Part 1 ~ Becoming Living Room Proud

I just have to express my frustration.  While I was working on the living room, I put together  power point presentations.  I took pictures and took you through the process, including DIY ideas and how to.  I have not been able to figure out how to get it on here and now I can't even do a copy and paste!  I am going to try to recreate a shorter version - - if I miss anything PLEASE let me know or ASK.

OK, here we go:

WELCOME!

I did this wall by wall and only just realized that this has been a 3 month process.  The kitchen and living room open up to each other.  The kitchen is yellow and the yellow ceiling will continue into the living room as well.  So I wanted a color that would go; but more than that I wanted a color that would be beachy, happy, bright and fun!  My original idea was a sea mist but when I looked at colors, I was drawn to aquas.  I wound up with ACE Hardware's "Going My Way".  And still using Benjamin Moore Little Angel (yellow) paint on the wall and ceiling.

From here I wasn't sure where I was going.  I sat and stared at it and it suddenly came to me:

Thank you Maya

A LIGHTHOUSE BEAM WAS BORN!  This little light of mine will reach out, skim the water and reach out and down the dark hallway.

Just a little 'water' at the bottom but the beam will go straight down the wall and down the hallway.  Between the two colors, the living room is much brighter and much HAPPIER!  And the yellow opens it up rather than boxing in the small living room.

That was the last wall painted, although parts of the ceiling still needs to be painted.  I know, I do things completely backwards but that's the way it goes and it is easier for me physically.   Now to get things back together... and I am still working on that part!  So wall by wall, here's where I am:




BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

For the most part, this was just painting the room and rearranging my own accessories in a more deliberate way.  I painted some shelves and frames and still have to do more.  I still want to recover toss pillows, the couch and chair.  Anything I do now going forward should be done in controlled chaos.

I'll give you more complete pictures, coming up and some ideas I came up that even surprised me. 

Have a happy day!  ~pat

Trying to catch up...and Intro to my Living Room Re-do

(written:  Monday June 11)

One wall at a time

I am so excited! The living room is finally feeling like it is coming together!

I went with the idea of a lighthouse beam coming out from under the kitchen cabinets and once I hit the window the beam continues down the hall... well, into the hall because I haven't gotten that far that it's down the hall. As I told you in my other post, I don't know where it came from but it was suddenly there! I'm sure somewhere in my mind, it came from necessity and resourcefulness!! (WOW! Did I say that?)

I went with the idea of using the fishing nets I have for a window treatment on the window above the air conditioner. That a/c is not coming out of the window until it doesn't work! I have tried from inside and outside to clean in between the glass with absolutely no success and it bugs me! I don't need anything on the window for privacy and want whatever light I can get to come through... so the fish net idea! I did see fish nets draped over the top and sides of a window, like a scarf treatment, which also looks nice, but I want to camouflage of sorts.

One is too small and one is actually too big. And the net on the larger one is open more. I like the openings on the smaller net better. So right now, I am using what I have, so I used both, layering the smaller on top of the larger. The shells are attached to the larger one and a fish ornament that says "fish stories told here" is attached to the smaller one. It will do for now, until I measure and shop for one that is just right!

I had picked up some small 'seagulls flying' at the thrift store for a couple of dollars. I have a couple outside but I also had more looking for a place to fly. I put a coat of primer on them and then just lightly sanded the head, wings, and body. I like them! I'm going to see how they work out in to net and/or on the window. There are probably other things to add as I go along and start to put things back in order. See if you can pick things out.

I was going to paint my TV stand white and did go as far as a coat of primer but as it was drying I looked around and the wood furniture I had already painted was shades of aqua. This stage of the game is about using what I have so I put a few stokes of the wall color on and it was too close, (no contrast) so I dug out a quart of another (exterior) aqua and painted it that color... much better. Then I got my jumble of jute string and a dab of glue here and there, wrapped the spacer pieces with it...you'll see and a shell here and there and my inexpensive (cheap) stand doesn't look half bad. I decided that I want to get some bigger jute (fatter) to do the bottom and back pieces. Maybe, I'll go crazy and glue it around the edges of the shelves with a knot in the middle. Now I'm having fun!

