Something old is new again with a picnic basket...

 Last week was busy and very negative.  Luckily, Saturday started out with a visit from our neighbors.  I made a bunch of hors d'oeuvres and we enjoyed good company and several games of pool.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  A relaxed evening with some wonderful friends.  

Sunday was project day.  I had no pressing matters, so I began my picnic basket project.  I'm  a sucker for picnic baskets.  I found this one at a garage sale for $8.  There hasn't been time, until now, to give it some tender loving care.  The inside was caked with hot glue and a piece of elastic stapled to the top.  When it was new, I'm sure it had a fabric liner and the elastic held silverware.

 It all had to go.  I used pliers to pull out the staples and a razor to remove the glue.  Then I gave everything a light sanding.

After sanding the top and cleaning the basket, I took the food grade mineral oil I use on my butcher block counter top and gave the whole basket a coat.  It soaked in like crazy.  You can see the difference in the photos.  

The next half of the project will be to find some material to line the inside and matching elastic to hold glasses and utensils.  I think I have the right fabric in my stash.  I would also like to find some dishes and napkins to match the whole thing.  Maybe even a matching blanket.  

I now have three fabulous picnic baskets.  The top one is perfect for a romantic picnic with two.  It is very intricate and I also gave it a good coat of food safe mineral oil.  Hopefully, that will keep it in tip top condition.

The middle one has a Danish theme and is perfect for four. I have matching water bottles, napkins, and plates inside. It is great when I take the three nieces on our adventures.   

The basket on the bottom is going to be my super deluxe let's feed everyone in the country version.   I will keep you updated on it's progress.  

Despite a rotten week, the company of good friends and the thought of future fun times with others has lifted my spirits.  I hope to find a few more baskets.  One day, I will give one to each of my nieces and nephew, so they can remember the fun times and carry on the picnic tradition.  Right now, I am excited at the prospect that my baskets will be in the perfect condition when warmer weather comes.  

Do you go on picnics?  Do you have any picnic baskets?  What is your favorite picnic memory? 

Garden Art...

 I love art in the garden.  Bought things or something old is new again, it doesn't matter.  If it catches my eye it is in the garden.   I don't have a lot going on with flowers right now and it was way too cold this weekend to do any projects.   This post is focused on my eclectic garden decor.  

We got this beautiful wind chime when we were married.  Words cannot describe the music it makes.  This year I moved it from the porch to the woods, where the wind would hit it.  I don't regret that decision.  It almost makes the cold wind that has been blowing for days bearable, almost.

 I don't remember where I got the turtle, but I have had him a long time.  He has many scars. Last year while shopping with my niece she showed me the little metal lady bug below.  She has one just like it.

I love adding quotes to the garden.  The shovel was an old shovel left behind from firefighters deep in the forest long ago.  The board came from an old barn where we used to hunt.

 The decoration to the right is a slug trap.  It has never caught a slug, but it is pretty.  Below is an old stump we found on the property when we were building.  

 I made this bumble bee house probably 20 years ago.  Can you tell?  I've hauled it around and it looks worse for the wear.  Like the slug trap it has yet to see its purpose fulfilled.  

Below, an old NO TRESPASSING sign finds a kinder purpose.  The quote has always held a place in my heart, as my husband and I are together for all seasons in a mountain greenery.

 An old shell, with a round rock placed inside brings brightness to my little shade garden.  Below I found that bench deep in the woods when we brought the property our cabin is on.  I carried it out to the road, a quarter of a mile through the understory.  The red box on it was another find.  It is filled with sand and rocks from the beaches in Denmark.

 I actually have a theme by the greenhouse.  I have tried to keep everything around it metal.  The old washtub holds my tea garden.  The watering can holds the parsley plant that made it through the winter in our kitchen.  Below is part of a windmill given to my by our wonderful neighbors.  The box was found at an abandon farmstead.

 The plane above was too colorful to ignore.  The washtub below was tossed in a junk pile.  My dad couldn't figure out why I was excited to find it.  It works great to corral wayward wild strawberries.
Below, old chimney liners (I think that is what they are) work great as a butterfly attractant or planter.  Your choice.

 

I love the weathervane.  It is store bought and I'm afraid not made the best.  My arrow seems to have issues.  Still I love the blues.  I'm trying to find ways to add more stained glass in the garden.

Below was a challenge from my in-laws.  They brought two cow waterers and challenged us to make something with them.  Lo and behold, a combination bird bath, bird feeder, sign post, and trellis for vines.  

 I missed some things.  I hope some of the decor gave you ideas for your garden.  Old or new as long as it is something that catches your eye and brings you happiness is all that matters.  What type of art do you have in your garden?  I hope your Memorial Day weekend was warmer than ours.  I am thankful for all of the veterans who sacrificed for our freedom.  

Something old is new again and project people...

My husband and I are project people.  Rarely does a weekend go by that we aren't doing something.  This weekend it was the bell.  We bought it at an auction in 2014.  It has been driving me nuts as it is difficult to do anything with, because it doesn't have a bottom yoke.  

I looked and looked, but finally my husband and I put our heads together and came up with an alternate solution.  It would require some wood working on my part.  I would be lying if I said I was afraid to use power tools.  I love using them to create things.

We had some 2x4's leftover from the barn project and I was itching to put them to use.  It took one prototype, before I got the plans right.  That whole measure twice cut once rule never sunk in with me.  Measure once, realize your mistakes and cut twice more is how I roll.  I did finally get it right.  Then I had a little stain station set up.       The bell is waiting patiently in the back while everything dries. 

