Pink Polka Dot Boots

I love little girls' boots in gardens. Bright pink ones with polka dots. I had seen some in pictures and knew that one day I would see some at a yard sale, and I'd grab them for my garden. Yard sale after yard sale, no pink boots with polka dots showed up. But determination kept me looking. Finally, I went to a yard sale with my hubby, and guess what. I saw a pink boot in a box. Two would really be nice, I thought, so digging in boxes and throw-away piles I went. Surprise, surprise. More pink! I found the other boot. Now I have the cutest little girls' pink boots - and they have polka dots.

Not sure how flower-planting in the boots was going to turn out, I took my chance. In addition,, I stuck an old sink I'd found at a moving sale into the ground beside the boots. Something so small as planting flowers in odd sinks and little girls' boots bring the biggest joy to me.

Of course, I couldn't resist inserting the photo with my kitty, Patches. She was so curious about the boots and all that I was doing. Patches is another small thing that brings a big joy to my heart. She is a tiny thing and has the whiniest little kitty-cat meow. She loves to be held and petted - and loves my garden nearly as much as I do I think.

Join me over at Pink Saturday where you'll find pretty pictures to direct you to fun and interesting blog posts and ideas of many creative folks.

Kittens on a Pink Bench

I have a cottage cabin in a high desert area. This little cottage is a work in progress. Recently, Mr. Fun put up some siding that was much needed. Yesterday it rained, an uncommon occurrence in our area. When it rains, the dirt gets crunchy and makes things look even dirtier - like my little pink bench.

A little history on that little pink bench

We have a table with two benches that we inherited with the cottage. They were white but looking awfully shabby. Okay, I know the French Shabby look is in, but these had paint peeling and desperately needed a fresh touch of paint. Surprising me, Mr. Fun painted the benches with white paint...he thought. When he looked closer, he realized he had painted the little benches with a very light pink paint. I love them! They not only provide a practical bench for my garden supplies for my flower, vegetable, and kitchen gardens. They are adorably cute! This morning I was leaving for one of my blog class sessions that I teach when I noticed two of our little kittens perched on top of one of the little pink benches, the one beside the new siding. Of course, I had to stop and take a picture or two. Speaking of cute! Normally after a rain, I hurry to the flowers to see if there are any lingering raindrops. That always fascinates me. But this morning the two little kittens on the pink bench outranked my raindrop flowers for once.

Oh, and today is Mr. Fun's birthday! Happy Birthday to my other half I've been married to for 33 years. Find more of his fun upcycled crafts where he blogs at http://highdesertblogging.com.http://www.highdesertblogging.com

If you haven't ever visited Pink Saturday, come with me as I share this blog post there. You'll enjoy the beauties you'll find.

Springtime Gardening

Springtime! New buds on plants and trees, flowers - and weeds - popping up. It's a beautiful season. Well, maybe not the weeds part of it. But even that part can be a good thing. Need a little push to start exercising? That's a good way to do it. Pull weeds.

New to gardening? Purchase a hula hoe to make weeding a bit easier. If you've never used a hula hoe, let it not fool you with the two prongs on the one side. If you scrape with the prong side, all you'll get are two lines drawn in the dirt. You use the scraper side that pushes those weeds out of the dirt except those crazy stubborn dandelions. Pull the dandelions up with a shovel. Then to save you from back strain, use a grabber to pick up the weed to place in your waste bin.

Source: gettyimages.com via Randi on Pinterest

Visit a home and garden store or nursery for spring planting inspiration. Visiting without a list, though, could make a big dent in your pocketbook if you're not careful. The flowers are so vibrant and colorful that you'll want to buy one of each. So do a little research beforehand to see what grows in your garden's soil unless frugality isn't a concern. Then you can afford to experiment with flowers you haven't tried planting before.

Now go enjoy yourself strolling through the nursery aisles of flowers, plants, and trees. I find it to stir up creative ideas for gardening. Create your own gardening style. That's the fun of it!

Vintage Winter Finds

Vintage Sun Dial and Clock

Christmas decorations were stored, and I desired a fresh look for the new year. Looking around the cabin cottage for just the right items to place on the mantel, I remembered this Sun Dial Clock that I found at a favorite vintage shop for only $6.00.

Continuing my search for the look I wanted for the mantel, I discovered paintings that I had seen in the loft when we purchased our cabin. My husband had cleared out the loft to scrape the overpowering blue popcorn ceiling and prepare for painting. Fascinated by three paintings stored in the loft that we found when we purchased the house, I decided to use all three.

The paintings I inherited with my cabin cottage: 

This one has a gash in it...not sure what I can do to fix this. Any suggestions?

Hacienda Painting

Autumn Painting

My husband said this corner looks like an antique store!

Flowers in Vase Painting

The end results of my vintage search for the mantel:
A winter setting of blue, white, and black - a theme of purity with the white candle, church and its steeple (it's a bank my husband and daughter made years ago), my mother and dad (a minister of the Gospel)...

Winter Mantel - Church Bank and Family Photo

WINTER...the white candles and the glass made me think of purity and clean...

