Updating the Dining Room Table for Spring

Grapevines in Wine Country

A few weekends ago, we planted our first grapevine...the few grapes that were on the vine were very tasty...

Today we decided to extend our little vine into 5 more little vines, across the wall in the backyard.  Not only will they give us yummy green and red grapes, they will fill in nicely along the wall.  We started by digging 4 fence post holes, letting them sit overnite in quik set concrete. 

Next step was clearing out the lavender planted there.  We moved the plants it to another spot in the backyard.

After all 4 posts set overnight, we drilled large eye screws into the posts for the galvanized wire that would string between the posts.

Next step was to string the galvanized wire, securing it tightly.  Then we planted the new grapevines we bought today...

These vines grow so fast; they should fill in with grapes and green quickly!

The Now FAMOUS Dollar Store Hurricanes!

By now, you must have seen Decor Chick's Dollar Store Hurricane's.  I tried mine this weekend, and plan to make many more!  Just as she promised, I found the hurricanes at my Dollar Tree store for yep, $1!  Although they had no candle holders, I found those at the local Kmart for $1.49.  They were super easy to make.  Just glued the candle holders to the bottom of the hurricanes, using Gorilla Glue.  But one tip:  I used a little too much glue, and it seeped down into the candle holder.  If you look closely at the hurricane on the left you can see it.  Next time I'll be more careful.  I shopped the house, and filled them with some potpourri and wrapped with raffia.  I think I like the look of twine better, but I used what I had.  I love the final result!

Thanks Decor Chick!

Floors, Floors, Floors

Finally, they are DONE!  Here they are...I LOVE THEM!

It's finally here!!

All 27 Boxes of it...

We've been spending the last few weeks getting ready to install our new wood flooring downstairs.

Taking out all the tile, ripping out carpet, scraping off glue from concrete. 

 CANT WAIT to get started!  

Downstairs Bath Redo

We hadn't really planned to re-do the downstairs bath.  We had planned to take out the tile in our entry way to make way for new hardwood flooring that will go in the entry, dining and living room (our spring break project).  The bathroom is just beyond the front door entry, so the tile also flows into the bathroom.  The tile was in great shape, but since it's such a small area, re-doing it is pretty simple and inexpensive.  Hubby did it on a Sunday afternoon.

Here's what we chose - marble tile at a great sale price at Lowes...

Before bath was ok, but ready for a re-do...

...floor all prepped and ready for her new look...

OOOOHHHHHH!!!

The wall color wasn't working for me...so now it is "Toasted Almond" (don't look at the excess grout under the cabinets - that's now gone)

The last touch will be some nice chunky white crown moulding - and we'll call it done!

From Little Boy to Big Boy

It was time.  Little Boy needed a Bigger Boy room.  He is 11 now, and I last did his room I think when he was about 6?  So it was reeeeallly time.  His room was decorated in a train theme, and the walls were covered with a train mural.  Trains, tunnels, rivers, trees, fish...you get the picture. All primary colors, lots of paint. Nothing was left unpainted, not even the ceiling - blue sky with clouds.  This was going to take a while - not to mention lots of paint.

This bed used to be a bunk bed.  When he got tired of the bunk bed (and I got tired of climbing up to change sheets on the top bunk) we took the support platform for the top mattress, put casters on it and a couple of handles to pull it with, and slid it underneath the bottom bed for a trundle.  It works perfectly!

Did I mention my boy loves Elmo? He drew this in pencil (behind the bedroom door, where most of his friends wouldn't notice) and I painted it as is.  It is my favorite part of the room.

Now, the transformation...

First goes the ceiling...

Then the furniture...

A light sanding, and these took well to paint...

oh and don't EVER paint these again...

...much better!

Bye sweet Elmo....

Good for another few years...