Two New Projects

Here's the view from my front yard, through the incredibly ugly chain link fence, into the back yard:

Now, in all fairness, this is not quite a "before" shot. It's a "transformation begun" shot. I had just finished working--I mean, working--tilling up that strip of lawn (roughly 6x50 ft strip), putting in the three limelight hydrangeas on the left end--two are on the outside of the fence and one on the inside, to form a big triangle--setting out three cleyera, and barely in view on the right, a couple more limelights to anchor the opposite end. Barely noticeable in the photo are my sweet potato and pole bean vines beginning to creep up the bottom of the fence.

I'm trying to make do with my chain link until I can replace with a beautiful stone/picket combination one day. So for now, taking the eye "through" the fence is my plan until the plants are actually big enough to hide it.

Here's the finished product (so far). You can see I also made a new bed on the other side of the fence to create a nice finished corner, connecting to the garden fence, further serving to pull the eye past the fence itself. (Next year, perhaps we can get our springer spaniels a plastic pool in a less obtrusive color!)

Here's a wider view.

From this next angle, you can see how the new bed also serves to balance the front yard nicely. The left side of the photo is a mature bed of azalea (at least 30-40 years old), cleyera, huge elephant ears, crepe myrtle, and even a loquat tree, bordering our street. The far end borders a dead end street and another residence.

I plan to continue the black mondo grass border (at least I think that's what it is.) on around the new bed, so that I think when the new side matures (including the soon addition of a new azalea or two.) everything will balance out nicely.

Here's another eyesore I'm trying to hide:

I love the shed. Built completely by my husband and me, it replaced a hurricane-stricken metal type a few years ago. I also am pleased with the new bed of knock-out roses and more elephant ears. But the hodge-podge of  mowers, firewood, etc kind of ruins the overall look. My cheap solution was to string wire, secured with eye-hooks, in horizontal rows, following the angle of the lean-to's roofline. Planted at the base of each end are new passionflower vines, which I've heard are fast growing but not particular evasive in terms of spreading underground.  I love that the vine is totally edible--flower, leaves and stem---and medicinal. Here are a couple of shots of my first bloom--love the flowers!

The Garden This Morning

Things are awfully "big" in the garden this time of year. Two heavy rains this week sped things up (literally) even more.

We'll mow and clean out around the blueberry bushes after church this afternoon.

The okra is taller than the fence on the east end of the rows.

The perennial hibiscus are beautiful in the morning sun.

The roses were so pretty, glistening with dew. Notice the little bee inside the top edge of the second picture.

After the Rain

We've needed rain so badly for two weeks. It seems every day this week the dark clouds would form, the heat thunder would rumble and every area surrounding us would get rain--but not here, not until today.  I wish I had grabbed the camera and taken some shots of the wonderful hard rain that gave us two inches of moisture in about 40 minutes. All the plants and flowers looked so grateful. I did get these pictures after the storm.

A raised pot in a front yard planter.

Another front yard bed.

Beautiful hydrangea. Can you see how it's barely tinged with pink?

Moving to the garden you get a truer picture of the light at the time.

The marigolds set throughout the garden have really thrived this year.

Another dark shot--but you can still see the abundance of cayenne peppers this year!

I'll pick this eggplant in another 4-5 days.

Plenty of okra--and from my own seed!  It's about four feet tall now and will add another two before summer's end.

Here's the view I have of the okra while on hands and knees with bucket and wire cutters to gather the day's harvest.

Raindrops hang on the cherry tomatoes. The plants are looking skimpy now, but the tomatoes have been good--bug and disease free.

Fig Love

Photo credit: Eat Boutique

I am so fortunate to have two large fig trees in my backyard that have been producing copious amounts of fruit for the last two weeks. You can see pictures of the trees from a post I did on the same topic last year. The crop is on its last few days now, but we've already harvested five-plus gallons of fruit.

Figs in every container I can find!

I'm trying to find some something yummy and different to do with the surplus. I found several good recipes for variations of tarts. I think I'll try a savory version. Here's my plan:

Chop 1 small or 1/2 medium onion.

Fry till nice and crisp 1/2 to 1 pound bacon.

Saute onion in a bit of the bacon drippings.

Press one clove of garlic into the saute.

Snip or chop 4-5 cups of figs, a pinch of salt,  and molasses and or maple syrup to taste.

Continue cooking until figs are broken down and mixture is the consistency of jam. Add crumbled bacon.

