Make a Rustic Old Box using a New Fence Board

A couple of months ago I aged a new fence board to put as a shelf under an old window.  You can see that post HERE.  I loved the idea of using Apple Cider Vinegar and Steel Wool to make a brand new board look old.  This time I wanted to make a box for my island.

I was at Lowe's and found a regular fence board.  This one had bad sides, which I'm sure wouldn't make someone who was building a fence happy, but it made me happy.

I put on my gloves (apple cider vinegar is pretty smelly!) and applied the vinegar with steel wool.  The first coat didn't go on that great and I had little black spots all over the board.  I just kept applying more coats until I got the grey/worn look that I wanted.  (I waited about an hour between coats of the vinegar.)

I then cut the boards to make a box.  To make it easy, I made it as wide as the fence board is so I didn't have to cut the bottom at all.  The dimensions are 16" long by 5 1/4" wide.  My husband who loves woodworking  wanted to make the box perfect, but that's not the look I was going for.  :)  Anyway, he did glue the sides and used his finish nailer to hold everything together.  He clamped it up overnight and it was good to go.  

On the ends where I had made my cuts, I needed to rough it up a little, then apply more of the vinegar.

I love that the edges are all very rough looking.  I put the glass jars that came with a flatware caddy I already had and put some flowers in each jar.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Pam

I am linking up to the following parties:

The DIY Show Off's Project Parade

Remodelaholic's Anonymous Party

Tatertots & Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party

Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Night Special

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Under The Table and Dreaming's Sunday Showcase Party

Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

A Stroll Thru Life's Tabletop Tuesday
Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Pink Postcard's Transformations and Treasures
Homework's Inspiration Board 

Thanks so much for 
Debbiedoo's for featuring this project on her blog!

Garden Style Guest Room

We love having guests come to visit.  We recently made some changes to the guest room, thanks to a giveaway I won on Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch's blog.  She was sponsoring a giveaway by Mary @ A Great Impression.  Thanks so much to Mary and Susan!

 I was so happy to win and chose some birds on a branch.  I knew exactly where I wanted to hang it.

Once it was up, I thought something else was needed above the beside table.  I painted a white shelf green, then added some little numbered jars, a birdhouse, nest and cast iron bird.  I cut the lavender from my garden and love how it adds some color.

My husband made the headboard several years ago.  I still love it.

 

The burgundy scale was my Mom's.  After she passed away, my Dad gave it to me.  I adore it!

  

  

My husband made this birdhouse bench years ago.  I still love it too!

Thanks for coming by! 

Pam 

I am linking to the following parties:

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party 

At The Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday 

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday 

My Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday 

Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday 

A New Desk for the Man Cave

My husband loves his 'man cave', which isn't very cave-like at all, but in keeping with the times, it's called a Man Cave.  :)

He has his workout equipment up there as well as a couch where he can spend time reading. He decided he would like a desk up there too as he works on the computer at home quite often in the evenings.  Well, it doesn't take him long between deciding he would like a new piece of furniture to completing something.

He started with alder boards.

It took him two weekends to design and build it.

(If you're wondering what those ugly green things are stapled to the wall, they are foam pieces that protect my car doors from hitting the wall.  They are ugly, but they work!)

I think he did an absolutely beautiful job.  It is so pretty in person.  :)

He still needs to get a chair and some accessories.  I'm sure that will happen this weekend!

Thank you for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

At The Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday 

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday 

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday 

Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Friday 

Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday 

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party 

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday 

Simple Garden Themed Tablescape

I hate to admit it, but sometimes it's just too hot to eat outside here during the summer.  When it is, we eat in the dining room.  I love anything with birds or garden themes, so it was fun to put this tablescape together.

I used a birdcage, some plants and several cast iron birds in the center.

I found these adorable garden plates and bowls at The Dollar Tree several years ago.  I only bought four of each and am now so disappointed that I didn't buy more.  A friend gave me the little napkin holder pots and napkins.  I think they are so cute!  I got the placemats at Kohl's.  I love the texture of them.

