WHITE WEDNESDAY...in the garden

Hello everyone!  I hope you're all doing well!

This past week has flown by for me.  We threw a birthday party, attended a birthday party, and had a visit from my Dad all in the past week!  It's been a lot of fun, but I'm a little wore out.  Luckily I've had a couple of days of down time before we're off tomorrow for our trip to Reno to visit my Mom and her husband to celebrate the 4th of July.

For this weeks White Wednesday, I thought I would share with you my puttering spot.

I love this old scale for its wonderful patina.  I was going to use it in my kitchen, but the ceiling was too low, so it just didn't look right in there for me.  I decided to bring it outside and turn it into a planter. I used chicken wire to make a basket and lined it with moss from my garden. Then, I planted it with some of my favorite flowers...white alyssum in the foreground.

This is an old crate I use as a potting bench for some of my smaller potted plants. The white rabbit suits the area we live in so well, with all the wild rabbits we have running around. Then, there's the little white cast iron bird and white pots. I can't seem to pass up beautiful bird decor...I just love it! I use one of the pots to hold plant tags of various plants we've planted in the garden, so I have them for reference later on down the road.

I'm linking this post up with White Wednesday's over at Faded Charm. Thank you, Kathleen, for hosting every week!!

I hope all of you have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!! As I've said, I'll be away until next week. I'll come visit when I get back. Thanks for all your sweet comments! I appreciate it!! :)

'Til next time...

~ Jo :-)

INTERNET WOES AND A WINNER!

Hello Everyone!  I'm a little late making my giveaway winner announcement because I've been without Internet service for the past couple of days.  Clear Wire is upgrading their system (yay!), but while they were in the process of doing that, all of their customers were without service.  It just now started to work for us.  It was terrible.... I felt like a little girl without her blanky (lol)!!

I want to thank everyone again for the warm welcome to Blogland you've shown me by leaving your uplifting and encouraging comments and becoming a follower.  I appreciate it so much, and it's been such a pleasure getting to know all of you!!  I only wish I had something to give each and every one of you.  :) 

OK...I won't keep you waiting any longer.

The winner of my 200 followers giveaway is.......Tina from Rubie's Place!

Congratulations, Tina!!  Please e-mail me your mailing information, and I will get these vintage goodies mailed to you right away.  I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I have. :)

My family and I are going to Reno on Thursday to visit my mom and her wonderful husband.  We always have such a wonderful time when we get together, so I'm really looking forward to it!  We'll be out of town until Tuesday, so I'll be away from Blogland until then.  I have to say, it's gonna be a little tough to be away for that long.  I've already been without the computer for two days.  Just when I get it back, it's taken away again for even longer (pouting).   We're taking the laptop with us, though, so I'll try to check in every once in a while to see what my fellow bloggers are up to. :)

Thanks again for all of your wonderful comments!  I appreciate them so much, and get such a kick out of reading all of them!!  I try to make an effort to visit all of you, but if for some reason I am unable to, it's simply because I've run out of time in the day (or my Internet service isn't working~lol!), not because I didn't want to. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

'Til next time...

Hugs ~ Jo

:o)

MY OTHER TEENY, TINY BATHROOM

Hello everyone!  I hope everyone has had a lovely week so far.

I thought I'd show you some pics of my OTHER teeny, tiny bath.  This is the bathroom my daughters and guests use.  I have to say, it was super difficult getting any good pictures in this room because it is SO tiny and the lighting was just horrible (need a better camera...or photographer?!?! LOL)  I either got good lighting with fuzzy pictures or bad lighting with clear pictures.  So I'm showing a little of each.  I hope you can still get the jest of the room.

This bathroom is SO small I had a hard time actually getting a shot of the whole thing.  It's not like my other bathroom, where I could be in another room to take a picture of it.   There were actually walls and doors in the way this time (lol).

A lot of you will remember this picture from my master bathroom post.  This is actually the before picture to this bathroom.  You can't tell by this picture, but that cabinet was so huge in this teeny, tiny space that it actually rested on the bathtub.  Yep, that's right...ON the bathtub (can you imagine)!

I chose to replace it with a pedestal sink to open the space up a little.

A vintage stool my youngest daughter used when she was too little to reach the sink.

I thought the sign was a funny play on words for a bathroom.  I know...weird, huh?

I have Q-tips tucked into the pitcher and the picket fence box holds toilet paper.  I  had to be very creative with storage in this bathroom.

You can really see how tiny this room is in this picture.

I was standing in the shower when I took this shot.

