Shutter Plant Stand

I saw some shutters at the Habitat store the other day - and had about 20 (or more) ideas of things I wanted to make with them.... Sometimes that's the problem I have, not wondering WHAT to do with something, but narrowing down

the ideas to just one.

I've made  standing screens..... you know - for hanging things on....or for putting on a desktop (they make a good table-scape)

They look good in two's and threes -

and in all colors!

This time - I happened to find 4 that were approximately the same size and thought I'd make them into some kind of stand- since the 4 I had were narrow and tall....

and so made this one with top and bottom

Perfect for a plant - or vase or something...

then I had an idea - and made this one -

with just a top.  I put an up-light under it and

lifted the shutters a bit.  The affect was

pretty neat - a night light affect.  It would be

a cool thing on a deck or front porch.

I'm working on one right now - candy apple green with a cobalt  blue top and bottom to match a candlier I made for someone earlier. 

Here's the candlier.   If you can see the candlier past all the other stuff it's hanging around.  I'm re-doing the candlier as well as it's spent a season out in the rain and weather and the glass has faded, the paint chipped a bit and one of the pendants has come loose.   All in all - it's weathered pretty well, considering I did not make it to be in direct weather.  I'm trying to get the glass free from the candlier right now - but the epoxy I used to glue it in place was WAAAYYY too good and I'm having some difficulty getting it to release. 

 I'd rather not break the glasses...

 they are the perfect shape. 

I'll take a picture once everything is completed and let you see the two together.  Hopefully I'll get the projects done this century. 

Anyway - won't you agree...

shutters are very cool!

Stick to It

With the May showers come lots of fallen branches - some of which have fallen on our house.

  So... what to do -  what to do!    We've hauled truck loads to the recycle center  

(after I've picked through them of course -

 to pull out the best pieces) 

There are so many things you can make with branches and sticks....

Like these trellis-fences to hold up our lily's

It doesn't look like it in this picture - but the lilys will grow really tall - and then fall over, which makes it hard to mow.... these stick trellisses are just enough to keep them from laying flat on the ground  - or breaking off altogether. 

I made this free-form trellis after I got my nail gun for my birthday - - - wow what a difference it made as far as construction ease!   Night and day I tell you!  Night and Day!!  (I LOVE my nail gun.... I'm just saying!)

In this picture you can start to  see how the lillys grow - and these haven't reached full size yet.  They are especially pretty when they bloom!  Please imagine these carefully weeded....

thank you!

 My rosebush really loves this trellis - although I think I needed to make it about twice as big!

I wanted a split rail fence next to my shed so I could grow some climbing roses to spruce up the empty wood side...

My first attempt turned out more like a headboard than a fence.... I'll have to find a place in the back yard to put that.....

My second attempt - much better - turned out more like what I had in mind... and the best part...... it only cost me the price of some nails for my nail gun!  I can't wait to plant my rose bush!

more stick ideas to come.....

You're as Good Lookin as you Feel!

There are some days, when I get up, that I just can't pull it all together.  My hair won't go the right way - my scale says I've gained a few pounds and I can't find anything to wear.  I hate the way my makeup looks and I just leave the house feeling less than pretty.    It's hard to get my head in the game when I start the day that way.  But at the park the other day - I saw this little guy and realized - - - it's all a mind game....

This guy, amongst all the beautiful black and white ducks and canada geese,

Sat there - like a movie star... with his red,

lumpy face....

Rockin his Elvis hair!

Accomplished-ment!

ConGRAD-ulations to our Graduate..... AGAIN!

 This time she has MASTERED teaching... can you believe it?    Just a few more summer classes and she'll be out in the "real" world with a class of her own.. I just know she can't wait! 

 Graduation was amazing - The hooding ceremony was crazy - each doctor brought a doctor of their own to do the honors.... I've never seen anything like it. That's next on Jessica's list!  : )  

Jessica's friend Kati (sp?)  was introducing her family to her fiance's family for the first time....aren't they both so cute? 

Linda took everyone to lunch at silver spoon - yum!  Katie actually got to see her sister graduate... and is trying to narrow down her field of study as we speak.   

 All in all it was a wonderful day!  I am so proud of Jess - she has set her sights on her goals and never waivered. 

 The sky is the limit and nothing she wants to do is out of reach!

All the little birdies....

It's amazing to me how nature is so trusting. Outside our front door... about thigh high is this evergreen bush - and inside it's prickly branches we happened to see....

such delicate beauty and so within reach of the crazy - murderous cat that lives next door and stalks the wildlife in my yard! (no bad feelings there on my part... remind me to tell you the story about me... that darn cat... and the chipmunk) Anyway.... I've been keeping an eye on the bush - sneaking a peak to make sure everything is ok...

and two of the eggs have hatched

aren't they... um..... cute?

I think they look just like their mother