DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Hello Everyone:)

I wanted to show you one of the 'treasures' that I found at the flea market this weekend. I am doing some changes in the library and was looking for a small table to replace the big round table that we had in front of the sofa. I was thrilled when I saw this little number. I couldn't wait to bring it home and work on it. Now stay with me, I know it looks horrible.

 But I saw potential. And I was right:) Someone had put this fabulous contact paper on it. lol I'm sure it was spiffy in its day;) But it needed to be cleaned up a bit.

First I took off all of the contact paper, cleaned it again and again and then sanded it for a more distressed look.

 Look at this great drawer. I love that it is so big. And I also love the knob. The more I sanded the more I could see the different shades of green and blue coming through. Looooove it. (It doesn't take much to make me happy).

    It is the perfect size and height for the space. And you know how much I love this color:)

 But LOOK at what I uncovered! When I sanded the side, the word SCIENCE came through!!! It must have been a child's desk. I was so excited as I sanded and found this happy surprise.  Isn't it great ?

 

 The color matches the colors in the pillows that I have on the sofa. I just love it. I am probably the only one who would have bought the table/desk but I am glad I did.

What treasures have you found lately?

I am going to join Furniture Friday over at Miss Mustard Seed on Friday. I have something else to show you then. You won't want to miss it. I can hardly wait to show you!!!!

`Till next time............
~Debra xxx

CLEARING WAY FOR NEW STOCK AT BLOGGERS' BODEGA

Hello Everyone:)

AWESOME NEWS TODAY!!!

MAISONSTGERMAIN.COM IS HAVING A 50% OFF SALE!!! WE ARE MAKING ROOM FOR AN ALL NEW STOCK. PLEASE VISIT US AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SALE.

Also welcome to BLOGGERS' BODEGA. Stop by the many shops that advertise with us for free on Tuesday and get started with your Christmas shopping.

                                BLOGGERS' BODEGA


This is where you will find FABULOUS SHOPS that our fellow Bloggers own, every Tuesday!!! Everyone can visit and anyone can link up. Advertisement is FREE!


Why is it FREE ?Well, we know what owning an on- line boutique and etsy is all about. All the work and creativity that goes into it all. We wanted to be a place where you get a break from expensive advertising and just do it for FREE. No catches or jumping through hoops. We won't even ask for your first born;)




All we ask is that you grab the link and/ or button and put it on your blog. This will help in sharing these wonderful sites. This is a great way for your online boutiques, etsy shops, ebay, Bonanza etc. to find the cream of the crop shoppers. For more information, please click the BLOGGERS' BODEGA on our side bar.





`Till next time........................
~Debra xxx

P.S.  Check back on Wednesday. I want to show you what I got from the flea market this week:)

LIVING WITH HOUSEPLANTS

Hello Everyone:)

Have you ever noticed that house plants are rarely shown in homes in decorating magazines? I mean, maybe one here and there but it seems like no one really 'collects' houseplants. Well, I do, always have. I find they bring life into a room like nothing else can.
During the Summer, many of them go outside to enjoy the sun and rain while I tend to the garden plants. Mother Nature takes care of them for me:)

 I bought this vintage green table from the flea market specifically to hold my houseplants in my living room window. I can put plants on top and underneath since my windows go to the floor in here. The little white bench holds my white throws.  Watering cans sit under it.

 My loft is a favorite place for my plants. It has been getting chilly at night now so I have brought most of my plants inside. It is amazing how much they grow during the Summer. This window gets direct sun all day and the plants just love it. This hallway leads into the loft bedroom where I just added more plants.

This is another view of the loft. I can't squeeze many more in;)

 A happy fern lives here in the solarium with my flower  frogs.

 I like to put taller plants on the back of the stone pond in the solarium. (which needs more water) The Begonias love this spot and continue to flower all year. I just love them.

                 A couple of plants on the table in front of the sofa.

And, of course there are plants in the kitchen where ever I can find a place that they will be happy in.
So, do you live with house plants too? I would love to know:)

'Till next time.................
~Debra XXX

OUR ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST

Hey Everyone:)

I am finally posting some photos from our Annual Oktoberfest that we had over the weekend. Don has more photos on his camera but I couldn't figure out how to down load the photos onto my computer. Geesh!

Our Oktoberfest is an annual  weekend event. We have it here at our home. It lasts from Saturday through Sunday. We even sleep out in tents on Saturday evening and wake up to have a yummy breakfast Sunday morning. I love sleeping out in the fresh Fall air.

Every year we invite our favorite people to join us for the last picnic of the year. Since we have many 'home brewers', we call it the Oktoberfest. This year we had about 200 guests. We have lots of delicious food and the brewers brew to enter into the contest.We give out trophies for 'best light and best dark beer' and for horseshoes too.