My husband and I installed the bead board paneling and trim molding.

These are family photos, some vintage and some of my girls when they were little,

but they're all of children. :)

If you look real close, you can just barely see where the cabinet is resting on the tub in this picture.

At least this tile wasn't orange or chocolate brown (yuuuck!)!!

We kept the tub and reused the soap holder, trying to save costs any way we could.

We got all of our supplies from... Home Depot (of course):  floor and shower tile, sink, toilet, faucets, bead board paneling, light fixture, door, toilet paper holder, and towel hook. 

We hired someone to install all the tile...one thing we definitely don't know how to do.  We attempted installing the tile in our master bathroom, and it was the funniest fiasco you can imagine...unlevel tile, mud slung everywhere, and bickering beyond comprehension.  We actually completed the counter tile and had to tear it all out because it was SO bad (lol)!  This whole remodeling thing has been a crazy experience!!

We added shelves in the shower for essentials (see them in the mirror).

Laura Ashley shower curtain bought at Target.

Some of the details...

...I added some rope trim to add a little texture and dimension to an all white shower.

You can really see what I'm talking about with the camera settings in these two photos.  Above photo has good lighting, but is too fuzzy... below photo has bad lighting, but is clear.

 

Well, I hope you could get the idea, regardless of my lousy pictures.

Do I sound frustrated... just a little (lol)? 

If you haven't seen my master bathroom redo yet, but would like to, click here.

I'm linking this post up to Donna's SNS party.  Head on over and check all the fabulous inspiration there is to be had!  Thank you, Donna, for hosting another great party!!

We're off to a birthday party and water slides tomorrow...yay!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

'Til next time...

:o) ~ Jo

FEATHERING MY NEST WITH PITCHERS

FEATHER YOUR NEST THURSDAY'S #2

Hello everyone!  I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far.

I want to say thank you to everyone who joined my first Feather Your Nest Thursday's link party!  It was fun visiting all your blogs and seeing your nesting ideas.  I must say it was off to a bit of a slow start, but I'm gonna give this a go for a month to see if it grows a little bit each week.  If it keeps growing, then I will keep hosting! :)

I simply adore white ironstone pitchers!  I love their varying shapes, sizes, crackling, and shades of white.  I use them throughout my home as pieces of art, almost like a sculpture.  So, without further ado, here are some pictures from my archives of how I use pitchers to feather my nest.

I hope you enjoy...

I have a collection of varying sizes on a shelf in a cabinet in my hallway.

I have them in my bedroom, ready for fresh flowers from the garden when they're in bloom.

Here's a picture I know most of you have seen before, but it it's a perfect example of how I use pitchers like artwork in my living room.

I can use these to put flowers or other collections in, or leave them just the way they are.  I almost prefer them empty, so I can better see their beautiful form.

A collection of tiny pitchers in my kitchen.  I've used one pitcher to hold another collection of vintage folding rulers.

Again, I know most of you have seen this picture already, but look how different this pitcher is from most of my other pitchers.  I love the simplicity of its shape.

These pitchers are not antiques or vintage, but you wouldn't know it by looking at them.  I bought these little beauties at Target years ago.  They're the perfect size for hanging on hooks.

How do you feather your nest? 

Thanks again to everyone for stopping by and joining my second Feather Your Nest Thursday's link party and helping to try and make it a success.  I appreciate it so much!!

For those of  you who are new to the party, here's all you have to do to join:

1.  Add a picture and link to your Feather Your Nest post to the linky tool below. 

2.  Please make sure to leave a link back to this post on your blog, so your visitors can come join in on the party.

3.  Go visit each other...that's what these parties are all about.  Have fun!

The linky tool will be open until 6 a.m. on Saturday, so if you don't have a post ready yet, there's still plenty of time to put one together and come join in on the fun.  You could even use a post from your archives that pertains to feathering your nest.  :)

Just another reminder that there are still a few more days left to enter my 200 followers giveaway.  To find out how to enter, just click here.

I also wanted to thank everyone who left such sweet comments about my teeny, tiny bathroom.  I enjoyed reading each and every one!!  I tried to visit everyone who left a comment, but I simply ran out of time in the day.  Yesterday was my eldest daughter's 13th birthday, so it was a day of celebration for us and was a rather busy day. :)

Have a wonderful day everyone!

'Til next time...

:o) ~ Jo

MY TEENY, TINY BATHROOM

Hello everyone!  I hope you're all doing well and having a wonderful week so far. 

I've been meaning to show you guys my teeny, tiny master bathroom for a while now, and I

finally got around to taking some pictures of it.

