A Southern Belle with Northern Roots/Junkflirt

 For years I have wanted to make one of these, Mostly just so I can say I did I guess. I love the natural look, however you can paint them to look more like real leaves.
 Materials needed
1 bag concrete mix
1- 2 40 lb bags of play sand
heavy plastic
large leaves- rhubarb, elephant ear, hosta etc
polyurethane
paint (opt)



 Begin by laying out plastic and then place one dome of sand for each leaf bath you will be doing. Make the dome around 4 inches in center and taper down at edges, next another layer of plastic and then lay your leaf over the dome, vein side up, as shown.




 Mix concrete according to package directions and lay atop leaf. Cover well and at about a 1 inch thickness again tapering to edge. Leave your edges about 3/8 inch for stability. Cover lightly with more plastic and let air dry for a day or two depending on temp and humidity. Turn over and remove leaf. You may need to use a brush or sharp pick of some sort to remove parts of leave, especially in deeper veins. Allow another day to dry.






 Cover with clear polyurethane. Wonderful home made garden art!

 Joining Funky Junk
WOW us Wednesdays
Outdoor Wednesdays





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 a garden photoshoot, with an amateur photographer (me) and a photo editor but.....can you find something in common here with these photos?








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Lovely lace wing

Summer!!! Full Swing. Today was great, not a "summer" day but my kind of summer day. Temps started in the 50's with sun and warmed to only the 70's. Perfect, not so much for the garden but with a heat wave of 90's on the way....I will take it! So I mowed, and painted a couple projects, and made some bird baths....you can see them if they turn out.

out of bed you daisy head

Yarrow....everywhere!

Marigolds

this baby bird sat on the hammock a few days ago, it was a hard day to learn to fly with winds in the 40 mph range, so he or she just kind of chilled here

Summer clouds.....oh the best!

New railing on the deck....did ya know I lived in a mobile home?

It seems only a few moments ago I was planting flowers ........

   And I know it will seem like only a few moments until I am showing y'all winter landscapes.
But for now...
I shall run barefoot, eat smores and watermelon.
I will complain about mosquitoes
I will pick fresh thyme and soon harvest beans and cabbages
 I will steep in Summer
 until the leaves turn.




Joining Outdoor Wednesday


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I found a couple old crates at a sale...actually I found several and only bought two...of which my husband gave me that ever present, what on earth do you need that for, look. I would have loved to tote them all home but....I settled for these.


Crusty dirty wood mixed with silver aahhhh,




Remember before blogging when we changed
"the stuff on the table, or counter when we were tired of it"
and now we
"provide seasonal vignettes for inspiration"


Well my dear husband thinks it is moving junk around. I think he may be right, but I love it.



Happy Vignette making. Perhaps we should make it a national holiday.


Silver Sunday
Table Top Tuesday
Funky Junk
Show and Tell Friday



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My great stack of vintage suitcases, all bought this year, at different sales  and curbs and I love them all and the many things I can do with them. Total price for all ...$9!!







I wonder where they have been?




And what they held.






 Perhaps His and Hers Vacations.






 Good for storage, displays and side tables old suitcases are a great collectible. Do you have any and how do you use yours?


See other suitcase vignettes here and here





Funky Junk
White Wednesday
Show Us Your Cottage Monday
Show and Tell Friday
Feathered Nest Friday






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 I usually walk the garden, every morning looking at what is growing and blooming. I have never walked it without Casey, she was always there, smiffing and searching. I would say
"should we check the garden?" and up she went to do her duty.
Today I am not going to walk the garden. Not yet.



 The 4th of July was her favorite, she loved smoke bombs. Rolling in them, collecting the smell she would be covered with dots of purple and yellow for days. This year she just stood by them it was too hard to roll around and get up again.








 Bottle rockets would launch and she would hover by, with us yelling move back! Anticipating that moment when it would shoot up ...she jumped and barked almost scolding each and every one. I don't know what she was thinking but she could do it for hours.






 July 5th was a long day. An awful day.
The appointment was at 2 pm so my husband took her for her last walk, she was very tired when she got home. We sat outside, brought her water to her, looked at the birds and waited.
Daddy went to get her some jerky, it was the only thing she ate that day. Even when we had lunch beside her she didn't ask for a bite. She laid on the floor the rest of the morning, never even wanting another drink or trip outside.
 At around 1 it became overwhelming. Grief set in, the 4 of us gathered for the drive.
It was a long silent drive.
Tears were many, and hearts were dripping with sadness.




 They were wonderful to us. So understanding and we all were beside her. Fear came upon her, she looked at me and then all life drained out of her. The vet said,
"Casey is gone." I looked at him, he had tears welling and wet cheeks.
Broken hearts were in that room.
You can know your doing what is right and it can still hurt like hell.



 The floor is too empty, she isn't laying there today.
We will miss her so much.


 Good bye sweet baby.  We love you.









blessings and thanks for visiting