Cute Cottage...

Evan and I call this The Smurf House. Obviously, it doesn't look just like the Smurf houses we remember from the cartoon... but, it is fun. We love to look at it and wish every time we pass that we could go in... we wait to see Papa Smurf come out and invite us in... =) LOL.

The quote for the day: "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances."
Oscar Wilde I have to tell you I had to read that twice to really get it... my brain read that only shallow people judge by appearances... not so according to Wilde. And, I have to say that after some consideration, I agree with him.

All the girls of The Brickstreet Bungalow are stressed. Seems we don't take well to lots of workers milling about the place with crashes and booms and chandeliers shaking. They are replacing the heating and cooling units today. There always comes a point with appliances, etc. where the cost to repair versus the cost to replace and improve efficiency teeters on the side of it-is-time-to-bite-the-bullet. I have witnessed four stout men with a rope and pulley drag a HUGE unit up into the attic off the porch. I wouldn't want their job... but, I would prefer it today over a hotter day! Oh, I wish them God's speed.

The Porch

It was this porch that landed us here at The Brickstreet Bungalow. Evan and I had ran past it for three plus years when the For Sale By Owner sign appeared in its front yard. We were due to close on another house at the end of the week. I pleaded to just go see it... well, here we are four and a half years later... in our urban bungalow. If you look closely, you can see the echo of columns continue on our neighbor's porch.



This back corner overlooks a fish pond... the rippling of the water sounds softly in the background. Those little birds in on the sofa table were a Mother's Day gift from Amanda... I would love them just because they are cute... but, I cherish them because they are from her.

That giant philodendron is from my Mom. She received it when her mom, MaMaw, passed away. That has been over thirty years ago... no pressure on keeping it alive. So far, it seems to love this spot in the morning sun.

These two pillows were finds on a Canton journey with Amanda and Barbara...

These from Roanoke...

My knitting nest... =)

The weather is perfect!

See you on the porch...

June 21, 2011 ... Linking to Kim's Southern Savvy Style Porch Party!!

Knitting for Little H

Saturday, after pulling on my zebra-stripped galoshes, I forged the thunder, lightening and downpour to take Tess, the Scottie, to the Emergency Vet. If EVER there was an animal who could use a health care plan, it is Tess. She has one malady after another... bless her cute little heart. If she were a car, the lemon law would apply. She is doing better now. (Although, Evan just left with her to have a follow-up with her regular vet.) Can you say ca-ching?



I digress... since I was already out in the storm, I decided launch into a search for yarn. I had in mind to make a blanket for Little H, my grandson-growing-in-his-mom's-incubator. I was most excited to find some perfect "sock monkey" brown yarn (H's nursery is going to be built around sock monkey material that his Great Granny found). You can see it HERE.



It has been twenty plus years since I have knitted... well, Zack was a baby and you saw yesterday... he is not a baby anymore... Anyway, I am enjoying making this blanket for my grandson... I am sure I could have bought a much nicer one for him for what I have spent on yarn... but, there is something wonderful about the love and blessings that will go into the thousands of stitches just for him. It gives me joy.





Houndstooth... =)

Birthday at The Bungalow

Sorting through the photos from last weekend... We celebrated Zack's 26th birthday! Hardly seems like that much time could have passed since he was a tiny (well, not so tiny) baby...


I was in heaven... both my babies home at once... a cake made with love... Evan grilling steak... meeting Janna...



My heart was full...

And, just look at my little pregnant one... not a very good shot to capture my growing grandson... but, take my word for it... he is growing just fine... cute as a button, she is! Oh, what a wonderful time to have my babies home.

Backyard Makeover -- My Hidden Garden

For the last two years, my work on the rental properties has left our own home in a neglected state. I am a soul who needs a haven at home... an enclave... a place to feel close to God... to feel my heart fill to overflowing with appreciation and gratitude for the beauty and perfection of nature... to know God has blessed me richly... to make me glad to be home...

This is where we start. There was once grass sodded there. Too much shade, too little attention... ergo, a bald, badlands backyard. Overgrown, misshapen shrubs. Empty pots... with faded memories of better days laden with beautiful flowers...

I had this vision of pea gravel... a courtyard of sorts... quit fighting the shade and just go with it...

And, so we begin. Layer of weed barrier... and ready for the gravel.

This became my inspiration piece... I saw it at Lowe's the week before the gravel guys came... I love its simple grace... my Green Obelisk.

After the gravel was poured, it took me two full days to be satisfied with my arrangement... I LOVE this spot now... Evan and I have enjoyed sitting with a cold drink each afternoon this week... it is a haven to us... =)

Slight cover for the area under the deck... all with gravel flooring now! =)

These petunias were just too tempting... probably will not thrive in the shaded back yard... but, if they begin to suffer too much, I will move them to a sunnier spot... until then I am enjoying my purple and green and white...

Okay, these are cheap, $16 Adirondack chairs from Lowe's... the table I picked up at the Gresham Barn Sale! Too fun! The bottom is rusted... the top is slate... suites my love for the eclectic!

Velvet, Queen of The Brickstreet Bungalow, helped me work for hours...

I have to say I might be MOST excited about this plant! It is a tree fern... says it can get to 20 feet tall! I doubt that in one season, in a pot, that could ever occur... but, I am excited to see what it will do!

This little bench... =) Just makes me smile... =) Can't help myself!

Even the broken pots are being used... there are still some to plant, as you can see in the background. I can't wait to see these after about six weeks!

My Mom and Dad gave me this angel...

I'm on the lookout for a "street sign post" now! Found these at the Gresham Barn Sale, too! I am going to find something to use as a post... and make the street sign an anchor for strings of lights!!

Another find... in the W.I.P. (work in progress) area.

All these new little babies will be full and flowering soon...

I love variegated ginger... It will give color in shade or sun... it is just happy to grow.

I also love snake plant, aka mother-in-law's tongue. Neither of those names do it justice!

Day is done... light is fading... love my hidden garden... Oh, thank You, Father.

This is a re-post from April 2009.  It is still one of my favorite makeovers at the Bungalow.  Here is a photo from 2010 just before Little Man's birthday party. 

I am linking this to Kim's Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style.