I was in Pottery Barn last week and they had these bird nest place card holders for $1.87 for four.  I bought the last two sets.  I'm not sure if I'll keep all eight as place card holders or maybe just use some as bird nests. 

I am looking forward to serving dinner in here tonight!

Thanks so much for visiting.

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

Summer Entertaining at No Minimalist Here via the Block Party from At the Picket Fence 

Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday 

Funky Junk Interior's Saturday Night Special 

You'll Find Me Here All Summer

I am so excited to participate in the Summer Block Blog Party hosted by Heather and Vanessa at At The Picket Fence.    Today's party is hosted by Kim at Savvy Southern Style

Last summer we doubled the size of our patio to accommodate our fire pit and table and chairs.  You can read about that HERE.


This summer, we've just been sitting back and relaxing in this area.  After a long, wet winter, the hot weather is much appreciated!!  We have a great view of the pond we installed last summer.  You can read about that HERE.  I love the sound of water and the great variety of birds that come in our yard now.  I had a group of friends over last weekend and we sure enjoyed being out here.  Once it started cooling off, the fire felt great!

In the evenings, the adirondack chairs are in the shade.  They are so comfortable!

Thanks so much for coming by. 

Pam

Explosion of Blooms

The lupine that I posted about a couple of weeks ago is now in full bloom.  I counted 49 spires of blooms on it!!  (My husband thinks I must have too much time on my hands to have counted them.)    :)

My Mom's favorite flowers were peonies.  It's so special to me to see them bloom!

I love the darker pink color of this lupine. 

My pots are starting to get very colorful.

I spend several months a year (very impatiently) waiting for the good weather.  I am so very happy when it finally warms up and I can be out in my yard everyday! 

Thanks for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursdays

At the Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday



Dear Sun, I Am So Glad to See You Again!

I am so happy to report that we finally got nice weather this weekend!  And it wasn't a minute too soon!  This was the rainiest May on record in our area.  We even had snow on Memorial Day!  Where's that Dislike button??

So I'll take you on a stroll through my yard.  Many things are not blooming yet, but some are and after trying to be patient for so long, I had to show some pictures.  I'm sure once things are blooming like crazy, I'll be taking you on another stroll.  :)

These tulips were in bloom a couple of weeks ago.  They were just beautiful. 

These pansies were in full bloom a few weeks ago.  I went out one morning and they were all eaten by the deer.  But, they've come back nicely.  I had to get a picture before the deer figured out that they are available again.

 A friend gave me the burlap bag.  I love it and love the smell of lavendar by the front door.

The columbine seems to be doing ok in a hanging pot.  I know it won't last for long, but right now it's looking good!

The snapdragons, cosmos and candytuft are starting to bloom. 

There's a nest in this birdhouse and the cutest birds making their home in it!

I love lupine!  Here is a  plant that is ready to explode with blooms.  I can't wait! 

I'm pretty happy with the pond area.  We just put it in last year, so the perennials are still fairly new.  The sweet william are about the only thing blooming right now.  Daisies, coneflowers, daylilies, peonies, salvia, and rose of sharon will be flowering soon.

Here's another view of the pond.  The thyme is starting to fill in nicely between the flagstone.  The mesh across the pond is to keep our dog in his shallow area and not where the koi are.  It works.  :)

The people who lived here before us did an excellent job of planting ground covers all around the rocks.  I love the look of it cascading down.

Now it's time to sit and enjoy the good weather! 

Thanks for visiting!

Pam

I am linking to the following parties:

The DIY Show Off's Project Parade

Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

Dittle Dattle's Amaze Me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch's Met Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia's Tuesdays Treasures

DIY By Design's Swing Into Spring Party

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here's Open House Party

Fishtail Cottage's Cottage Flora Thursday

My Romantic Home's Show & Tell Friday