One thing leads to another...

(Disclaimer:  This post is filled with blurry pictures...of my kitchen, we are awaiting our hardwood floors to be put in...so most everything has been packed up...and I'm not cleaning anything else until they are in...so don't look close! Please don't judge me for the pink floors, as I did not pick them out...and we'll not discuss the fact that I allowed them to remain for the past 16 years! The pictures in this post will be considered before pics...because these rooms will be getting updated in the weeks, months years ahead!)

 So...I had an unexpected day off of work.

While putzin around the house...

I come up with a plan...

my Handsome RELUCTANT Assistant hates when I come up with a plan...

I called him at work...

not a good idea to call him at work...with a plan!

Me: "Let's move the sandwich counter thingy...

(this divides our kitchen from our great room) 
this would be the time to do it, since we're replacing the floor."

Handsome Reluctant Assistant: "I think you'd miss that counter" 

 

Me: "Well, I probably would if we just removed the counter...since we do use it once in awhile for something other than clutter...but I want to seal off the pantry too"

(the door right there by the counter)

 

Handsome Reluctant Assistant:  "Uh... NO"

Me: "Hear me out...we remove the sandwich counter, peninsula thingy...and seal up the pantry"

(which sets directly across from the table)

 This would open up the great room to the kitchen more...

and allow me to have a wall space to place a buffet or cabinet or shelves...in the kitchen. Also it will enable us to get a larger kitchen table, should we decide to so so.

H(R)A:  "You're crazy, what are you going to do with everything that's in the pantry?" 

ME: (I got this)  "Since we have a coat closet in the foyer...we'll turn the coat closet that's in the kitchen...into a pantry.

Yes that closet is a bit smaller...so the cabinet we remove, we can hang in the laundry room above the base (matching) cabinet.

It's more narrow...and about 1" shorter...so it will work perfectly! Besides...see that nick on the trim...you'll be saving me from having 
to cover that up!

  and any pantry overflow will fit nicely in there!

Then, Handsome Reluctant Husband...you can build us a closet in the mudroom...so we can use the mudroom more effectively. Instead of one huge  messy room...were we kick our shoes off...where we throw stuff we don't know what to do with...and pretty much ignore...yet always leave the door wide open! We can have a mudroom...with a nice closet inside the mudroom, to kick our shoes off into, and hide our stuff.

(remember these rooms are in line for a makeover once the new floors come in...so gone will be the ugly floors, the faux finish wall...and the fake painted brick stuff. 
Loved it back then...but it's time to go! Got some plans brewing...so stay tuned)


Handsome Assistant is in agreement...this plan is moving forward...I'll keep you posted...with lots of pictures along the way.

Me:  "Then after that...we can move the dishwasher over by the sink...get rid of the one short side of the u shaped work area...we'll have to get new counter-tops but then we can put a huge island in the middle of the kitch.....

Hey, if I go missing...
you might want to check the sealed off pantry in my kitchen...I seem to be hearing some mumbling about having a tiny room that I can decorate and re-decorate for the rest of my life!

Sharon

Let's Party:
making-the-world-cuter-monday
between naps on the porch 181st-metamorphosis-monday
alderberry hill /make-scene-monday
boogie board cottage masterpiece-monday

I Was Featured!

I WAS FEATURED!

Thank you so much Lindsey, from The Farmhouse Porch,

 

 and Patti and Paula from Ivy and Elephants, 

 

for featuring my Refreshed Porch !!! 

It is so exciting when someone takes notice of anything on my blog...

but when I get picked out of so many wonderful and creative blogs and projects...

to be showcased...well it's the most exciting thing in the world for this little blogger!

Thank You!!

The Farmhouse Porch and Ivy and Elephants are 2 very wonderful blogs...and I hope you'll stop by and check them out...you won't be disappointed!

Thanks for stopping by today!
Sharon 

A Thrifted Table for Two

Hi Ya'll

Remember my porch refresh from 
 a short while back? 

If not you can see it here "refreshing the porch"


Well, I showed you the after of the front part of the porch...but I didn't show you an
after of the side porch.
 Here is a reminder of how it looked before

which to be honest has NEVER been used! 
You really can't see it from the street...
and you can't see it when you walk
 up to our front door
and it's long and skinny just like the front porch...
so I just ignored it!

NOT ANYMORE! 


I was determined to make it useable!


I went shopping my house! 


I first thought I would get all creative...and put a few odds and ends together, 
and make a potting bench to set there...
cute...
but I knew I would really NOT use it way over around the corner.
I would not want to lug everything up there...and try and squish past the chairs on the porch 
with big bags of potting soil...
so it would be totally wasted there!


so I kept shopping the house...


