The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A Couple Projects and Destruction On The Porch!

I finally got my teacup birdfeeder chandelier hanging up, and I know, I've broken a big blogging rule: take before pictures! What should have been a very simple project was a royal pain. First, I had it hanging in the kitchen while I worked on it. I had it hanging from a cabinet knob, and the wire that was holding it wasn't secure enough (whose fault was that?) and it came crashing down. I had to glue one of the cups back together, as it was in alot of pieces. Also we were all bumping our heads on it! Everyone is glad it's out of the kitchen!
This is the before shot of a plantstand that I built. Again, I should have shown the before shot of the box, because I DID build that! It isn't a windowbox already made. I'm sorry, I'm just so proud of myself, because I think they were the straightest lines I have ever cut, or probably ever will, and the sides all fit together perfectly. That doesn't happen too often for me!

This is what it looked like for a few years, until I decided to decorate in a much more cottage look. Notice the picket fence flag I made. I forgot to show that a few days ago. Anyway, as I said, I like this look....

but I LOVE this look better! I just need someone to teach me how to age and distress it. When I try, I just make things look dirty!

This is a wicker chair that I found on the curb last fall, and I knew what I wanted to do with it right away this summer. I hope you are able to see the crystal beads coming out of the watering can. It's supposed to look like water is pouring out!

These are just some cheap letters from Michaels. I wanted to make something to hang on my mirror, something very simple, no frills.

Couldn't be simpler, and the letters are light enough so that I don't have to worry about them busting the apothecary jars below.

Now for the bad and ugly. My husband came home from work, and the second he walked in the door, he said "What happened?". This is what happened. The squirrels had ripped apart all the cute pillows and the cushion I had made for the bench on the back porch. They looked like this before, and I was so proud of them! I had sewn them all by hand because my sewing machine is broke. A few minutes later my husband caught one chewing on the flannel-backed tablecloth on the patio table! What is going on with these squirrels! I've never had this happen before. We think that maybe they are getting ready to have babies, and are shoring up their nests. Very disappointed, but so glad I didn't put that old red, white and blue quilt on the porch swing, like I wanted to!

A few minutes later, my friend Nancy brought over these beautiful flowers, so that made me feel alot better! Nancy is a floral designer, and these flowers were just going to be thrown out, because they're past their prime and couldn't be sold. I love when that happens!

Well, today is a big yardwork day. It's Mr. Old Glory's day off, so of course I put the poor man to work! He will be mulching for me, and cutting our lawn and my mother's. He has to do the heavy stuff around here, because I've got a bum hip. I'm so lucky to be married to him, and next month it will be 20 years! Geez! Where did the time go? Well, I'm off to play in the dirt. Hope you get to too!