Beautiful Fall Monday....

It's just been a gorgeous fall day in the Ozarks and I managed to get so much accomplished (about time).  Spent so much time in the garage this weekend and not only did I work on and mark merchandise, I also got the garage kind of cleaned out.  If I could find the time, I'd have a garage sale but doesn't seem to fit in my schedule.  Just hate to go into winter with a full garage.  Oh, well, guess there are worse things!

I bought this table at an auction but it had been badly repaired.  It's a great primitive (I think walnut) table and loved it as a drop leaf but it was just in too bad of condition to repair.  Sooooooo, I took it apart.....

Picked the pieces on the top that were in the best condition and glued them together to, hopefully, make a solid top.

 Thanks to my nice neighbor, Dave, I had strips to glue and screw in the spaces where the boards that held the drop-leaves were.  After staining those I turned the table upside-down on the top and glued and put screws in the base and top.  It was flipped over and this is what it looked like.  It needed a little staining and a light finish.

This is how it turned out......wonderful.  I feel so good about what I was able to do.  Now, I'm taking it to Leola's.  It was a busy weekend and I need furniture.  Dave also finished another table for me that looks more like a desk but I have to put a stain on some of the wood we had to use.  We had an old table top and some old legs.  He took them and made a table.  It's going to be so cool when I'm finished with it.  Can't wait!

This is my favorite lunch.   It's tomatoes, basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese on my home made bread that was toasted under the broiler with a little olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

 My tomatoes are still producing and my basil is going crazy.  I've already used all my garlic so next year will make sure I have lots more.  I plant my garlic bulbs in late fall and it comes up in the spring.

This is part of my "living simply" life style.  When I make pesto then I take all the leftover bruschetta mixture and pour it over my pasta too.  It's so yummy!  What's really good is to crumble cooked bacon over the pasta.

Hope everyone has a great week.  So many things to do....so little time!

A productive week....

Managed to get a lot done this week.....thankfully.  The weather cooled a little so I could work in the garage.  It seems so early to be complaining about the heat but it's been darn hot in southwest Missouri.  Just seems like one week we had the heat on and the next, it was the AC.

My garden looks amazing.  Everything is growing so fast.  My lavender is almost ready to harvest and it's huge.  Maybe I'll have enough to bundle for sale.  The same goes for my sage (not the g'son but the herb).  It is just a huge bush this year.  The herb garden also includes thyme, oregano, chives, basil and mint.  It's just a great year for growing things.

This is one of my projects from this week.  It's a little French table that would be great by a bed.  It has a little blue in the paint and goes with a lamp that I redid with the same blue.  I'm really loving this soft blue.

Don't know why the first picture looks so pink (I'm sure it was nothing I did).  It's definitely not pink. 

This next picture is the lamp I painted.  I also made the shade with one of the frames I brought back from Vermont.  It has been so difficult for me to give up my shades.  Maybe I should quit using fabrics that I love.

The fabric just has a hint of pale blue in it and the white part on the lamp is milkglass.  That's another problem I have.....I love lamps.  I have them in every nook and cranny of my house.

Another love of mine are the battery candles I sell at Leola's.  There are several on my back porch right now in Mason and Ball jars.  They are so peaceful when the sun starts to go down.  I sometimes use a lamp but there are times when I just want mellow lighting.  The g'kids all use one in their bedrooms for nightlights.  When I'm having company, I'll put some on the rock ledges and in the potting shed.  They have a total candle feel but no worry about fire.

My 2 bunny friends that seem to enjoy hangin' in my backyard.  Luckily, there's lots of  clover out there so they've left the lettuce alone.

Well, I'm working tomorrow so guess I'd better get things together......oh, and watch American Idol.  Have a good rest of the week!

Spring at Leola's.......

It's almost that time again at the shop.......Spring Open House!  Isn't everyone so ready?  We've all been so busy.  I moved my area to give it a fresher look and it made such a difference.  Now all I have to do is take the spring merchandise in and get it out of my living room.

I spent the last couple of days painting a buffet for my sister Jean.  She bought it to resale but we decided it needed to be white.  Here's how it looked before......

