Lessons Learned from the Garden

Each spring, as I am trying to banish the ravages of winter from my landscaping and gardens. I am reminded how hearty the weeds are and how invasive. Whether the weather is cold, we are in a drought, or if it is hot and humid, weeds adapt and often thrive! More importantly, they keep on growing and pushing through to wreak havoc in my gardens.

Marshal Garden Tour 2016

As I work in my flower beds, pulling the weeds and tilling the soil, I am often hit with the analogy of the weeds. Weeds are much like the 'bad' in life. They take constant work to keep them from overtaking my garden and they easily thrive in the worst of times. It takes constant energy and effort to keep the weeds from taking control.

Marshall Garden Tour 2016

Like the weeds, it is easy to let the negative creep in. A constant battle with Satan to banish the negative and keep focused on the good. But just like the weeds, if we persevere in keeping the negative from creeping into our minds, soon we will see the world with a different perspective. In our gardens, if we persist in pulling the weeds to allow the beautiful plants to grow, soon our gardens will flourish and the beauty will outshine the ugly.

Side yard garden

Yes, it takes time. It takes care. But it is worth all the effort. The Bible says 'in all things be content.' I believe that the road to contentment is to persistently work at pushing the bad and negative out and allowing the gratitude and gratefulness to flow in.

Time to get back in the garden! Enjoy your weekend.

Linking up to:

Feathered Nest Friday

Grace at Home 246

Should I Paint?

We have lived in this house since 2004 and 12 years I have been mulling over my brick fireplace. 

You see my house is a 70s built traditional 2-level house with the 'family' room in the back that has a brick fireplace that fills the. whole. wall. Seriously.

This is the fireplace in our back room. 

When we moved in the mantel was dark wood and the bookcases had dark brown paneling lining the back and the shelves and frame was all dark wood. Because the room has one patio door for natural light, this made for a VERY dark room. Additionally the wainscotting was also the same dark brown paneling. So in my efforts to lighten the fireplace and room I white washed the mantel and added the decorative element, painted the shelves white and actually added a gold metallic glaze over the top of the brick to make it shine and reflect light.

White washed mantel and painted shelves brighten the space.

I have been on the brink of an update but have hesitated every time. Why you might ask? Because once you paint brick there is no turning back (well unless you sand blast it!). So I wanted to be very sure that it was the right thing to do.

After seeing a Fixer Upper episode the last week of February of The Severn's I loved the shiplap and painted brick combo fireplace redo. Which has started me thinking it all over again and I realize it is time to take the plunge.

The Severn's home remodel and updated fireplace from Fixer Upper.

While this is my inspiration, the end result will be my own version of this. Besides, it is the first step in a whole room update which is long over due!

Stay tuned for the final results!

I would love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever painted and updated an old brick fireplace? Were you satisfied with the end result? Would you do it again?

Linking up to:

Feathered Nest Friday

Imparting Grace No. 239

What you see is what you get

Happy Spring my friends! Oh wait, it's only February but it has been the best. February. ever. No kidding. But know this, if it snows again, I am going to curl up and cry!

Thought I would share a few of the sprinter collections that I have created. You know that awkward time after Christmas but not yet spring. Sprinter.

Vignette on the corner of the kitchen. Adds a small ray of ambient light on a cold, dreary day.

Did I mention I love old boxes? I do.

Love cute little tea sets. This winter one was purchased at Cracker Barrel. They have some great stuff!

Be still. Wise words!

Buffet in eating area.

Have a great day!

Hooking up with:

Friday Favorites at Remodaholic

Grace at Home

Feathered Nest Friday

When Three Trips to the Paint Store Isn't Enough

Can't believe it is almost the end of January. Our boys are back at college and I am feeling bittersweet, sad, and mostly thankful. Thankful to have time with my guys home, grateful to have 10 days off of work over the holiday break, and mostly grateful for all that God has blessed me with.

However, with all that I have been feeling a bit lost and at lose ends. Usually I have a project(s) and can't wait for January where I can start my indoor projects. Although I do have a project, but with all of our college expenses, I can't afford to do what I would like. That project is a kitchen gut job but alas, it is not to be at this time. But what better way to spruce up a tired kitchen than a fresh coat of paint.

So off I go to the paint store, a.k.a. Ace Hardware. I knew I wanted a darker grey but other than that...wasn't sure. So I got some paint chips and looked at them awhile but by the time NY Day hit I knew my window of opportunity to paint had arrived. My first choice was a color called Cobblestone Street, but nope, it wasn't the right one. It looked lavender when I put samples up!! Off to the store I got go again to choose color #2.