Some people love them...I am not one of those people! I have been taking down the vertical blinds as I have been working in each room. The kitchen blinds are wrapped in the shed (I had planned on donating them). The blinds from the first window are still in the back of my tonka truck to go to the dumpster.

I was laying in bed one night and decided instead of throwing them out, I could use the slats to edge my gardens! BUT when I was taking down the blinds on the other living room window, it hit me! I can use the slats as faux window molding and baseboards!! Guinness!!!

For now, I am going to put the book case by the front door. I eventually want a table there. The table under my break through that I am using as a desk, was actually there. I want and need something by the front door for a spot for keys, dog poop bags, leash, mail...you know what I mean. Eventually, I think the book case will wind up in my bedroom... eventually.

I wish my body could keep up with my mind. I wish my mind realized my body can't keep up. If I could get the two together maybe it wouldn't be so frustrating sometimes and I wouldn't push harder than I should. But hopefully this is a learning curve!

As I write this, I am waiting for the roller to defrost. I am starting to wonder if it is worth the wait. I could have used the roller until all the paint was used up in it and washed it up...I'd finally be painting the ceiling! But I am using the rest time wisely, I guess. I didn't sleep much again last night and afraid to get too relax where it may become 'nap time'!

I am also looking around as to where I am going to put things...when I get to that point. I'm wondering what will stay and what will go somewhere else. I have collections of many sea shells. Many are from beaches I've been to, some are not but I love them just the same. I used to have a nautical room and still have lighthouses, the Salty Captain and Mate (they remind me of my Grandfather so much!),definite beachy things, candles and candle holders, a collection of angels, signs (lots of signs, plaques) lots of pictures (lots), toss pillows and beach and nautical themed toss pillows, and lots of trays (serving trays that I use for allot of things) and maybe, too many baskets!

My mother was totally blown away when I moved and she saw a store pillow carton (the kind that is about 4 feet high; maybe you've seen them in the store at back-to-school time?) Anyway, the box was jam packed full of baskets and that was probably only half of it! I use baskets for everything. I use them for decoration, for storage, for carrying, for organizing...you name it, I most likely have a basket to use for it.

As I sit here too, I wonder about some furniture placement. My TV was in front of the air conditioner. I no longer have cable, using rabbit ears. I put the TV there so it would be close to the window for reception, but not in front of the window I could open and close, according to the weather. Well, that part of it worked out well, but, in order to clean the air conditioner filter every 1000 hours, it means disconnecting and moving it out of the way...on the floor, and picking it up and setting up again. Hassle! So I think I will move it over and the side shelf will be just under the air conditioner, and the TV to the side of it. So now as I look and think, I need something on the other side to balance it. Darn! And I don't know what to put there.

# # #

Once this is done, the next project is THAT EXTRA room! The room I am hoping to put together as an office, craft room, guest room, library.... and everything else room so so many of my living room projects can go away!

Or maybe the SHED! Or a day here and a day there. There are a few things I can think of that can be donated and a few things to better organize.

Or maybe the HALLWAY or my BEDROOM!!! And the built in shelves...maybe an additional closet....The possibilities are endless.

For now it is catch up on the things that where neglected while I was re-doing the living room. Time to find a new home for craft and paint materials. Re-hang frames down the hall still the next step.

Take a break too...

It's all part of the journey!

E.T.'s 30th Anniversary - Phone Home!

June 11...the 30th Anniversary of E.T.!  It is so hard to believe that it is thirty years already!

Universal Studios

I Love E.T. and the movie!  My son was born June 1,1980 and this movie started a whole new phase for both of us.  I wish I could dig out some of the pictures from that time. 

My son had a closet in his playroom (with no doors) with a poster of E.T. in the back and allot of stuffed toys.  I had taken a picture of him with all the toys on him in front of the poster...it was cute!

The picture above was done while he sorta sat for his portrait.  At the end, he insisted it was Elliot, because E.T. was not there for the portrait!

When Toys 'R Us opened in Times Square, I got my own talking E.T.

See the trailer here.

Happy Anniversary E.T....where ever your journey takes you!!  I'll be right here...

UP-DATE on living room with BONUS!

Have I lost it or not?

The other night, I felt so much better after getting un-stuck!  I can't tell you how much better I felt, I told my mother, I was determined to finish painting the living room.

