Two Uses for One Rustic Board

I'm using this plain wood board for the table.

 But first I cleaned it and give it a rub down.

I used a mixture of olive oil and white vinegar

 to re-condition the wood. I also like to use 

mineral oil for natural wood pieces and
 butcher block seen HERE.

 Larry added the riser strips on the bottom. 

 They serve a purpose when I'm using the 

board for it's other purpose.

 It keeps the board from slipping when 

I'm using it as a bath tray.

 Simple.

 Back to the breakfast table. 

The risers elevate the board just a bit.

 It's now a rustic fall table runner.

I can't get bored with this board. 

 It's a good spot for a hot-from-the-oven casserole.

Like 'Chicken Waikiki Beach'.

 Get the recipe on my recipe blog HERE.

Cheers!

Links: The Shabby Creek Cottage,
Stone Gable, Savvy Southern Style,
No Minimalist Here, The Style Sisters,
Between Naps On The Porch,
Common Ground, French Country Cottage,
The Charm Of Home, Finding Fabulous,
My Romantic Home

Brunch On The Best Porch Ever!

Sunday brunch to celebrate Larry's birthday 

on the most beautiful porch ever!

 Right on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. 

A row of rocking chairs just meant for

ocean gazing. Note the blue beadboard

ceiling. I loved every detail of this resort.

(Grand Pelican Beach Resort)

It had a charming old Florida style.

We were there just for the brunch.

It's only a 40 minute drive away.

But a whole vacation state of mind.

The brunch was as delicious as

the view!

 After brunch we spent the afternoon under
blue umbrellas and swam in the
(warm 84 degree) ocean for hours. 

 Isn't this the cutest fruit plate?

 We can't wait to come back for a special
dinner. I love that it's so close to home,
yet a world away....

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Coastal Charm, The Tablescaper,
Confessions of a Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style

Apple Themed Table from North Carolina

I'm sharing a post from our place in 

North Carolina. September is all about apples

 and that's the theme I went with last 

September for the table during our stay.  

The centerpiece is my rectangular wooden
 bowl filled with wood apples and pinecones. 

The placemats are reversible, plaid on one
side and fruit on the other,
by Longaberger. 

Cherry Plaid placemat side with matching
plaid napkins.

Harvest Fruit side of the placemats.

Ivory Longaberger pottery and ruby glass
bowls are from Old Time Pottery. Hammered
 flatware by Cambridge bought at JCP.

Wooden apple napkin rings gather the napkin.

Ivory pottery tray on a wrought iron stand, 

also by Longaberger hold an assortment of
antique glass pitchers with tin lids and
pottery creamers used to warm syrup at breakfast. 

I remove the lids to warm the syrup in  the microwave.

Apple basket salt and pepper set are thrift store finds.

The tea pot is from Pottery Barn, but I found
 it at Faith Farm Thrift Store. The jar is filled
 with Bigelow's Apple & Spice Herb tea and
I topped it with a scrap of fabric and
 tied it with raffia.

It all sits inside a pottery apple shaped baker. 

 I bought it at a Montana craft fair and use it 

when I make apple cobbler.

There's even a recipe printed on the bottom.
Recipe HERE.

When I'm not using it, it hangs from a leather
strap on a wall hook by the top of the fridge.
Decorative storage.

Getting in the mood for FALL!

Cheers!

Links: Between Naps on The Porch,
The Girl Creative, The Charm of Home,
French Country Cottage, The Tablescaper,
My Romantic Home, No Minimalist Here

Vintage Wire Market Cart

I'm going to start using this more.
It's a wonderful old wire market grocery cart
 that's  perfect to bring on a weekend
flea market or picnic. I can tote all my
goodies to the park in vintage style.
I love its shabby blue handle. It's collapsible
and measures 11'x 15" x 37" when open.

Lucy agrees.

It's a shame to keep it in the garage 

where it's shabbiness isn't appreciated. 

First she needed to check it out.

I can fill it with afghans, or pillows,

or later, Christmas tree branches with

 a tied on big red bow. I really

 need to start using this more

My Mom had one of these and used it

when we lived only a block away from a

neighborhood grocery store. 

Here I am the day I bought it to help haul all

 my finds from the Canton, TX  Market Days.

 I must have been too hot and tired to miss

that cute pink bike in the booth on the right.

Cheers!

Tips: Facebook,
 Under The Table and Dreaming,
The Tablescaper, Coastal Charm,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Confessions of a Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style

Painted Cottage Stairs

The cheapest makeover for ugly, dated, 

carpeted stairs is to just paint them.

After painting.

We're fixing up another rental house

on a tight budget.

Before painting.

Larry ripped out the carpet and pad 

and pried off the strips. The wood was in 

bad shape and needed sanding, caulking, 

and lots of wood putty. Definitely not 

good enough for staining. I wanted the look

of wood stairs and didn't want the expense

of re-carpeting, so why not try to 

just paint them and see how it looks.

I love them!

After

Not perfect, but a big improvement in my

opinion. And the price was right!

Before

After

The risers are painted semi gloss white

and the treads are painted in semi gloss

dark brown. Believe it or not, I found a

 quart of the brown paint in my garage.

Paint I had bought years ago for

another project that never got off the 

ground. So good thing I remembered.

Didn't even need to buy the paint!

Before

I hate to keep making you look at the 

ugly mauve carpet on the stairs.

After

But that's the only way you'll appreciate

this budget transformation.

Yup! Just paint. 

Letting it cure before the second coat.

But I couldn't wait to show you!

Cheers!

Links: Under The Table and Dreaming,
The Tablescaper, Common Ground,
Between Naps on the Porch,
Confessions Of A Plate Addict,
A Stroll Thru Life, Finding Fabulous,
My Romantic Home, Miss Mustard Seed,
French Country Cottage,
The Charm Of Home, Stone Gable,
The Shabby Creek Cottage,
The Girl Creative, No Minimalist Here,
Domestically Speaking, Savvy Southern Style

Paint: Behr Premium Plus
Semi Gloss Enamel
Brown Eyes (S-G-740)~ Deep Base ((3300)

Crystal Ball Paperweight Collection

I thought I'd show you my collection of crystal

 ball paperweights. Years ago I would pick up 

a ball whenever I found one for a good price. 

They are on the sofa table in the living room

The tall stands I'm using were glass votive 

candle holders. I saved the stands after the 

glass votives they came with broke. 

Some have colorful flowers.

Millefiori glass paperweight
The deep designs are 3 dimensional.

 Each has a unique design.

This one is blue, green, and pink swirls.

The bubble clear crystal balls are on their

own brass stands.

 Some have cut prisms.

  I have lots of blue ones...of course.

 Once you buy one you start seeing them everywhere.

 Blue and white.

 They are very heavy. When I pack them 

away at Christmas I can barely 

lift the box!

 They come back out again in January and I 

appreciate them as if they were new.

Of course I can always use one as a 

pretty paperweight. 

 Pretty at night with the Waterford

 lamps turned on.

I sometimes gather several and display them

on a silver tray under a cloche.

That's how these collections start, 

one ball at a time.

Cheers!

Links: Stone Gable,
No  Minimalist Here, Common Ground,
Savvy Southern Style
Between Naps On The Porch,
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home, The Tablescaper,
My Romantic Home