Candles, Scrabble Winter Word, and Glass Image Photo

THE HOLY BIBLE...the white candle...the blue and white and the ocean background of my daughter's picture...all reminded me of crystal blue and white - purity

Candles, Family Photo, and Holy Bible for Mantel Setting

Every word of God is pure: 

he is a shield to them that put their trust in him.

(Proverbs 30:5-American King James Version)

Thank you for visiting my blog today. May you feel the touch of the Creator on your life as you make this week's journey.
I'm linking up to these fun parties:
Knick of Time Party
Wow Us Wednesday

Rustic Exposed Beams Vintage or Modern

Rustic exposed beams are in and are seen in vintage as well as modern magazines. On my recent layover in Phoenix I purchased a Phoenix Home and Garden magazine and have yet to tire of it. It's filled Spanish/Mediterranean decor of the Southwest. Southwestern home decor includes Spanish, Mediterranean including rustic, colonial, cottages, cabins, Spanish red clay roofing tiles, Hacienda-style hallways and courtyards - vintage or modern.

Using recycled lumber in recreating the Early California Spanish hacienda has been a popular California trend in constructing custom homes. One such vintage lumber company is located in the beautiful Temecula, California wine country.

Thinking of going for the exposed beam look in your home? It will work for the farm/cottage style and the elegant decor with either faux or vintage beams. Enjoy the rustic exposed beam possibilities listed below.

Source: houzz.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: sothebysrealty.com via Alaina on Pinterest

Source: countryliving.com via Alissa on Pinterest

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Missy on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Alaina on Pinterest

Source: remodelingtherapy.com via Remodeleze.com on Pinterest

Source: designindulgences.com via Kathleen on Pinterest

Source: barnhousebh.com via Paula on Pinterest

Vintage Bible

During the Christmas holidays I went to an antique store that I always enjoying browsing at. I went to get a mirror out of layaway. On my browsing tour I noticed this Bible. Seeing how aged it looked, I checked for the price. FREE! Grabbing it, I took it to the counter. There's something wonderful about finding an old Bible that someone else loved and read. Personally, I love to read through old Bibles that have scriptures underlined and highlighted. People are different. Some never write or mark in their Bibles. I like to highlight scriptures in mine. If you're like me, you forget where some verses are found. So it makes it easier to find those encouraging verses of scripture if you highlight them. The vintage Bible I found at the antique store now has a new home.

I'm linking to Knick of Time Interiors.

Cabin Cottage Christmas

The theme of Christmas this year in my cabin cottage is a simple one. Enjoy the special vintage finds I've recently come across. Bake in the new oven my husband bought me awhile back. Look at the side table with family pictures, Christmas photos of the past, and new family photos with Christmas cards - and hold close the sweet loving memories of fond pastimes. Play games. Do a puzzle. Read a book. Simply relaxing.

Here are a few photos of recent vintage things I've picked up and Christmas decorations of the fireplace.

The snowman and candy - gifts from friends

Fresh pink and red poinsettias-a gift from my hubby. Black candle stand a vintage find from awhile back. The PEACE LOVE JOY terra cotta pot I painted with black chalkboard paint. The needlework handmade by my daughter. All these bring joy to me on Christmas.

My daughter's beautiful needlework from years back. Sweet memories!

An old Bible I found at an antique store. Price: FREE!

A poinsettia plant I got for 25 cents at Home Depot.

The fireplace with more candles and "CHRISTMAS" spelled out. The vintage JOY plaque I picked up awhile back.

Christmas candy.

I'm linking to Pink Saturday, The Thrifty Home

Back to the Basics Christmas

Popular Christmas greetings this year in Santa Monica, California may be heard as "Happy Holidays" and not "Merry Christmas" at least for some people. I like to say both as I love the holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. All three holidays bring back special memories I have of my family.

My special memories of holidays from November, December, and January include family gatherings with tasty prepared recipes, driving around town to look at Christmas lights, drinking hot apple cider, receiving fruit and candy paper gift bags handed out at church, enjoying fireworks with my family and cousins, singing Christmas carols with the church youth group, and just enjoying family.

One thing we didn't have too often in East Texas was snow, but occasionally we did. When we had snow, school was canceled. You got to stay home and build snowmen. Snow is beautiful, and I love it - for no more than a week every year. I'll let my sweet friends who live in the northern states enjoy longer durations of snow. I enjoy looking at their pictures. Speaking of pictures, it did snow not far from my cottage cabin about a week ago. There is a farm we always pass to get to our cottage cabin, and it looked like ones I see on Christmas cards.

These kind of Christmas and other holiday memories are simple ones, don't cost much money, and include Christ. Some may leave Him out, but I love to include Him in my holidays. This year I'm having a back-to-the-basics Christmas. Simple pretties. Baked tasty goodies. Bible reading. Gifts-from-the-heart giving. Loving Christ. Loving others.

Thank you for visiting Southwest Cottage Designs.

Merry Christmas!

I'm linking up to Pink Saturday.

