I Named Her "Venus"

Many of you know I've been working on replacing all my plantings in the front yard.
 Trees, schrubs and just a few flowers but its been an exhausting as well as thrilling experience.  I was so sorry to loose what had been here for 11 years but when its wrong its wrong and wishing wont fix that. There's nothing to do but Take it Out-- Cry, cry some more-- and start again. So thats what I've been doing since mid april.
 Back when I started this blog I told ya I'd be sharing the Good and the Bad  and I do:-)
 I dont always make the right decision the First time but I'm not stubborn about it when that happens. I admit to myself and others I made a boo boo and fix that if its at all possible and this particular spot was once of those boo boo times.  I guess I could excuse myself by saying when the wrong thing went in 12 inches off center I was running 102 fever lol... Thats no excuse I could still see and didnt.

 You've all been very patient with me about Complete pictures of the front yard but its taking time to get it just as I want it and want you to see it.. I'm getting there, really I am.

 She was planted the afternoon before the major venus eclipse  and so I named her Venus. She is soooooooo beautiful I cried when I found her at a " new to me" local nursery..   I had a very hard time finding a specimen to fill this 76 inch wide  , 9 ft high space as most of what I found that would come anywhere close to making a statement  was anywhere from 175.00 to 280.00 and that just wasnt in the budget as I'd already spent so much in front..  When you are redoing an entire front yard, its expensive .
  At Frank's nursery in winston salem nc, this 5 year old plant in a 10 gallon bucket was $30.00.. I tried not to gasp when he told me the price but it wasnt easy..   I had found plants half this size for $99.00 or more so-- I didnt faint but I sure felt dizzy for a minute....

I'll probably have to trim her by fall and I will do so gladly.. I keep walking out there and looking at her , amazed and grateful each time I do..  
  When You see this next photo, you'll understand why..  this was my Boo Boo choice..  the difference is amazing to me.  Seriously?  I let them plant it that far off center... oiu vey..
 Thats a little olive tree and would have taken 5 or 6 years to reach maturity . I moved her to the corner of the house and she hides the water hose very nicely so we're all happy about that..
 Pictures tell more than I ever could... The before and after is beyond words...

Thanks for visiting me.  I hope you enjoyed your time here cause we sure enjoy having you. Ya'll come back to see us, Ya Hear~!
Happy Friday~!

Cheap-Cheep Cardinal Wreath

I finally got my door wreath hung and photographed.  My neighbors seem to like it as they have all stopped by to let me know it makes them smile as they go out in the morning.

   I choose to go with red accents this year as I did purple last year and persih the thought that I do the same color two years in a row,, giggle.


 The Cardinal is our state bird so I got 2 of those at my local craft store as well as the red and white polka dot ribbon.  Someone in blogland- Pat at Back Porch Musings, I think- did polka dot ribbon last year and I loved it so , Sonny See - Sonny Do:-)

 I had the grapevine wreath and the twig birdcage- sprayed those lightly with white spray paint, the 1.00 a can stuff.  I didnt want it solid white, more like a white wash and I am tickled with how it turned out.

 If and when I ever get the rest of the porch done I'll show the entire project to you, really I will..

Grape Wreath Before:::  I got it at goodwill for 1.00 . it had some garish ribbon and flowers on it so I tossed those.   I sure got a dollars worth as I used it as it arrived to do my fall wreath.

Twig birdcage- also a goodwill find 4 or 5 years ago for  50 cents..  I love 2nd hand shopping for the unique items I find as well as how much money I save.  Then add to that the fact that if I want to change something and I mess it up- I havent lost a fortune, so I can go further out on a limb with my creativeity.
 Thats my thinkin anyways:-)

one more after.. cardinals-- 1.50 each
                        ribbon -----2.00 for a yard
  faux florals from my stash..
 so again, here's my Cheap Cheap-- Cheep Cheep  Wreath..

click below to see lots of unique wreaths
Creative Birdhouse at Funky Junk

Copy Cat Kitchen

 Well lets say its a rendition, versus a actual copy:)   Their's is super light and bright and mine doesnt even have a dang window lol..  But the nautical elements are there as are the apples- red stripe towel and napkins and ya'll can pretend there's clam chowder in my white ironstone tureen, right.. I know ya can , cause ya'll are good like that ...  LOL

Debbie Doos Copy Cat Party

The sample....

 I'll tell ya I was spittin nails mad this morning when my blue striped fabric for the bar stool copy did'nt arrive..
 I called and the guy reminded me this past monday, mail didnt run so the fabric would be a day or 2 behind.   sheesh, I should have ordered it sooner.   Oh well it'll make pretty pillows for somewhere I guess.

Laurie, Brenda and CeeKay all said kitchen....  wooohooooo..   good guessing Ladies
  I hope ya realize I buffed these apples for ya.. yes I did. Cause YOU are worth it.

 

I thought the red stripe towel would be easy to find. I see them all over blog land BUT noooooooooo,

 I could'nt find a single one. I took a piece of drop cloth I had left over- painters tape and painted my own stripe..     Ya'll ever notice some projects just dont go smooth, like you think they will  :-)

I had fun playing with this photo in psp.

alllllllllrighty, thats all for this time folks...
 I'm so happy you came to visit with me.
 I love having to here and I appreciate your time.
Now I need to get over to Deb's and see everyone else's CC.. I know it will all be Fabulous..

xoxo