Then I spotted this table...

which has been stored in my garage 
for at least 2...3...ok more like 4 years!
(handsome assistant is saying 5)
I purchased it at a yard sale for 30.00
It didn't have a top but it did come 
with 4 matching chairs...

When I purchased this set...I was sure I 
could come up with a table top if I channeled 
my inner Martha ...
but I didn't...and it sat...and it sat...and it sat...
and somehow survived my handsome assistant...who once assisted a whole set of wicker, into the fire pit..because it sat in the garage, ignored for to long
 (in his opinion)


No...
I didn't divorce him
but he wasn't looking all that handsome 
at the moment either...


anyway....back to my story...I got out the black spray paint and gave the table 
and 2 of the chairs...a fresh coat of paint.
Then...I recovered the seats with some fabric I had on hand 
(recently purchased for a different project...and then decided it wasn't the look that I wanted for that particular project)
but it would be perfect for my black and white porch!

changing the fabric on this type of chair is
 one of the most simple projects and can take a chair...from old and drab...and give it such a facelift!

Once I got the chairs painted and dressed in polka dots...I had to come up with a tabletop.


In the back of my mind...I had an idea...


a coffee table that I wasn't using currently was stored in the basement...
(ok...even I admit my hubby puts up with a lot!)

It had a square glass insert...
about the same size...
and I prayed...and God answered my prayer...and it not only worked...but really it's the perfect size!

Can't get any easier than that!

So here is the after of my little 
secret side porch for 2...

All accessories I had on hand...
except I did purchase another of those
 battery operated lanterns at Walmart.
 If you have followed my blog for any length of time...you have seen my little silver birds...they flutter and perch all over this house!
The wooden box...another of my yard sale finds for 50cents...was also in the garage...waiting for it's day to shine. I took some white spray paint...and lightly frosted it. I didn't care to much for the result...so I grabbed the gray spray paint...and lightly frosted it with that as well...and I love how it turned out. 
It looks old and worn...and I didn't even have to sand it at all. 
Very easy!


I am thrilled with my side porch now. The perfect spot for a cup of coffee in the morning...though sunny...and a great place in the evening...totally in the shade...I know we will use it now!
Maybe I'll surprise my handsome hubby with a lantern lite dinner one night...when he threatens another trip to the fire pit!


Now, I'm just waiting for this heat wave to break...so I can remove everything again and stain the floor, and paint the pillars! If the last month is any indication...it may be fall ...or winter before then!


So until next time...
Stay safe and cool!


Have a wonderful 4th of July!


God Bless! 
Sharon

linking to:
southern hospitality /thrifty-treasures 
making the world cuter 
between naps on the porch 180th-metamorphosis-monday  
alderberry hill make-scene-monday 
boogie board cottage masterpiece-monday  
the dedicated house make-it-pretty-monday 
ivy and elephants colours-of-summer 
farmhouse porch cowgirl-up 
commonground/vintage-inspiration-95-porches 
debbie-debbiedoos.com/pin-the-tail-on-the-bloggy 

A Garden Tour with a Surprise

My aunt's, sister's, daughter's, neighbors cottage...

no one was home...

we snuck a peek...

It was so adorable...I wanted to take you on a tour 

Do you see the window in the upper right corner of the picture above? I love how they open out...

it looks so cottage-y

and what would a cottage be...
without a potting bench...and this one is adorable

an old vintage rusty stroller turned planter...

Do you see what's out beyond the fountain?

WE INTERRUPT THIS 
REGULAR SCHEDULED GARDEN 
TOUR FOR A PRISON BREAK



I happened to glance back at my sister's

Isn't her Clematis beautiful?

But let me crop the picture, cause I've got to see that little face up close...

"Grandma...I wanta come too"
He isn't saying to many audible words yet...
but I just know that's what he's yacking about!

The kido's should be included for the rest 
of the tour anyway...

WE NOW RETURN TO OUR 
REGULAR SCHEDULED 
GARDEN TOUR

back to the view beyond the fountain...
I'll take ya in a little closer...

A MUST SEE!

 Quaint and Cozy 1 room Playhouse...

 exterior has many upgrades...
  
custom windows...

fancy front porch
made for easy cleanup
(of drippy ice cream cones)

Easy access to transportation...

Beautiful yard with 
well maintained country gardens...

Nature abounds....

spacious, immaculate interior
fully furnished, with vintage furniture...

all window coverings included...

comes with extra seating for quests...

beautiful cathedral ceilings...

Better hurry...


