Tuesday, June 7, 2016

As My Garden Grows

It has been especially hard this year to get the garden growing. I missed all the garden blog hops because mine just wasn't ready.


I blame it mostly on the cold weather. My garden is almost all perennials but I do like to plant annuals in pots for around the yard and the front porch. It just never fails here in the northeast that you just can't trust the weather until after Memorial Day.


At least my favorite Spring plants came back in a big way this year and flourished.


My Bleeding Heart is just huge and was full of gorgeous flowers.


The Quince bush bloomed profusely this year and my Forget Me Nots doubled in size and quantity.








I have been collecting new things for my garden since last summer. All stored over the winter, now being revealed in my garden at last.


I found this great fence at a roadside sale I just happened to drive by on the way home from Naples. I could not afford much of what the antique dealer had but the fence was $8 so I went for it.



I love how cute an old sink filled with flowers looks in the garden so I started looking for one. I found this one at the Restore. I am still looking for a faucet. The plates are a recent barn sale find. I filled the sink with my new favorite flowers, white Bacopa.


I could not pass this rusty milk can up, even though it would be the fourth one in my collection. The wheel is a barn sale find and the watering can garland is something I have had that rusted perfectly over the years.


I found this great door last year, also at a drive by sale. It was only $5.



I didn't do anything with it last summer because I didn't know if I wanted to paint it or distress it. I figured we'd put it away for the winter and then I would deal with it in the Spring.


Fast forward to Spring and I am wondering where my door is. My husband says, "oh, it's behind the grill". It never got put in the garage for the winter!

I am so glad because the fierce northeast winter weathered it so much more perfectly than I could.





I saw the idea for a garden hose wreath on Pinterest and I just made mine very simple. I just tied a garden shovel, a garden fork and some old gloves to the top.




I showed you a sneak peek of the door in my last post but I restyled it to this....
the little rocker a recent yard sale find.




Just around the right side of the same tree is where the fairies live.



And this is where the Royal Fairies live...




I mentioned a few times before that I was going to make a fairy garden in my big galvanized tub for my garden. Well, I decided that smaller is better and I am happy with my small enamel pan fairy garden.


I even found some small plates to add to her garden. The plants are small succulents and pink baby's breath. The little fairy just sits by her house all day admiring her lovely garden.




Next to the fairy garden the Poppy's are starting to bloom...




Instead of the fairy garden, I planted purple Bacopa in my huge galvanized tub again this year. Last year it grew to overflowing and was gorgeous. It is early stages....



In my middle garden, that needs a good weeding, I tried another new idea I found online.....a succulent garden in a bird bath. The birds never noticed this old wrought iron bath last year so I decided to try a new kind of garden. It has already grown and spread out.



I hung my blue shutter up again from last year and added a rusty star to the rusty shovel that was there.

Last year I found a huge ivy geranium to hang from my post that stayed beautiful all year. This year I decided to try and plant my own in the rusty old wire basket my daughter Jena gave me for Mother's Day.




I finally found a plant to survive in my aqua wire basket. It is a very hot spot and the planter is very shallow. Purslane seems to love those conditions so we will see how it does this summer. It has the sweetest pink flowers.




Along the house I have been digging out and re-doing the garden. It was so overgrown.
Last year I had a table with a chair and the shutters in this spot....



In one summer that poor table got so weather worn that I decided not to put it out in the garden again. It is being very useful in my new booth. So instead, I did a makeover on this vignette.

The chair was a roadside find. That is my Elephant Ear plant in the large galvanized bucket that hasn't started growing yet.


The plates are another cute idea I found on the many blogs I visit. I just happened to have a few left over from the garden flowers I made last year.

The large one to the right of the shutters is one I made for myself after making three others for gifts....Aqua!




My purple Iris bloomed this year after a no show last year. They are so pretty but seem to want to grow out instead of up. I know I need to move them but I am so afraid of killing them. They are unique!


I just loved these ceramic garden hands with two birds on them. It reminds me of the scripture Job 12:10 - In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

I found them at Rite Aid of all places!!



My Orange Blossom tree is a little late in blooming this year, which is magnificent when in full bloom. Here is a peek at it just starting to pop. That's my new birdhouse hanging from it. My husband got if for me from Wegmans.

I couldn't wait for the Margarita Daisies to bloom for this post, but they look about ready to pop too.


After a long day puttering in the garden, there is a place to rest and relax....


I can finally rest a little and, like my little fairy, just sit back and watch my garden grow.


AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these fine blog parties:

Home Sweet Home
Anything Blue Friday
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party
Happiness is Homemade Link Party
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Top Recipes, Crafts, and Tips of the Day from Plucky
Best of the Weekend
June Garden Party

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Five Random Things Plus a Recipe!

Time for another "random things" post (otherwise known as 5 things happening in my world that would take me five weeks to write them all out as individual posts!)


1 - I have the perfect recipe for all those luscious homegrown red tomatoes you have been or will be picking and don't know what to do with! It is called Fresh Tomato Garlic Pasta and it is from a great cookbook my sister sent  me when she moved to Florida 20 years ago.




Simple to make with simple ingredients and it is SO good and fresh tasting. You have to make it ahead, in the morning of the day you want to eat it, so that all the ingredients have time to become delicious together.




Here is the recipe:
4 large ripe tomatoes, diced
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large sprig fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 pound pasta, like penne
Parmesan/Romano cheese as garnish

The night before or early in the day combine all ingredients EXCEPT pasta and parmesan.
 Stir well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than one day.
Stir once or twice while in fridge.
When ready to serve, prepare pasta. Coat with sauce; serve hot or cold with parmesan.
It is delicious both ways.

The final plate with penne pasta and romano cheese....





2 - It was finally warm enough for me to go watch my granddaughter Cassidy's baseball game. She is eleven and the only girl on her team, the Marion Knights. Her Dad is a coach and her Mom is the score keeper. So proud of her and how she holds her own with the boys. She plays third base or short stop. Here she is ready to smack the ball.





3 - I have been working on my garden, getting things planted in pots and putting all my new, fun garden things out. It has been slow going because of the cold weather but we are having high 70's - 80's now so I am playing catch up.

Here is a sneak peak of two of my new additions to my gardens this year.

My weathered door and garden hose wreath I made this year



A sink garden with white Bacopa and vintage plates


Once my yard and gardens are ready and done I will do a whole post on all of my new treasures!


4 - Huge score at my local Goodwill. It was another "thrifting on a whim" kind of day and I found so many things that I was there for an hour and a half while my frozen tilapia was melting in my car. It is grocery shopping day but the thrifting bug bit me hard! Some will go to my booth and others to my Etsy shop. I might have to keep the little fish.



 I need some help here. Does anyone have any idea what this cut glass, crystal beauty is? It is on a marble base with no way to wire it as a lamp. The fancy brass top screws off. I just had to get it but I don't know what to call it to even search it. I was asking customers at the Goodwill to help me out. No one knew. Help!

Since I first posted this, I found out that this stunning piece is a Scales of Justice. It should have a hanging scale on either side. After reading Betsy's comment about using this pretty crystal stand to hang necklaces, I had to try it. What do you think? I love it!


5 - How many pictures of cute kitties sleeping together do you really need?

Just one more.....




AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:


Talk of the Town
Share Your Cup Thursday
Simple & Sweet Fridays
Vintage Charm
Thoughts of Home on Thursday
Home Sweet Home
Random Five Friday
Five on Friday
Pink Saturday
Happiness is Homemade
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party
Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Best of the Weekend

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Last Day Finds

It really stinks to not feel good and have to miss opening day at one of the best barn sales around.


Not only that but have to wait till the last day to finally get there.


Oh, but it all works out in the end.



When I arrived Saturday morning, I was pleasantly surprised that it was half off day and/or $3 bag day.



I first spied three boxes of Shiny Brites for $1 each. That is all that fit in my bag! No deal there so I opted for the half price deal and filled the bag with other things. Why worry about getting the best deal when I am holding Shiny Brites for $1 a box?? A deal is a deal!


These will be used in my porcelain sink flower planter, to be featured in an
upcoming post.
I quickly filled my bag with two pillows and a stuffed cat made of old quilts, a Christmas tablecloth, two sets of Christmas napkins, an old light fixture, a jar of old bottle caps and four sweet saucers/plates. All the items are scattered throughout the pictures with other items from the second great sale I went to.

This year the barn sale had a tent with wooden items and furniture, all half price. This is an old dispenser for foil, wax paper, saran wrap and paper towels. The cutting edge is under each dowel and they are sharp. I am now minus the tip of my nail from discovering that!

available

This wooden piece was in there too. Not sure if it is a book stand, shoe stand, or a wall hanging for linens. There is no indication on it that it was ever hung so the nice lady there and I decided it must be for shoes.