 Mark Lohman, the photographer, doing what he does best. So happy he and Fifi were able to attend. They were shooting for their new book. There was a lot going on this year.

                   Lisa and Suzy helped keep the bonfire going. It will be ready for smores at night.
                                          Good job ladies!

                             Fifi, the sweetest and busiest lady I know:)
                      Cutie cowboy eating a yummy pretzel.

 We had two pinatas for the kids this year. Manny was in charge of 'tricking' them;) Thanks for the help Manuel:)

             Fibi was here too. She and Nicole are Siamese twins. She rarely leaves Nicoles' side. lol

 The Oktoberfest is a family event. I love seeing everyone every year and how the kids have grown. They always have such a fun time. It is memories in the making. LOVE that:)

 This year the food was awesome again. We had salads, desserts, 5 deep fried turkeys, homemade french fries, pork and clams, pumpkin soup, pot pie, wings...................................................................!!!!!Everyone brings their favorite dish.

 I was happy that Carole and Lisa were able to make it. I always love it when they stop over. That is Sami, Lisa's gorgeous daughter.

                                         Sami and Maci, best buddies.
Nicole and I made all of the girls hair pieces and bought cow boy hats for the boys. They all looked adorable:)

                               OMG, is this the cutest cowboy ever????

                    Nicole brought the sun:) It was a gorgeous day.

      Thank you to all who came out and joined us:) And to those who couldn't make it, we will see you next year:) We love having you all here. Getting together with family and friends is what it's all about. You all bring such joy to us:) Thank you:)

'Till next time..............
~Debra xxx

NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS AT BLOGGERS' BODEGA

Hello Everyone:)

                                   White Pumpkin Love
Have you thought about Christmas shopping yet?  I know, I know it's not even Halloween yet, right? I'm right there with you but this is about the time of the year that I start my shopping. It helps so I am not stressed out later in the year. This way I can enjoy the Holidays a little more. And it is pretty easy to sit and order online too:) I can't believe how busy this year was and how quickly it has gone by, can you?

                     Fall decorating with color:)
So stop by our favorite shops to see what they have to offer:) There are so many talented people who advertise here on Tuesdays for FREE every Tuesday. Happy shopping!



 Welcome to BLOGGERS' BODEGA!!!!WHAT IS BLOGGERS' BODEGA, you ask?????

                                          Fall flowers and weeds;)



This is where you will find FABULOUS SHOPS that our fellow Bloggers own, every Tuesday!!! Everyone can visit and anyone can link up. Advertisement is FREE!


Why is it FREE ?Well, we know what owning an on- line boutique and etsy is all about. All the work and creativity that goes into it all. We wanted to be a place where you get a break from expensive advertising and just do it for FREE. No catches or jumping through hoops. We won't even ask for your first born;)

All we ask is that you grab the link and/ or button and put it on your blog. This will help in sharing these wonderful sites.  This is a great way for your online boutiques, etsy shops, ebay, Bonanza etc. to find the cream of the crop shoppers. For more information, please click the BLOGGERS' BODEGA on our side bar.



'Till next time.................
~Debra xxx

WHITE WEDNESDAY IN THE LIBRARY

Hello Everyone:)

Today I am joining Kathleen over at Faded Charm for WHITE WEDNESDAY.

If you have read my blog for a while you know how much I love books. So instead of a dining room, we decided to create a library.  A place to keep our books and sit and read. My shelves are filled and I have stacks and stacks on the floor and on the tables. I love it!

 One thing I wanted was a looooong table with chairs on either side. The idea came from when I was a child and used to go to the library. The tables were always long with lots of seating. So I came up with the idea of a door table.  Someone had given me an old door. I painted it ' that vintage green' and Don built a frame and put it together. He did an awesome job. It came out just as I wanted. I placed a long piece of glass over the top and slipped little vintage photos and dried ferns under it.

An old cupola sits in the middle of the table to give the area a little height and interest.
 
 I also wanted 8 mismatched chairs . So I searched the markets until I found the perfect ones. I either got them for free or only paid $5.00 each. I painted them all with the same white paint, numbered them and today I took off the tulle bows and put on some great webbing with a pin of bling in the center. I really like the look:)

 Puzzles have been made here, business done, art projects and computer work. It is the perfect place to be. I also have a Dove that keeps me company in here along with a sofa chairs and a fireplace for those chilly days. I love our little library and never miss having a dining room. We are more 'gather around the kitchen table' kind of people anyway and would probably never use it;)

One more white.....At a show Nicole and I were supposed to be selling at I spotted a pair of great cement planters. I always find the best things when I am supposed to be selling and not buying:) Does this happen to anyone else? They are too fragile to put outside so they are in doors. This one is home to a 'sea onion' plant with squiggly runners.

