Laundry Day!

Saturdays are usually laundry days around here.

The use of water is cheaper on the weekends.

It was the perfect day!

Gorgeous sunshine and a summery breeze.

My husband had just cut the grass.

Cut grass is one of the summer smells I enjoy.

Source

I remember watching Mom hanging up the clothes.

Everything had to hung in groups.

I still remember seeing all the cloth diapers on the line when my youngest brother was a baby.

(He's almost 48!)

They were all hung in a row.

Nothing different hung in between.

Source

When I was old enough to start hanging up the laundry,

I hung up whatever I saw next in the basket.

That was a huge NO NO!

All the socks had to be hung together, all the t-shirts, all the pants,

You get the idea.

A few years ago, the girls in my family went on a road trip to Strasburg PA.

Amish country.

We had a lovely time. Lots of shopping and good eating.

We saw the story of Joseph at the Sight and Sound Theatre.

I highly recommend you go if you get the chance.

We left on a Monday, and that is laundry day for the Amish.

The picture above is the best shot I could get as we were driving in the car.

But you can see all the towels are together.

They hung their laundry the same way my mother did.

Another one of my favourite summer smells,

 is the summery breezy smell as I crawl into my sheets at night.

I take a few deep inhales and enjoy the aroma.

That fragrance lasts for almost a week.

 

Do you get to enjoy that fragrance of fresh laundry hung outside?

Wishing you lots of summer goodness.

 

Blessings,

 

Sharing this post at these lovely parties:

Saturday Sparks
Roses of Inspiration
The Art of Homemaking
Wow Us Wednesdays
Home and Garden Thursday
Thursday Favourite Things Blog Hop
Treasure Hunt Thursday
What's It Wednesday
Grace at Home
Fridays Unfolded
Home Sweet Home
Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Lilacs in the Bathroom

Finally our lilacs are out here in Southern Ontario.

I've been seeing them on many blogs and was eagerly awaiting their arrival.

We have a large lilac bush in the front yard.

It smells heavenly.

Unfortunately, they don't last long.

So, I got the clippers out and started clipping.

I wanted to fully appreciate this flower while I could.

We recently had Marshall's come to town and this was one of my purchases.

I love the crackly look and that it looked like a coffee cup.

And the price.

$5.99 Cdn.

I had a fake green plant in here but I thought it would look pretty with lilacs in.

The opening of the pot is large so I put water in a smaller container,

which would also give the bouquet a more controlled look.

I decided to put it in the main floor bathroom.

It's a small two piece bathroom so it gets tricky when trying to decorate.

I've had a variety of tables and cabinets here, but when I

saw this corner table at an antique mall I grabbed it.

A perfect fit.

A natural air freshener!

Lilacs in the Bathroom.

I made a few more bouquets.

But, I'll show you those later.

I woke up with this scripture in my head yesterday so I thought I would share it with you.

A good way to start your week.

 

Blessings,

 

Sharing this post at these parties:

Make it Pretty Monday
Project Inspired
Inspire Me Tuesday
Treasure Box Tuesday
Tweak it Tuesday
What's It Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Share Your Cup Thursday

Using Vintage Graters in a Vignette



I've been admiring so many beautiful Spring and Easter creations,

 and I was planning to create a meaningful Easter vignette in my entranceway...

and then I got sick.

Yep.

I had the most awful sinus infection.

I was down for the count.

We didn't even visit family for Easter.

My husband was recovering from his bout with bronchitis.

It was just nasty.



But I'm all better now!

 I've been rearranging all weekend, so I'll have more pictures to share soon.

I bought some flowers. Three different stems to create a simple wildflower look.

Very inexpensive.

That was the first piece.

I don't know about you, but I can spend a very long time deciding on a vignette.

I mean, a loooooong time!

This is one of my weaknesses.

Indecisive.

I came across these rusty graters when I was looking for something else.

I like the look with the tea lights shining through.

When I saw this idea, I kept my eyes open for three different old graters.

Rusty graters sitting in a rustic wooden tray.

 

In keeping with Spring, I added this white bird that I just bought.

It was going to be a part of a vignette in my entrance way.

Beauty and Light

I've had the little church for quite awhile.

Back from my country days.

It's been everywhere! I don't think I'll ever get rid of it.

I have scented tea lights lit here, but you could use the battery operated tea lights.

