Big Creek Cottage.......

Happy Mother's Day!

 

I am so blessed to have been trusted to nurture these two gentle souls....they have given me much more than they will ever know....they make me want to be a better person.......Happy Mother's Day! 

Shamless promotion....

but, at least it is not shamless self promotion......

I love this

and really hope to win it....so dont worry about going here to try and win it...cause I bet you don't really like it, right?  But ....just in case I do win it.....you can go here and buy one!  Just thought you might like to know!  

 

It's over?

 

The weekend....It's over.  Darn.  What a great weekend it was.  Lots of sun, lots of breezes, lots of flowers....even lot's of weeds......it doesn't get any better than that!  So...here is a recap, in pictures, of my weekend....sorry no final pics of all my potting action....maybe today!? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh I hope next weekend is just as much fun!

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow!?

 

 

Just when I thought it couldn't rain anymore......

It did!  Luckily, I got the section of weeds pulled that I had set my sights on.  I had also gotten the plants that I picked up today planted......and then ....it started again.  So, no pictures of my newest plants...maybe tomorrow.  I plan on meeting my ML at one of my favorite nursery's to go nuts!  So, since I don't have any outdoor pictures to show you, I will give another sneak peek at the dinning room....still not completed because the nice weather (in between the rain) has taken us away from completing this .....

 

As you can see, I got a primer coat of paint on the old molding around the doors and window (which we are not yet ready to replace....)  I need to finish painting the old molding, hang the new curtain rod (too long for me to accomplish on my own so I am at the mercy of my DH and his lawn and garden/golf focus) and talk my DH into getting crown molding!  Oh, and the curtains.  I am mistreating some!  Still, all in all, it looks so much better and up to date.  It is more our style and compliments my antiques.  I am so happy with it! 

The ivy  (s) appear to be thriving....hold on while I knock on wood or something.  I hate to jinx them.  I have been using bottled water to water them and am keeping them in one spot out of direct sunlight.  Yes, that is my light saber behind the plant.......

 

and oh!  what is that you see......

 

Yep, new growth!  Whew Hooooooooo! 

 

I found an outdoor picture from a few days ago taken of my side flower bed that is simply out of control....actually this bed has been out of control since we moved here....but look at all those spring beauties that pop up!  I just need to come up with a plan and get going.  I know I want a clematis on that wooden fence for us and for our neighbor next door to enjoy........

I am going to try and take my camera to the nursery tomorrow so you can see all the flowers that I will have had to choose from...I was overwhelmed today and came home to go through my pots to decide which ones to use this season.  I am going to try and not use them all to save some $$ and to add more time that I can spend tending to all my flower beds (10 in all)! 

Have a wonderful Friday!

Because painted is pretty......

I am linking up with Edie from Life in Grace  for her "painting party".....but first....did you see her kitchenn transformation.....Gorgeous!  why am I being such a chicken about starting mine?  I have been talking about it ...well, forever!  

To prove that I, too, love to paint wood...here are a couple examples from around the cottage...

From our MB....a lovely dresser...painted black and distressed.

  

and my childhood furniture, painted white, which now graces my daughter's room......you can see I still have one piece to paint....her desk.....

 

 

and some places around the cottage that still NEED painted.......

A dresser in our entry used for holding mittens, gloves and scarves......

 

and the big project.....the kitchen....

I think I should begin with this....the island...add bead board, corbels, new hardware (on it's way) and painted black....the rest of the kitchen is going white and being antiqued..

 

Now....to begin! 

Some bunnies...........

 

We had a great Easter full of family and tradition....funny how we come to depend on those tradtions...isn't it?  We started off with these eggs and had some fun with different kits including a kit to marblize the eggs.....that was fun.  But there is nothing quite like using vinegar to make those colors vibrant!

 

we had more colors then we needed, of course...but who's counting.........

 

No double dipping this year......so no brown eggs......hmmmm....maybe they are listening?!

 

We didn't make it to Florida for spring break, as we had hoped......work......instead of the kids getting to hunt eggs on the beach they got to hunt with their cousins at our usual Easter stop.....so much fun......

 

Of course, they got more than any two children need........I am going to have to get my freezer bags out and freeze some for later!  Why can't they be this organized with their rooms? 

 

My new bunny.......i love the burlap shade and the soft light.........

 

perfect for Big Creek Cottage....I think I will cover all my lamp shades with burlap! 

 

No, I am not kidding!

 

PS...update on the ivy plants....still alive!  Keep your fingers crossed!

Keep calm.......

 

and carry on?

While surfing through ebay looking for some ironstone finds, I found the mother of all pure butter platters....It was going for over $500 and there was a reserve......I don't recall how much.  It didn't sell, but I remember that the reserve was not met.  This one appears to be oringinal, but who can tell in a picture./  Guess what folks!  It has been relisted without a reserve.  It had a buy it now price of $650 and someone didn't take it.....poor person.....so if you have lots of extra cash laying around.....go here.  Wish I had lots of extra cash ...........take a look....

 

By the way, thanks for the tip on caring for my ivy, Margo........I will keep you posted.

Are you ready?

For the Easter Bunny......well, we are getting ready, rain and all.  The wee people and I, and my mil, are coloring eggs today.....and I am also painting some more molding in the dinning room....it is nearly complete.  I found the perfect curtain rod (it had to be a long one...) and it is on it's way....the curtains are here and waiting to be mistreated......and the crown molding....still working on hubby for that one!  None the less...it is looking so much better. 

This fantabulous printer could be mine, or yours.....ok, I really want it to be mine, because mine is on it's very last, sad, old leg....but because you all are my favorites (and I get an extra chance to win) I am telling you to go to Rhoda's 2nd blog and get yourself a chance at winning this pretty boy! 

 

Meanwhile, I am off to listen to the rain while I paint before the egg decorating begins.  Happy Good Friday!

 

PS...to make your own adorable egg go to this page on my archives and scroll down for the tutorial..... 

My mission......

should I choose to accept it.....is to keep these beauties alive!  I have never had such a difficult time keeping anything alive...but ivies....well, I am on a mission now.....

 

This one is living in the kitchen......and this one.....in my office.

 

I have a green thumb, really I do....except when it comes to ivy.  So, I am reading up and hoping for the best.....and so are they!

Some new finds to share ....

 

my new white ironstone sugar bowl off of ebay....notice the difference in color between it (authentic vintage piece) and the pitcher...new from Target.....both still beautiful....

and this....

 

A pretty decanter from My Sweet Savannah one of my favoirte blogs and etsy stores.....go check her out! 

 A sneek peek at the almost finished dinning room.....remember how it began?

 

here is a peek of how it is turning out......

  

ahhhhhhh....so far....so good.  Like the new chair?  Great find, along with it's twin, from a local shop....

It's spring break and I am off to check on the wee people!  Have a great Thrusday.