Category Archives: In the Garden

Garden designs and ideas

A PoP Day

Posted on by

6

It’s been so dreadfully hot these past few weeks and I’ve just been enjoying the pool at mom’s house… but I decided to finally get a few little items done.  I called it my PoP day.. the Power of Paint.. I spend lots of time lounging in my Rest Haven and look around and see a few things that need sprucing up. Like the big planters.. They’ve been bruised over time and there’s a little vermin running around my yard knocking them over..(I feel like the Bill Murray in CaddyShack – boy do I want to get him)..

 

Of course hubby thought I should throw them away.. Me.. no way.. they’re still standing.. lol.. got a couple of cracks at the top – but all in all.. still worth keeping.. and for $6.00 they look like new

After I picked up this pretty cool pelican from Ross – I thought a touch of gold would do good in the garden

Then I found this old hat buried under some items in the garage and figured.. why not flip it and fill it..

 

Added a few bricks to cover the outer edge pallets and a few more plants around it

I think I like the upside down hat planter..

 

 

I’m still contemplating the iron hens&chick holder… I’d have to take all that apart..soooooo…you know how that goes.. (another day..lol).  Small changes but nice impact for this space.

I love how the sun hits the gold and gives it a glam glow..   Then I had this clay pot.. the worn out look was looking too worn out..

So, for another $3.00 it got a new look

Now I can smile when I look around at these pots again .  🙂

 

 

 

That’s all I could do.. cause BABY!!!! It’s HOT OUT THERE!!!

Tah-tah

 

Garden Diva Chic

Posted on by

3

It’s been almost two years ago she became a Diva Chic.. It’s time to redress her.. but here’s a Tuesday throwback from her original look..   She’ll be getting a fresher look this summer.. Enjoy reading about her past

Today I finally decided to go to the nursery with this wire bodice I’ve had for few years.  She sat in my flower bed naked but nice.  I just had a good idea to cover her up with some plants.

I went to Wingard’s Nursey in Lexington because they had a complete potting area and very friendly staff to help with any questions I may have.   The first step was to put coconut fiber all around to hold the dirt.  I added the cordyline plant as the head topper

Next was time to be creative with plants.  I chose succulents and mostly hens&chicks plants because they’re easy to grow and require the least maintenance.

Once the plants were all in, I covered the fiber with spanish moss to complete the look.

This is the finished product of my Diva Chic (named from the hens&chic plants she’s filled with)

Can’t wait to see how she really looks when all the plants begin to really grow..let’s hope her hips don’t spread too much  🙂

Summer Breeze

Posted on by

11

Hey there!  Today was an extremely “stay off my feet day” and do little as possible. The 49-mile two day yard sale we had was a great success and everyone looks forward to next year.   My twin sister, sister-n-law, and aunt came down for the for event and we had a wonderful time.. busy, but wonderful.  I’ll post pictures of some of the items we had for sell.   After everyone left,  as I sat back, kicked my feet up to relax in my “Rest Haven” I conjured up the desire to share my down time with you.  It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect and made me think of the Isley Brothers -Summer Breeze when the sweet smell of jasmine passed through my senses as the wind blew gentle breezes to break the heat.  I thought back how my pallet project was well worth the sweat that day.  The summer chill-out spot went through a slight re-do.   Last year’s rainy weather made me realize I need to lift my set off the ground.  I searched for inspiration pictures and found this:

Of course having this type of flooring requires professional installation.. so I used the thrifty way to accomplish my look..  Pallets!! Free Pallets!! at that.   I laid them to fit the space, purchased a few luan boards and nailed them down to create a flat surface.

Got the boards hammered down and began to re-decorate the area.  It’s time to take a tour of my “She Rest Haven” … sit back , relax and enjoy it with me, while imagining the sweet smell of jasmine in your mind.

I found decorative  hanging tealight holders at Ross for $6.99 and they add a special bohemian touch to the space.

I painted the Rest Haven sign because I realized it just wasn’t feminine enough for me –  see it here.

Did a bit of re-arranging of the furniture

The palm tree plant gives it a more tropical feel.  The glass hurricane was a Goodwill find for $6.50 and the rose balls, I had for years, added the right pink palette touch to the table.

 

I used the last bit of seashells from the yard sale find to create my seashell “K”

Using scrap fabric to make accent pillows kept last year’s re-do very cost effective

I love mixing animal print with flowers

The bar cart is getting ready for drinks

The candle holder – a forgotten item packed away-was going to be sold at the yard sale.   I’m so glad I decided to keep it..  I wanted $8.00.. The person offered me $5.00 – I said for $5.00 I’ll keep it.. – so .. I kept it.. found my animal print candles for it and voila … love it..

 

A warm sunlight glow is always perfect

 

 

Ahhhhhh…….. do you feel the relaxation here????

The $0.50 painted wine glasses will be used to serve drinks outdoors

The raised floor really makes the space feel more like an outdoor room.  Just a few more touches to the surrounding area and this baby will be finished and ready for the Chillaxing to begin!

