Quintessential summer

How are you enjoying your summer? Here's a few summertime tips courtesy of my Caribou Coffee cup: Sleep under the stars, get there on two wheels, do more cannon balls, build communities not empires, read poetry, give a kid some crayons, pick up the check, send your grandma a card, say nice things about the person sitting across from you, do the hokey pokey, run your feet not your mouth, you are as wonderful as your dog thinks you are, take a 7-day weekend, max out your passport, teach a child to fish, roll down the hill, re-read your favorite book, question authority, technology is good but people are better...and my personal favorite, go home early and play with your kids.

The "After". . .

Ok...here we go. I was going for a cleaner, sleeker look with some vintage tossed in for character. Still a couple things I need (which I noticed after taking photos) but 90% complete.
The "blue hour" shot, with my rock candles aglow. I love my seahorse but she is going to have to find another place to hang out now. I need something else there...haven't found it yet, of course, if I knew what I was looking for it would be easier. Your suggestions welcomed!
I fell in love with these concrete urns that I stumbled across in Granville. They are new and I plan on washing them with a vinegar/yogurt solution to encourage a mossy patina to start growing. Still need something on the door but I am not a wreath person.(My door looks like it's floating, hmm, maybe put a wide limestone slab there as a mini step?)
I love the shallow bowl and the height from the elongated stem.
I am SO not good at pairing plants/flowers (and let's not talk about keeping them alive afterward, it's ugly). I actually had to "phone a friend" after I wandered around the nursery for 40 minutes trying to figure out the 3rd plant for this simple collection. Sad, I know. I am very landscape challenged.
All the white wicker went away and was replaced by this group of vintage wrought iron. The black has worn to a nice chalky black-green.
My vintage champagne box, which I filled with wispy maiden hair ferns, I bought from Lisa Marton. She rents a space from me at the store and finds some of the most amazing and unusual pieces.

A hint of ruffles on the box pillows add a bit of elegance without full on "frou frou".
Vintage ironstone tureen spilling over with petunias (the third plant suggestion by my friend...I can hear you laughing! I told you I was challenged in the horticulture arena!)
Behind the two chairs is my beloved climbing rose. This one I did some research on. I have always wanted one but knew myself to well. I needed a rose that could take little to no maintenance (read neglected). This gal is quite independent. I planted her three years ago and she is climbing up on to the top of our porch already. It's a New Dawn rose and it was FULL of blooms top to bottom in May and early June.

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit!

Count Your Blessings Blog

Just wanted to share with you one of the beautiful blogs I visit, Counting Your Blessings. LOVE the vintage tablecloth over the umbrella. Can you imagine the space without that simple trick? That tablecloth brings the whole look together, romantic, casual, nostalgic. Have a visit over there when you can, it's beautiful!

Stop back soon! I am redoing my front porch and I would love for you all to come over for a glass of sweet tea, with LOTS of ice, it's sweltering today! My "before" photos are below. I cleared out all my vintage white wicker...that's moving over to the chicken house. (Although daughter and I are clashing on the interior ideas, wish me luck. Don't get me wrong. I'm all about letting her creativity blossom. Just not crazy about the water balloons filled with different colors of paint then thrown at the wall. We might have to call in a professional mediator :-)

We did find someone to move it but weather did not cooperate the day we scheduled the move and then our entire community was repaved, so yet another delay. So maybe this week. But, we HAVE to come up with a different name for it...The Chicken House isn't working for me. I used to call my daughter 'Agnes Clementine', which would drive her crazy...she's "way too hip and modern for such a name". But I'm thinking I might resurrect part of it...'Clementine Cottage'. What do you think? Any other ideas?

I'll post some "after" pictures of my porch later today or tomorrow. Boxes and boxes of the July Jeanne d' Arc Living magazine just arrived and I know you all are anxiously waiting for yours! I have GOT to get busy wrapping and mailing!!



There's Odie in the door standing guard! Or she's thinking "Close this door! It's HOT out there!"

Leather, zinc & willow

Ahhhh...those three words conjure up some beautiful images. Here are some images of my latest acquisitions.
A summertime favorite here, starfish strands
Vintage buckets overflowing with framed shells on linen
starfish, large polished clam shells and sea urchins (which look great filling our hobnail mercury glass vases)
ATTENTION LOCALS! Our indoor/outdoor Buckeye Lake pillows have been replenished...HURRY if you want one!
had these sent in from Belgium, wonderful, roughed up leather shirt boxes
old miners' hanging baskets and a vintage dough trough from a European bakery, beautil as a planter or filled with ice and beverages at your next gathering
vintage wicker chair
big, oval wash tubs from Holland
two huge vintage life preservers
vintage willow trunks, fabulous texture AND storage!
trio of mini buckets hanging on each other, great for organizing your own creative space
dripping with wired glass crystals, lovely, romantic bulbs covers
My new favorite, a tall stately, galvanized pitcher, would be gorgeous filled with blue hydrangeas or bunches of queen anne's lace. The one line I have carried since way back in the day, Farmhouse lavender products, and I keep adding more of their products for you all to try. They are addictive, hand made in small batches and earth friendly.
a vintage GIANT industrial lightbulb
a great find, vintage wicker settee
an awesome, as found, vintage wicker table in aqua paint
a pile of vintage zinc sap pots from Belgium

Just back from a buying trip....

Crusty, rusty European garden fountain sink $140
Vintage grain sacks from Belgium $30 each
An array of vintage seltzer bottles $26 - $39
LOVE this old green step back milk cupboard with it's scalloped top and fly screen doors $695
Lovely old oak stretcher table, 6 feet by 3 feet, $945
Vintage cottage style old paint dresser, great carvings and details, $289
HUGE (3 feet across) industrial pan with pour spout, looks great hanging on the wall too, $110
Schools of screen printed tin fish, $$9.95 each
Another vintage cottage style dresser, paint as found, full of drawer space, adorned with beautiful barbola florals and basket medallions, $289
Yet another vintage cottage style dresser, paint as found, this one has a big, beautiful mirror that was not attached yet at time of photo, $289
Vintage cast iron fireback with a Victorian woman gathering and smelling the flowers, newly painted $68
BEAUTIFUL, vintage full size oak bed with old paint, $168
Vintage wicker settee, $139 and a plethora of pillows $32.95 - $59.95
Vintage wrought iron patio couch/sofa, now $95
wooden Le fluer bucket, $29.95
Super nice vintage swing handled buckets, $22 each
HUGE vintage tin fruit advertising tray, gorgeous colors $89
Crusty & rusty cast iron claw feet, great bookends $12 per pair
Mercury glass swallows, 14.95 large old birdcage $40, burlap market totes, $49.95
Antique European grain sack, so soft from years of use, would be a beautiful bolster pillow, $85
Ruffled chair slips, $179 each, new chippy table with scrolly garden inspired legs $349.95