Loved the color but didn't like it in my kitchen. There wasn't enough contrast and it didn't flow with the grey in my living room. My problem now? The next color down on the paint chip was Black Heron. That was too dark! Although I have always wanted a black room.

So I went back yet again to Ace Hardware! By this time, the staff was getting a little leery of me. This time, I wanted a custom color and that about threw them into heart failure! Luckily I was able to work with this great guy who took the Portland Twilight gallon that I had purchased and added more black and more brown and transformed it into the. perfect. color.

However I was sworn to secrecy as they are not supposed to do that. Shhhh. I am so happy to have finally found the right color. I think I need to find a name for it! Worse? I can't even show you a paint chip.

Pictures of the kitchen transformation coming soon.

What to do with leftover barn wood

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After we solved the problem if making a faux beam, we had different size chunks of barn wood left from the project. Certainly could not throw them away but honestly wasn't sure what to do with the wood.

Over the next few months I started mulling it over and used the wood to make these:

I purchased the hooks several years ago at a flea market but had taken them down when refinishing the stairwell to the basement. Totally forgot about them!

Cleaned the wood, waxed it, and then added the hooks. 

These metal letters were purchased from Michael's over a year ago because I loved them but didn't know what to do with them. 

Cut different lengths from a the leftover plank of barn wood, waxed them with a ochre tinted wax, glued them together then supported with a 1x2 piece of wood to brace it in back.

The barn wood was such a rich shade of brown that it was not necessary to stain or paint. I simply waxed with a tinted wax to deepen and make it richer, let it dry, and then assembled.

Linking up today at:
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Pretty Pintastic Pin Party

Home Matters Link Party

Grace at Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Knee Deep in the Weeds

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Happy summer! It's sure been awhile since I've peeked my head around here but it has been crazy busy in my part of the world. I hope you are all doing well. In my area of Michigan we are in a serious drought and I am spending all. my. time. watering and watering and watering. Yet after awhile it is barely helping my plants survive.

Usually I go out once a week and weed and dead head in my flower beds. The past two weeks I have had so many thoughts about the enemy and the daily battle that we as Christians face. Even in the drought where all of the neighbors grass is brown the weeds still grow. The good plants? They take lots of tender loving care, especially in this brutal environment. Lots of water and still they are struggling but the weeds are thriving.

This is my view across the street from my house and all around our area. Dry and parched.

Really, it is a good lesson about life. The Bible says that the enemy has come to 'steal, kill and destroy' and that lesson is truly evident in the battle of the weeds. All the time it takes to care for the good flowers yet the weeds just keep on peeking their ugly selves into my beautiful landscaping. I pull and pull. I rake and rake. It reminds me that leading living a life for Christ takes careful time and effort to remain focused on 'that which is good.'

Joining in this week to:
Inspire Me Tuesday
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Amaze Me Monday

Quick and Easy Fried Apples

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I don't know about you but I would rather be decorating than cooking any day. In fact, I probably would rather be doing most anything other than cooking. However I do like to fix a good meal for my family and they certainly enjoy it which, honestly, makes cooking somewhat rewarding. Plus it is the one time that we all sit down together during the day and connect. That. is. priceless.

You can add additional items like dried cranberries and walnuts.

Fried apples is one of those dishes and the recipe is super flexible. You can even use apples that are getting a bit over rip and therefore a tad on the mushy side because you are frying them so they will be soft anyway!

Fried Apples

• Peel and quarter apples (quantity is dependent on how much you want and how many people you are serving).
• Melt butter in a frying pan (I usually use 1/4-1/2 a stick and about 8-10 apples). The butter needs to be just enough to coat the pan. Once the apples start frying the juice of the apple will keep them from burning.
• Add ins. Add a little bit of brown sugar (less than a 1/4 cup. Again this would depend on the amount of apples, the type of apples, and how sweet you like them) and cinnamon.
• Additional add ins can be dried cranberries, pecans or walnuts.

Cook on medium low heat until soft. Serve warm.

Linking up this week to:

Feathered Nest Friday

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New, old art project...at last!

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Wow, does it ever take you two years to finish a project? Well, that's how long this took. My brother in law gave me this cool tongue and grove wood that he was throwing out. I could not let that happen for sure.

The whole piece and where it hangs.

So I took it and figured I would do something with it but wasn't sure what. A few months later I fit the 5 pieces together and decided it would make a great coffee table with metal legs for that industrial look we were going for in our basement remodel.

All I did with the tongue and groove was scrub it (was filthy dirty), let it dry, then added ochre tinted wax.

Two years later, it ended up as artwork and two shelves for my sons creative space. Long story why and how it ended that way but I think it turned out pretty good.