If you look closely in the photo below you will notice that I used the original braces on the bottom of the bell stand.  That goes back to the cutting rule and angles.  I was never very good at geometry.     Believe it or not, it is sturdy.

I am pretty excited about the outcome.  Finally, it will be useful and out of the way when I'm shoveling snow.  I am happy with how solid it turned out.  I'm not the greatest engineer, but when my husband and I put our heads together we can usually solve a problem.

 Can you see it tucked neatly in the corner?  Now I can ring the bell when supper is on.  It feels good to bring new life to something that wasn't being used.  And that my friends was my weekend project.  Are you a project person?

a one horse open sleigh...

No, it hasn't snowed again (though I guess we are supposed to get a foot on Sunday).  I'm talking one horse open sleighs, because a few months ago we bought one at an auction.  The weather was too crummy to bring it home, but today was the perfect day.  In fact, it was so nice I took a ride in our new sleigh, only I had about 300 horses driving it:)

It is made of wicker and has swans heads carved on the skis.

 I don't know about one horse, but it is certainly a one person sleigh.

I think it is a nice addition to our porch.

If we get any snow I may seriously consider hooking Ella up.  I will finally be able to harness that winter energy.

Can you say mush?

something old is new again with signs...

 

 

I saw the above quote last week and fell in love with it.  I couldn't get it out of my head.  I wanted to incorporate it into the garden.  Then I saw photos of people using old shovels for birdhouses.  The light went on.  Years ago I found an old shovel left in the forest by a firefighter and drug it home.  My husband questioned its potential at the time.  Lo and behold! Time flies and with help from an old barn board and some paint, the shovel is again useful.   I am very content with the product. 

 

The little sign on the saw blade is just for fun.  My husband found the blade with his metal detector.  I couldn't help putting the blade to use and the saying seemed to match.  Then I attached it to another old shovel handle (I have no idea where I found that one).  Of course it had to go in the compost pile:)     

I'm pretty happy with my sign making endeavors, though I have to say my hands are a tad shaky for painting.   Below is my first sign.  If you want to read about its inception click on this link:http://birdsbeesberriesblooms.blogspot.com/2012/06/signs.html  

I think I am done now.  For a while anyway.  I do enjoy putting quotes in the garden. Which is your favorite?

 

Something old is new again in the garden...

I had an old clay drain pipe that I have been dying to reuse and finally it came to me.  A butterfly feeder.  I've always wanted to try one. 

Problem is I was afraid using fruit to draw in the butterflies would also attract bees.  I needed to find a spot where I could see what was going on, but where it wouldn't be close to daily coming and goings. 

Then I had an epiphany.  I put the clay pipe in the middle of my strawberry bed, covered the strawberry bed with netting, and filled a bowl with fruit and put it in the pipe.  The bowl will hold the netting in place.  The netting keeps the strawberry bed from becoming a deer buffet line.  Everything is out of way.

I'm pretty happy with the results.  Now I will see if it actually draws butterflies.  Please only look at my creation and not the sad state of my strawberry bed.  Note to self: get more strawberry plants next year.

On another note.  My loving husband put up our windmill.  I have some Scarlet Runner Beans planted below.  Now I can take photos of the cabin an not have to crop that ugly well in the middle of our yard. 

 

 
 

The view from the porch is even better.  It was very soothing to watch it in the wind today.  I hope everyone had as productive weekend as I did. 

 

 

 

Something old is new again in the garden...

I do have a little color in the garden.  My crocus are up.  They are such happy and hardy little flowers.  I didn't just spend the day wandering around looking at crocus flowers. I worked hard on my vegetable garden today.  We had some old fencing, some old wheels, some re bar, old silverware, a broken flower pot, odd sized wine bottles, and used corks. Put it all together and you have a garden. 

 

  I can't wait until it is warm enough to plant peas and beans.  I plan on running string from the spokes on the wheel to the holes in the faucet handle.  Then the beans can grow up them.  I'm sure it should be taller, but that is all I have for now.  I will keep looking until I find the perfect combination.  I did try planting some spinach and lettuce.  It may be a bit early.  I guess I will find out. 

  I have seen so many good ideas on Pinterest.  I saw the idea of using corks for markers and have found it to be very useful.  Then add using an old fork to hold the cork and you have a grand plan.  I planted my onions, some dill, and cilantro.  The garlic, asparagus, and chives are already up.                                     

As always, I had the company of my gardening companion, Ella.  She finally realized I wasn't going to throw pine cones for her, so she just soaked in the sun.

It is amazing how much I managed to do with just stuff that was laying around the place.  I'm keeping my eyes open for an old garden gate.  I also plan on making some stepping stones using rhubarb leaves and concrete.  It will take time, but I'm further ahead than I thought I would be at this time.  Now if we just don't get anymore snow...

Something old is new again from the auction...

Going a little stir crazy here.  There was a nasty cold wind yesterday and there is too much snow to do anything outside.  We decided the best way to spend the day was at the auction. 

There was a huge collection of advertising crocks being sold.  I fell in love with the Wildman Grocery.  Isn't that the greatest name for a grocery store?  It was a very early store in Rapid City. 

My husband wanted this sign and we were lucky enough to get it.  He had it up five minutes after we got in the door.  He remembers these trains going through his town as a kid.  NorthWestern was employee owned from 1972-1975.  I love how well it reflected the light when I took the picture. 




The mirror/thermometer below was our real prize.  We both really liked it.  It works well with our cabin decor. 

 

 

That was our excitement for the weekend.  Today is going to be a quiet day of quilting and my long run.  I will be glad when the weather warms up and I can start running outside again.  Ella misses running with me.  Oh, I suppose I should do a little house cleaning also.   Hope everyone else had a productive weekend.