Still Out in the Yard

We take so long finishing projects because we start another one before we finish the first! The parlor is on hold during the day while we concentrate on the yard! Here is the bamboo, Spike, on Saturday. I measured it at 30 inches. But on Sunday the yard was mowed and the baskets got put away. Sadly on Monday morning I found that the mystery creature from the swamp got hold of Spike. It must be one tall animal because it chewed off about 10 inches off the top! My husband thinks it must be a deer. So I guess the bamboo will not be taking over the yard this year!

The pond work this weekend included building the waterfall and the rock edges. It took many tries to get the rock placed correctly to have a good water flow and nice sound. We finally were satisfied!

We built some planters into the wall and hope that the plants will fill in and trail around the rocks like they had before we dug it all up! This is the view from my chair. Looks like a pile of rocks and black plastic right now! Please note the lone yellow iris in the background! I brought some iris from Mom's in NC to our old house, then transplanted them here in 2001. They bloomed that year and have not bloomed since! The white iris that already were here bloom every year and I just figured the yellow ones were gone! Surprise -one bloomed this year after 7 years!

A trip to HD and L*we's for more plants finished off our weekend!

One last picture of my frugal shopping trip. I've really been clipping coupons and studying sites that teach you to bargain shop. It is beginning to make sense and pay off. This picture shows my bargains from 2 stores- About $80 worth of items - Spent about $20 and got back register coupons for $13 to use next week.

I made one $6 mistake, but I will return those items. I was buying them for a church mission trip and did not get a good deal. So I will wait and get those items with coupons!

Bits and Pieces

Since the construction phase of the Parlor redo is within sight of the finish line, it is time for me to start my end of the deal. Or as I call it "The Real Fun"!!!! I started this week with this rug. It is not at all what my vision was, but when I saw it something clicked. If it does not work in the parlor -I'll find a place for it.

The old rug was too green and rectangle- it came with the house. The room is odd shaped - the fireplace is on an angle in the corner. A big chunk of room is in front of the double front doors. Because the rug only fit one way I had to put all of the furniture on an angle. This led to another big chunk of room behind the sofa. How I wish I could have the girls from HGTV come and show me how to arrange the furniture to make the most of the space! A rug salesman suggested a round rug to give me more flexibility. There will be no new furniture and I want the room to look different, so I will have to switch up the accessories. After shopping around the house, I am beginning to pull some things to audition for the new space. Pillows, lamps, tables, furniture, prints, frames, dishes and candles are lined up in the dining room just waiting for their chance to try out.

Which ones will make the cut?

Bamboo Update

On Saturday the bamboo shoot was 1 basket tall. I took this on Tuesday.......

And today I took this picture! I only have one more basket. Most of the other shoots have been chewed up. I guess the mystery animal is afraid of the baskets. (To Nevis: I would be glad for you to dig this up and take it away before I name it and make it a pet!)

Speaking of pets- I love these little guys. We have lizards all over the yard and sometimes in the house. This fellow posed for about 5 minutes while I experimented with the camera.

My Busy Husband

In spite of feeling a little under the weather with an inner ear problem, my DH had a busy weekend. He has been waiting for a weekend with good weather to get out and work in the yard for the last month. So nothing could keep him inside. We have had a small fishpond in the backyard for 5 years. It came to be when a couple of teens were sentenced to a weekend of hard labor for a curfew break. So they dug to China and we got a pond. Over the years the plants and fish grew and it really looked wonderful....last spring...before the drought. Then we had a leak in the liner so we gave up last summer, drained it and decided to start over. He dug up the plants and enlarged the hole and bought a new liner.
So this is where we started Saturday morning, before he dug up the last of my iris.

Here are the boys spreading out the new liner. It weighed 110 pounds so it took both of them to carry it!

This is the vine covered pile of rock we moved from around the pond when we drained it. No telling how many snakes are camping in there!

While he worked on the pond I planted some bedding plants and put mulch in the raised beds. I played with my camera some....

In the back corner of our yard we have a bamboo grove. I love the jungle/tropical look and it screens out the neighbors....but it is very invasive. It grows very fast, has long, long roots and is like walking on spikes if you go barefoot.

I took a picture of this new shoot on Wednesday next to a basket to show how small it was. Three days later the same shoot! This is at least 20 feet from the mother plants. Luckily some animal has been chewing some of the shoots so I didn't have to chop down so many of them. I wonder what animal is coming out of the swamp to help me out?

Wednesday-------------------------------------------------Saturday

And finally, when he finished his work outside, he came back in to work on the parlor. He has finished the crown moulding and has the newly painted trim back up around the windows. Sorry ladies, he's taken and I don't share!!

Vintage Bling!

Show and Tell Sunday-Vintage Jewelry

I've watched Show and Tell Sunday at "Sugar*Sugar" and "Little Pink Studio" for three weeks. It is so much fun to see other collections of things I love. My post last week didn't get finished in time to join the parade...this week I am trying to be ready early! I'm not a "jewelry girl"-I like simple, I don't like to be weighted down....but vintage jewelry that is more for sentiment and decoration - that's a whole different thing!

I got the Mother of Pearl choker in a bag of jewelry at an antique market for $2. Most of the things in the bag were used on craft projects, but I wear the choker a lot.

This ring was given to me when I was a child by one of Mom's friends. She was French and the ring had belonged to her mother. It is small and fits me perfectly. She also gave me my princess tiara that is shown in another picture!
My pinkie ring is from childhood- that makes it vintage! I got it on a family vacation out West. The seahorse ring came from the 1939 World's Fair and given to Mom by her oldest brother. I am not really sure about the other ring - it was in a box of things that had some trinkets that my Grandmother gave me.

