Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tuesdays Treasures

On Sunday, in a yard working frenzy, while obviously light headed from the searing sun, and lack of water, I took it upon myself to remove this fence and huge shrub that has been here for the entire 18 years we have lived here, and beyond.
You can't see all of it in this photo.  It is the wood fence behind Greg.  It creates a blind from the backyard pool area to the patio seen here where we do our bbqing  and often eat in the summer.  I wanted it gone.  And now it is. 
I like this so much better.  That white table there is the one we use when cooking to set stuff on.   We would love to do a built in bbq and pizza oven back here.  So those three stumps from the huge shrub are all that is left, and I didn't have anything left in me to get those out too.  I will have my gardener remove them on Friday.  Now I can see Mr. G bbqing from the kitchen and can holler out to him, "how much longer?" like I always do.  Come to think of it, that might not be a good thing.  Maybe he mocks me and gives me the stink eye when I do that.  This fence being gone gives a much prettier view.  Now we just need a blind to hide the boat and side yard where we stack wood and brush we need to burn. 
Today after I dropped Noah off at school I ran into my favorite thrift and found this for 4.00.
It is a very heavy oak with casters on it.  I took it home, washed it up. Removed the cushion.  Gave it a light sand, then painted it in flat black. 
I recovered it with a piece of a very old 30's quilt I had purchased at an antique fair a long time ago. The quilt was in very bad shape, and didn't have many usable parts to it.  I actually don't much care for it now that I have it on there.  Too muted.  But I love the painted wood!  I will probably recover it when I find the right fabric to use.
  I also found this beautiful tray for 4 dollars.  I love this.  It is so pretty with the scalloped edges and cut out pieces.
 It has a nifty design. There is a piece on the back that you can slide one way to reveal the legs for standing the tray up, or you can slide it so that it locks the legs into place to use the tray flat as well.  It is a very pretty piece!  I know I will use this a lot!
That just makes me smile to look at it!  By the time Mr. G got home, I had made a complete mess of my sewing room, looking for the right remnant to cover my ottoman.  Then I decided Ducey, or "Old Smeller" as I often call him when he gets to needing a good scrubbing, could not wait another day for his bath and blow dry, and I started that at 6 p.m.!  So dinner was a quick omelet for Greg with Snacker's eggs.  Tomatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and cheese.

Mine was egg whites, with spinach, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms and feta cheese.  Delicious!  But not as pretty as Greg's.

And I leave you with a picture of "my girls" enjoying a breakfast treat of chopped apples.
They are all four getting along great.  Snacker got to come out to the grove for some free range bug hunting.  She hopped in my garden and got a bit of a squirt from the hose.  Naughty girl!  Genny and Hannah and Claire stopped by for a bit to visit.  Hannah and Claire picked oranges and played with Snacker while I visited with Gennifer.  
Oh...guess what I am getting next...............give up?
A goat!  I want to use her milk for making cheese and soap.  And she will do weed control for us in the orange grove so we don't have to use any weed killers and the hens can roam free range during the day.
Gennifer asked me if I was going to also let the hair underneath my arm pits grow long and flowing and buy a pair of Birkinstocks!!!  Ha-ha...funny girl!!
I am living my dream!
G'night from the farm.   Granny Goose is TiReD!!

21 comments:

Kristi said...

Oh man, I am loving, loving your yard! When I heard you were getting chickens, I googled them with my Mom one day when we were sitting in her backyard. I learned a few things!!

You definitely have the yard for the animals! Love the look with the shrub gone too!

Oh and those omelets, look amazing!

Genn said...

lol funny post.

So I walked right by that spot where the shrub used to be today. I looked at the stubs and thought huh, this looks different. and then one of the girls distracted me and I didn't even look twice at it. It looks good. Wow what a job to do that all yourself. Nice work.
I had an egg white omlette tonight too. Almost same as yours.

Holly said...

Wow! I'll bet you're sore after removing the fence and shrub. Glad you're happy with it, sometimes you just don't know until you do it. I'm sure the Mr. does not give you the stink eye. You did an awesome job on the ottoman too. Love the quilted top. Enjoy your chickies and those delicious looking eggs.

glor said...

Ny goodness, you've been one busy gal. Yard and pool looks wonderful. Great finds! I really need to start thrift store visiting, you're inspiring me to do that. Golly gee ... those omelets are talking to me. I can see them in my near future. Have a super day ... blessings.

Dawn said...

