Turn me loose Bruce...this girl's got to juice.

 Like many, with the coming of a New Year, plans are made to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle.   My hubby dear and I needed to make some changes to ours so we  started juicing everyday.  We figured that if Jack Lalanne lived to be 96 that it certainly wasn't going to hurt us.  However, it did take the Mr. a while to move past the green without hurling reflexes.

  Today it seems that we can't miss a day without our green delicious concoction.  We feel so much better and while that is certainly a perk  juicing can be expensive!  We start our morning with a blend of  Swiss Chard, spinach, peppers, carrots and an apple.  Swiss Chard rings up at $3.99 a small bunch and if you are using organic vegetables and fruits this will increase you grocery bill by at least an extra $30,  but with all of the  health benefits of juicing it is certainly  better to use that $30 for fruits and vegetable than for medicine.

 One night while watching the movie " It's Complicated," the light bulb came on as to what I could do to remedy the expense of juicing.   I was blown away by the cottage garden in this scene.  My creative little mind and the dreams began, staring in this scene, my own sweet dream maker, Hubby dear or as he refers to himself my yard monkey!

 I am quite certain that the name of the movie played over and over again in his mind but that didn't stop him.   He was on a mission and he wasn't stopping until our own cottage garden was complete.

 A few blisters and a sore back later the plot was established and now it was time for the raised beds.

 A few splinters and a some dirty knees later and they were complete.

  The joyful time of planting had arrived.  It was even fun finding garden decor which my weekend hunt to a few garage sales turned up a concrete garden bench and a statuary and a watering can.

 We added yet one more box and this one is  planted only with Swiss Chard and carrots.  

 I found this picture of exactly what we are hoping for and that is  lots of help  and a beautiful flourishing garden,

 with lots of vegetables to make our wonderful delicious green drink.  Which now as we consider the cost of the garden our drink costs  us about $ 30 a glass.  

PS.  I thought about joining the The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday party .  ha ha.

Winter Dreams of Spring

   Let me lure you into the garden.   With all of the winter snow that has been blowing I am sure that it won't take too much of a twist to your arm to get you to go with me.  I would even guess that some of you are already experiencing nice fireside moments with stacks of garden books, seed catalogs and magazines by your side and if you are really lucky you might actually drift off to sleep at night with winter dreams of spring.

 Perhaps you have already been to my friend's garden.  As you can see her name is Carolyn Aiken and she has a wonderful blog called Aiken House and Garden.  Carolyn lives on Prince Edward Island and each week she shares some of  the most beautiful photography I think I have ever seen.  Her blog has  become a soothing balm for many of us as we put on the tea kettle and drink deeply from her steady pour of beauty.  She shares her lovely gardens, family, her beautiful home, tea parties and recipes but more than that she has become the sweet face icon that many of us love to see in our comment column as we experience her words of encouragement and kindness.  I heard once that, "One is closer to God in the Garden," and I would have to say that He has certainly rubbed off on my friend!  I am quite certain that He has guided her hands as she assisted Him in creating the wonders of her very own incredible Garden of Eden.

 I love to look at all her mosaic style pictures.  In fact I actually study them.  Some days her blog is my only stop for inspiration.    I think from this collection we can see that she has had a little help in her garden.
This I believe is her husband and  childhood sweetheart.  They say that behind every good man is a woman but I would like to add to that that behind every good woman with a beautiful garden there is a good man with a shovel a strong back!   So, thank you Mr. A.

I hope that you have enjoyed this time in my friend's garden. Go back often, brush off a snow covered bench and breathe in the inspiration of this beautiful place and remember the words to this beautiful song,  "Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose."

A Few Days Before Christmas and All Through the House

Several days before Christmas, in a lonely big house.

Not too many days after I'd hung this little mouse.

No cookies were baking....

No carmels to wrap.

Basically I was feeling a little like ....

The kids were all scattered 

No one coming home

It looked like our memories 

would be made on the phone.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

but a bundle of joy that this Grandmother holds dear.

Perfect little fingers and perfect little toes

Awaiting to be wrapped in pretty little clothes.