My wonderful niece was back in the hospital (in New York) with contractions.   The doctor decided that she would have her daughter (her second child) that night.  I wound up playing 'Words With Friends' in between contractions!  I was so excited, I was no longer tired!!  I was getting more and more excited and more and more AWAKE!  Besides playing, we started sending instant messages... when she got to 5cm, they would brake her water.  Well she skipped 5 and at 6cm, she wrote: I was the first to know and here we go...

BONUS!!  ----->>




Isn't she lovely!?!

 Madison Rose was born at 6:45 AM and it was almost as good as being there!  I was so excited and had started drinking coffee earlier I stayed close to the computer for pictures.

I was awake now!  So it was time to get started on finishing up the living room... don't know where this came from, but it just suddenly appeared!  Just like that!!

The yellow is coming and continuing from the kitchen; under the cabinets across and then extends up and down like a lighthouse beam!
What do you think??

So, truth be told, I am running low on "Going My Way" aqua paint and determined to finish, I decided to continue with this light beam on the other side of the window... something like this:

 AND it really has that folded (?) or curved look in person!?  So I am trying to get pumped full of coffee to get moving again... and moving things out of my way again!

I hope you are following along on this journey...I'm never sure where we are going but it's all good!!

how to do florida

how to do florida  is a TV Show here in Florida... and I wish I would see my cousin on it but for now:

"how to do florida" is a broadcast show that entertains, teaches, and encourages Floridians to actively engage their state. This site will be a resource for information featured in the show and additional content not available anywhere else.

It is remarkably resourceful, interesting and wonderful!  I don't know if I am a floridian or when you become one after you transplant.  I have enjoyed so many of my adventures and day journeys since I moved here.  I just saw today, that there is a poster check list!  What a great idea but a poster is too big for me.  What I am thinking is to print it, either frame it or decoupage it and check off as I go!

The ultimate bucket list!   The poster is free, you pay shipping.


watch this to learn about the show.

There is a fish market right down the road (a piece) that I didn't realize was open to the public.  I had seen this when it was on television and I'm excited to go check it out.  Wild Ocean Market in Titusville, FL  looks like a great full service fish market...just what you'd want on the coast!

Kennedy Space Center is a definite MUST do!  Plan on spending the day, there is just so much to see and do.  For a brief look, click here.

For more information about the Space Coast, click here.

As I travel this journey...

As I travel this journey, I am often caught off guard about different things. 

I am a big fan of Facebook.  I joined in May of 2008, according to FB,  although I think it was more around 2007.  The idea was to be able to keep in touch with everyone 'home' after I moved from Long Island, NY to Vero Beach, FL in 2007.  I had been working for Linens 'n Things and transferred.  Working retail, you work a crazy schedule and sometimes over-nite, where the rest of the world is doing a 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.  So it was great to post whenever. 

Relationships change... by December 2008 all stores had closed nation wide.  Facebook became a way to keep in touch with all my friends and family that were coworkers.  To support each other in the quest for a job, a life, to hold on... to play games to pass the time and not lose our minds.  It was a difficult time for many of us.  People move... some got jobs... some went into new relationships, some got married, had babies... An additional injury at work, progressed and I wound up disabled and on disability...life happens... life goes on. 

I believe many of our beliefs stem from where our journey has lead us... all kinds of things can shape our views and beliefs.  I have always come from a place of doing to others as I have wanted to be treated.  There have been times that I have been in a position to help others and more lately times I can not.  I spent years as an advocate for children.  I've helped parents, male and female.  I learned allot from simple to complicated issues of laws, the government and it's workings.  I am a liberal.

	"... someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties..." then call me a liberal! JFK 9-14-60

I bring up my political views here today because it is part of my journey and only to say this:

I am so totally amazed that there are people is a family member I know that have has attacked me and I think, tried to change my views. It is not that I have not listened to other views, but have questioned them.  This is done on my personal FB page.  No one has to agree with my political views, nor I with everyone else.  I strive to keep my political and religious views there, when it moves me BUT not on my companion page on Facebook or here.  I was told in high school, there are things you discuss with "customers".  Those things were: Religion, Politics and Sex!  Good advice.

I wish to only share my journey here in a positive manner. 

