March 2014
Huge Mirror 3.0
Oh my. Do you ever have those projects that you just keep trying to make look the way they look in your mind but it just never seems to work out? Almost as if you wish you hadn't touched it in the first place? This mirror is one of those! I might have to report back in a couple years on how many layers of spray paint one surface can actually hold. I like Version 3.0 is a lot better than the original and better than Version 2.0, still it is not what I see in my mind, dang it. Here is the … [Read more...]
How To Build A Raised Garden Box (part 3 of 3)
My sister lives on 4+ beautiful acres in Colorado in a ranch house with an awesome dog, a barn, a stable, a well, and her amazing family. It is quite the life. We visited during spring break and had a great time... while there we built two raised garden beds for her to use this spring. (Thanks to the husbands for watching the kiddos while we worked! I love that). If you're considering a raised garden box check out this post. If you want a raised bed, but you don't think a wood one will work … [Read more...]
Building A Raised Garden Box with Cement Blocks
Before I begin, I am embarrassed to post some of my white-trash-sideyard. It is truly awful... but I will eventually finish the side yard as well. Okay, now I have that out in the open... Most raised garden boxes are made out of wood. But what if you live in blazing heat or crazy cold? Wood might only hold up for a year or two. There are other options for a raised garden, we chose cement blocks. I am not kidding, this took us maybe 30 minutes. The only materials you need: Cement … [Read more...]
Raised Garden Boxes (part 1 of 3) What to consider.
photo by hgdecoration.com Are you planning a garden this year? Maybe you're an old pro or a newbie, but either way I hope you plant something... even if it's an herb in a pot in your kitchen. This post is one of three this week talking about raised garden boxes. We actually have two gardens this year. One we will plant in our side yard and one at a local farmers property that we have renting two rows of planting space... organic here we come! I have made a list of a few points to consider … [Read more...]
Spring Break. Serenity!
photo by titansgate.net This week is Spring Break. We spent the last five days in beautiful Colorado. We're back now and I feel like all four of my children are clobbering me all day long. It is both glorious and exhausting. Motherhood is a wild ride and I love it. I'm spending the rest of the week with the troops. I'll be back on Monday with something grand. Until then, happy creating! … [Read more...]
Project Curb Appeal Complete!
It's done, well... almost, I have a LOT of yard work to do when we turn the sprinklers back on... but I am happy with the change in the home's exterior. Hopefully this post will give you some curb appeal ideas. Here is the before (photo used from the listing) and after: It's like a different house! Just to review, the four projects are: Paint garage doors (Sherwin-Williams paint) Rustic shutters Makeover exterior lighting Stain front door Here is the cost … [Read more...]
Building Exterior Shutters
What would a perfectly fine house be without a decent pair of shutters? Hm, glad you asked. First, in the picture below check out my wow-there-once-was-a-shutter-here-sun-stain that has persisted since one fine day a few months ago I walked outside and basked in a beautiful autumn mist and when the yucky, warping, plastic, ill-fitting shutters (let me tell you how I really felt about them) caught my eye and I just couldn't take it anymore. I pulled them off the house and for a moment loved the … [Read more...]
Exterior Lighting Make Over
This update is such an amazing bang for your buck. One can of spray paint and a little time and my exterior home lighting looks completely new. The poor lights had seen better days: As part of the curb appeal week, I wanted to rescue them from their dirty, sun bleached life. The process was really easy, but before I outline it, I am not an electrician, please be careful! 1. TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY TO YOUR LIGHTS by tripping the breaker. My lights were connected on the "entry" switch. … [Read more...]