Ahhhhhh the smell of REAL Spring!!!! Had the windows open again today. Fresh air and birds singing. Loving it!!!! I worked on the front yard Saturday to get the beds ready for flowers and I started to add some of my architectural features to the garden as well.  Thought I would share a little of the progress to the full summer garden.


Put some fresh white paint on some of my garden clay pots for the potting table decor.

Got my bike painted blue for out in the garden.  I  think I am going with a white, blue and yellow theme out front this year.

I can't wait to put flowers in that sweet bike basket and hopefully find another basket for flowers for the back fender of this bike too.  My beds are ready.  It doesnot look like it now but I do have a lot of flowering bushy flowers that will come up around the bike.  Hopefully soon they will start to fill in.




Getting ready for flowers out around my tree in the front yard.  Oh I can't wait to get my hands in that dirt and start to put flowers in!!!

My little cherub bird bath is ready for some pretty flowers too.

Looks a little plain right now but soon I will have lot's of flowers.


This is probably my most favorite architectural piece I have for the garden.  An old chippy door painted with birds and cottage nests and then an old chippy flower box attached. Can't wait to fill that with pretty flowers and greenery.

Made an blue and white cottage wreath.

Found these cute garden boots at Menards. Loved the blue color.

Yep I am thinking I like the summer house sign on this old fence.




I found this summer house sign at Home Goods.  Loved this sign. I tried it out on the potting table too but I think I like it better on the fence.

Well this was a sneak preview of the garden to come.  I was so excited that we are having such pretty weather finally to start to plan out the garden.
Hopeful this week end to start the planting and maybe work on the deck and backyard too.
Have a great week.  Hope you are having beautiful weather where you are.
Kris
:)

It feels like Spring here in Chicago Land!!!! Wooooo Hooooo I have the windows open and the birds are singing and I even heard the hubby run the lawn mower.  Soooooo Excited to hear those things and smell the fresh air.

I did some Spring cleaning in my office today and I thought I would show you some pictures.  Then I am off to the yard to start to get some of my stuff set up for flowers hopefully in a few weeks.

Have a beautiful day!!! Hope you are enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.



I got this chippy stair post from Grays Lake Flea Market a few weeks ago from Jeanine at her Chippy Shabby Booth.  I fell in love with this piece the minute I set eyes on it.  I brought it home not knowing what I would do with it but it was so chippy and calling to me.
I was thinking outside in the garden somewhere this summer and then it hit me!!!! I have been trying to section off my office in the back of the house from the dining room and I think this is perfect.   I was thinking about some kind of old doors and making a wall as a divider but that would really cut off my light so I think this little chippy rail does the trick.

This space in the back of the house was all closed off and a closet when we moved in.  I hated that it cut off the light of that window and I did not want to take up one of my small bedrooms to make an office so this space seemed perfect for my office.  It is bright and open.



Remember that old kitchen cabinet I got out of an old 100 year old tear down.  I love it in my office for storage.  You know how I love to re love things back into my home.

My little storage bins are perfect to keep all my magazines and decor books.

I love an old gate and this one works perfect above my desk for hanging my "junk" on!!

I loved this old vintage desk that a bought a long time ago at an estate sale and it was chippy  for that time worn look.

Now I feel like just adding the stair rail gives the room some division from the rest of the space.  I still cannot believe that space was a closet at one time.  Too ugly and blocked the window.  I think it makes a better office.

I spruced up the old mantel area.  I also got this chippy fun old window from Jeanine at Grays Lake Flea.  I had the hubby hang it for me in between the mantel opening.  I think it brings some character to that open space.  Don't you love the old architectural feature of the wood inside the window.


Spruced up the table setting on the dining room table.

Even added some more spring to the bike.  Moved my wellies and garden hat to the bike.  Just feels a little more spring like now.

