nudging the chaos, smoothing the heap

I am a thrifter. I like finding the deals on pretty things. I also like the rescuing of things, giving new life, loving worn well-used things, saving from the trash heap. So it goes, also, with the garden. I pay full retail for the food we grow, and the hardscaping. (And a chunk of our […]

the details begin:

Bench No. 1: hand-painted shading… It’s subtle. The spray paint was selected for the previous solar chandeliar project. It was picked as neighbor colors for acrylic enamel we have on hand from painting the interior rooms of the Cattywampus Cottage. Typically, I start with the spray base coat, which prohibits further rusting and seals the […]

3-in-1 garden project update:

With the week off from work, things are moving well on garden projects. Painting the benches has sped along, and I made the opportunity to spray metal wall hangings I’ve been gathering for fence panels for the flower beds. Both spray painting projects lead to a third: I cut some canvas panels for dropcloths to […]

bench project, phase 1:

Yesterday, I started into the bench project, cleaning off dirt, rust and cobwebs, cutting off rusted nuts and bolts… I removed the wood trim and inlays on the fancy bench: next step: wood hardener and likely filler I cut “dropcloths” for spraying. This is for an experiment to make my own textile print for the […]

score for a garden project

FB Marketplace actually paid out today. I have been looking to gather more seating for the garden. Of course, I want things that are old and hefty and beat-up and gorgeously worn-out. And I found them in one lump sum. They were enough of a deal that the replacement lumber shouldn’t hurt too terribly much. […]

today’s project:

I finished and planted a bed I started at the beginning of the month. It is across from the okra bed in front of the sitting patio on the far side of the garden. I began before the heat of the day, weeding, digging, adding topsoil, and setting border stones, gravel and pavers. I took […]

now with additional seating

During my staycation this week, I’ve been breaking down garden projects into two hour sessions, avoiding the high heat and stopping often to cool off and rehydrate. So far, the biggest impact has been a new seating area near the future okra/asparagus bed. I’m adding solar lights to the umbrella edge. The strands had enough […]

life should be art

At least, that’s the goal. This was a typical silver/grey patio table from Costco. I missed a few steps in the process, but that is my creating M.O. I’ve done the technique more subtly before, but I’m sticking with the palette established by the solar chandelier last year. The tie-dyed effect is created through lace […]

garden d’art

Last week, I had a great opportunity to add more furniture to the garden and support local art. A dear friend, Apryl completed and posted for sale the pieces seen below. My husband and I agreed instantly to bring the set home. Apryl and her man, Thom, delivered them this morning, and the set is […]

lawn care in high heat

This evening was overcast and in the mid-80s for the first time all week. And the only time, with a heat advisory through the weekend. So, I gassed up the Toro and cut the yard. It needed it. For all the drive I have to diminish the lawn and replace it food and flowers, cutting […]