Sowing Sweet Peas

Sweet Peas are the classic flowering vintage vine. No self-respecting shabby garden girl should be without one in her backyard oasis! Sweet Peas are fast-growing, fragrant, and will climb just about anything! In these penny pinching times, they’re hard to beat at $3.50 for a pack of 40.

Sweet Peas are a snap to plant. I just planted some beneath my black iron trellis. Hopefully their vines will reach the lantern I have hanging at the top. I can imagine myself in the near future sipping wine at sunset while the twinkling of firelight bounces off the pretty blooms.

If you haven't planted any Sweet Peas yet, put on your garden hat and get out in that yard!

Here's how to do it:

• Dig a shallow trench about 1" deep
• Plop seeds into trench about 2-3" apart
• Cover with soil
• Sprinkle a little flower fertilizer
• Water with your "fav" pink watering can (I'm sure you have one!)

Sit back and enjoy!

Sweet dreams of sweet peas!

Di

It's Nice To Meet You Party!

Hello! Rachel at The Rose Room is having a party to celebrate her 100th post. Who doesn't love a party? What are you waiting for? Pop the champagne, and join in! The theme is, "It's nice to meet you!"

The first part of the party is to show where we do our blogging. I've blogged many places including in bed late at night (while hubby was snoring), on the couch while watching NCIS, and at the local Starbucks. Since the dismal weather in Boise is finally nice, I'm currently blogging in my favorite lounge chair on the back patio. It's so peaceful with the birds chirping and the soothing sound of the fountain (especially this morning while the teenagers are still asleep).

The second half of the party is to answer the following 10 questions about ourselves:

1. Relationship: Married to a super great guy (Chuck) for almost 24 yrs (he says it sometimes feels like 50).

2. Children: 2 boys (Yes, it's all guys at my house. Please God, let me have a granddaughter someday.) Matt is seventeen, and my stepson Mike is 30.

3. Pets: Aliki - the wonder dog (a giant black lab-also a guy).

4. Age: Now this one's a little personal - turning 45 on the upcoming Friday the 13th! (Wish me luck, as I've had horrible luck with Fri the 13th b-days including having my appendix out.)

5. Star Sign: Gemini

6. Fave Food: Pasta or chocolate (Or both at the same time).

7. Fave Drink: Chocolate Martini (although since I'm constantly dieting, my current drink is a 7&7 with diet Seven-up).

8. House Decor Style: I love to mix modern and vintage pieces especially items from the 30s-60s.

9. Collections: Clocks, Eifell Towers, Black and White Photos

10. How did you get into blogging: I read about blogging in a Artful Blogging book I picked up one day at Hasting. It looked so fun and creative!

Party on, and head over to the Rose Room at http://theroseroomnz.blogspot.com/ to join in!

Di

Show & Tell Sunday-China, Silver, and Crystal-Oh my!

Hello! This Sunday's Show & Tell is china, silver, and crystal. Thanks to Analise at Sugar Sugar for hosting this week's Show & Tell. Pop over to her blog at http://leesiebella.typepad.com/ to see all the fabulous collections.

I don't have a huge collection of china (some seriously shopping is in order to remedy this), but I do have a few pieces.

Enjoying the sunshine on my black iron patio table is a pretty selection of pale pink rose tea cups, bowls, and creamers.

A glass vinegar pitcher with hand-painted white daisies sits center stage amongst the roses.

A tiny white child's tea set is ready to play with my Grandmother's silver spoon resting on the saucer. One lump or two?

A whimsical castle transferware plate whisks you away temporarily to a long-ago magical place. A birds nest with Spring greenery sits on top of a vintage Inarco garden column.And finally, an adorable garden baby frolics on a cream colored pitcher. A crystal salt pinch sits nearby to spice up your life!
Have fun enjoying all the collections!

Di

Dining Vintage Style

You can mix vintage and contemporary dining decor in similar colors for an updated look. An old black urn filled with eggs, vintage salt shaker vase, and salt pinch (show here with my Grandmother's tiny silver spoon) look great together on a black contemporary table with red ball tea light holders and black daisy placemats.
Black scroll iron candlestick holders are ready to party with giant red "birthday" candles. You can find these at yard sales and thrift stores for only a few dollars each.
If you don't have any older architectural elements in your home, add one yourself! The addition of this stained glass window with pretty red bud and black painted pane add charm and character to an otherwise boring stock window.
I love to collect all sorts of vintage and new clocks. They have a timeless appeal! A giant one in the dining room ensures no one is late for dinner!

You can change the contents of any decorative holder (such as this garden urn) to match your mood or the season. The spring speckled eggs in my urn will soon be swapped out with yellow silk sunflowers or red firecrackers for the 4th of July.

Black and white family photos add a fun hip look with sentiment.

Di's Decorating Tip: You can have "new" color photos run as black and white at your local photo kiosk to mix with your vintage photos. The photo on the top is a color photo of my son run as black and white. It now matches perfectly with the vintage photo of my Dad and Hubby.


Last, but not least. A chandelier in a coordinating color draped with crystal beads completes the look with style!

