Nov 29, 2010

White, White...And For Good Measure...More White


I'm feeling very "make due with what you have" this Christmas.
Although I have to admit this revelation just struck me recently.




I already did this at Walmart...
and I needed another glittery ornament like I needed 2 inches added
to each thigh!
Note to self: less sugar before shopping!




But as I pondered my mantlescape for this year, I just kept thinking,
'if I only had...'
'maybe I need some...'
'I bet Michael's has...'




What is wrong with me!
I already have!
And Lord knows I don't need!





So, I just slapped myself!
A real good one, right on the chop!
And I knocked some sense right into me!




I have a lot of things!
Too darn many things!





There has to be something I can use, something I
already have right under my nose!







Vintage ornaments! I have vintage ornaments!





And vintage frames...uh, I have one or two or ten or so...





It's very simple...
no feathers, no glitter, no marching band!




But right now, it's working for me...and I didn't spend one thin dime!





Don't worry...I'm sure feathers and a marching band will show up
somewhere else in my Christmas decor! ;}
{we call this tight angle a "mercy crop"...sometimes it takes off half your
thigh...or some of the junk in your trunk...this time it was all the "props"
that are littering my steps! ;}

Join Beverly for PINK SATURDAY !!

Christmas Mantel Party @ THE LETTERED COTTAGE






Nov 28, 2010

The Taj Mahal Is Finished! {Bee's Patio}

When last visited our intrepid homeowner, Bee, her patio looked something like this...
ACK!!
And she had no idea things were going to get much worse... ;}


But at least she can just stay inside her beautiful home while all the chaos
is confined to her backyard, right?

Hee...hee...hee...

Let's go inside and take a peak, shall we?





Three tables in her dining room?
A tad self indulgent , don't you think?!
Talk about an OC Housewife!




Ok, ok...the truth is...
She had new patio furniture coming out of her ears! Eyes!
And every other place that can be mentioned in polite company!



TVs...accessories...ishkabibble!
I just remember that she kept saying, "I AM SO ...."
Uh...polite company... ;}




Well, she did get some "away time" when they needed to stalk a few
homes to check out the mason's work...
is this a driiiiiiveway, or what??!



The eve of destruction...



Even in the rubble...dogs are still dogs...



This is what I imagine things will look like after "the Big One"...
{Wow! Cheery Christmas thought, eh?}




If Bee thought the other stuff was bad...the jackhammer serenade
was just the highlight of her existence thus far...right there between
labor and a root canal!




Making progress...quietly!





The "Circle Of Life"...that's what they are calling this section...
looks more like "the cheese stands alone" to me!






This is actually a lesson in "sit" & "stay"...
can you tell that the dogs are enjoying this as much as we did?
NOT!





Allllllllllmost done...
well, this phase at least...
hee...hee...hee...





Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh! Nooooooooooooooo!
And after all that, the grass it too high!
What?
Yah!
I know...but they didn't want to see all the roots, ant tunnels
and dirt...so darn picky!




Then the CDC had to be called in to hermetically seal the entire perimeter
due to the uncovering of some rare spore!

OR...the painters put up plastic...

you can choose your degree of drama...I am going with the spores!






Insert "Hallelujah Chorus" here!





The painting has begun!




The children...wondering if there's any money left for their weddings...
or Christmas even!




The "Circle Of Life" all finished!!!
{they will be putting a BBQ here later...that's why it has that "alter"
vibe to it...hee...hee...hee




The secret to a happy yard....LOTS of manure! And it makes you an instant
hit with the neighbors! Oh, yah!





FINALLY! Grass that is flush, plumb and even with that masonry!
And it's a good thing too...I would not have been seen in a yard with
an un-plumb lawn! How embarrassing! I am so sure! As if!






The new fountain...the other one was fine but too low...the squirrel's used
it as a day spa! {very cute!}





Bee says these are the grandchildren she doesn't have yet...
I say "good thing"! Neither of her kids are married...I am just an old
fashioned kind of girl, I always prefer wedding then babies...what can
I say, I was born way back in the 20th century! I'm a fossil like that! ;}

{check out those thighs...I think that creep has been taking pictures
of me through my hotel room peep hole again! ACK!}




Niece...hoping to find one last meal before they start in on the dog food since her
peeps have spent all their $ on the patio! Poor thing...it's like looking at the Little
Match Girl!





Bee being Bee...she slapped that Fall wreath up there before the paint was dry!
Take that, Martha!





TJ Maxx...awesome deal! And those "real" candles have now been replaced
with faux...
California...sun...outside..."I'm meeeeeeeeelllttting"...not a good plan!







These fans totally look like something from Elrond's house in Rivendell!
{geek quiz...who is Elrond and where is Rivendell? ;}





What? You don't have a TV on your patio?
...that birds are already trying to nest in! HA!
Seriously...they are!





The "chandy" is 48" tall...
We were raised Catholic, so that cloistered nunnery look appeals to us!
I kid! I kid! She got this beast on sale for like ¢33...or was it ¢66...
well, either way, the shipping was free! HA! Score!




To recap....

From this...





to this!






From this...





to this!




All this!





And boy are they THANKFUL that it's all done!!!!

And I am sure you are too since this must be THE longest post in the
history of bloggerkind!

But in case you are a glutton for punishment HERE is more of the "process"...
{I said "in case"...I gave you an out, take it!}


WE'D BE SO PLEASED IF YOU'D JOIN IN OUR CHRISTMAS GIVE AWAY !