Thank you for tuning in to join me with my summer breeze – I hope you enjoyed it and look forward to your summer breeze moments..  See you soon   🙂

Peace…  Love… and Bright Moments …

A Lovely Day

Posted on by

7

Hello everyone!   I hope your weekend weather was as beautiful as it was here in South Carolina.  This weekend was just simply BEEE-UUU-TI-FUL! It forced you to go outside, love mother nature and simply be happy to be alive.   That’s the feeling your thrifty girl had both days.   I had to take advantage of the perfect weather and began weeding the flower beds…I really should have prepped my back for this.. I’m soooo like out of shape for this kid of work.. Over the winter you actually forget how much labor is involved in yard work.   Headed out to Lowes on a mission to get deck stain, brush etc.. because it was time to stain the deck and passed 5 – yes- 5 yard sales.. I couldn’t stop on the way, because I needed to get to Lowes and get back.  Well on the way home I HAD to stop.. the temptation got the best of me.  I stopped at two of them and spent $11.00.  I bought another chandelier for my brother’s house  – never used for- for $10.00 and this pair of wrought iron candle holders for $1.00.  (I’ll show you the chandelier on my Friday Finds post)

I started with this part of yard.  A few months ago we had the pile of lumber removed and it left this portion of the yard drab (and the soil rich)

I wanted to extend the flower bed down the fence, so I rocked the path.. and began there.  This table needed to be freshened up a bit- okay.. A LOT OF BIT.. chuckles..

I pulled this fire screen out of of storage.. (another Goodwill bargain for $6.00) since I was painting.  

I decided to use it in the garden.  It adds a bit whimsy to the space.  I think I like it.   How about you?

 

The bed is coming along nicely.  Once I add the remaining plants and mulch, it will look a lot better.

Time to take a break and on the way inside, I happened to notice my pointer finger.. rule #1  use rubber gloves to spray paint, I had a perfectly painted gold  finger nail.  Lucky polish remover worked.

I was very glad I made a pitcher of flavored water (strawberries and lemons) .. It was quite refreshing after being in the sun a few hours

I’ve made some progress but still have quite a bit to do.  Little by little I’ll be finished and back to relaxing  in my “Chill-Out” Rest Haven

Sooo.. how was your weekend?

Weekend: Music and Projects

Posted on by

4

Hello everyone, it’s been a few days and yes, your thrifty girl took a break from posting. But unfortunately not a break from home-work. Chores, chores, and more chores..  but it’s all good.  The hubby was away at a golf tournament for the weekend and that meant I got to play my music all day and as long as I like..yipppeee.. (he’s a TV person so I always respect him and either turn it  down or off when he comes in to relax) because I tend to turn the volume up when the music’s getting good.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous here – I couldn’t decide whether to do indoor or outdoor projects.. So.. I did a little of both.  I got up and chose the music for the weekend and Lou Rawls was first to go in the carousel (and I chose 4 more that consists of compilations of all old school r&b)  but I’ll stop there because I could go on & on about music.  Lady Love was one of those treasured songs between me & hubby and it stuck with me.  Of course over the years many more have touched our hearts but this was on my mind this weekend.   Besides there are so many good songs on this entire cd – I love it.

First on the list… laundry and the Laundry area.. Pet hair – everywhere.   Time for Diamond to keep her big butt outside.. diamod

Got that area swept and cleaned up and it’s back to normal

 

Next on the list – Front Porch – sweep the winter away along with the pollen and cob webs.. and begin prepping it for pretty.  Took time to paint these items to give them a fresh look.  The sedum in this pot grows so nicely.  The little black table became copper and the flower pot has a pink/copper new look

                    DSCF1448

 

It’s fresher look is most welcoming

doorday2

Old man winter did it’s damage to my Agave plants.. I’m really upset over losing them.. I’ve had them for quite a few years, but I guess they couldn’t hang in there.   Well have to say good-bye to them – sniff sniff.  🙁

 

I did a quick look around at the flower beds and everything else is coming back beautifully – so it didn’t too much damage.  Weeding the beds are my next week projects.. but they are looking quite good for me to not have done anything to them.  Thank God for perennials.

Next on the list was to finish potting more of my herbs.  I bought a variety of them and need to get them potted.  The herbal cart turned out very well and I needed another stand for some more pots.  I found this inside my storage area

And decided to revamp it with some spray paint as well, along with more flower pots.  I’ve got more herbs to have cooking fun with

Last but not least, my  back door needed a fresh coat of paint real bad.. The scuff marks were “not” coming off.  So, I gave up scrubbing and pulled out the paint brush.   I’m so glad I did it because it looks much better.

 

Well (in the mere words of Bugs Bunny) that’s all folks!   I hope you had a wonderful and productive weekend too!  Feel free to share your story with me.. I’d love to hear about it.  I also hope you enjoyed listening to Lou.