Spread mixture into baked pie shells. Dot with small pieces of brie. Top with thin slices of fresh, ripe figs. Add toasted walnuts and snips of fresh rosemary, if desired. Bake 30 min at 350.

Easy Recipe

Hey, just wanted to link to a great recipe I just posted on my health and fitness blog, Pulse. Check it out!

Here's the "secret" ingredient:

A Surprise Bedroom Makeover

I wanted to surprise my seventeen year old daughter recently by completing a major bedroom makeover during her absence on a mission trip with her dad and brothers. My seven year old shares the same room, but after receiving her blessing on a very elegant, un-seven-year-old style (She's around grown ups so much, I knew she'd thoroughly approve the look.) we proceeded at fast-forward speed.

We had redone the bathroom a couple of years ago and wanted to match the look:

 

Here are a few of my inspiration pictures:

Heidi Claire

I was sort of going after a more sophisticated, less white, shabby chic look, but I have a room full of French Provencal furniture I had to work with and wanted to try the Annie Sloan chalk paint. Here's a dresser similar to mine done in Annie Sloan French Linen, which I used on the floor.








I love the tones in this room and the finish on the door.

Segreto Finishes

I wanted a little glitz on some of the furniture--not a plain whitish distressed look.

Segreto Finishes

If I could have stripped down to the bare pine paneling and whitewashed, I would have, but I only had six days!

The Enchanted Home

Like I said, I was going after an upscale version of the shabby chic look--painted furniture,etc.--but not so white--more European. Dreamy bed linens were a must!

These are my ideal:

Arte Pura

Beige and gray-great together!

My French Country Home

More linens

Layla Grayce

Since any one of the above linen sets would put me back by at least $1000-2000, I had to find a low-end substitute. I thought this Urban Outfitters' offering fit the bill.

Before I show you the results, here are some before pictures and work in progress reports.

Sorry for the dark photo, but wanted to show you the straight-on view when entering the room.

Also sorry for the sorry condition of this closet!

The work begins! Six days to complete transformation! Before he left on the mission trip with my daughter, my husband had cut out of plywood the headboard design. Here we have reattached my craft paper pattern in order to mark the button holes which he also drilled before leaving--all at the clandestine location of my mom and dad's house next door, so that my daughter never suspected a thing!!

My mom is a wonderful seamstress and agreed to make pillow shams, bed skirt and silk balloon shades --what a woman!! Thanks mom!! All the fabric came from Richtex (so lucky I live near this wonderful fabric store, but anyone can order online). And a special honorable mention goes to my dad who fed me the entire week! Thanks to him, my kitchen sink was only full of paintbrushes--not dishes!!

 

Tons of paint and varnish on this chair meant tons of WORK! But it was worth it for the cost of the chair--$70!

Also work: Lots of painting. Trim is always fun. Notice the floor, already painted in the Annie Sloan paint (French Linen)and protected with two coats of Annie Sloan lacquer--highly recommend!I got mine at Cottage Attitudes.

Plain bi-fold closet doors replaced with soon-to-be-mirrored french doors and a smart interior filled with storage possibilities!

 

The family room became the painting room with rain the first few work days hampering outside work.

Working on the headboard.

Last day. Curtains up!

The chandelier is a huge improvement over the ceiling fan/fixture! Doesn't the Urban Outfitters' duvet look chic?  Next up, monogrammed pillows--With only one letter difference in the two sisters' initials, I think one for each girl would be nice. What should I do with the blank wall to the side of the bed? Gallery picture/photo arrangements are so hard for me! I like everything I see, yet nothing looks right when I put it together!!

More nail heads arriving from Van Dykes will complete the headboard. The lamps are from Hobby Lobby--great price with an online coupon! Wish you could see the gilded detail on the bedside table in greater detail. Alas, amateur photography!

Here's a detailed look at the nail heads from Van Dykes--fit the "old gold" look of the chandelier perfectly!

Wish my lighting was better so you could see how awesome the dresser looks in Behr's Pewter Mug, with accents in Ralph Lauren's Sisel, overlaid with Valspars' Brilliant Metallics in Sea Shimmer--whew!

Below, new closet doors with mirrored fronts and lots more shelves, hooks and hanging rods inside!

Didn't the chair turn out great!

 

Here's a closeup of the floor.

Here's a shot looking out into the hallway. You can see what a difference the painted floor made. The orange-y  glow of the polyurethaned oak would have clashed with the soft colors.

Jewelry organization in progress! More hooks to come!