This home was built in 1979.  You've seen those bathrooms...the ones right off the bedroom

without a door.  Yep, that's mine.

There used to be spindles that went from the top of this half wall up to the ceiling.

The sink and toilet were both black.  Yes, I said BLACK...with dark brown tile on the counters.

Can you imagine how dark this space was?

Here's the new sink and faucet we got from Home Depot.  The sink is made by Kohler and

the faucet by Delta Faucets.

Remember, I said the toilet used to be black.  We had to replace every single door in this  house.

There used to be those ugly, flat, dark brown, hollow core doors......you know the ones I'm talking

about from the '70s.  The ones with no character whatsoever.

This is actually a before picture of my daughters'/guest bathroom.  I didn't take any before pictures

of our master bathroom... it was just too ugly and I was too depressed about it at the time... lol.

I can laugh now, but let me tell you, I wasn't laughing then. ;-)

The cabinets in the before picture of the girls' bathroom are the same cabinets that are in our

bathroom.  We painted them white and replaced all the hardware.  We got the hardware from...where

else...Home Depot.  They're the same knobs and pulls we used in our kitchen remodel.   I tried to keep

things consistent throughout the house, so it would have a cohesive feeling.

We bought the light fixture, toilet paper holder, tile, and towel holders all from Home Depot as well.

They loved us there! :-)

Well, that was the drama that was the experience of our master bathroom remodel.  I hope I didn't

bore all of you.

Since my bathroom is an all white bathroom, I will be linking up with Kathleen's White Wednesday's

link party.  Head on over there to check out all the other fabulous inspiration there is to be had.

Thank you Kathleen of Faded Charm for hosting another fabulous party!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

'Til next time...

~ Jo :-)

GOOD GOODS...

Hello everyone!!

Don't you just love that name... Good Goods?  They certainly do have some good goods!! 

I've been promising for a long time now to show you some pictures of my favorite antiques shop.

Last Sunday my family and I finally made a trip over there to take some pictures.  It's located in

Farmersville, CA (just outside of Visalia)...about a 35 minute drive from my home.  I've been

shopping at Good Goods for about 10 years now, and I've never been disappointed. :)

They just had an auction the weekend before, so a lot of their stock had been cleared out, but

there were still plenty of "good" pieces to pick through.

Come along with me and I'll give you a little tour.

This Victorian farmhouse is one of five structures that they've moved onto the property and

rebuilt from the ground up using salvaged materials. 

Come on in...let's take a look inside.

I'll take the mirrors...

...both tables, and those desk chairs, please!

There are three bedrooms in the farmhouse.

The owners always keep them furnished with antique beds (sometimes metal ones, sometimes wood)

that are for sell along with their cottage style bed linens.

This barn is one of the structures they had moved onto the property.  Can you imagine having

to move such a large structure? It's filled with fabulous antiques!

Come on in and see...

 I LOVE the garden sign! I can imagine having it hung on the wall over my puttering spot outside

in the garden.  The green box on the wall with all the cubbies is great, too!

More fabulous mirrors...

...and some great chairs, too!!

  I can never pass up a sweet bird nest and eggs. :)

Anyone need a basket?

They always have galvanized buckets in stock ($8-10 ea.).  I picked another one up on our visit there

Sunday.  I LOVE them because of their patina and they're sooo versatile.  I use them inside my home

for decor and for potted plants in the garden.  I also use them when I'm weeding.  I just carry one

around with me and fill it up as I go.  :)

I could see this table with baskets as a kitchen island or dining room sideboard, or even in a children's

room or playroom. Those baskets would be great for holding toys and books.

I LOVE these metal chairs with wood seats!

Oh man...I wish I had bought these numbers, that grey platter, and...

...these fabulous sconces!!  I LOVE the way all these muted colors look together!

I'm drooling over the patina on this sconce!!  I almost bought these but this one was missing the floret

(see, where the little hole is).  Could I have just taken it off the other sconce and have both of them go

without?  Maybe I could have replaced it with something else.  Hot glue would work, right?  I think

they would make wonderful candle holders.  I may have to go back and get these.  I hope they're still

there!!

I hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I enjoyed taking the pictures.  If you live nearby or  just

happen to be passing through central California, I hope you get a chance to stop by Good Goods.

I promise you won't be disappointed.  It's always such a treat!

Location:

30884 Rd. 168

Farmersville, CA 93292

Phone:  (559) 594-5253 or (559) 594-5765 

I hope you all have a fabulous day!

'Til next time...

~ Jo :-)