Well I am off to the outside.  Wow it was great to hear the lawn mower going today.  I love the smell of fresh cut grass!!!! I will post my outside spruce up soon.  Have a great week end.
Kris
:)








Sharing with the lovely Pamela at Treasure Hunt Thursday
http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com

Also sharing with Debra @ Be inspired Friday
http://www.commonground-do.com

Also sharing with Jennifer's Fabulously Creative Friday
http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/

Also sharing at Sweet and Simple Fridays
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/

Sharing with Funky Junk Interiors @ Party Junk
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net

Sharing at Katherine's Blog Hop Thursdays Favorite Things http://katherinescorner.com

Sharing with Patti and Paula on What's it Wednesdays @
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/


Good Morning. Wednesday the half way mark of the week!!! I spent yesterday moving my youngest daughter into her new digs. Man I am getting to old for this stuff!!  Every one of my muscles are feeling it today.

I have two daughters and my youngest (25 years old hey!! when did that happen?!!!) just landed a great job as an RN on an oncology floor so she has been temporarily living with us until she got settled into her new job and could find a cute apartment to move into. So for the past months she has lived back home with us and I have loved having her home.  It is hard when your adult children move back in especially for them but we all knew it was temporary and I have loved having her here. Our empty nest was full for a little while.

Now that she has moved into her own digs I am contemplating what to do with my guest bedroom.  I cleared a lot of the lake cottage theme out while my daughter was living in there so she could feel like she had her own space.  Now I am not sure if I want to change it back to a Lake Room or do something different in there.    I would rather be doing projects outside but with our crummy weather I guess I will redo the guest room.

Here are some pics of how it looks now.  My daughter took her tempur pedic bed out with her so now I need to find a new bed.

Not sure what I will do in there yet??? Lake theme or no lake theme?


One sure thing is my beautiful angel hanging on the old chippy door will stay.  She keeps good watch over our guests.

Old chippy door.  I may convert that door into a headboard.

My lakeside cottage rental sign and the hole in between the suitcases and sign was where my daughters TV was.

Thinking of maybe relocating the old garden gate somewhere else and maybe even painting it.

I think my old farmhouse mailbox will stay no matter what motif I decide to do in there.  Love that old chippy mail box. Such character.

PS..... I wanted to show you the bike I scored at Junk Bonanza last week.  I am in the process of painting this for my garden.  I can't wait to fill her basket with some lovely flowers this summer.

Well my friends.  I am off to Home Goods to see if a bed set from there might inspire me to which direction to go with the guest room.
I asked the hubby to Spackle where I take the stuff down off the walls today so not sure if I will paint the same color or change.
Stay tuned!!!!
Have a great rest of the week.
Kris
:)


I have to give a little shout out to Sara at Sweet Magnolia Farms. She makes the cutest stuff as some of you know from her lovely farmer's market tote that she gave to me for my giveaway.  Everything she does is done with such love and talent.  If you have not seen her blog or this wonderful giveaway you must jump over that and enter and check out her lovely blog and Etsy shop.  I am so lovin this ball jar give away.  She has more than one way to get a chance to get in on this one it is a good one!!!!!

http://sweetmagnoliasfarm.blogspot.com/











Good Luck.  It is a sweet giveaway.
Have a great week.
Kris
:)


Hello Blog Friends.  I am so happy to be home but so sad to leave Junk Bonanza in Minnesota!!!! We girls had a blast on our Junk Love Trip.  I know a lot of you wanted to see pictures from the show so I tried to snap a few in between shopping the treasures!!!!

Get a cup of coffee or ice tea or diet coke there are a lot of pictures.  Sit back and enjoy.


This is all of us as we were waiting to go in for the early bird entrance.  Early Bird at Junk Bonanza is Thursday morning from 8 am to 10 am when it is not open to the public yet.  So the four of us and about 300 of our closest friends!!! got to shop inside before it opened to the public at 10 am.  Starting from left to right.  My friend Sandy, myself, my daughter Jen and her friend Cindy.  No judgements on the hair we were up at 5:30 am and it was hail, wind and snowing all at one time when we arrived.  Not a good hair day!!!!!!

This vendor had so much yummy chippy goodness. I could not stand it.  Her architectural pieces were to die for.  Look at those old Church windows!!!! Oh my!!!!

I was trying to figure out what I could do with this sweet little piece and while I was admiring this lovely treasure someone bought her!!! You have to be quick on the cute ones.

More of the sweet salvage chic booth.  I have to say all her pieces were so amazing.  I was in chippy heaven.