It adds a cozy warm look to the kitchen.

Cozy always makes my heart smile.

A nice mix of different materials.

Glass, tin, ceramic, wood, and a white lace doily.

Here's a mix of the feline kind.

They make me smile too.

 

Have a blessed week!

 

Sharing this at:
The Art of Homemaking at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth
Sharing in His Beauty at The Beauty in His Grip
The Scoop
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings the Heart of your Home
Project Inspired
Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
DIY by Design
A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Share Your Style
Imparting Grace
From My Front Porch to Yours
Lamberts Lately
Fridays Unfolded
Pieced Pastimes
Finding Silver Pennies
Sew Many Ways
Thoughts from Alice

Peace and Plenty

I have wanted to change up our entrance way for a long time.

I just didn't know what I wanted to do.

I invited some friends for dinner next weekend and of course that is always the kick in the pants to get moving for me (maybe you too!).

 

I don't usually decorate for Autumn but I thought it might help me organize how to set up a vignette.

It doesn't matter what I had there before because it wasn't pretty.

I got an old singer sewing cabinet and machine from my mother in law, so after some rearranging,

 I put my other sewing cabinet in the entrance way.

This is the extent of the "Fall" decorating items I have.

I put them all together to see when we come and when we go.

I bought these mini pumpkins a few years ago on sale during the Christmas season.

I only got them because they were so cheap.

These golden fake leaves were purchased at the dollar store.

I love the old jugs.

The white ceramic pumpkin was purchased last year at the grocery store.

I love my country church but I'm thinking of changing the colour of the roof.

I put an old footstool underneath with a bowl of pears to represent the Fall bounty.

The wooden shoes needed a spot and they represent footwear for the rain and mud

(my uncle still wears them in the Netherlands).

This was my very first chalkboard project.

Amazing Grace is appropriate for any season, but when I get a chance I'll change it to Fall Blessings.

I bought some cute little signs several years ago at a craft show

 and thought this was perfect for this season.

Peace and Plenty.

It's amazing what a little bit of pretty does for your soul.

When I come home from work after a long day this will be the first thing I will see.

Ahhhh!

 

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Southern Ontario.

Here is my prayer for you today.

 

 

Blessings,

 

 

Linking to these parties

Finding Silver Pennies
Nifty Thrifty Things
Amaze me Monday at Dwellings-The heart of your home 

The art of homemaking Momdays at Strangers and Pilgrims on earth 

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House 

 

 

 

Kitchen Table Centrepiece

I hope you are staying warm and cozy inside while the snow is blowing outside. We are definitely getting our winter season this year! Being inside gives me opportunity to create. Recently I put together a centrepiece for my kitchen table. Bit by bit it came together. I like that part. I'll start by showing you the centerpiece and then explain how it got put together.

 

 

 I came across a tutorial to paint plastic fruit black and cover with cinnamon. So off to the thrift store I went and there was lots to find. I didn't take any pictures of the plastic fruit but you know what they look like! I just used regular black paint that you find in the craft store. Make sure you have a plastic table cloth to work on because it gets messy! Once you've painted the fruit it helps to rest it on something that will best prevent the paint from peeling off once it's dry.  One suggestion was to rest the painted fruit on an ice cube tray (I had some old ones laying around or you may come up with a more clever idea!)

 

 

When the fruit is dry (don't worry about the couple of spots that have the paint smudged off because the cinnamon will help to cover them), apply a coat of modge podge (you'll get nice and sticky!).

I sprinkled the cinnamon on and used a foam brush to help spread it around. You could use a container that you would put powdered icing sugar in. (Don't know why I think of that when I was doing this!) Again you'll be using the ice cube trays to let the cinnamon covered fruit dry.



They smell oh so good!!

 

 

When the fruit was done, I put a doilie in the wooden crate and put the fruit in. On either side I put a candle stick that I had painted in a linen colour. The tablecloth was a single curtain panel that I was going to make pillows out of but then got the good idea to use it as a table cloth. I also found a burlap type runner and put that on top. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make something for your home. I didn't have this in mind when I painted the candlestcks or the fruit, but that is the fun part of creating. It always has a way of coming together.
Aren't you glad that God knew what His plan for you was when He created you?!! There is such a comfort in knowing that. Be the person that God made you to be and that is how you show the glory of God to others!
Blessings, Diane