Rock Fountain - Easy Weekend Project

Need a quick weekend project to dress up your garden. Try a rock fountain. This one just uses a bottom container, dug into ground level, small fountain pump, a rock with a hole drilled through middle, and some rocks for surrounding the bubbler rock. What a great surprise at your front entryway as guests walk up. Or in your garden. Just use your imagination.

Decoupage - Renew and Refresh

Desk pictured is from Pottery Barn.

Decoupage was a great trend in the 1970's. My mother was a decoupage queen. Well it is making a beautiful and elegant comback on furniture. If you have an old chest or desk around, think about decoupage. When we were decoupaging in our youth we used old fashioned Elmer's White Glue. Now there is a great product called Mod Podge available at your favorite crafting store. What a great summer project for you and even your kids to enjoy. Also, a great way to repurpose and refresh some old furniture. You know the old saying, "Everything Old is New Again!".

Cocktail Friday

Recently at a local bar, I ordered a Mojito and the waitress suggested a Coconut Mojito. What a way to go. It was a traditional Mojito with just a splash of Malibu Coconut Rum. Super Yummy. Just perfect for summer and Fridays. A cocktail with definite personality.

1 teaspon sugar

3 mint leaves

muddle mint and sugar in a coctail glass

add

1 shot of your choice of Rum

stir well

top with club soda

add 2 dashes of Malibu Coconut Rum to taste

squeeze a quarter of lime

top with another mint leaf

Enjoy

As with any cocktail, please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.

Curtains for Patio or Portal

So you need curtains for your patio/portal. The curtains you see in the photos with the globe lights go the length of the patio/portal. They are simply Wal Mart Curtains, 2 to a pack. They are polyester and have been outside now for 4+ years. They are hung on copper pipe from Home Depot. They nicely close off the patio/portal. There are 8 sets on my patio/portal. I tie them back to prevent them from blowing with huge wind storms. But they nicely shade the patio/portal as well as help to keep the inside cool. Plus they look great. This can be done on any scale. So what are you waiting for?

Firepits of the 1960's - Retro Modern Style

When browsing through an old sunset book from 1967, I ran across some great firepits that can be built inexpensively using concrete block. So I guess the old saying everything old is new again really applies. These pictures show three great firepits. What a great way to spend a couple of weekends, building your own. Then you can enjoy it all year long. So which one should I build? Hmmmm.

Vintage China

I love using china. I love vintage china, mixing and matching the patterns, wondering who they belonged to. China is under used. Vintage china is easy to find and sometimes inexpensive. What a great Father's Day to set the table with some Vintage China and flowers.

Stackable Wine Storage --- The Galloping Gourmet

Since every one is trying to save a buck and entertain at home, I decided to share this great picture from the front of the Galloping Gourmet Cookbook, c1969, by Graham Kerr. It has a great shot of his wine storage, over his refrigerator, and oven. Now I know above the refrigerator and oven is not the best place to store wine, (so no emails on that please)but look at those great clay holders. That could be incorporated in so many areas in the kitchen. There are several suppliers of stackable wine storage on the internet - (now what fun would that be). However, if you want a weekend project, use the black PVC pipe from the major home improvement stores, cut to size, the black would look good in most kitchens. Or you could use the stacking rectangle sewer tiles -- sounds gross, but they look great and are a rectangle shape terra cotta. I know you have seen them on top of chimneys on houses - they are used a a quick extension. They are about 18"-24" long and about an 10"-12"rectangle. Each tile would probably hold 3-5 bottles. So, use your imagination this weekend, and add some inexpensive wine storage.

Build your own Firepit

In keeping with firepits, I found these great firepit ideas in an old 1967 Sunset Landscaping Book. Firepits were hot even back then. So which one should I build?

Chiminea Fire Pit -- Fire Places

I love fire pits, fireplaces, firebowls. I love fire. Summer, Winter, anytime. So if you are looking for an inexpensive way to dress up a porch or patio, look for a chiminea. They are small fireplace type units made of clay, some are made of metal. The one I have I use with sand and candles on my patio. It looks cozy and keeps the bugs at bay. Chimineas are all over, you can find them at your home improvement stores as well as garage sales and flea markets. So...put a little fire in your life.