This old organ came out of the same church as the windows.  Amazing and so beautiful.

Had to show you the old church windows one more time. I was in love with those sweet pieces of heaven.

I saw a lot of dress forms all dolled up for the show!!

Sweet vintage wedding dress.

Look at the sweet cowboy boots in white.  Chippy chippy everywhere in this booth.

Cowboy boots done in the sweetest colors.  They were a hot item at the show.

Cute blue boots.


Cute little vintage pillows.

Loved the Junk Love sign.  It certainly was junk love everywhere!!!

Lots of adorable dress forms.
Lot's of oh la la in this booth.

Loved this sweet Junk Office vignette.  Pretty little desk.

Then this vendor had oh my cute stuff galore. Don't you love their booth sign made from an old dodge truck and vintage cute letters.
What a sweet dress form decoupaged from old sheet music and that decoupaged vintage dresser decopaged from old vintage magazines and old sewing patterns.  If you had a cute sewing room wouldn't this be adorable.

Loved all these vintage camera's.

My daughter Jen found a vendor that sold the prettiest belt buckles.  My daughter is not a big fan of necklaces but likes to put some bling on her outfits for work so she thought these cute interchangeable belt buckles would be pretty and fun to wear.
This buckle was made with a lot of vintage jewelry pieces in black and silver and white. Sorry but the lighting when I took the pictures was not so great.  Take my word for it these were really pretty.  



Again hard to tell in the lighting but this one is made with vintage old charm bracelet pieces. It was adorable and so pretty.

I know some of you know I have a wonderful sock monkey named Midge and I love her so.  I had to snap a couple of these cuties I saw at the show. Vintage sock monkey couple.

Little princess sock monkey ready to party. She was super sweet. I almost got her but I knew Midge would be jealous if I brought her home.

Sweet  colorful Rooster hanger.

Another one of my favorite vendors. Chippy sweetness all around in her booth.

This lady just had funky fun stuff.

Yummy vintage whites everywhere.

Loved all her classic vintage treasures.

This vendor had some of the cutest birdhouses.

Another vintage dress form dressed for the occasion.

Loved the sweet perennial sign.

Hope of summer to come!!!!! Red chair too cute.

Lot's of beautiful transfer ware.

You know my love of a sweet bike. This one is a bicycle built for two!!!! How romantic and sweet is this bike.  I had to snap a picture of this cutie.  I did find a different sweet bike at the show to come home with me for the garden.  I can't wait to re love her with some paint and get flowers in her cute basket for out in my garden. Pictures of my new garden bike to come soon. (I hope!!! if this weather ever gets nice enough for flowers!)

Look at those great vintage lockers with the locks!!! Very vintage.  After I took this picture these little beauties were sold.

Some of the most beautiful jewelry at this show.

I was himming and hawing on this cute chair on top of this table and the table and chair set below her.  I really loved them both and before I made up my mind the chair and table and chairs were sold.  You see something you like you must act quickly.  Cute pillow sold too.

Cute totes made of vintage cloth.

I just loved this little collection of vintage chickens and roosters. They were so sweet.

Loved these vintage yellow garden chairs.

After spending the morning at the show we took a ride up to one of my favorite little shops called Ramshackled Treasures.  Yep that's right still snowing in Minnesota during April!!!!!! This shop despite the snow is as cute inside as outside.  Look at those cute vintage blue doors made into a gazabo. Super Sweet!!!!!

Cute inviting porch.  Even with the snow it was welcoming and adorable.  Found some cute treasures in this shop to take home.

We found the cutest little vintage 50's diner on our way up to Minnesota.  It was on the border of Wisconsin before we crossed into Minnesota.  This vintage 50's diner had the best food.  We had be bop hamburgers and Peggy Sue patty melts with the best fried cheese curds.  Yumtastic!!! Of course we had to have cheese curds we were in Wisconsin. I think it may even be a law you must eat cheese when in Wisconsin!!!!!

Well my blog friends I know this was a long post so thanks for hanging in there.  We had such a great time.  Great food, great company to travel with and great junk treasures.  Life was good these past three days. Despite the weather we had a fantastic trip.
Hope your week was good.
Kris
:)

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