It turned out being a lot more work then I thought when I took on the project.  Two of the drawers had veneer that was breaking off so I just pulled it off.  Here's how it turned out.  Looks so much better.



There are so many projects in my garage and workroom but if I don't get all of them done by open house, it will be nice to have the inventory.  Just want to make sure I have plenty of spring, garden & porch things.  The last few days have been crazy at the shop -- we are all so ready for spring.  Our great-niece, Jessica, who has worked with her mom, Dorlece, in the shop, has decided to take her own 1/2 space.  It is so cool & young.  I'll take pictures next time I go to Leola's. 

We've had such gorgeous weather lately (& most of the winter) & the garden centers are already advertising cool weather plants.  I can't stand it.  I'm going out tomorrow to get just a few things.  I think it's worth the risk.

Just Workin'.......

I've really been on a roll the last few days trying to get some things ready for Leola's.  The little white table turned out so darn cute.  The pitcher on top of the table is not for sale....it's one of my very favorite things in my house.  The flowers are from my forsythia bush and can't believe how quickly they bloomed once I brought them inside.

I've always loved old canning jars and recently we were in a Pottery Barn that was full of reproduction jars.  It will be fun to use them for open house.  I've got lots of ideas going around in my head.

I've made a ton of strawberries.  Thinking they'll be perfect for Spring.  I'm wanting to make pillows but haven't been hit with inspiration yet.  Not much time left so hopefully, inspiration is heading my way right at this very minute.  Any ideas????

I'm taking tomorrow off and having lunch with some friends.  Sometimes I just have to slap myself and say this doesn't have to be a full time job.  Everyone takes time off.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Amazing.......

Usually Monday is my workday at Leola's but Kelli worked for me today.  It was a gorgeous 65 degree day and after spending some time in the yard, I worked on some of the merchandise I've accumulated lately.  The sun was so warm coming onto my back porch that it was a perfect day to wax furniture. 

These are some wax molds I found and they're very industrial.  Think they would be great for flowers.  Didn't count but think there are 10.

Don't know if you can see it but there's is a yellowish wire basket that I think I'll save for spring open house.  It would be wonderful on a porch with a big plant in it.  It's very heavy so would set and not blow over (nor could the squirrels knock it over).

I'm trying to create a few handmade things for the shop.  I've been making strawberries and hope to have a big bowl full by open house.  Love the way they turned out.  Also, made a few pillows.  The one shown is made from an old linen.  With a little luck, I'll also get some lampshades made.

Sage's BSA box is almost finished.  I found some wonderful handles that look like they're hand forged.  Looks much better then the electrical cord.

Tomorrow I plan to applique insects on a pair of overalls for g'daughter, Stella.  She loves her overalls and asked if I could please decorate them for her & she asked specifically for insects.  Her sister, Phoebe, called this morning before they went to school to say "hi" (which I love) and Stella got on the phone to tell me that she would really like a butterfly setting on a flower.  She just asked that I not put any scary insects on them.  It's so funny because she loves her overalls and kind of funky clothes but Phoebe likes more stylish clothes.  Hard to believe they're twins.  Guess that's a good thing -- they're both very confident with who they are.  They're a hoot!

My projects.......

It may be cold outside but it's bright in my kitchen where I tend to work on furniture this time of the year.  Don't ask me why but I can't stand to go to the basement to work.  I want to see outside.  Plus it's always nice to be close to the peanut butter jar in case you get hungry.

This is my latest project.

I bought this box at my 99 yr. old aunt's auction several months ago and wanted to fix it for Sage.  He's a cub scout and takes it very serious.  He and his dad just finished a car for the soap box derby they do every year.  The box has the greatest folk art all over it.  I'd love to know whose it was and who did the painting on it.

It's been cleaned and some of the old hardware removed.  The handles were the old electrical cords that used to be on appliances so I'll have to come up with something for handles.  New hardware will include a hinge that keeps it from falling down on their hands.  I'll take more pictures when it's finished.

Also pulled some fabric today to make something for Valentines day.  Not certain what that will be.  This red fabric was what I used to make the girls Christmas skirts.  They turned out so cute that I wish I'd bought more of the fabric.



Guess I'd better get busy if these projects are to be accomplished.  Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday.

Table......