A close up of the fleur d lei. That was a mdf piece I purchased at Hobby Lobby and then I painted a silver metallic and added silver leaf to parts to make it look aged.

Took me a total of 30-40 minutes to do this. Well, 40 minutes and two years! The ruler art was a piece I created a few years back, you can read about that here, and decided to layer it on top of the tongue and grove. Totally love the look! Is it a perfect piece of art? Nope. But it is rustic and looks perfect hanging on the wall!

Feathered Nest Friday

Grace at Home

In the Home Stretch...I think?

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For the past few several months we have been slowly renovating our 80s basement. Several years I go I did a tiny upgrade (mostly by painting, adding pictures, area rugs, etc.) but have lived with the acoustic white drop ceiling panels for waaay too long.

I had wanted to tackle this basement for the longest time but knew it would be a big project. So I waited. Why? Because I knew that if it were to be done right it would mean pulling down that awful ceiling. That. was. expensive. More than that? It would be time consuming.

But one day, to my surprise, my husband started yanking down the ceiling tiles and metal framing. Well there was no turning back at the point. That said, we lived with no ceiling, exposed ductwork and drooping insulation for more months than I want to count. Mainly because we just didn't know what to do.

But finally we had a plan. Well sort of a plan. At least we had a plan for the ceiling. We decided to use 6" pine car siding for the ceiling leaving the ductwork exposed. Sort of going for the industrial look.

It was still expensive and it was slow. But in the end, my husband did a fabulous job! Since this was the main part of the project I feel like we are in the home stretch. But then there's the flooring...sigh.

Up close look at the bolt/washer combo that my hubby added.

Exposed duct work with the plank ceiling. We actually did nothing to the ductwork, leaving it 'vintage' and original! Well that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

New light fixtures are a welcome replacement to the fluorescent tube lighting from before!

We left the planking natural. No poly, no stain. Nothing and we love it.

It is amazing how taking out the drop ceiling and putting in the planking added about 3" of height which makes the basement so so much bigger and more open.

Now on to the flooring and stairs.


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Pretty Pintastic Party

The Look of Sprinter

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You know that time. The couple of months after all the Christmas decorations come down but it is too early for spring. The season of Sprinter...between winter and spring.

I tend to go for the neutral look of pine cones, branches, fake greenery and such.

Branches, twigs, and anything 'nature' is a great way to showcase sprinter.

Pine cones can be gathered right from your yard or a field. Throw them in a basket for a great natural look.

But come early March the birds come out. The bird houses and flowers and anything spring. Cause even though our weather in Michigan may not be spring-like, the days are noticably longer, the birds are singing more and we may even get robin sighting! All signs that spring is not far. Usually, by that time, I am more than ready to get out the spring decor.

These are actually Christmas decorations. I remove the red ribbons and ornaments and they become a great look for sprinter.

More natural elements with rocks are season-neutral.

I always prefer real plants but, alas, I am not a horticulturalist! I grow great plants outside but have never done well with indoor plants.

This ivy topiary is my newest purchase and, yes, a REAL plant! Note how healthy it is now, we shall see what a month brings. Cross your fingers.

Neutrals and hardscapes are a great way to keep things season-neutral.

How do you decorate for those weeks between Christmas and Spring?

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Don't pass it up, seriously.

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I don't know about you but I always have a list of little things that I need to shop for to complete one project or another. Always.

The problem is when I get the chance to stop into my favorite consignment shops, or HomeGoods I oftentimes get overwhelmed cause there is so much cool stuff! And my mind. goes. blank. Seriously. This especially happens when I go to big flea markets and places where there is row upon row of great stuff. I just can't focus.

Both the mirror and the gold wall decor were random buys because I loved them. Now they hang together and make a great wall grouping!

The blue plate I purchased at a consignment shop for 1.50. Couldn't exactly pass that up!

So I decided to take a different approach several years ago. I made up my mind if I saw something that I just loved I was gonna buy it. Even if I didn't know what I was gonna do with it. So that's what I've done. Which sometimes means that I have stuff that sits in my basement. Sometimes for a couple years. But always, if I wait long enough, the opportunity arises where that piece I have been saving is just what I need to complete a project!

These two little black frames I grabbed at a garage sale, removed the pictures inside, and have had the frames for about 6 months. Finally I found a place to use them! Just couldn't get them in focus!

These two little wreaths I couldn't pass up

This mason jar full of buttons was only $6.00! Why did I get them? Because I have had a project in my head that requires lots of buttons. Have you seen the price of buttons in the fabric stores? Crazy expensive Will I get to the project? I hope so but in the meantime, they sit on a shelf and look pretty.

So there you have it, my dirty little secret! I mean, come on, we all have them.

Linking up to:
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