Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardens. Show all posts

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Project 18 Creating a Mexican Courtyard

This project is taking me more time than I thought. A huge project removing a bunch of stone and preparing the concrete floor underneath. So today i am posting some inspiration pictures of Mexican Courtyards, and my progress so far.

First is this fountain. I love the arch around it.

Since I already have a fountain, My plan was to create an arch around it with mexican plates that I have been thrifting for the last year in preparation for this.

So below is what I have done.
The plants will come out when I fill it with water 

Below are doors that I love from the site http://www.haciendastyle.com


I am not in the market for a new door but figured  shutters in this style would be perfect to dress up my boring windows. You see here.

Here we are removing all that stone!


Here is a sneek peek at the shutters I found at the salvage yard.

These will go far in making this entrance over into a Mexican style courtyard.

I Love and adore these,
and you can see we have the stone all removed

Here are some more inspiration photos
 I love the clay with the white!

I love the floors in this shot.

I have concrete under all the stone so I am stamping it in a brick pattern.

Here is a sneek at the work  I do have done on the floor so far.

it is a simple process but time consuming and a lot of work on the knees!

With concrete stain and a sponge I have created the look of brick.

 I will post again about the progress. Hoping to get done and go home for Easter!!

Adios Amigos!
Partying here
Saturday Night Special
vintage Inspiration Friday
Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Thursday, August 4, 2011

What makes me Smile

I smile at lots of stuff.

  • My granddaughter the most.


  • Heading to the beach on one of those glorious summer days in August when the Atlantic is warm.


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

for Sweet Shot Tuesday

I just discovered this blog and they are having a photo challenge, called Sweet Shot Tuesday. So I thought I would jump in.
My favorite shot this week is of the lighthouse gardens down the street from my cottage at the beach.
They have a sweet spot that is perfect for the sweet shot.

It's a little hideaway. and I love how cool and cozy... when you open the gate, there is a little bench.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Repurposed for Outside Living

One of my favorite ideas to do for outside is to create a table out of a large stone and an overturned pot.
 I'm not sure if I want to paint this pot bottom, or leave it all chippy, cause I kinda like it beat up and chippy.



 That stone is a huge piece of very old slate that came out of an very old sidewalk in Philadelphia that my husband had torn up. I wanted him to keep it there for historical reasons but he wouldn't hear of it.
So I made him bring a truckload of the broken up slate sidewalk home to me and I created a grotto down in the gully of the back yard for flowers and statues. I will post about that project later. I also use the small pieces of slate to create signs. More on that later too.
Back to today...

Today I  spruced up the side wall of the shed out back, which was looking a bit shabby.


Below is the side wall that I wanted to make pretty. She's just not rockin my socks lookin like this:


As I was contemplating ... My overambitious brain burns with ideas,  but the vintage body doesn't always follow.
I got this idea to hang a group of birdhouses on the side of it. Now this seemed easy.... And it was.
...Done in 15 minutes.
Bada Bing, Bada Bang, Bada Boom



All the items came  from around the house,
I was thinking about painting some of them all white because some are chippy and faded, but I changed my mind the more I looked at them. They each have their own individual charm just the way they are.
Each has it's own story to tell.
One taken from an outdated calender, far to pretty to toss with the days gone by from 2003! and an old cross purchased on ebay at least ten years ago by a man who makes them out of old parts.


One my youngest made me many years ago.

A chippy grey one found at a thrift, used for a long time as a tealight holder. and a little feeder , around for years.

A lighthouse feeder from my son


The bottom cross was a gift and I never got the clock to work, so this is an ideal spot.



The fun is the repurposing of all these items that I found in the garage and the shed, during Spring cleanup.
Which once again proves the fun in shopping your own house, and grouping items together for some cohesive design.
I love the way the side looks now all decorated. Can't wait for the rose bush to bloom. It has one flower and a zillion buds!!


I just have to add some annuals, and fresh mulch. But at least we have begun!!
It's been cold and rainy here in Jersey!! Last year we were done with the outside by April 15th because of nice weather. This year was a long slow winter and wet, rainy spring. We always have so much dirt and leaves to clean up in New Jersey.

The flowers are always blooming in Florida

 I wonder, how's the weather been in your neck of the woods?
Do you live where it is always nice? Like Florida, or Australia.
 Or do you come out of hibernation from a long cold winter in the Northeastern, or Northwestern U.S., and bang away preparing for the warmer weather ?

Do you have big plans for your yard? And does it get messy in the winter?

My 15 minutes this morning lifted my spirits.



Have a great Day and thanks for stopping by!




posting at:
Trash to Treasure
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays No.63



Censational girl's Outside Ideas Party
Transformation Thursday

Monday, April 4, 2011

Just wandering about the Shops and boutiques in Key West

We had a wonderful day on Thursday.
Beginning the day with breakfast with the" lattitude  to change your attitude" printed right on the table!

We found ourselves the most wonderful little Frenchy style shop!
I loved their window and had to go in.





Very drool worthy.


On Petronia 2 blocks west of Duval. I believe it was called Besime Mucho


An absolute stop if you visit Key West.

There are five antiques shops in key west. I think we hit them all.
 (Mary Louise


 I adore these vintage bowls.


 And a lot of boutiques.


 I love this purse discovered at one of them.. burlap and buttons, cute isn't it?
I'm not sure which was more fun, discovering little shops, cozy eclectic houses or little side pubs, for refreshment.
Check out this front porch on this house discovered on one street. Obviously an artist. It reminds me of a mayan calender! It also appears they are preparing to hang a gorgeous stained glass lamp.
So awesome.
And one of my favorites is below- Only in the keys will you find such luscious colors combined, all in one house.
Peach, aqua and yellow. I love this one!!



Margarittaville on Duval is a fun place to stop in and if you order a large drink, you get a glass to go home with!

I loved Earnest Hemmingway's house, so much energy there from a previous era. The grounds are lush, and full of fung chi.
Warning picture heavy.

 As soon as you enter you feel it!



The room to the right
Love these doors that open up to the outside!



bench is behind the staircase

Upstairs... the Hemingway bed, complete with kitty cats.


Some personal pics in the house of Hemmingway



Me on the porch.

 (Eileen )

 I loved the view from the 2nd floor porch!
 And sitting by the Hemmingway pool....

Can I go swimming?




Ahhh time to go back and swim in the hotel pool.
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