At the second sale  I found these two plant stands.


I really want to keep them both but I need to keep filling my new booth!

The metal mailbox reminds me of my 1960's childhood home. The large ironstone pitcher has an inscription on the bottom of where it was found....in an abandoned house in my area back in 1969. I might have to keep it.

mailbox available

The jewelry  box is in excellent condition and I believe the hand mirror is Bakelite.


available


Buyers on Etsy seem to love the old wall mount outdoor lights. This black one is nice and rusty. I will clean it up but the rust is included! The other light was stuffed in my $3 bag. It is a double bulb wall mount utility light with a plug on it. I love the 60's style glass shade.



black house light available

This cute little chair was going to be made over for the owner's grandchildren. WHY?? If it didn't have chippy paint I would make sure to chip it.



The jar of old bottle caps has great vintage appeal. It was being sold with an antique wooden bottle capper. I just wanted the jar so in the $3 bag it went. It may be a keeper for my industrial display in my dining room.


I felt so much better having gone to these sales and finding great stuff, even on the last day. I can't stand knowing there are sales out there that I can't get to!


Now I have to decide what goes to the booth and what goes in my Etsy shop. And then there's deciding on what I keep for myself.


Such a dilemma!


I got my pickin' fix for the week and loved every minute of the thrill of the hunt.


Ya know what I mean?!


AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up with these great blog parties:
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday


Thrifty and Vintage Finds Link Party
Let's Talk Vintage
BTTCG Blog Party
Vintage Charm
Share Your Cup Thursday
Talk of the Town

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Spreading My Wings

I finally did it.


Ye Olde Schoolhouse Country Store in Sodus, NY

I am stepping out in faith and spreading my wings to fly to the next level.

Live retail!

I had been thinking a lot about taking my love of vintage and passion for thrifting to a real live brick and mortar store. Selling on Etsy is great but I have so much stuff and I want to buy more stuff so I needed another outlet.



As soon as the idea entered my mind, I would dismiss it because of the cost of renting a booth, where it might be and just for plain and real fear. What if I didn't sell anything?

I found myself sharing my desire out loud again though, to my friend Susan, who has been in the retail world for a long time.

I believe that the Lord gives us the desires of our heart when we follow and obey His word the best we can. He also uses other people to put the puzzle pieces together to make it all happen.

Thanks to Susan's connections with a lot of the people who run the country, primitive stores in the area, I was able to grab the last open booth at Ye Olde Schoolhouse Country Store in Sodus, NY. As soon as I went to look at the space and talk to Larissa there, I was in. I told her she didn't even know what I sold and she said she trusted me and if Susan said I was good, then I am good.

The door has been wide open ever since and I am still walking through it!


It is the sweetest place.



Only 6' x 11', my space is perfect for me. Just big enough to get my feet wet. I already feel like I am in over my head though! Lots and lots of trips and work to get it all set up and priced.

And then there is that fear again. What if nothing sells at the Open House coming up this Friday, April 29th?

Or, what if a lot sells and then I have to fill it all up again?


Well, that part is not too hard, as I will be shopping this week at two church rummage sales and whatever else I can find to pick at.  

It was very bright the day I took these pictures, the front of the schoolhouse facing north, with Lake Ontario in the horizon. The building is the cutest thing and it was an actual schoolhouse. Old wood floors, great windows and rafters make it so quaint. It was a country shop when I lived in the area 20+ years ago and then closed. Reopened last year, the vendors and the quality of product offered are top notch. I am humbled to be a part of it.


I shopped my house and my Etsy inventory to fill my little space. I even brought out the button frames and bracelets from my Button Lady days. This is the "Think Mother's Day" table!





There are some theatre items too from the community theatre my husband and I have.



Lots of smalls....


Some more button items and my upcycled pant hangers.




A pig, a basket and a pair of roosters. 



It's a start.


If you live nearby, I hope you can stop by the Open House this weekend at Ye Olde Schoolhouse Country Store, 7290 Maxwell Rd. on the corner of Lake Rd. in Sodus, NY. It will be Friday 11-5, Saturday 10 - 5 and Sunday 12 - 5, April 29-May 1.


Visit their Facebook page here where new pictures of the whole shop will be posted soon.


AnnMarie xoxo


I am linking up here this week:
Let's Talk Vintage
Vintage Bliss Tuesdays Linky Party
Share Your Cup
Simple & Sweet Fridays
Best of the Weekend
Anything Blue Friday
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday
Talk of the Town