Garden Review

This time of the year, as I prepare to put my garden to rest for the winter I can't help but start planning for next year. 

As I clip back favorites and shake my head in disgust at my not-so-favorite plants,

I'm making a list. 

Today I thought it would be fun to share my list with you.

I'll need to add a few more of theses . . .

A few more roses . . .

A few more coropsis in yellow . . .

Definitely a few more phlox's . . .

And finally, this years new favorite, profusion zinnia's. 

This year I planted them in white, cherry, and yellow.

Cherry was my favorite of them all . . .

So there you go.  This years favorite flowers.

How about you!

Do you have a favorite you plan to add more of next year?

Would love to know your favorite picks. 

Either comment below or link to a post of your own.

Until tomorrow,

Robin

A Pretty Perch

I have a quick and easy makeover to show you all today. 

A few months back I pick up a small stool at a garage sale. 

It was looking a little sad and very much in need of a new look. 

Take a look at the before. . .

Here's the stool after a quick face lift . . .

(why is my carpet showing like such an ugly color - please ignore it, imagine instead beautiful hardwood floors - - - ahhhhh, much better)

A coat of spray paint in a creamy white fixed the legs.  Leftover drop cloth fabric from my couch slipcover fixed the top.  To add a special touch, I painted the number 5 on with fabric paint. 

Now that the stool is updated I'm not sure where in the house to place her. 

For now she'll sit in the corner of the dinning room.

Hope you all are having a great week,

until tomorrow,

Robin

Seeing Stars

Am I the only one still crazy about stars? 

Please tell me I'm not the only one!

A recent purchase increased my collection by three. 

The collection is hung in my dinning room/living room with a wall all to themselves. 

After deciding that I liked my current configuration of stars, I didn't want to add my new additions.

 

Instead I started a new mini wall for them across a doorway from my previous display.

See the old display of stars on the left and the new display on the right.

I think it has really jazzed up this corner.

Love this view!

You all have a great day, 

See you soon,

Robin

Side Table Bliss

You may remember back month and months ago I found a delightful side table at the thrift store for cheap.  It looked like this. . .

It had dark wood stain and leather inserts that had seen better days.  Still I loved her shape and all the great details.

After a coat of my new favorite paint:  Cottage White by Behr and a little distressing in all the right places. . .

She now looks like this . . .

**sigh**

She's so perfectly sweet . . .

Love her frills . . .

The leather inserts were surprisingly easy to remove. 

After painting you would never know it was there in the first place . . .

Even the drawer pull is amazing.  Normally I would give them a coat of paint to freshen them up.  Not this time, it's so unique I just couldn't tamper with it. . .

What do you think? 

I think I did good! 

I'm quite tickled pink.

Hope you all have a snappy day,

Robin

Quick Changes

Small changes seem to make a big impact in a room. 

A fact that always seems to amaze me. 

Today's example is an ordinary wood tray that I've had for years.  It's a great size, but the color was beginning to rub me the wrong way.  Nothing a quick coat of spray paint can't fix.

This is the color of the tray before:

Perfectly fine, but like I said, not a great color for me. 

After a coat of red spray paint this little tray fits better into my living room. 

I enjoy the pop of color and she does a great job holding the kids library books!

(p.s. If you have little girls you might enjoy this book by American Girl titled Hair: Styling Tips and tricks.  It's a hair style book we found at the library. My girls love it so much I am thinking about picking up our own copy.  Lots of ideas, simple idea's - which makes mommy happy!)

Hope you all have a great day,

Robin

Easy Flower Arrangement

Junk Bonanza this past weekend was of course AMAZING!  A few treasures made their way home with me. 

I'll be sure to show them off sometime later this week for all of you who maybe interested.

Today, however, I'm a little pressed for time. 

A mountain of laundry and a dirty, cluttered house is demanding my attention! 

Thought I would share a quick flower arrangement that has been gracing my living room for the past couple days.

A quick trip into the backyard with scissors produced a few cutting from my hydrangea shrub.  I placed them into one of my favorite white pottery pieces and layered it on top of a small, oval platter.  Didn't even add water - I'm hoping they will dry nicely so I can enjoy them a bit longer.

So pretty! 

So Simple!

Just my style!

Hope you all have a lovely Monday,

Robin

Fun Find

Good Morning!

I'm so excited to show off a great find from the thrift store.

Normally, I wait until I have a chance to fix some of the ugly - - but not today!

I'm too excited.

Take a look.

A chair?  Seriously!

Ohhhhh, Yeah!

I've been on the lookout for a desk chair to use in my kitchen for - like - ever!

With a price tag of $1.98, this metal chair is just the ticket.

I'll use it here,

After a coat of paint and some new vinyl, it will be perfect.

I'm a little nervous about the vinyl recovering.  Does anyone have any experience in this?

I may have to do a little research, but if all else fails a slipcover will work too I think.

Hope you all have a great day, I'll be figuring out how to fix this chair.

