Party Like It's Your Birthday

As you may have guessed, I have a birthday today.

I posted a couple of days ago about a little bit of color.

Well, it seems that I am just bursting with color.

I did some shopping this past week at TJ Maxx and I found lots of COLOR!

I quick covered four ice cream chair seats.

I used this lime green outdoor table cloth.

I just love all the pretty colors on these pillow cases.

This crib will look even better when I add one of my vintage quilts.

Perfect for a summer party.

Now all I need to look for are some simple tables to set your drinks on.

These stripes are a long way from all white.

More lime green.

I just love the color green.

All of these new cushions are from my father for my birthday, THANKS POP!

Don't tell him until I do, for my family readers!

My friend June from Laughing with Angels left me a comment about my white flowers post,
she tried to plant all white but then found she needed some color.

I thought about that, and I thought I did too.

I still planted lots of white, but now my little bits of color stand out even more.

These planters are ready to be placed around the deck.

This one I still needs a couple of plants added.

I am thinking of maybe trying a couple of white Hydrangeas.

I just love the white and green.

For Mother's Day my little sister came over and helped me plant this flower bed.

It is a little sparse for my cottage garden loving ways.

I can always add a plant or two or hundred if necessary.

This is not my initial white garden, that one may have to be put on the back burner for this year.
We were more in need of a privacy board for the pool.

I did end up adding a little color purple through Lavender plants and some creeping Phlox.

So how about you, how long do you do all white before you bring in little bits of color.

It is Spring, let your colors burst.

I hope all of you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day.

A Little Bit of Color

Spring must be getting to me.

I am letting a little bit of color in.

or

Maybe because it is almost Mother's Day.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have the table in the dinning room all set for Mother's Day breakfast.

They are already planning on what dad is going to make for us.

My little guy is so excited for me to have Mother's Day,

 he wanted to know if I could have it a day earlier so I could open what he made me at school.

and 

MY BIRTHDAY IS ON MONDAY!

I have started bringing some color into each room.

I love how the colors pop against the white.

I brought out some of my favorite rose tea cups and saucers.

The kids love drinking tea from them, it makes them feel special they tell me.

I will even have them get dressed up for the morning.

One of my favorite rose pitchers.

Dainty little roses.

Thank you for stopping by.
I am sharing with Debra from Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Cindy from My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

and
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

White Garden

I was going t o try to create this flower bed last year but I was not able to convince Mr. M.
I think I will have better luck this year. 

Of course I am not done weeding the flower beds I already have,

 but that doesn't stop me from dreaming of new ones.

I found these on Google, but I can't find the original source or artist.

I would like to make at least one of these for my new garden.

I think I may have to put a call into my brother the carpenter.

I could let him help me make some for my birthday coming up.

I found this beautiful picture here and it is a garden full of inspiration.

This is almost how I want mine except for the wood enclosures. 

I even love the fountain but without a water source a statue may work better. 

I found this inspiration here by Goggling white gardens.

This is what I am thinking for the pathways, inspiration found here, love the green and white.

My planting list for the parterre gardens.

Each of the sections will have: 

One Snowball bush

One tall Arborvitae bush

Three Boxwood bushes

Three white Rose bushes

Three white Saliva plants

Three white Baby's breath plants

Three white Aster plants

Three white Delphinium plants

Three white Phlox plants

Also depending on the size and necessity I will also add in a variety of white annuals

 and maybe some grasses.

Now, this is only in dream form right now.

I have to slowly break it to Mr. M., who thinks I have enough gardens right now.

He does not understand, a gardener can not have too many gardens.

I am sharing this for White Wednesday with Kathleen from Faded Charm

The Cat That Acts Like a Dog

Mittens, my daughter's cat.

He is a very loud cat.

No I mean LOUD.

REALLY LOUD!

He cries when he is hungry, wants attention and 

to go outside.

BUT kitty, you are an inside cat.

He still does not believe me.

So, he has taken matters into his own and lets himself out.

These are the door handles we have on the front and side storm doors.

He jumps up and unlatches the door and lets himself out.

It is not that we do not want him to be a happy outside cat.

We live on a slightly busy street that many an animal is found dead on the side.

AND

Our neighbors raise homing racing pigeons and it does not make for good neighbors to have to

go get the cat after he has killed prized pigeons.

Not that that has happened, I just don't want it to either.

However, we do not want to spend all summer with our doors closed, we do NOT have 

air conditioning and the breeze through the windows and doors is needed to cool the house down.

So we decided to let Mittens, let himself out at his leisure while watching out for him.

So far he is being good and staying close to the house.

Funny thing, this morning after letting him out into the garage, I heard a noise.

I went to check it out, Mittens was trying to let himself IN the same way he gets OUT.

Smart cat.

Vintage Coffee Table

I found a neat old farm table and trunk at a local farm sale.

You may notice that YES THEY ARE BLUE.

I am planning on using them in the basement.

Not as blue is it. 

First I sanded off all of the chippy paint.

Then I painted over the blue with a slightly aqua green color.

Then I stained it all with a gel stain.

You can see a little of the difference in color now.

Did you notice that I did not cover it in paint but tried to let the wood show through.

This trunk is great for storing extra blankets and pillows.

I'm loving my new table.

I love finding vintage pieces and reworking them until they are perfect.

Rather than going out and finding the perfect piece I make it perfect for me. 

So, how do you like it?

Do you like how I only painted over the painted areas or do you think I should have covered the whole top?

I still have to have the legs trimmed down to coffee table height.

What are your plans for this weekend?

Me, weeds are calling my name.

I am sharing my vintage table with Debra from Common Ground for Vintage Inspired Friday, Cindy from My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday and French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

And I would like to join a new party.

Thank you Jody from Rooted in Thyme for inviting me to join Simple & Sweet Fridays.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

The Beast is Back

I had to make a special trip and bring home the BEAST.

Several months ago we dropped off my husband's Lazy Boy at the upholsters.

Oh yeah it is back. More heavy sarcasm!

I picked a pretty cream fabric with design for the front and white denim for the sides and back.

I will be painting the base and the handle white this weekend.

Mr. M. is very happy to have his chair back.  He agreed to the fabric choices so he could keep his chair.

I will agree that it is very comfortable and it lasted through three children being fed and rocked in the chair.

BUT

I still HATE this chair.

It takes up so much room.

Put it in the basement you say, well I did think of that too, but I kind of whited up that room too.

Poor Mr. M. - that is what my girl Sara is saying, I just know it.

So the chair stays upstairs and I am ok with that.

For now!

I do love the ruffle at the bottom.

To take away some of my frustration, I decided to visit a few fun shops.

I was able to find a few treasures, I usually am lucky like that.

A good bounty for a great price.

Seriously, can anyone have too much ironstone.

This little guy looks great in the kitchen.

A new chippy wood shelf for the basement, I am not sure if the blue is staying yet.

This little tool holder is going to be used for silverware and necessities for having dinner on the deck.

Overall I had a good day out.

Now the chair is home and we have happy husband.

Funny thing is, he is the one throwing telling the kids to stay away from his chair with their dirty hands.

So, how about you, do you have one of these chairs to decorate around?