This post is for Andrea.  She wanted to see the end result & know how tall.  It's 22 1/2" tall.  I'll be taking it to Leola's in the morning. 

Have a great weekend!

New projects......

All of a sudden I realized that time is moving fast.  Judy and I are getting ready for our trip to Vermont and we no sooner get home then it's time to get ready for Leola's Holiday Open House -- YIKES!!!!!  Didn't we just do that?  Anyway, I've been trying to finish a few things so I can leave town without worrying about everything that needs to be done at home.

I'm stripping the top on this dropleaf table but will paint the bottom.  It's such a pretty table but the finish was in bad condition.  The top will be fairly dark but the bottom I'm using the Anne Sloan chalk pain in the old white.  Stripping paint is not my favorite thing to do but it had to be done.

This wood box was a yellow color when it came home with me so decided to try the blue chalk paint on it.  A little of the yellow shows up and some of the wood.  I waxed it with clear first then the walnut wax and it turned out great.  It would make a great toy chest.

This was a little dark, occasional table that I purchased at my aunt's auction.  Again, it needed some work done on the finish so decided to just make it white.  I still have to wax & sand it but then it will go to Leola's.  Check out it's legs -- aren't they great?

This chair and early table were found at a garage sale last week.  For once, I didn't have to do a thing with either.  I'm having a hard time giving up the table so it may get switched out with another table and stays with me.

It's a beautiful day in the Ozarks so guess I'd better get to my painting.  Times awastein'!







It's a heat wave......

It is HOT in Missouri and dry, dry, dry.  It's very important these days to jump out of bed early to get that watering done or it's sweat-city.  The garden is looking great but I planted several things in containers in case I moved so they dry out really fast.  I've never found a sprinkler that works the way I want it to and you're not supposed to get water on the tomato plants.  Thus far, it takes about 30 min. to get it all watered.

My basil is going crazy and some of the garlic is ready to harvest -- two of my favorite things.  So Saturday night I'm having some friends in for dinner & we're having pesto on pasta, bruschetta & a big ole green salad.  I've been making the bread that you store the dough in the frig & I love it.  It's an artisian bread so it's nice & crunchy on the outside but very soft on the inside.  Perfect toasted with a little Parmesan for bruschetta.
I feel like if I'm having to keep the house all shined & polished, I might enjoy it a little too.  By the way, the potential buyers are coming back on Sat. for a 3rd viewing -- that surely must mean they're serious.  We'll see!!!!

I bought this chair at a garage sale last weekend & thought that it would be a breeze to re-do.  It looked to be in perfect shape except for the ugly upholstery.

I even thought it was kind of cool when I took the old fabric off and there was old burlap until I touched it. 

And this was what I found.

The cushion had totally disintegrated.  It was just like sand.  So I had to completely strip it down.  I don't like to use old stuffing anyway unless it's in great condition.  The chair is a really good, tight chair so now it will be like new.  Not sure yet what I'll cover it in or rather to paint it.  Any suggestions?????

Spring fever.....

What do you do when your house is a wreck and you've invited people for Easter dinner?  Guess I'll figure it out.  Seems my house hasn't really been "in order" since Christmas.  I've developed a method of moving stacks, baskets and furniture from one room to another which gives me temporary relief but then I end up dragging it all back out again.  I just really need a workshop.

I've been trying to figure out what to do with this bench.  Way too many hours have been spent on it already so I need to just get it done and quit worrying about it.

Had to drag it back in on the porch when it started raining.  Would just like to have one completed project.  I spend a few hours a day in the garden trying to get it in shape -- kind of a daunting task but it's looking better and there are a few things planted.  My plan is still to put the house on the market but just can't get to that point.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....

Wish I could clone this day and make a year's worth of them.  It is gorgeous and everything is blooming.  It's impossible to describe the beautiful fragrance outside.  The lilacs are just beginning to bloom and there's nothing better then a big ole bouquet.  This one is sitting on the table I've been working on.  It isn't vintage but I loved the legs.

Hope to get some work done at Leola's this weekend.  It's so hard to get the yard done, the house cleaned, and the shop taken care of.  This is when I know I really need a smaller place but then I sit down on my back porch & think -- maybe tomorrow.

Have a great weekend.