Befores and Afters

I wanted an old hutch I could paint. It would be nice for the screened in porch on the back of the house. I could keep the sheets that I cover the porch furniture with in the winter in the drawers. Yes, I could definitely justify a small purchase! I found an old hutch on CL (Craigslist.com) and it wasn't much money. The only thing that worried me was it had a laminated top. A little sanding, and two coats of primer before the paint took care of the surface. It is not getting a lot of use anyway. Here's the before:  the top part:

Before, the bottom part.

This was the decoration at the top of the hutch I wanted to change, so I glued on those little wood appliques.

Here's the after:

I kept the original hardware, which has that  rustic look, (think Pottery Barn, only cheaper!)

Wood appliques

Here is a hanging hall fixture that was brass that I desperately wanted to replace, but instead repainted with a $1.00 can of spray paint, and $1.97 for candle socket covers. The plastic socket covers crumbled in my hand as I took them off to paint!

Before:

After:

At least I didn't spend this much at Pottery Barn for these:

Gothic Lantern $269

Brunswick Pendant $149

   

It's About Time for Picnic Tables!!

As summer approaches, it is time to drag (literally) out the picnic table. Picnic tables have almost become a thing of the past, due to patios and patio tables, much more comfortable on the back. But I am nostalgic about picnic tables.


Years ago,when we bought our second house, we had started our small family of two tiny girls. With a huge back yard and an equally huge tree, I wanted a picnic table. We had a screened porch for furniture, no patio, so a picnic table seemed perfect. Excitedly, we got a kit from the big box store, and brought it home to put together. It went together without incident, but the wood was soooo green it still leaked sticky sap. We couldn't use it for awhile, but eventually we were able to, and for the girls it became a stage, a covered wagon, a hiding place, and who knows what else. The girls preferred to eat their little lunches on summer days with  a blanket on the grass, or take lunch boxes up to their tree house. So the picnic table sat. In later years I stored the picnic table in the shed. It was a pain to move each time we mowed.


A few years ago I got out the old table and slapped some white paint on it. Every summer I drag it out of the shed now, and position it under the big old tree where the tree house used to be. We still don't use it much, but I love to look out and see it there.

But I didn't get it dragged back into the shed this winter, and it looked pretty sad.

Here are a few other picnic tables. Don't they make you want one?

Wow! She IS the picnic table!

I'll take this one on the beach!

Oops! All I ever get are squirrels at my picnic table!

Can't wait to do a few tablescapes on the old picnic table this summer! See you then!

I am joining THE TABLESCAPER for

Beautiful Decor, Accessories, and Statuary

Outside Joplin, Missouri is a wonderful place called Sandstone Gardens. My daughter and I took a little day trip to there to have lunch and look around. There is a tasty bistro restaurant inside, with reasonable prices, and sinful desserts! Or have a glass of wine and relax while looking around. This store is huge! Store isn't even the right word, it is an experience.

The landscaping is so impressive, weddings are held outside here.

The side entrances have many pieces of statuary for any taste.

Rabbits, anyone?

    

She looks a little perturbed, doesn't she?

This is the view from the second floor, but it isn't even 1/4 of the store.

Beautiful sunshine yellow, and cute little beeskeep up in the corner.

I saw lots of blackboards in this paddle shape.

I love this lamp!

I love this crisp green and yellow with the blue and white porcelain.

Some nice Godinger china.

Cute little graduated pails.

And Daughter # 1

Tour Lilywood Farms

I had the privilege to travel to Lilywood Farms before they closed to the public, after 9 years of tours, although they still sell online.  Lilywood Farms is located in north central Missouri, is set in beautiful farm country. The farm has been in the current family since 1871. The land is still being farmed, with 3 acres devoted to daylilies. The house, outbuildings and grounds are immaculate.

You can see the date the house was built.

This had been the smoke house. The grandchildren were playing in the wading pool the day we were there.

This building was the slave quarters. Missouri was a slave state.

                                           Some of the daylily fields up close to the house.

View from the front porch of the house. Notice the cornfields and then the cut wheat fields in the background.

That happy girl is me, with my big clump of daylilies!

 

http://www.lilywoodfarms.com/index.html