I hope you enjoyed my White Wednesday today. I will be stopping by yours to say hello:)

~Till next time....................................
~Debra XXX

FALL DECORATING AND BLOGGERS' BODEGA

Hello Everyone:)

I have started to decorate for Fall, have you? I love the Fall colors and the crisp air. I wanted to share with you a few pictures of what I have done around the barn.

 I placed   some Asters, Mums and Cabbages here and there. Yes, Fergie helped;)

This is the top from an old stool. I had vintage black shoes that were perfect to decorate with.

I just love this old scale. It is great for fruit and any seasonal decor.

 Not sure what this flower is called but my friend Bev gave me some a few years ago to plant. Would you believe there are none where I planted them but they are every where else:)

 Some purple Mums and this year we have flower boxes so I filled them as well. I can't wait until they flower. I have always wanted flower boxes and Don put them up about a month ago. I was so excited and couldn't wait to fill them:)

Isn't this the cutest child's Adirondack chair? Bought from a flea market, I thought it was adorable. Love the chippiness.

Have you started to decorate for Fall yet?

BLOGGERS' BODEGA

We want to thank everyone who has joined our 'Bloggers' Bodega'. And welcome those of you who are new. I hope this brings you more viewers (and buyers) as well as those of you who shop , well, you get the best products:)




Welcome to BLOGGERS' BODEGA!!!!WHAT IS BLOGGERS' BODEGA, you ask?????

This is where you will find FABULOUS SHOPS that our fellow Bloggers own, every Tuesday!!! Everyone can visit and anyone can link up. Advertisement is FREE!


Why is it FREE ?Well, we know what owning an on- line boutique and etsy is all about. All the work and creativity that goes into it all. We wanted to be a place where you get a break from expensive advertising and just do it for FREE. No catches or jumping through hoops. We won't even ask for your first born;)


All we ask is that you grab the link and/ or button and put it on your blog. This is a great way for your online boutiques, etsy shops, ebay, Bonanza etc. to find the cream of the crop shoppers. For more information, please click the BLOGGERS' BODEGA on our side bar. Happy Shopping!!!




Hope you are having a wonderful week:) We are getting ready for our Oktoberfest. Very, very busy!


`Till next time....................
~Debra XXX

IRENE, TREASURES AND GUESS WHO'S COMING FOR A PICNIC

Hello Everyone,

Gosh I've missed you:) We have been very busy with clean up and without power due to Irene. I do hope everyone came through it OK. We lost power for 4 days. And can I tell you, I was never so happy to vacuum and do laundry once again!

 Before Irene came through, I gathered up a bunch of different bottles and ran outside to pick flowers from the garden. I thought they would look better in my house than all over the yard.

 Well, after the storm, I am happy to say that I still have flowers outside:)

 I also have THESE......Oh, don't let their innocent looks fool you for even one minute. Their minds were churning even at the time I took this photo. Their house was flooded so Nicole, Manny and the munchkins are staying with us until Nicole and I are done putting in new floors. We were going to finish today but when we got home from the flea market our power was out again!!!! It is back now:)

 I wanted to share with you a few things that I have found on my trips. I saw this apple bucket and knew it would go on the front door filled with Fall decor. I may change what is inside yet. One would hang this around their body, fill it with apples, and pull a string at the bottom to release them. It is quite large and I just loved it when I saw it.

 I also found this cute little childs' desk. I painted it white, distressed it and put it in the kitchen where the girls love it.

 Wooden geese were always a favorite of mine. When I saw these for $5.oo a piece, I knew three were coming home with me:) I just hope they don't attract real ones. lol

 Fall has me cleaning and rearranging. I added this pretty bow tied sheet music that I received from Suzan
 I just picked up this gorgeous millinery hat today. Love the flower!

 I have been bringing in my house plants too. Do you put yours out for the Summer? This trailing one is actually an outdoor plant that I am going to try to keep growing inside. It is a Passion Flower and so pretty when it blooms.
 I am sooo going to miss my favorite Flower Guys from 'Joes Flowers at the flea market when it is closed for the season. I LOVE having fresh flowers every week. They always have the prettiest combinations. I bought some small pumpkins today too and the most delicious corn.

 OK, have you guessed who is coming over for a picnic??????Oh yes, the dynamic duo. Fifi and ...............

.............................Mark:) They are shooting  for a book that Fifi is writing. We have a big end of the year Oktoberfest family picnic every year. This year I am thrilled to say that they will be joining us. I will be posting more on it in a week or so. I am going to be sooooo busy, but fun busy.

So, that's some of the things that have been going on here. What are you up to? Are you having a picnic tomorrow or just relaxing? I hope what ever you do it is fabulous:)

`Till next time..................
~Debra XXX