My journey is my journey.  I have invited you along.  Take what you can, give nothing back.  You may not get anything from a post, but come back...I may strike a nerve.  You might get something back.  I hope there will be times when you realize you're not alone, not the only one.  I hope I will inspire you to go along on your own journey.  I hope you will laugh at some of my mistakes and better yet, learn from them. 

I have found some great ideas, great inspiration and great DIY lessons from other bloggers, which I hope to continue sharing as I go.  I hope my journey continues on a postive path that we meet up every once in awhile and share how it's going... until then...

Inspiration couch and chair...I got stuck!

I wrote this Wednesday, June 6, 2012 and as I finished, I had another one of those light bulb moments!  Sometimes, I hate when that happens.  I was ready to hit 'publish'.  But that's what happens when something or someone inspires you...or me.  As I worked on this and flipped back and forth between Completely Coastal, the different fabrics, Pinterest and my pictures, I got an idea!  The juices were flowing!


Fantastic  post from Completely Coastal and at the right time!  As I have mentioned before, as I redo my living room, I also want to recover the couch and chair.  In this post here, I went looking back for the measurements of the fabric I like and it was out of stock!  What a difference a day can make! 

That was last night and this morning was this fabulous post:  Upholstering a Chair Coastal Style!  I am so excited!!  I can't thank Completely Coastal enough.  For those of you who may not realize it, there is allot of effort and work that goes into such a post!

I am not, although it would be easy enough, going to repeat and share all the good pictures and information.  Go check it out yourself.  What I want to share is what I found that I like for my living room.

Here's what I have:

My $5 Thrift chair!
By the way, that's the panelling throughout before painting.

And this is what I like from Brick House Fabrics:

A nautical fabric with ships, birds, seashells, and documents with script! This nautical fabric has a weathered, beach look.. perfect for any cottage from Nantucket to France!
A background with documents, compass roses, post marks, and script is covered with rectangles printed to look as if they were basket woven, with pieces of old letters mounted on them. The background's writing is mostly in French, but the occasional English address and postal stamp is also there.
The papers that are mounted have ocean and beach motifs- an anchor, birds, starfish, a seashell, and a sailing vessel. It is as if someone drew the pictures atop pieces of deckle edged letters, and then mounted them to a heavier basket weave material. Other nautical motifs on the background tie the whole together. There are two different compass roses, a shell, and an official stamp with an anchor that reads Maritime something, and then Service A La Mer.
It is as if the background is made up of the correspondence from a Frenchman in the French maritime service to someone in London. Are the mounted letters part of them? Did the receiver draw the pictures? Or are they the return letters to the Frenchman who used them as drawing paper? Another intriguing documentary script fabric!
The colors used are navy blue, muted dusty sky blue, buff golden beige, muted brown, pale grey, rusty orange, and charcoal. There has been over-printing, and blending, so many other colors are seen. The background is oatmeal with fleck. The effect from a distance is of blues from navy to pale with brown, and golden beige on oatmeal.
This fabric is 55 3/4" wide. The basket woven rectangle with the sandpiper, the speckled bird, is just over 10 1/4" ( 26.035 cm. ) wide and about 9 1/2" ( 24.13 cm. ) tall. This is a mid-weight home decorating fabric. It has nice drape. It has a matt, dry look and feel. It is perfect for curtains, cushions, totes, etc.
This is for a yard cut.  $24.00/yd

It is very similar to the fabric I like but the difference in price ($24 vs $7.69) is making me stand back and look some more.

and for $6.99, this was on Beverlys.com:

It has the elements I like, including sand pipers, but bluer than the others, and I'm wondering if it will look too busy.  What do you think?

So this is where the post was going to end when the light bulb moment came.  So I put this on hold so I could try my idea out...



So here's what I'm thinking...for now...

I have enough material to recover the 'front' of each of the 4 large back pillows on the couch.  Although it doesn't really GO with the colors, it will freshen it up for NOW.  It buys me time to look for fabrics that I really want and not feel like I am settling...not under pressure.  I feel better already.  I've been stuck in this spot...now I can move on.

the journey continues!

OK.... so what do you think??

Some days I just do a quick run through and other days I actually look one after the other on Home Talk.  Today I got stuck there and came across just what I was thinking about for the bedroom but also an idea that may work for the hall.

