Redeeming Rubbish

So there is the old adage "One man's trash is another man's treasure".

Well today we went treasure hunting!

I'm actually really happy with the outdoor set we redeemed from my in-laws farm.

When we arrived there was a gorgeous 3 week old Highland Calf,  as we drove slowly up the drive-way; it got up too feed.

Anyway, cute creatures aside, some soap and sewing, and a bit of DIY and the outdoor set will be right as rain. Its going to go on the deck area at the back of our section.

 Yes, we will have to take a short hike up there, but it will be so worth it! I'm thinking of doing some 'french transfer art' on it, which excites me beyond words, or waterproof  frill (country) covers, equally as endearing . I'll post some pictures, but to understand what I'm on about it's best to go another blogspot called the Graphics Fairy.



Basically you print off a graphic (ink jet)




A little technique & product ... & Voila!


There are a lot of amazing talented people out there and they are kind enough to let us glean from them. For now I cannot afford original french pieces, I have other priorities...but I can have fun making my own french inspired pieces. The wonderful thing is that the images from Graphic's Fairy vary, so there are cute labels, pictures art to suit different tastes.

I also finally picked up an old antique cabinet (for lack of better words). It has seen better days, but it makes a charming outdoor feature. It may suit being a cute garden station, we'll see. At the farm my baby boy had cuddles (and whinges) with Grandma, while my husband & I looked in the shed.
There were some very old books, one at least 127 years old! The previous owner  of the farm had left some bits and pieces. Including some old poultry crates, which I have my beady eyes on, hehe.

My Husband also fetched the rest of his drill set and he is so chuffed, ( gosh so am I, think of all the  things I can get him to do, hehe). So we left with oodles of things, amongst them my sewing pedal, I'm over the moon about this, but will have to share my intentions in another blog! My Mother-in-law also gave us a jar of lemon honey/curd, delicious!!! I will get her best recipe and share.

Very excited, as we are finally going to my Sister's house, YAY!
Hope your weekend has been blessed,

Storm.



Ill leave you with an all-time favourite quote :


“I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one’s neighbor-such is my idea of happiness. And then, on top of all that, you for a mate, and children, perhaps-what more can the heart of man desire?”

Leo Tolstoy

Necessity the Mother of Invention

If you're like me, you may like saving a buck or two. I like also get a thrill out of being creative.
At different stages of my life, I have  enjoyed sewing, painting, cooking and more recently gardening.
Another area, is looking after and creating a home. In some regards its easier when you own your own home -as you do have a little more freedom to knock things about and adjust them to your liking, but this also means you have to learn and acquire new skills. (If you rent -it's the land-lords problem :)

Painting is a good one to use as an example! It seems simple but there are still things you need to know in order to get reasonable results. Sanding down, establishing if  a primer is needed, knowing the properties of the paint you're using - as it may require different setting times or painting technique's. The importance of using tape for edges and  especially the art of 'cutting in'. It is worth all the effort & quite incredible how a room can transform in atmosphere, and appear bigger or smaller -just because a different colour has been applied.

Anyway, I digress... my project for today is transforming my nappy change-table into a chef trolley!
I just have never really formed a habit of using it to change the baby. It sits in the nursery and gathers stuff!

An idea of what my "cart" looks like.

Chef trolley's are dear. Alot of modern ones are metal. They can be appealing but I like that the change-table cum trolley  will  be in wood.  I do feel tempted to paint it white, ( my Husband would laugh, he thinks I want to paint everything white...mmm). I will play around with ideas a bit.  The top needs a wood or stone chopping board &  I cant decide whether to add that cute french frill curtain or charming country baskets. Either way, it's fun to get creative!  Below is a little inspiration;

A french country cart

I will be post picture's of the transformation, but they're subject to change :) I'm female it comes with the territory.

It does need a lots more re-arranging- but you get the idea.

Machinery, Family and Tests.

I thought  I would sort out a few storage problems. I don't recommend my  spontaneous attempt at DIY - to anyone! I rationalised it - it would be quick & simple...all I needed to do was saw off a bit of mahogany and some mdf and voila! No! I sawed it 3 or 4 times possibly 5, ( if not more) it wasn't simple.