Grabbing my camera, making several flashes

Poor little one saw spots through those pretty eye lashes.

She's precious, she's wonderful and we are so blessed.

So thank you Dear Santa

I think your the best.

Decking the Halls at the Shabby Old House...in stages

 Last week I spent most of my time up and down a ladder, in and out of boxes, but mostly on the floor and if you know anything about old houses, the floors are cold!   I have to do things in stages at the old house.  Right now we are in transition between a house in Florida and the old girl but with each trip up I try to plan to accomplish at least one thing and praying as we travel there that I have not forgotten to bring all that I need.   This week I was on a mission to get some curtains made.

 I have and will most likely always have to do this in stages when it comes to these windows.  With 4 windows in the living room requiring 8 yards of fabric,  having it done and the expense was just out of the question.  So the first thing I did to cover the window was buy the lining.  This worked at  $6 a yard and a JoAnn's coupon.  So up the lining went and I must say just having them on the windows made a huge difference in the warmth of the room.   Then for their Veterans Day sale JoAnns had a wonderful sale at 50% off on their special already discounted fabric.   I drove all over Tampa to get the 32 yards that I would need to make the curtains.  I couldn't wait to get started on my project even if it did mean a cold cold fanny.  

I have done as much bending and stretching and step climbing as if I had gone to the gym.  Up the ladder and down came the linings and away I went stretching and bending myself all over the floor. I was on a mission and a sore back wasn't going to stop me.  

 Back up the ladder and onto the window they went.   My husband is a very, very, very, wonderful man for all the help he does around this old house.  I am blessed.  However, you can imagine how his eyes rolled back in his head as I told him we still were not finished with the curtains.   I am waiting for the trim now to go on sale and saving the money to get it.   Have you priced trim lately?   You just have to love the coupons and a great sale!

The savings plan starts once again, not only for the trim but for the 12 foot tree that I would like to grace the middle of the room next year.  The very best thing that could happen and believe me I am looking, is for someone to have a garage sale and have the tree and old curtains with the trim.  Wouldn't that just be awesome!  It could happen and believe me I will be looking.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  May all your projects be complete I hope you get all your holiday wishes at half price!  

 Please join all of the girls today for this wonderful Decking the Halls linky party hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.  

94th Metamorphosis Monday

Today I jumped into the Metamorphosis Monday Party with Susan from Between Naps on the Porch. However I joined under my other blog Lace and Lures. That blog is about my life in Florida and the Shabby Old House is the old Victorian House we are renovating in Alabama. It had been awhile since I posted from Lace and Lures and so I decided a post was due. However, when I make comments to the girls participating in the BNOTP linky party, the comments appear to be coming from One Shabby Old House. Does anyone know how to switch that? Anyway, long story short, you can see my Metamorphosis here or you can see it there but I do hope that you see it. lol

I think this would make a great changing table if I had added sides.

One man's trash another man's treasure

It sold very quickly. I love it when that happens!

White Wednesday at Posh on Palm

I am joining Kathleen of Faded Charm for White Wednesday and wanted to share something white that I have been dreaming of. Would you look at this beautiful white sofa! This is the sofa that I have been dreaming of.

It's one of Susie Holts of Posh on Palms creations.

I think it if fabulous.

Of course it would have to have several of these beautiful pillows covering it.

This slipcover is like a wedding dress for a simple sofa.

Just look at the lace, cut lace and ruffle.

Now if I could just get the Mister to say "I DO" to it.

I think it would be the perfect marriage for the Shabby Old House.

Wishing you a wonderful White Wednesday.

Sweet Inspiration

It has been awhile hasn't it? It's not that I haven't been around, as I have, looking here and there, dipping in and out, reading this and that being inspired by those of you who are the fabric of my sweet cozy comforter called blogland.

I don't know why I have been away so long from posting.

I have enjoyed many friendships that I have found here.

And Lord knows my camera card is loaded with so many wonderful pictures to share.

This is just a sweet taste of what is to follow.

You may recognized this wonderful place as what was once known as the Cat's Meow but now is Posh on Palm and owned by Mark and Susie Holt located in Sarasota FL.

