Once upon a time there was a squirrel named Pearl and she lived on a Leon's deck. Whenever Leon wasn't looking, Pearl would creep over to Leon's bird feeder and throw it off the table and onto the deck. The poor bird feeder became badly bent and broken. Leon was not pleased and he chased Pearl away whenever he saw her. "How can I keep Pearl from totally ruining my feeder?" mused Leon. "I know, I'll tie it … [Read more...]
A Kitty Cat Rail for the Porch
May 3, 2011 by 19 Comments
While we continue enjoying all the fabulous "Before and Afters" linked for yesterday's Met Monday, I wanted to share a little addition you may want to consider adding or building into a screened-in porch if you have kitties living in your household. Recently I received an e-mail from Marcy who shared a fun feature she and her husband added to their porch: a kitty cat rail. Marcy told me, "The post … [Read more...]
Historic Restoration, Part III
May 2, 2011 by 43 Comments
Welcome to the 119th Metamorphosis Monday! For this Met Monday, I'm excited to share an update on the historic Tyson-Stedham home in Adel, Georgia. This Arts and Crafts home, built in 1912, had been "renovated" over the years by previous owners and had lost its original personality and beauty. Dustin, owner of Van der Fleet Designs and Restoration, along with his hardworking crew, have made some … [Read more...]
Two Mysteries: Houdini Squirrel and Every Word
April 30, 2011 by 58 Comments
Mystery 1: Today was car-tire(s)-buying day. Yuck. So, as I'm talking on the phone with the guy at the tire store, I opened the kitchen door that leads to the screened in porch. A gray blur ran by. Ummm, not good. I walked gingerly out onto the porch and I saw it. And, it saw me. A squirrel. Mr. Squirrel began frantically running around my porch, scaling the screens and in general, FREAKING OUT! I … [Read more...]
Styling by Coty Farquhar
April 28, 2011 by 103 Comments
Welcome to the 140th Tablescape Thursday! I have a wonderful Giveaway this week for Tablescape Thursday. This giveaway will have 6 winners so lots of opportunities to win! I'm so excited to share the gorgeous and breathtaking designs of Coty Farquhar. Are you familiar with her blog, Styling by Coty Farquhar? If not, you are in for a wonderful experience! Coty lives in one of the most beautiful … [Read more...]
9 Great Features For Your Screened Porch
April 26, 2011 by 121 Comments
A little over three years ago I was faced with a big decision. I had a badly deteriorating deck and I knew if I didn't replace it then, I would surely have to replace it before I ever listed my home to sell it one day. How often do we do that--wait until it's time to move before we fix things or make improvements we've dreamed of for years? Then it's the next homeowner who gets to enjoy our hard work. If … [Read more...]
A New Plan for the Office
April 25, 2011 by 44 Comments
Welcome to the 118th Metamorphosis Monday! I hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend. I don't have a major "Before and After" to share for this Metamorphosis Monday, but I've made some pretty big changes regarding the layout of the office. I wasn't thrilled with where I hung the wrapping paper/craft center in THIS post. The shutter being partly tilted didn't bother me that much but it just made the … [Read more...]
Bunny Rabbit Napkin Fold: Great for Easter or a Springtime Tablescape
April 22, 2011 by 36 Comments
While we continue enjoying all the beautiful tablescapes posted for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday, here's a tutorial for the bunny napkin fold I used in this tablescape: Easter Tablescape with Daisy Centerpiece and Bunny Napkin Fold. All you need is a little ribbon and some small pom poms from the craft store and you'll be all set for Easter dinner. This fold … [Read more...]
The Easter Bunny’s Magic Compass
April 21, 2011 by 80 Comments
Welcome to the 139th Tablescape Thursday! With Easter only a few days away, I couldn't resist bringing out all the bunnies for a little Easter table setting. It was a beautiful day here and I almost put this table out on the porch but it ended up here in the breakfast room, instead. Chrysanthemums make for a great springtime centerpiece. I tucked a sweet … [Read more...]
A New Market Umbrella for the Deck
April 19, 2011 by 60 Comments
It's that time of year--the time when we go outside, look around and take stock. Mother Nature has a way of taking her toll on our outdoor furniture and my green market umbrella had definitely seen better days. When I first bought this huge, 9-ft umbrella for my patio furniture, I was so proud of it I never left it outside. Back then the deck wasn't a very fun place to entertain or to spend any time. The … [Read more...]