The evidence!

Thank the sweet Lord, I used my initiative and a bit of boldness, the new neighbour is undergoing renovations...I waltzed over and asked if the builder would attend to my DIY blunder in his lunch break.  He sorted it! $20 later and we have room to add more storage. The truth was I used the wrong equipment think skill saw), and was way to quick to get stuck into it.  I need training, a night class, or something!
 I think Ive learnt my lesson- for now.

( Later on, my Husband was impressed and rather kind about it, I'm a lucky girl!)


We also had lunch across the road at our Auntie's Villa. Lovely!  My son was able to meet his great grandmother, and great uncle, we found them very doting.



Great Granny Joy, aptly named.


In our Auntie's 1917 Villa, there were many charming pieces of furniture, of note; an ornately hand carved coffee table - beautiful flowers, plants and ...bats!. She used to live in Singapore with her husband, and they would encounter bats on their walk home. She said it was a novel reminder of the time they had spent there, and I agree!

On coming home I received a call from my Husband with some unnerving news. However the problem was being (& is being) dealt with. The reason I even mention it is that I am so grateful for the Hand of my Heavenly Father, I am truly carried with every-thing I face, every test. Things in life may throw you, but in Him you always have a place to turn too, a person who is dependable, faithful to carry you, strengthen and love you!  (I was fortunate enough to have supportive, mature people around too!).

If you don't know God, and you are facing tough times, or even just feeling lonely, please know He wants to be there for you.

Godbless!

My Garden Experiment

                              Earth laughs in flowers. 

                                  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

So I'm new to gardening.
Last year I planted some flowers and they bloomed. It was glorious. All I had to do was nurture them,...spray for pests, weed, water & feed! My reward was living art. I guess gardening is like art, when you approach a canvas sometimes you can be hesitant, lack confidence... but once you dive in - the  'creative process'  allures & captivates you -it is both challenging and relaxing. So it may not turn out as well as you expected ... I remind myself that I haven't really  failed if Ive learnt something from the experience.  Yet most of the time there is something to show for your efforts!

This year I have taken on Roses, Wildflowers, and some other variety;( it has a scientific sounding name, and  I cant for the life of me, remember it!).
The other gardening venture is my vegetable plot.
I plodded off to the Organic Seed & Plant store. Reasonable prices and the plants were not heat treated, this I assume makes them hardier to the cool weather. Its only a hop, skip and a jump away from Darling Spring, but she is not quite here yet!

Anyway, I have been reading up and doing my homework, I confess in order to find easy hardy plants that give good results. I can give a few hours here & there but I have a house-hold to run, &  a baby to mind so - I'm looking for minimum input and maximum output :)

In "The Cook's Salad Garden", I read up on Mizuna and Mibuna. They are Oriental vegetables, and very versatile, in terms of cooking. They can be used in salads and soups, hot dishes, e.g casseroles.The awesome thing is that they are a very hardy plant, easy to cultivate and have all-year-round availability. Big Plus! At our local Organic Store Mizuna costs $2.50 for 6 well established seedlings. I also tried some other varieties that I hadnt even heard of but which are closely related to standard veg. I have always wanted to grow my own, its cheaper, it's fresher, you know what's going into it, and there will be a definite sense of achievement of providing for & nurturing your family.

Two other areas of interest...I am also looking forward to cultivating are more herbs, and edible flowers. Herbs are fragrant, delicious and even said to have medicinal properties.Thyme for example has antiseptic qualities and is good to drink for sore throats.  As for Edible flowers, well...they're just pretty!  Imagine the extra pizazz the flowers add to your dish when you entertain.

 I will post a picture of my veggie plot and other such experiments as they grow,bloom & produce. Maybe I can encourage you to go out there & give it a shot, if plants can survive a Storm -they can survive  almost anything!

(Just a subtle thought :)

Here are a few pic's:

*Excerpt from Health.Com

Mizuna
One of the mildest mustard greens, mizuna -- often found in mesclun mixes -- is high in immune-boosting vitamin C, folate and iron. It also contains powerful glucosinolates -- antioxidants linked to decreased cancer risk, says Tanya Zuckerbrot, R.D., author of "The F-Factor Diet." Cultivated in Japan since ancient times, mizuna brings an exotic, slightly spicy flavor to the table.