Take a look:

Anita Roll Murals (Alpharetta, GA)

Atlanta designer Angela Hogan had raw wood applied to the bed wall and then I used a three step aging process to get a weathered look that also incorporated the dominant colors in the bedding. The builder was worried at first but loved it after all the painting and decor was in place. Beazer Homes/ Houston, TX

You can see some of the raw wood just to the left of the lamp.

Luckily, Anita shared her DIY...... link on HomeTalk

Okay here goes... Sand the wood if necessary before applying to the 

wall. My first step was brushing on a wash of grey paint which I mixed up into a bucket. I had rags ready to catch drips and actually rub into the wood to cover the raw wood but allow the natural grain and imperfection to show through. Next I lightly drybrushed a cream color over the grey wash using a wide brush (old worn out brushes work best) and allowing the grey to show through. It should be streaky looking. Next and most importantly I brushed the burnt orange color onto a sanding block and very lightly skipped it along the wood. The paint should not be too thick on the block or it will add to much at once on the wood. Start by very lightly touching the sanding block to the wood and run it along the edges of the planks and in the middle of the wood here and there. Experiment on extra planks to get the feel of it. Sanding blocks can be found at any hardware store.

The possibilities are endless...I'm thinking the ceiling too!!  I could go crazy and have a "beach shack" look everywhere!  LOL

One more thing.  If you want to get those crazy creative juices flowing, check out her website too

here and on Houzz here.

...it's part of the journey.

Need some advice?

I wrote another piece about Ocean Styles Beach Decor, What is your Ocean Style?, in case you missed it.  It has some wonderful inspiration and products from them that I hope you will check out.

Who couldn't use some advice?!  Especially when it is coming from the OCEAN and/or the SUN!!

I love these pillows!  Besides the fact that they would go so nicely in my living room (my forever project, it seems!), whatever way I go with my bedroom they would go nicely there too!  They combine my love for the beach with positive reinforcement.

I saw this post the other day and went back again today and thought, "I have to share these with you...":

Ocean Styles Beach Decor

Tuesday

We have two brand new pillows just listed today - Advice From The Sun and Advice From The Ocean. I love their charming word play "advice" printed on the reverse side. Find them here:

http://www.oceanstyles.com/throw-pillows/advice-from-the-ocean-pillow-p-2348
http://www.oceanstyles.com/throw-pillows/advice-from-the-sun-pillow-p-2347

I love these pillows!  They would be great for a gift too!  We all know someone who could use a little advice or two!

Who couldn't use advice from the SUN?

Look on the Bright Side! 

Rise to the occasion.

Keep it light.  Set your sights high.
Renew your energy. 
Keep a sunny disposition
Be Brilliant!!

Or advice from the OCEAN?

Take Time to Relax and Coast

Be sure of yourself.
Come out of your shell.
Avoid pier pressure.
Sea life's beauty.
Don't get tide down.
Make waves!

And that, my explorers, is my advice for this stage of the journey...

Knock Off Anthropologie Jute Hurricane Lantern

On June 1st, Hurricane Season started... again.  Since I moved to Florida, every year I prepare for the season, praying that I will make it through.  Every year since, I have been very lucky!  My thought on the matter is: if I prepare and I'm ready, all will be fine.  Every year I prepare a little more.  I just have to remember to check the dates on my canned goods.  I read that someone donates all their canned goods in November that haven't been used.  I think that is a wonderful idea, and will keep that in mind this year.

What brings this all about is the post below I saw on Facebook.  What a wonderful idea and good looking too, way to be prepared.  Even other storms knock out the lights (and accidents)... and just for atmosphere, these would be wonderful inside and out.  I can wait to make my own... one or two... three or four...!!!

I do hope you will take a look and spread some love on her blog and Facebook page!




Hymns and Verses: Knock Off Anthropologie Jute Hurricane Lantern: So here's my inspiration, an outdoor jute hurricane lantern from Anthopologie.  It sells for $38.  I made mine with things I had on hand...

Moving right along...sorta

Yesterday, I had such great plans... as I do so many days.  After checking in with everything and playing a couple of rounds of Words with Friends with my niece who is expecting her second baby (a girl this time) and on bed rest.

I haven't been feeling great these days but finally  decided that I would venture out and do a couple of errands.  After getting "dressed" and ready to put on my flip flops, it started thundering...ground rumbling and shaking thunder... and then came the rain!!  No flip flops, no going out.

