Guess What the Mailman Brought Me???

I am over-the-moon with what arrived on my doorstep today. 

No, the pot wasn't included.

My Dad sent these to me (OK, the reality is my Mom mailed them but he picked them).

There is nothing better than some fresh Morel Mushrooms, sauteed in butter with a little salt & pepper over-the-top of a nice steak.

Aren't they gorgeous???

Can you say, "Winner-winner, I'm grilling a steak dinner?"

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Weekend.

Kaye

Another Watering Can...

I have a thing for watering cans.
  I didn't know it until I realized I had three of them.  I found the first one at Sally Ann's.  You can see what I did with it here.

Here is watering can number two (you'll have to wait to see number three in a future post.)  I bought this years ago at TJ Maxx.  I loved the shiny bright red color and as the sun fades it, I like it even more.  The brass nozzle has a nice patina to it now as well.

I decided to mosaic the top.  Here it is before I grouted it.

It was hard to find a dish that had some "red" in it.  After looking through my china collection, I found this plate.  The funny thing is, it's one of the first plates I ever bought for mosaics and that was way back when....

Here it is after I grouted it.

I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.  I used a grout, my friend Chris gave me.  It's called Irish creme.  It seemed to have a red tone to it.

I have to say that I'm please with how it looks hanging out with my 'forget-me-nots'.

I wish the 'forget-me-nots' stayed in bloom all summer long. 

What have you been creating?

Kaye



La Cage de Poulet

Look what my husband built.

Isn't it cool?

These girls seem to dig it.

Update on the Robin's eggs.....they've hatched.  We were up early this morning and found parts of the shell on the ground.

They're something only a mother could love, that's for sure.

But pretty cool just the same.

So few feathers.  You could tell they were really young because they could only hold their heads up for seconds before they flopped over.

Have a great week.

Kaye

Sugar Bee Crafts



Coastal Charm

 

All Thingz Related

Spring Garden

WOW, I can't believe it's been over a week since I've posted....time sure flies when you're busy.  I can't believe there are only 3 weeks left of school.

I don't really have anything ready to post so I'll give you a little tour of my garden.  I've not spent much time out there, so please be kind.

 

Our yard has an upper portion and a lower portion.  This is of the  upper, looking down over my pond.  My husband built the arbor for me a few years ago.  I dug the post holes and I have to say it was a lot of work and not much fun, but it was worth it.

Again, this is from the upper yard but from the other side.  That's my daughter's play house.  My husband's creation.  The kids love it and I can't wait to spruce it up with some plants in the window boxes.

You can see the 2 chairs, back behind the garage, that I was talked into buying at a garage sale.  You can read about that post here.

Here is my pond.  I just love the field stone wall and pond.  They were here when we bought the place 15 years ago.

I love the sound of the water splashing.  It's especially nice in the evening when we're having a bon fire.

I made this stained glass bench about 12 years ago.  I wrap a tarp around it in the fall to protect it from the Michigan winter. 

That's all I have today.  I hope you enjoyed the tour.  Next time I'll try and have the grass cut.

Kaye

Wrought Iron Chairs...Before and After

Get a look at this.

Here's the story:

I was at a garage sale one day and found an amazing deal on a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer so I phoned my Mom because I knew my Dad had been wanting one.  My Mom said to get it so I did.  The lady having the garage sale was quite elderly and was disappointed I was buying the mixer but nothing else.  She said the mixer wasn't even hers; it was her friend's. 

She proceeded to try and sell me everything under the sun including two wrought iron chairs with the cushions.  Both the chairs and the cushions had seen better days and I could just hear my husband's reaction to me bringing these home. 

I am quite the wheeler-dealer but it was clear to me that I was out-sold on this day.  I was having an out-of-body-experience watching myself load these two chairs into the back of my SUV.  The chairs don't even match but the elderly lady pulled the "I'm to old to care for wrought iron" card.

The cushions of the chairs were so bad they went directly into the trash.  Here is another shot of one of the chairs "before" I did anything to it.