 

Some Crafty, Thrifty Thangs!

So bargain hunting is in the blood. My extended and immediate family had businesses in restoring & dealing in antiques. You have to have a nose for a bargain! 
I guess this fostered a love and appreciation for the old world furniture and  the old world charm.
Another inspiration, that still affects how I do life -was my Mother's  extraordinary gift of running a house-hold on a budget; we never lacked and ate healthily. Owning a large home, and two investment apartments at that time, we needed to live efficiently & we did!

I also learnt to live on a tight budget as a single Mother for at least 9-10 years. Going from full-time work to full-time study meant I had to often juggle. Admittedly sometimes things didn't go to plan! Anyway, I love the idea of living frugally, efficiently growing what you can, shopping smartly. Lets face it, some things are just going to be expensive and worth the expense, and others can be compromised. Example...swapping an expensive brand-label for a house-brand. Sometimes you will be surprised to find them much of the same, or better at a significantly cheaper price. (Pam's, Home-brand I dig you!)

Also if you shop at night, the bakery often has to put out items at reduced prices, (yum to gourmet bread and cheese and bacon rolls); had I bought them earlier in the day it would be for twice the price! I also freeze them for the guys lunches. The ultimate would be to bake them myself, Ive tried -just haven't mastered this yet!   Anyway, I was blessed by my Aunt, I received her old wall-hung French styled dish rack.  We will call it exhibit A, Ill post a pic of it first. Our kitchen is cosy, yes small, it needs a lot of attention, but a little imagination and it  will be oozing charm. It has things going for it, a Rimu floor, a mahogany bench. Anyway back to the French rack, for lack of better words, I love it!

I pop into the local demolition yard, now and again, for a squizz. They tear down beautiful old homes (sob) and bring the treasures there. Chandeliers, Kauri wall hangings, stain glass windows, garden trellis for real cheap :) ... the list goes on! On this particular day I saw two things that may not have normally caught my eye, except for the fact that they were a similar colour to my french rack. I scooped them up $5 a piece.  On bringing them home I realised they weren't that alike. My creative side stepped into to save the day, I had originally spotted wood craft from Spotlight,  and thought of applying it to my bedroom door. Why not use the same concept  to make the other pieces work together. I purchased them, along with wood-glue. I simply pasted it on, painted over it with matching paint, allowed it to dry. Then I sanded it down it down in different area's of the wood craft,(& the piece itself) to achieve the old worn look. I also worked in a a little brown paint very lightly to make it seem more rustic. I still have one more to do -but you can see how much of a difference it makes!  Hopefully I may have inspired you in some way. Have a blessed day.

Sowing Wild Flowers

Well, Sunday was fantastic. Church. The place your Spirit says "Ahhh, I'm home!".

Then we trundle back towards Helensville,  on the way stopping for a pie and  beef salad roll, (yum!) and set off  again. Only to share in some blissful domesticity. The Hubby winds down and studies countries in his Encyclopedia, I take photographs of my bonny baby boy.  Chilling and sipping on herbal tea and munching on biscuits, restful somewhat lazy sundays...mmm, good for the soul!

So it's Monday,.. how to turn a somewhat grey day into something a bit less ordinary...longing to get into that garden, there is a serious motivation to sow...WILD FLOWER'S! 

Apparently this takes a few weeks to establish. Oh, dear -I'm not a patient type. Since they are meant to be wild surely this wouldn't necessitate all this gruelling weeding & bed digging? Only one way to find out. I have a vision of picnicking on our little platform deck, wild flowers swaying gently in the wind, us eating glorious food, just surrounded in colour and the noises of nature. Sigh.

 The Hubstar has a drill for his birthday, yay! He doesn't know what this has got him into,he he. Fixing the deck and projects, projects, projects!

Anyway, Ill have to be off and will post some pics of our crazy back section and my delightful assistant, he has the important task of giving me plenty of gummy smiles for support.