So I did this instead:

I did hang things before finishing painting.  On the left side wall, I had spray painted LiveLaughLove in aqua.  It covered well but as you can see, it just fades away on the wall.  I'll repaint it and the frames white.

I put the electric blanket (plaid) away in the seagrass trunk (not truck!) as well as a quilt and a Nate Berkus blanket.

I want to recover the couch with duck cloth or a simple drop cloth.  I need to measure.  I want to recover the 4 big, back pillows of the couch with the following material... 2 and 2...

I'd love to re-do the whole couch with this...
but for now... 2 big pillows will do.
Tidepool

and 2 pillows of this...
Seagrass

 But when I just went looking for it, it is out of stock.

Just my luck!!  Back to the drawing board.

This is the idea for the sofa cover and wing back chair.
Annabellea drop cloth sofa; here.

Today looks like more of the same...

Southeast Corner Garden Plan - Lowe's Creative Ideas

Southeast Corner Garden Plan - Lowe's Creative Ideas
To create this bed, place a stake at the inside corner of the existing bed and attach a string to it. Stretch the string to one corner. Then swing the taut string across the lawn to the other corner, and mark this arc with spray paint. The result is a deeper bed with a gentle curve. Remove sod, build the edging, and prepare the area with garden soil, compost and soil conditioner.

Remember, tropical plants start small but grow fast in rich soil accompanied by moisture, heat and humidity. Zinnias and sunflowers last longer if you cut the flowers often. When the plants start looking tired, pull them out and replant them for a second round.

PLANT LIST

A) Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum)

B) ‘Lemon Queen’ sunflowers (Helianthus anuus)

C) Ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium)

D) Zinnias

E) Sweet basil

F) Variegated creeping lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodorus ‘Variegata’)

G) ‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard

LOWE'S

While this is a great idea, I have to figure out how to do this on my southeast side but on the northeast side is a perfect corner just like this that I could do something with.

Stay tuned while I figure out what to do where as the journey continues...

Explore further...

Usually I notice exterior doors more than interior doors.  That could simply be that walking or driving by, that's what you see and either it invites you in or not.  I like older doors.  I understand that doors are now made of different materials to withstand the different elements of weather but I don't find that they now have the charm of older doors.  I don't know why they can't design them to look that way.  If you look at doors, especially from a time gone by, there is such charm...the wood, the patina, the hardware!  Some hardware is so ornate but when you actually look at it and it's detail, you have to admire the craftsmanship.

My front and back doors seem to be heavy-ish but hollow with a plastic kind of board over the inside and outside, with a rough surface.  They each have a little widow but you can't see through the yellow plastic rectangle on the front door!  I also have a storm door on the front that has probably been here since 1972!   I love wood screened doors too and would love to find one that fits.  I one I have has been screwed and stripped so I can't get the screws out to replace the screen!  It bugs me so (pun intended) that besides not keeping bugs out, it is no longer serving it's purpose, that I keep thinking about just taking it down.

These days, I am totally attracted to yellow painted wood screen doors with the cottage trim and barn doors, with fabulous black heavy hardware.  I saw a wonderful castle looking door that I'd love for my kitchen but the closest door, the front door, is in the living room. I did think of a barn style slider but that's out of the question right now. Anything extra, is on hold, if it's not a quick, cheap, DIY!  This is the part of the budget where I try to work with what I have.


These are just an example of what is tickling my fancy!

Bath room door from a NH sheep barn.

I love barn doors and I was thinking I could put those thin pieces of wood over the actual door and add hardware to it... more like the white one below.

 A great pocket door but no real reference to its original source.

I just love the pocket door above and all pocket doors.

I like this one for my bedroom room, which is at the end of the hall.  I don't kno what color I'm painting the hall yet but I'd paint this to match.  I think the mirror will bounce more light and hopefully make the hallway wider.

And the screen door that makes me drool can be found here:



Until next time...

Make Your Southeast Garden Sustainable - Lowe's Creative Ideas

I am always looking for information about gardening here.  Even the difference between here and Vero Beach leaves me scratching my head sometimes, but totally different from Long Island, NY.  I am trying to slowly but surely get 'native' plants going and growing here.  I used to do better with containers but the ones I have, I've been trying to get into the ground.