Have fun!

Di

Show and Tell Sunday-Our Mothers

Hello! This Sunday's Show & Tell is our Mothers. Thanks to Analise at Sugar Sugar for hosting this week's Show & Tell. Pop over to her blog at http://leesiebella.typepad.com/ to see all the wonderful Mothers being honored today.

Here is my beautiful Mother:

My Mother is a generous, loving woman who always puts her family above her own needs and interests. This nurturing started long ago in Kentucky when she was barely a child herself and tended to her sisters while her Mother worked. She kissed their skinned knees, cooked them dinner, and tucked them into bed. They called her Mamma.

She is also a talented artist. One of the first memories I have of my Mother was a gloomy, rainy day in Pittsburgh when all three of us girls were little. We had been stuck inside all day and whined until Mom finally let us go out in our bright yellow slickers and matching boots. Mom said it was a perfect day to watercolor as the rain could do the mixing for us. We spend the rest of the soggy day happily painting. I painted a giant yellow sunflower and scrawled 'Diane" on the top in bright green. I still have this picture. It reminds me of that simple, happy day.

A few years ago, I wrote a poem for my Mother that sums up my feelings (the format/grammar are a little rough), but here it is.

Memories of my Mother
Are like shades of color
That wash over me.

Through an artist eyes
She taught me to see
The simple beauty in ordinary things.

They are forever painted
in my heart, and soul,
and memory.

The images of my Mother,
and the flowers, and the colors,
and the love she gave me.

Here are a few more pics of Mom:
Mom and Dad (pretty sure my oldest sister Teresa is the twinkle in his eye). He's a handsome dude! Mom and I both being big "kids" at the park in Spokane!
Mom and my son, Matt.

Mom and her brother Richard (love you Uncle Richard-come see us again soon)!

Happy Mother's Day Mom! I love you!

Di

Pretty Painted Furniture

You can harmonize unmatching vintage furniture with the magic of paint. Paint is cheap, easy, and comes in any color imaginable! It gives you instant gratification and the biggest decorating bang-for-the-buck around. Don't pass up those sad forgotten dressers, chests, and side tables on your Saturday morning yard sale hunts. Just repaint them! All it takes is a little sanding, priming, and elbow work.

A word of caution, ensure your new find is flea market quality and not museum quality before you do any painting (this could ruin the value). Sadly, none of my finds have ever fallen into this category.

Here's a few painted pieces I have in my home.

This dresser was given to me by a friend who was ready to haul it to the dumpster (my Mom and Dad helped me refinish it in the garage over several cocktails).

You can use paint to highlight pretty wood accents that would otherwise go unnoticable (as I did with this old blanket chest).

You can also paint just a section of a cabinet and add pretty decorative stencils (like the scrolls on this stereo cabinet)

Instead of buying new expensive bathroom cabinets, I refinished the outdated oak ones by repainting them with black semi-gloss scrubbable paint. With the addition of new door knobs, they look brand new at a fraction of the cost.

On a side note, don't forget to have at least one chandelier in the house for glamour (this one is in the bathroom and goes with the new painted cabinets).

Have fun!

Di

Best "Laid" Plans

Most of us try to make good decisions. We take all available information into account, weigh our options, and after much thought, make an educated choice we hope will turn out well.

But sometimes, we take a wrong turn, information is misrepresented, or our calculations are incorrect. And we make a horrible mistake.

For example, we build a nest on top of a giant propane heater.


I'm sure this Mother never imagined the imposing danger as she gathered the sticks and stuffing (some of which came from my green pillows) and wove them into a safe haven for her little ones.

What now?

The guys in my house have offered several solutions that include a lighted match and a BB Gun. But I consider the furry creatures in my backyard friends, so I've threatened them all if anyone lights the heater before the last baby has flown the nest.

When we find ourselves in a bad situation, we rely on the kindness of strangers to steer us in the right direction, give us a ride if we need it, or protect us from certain danger. And if you see someone perched on a precarious ledge, lend a helping hand. You never know when you'll need one yourself.

Take care,

Di

Show an Tell Sunday-Our Favorite Shop!

Happy Sunday! Today's "Show and Tell Sunday" theme is our favorite shop. Where do we go to find decorating inspiration and beautiful vintage treasures?

Our favorite shop in Boise is "The Shabby House". It's owned by two cool gals named Lesli and Lori. Every nook and cranny of "The Shabby House" is filled with beautiful displays and one-of-a-kind treasures. We stopped by last week for their "Springtime in Paris" event complete with wine tasting and yummy snacks. Check-out their website for a history of The Shabby House (they even have a resident ghost). http://www.theshabbyhouse.com/

If you're ever in Boise, you must stop by. We love it, and you will too!

Thanks to Cerri at Little Pink Studio for hosting this week's "Show and Tell Sunday"! Head over to http://www.littlepinkstudio.typepad.com/ to check-out all the great shops.

Enjoy,

Di

Leslie, Lori, and Eliza

Who doesn't want a tent in the backyard with a chandelier?