Hide-the-Clutter Kitchen Curtains

Need to hide under-the-sink kitchen clutter? Use a valance curtain. Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I purchased two valance curtains for my kitchen. The curtains are red and tan plaid. I love red but have never had, or thought I would ever have, a red kitchen. However, red happens to be accumulating more and more in my little cottage cabin. I'm okay with it. In fact, it's becoming quite fun to plan and decorate. I hung one up on a tension rod under the sink. When my husband and I purchased our cottage cabin fixer upper, it also came with an old store counter that we use as cabinet space. So I hung the other valance curtain on a tension rod to cover the open side of the counter cabinet. I took a seam out of the valance to double the length, and the curtain fit just right.

Kitchen Counter Cabinet Curtain

Hide-the-Clutter Kitchen Curtains

The kitchen needs much work, but that will come later on our cottage cabin to-do list. For instance, the old tile in the kitchen has already been removed. Now we have a cement floor that we plant to paint or stain. Though we have much work ahead of us, it's fun fixing it up ourselves.
I'm linking to:

• The Girl Creative
• Today's Creative Blog

Holiday Decorating with Black on Black Friday

Looking for ideas to decorate for the holidays? Create a new Black Friday holiday tradition: make your black furniture and accent pieces a part of Christmas decorating. Look at these lovely black holiday decorations:

Source: theyellowcapecod.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Jeni on Pinterest

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Jeni on Pinterest

Source: cvilletochucktown.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kylee on Pinterest

Source: i.imgur.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: nicnacmaniac-nicnacmaniac.blogspot.com via Garman on Pinterest

Source: crazydomestic.com via Cheryn on Pinterest

Source: mackenzie-childs.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Beautiful! I love the black wine bottles with the lights and the festive black and white checkered stockings. And those Ho Ho Ho photo frames and pine cones are the cutest things. Of course, I love all of these pretties since I chose to display them for this Black Friday post.
Going Black Friday shopping? Please be safe, and have fun shopping. I think I'll get my black chalkboard paint out and look for black spray paint to try out on holiday decorations. Black and gold. Black and red. Black and white. Ooohh! Lovely. Inspiring.

Beautiful and Low-Cost Christmas Decorating

Looking for low-cost, simple holiday decorations? Thanksgiving traditions often include setting up the Christmas tree and getting out the holiday decorations. This year I'm in the middle of fixing up our fixer upper with my hubby. Boxes filled with our things not currently needed are stashed in one corner of the living room. How in the world am I going to decorate for Christmas? Should I just forget holiday decorating this year? No way. Even if it's a little corner and my fireplace mantel, I can't miss out on the fun.
Last year I had fun making pine cone topiaries, painting terra cotta pots with chalkboard paint, and giving simple pine cones dipped with cinnamon oil. The year before that I dipped pine cones in various colors of hot wax. That was so much fun. It's a simple gift, but my friends that I gave them to have told me they save the pine cones and bring them out for Christmas decorations. Often, it's the little things in life that we do to bring joy to others that are so rewarding.

I'm trying to decide just how I'll decorate for the holidays this time with our renovation project beginning. So I've gone on a photo tour to get ideas. Join me on the tour:
I love this beautiful holiday decor...

Source: modernofficeideas.com via Christine on Pinterest

A young lady was grabbing different kinds of nuts the other day in the grocery store. She looked at me and
said, "They're not for me. They told me to get these nuts because they're going to put them around candles." I don't know who "they" were, but I thought it was a neat holiday decorating idea. Then I saw this picture...

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest

and more beautiful candles with silver...

Source: bhg.com via Marisa on Pinterest

I love the rustic terra cotta and pine cones...

Source: theswenglishhome.blogspot.com via Terri on Pinterest

and getting creative to make your own Christmas tree with things around the house...

Source: marthastewart.com via Irene on Pinterest

more pretty candles with leaves...

Source: 320sycamoreblog.com via Brandi on Pinterest

and pine cones with glittery stars...

Source: Uploaded by user via Aubrey on Pinterest

I can't pass anything up with Joy:

Source: sidebysideblog.blogspot.com via Debra on Pinterest

More pretty candles...

Source: amybayliss.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Simply elegant and low-cost ways to decorate a fireplace...

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Dorothy on Pinterest

...more Joy...

Source: bhg.com via Kelly on Pinterest

and more simple elegance...

Source: myecochicwedding.com via Amalia on Pinterest

a natural look with greenery...

Source: perfectlyimperfectblog.com via Lisa(avintagevine) on Pinterest

and I love this rustic one...

Source: bringrestoration.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Christmas ornaments and pine cones are some of the simplest items to decorate with for Christmas. One of my favorite Christmas memories was decorating a Christmas tree with freshly popped popcorn that my daughter and I threaded then draped around the tree. We were so low on funds that year that we couldn't afford a Christmas tree. On Christmas Eve night we drove around town and happened to see a Christmas tree lot that had a sign, FREE! That Christmas tree was the largest one I've ever had. We had to cut part of it off just to get it inside the house. We had so much fun, too, decorating it with our simply popcorn.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'm linking to

• Very Merry Vintage. 
• Blue Cricket Design Show and Tell