Make Your Southeast Garden Sustainable - Lowe's Creative Ideas


We’d all like to have a more sustainable garden as long as it doesn’t require more time, energy, strength, or money. Here are some ways to make your sustainable garden an enduring one.

Tip 1: Water Wisdom

While I have the best intentions of installing an efficient drip-irrigation system, I haven’t gotten beyond a leaky pipe and a sprinkler. However, I learned a lot a few years ago when watering was restricted due to drought.

• My garden needs less water than I previously thought to survive and grow. I try to group drought-tolerant plants to create areas that seldom need water.
• Watering well once (or twice if the soil is sandy) each week is better than a little bit every day.
• Reducing the water pressure to the sprinkler increases the droplet size and reduces the mist that usually evaporates.
• Watering in the early morning means plants are ready for the heat of the day with minimal evaporation.

Tip 2: Lawn Insights

• Raise the cutting height in summer to prevent the lawn from drying out.
• Use a reel mower for exercise and freedom from noise, fumes, and trips to the gas station.
• Fertilize only enough to support healthy grass, not excessive growth.

Tip 3: Tool Rules

• Buy tools that fit your hands, your height, and your needs.
• Sharpen all blades, including shovels and hoes.
• Use the right tool for the task; for example, use loppers rather than hand shears for a limb larger than your thumb.
• Buy well-made tools for long-term savings and enjoyment.

Tip 4: Good Ideas

• If you have a tree removed, recycle the wood chips for garden paths.
• Compost the easy way by burying non-meat kitchen scraps in empty garden beds.

Tip 5: Go Native

• Often the diehard plants are those that are nature’s gift. Blue phlox reseeds itself in my garden.
• Look to nature for well-adapted plants in problem areas. In a dry bed, eared coreopsis, moss verbena, and bird’s foot violet bloom without care. In a wet zone, sweet bay magnolia, Virginia sweetspire, and swamp hibiscus are thriving.

Really, a sustainable garden is one that belongs to a smart gardener — one who wastes little and uses everything. Have you found ways to be a smart gardener?

Be free in your spirit always...

In a recent morning devotional I read a line that hit me between the eyes. It said: Be free in your spirit always…do not waste your time attaching yourself to hurt and pain. (Joan Anderson)

It has taken me a very long while to be able to say, 'I will not dwell in the past, nor will I waste my time being attached to the hurt and pain.' 

Today is one of those days that my mind wonders and wanders but I am OK.  I was married at 21. My son was born 3 years later.  I remember that day well - like it was yesterday.  He was a cutie.  Six months later his Dad and I separated.  There is so much more to the story, of course, but today is my son's birthday.

1981 My First Mother's Day

As any other mother, that was not given that manual at the hospital or later with the divorce, I made a shit load of mistakes BUT did the best I could with everything I knew, and everything I had, to do the best I could.  To anyone out there: follow your heart.  I was a single parent most of his first 18 years.

During the end of my second marriage, he went to live with his Dad.  From that point, our relationship went down hill.  I always prayed that time was on my side and it would turn around but 12 years later, it hasn't.

I've always been a big card sender.  So in the beginning I'd send a card every Hallmark holiday and then every birthday and Christmas.  In the beginning, I still shopped on birthdays and Christmas.  Then it just became a Christmas ornament.  Every move I made, these wrapped gifts (got boxed up) came along with me.  Every card I sent went unacknowledged.  There were not cards, gifts or even a call to me for my birthday or holidays.

As I started this journey, and started to clean out the shed, I came across these plastic storage bins of unopened wrapped gifts I'd been holding on to for 12 years!

2000 Mother's Day

KEY WORD: holding on!  It is with great sadness, today, I am acknowledging that I must and am letting go. 

From things I hear, I don't know him anymore.  I am not around so it is easy to blame, distort and live in a place of hurt and pain.  But that is not a healthy place for me... I have to set my spirit free.  Moments out of my control are talked about with dates, times and people like it just happened.  Things where I came through are forgotten but that's OK, I did what I could as a mother.  It was my job.

So.... today:
 I wish my son a very Happy Birthday.  I wish him a good life and pray that life is good to him.  "I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." (Robert Munsch)

love ya




meanwhile:

I am that which has emerged from the fire.