To bad your quilt was in such bad shape, but I love it on the stool. It's someones memories in that quilt, maybe it will grow on you with time. I see the chickens are getting on just fine. I also tried the goat thing for milk for soap, and found out one goat didn't produce enough, hope yours does better. Nothing better than goats milk soap:)

Heather - The Good Life said...

What a fun post, it makes me want to head to my favorite thrift store and treasure hunt. Your omelets look awesome and how cool that you get to use your own eggs. Can't wait to meet your goat! Have a great day Kris. :-)

Anonymous said...

Yay a goat!!! The kids will LOVE that! And by kids, I mean me & Genny & Drew hehehe

My mouth is watering at that omlette!!!

Debbie said...

WOW Kris, you have been soo busy! I love a project of any kind, but the one you did in your back yard with something that has been there for years is one of my fav. kinds. LOVE the new stool and tray too. What finds. And a goat?? Mel would be sooo jealous. She has been wanting one for a while now, haha...I asked her where she would have with all those cows, and she told me, "On the farm of course mom, NOT the dairy." She's hoping they build their house someday on the farm, not that dairy. Anyway, I am always soo impressed with all you do Kris, and then a nice blog post about it too! The omelets btw look WONDERFUL, both of them! Have a good day today too!

Bethany said...

Wow. That's a lot of work. I am really tired now just reading this :)
And I'm sitting here chuckling over the Birkenstocks and arm hair comment :)

Charlee said...

If you truly want a built in BBQ you can do it yourself my hubby did it here at our house ours has a sink, a fridge, and a warming tray included we bought all the stuff and he did the lines and built it. When its all cleaned up(weather has not been so nice here) I'll take some pics and post them its not as hard as it seems!

Janna said...

I was drooling over your thrift store finds, and then I saw that omelet! YUMMMMM.

Grammy Staffy said...

Dear Kris,
Where do you live in So. Cal? It looks pretty rural and so pretty. We live near Riverside. We only have 1 acre. We used to have chickens, rabbits and ducks but we don't any more. However, we do have a nice orchard that provides us with lots of good fruit. We have never had a goat but I think it is a good idea. A goat would surely help us with weed control.

What a good bargain shopper you are! The stool looks great after your redo and I love the little tray.What fun.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving me words of encouragement. I was really down recently.I couldn't keep back the tears because I felt like I couldn't face the pain and the long road to recovery any longer..

I asked God to help me find new strength to face my recovery with smiles. I believe that God answered that prayer though my sweet blog friend Linda from Behind my red door... and you.
When I woke up the next morning and I found that Linda had sent so many of her blog friends to cheer me up, I was amazed. My heart is really touched as I read the comments. How can I be sad when so many good people like you, who don't even know me, are praying for me and wishing me well.
I read and re-read the comments. They are an answer to my prayers. Thank you. You have helped me find my smile again.

I hope that you will drop by my blog again. I am happy to get to know you. Thank you for taking the time to brighten my day. Hugs, Lura

deb said...

ok now you are really killing me...a goat...seriously....I want to have a goat!!!!!!!!! you are living your dream and MINE too!!!!!

Pam said...

I love the new header... so pretty. Nicely done on ripping out the fence & hedge - you are a rock star. The new stool looks amazing, you are so talented. Lastly, the omelette looks FANTASTIC!

annielizabeth said...

I think you would be tired, Miss Goose! That's great you're getting a goat! Cheese and soap, sounds wonderful, can I come help? It looks great without the hedge. Mr. G looks waaaaay too nice to ever think those things, hee hee. Loved the hairy armpits and Birkenstocks, I lol'd on that one. Aw, just tell her you're gonna go into business making macrame plant hangers! Hey, I just sent you 2 emails. Enjoy! Annie

Sharon said...

Omgggg you are cracking me up. Next you'll be wearing overalls and have pig tails in your hair. lolol
Old McDonald has a farm.............EIEIO!!!

Debbiedoos said...

And then there was more LOL! WOW Kris you have been busy. Love your tray and vignette on top. Happy Easter to you! A pizza oven sounds wonderful!

Cindy said...

I love seeing your bargain finds!!

From the Kitchen said...

I've been doing nothing outside because it keeps raining and raining!

Have a wonderful Easter!

Best,
Bonnie

Kerri said...

I was thinking the same thing as Sharon...you need some overalls! Removing that big bush and fence looks like a huge job to tackle...way to go! If I had a pool, I'd want to see all views of it too!
Super cute tray!
Happy Easter!

Gloria Baker said...

Kris all look amazing and nice!! Really love your pictures, have a nice and blessing Easter, gloria