Dell really does exist

Well I finally have replaced the computer and phone and am back in the electronic world.

Barb has been working on this and had been waiting for me to get on here to post something.  The best news is that Barb spent a few days with me last week we have been trying to get together for some time now but something always manages to get in our way.

Barb brought some plants from her garden and we spent a morning planting them in my little court yard, they are doing well and make it very cozy.   I will post some picturs later.
Dell AKA (Ardell)

Painted Desk

I found this desk for free!  My cousin and I were junking treasure hunting a few weeks ago and a lady had this desk with a free sign on it.  I said "I'll take it, thank you very much".  Here is what it looked like when I got it.

Before

If you like shabby it doesn't look too bad here.  But a close up shows what a horrible job of painting someone had done.  The paint was thick and globbie in spots.

 

So I sanded it and because I liked the looks of it I gave it 2 coats of antique white by Benjamin Moore that I had left over from painting my bedroom.  Then I gave it 2 coats of Minwax past wax and distressed it.  From the pictures of the before and after, you can't tell much of a difference, but the paint is much smoother and it looks much fresher.

After

Before

 After

Before




After



I was thinking of selling the desk but now that I've finished it, I may just keep it for my office/den.

Cost of this project, zero
Desk, free
Paint, left over from painting bedroom
paste wax, already had


I am joining Debbiedoo's for her Newbie Party
Beyond the Picket Fence for Under $100 Linky Party
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
Johnnie at Thrifty Thursday Blog Hop

Until next time

Barb

What is a Liebster Blog you may wonder.  I was told Liebster is Sweetheart in German, thus...Sweetheart Blog.  It is an award meant to connect us even more and spotlight new bloggers who have less than 200 followers.


Fiona from Raindrops and Daisies sent me the Liebster Blog and asked that I send it on to new bloggers.  Fiona is from Ireland has a lovely blog and great photos. She says her blog is a bit of fun and her day to day ramblings.

Here are the rules for the Liebster Blog

1.  Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2.  Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3.  Post the award on your blog.
4.  Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet - other writers. 
5.  And best of all - have fun and spread the karma!

Here are my 5 picks in no particular order.

Lynn at  Poppi Linn Studios

Lynn loves to garden and cook.  She has beautiful pictures of her gardens and her recipes.

Miss Kitty at Miss Koppy Kat has a great blog with beautiful pictures and she is so creative.  She has even made her own coral.  Stop over and see what she is up to.
 
 Zoey at Perennial Passion lives in Michigan and has a real passion for gardening.  Stop over and see her lovely gardens.

My Little Home and Garden is a new blogger from Canada.  She loves gardening and photography and has some gorgeous photos.

Andrea at Town and Prairie is an Artist and Art Teacher and is very creative.  Check out her great re-do projects.

I hope you will visit these new bloggers and get acquainted with them.  Have fun and have a good week.

Barb

p.s.  I had some trouble with this blog today.  Don't know how the back ground color in part of it got changed to white.  But whatever I tried to do to correct it didn't work. 

Sunflowers and Ivy blooms

Driving down the highway the other day I came across a couple of fields of sunflowers.  I just had to stop and take some pictures.  While I was taking pictures, two other gals stopped to take pictures also.  I hope you enjoy these sunny flowers

The wind was blowing so they aren't standing as straight and tall as they can.

 

I wish I had a high powered zoom so that I could have gotten the full effects of the acres of these happy sunny flowers.

Remember the Ivy bloom I showed you in my last post?

I was sure that I had planted an Ivy plant that was almost dead from my mom's pot.  You probably all thought I was crazy thinking the Ivy was blooming.  Well in a way it is, but it is an Ivy Geranium and it is getting another bud on it.  What a nice surprise.  I'll get a picture of it when it opens.

I hope you are all having a good week.

Barb

I am linking to  DebbieDoo's Newbie Party
Stop on over and see what all the Newbies are doing.

I'm also linking to
A Southern Daydreamer
and
Fishtail Cottage 
If you get a chance, stop by these blogs and see what other bloggers are doing.

Does anyone know why blogger is not showing followers or letting people join as a follower on some of the blogs?

Blooming Ivy

Has anyone seen blooms on ivy?  I haven't.  While watering my window boxes I spied this pretty little bloom.  I had rescued the ivy from a pot my mom had that wasn't doing very well.  So I planted the ivy in the window box.

Otherwise there is not much going on in the garden.  There are a few blossoms on my wigelia and my shrub roses are starting to bloom again.

 

The Tiger Lily is blooming as is my hardy mum.  It seems that the hardy mums are blooming way early this year.  Does anyone know why?  Could it be all the rain we've had this summer and then the extreme heat?

I'm joining Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer

and Cottage Flora Thursdays at Fishtail Cottage

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend.

Barb

 

Score...for Free

Yesterday as I was going to the swimming pool for water aerobics I passed a house with a big dumpster in the yard.  I went back later and asked if they were moving.  They said no they were just cleaning out the basement as they had water in it.  I asked if they minded if I took anything.  They said go ahead take anything you want as it is going to all be thrown out.  So here is what I got for free.

Two red wooden folding chairs

 An exercise bike,  2 painted crates, a crate with graphics and a wooden stool

I also got a movie real, a black tray and an old muffin tin.

 I power washed them and left them in the sun to dry and then went back and got a few more things.

An old wooden ladder that is a pale, pale aqua and more wooden crates.

I think I am going to have to have a sale!

Linking up with Debbiedoo's Newbie Party

I appreciate all of you that stop by and your kind comments.

Barb