This one won't stay vacant long!

Thanks for stopping by today!
I really appreciate ever single one of you...and so enjoy reading every single comment I get!

Oh...and by the way...we did confess our trespass to the homeowner...
and was given her blessing to post these pictures!

Sharon

Still counting my blessings...

Making decisions, and not looking back

My sister, who is battling cancer, looking to, and depending on God to see her through. 

A safe trip to and from Michigan, 

listening to my grandkids laugh and have fun together as they play

a beautiful day and a barbecue at my sister’s

watching my mom and dad...Enjoying my grandchildren

Don't know who that is next to my mom...
but she was enjoying my grandson too!

Linking to:
2805 / potpourri-friday
redoux interiors
at the picket fence/inspiration-friday

ROCKIN and rollin in the Motor City...

Yard sales have been few and far between this year.

Saturdays have been so busy,

 I have just not had the time to go.

Saturday...while in Michigan...they were EVERYWHERE!!
I was able to stop at just 2 of them!

one of them proved to be fruitless

however the other one

had amazing stuff!!!

I would have like to have purchased several things...

the first being the house!

The front yard was beautifully landscaped

 and the backyard...
was Lake St. Clair!

or the 4 piece set of parson's chairs...I've been looking for some for my dining room

one of several very large wooden bird cages...she had several...for sale...and many more scattered throughout her gardens

a large area rug that would have looked great 

on my new hardwood floors

(still waiting for arrival and installation, by the way)

and a small vintage wooden rocker...

the rocker was a larger child rocker

the lady at the sale (probably in her 50's maybe even 60's) said it had belonged to her mother

I wanted it bad...

but unfortunately we would not be able to get 

any of this home with me...since our vehicle 

was full of pack-n-plays and other such 

grandchild paraphernalia,

I left a wee bit disappointed...

but quickly turned around...

I just had to have that little vintage rocker...

even if I had to leave it at my mom's 

until the next visit.

I'm glad I went back...

we were able to get it home...even if we might 

have looked like the Clampett's doing so.

And here is it...

look at the perfect cane seat

original? 

I don't know...and don't really care

It is the perfect addition to my recently 

refreshed front porch!
Just 15.00

And I didn't even have to bring out the spray paint!

don't ya love finding a treasure like that!

ok...so in my rush to show you...
I see that I forgot to even wipe it down...
I'm heading straight out to do that now!

 It is absolutely gorgeous outside today!!

I have been enjoying it.

I know the heat and humidity is headed 

up to record highs around here...

Stay cool!

until next time...

Sharon

linking to:
the thrifty home penny-pinching-party

ivy and elephants

redoux interiors

Buddy Boo Recovered Pictures 1

Spending the morning at the park with Buddy Boo

Simple Pleasures!

we crawled through the mouth's of animals

and we were swinging...

we played music...

we played dress up...

We went on the slides

Grandpa got into the action too!

We rode dinosaurs...

We drove a choo choo train...

We looked through a porthole

We threw rocks off the bridge into the water...

"I very love the bridge Grandma!"

(said with the total excitement of a 2 year old)

Ok...so whilst at the park...I decided to go on the slide with Buddy Boo, when suddenly my big booty seemed to get lodged...

not that BIG yellow slide...

NO...

the one I was on was red...and it was a 

TEENY TINY, ITTY BITTY slide! 

Geeze you'd think they made these slides for 2 year olds or something! 

Now Buddy Boo and I were holding hands...

and I was trying to keep up with him 

as he was moving at a much faster pass then I...

due to some neighborhood prankster oiling his side of the slide, 

while putting glue on mine!

That had to be it!

you little hooligan

but I was booty walking running down the slide...trying to keep up...when suddenly my rubber soled flip flopped foot, stopped...and my booty kept going, until slamming into the back of my flip flopped foot...now the back of my foot...has not been able to reach this booty of mine for about 32 years...and it should have not done so this day either! Thank goodness, I am the one usually taking the pictures, and this sight was not captured  on camera!

I limped for several days afterward...

It was worth it...

Besides...I work for an orthopedic surgeon...

 

What a beautiful day...

at a beautiful park...

beautiful memories...

simple pleasures!

We love you "sooooooo" much Buddy Boo!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Sharon 

Still counting my Blessings

Recovered pictures, lasting memories

My 2 year old grandson, going on 5

A beautiful day to enjoy the park

Simple pleasures, like a swing and a slide

Last but certainly not least!

God is blessing us all with a new baby…

Buddy Boo will soon be a big brother!!!

 

Linking to:

farmhouse porch -cowgirl-up