Here is what I used. 

I used more than one can of white spray paint as we had quite the collection of spray paint going on.  Needless to say, my husband was happy to see I was using what we had.

Here's one of the chairs finished.

I scored the cushion for $3.99 at Sally Ann's, a.k.a. Salvation Army.

I brushed/scrubbed down the wrought iron with the wire brush.  This chair is the one that was in the worst shape.  It really had the rust going on, but after a lot of elbow grease and about 4-5 cans of spray paint here she is.

I'm not that excited to start on the other one, but at least it will consist mostly of spray painting as the rust on it is minimal.  For now you can find me sitting in my new favorite chair.

I want to leave you with a couple of pictures that just say spring.

How cool is this???  A Robin built her nest on the top of a pine cone wreath I made.  I have it hanging on the garage.

It's definitely spring in Michigan.....finally.

Have a great week!

Kaye

I'm partying at these places.

Domestically Speaking

  

 Faded Charm

Amazing Giveaways....

Deborah over at Fairfield House is having the most amazing giveaway.  Not only is this stuff great but so is her blog.  Go check it out

Also, there is another amazing giveaway over at Debbiedoos.  She is givining away some AS Chalk Paint and a variety of other Annie Sloan stuff!.  Go enter and tell her I sent you.

Happy Mother's Day weekend everyone!!

Kaye

And the Winner of the Mickey Mouse Mosaic Coasters Is................

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 94 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Comment #94 is..............Stephanie over at Scrapping with Stephanie.  Stephanie is a new blogger too so I'm really excited she won.  Congratulations Stephanie.  Please contact me with your information so I can get your coasters in the mail.

Please stop by Stephanie's blog and check her out; her blog is so cute.  While you're there, leave her some love, become a follower, and tell her I sent you.

Thanks for playing and have a great day people.

Kaye

Disney/Pixar Blog Hop and a Giveaway

Today I'm taking part in a Disney/Pixar Blog Hop.

 It's hosted by Shawn and Melissa; they're both scrapbookers.  I am not but I think they create AMAZING stuff.  If you're following the blog hop, you should be arriving from Jessica over at The Creative Stamper's Spot.  If you've just arrived at my blog and wish to start at the beginning of the blog hop, then you need to head over and see Shawn at Crafty Chics.

If you missed Day 1 of the DIsney/Pixar Blog Hop you will want to be sure to go see Melissa over at DISNEY DREAMER DESIGNS and look at her post from yesterday (since the lineup is different) so you will be eligible for the grand prize blog candy which is a Gypsy.  Marlo of Contain Ya Crafts (creator of the AWESOME Scrap 'n Easel) has generously donated a Gypsy as our grand prize for this weekends blog hop! You will be required to hop both days and find the blogs with the Hidden Mickey (one blog Saturday and a different blog on Sunday) and email Shawn at My Cut Search with the blog names.

Since the theme is Disney/Pixar you had to make something related to each or both.  I chose to make something Disney.  Here's what I made.

These are coasters I mosaic'd using terra cotta saucers.  I painted them white and then shabbied them up to let some of the terra cotta show through.  Of course in the center is Mickey Mouse.  A big thank you to Melissa for cutting out various sized Mickey heads on her Cricut.  They were my pattern.

Here is what I used.

Here they are just before I grouted them.   

These are great to use in the summer.  Drinks can get wobbly when you set your glass on wicker so these are the perfect solution.  Kind of a like a seat belt for your Margarita.

So I'm offering up this set of 6 coasters for a raffle.  To be eligible for the drawing, you need to become a follower, if you aren't already, and leave comment. 

The drawing will be open until 11:59 P.M. EST on Monday, May 2, 2011.  The winner will be posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2011.  A winner will be drawn using random.org and the winner will have one week to contact me to claim their prize.

Good luck and enjoy the hop.

Ok, the next stop on the Disney/Pixar Blog Hop is Cathie's over at Creative Cutter Room.

Kaye