Vintage Inspiration Friday #31 Spring Garden Cart

The itch to get my hands in the dirt got the better of me yesterday afternoon.

After all, it was in the upper 30's when I decided to make a run to Lowes,

and buy some perennials for this little project.

Of course, there was only one checkout,

and there were other fools out there just like me!

(insert chattering of teeth and blue fingers)

So...I've had this little vintage garden cart for the last 5 years

stuck under the deck, only doing a few odd jobs around the yard.

But after seeing one today

 that has been planted with creeping phlox for the last few years,

I decided to put one together for myself.

Sorry no photo from the one from Spring Creek,

but it was really sweet with teensy blooms spilling over the edges

in all the lovely pinks and lavenders.

I added some daffodils and pink hyacinths in with the mix.

Don't know how that will work for the long run,

but I was desperate for some planting fun...sheesh...desperate.

It's a little decrepit,

 and my husband has threatened to set it by the curb on trash day.

Just look at those fabulous wheels...

I'm thinkin' it's best to be in one spot.

Here's the sort of look I'm going for, although this isn't creeping phlox.

(google images)

Lot's of work to do outside,

so I'm hoping the weather cooperates!

What kind of gardening fun have you all been up to?

Here's some random vintage inspiration from last week:

White Birdcages

Fishtail Cottage

Pretty Organization

One Girl in Pink

Spring in England

Happy Homemaker UK

Ruffled Purse

Mary's Meanderings

I'd love you to come join the party.

Please link back within your post.

Hope you grab the button for your post and sidebar.

Remember, I have a "featured at" button, too.

I'm linking up with these great gals!

 

Have a great weekend, everyone!

hugs and love,

Debra

Raising the Bar

                                 Shhhhhhh....This is a surprise post for my St. Louis kids.

Their Anniversary is coming up later this Spring

and I love to surprise them with something vintage.

They are big fans of the local breweries of St. Louis.

If you've never been, then it's the home of Anheuser Busch

Schlafly, and tons of other smaller companies,

with lot's of great little urban pubs.

So when we found this Farberware Bar Set I knew they'd love it.

I've checked the Internet and can't find any information

so I'm not sure how old it is, but the wicker covers just knocked me out!

On second thought, they may need to arm wrestle me for that  thermos.

Here's a photo from our trip last fall.

Incredible house...

Their "Restoration Hardware-ish" Dining Room

Happy Early Anniversary, kiddos!

see you two at Easter!

(xoxoxox, mom)

Aren't they cute?

I don't look old enough to have them as kids.

yeah, right...

I'm joining in for

...just gotta brag

There's no way that my photos

can do her photos justice,

but I just have to brag on my bestie Anne.

She's gone and done it!

with help from some "fabulous"  and talented friends.

I'm one of the lucky ones that get Romantic Country Magazine thru subscription,

so I have mine even before Miss Fiona and Twig!

Six yummy pages of wonderful photos

taken at the home and Bed and Breakfast of Linda and Ludmil Markov

(The Willow Nest)

Anne is a woman of many talents;

her strengths lie in her determination, goal-making, and strong faith.

Miles may be between us,

but we have a connection that speaks not of the distance,

but of the heart.

I'm proud that one of her dreams has come true.

May it only be the beginning.

Look for Romantic Country to be on display next week.

te he,

lucky me...

Laundry Room Reveal: Cleaning up a dirty little secret!

Hello world, it's time to "come clean" with one of my "dirty little secrets". I have a few others; at least this one is making it's debut. I have a great space in my laundry room; right off the kitchen and the entrance to the garage, but it's been a semi-mess since we've lived here. I hated the color (a blah dirty yellow) and since last November when I painted the kitchen walls and cabinets, well, it seemed worse than ever!

"Where is the before picture?",  you may be asking. I purposefully DIDN'T take one, because honestly, I didn't think I could get it "blogworthy". Think dirty yellow wall color, cat litter strewn floors, bulletin board (not cute), and mismatched attempt at wall decor...got a mental picture?

 This is a photo from last fall before I painted the kitchen, and it's the closest you would have seen of the mess. Below is another shot after the paint, but the doors on the right are hiding all the yuck.

I knew I wanted it brightened up since it has an east facing window which brings in a lot of the morning sun. And also since the wood floors extend into the laundry, it needed to be a continuation of the kitchen. Let's face it, the doors are always open since it's "kitty central" in there besides the laundry.

Ta Da!!

I'd thought about painting the doors and cabinets

 the same color as my kitchen cabinets,  but I've decided not to.

 I actually like the contrast out here with the wall color.

 The woodwork is white, so it all works for me.

LOVE my new washer and dryer.

 It has the same technology that the big front loaders have,

but at almost half the price.

I even added some vintage wall thingies to make it more fun to be out here.

All the decor in here was "shopped" from my garage stash,

of flea market and thrift finds.

Stuff that had been hanging around

just waiting for a spot.

I've had the piece of tin for several years,

No where to put it until now.

It DID get a good scrubbing and a coat of antique white paint,

And this was the fun part,

 coming up with a vintage feel for my "view" from the kitchen.

A small Eastlake shelf,

Nantucket basket with hydrangeas,

odds and ends sugars, creamers, and gravy boat,

and a favorite English Cottage print.

Then a couple of 40's bird prints

brought in the feel I was going for...

cozy cottage.

Last week I showed you my trunk find with bird decals

that I'm using for a kitty chow container.

And here are a couple of little cross stitch pieces I did in the early 90's.

They are reminders of God's faithful promises.

It's not a big room as you can see,

and not easy to get a good shot of the whole thing.

(I spared you the trash basket and kitty littler box)

I also found a great little brown floral Waverly valance

 and faux wood vinyl shades at Lowes.

They help finish it all off.

As you can see we "love" our new space.

So much easier to keep clean,

and now it's actually a place I can enjoy being in.

Miss Jenkins agrees!

I'm linking up with these great parties:

Hope to see you Thursday afternoon for

Have a great week!

love you all,

Debra