I LOVE lockets. Can you see those sweet little girls? We are not sure who they are, but probably family since this was in my Grandmother's things. There is also a very faded stern looking lady on the other side.

This the locket closed with another mystery - the letters "F L T" and three linked rings. I wish it could tell me it's story! I keep it with gloves from my Dad's Mom and a purse from Mom's Mom.

More Bling! Hair pins, buckles, pins, pearls and my princess tiara!

I'm ending up with necklaces and more mystery - the silver heart says H H Street Fair - wish I knew more. The locket was Mom's given to her by Dad, his picture is inside. I have no idea where the other necklace came from but I've had it as long as I can remember. It has the tiniest purple stones...so sweet!

Treasure Box

I got a box of fun stuff in the mail this week. Lots of ideas for crafty projects...if there were just more hours in the day. My mom enjoys the hunt for junk as much as I do...then she enjoys packing it up and sending it to me! Here is the plunder!

Lace, doillies, pillowcases, tablecloths, dish towel, tags, bracelets, goose, chicks, tray with a map of Colorado, pocket of roses, folding yardsticks(for DH), Christmas post cards, Santa book and vintage Christmas sheet music...........I am sure I left something out. I guess this should take care of my thrift store addiction this week! I did go to "Kids Clothing Connection" this week. It's a twice a year sale that is held in an empty store. It started out with just clothes, but it has expanded to include furniture, household goods and books. Usually I end up with all kinds of bargains. Not so much this week....I got a 1929 Geography book....everything else was too pricey! The last day of the sale is 1/2 price day but, even 1/2 price on a lot of the stuff is too much this time! I do think this is a great way to recycle things for kids. There are tons of great toys and clothes that have been outgrown and are still in great shape....My kids are just too old for all that good stuff!

Show and Tell Sunday- Belated Edition

Analise on Sugar*Sugar hosted a "Hankie Show and Tell" on Sunday. I planned on taking part but, due a dead camera battery and forgetfulness, I am doing my post today. Maybe I will get my act together for next week's topic! I'm starting with a chenille purse I made with half of a hankie as trim. The inside has a lining that matches the blue roses in the hankie.

Next is a hankie hanging out with a box that matches it on the mantle of my guest room.
I love the lace on this one with some of my Grandmother's things on the vanity.

A lady never goes anywhere without her hankie!
Finally, a few more with a funny little paper lady that a hankie can be threaded through! I don't have a big collection - every now and then one catches my eye! Many of mine are packed away with Christmas decorations or other holiday things. I did get many ideas from looking at other hankie collections- for display, and crafting, and even for wrapping gifts.....more reasons to add to this collection!

Application ( To Norman)

APPLICATION FOR GIRLFRIEND

Name: Wallis Elizabeth C______(Sorry,my parents don't allow full disclosure!)

Nicknames: Bitsey, Bitty, Bitsey Bitts, Beetch, BeBe La Hussy

Age: 5+

DOB: May__,2002

Place of Residence: Alabama

Personality Traits: Loving (freely gives kisses), Sharing (bed, not toys or food), Strong Willed(usually will not come when called unless it is to her advantage), Obedient ( will sit for treats as long as a pillow is available to rest rump on), Protective(will bark to defend parents from doorbell, people or animals walking by territory, TV)

Talents: Licking, Boot-Scooting, Chewing eyes off Stuffed Animals,Prancing,

Snoring, Chasing cat (playfully, of course)

Physical Attributes: Petite -12 pounds, Jet Black with white toes and chest, Big Eyes, Long tongue

Pet Peeves: Never touch my toes! Must be warm and will crawl inside your clothes to achieve goal. Will also sleep next to cat in emergency.

Dear Norman,

I would like you to consider me for your girlfriend. The only boy pug I've ever known is my brother, Eli. But, I have worshipped you from afar. I find your humor and appearance very attractive. I will give you all my broccoli, since carrots are my favorite treat. Since we live so far apart I know it will be a long distance relationship but I can accept that.

All my love, Bitsey

A Walk Around the Neighborhood

Our neighborhood is a great place to live if you like vintage things. It is part of the city's Historic District. During the Spring the dogwoods and azaleas are magnificent. The other great time is Christmas when the Victorian Porch Tour takes place. For one week the porches are all decorated with Victorian displays. We stood in front of our house one year at Christmas and wished we could buy a house in this neighborhood. Almost 5 years later the dream came true. Today I took a walk around 3 blocks with my camera to capture the sights. Come take a look!

Across the street the Azaleas look full ...unlike mine...

My buddy lives here-look no azaleas...like me.... Governor Samford owned this house and lied in state in the front room when he died in 1901.

Love the sidewalks!

This house has the City Beautification Award right now.

The swamp.......getting back toward my yard....

The back of my house...no, those are not my azaleas. They belong to the house behind ours but, maybe people driving by don't know that!

My Mr. Lincoln- my favorite rose bush. I wish I had a greener thumb. He looks good in spring but the summer is just too hot and dry for him!

My azaleas ....those that DH let me keep....they will bloom next week...after the Azalea Trail is over!!!!

Back home....I love this oak tree....It has survived hurricanes that took a lot of the older trees in our city. It covers our yard in shade and leaves and acorns.
Thanks for going on my walk today..come back the second weekend of December to see the Victorian Porch Tour!