Answering A Question

The other day when I showed this photo on my blog Mary Ellen commented about the column that is sitting on the landing. So I thought maybe you would like to see how I made it. I posted about it in February of 2008, but that has been long enough ago that, I think it is OK to show you again!

I am always putting things like this together, but usually I'm in such a hurry that I don't slow down long enough to "photo journal" about it!

This time I did!

I had a 6" Styrofoam ball that I cut a hole into so I could slip it down over the top of what I assume is an old lamp base. It is a treasure that I rescued!
See the tip of the base. There is a hole on top of it that I think wires probably came through at one time.
I slipped the Styrofoam ball onto the tip.
Then I found a few greenery bushes that I could take from other places, and I cut them apart and stuck them into the Styrofoam.
I laughed when I was working on this because I thought it would be funny to add eyes, nose and mouth.
Obviously I didn't!
I love columns.
The landing was bare.
With three small ceramic pieces stacked together and the ball of greenery, I had just the height that I needed. It is about 5 1/2 feet tall.
The piece on the bottom and the piece with the cherubs, I found several years ago, for $3.00 each!
Of course, I rescued the top one...that means it didn't cost a dime.
I had the Styrofoam from another project and the greenery was just some that I was using elsewhere...so there ya go!
Easy peasy!
Inexpensive and fun!
My kind of decorating!

My "resident decorator" who follows me from project to project, placed the potpourri around the edges...for your viewing pleasure, I'm sure!

I'm trying to get around to visiting each of you, dear readers. Thank you so much for staying in touch.
I'm working on some big projects that if I'd slow down long enough to take photos, I could blog about them!

I hope you have some easy peasy, inexpensive and fun projects going on too!
Love, Rachel

P.S. When I found these 3 ceramic pieces the bottom one was black with gold "antiquing", the cherubs were green with smudges of gold and the top lamp base was cement gray! Across time I painted each piece for the place I was using them, but obviously I've never painted them to "match" each other in this use. I'm fine with it that way!

Thank You Monica For The Award!

Monica from "Whatever Things" honored me with this "Attitude of Gratitude" award.

Thank you so much Monica.

Drop over and visit her when you have a chance.

I really do want to show gratitude with my life.

I know you do too!

I have fresh air to breathe and running water, a sink in which to wash my dishes and a pillow on which to lay my weary head.

I am blessed.

If you'd like to count your blessings, you can take this cute little photo of the lemonade stand along to your blog.

Do you feel gratitude today?

Love, Rachel

Just For You

This "hand towel" is actually a cotton window valance with vintage lace. I love how it looks hanging here. I thought you might like to see it too.
I'm enjoying my bleeding heart blooms so much. That comes as a real surprise to you, doesn't it!? I know they will soon fade away for the year, but I saw tiny buds on the irises and my heart did a happy dance!

Have a wonderful day.
Love, Rachel

Let's Walk Home From School!

See the violets, deep purple and lavender?
Or would you prefer to stop and be amazed at the red out line around the edges of the yellow tulip?
Crisp daffodils all around seem to sing a dancing song, "Spring is here! Spring is here!"
Irises just ready to burst into bloom wait their turn of springtime glory by the old wooden barrel.
Glamorous tulips all dressed up and all in a row. Alas, they have no where to go! Oh my, white bleeding hearts! I'm not sure I can contain my joy!
Will you follow me home beautiful blooms?
Grape hyacinths, blurry at best, but still willing to show a beautiful blue design!

Tulips so perfectly coordinated in color. How does that happen I wonder?

Phlox, soft and fragile flowers in masses and clumps cover the ground.

Home again!

There is beauty in our own yard too!

*sigh*

Now you go for a walk.

Inhale the fresh air.

Twirl around in the sunshine.

Enjoy your day.

Look for things that bring you joy!

I did!

Love, Rachel

Did You Think...

...I'd just walked right out the door, never to return?

Thank you SO much. You are awesome blogging friends. You kept the comments and emails coming in spite of my absence. I just absolutely love you for that!

Our internet service was messed up...something to do with the lines outside.

So now I'm back. I missed you!

Love, Rachel

Whew! I'm Catchin' My Breath!

Has it been a whirlwind at your house? With Spring Break and Easter, I wonder if the dust will settle just a little around here? A customer came to get this flower arrangement on Saturday.
I just loved how it looked sitting here on the vintage table runner after I was finished with the arrangement.

I think the colors on the 'old country roses' teapot and cup spring to life against the flowers of the arrangement. She was happy with how it turned out. If she's happy, I'm happy!

Have a happy day!

Love, Rachel

What Do You Have Planned For Today?

Are you dying Easter eggs?
Are you choosing a favorite one?

Are you eating a bunch of yummy chocolate?

Or are you chasing a bunny?

Or maybe you're chasing several cute little bunnies while they look for Easter eggs?

Whatever your day holds, I hope it is filled with everything wonderful!

Love, Rachel

They Survived!

I know I've shown you scads of photos of my bleeding heart blossoms, but truly they fascinate me! We've had several bone chilling, plant freezing, freeze warning kind of nights around here, since my plants started their first blush of growth toward springtime blooms. I thought I would be taking a photo of them in the snow, but alas they have survived the freeze warnings and I'm in for a few delightful weeks of the miraculous process of their gradual transformation into beautiful pink hearts.

See my happy dance?

Look for miracles today. They are all around us, in what may appear to be mundane and ordinary. There are miracles in the rising of the sun, the greening of the grass, the sap swelling the leaves on the trees, the pollen floating from apple blossom to apple blossom. Actually each breath we take is miraculous!

Love, Rachel

What Do You Do

when you can't sleep? Usually I continue to lie there, until the appropriate time to get up, because I believe our bodies need rest at least one time within each 24 hour time frame! I think our bones and muscles need to feel relief of the strain of the busy ~ ness that is waiting when we rise.
Other times I get up and sit in the quiet and read...learn, soak up inspiration, and renew my mind. Or I write, put my thoughts on paper to empty the space in which they swirl.

What do you do when you can't sleep?

Love, Rachel

I Thought You'd Want To See...

...this. Remember this darling little desk? You can click here to see the first time I showed it to you! I just remembered that I hadn't shown you where it was actually placed!
Now I have 2 drawers for school supplies and a few stationary and scrap booking items, AND a place to work on them!
Don't you just love the feeling you get when there is a place for everything and everything is in its' place?
We're getting back into the groove after changing things up during Spring Break. Thank you for all your kind wishes. I will try to visit each of you just as soon as I can!

Have a great day.
Love, Rachel

I Haven't Forgotten!

Hey y'all! I haven't forgotten about you, my faithful readers and sweet blog friends. You're so kind to just keep hangin' with me! I've been busy making some memories, cooking to feed hungry tummies and quite a few miscellaneous and sundry things! But I will try to make it around to see all of you as soon as I can.

Beauty is springing up all around. The leaves on the trees look as though they are about to burst into full green. The lawn did really turn green in just one day!

I love watching this backyard across from our backyard change from Winter to Spring.

Have a wonderful day. We've been dodging raindrops and muddy unfinished sidewalks, but if we try, we can dodge them with happiness.

Love, Rachel