Robin

Beautiful Minnehaha Falls and Park

If you have never been to Minneahaha Falls it is a treat for the eye's, definitely a great place to visit if you like spending time in the great outdoors.

Of course there is the beautiful water falls that you could spend time watching. In addition to that, there are gardens to stroll through, bike paths and bikes to rent, a historic train depot, a delightful farmhouse to tour and my girls favorite; a nature walk along a stream which leads to a wading area.  Let me tell you, the girls spent hours playing and splashing around in the stream. 

Here are a few of the things that delighted me.

Beautiful stone bridges are scattered throughout the park.

I think they are beautiful.

This is the bridge by the wading area. 

Notice the stone steps to the left of the bridge leading down to the stream. 

Such a great idea if you ask me. 

I loved sitting on the steps watching the water flow under the bridge - - such a tranquil spot.

Hope you enjoyed this "mini" tour of the park half as much as I enjoyed my time here with my girls.

Until tomorrow,

Robin

Preparing for Junk Bonanza

 It's Coming!!!! 

This weekend, September 16th, 17th and 18th!

I'm soooo excited! 

It's going to be the Longest. Week. Ever! 

(I'm not the best at waiting!)

Are you planning to attend?

I'm planning to spend a few hours strolling around on Friday by myself. 

On Saturday, a friend and I are going together. 

As I impatiently wait for Friday to roll around,

I'll be making a list, checking it twice and adding more wishes.

Oh the EXCITEMENT!!!!!!

Flea Market Bliss

Who doesn't like a good flea market? 

I'm no exception.  Nothing gets my heart a-pumping quite like scrounging through a pile of vintage bits and pieces looking for the perfect find. 

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Gold Rush Days Flea Market in Oronoco, MN for the first time.  Let me just say -  

I. WAS. EXCITED! 

It was so hot, the humidity was horrible and rain clouds threatened us all morning long.  Despite the weather I managed to take in my fill of flea market bliss for seven straight hours!  By the end of the day, I was dreaming of a nice, long, cold shower, and a large pepperoni pizza. 

Here are a few of the treasures I picked up...

Two flower frogs to add to my growing collection.

An adorable, Big Ben clock.

Two pickle forks, a butter knife, a fork, a spoon and a delightfully worn and crackled platter.

A gravy boat. 

Not crazy about the gold ring, however I just could not pass this up since it was on my "must have" list for the day and also since it was only one I found!  I'm not sure why I've been drawn to gravy boats lately.  I think it might have to do with my love of their curves.  Whatever it is - - I'm running with it.

Another fascination lately has been small metal boxes.  I was happy to find this little guy in a delightful red, and of course I'm loving the chipped paint.  Not sure if you can see the "US" stamped on the top, just makes it even better.

I've paired him up with a small black metal box I found earlier this summer.

My second favorite find of the day was this blue lunchbox.  I've pasted up many lunchboxes in the past, but for some reason they continue to be fascinate me.  Once I saw this beauty I knew I had to take the plunge and start a new collection. 

For now I have her in my hutch among my clock collection to keep her company.  Eventually I would like to pick up some more and make a display above my kitchen cabinets which I think would look fabulous.

Finally, I picked up a few stars to hang on my star wall which leads me to my favorite find of the day... A rusty cow (doesn't that sound like a drink?) 

She's cast iron and fabulously aged.

Don't you just love her?

You may not know this about me, but years ago (back in high school) I collected cows.  Everything cow.  I think I even had a t-shirt with cow spots - it was my favorite.  I outgrew that phase, vowing Never Again!

Imagine my surprise lately as cows have once again been speaking to me.  I've decided to embrace it, hopefully this time around my collection will be a little more sophisticated - - no more cow spot painted shelves and cow eggs for me.  Instead, bring on the rusty statues.

Wish me luck!

Hope you all have a wonderful day,

until tomorrow,

Robin

Historic Fort Snelling

One of the places the girls and I visited during my blog break was Historic Fort Snelling.  My memory of the Fort from back in my school days was nothing like how my "adult" eyes viewed it.  

Fort Snelling is truly beautiful place to visit. 

I enjoyed the symmetry of it's layout and the beautiful old stone buildings and walls. Not to mention all the simply beautiful doorknobs and the like. 

Hoping that you would enjoy taking a look also, here are a few of my favorite photos from our day at Fort Snelling.  Enjoy!

Hope you all have a wonderful day,

Robin

Well Hello There. . .

Hello, My name is Robin . . .

I'm a bad blogger . . .

I took a few weeks off to enjoy the end of summer with my kids . . .

I enjoyed the break so much I took another week off . . .

And then, another!

However much I've enjoyed my time off, I'm ready to jump back into blogging. 

I've missed you all so much! 

Can't wait to catch up with you all and take a look at all the fabulous things you have been doing.

Today I'll be spending my time reading through my alarmingly large google reader. 

Hoping to feel reconnected to all you fabulously talented people.

Until tomorrow,

Robin