This is always the place I run to when I need to surround myself with beauty as the posts to follow will prove. This is also the place that I will study carefully as I get ready to decorate the Shabby Old House for Christmas.

So join me once again and let's get reacquainted.

I've missed you!

Yes Honey...let's clean the garage!

We have one of those garages that is packed with wonderful things that I have collected over time.

When opening my garage door and peering in, few people would see the potential of all the bits and pieces that I have collected. In fact you might just say that I am way over due for a garage sale or a clean out. But I know the treasures that are there and the creations that can be made.
This weekend my wonderful Metamorphosis man worked on a this project.
From a wood pile and these old pieces of discards he made this:

Afterwards, I was thrilled with our new potting bench. Or as my pregnant daughter-in-law and I thought about it...a wonderful changing table.

See the flowers in the window. Funny story, a bit sad one day a few years back however. I had a great little table. It had a round glass top that sat on 3 wonderful metal flowers. As I mentioned...I had a table, until son backed over it with the riding lawn mower. It was smashed flat.
I kept trying to get it to bend back to it's original state with no luck. I couldn't throw it away. No matter how many times hubby dear asked that I would I kept saying not yet. He finally gave up. lol
I am so glad now, as I love it!

Just this weekend I got the old flowerpot holder for .25cents at an estate sale. Funny story behind that too. There was a gal at the sale that was throwing a fit because the estate sale people had sold several items the night before. She brought the items back all in a tizzy and made a rude comment and left demanding her money back and as she left I said to the lady....I would like that please. :)

Another delightful discovery was the yellow under the window as hubby distressed it. It caused us to add the yellow to the rest of the potting bench. The yellow tin on the top, I flattened by backing the truck over it. It flattened just perfectly and then hubby cut the spindle in two and added it to the legs.
All in all I think it is a wonderful metamorphosis don't you?
Have a great time looking at all the other transformations out there today by joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Just click on the butterfly on my sidebar and if you would like to see a White Wednesday post then click on my Lace and Lures blog.

Hugs
Becky

Rachael Ashwell's Shabby Chic Couture....and my Dreamboard

As I promised, I wanted to show you the beauty that I found inside Rachael Ashwell's new London shop. This wonderful, and as she called it, a Mushsy chair, was one of my very favorite pieces of furniture. The fabric is glorious and of course I had to take a sample away to put on my "DREAM BOARD," as it truly would be a dream to find this wonderful Mushy chair in my Shabby Old House.

I have never had a dreamboard before and I must say that creating one has been so much fun. That too was Rachel inspired. I can see now why this works. I am making one for the Shabby Old House, for my shop space and for my garden and flowerbeds. I may just fill up a wall with Dreams. Do you have a Dream Board?

I think everyone needs a pillow like this, don't you?

One of the fun things about going to a brand new store is seeing the wonderful new merchandise and of course it was so Shabby Chic Beautiful!

Look at this glorious tablecloth. I want it...I want it...I want it!!! Back to the dreamboard!

Thank you Rachael, for not giving up on your Dreams. You have been an inspiration to so many of us and by the way....did I spell Mushy right?
Hugs
Becky

Rachael Ashwell Opens New Shop in London

I've been to London to visit the Queen, Queen of Shabby Chic that is. Rachel Ashwell.
As mentioned in my previous post, Rachel Ashwell has been a big influence in my life.

What I didn't tell you was that I was actually going to be able to meet her.
This month found my husband traveling to London on business and the beauty of his business is that I get to go along on some of his trips. It just so happened that the trip lined up perfectly with Rachel's Grand Opening of her new shop in London and there was going to be a party.

This lovely lady, dressed in a pretty vintage prom dress, greeted us with champagne.

Floating down the stairs to speak to her guests, our gracious hostess took time to warmly greet each one of us.

Her shop was filled with many well wishers so I couldn't really get pictures of how beautiful everything was inside. But that was fine with me. It just meant another trip back and she encouraged me to do so as she would be there for the next week or so. I couldn't think of a better place to come while hubby was working and I couldn't think of anyone else in London that I wanted to spend time with except the Queen. And so I did!