The Garden

Not only are we working on the entire inside of our home, but the outside as well.  We live on a .75 acre lot with a few trees behind and on one side.  When we moved in both sides of the yard were completely lined with dead pine trees.  They were so unsightly so taking them down was a priority.  Now we have a lot of open space and the challenge of making an open yard feel cozy.  

My husband has a degree in Landscape Contracting and currently is in charge of the grounds at a local college.  Landscaping and gardening is a passion we both share. Together we put a lot of time and energy into our gardens.  The house we left behind had a small cozy backyard...perfect for creating different areas of interest all around the yard.  This house is different and requires a different approach.

We have already added many small trees such as Crab Apple, Kwanzan Cherry, and Japanese Maple trees along with Hydrangeas and Vibernums.  The bed you see in the middle of the front yard is new as well.  Being on a budget we shop the sales and especially raid the end of season selections which allows us to buy a lot for a small price.  

We also are passionate about eating healthy and growing nutritious food for our family.  We eat a lot of produce so having our own vegetable garden is important for the budget. This past weekend my mom took the kids so my husband and I decided to start fencing in a 24x32' space off the back deck.  There are deer, rabbits, and dogs, etc. in the neighborhood so we decided to provide the protection right from the beginning.  Here is a look at the progress so far.

My husband does side work and was recently blessed with a job that brought home these beautiful boxwood shrubs.  We decided to section off and cozy up the fire pit area which also directs the eye to the vegetable garden.  We will be adding more shrubs in the near future for privacy and to soften the space a bit.  I really like how it's turning out.  The door to the vegetable garden is a screen door that I picked up at the Restore for $10.00.  Not too bad.  I will be staining or painting it one of these days.  I didn't plan on using it outside but it gives a nice cottage touch, don't you think?

We still have a lot of work to do in the vegetable garden.  I will keep you posted as we get the rest of the fence built and the beds put in.  One more project partially finished!!  Never a dull moment around here!

Lightened up

I've had this little dark wooden cabinet for as long as I can remember.  It has been all over the place...as a nightstand...a bookshelf...in the garage, etc.  I am not sure why I have never parted with it. Maybe it's because I knew it had potential and could be really cute with some paint and a little attention.  

Currently it is being used at the end of our kitchen peninsula as a perfect home for onions, potatoes, and a vintage kitchen scale.  This also happens to be the first thing you see down the hallway when coming in our front door.  

In keeping with my goal of brightening up this home, I decided it was time to do the same for this little bookshelf.

After a little sanding with a hand sander,  some Alabaster white paint, a little more sanding, and a coat of Johnson Paste Wax it looks completely different.

 Much much nicer.  I am not sure why I waited so long to do this, but I am so glad I finally did.

One little project down....many more to go!  Feels good to get something done, even if it's small.  You can see the lovely state of our unfinished floors.  The hardwood flooring process has begun, but progress is slow.  So for now I will be happy with this little kitchen improvement!

Favorite Finds

Sorry for the delay in posting!  I took a small trip to Boca Raton, Florida to visit a friend of mine and had so much to catch up on once I got home!  I have never gone so far from home without my family so I was quite nervous.  It was a much needed getaway from my normal routine which can sometimes overwhelm me. I love being home, being with my kids, and working on the multitude of household projects, but I really need a change of scenery now and then...a break from having so much to do. This was a time to recharge and get refreshed and all I can say is it went way too fast!
 

My friend, Teresa, is one of my favorite people.  Like me, she loves to eat healthy plant-based foods so we headed to some of her favorite places for juices, raw pizza and raw ice cream.  So good!!
We made green smoothies, raw fudge, and tried some Kombucha from Whole Foods.  I have never had Kombucha but have to say it was pretty interesting.  It's been on my list to try making it, but I haven't gotten around to it just yet.  Of course, we walked on the beach and relaxed by the pool a little too.

It was a refreshing, much-needed break with warm sunny weather and a great friend!  Perfect!

I wanted to share one of my favorite places that I like to shop around home.  It's called Georgie Emerson Vintage in Canal Winchester.  The owner is a sweet lady and the shop is full of vintage, industrial, shabby goodness.

She has a rack of clothing and I have found some of my favorite tops there over the years.  This time I happened to find three plus a silky scarf.  I love having special shops like this not too far away.  I tell my husband I need some "therapy" and off I go!  Just walking in to shops like this causes me to take a deep breath and unwind!  Everyone needs a place like this.  HappyMonday!