Decorating on a budget- how to get some things for nothing

     You want to make some changes to your space but you have no funds. You don't mean this in a dramatic way, but literally have no funds. Never fear, there are still some great ways to redo a room for very low to no cost.

1. Freecycle.org- If you aren't already a member of this terrific group you should go and join today. Freecycle has sub-sites all over the country which promote gifting items you aren't using in an effort to keep things out of landfills. You can offer and ask for items you'd like such as paint, curtains, rugs, etc. I've gifted and received many great items over the years.

2. ReStore- This shop is part of Habitat for Humanity and offers used and new building materials at a fraction of the cost. Often times items are so severely discounted you'll feel as if you've entered DIY heaven.

3. Craigslist- Remember that CL has a free section. I've seen bookcases, bed frames, and pretty much everything else you can imagine. With a little paint you can unify a few unmatched pieces of furniture. Or, just go with an eclectic look which seems to be the style now anyway.

4. Home Depot- Never underestimate your local hardware shop for some terrific scores. Home Depot has a discount paint section where for just $5 you can pick up a gallon of mixed paint. The color that wasn't just right for it's intended customer might be just right for you. Home Depot also has quarts for just $1. I try to grab a few good colors to keep on hand for projects.

5. Friends and Family- When you are looking for furniture it doesn't hurt to ask your close friends and family if they have any straggling pieces in the basement or garage. My friends and I often exchange furniture that no longer fits our space. One man's trash is definitely this gal's treasure!

     These are just a few of the great resources for heavily discounted items and free items that I have come to count on for DIY on a budget. Do you have other places you've found to be a great resource? Feel free to share your own tips in the comment section!

Our backyard- an awkward space......

     One day I'd love to own acreage. However, at the moment, we have a regular city sized lot (though we live rurally) at just 5500 square feet. In addition to the small scale of our yard we also have had to deal with a very awkward shape. Initially I gave up on having a yard we would ever be proud of but then I realized that so many great backyard farmers have had their start in similar digs. The author of "Farm City," Novella Carpenter had to make her backyard farm on a dangerous ghetto city lot in downtown Oakland (her description, not mine). My friends have had to carve out space in their town backyards, often growing with just a 5'x5' space carved out from the concrete.

     So, this year I set out to appreciate what we do have, a large awkward lot with a lot of potential. Last year we planted three fruit trees and many rose bushes. This year we built a casual picnic table and potting bench (see previous posts). We've added a chicken yard below our deck area in a space previously used for nothing more than storage. The gate to the chicken yard is a 1920's farmhouse screen window. The center of our yard has been given a purposed with three large raised garden beds. Out behind our studio we'll be carving out space for corn, potato and onion sets.


     I'm learning to appreciate the space that we have. Almost any size yard and even balconies afford one the opportunity to garden. Creativity and a plan are key. We have made space for vegetable beds, dining out, chickens and more with a little forethought. Do you work in an awkward garden space? In what ways have you made your space work for you?

It is Sunday- Happy Easter

     The house is still and silent. The only sounds I hear are the antique Seth Thomas clock ticking on the mantel and the soft, poetic muffled snore of our guide dog puppy. There aren't many cars passing the house on the main road, the sun is just peeking it's head down the mountain as the morning mist dissipates. Our small town is still for the moment and despite the fact that the hubby is at work and our days off don't quite conform to conventionality, it is clear that this is a Sunday.

     The world moves slower on Sundays. It is a recognized day of rest regardless of your religious preference. The Sunday paper is longer on this day seemingly to keep you at home, enjoying the comforts of family a little longer. There was a time in the not so distant past when shops would be closed on Sundays, or at least would open much later and for fewer hours. Sunday would be the day to spend time fishing with your son or visit farmers market with your daughter. Fortunately many of those traditions have stuck though we live much busier lives today.

     Wherever you find yourself on this Easter Sunday I wish you well. I hope that you are enjoying time with family, laughing at memories of Easter Sundays past and animatedly recounting your triumphs from the years you were the one to find the golden egg. Let the children romp in the grass without fear of grass stains on their new Easter finest, bake something delicious and smile because Sunday brings with it a sense of peace. Happy Easter.

My creative space- a tour

The view looking in

     My office serves many purposes. It is a creative space, a place for quiet, somewhere to watch Jane Austen flicks when the hubby can't listen to one more line. My office is a place to write the novel that seems to always need a few more revisions, our de facto greenhouse and a constantly revolving canvas for artwork, ideas and projects in the works. I rearrange my office as often as some folks change socks so what you see one week might be completely different than what you'll see the next. In small homes rooms have to serve dual purposes.

Our bookcases 

     My favorite pieces in this room would be my 1940's Sellers desk, found at a flea market (originally a kitchen table) and my metal display cabinet, an antique store find (originally a medical cabinet). I keep extra rugs in the closet to switch out as the mood strikes. This week it's spring flowers in a palette of yellows, blues and browns. The accessories also change up with the seasons to be an ever revolving source of inspiration. I currently have an early Ball mason jar filled with mother of pearl buttons to entice me to sew and my book box is filled with gardening and chicken raising books as I have spring on the brain.

Back to the door

     From my window I enjoy both a view of my garden as well as a view of the mountains. In spring the flowers start to bloom on the hillside, the trees stretch their branches and flower, making my office feel more like a detached treehouse than a part of our dwelling. This makes for a great escape from the "mommy, mommy," the dishes and household chores, the phone calls, appointments and demands that start to creep up as the weather warms. If you don't see me today I'm probably hiding out in my office. I might even take a nap!

A fan of flea markets....

I'm a huge fan of flea markets and thrift stores. When I walk through the doors or the gates the game is on, I'm on a mission to hunt down a treasure. This past Tuesday the hubby and I ventured to a small thrift store in a neighboring town. This flea market is the only weekday one I am aware of and is held every Tuesday in Santa Clarita, CA.

Dish shelf and snail

Once through the gates my eyes were already scanning from booth to booth. Of course I never set out to look for anything in particular because if I did I'd never find it. We walked up and down each isle slowly. I saw a booth full of old tools and remembered that I still want to find a fun repurpose for wrenches. I saw a rustic wood bench, but sadly it was sold. I think my husband gave a quiet "hooray" at that as it would have been interesting to fit in the car. Of course, I shop now, figure out how to fit things in later. This has often resulted in driving 65 miles home with the back hatch of my Matrix flapping in the breeze.

On the third isle in I spotted a 1950's salt glazed ceramic snail. I tried to keep my interest low as all good flea marketers know to do. I casually inquired about the price of a hideously ugly plate before inquiring about the snail. "You know," the man said, "I was asking $20 earlier but how about $5 to get it sold." I couldn't pull out a five dollar bill fast enough. I've wanted an all white snail for a while so this was a great find.

Shelf repurposed for books

Round the last bend and on our way back to the car I spotted a cute shelf. This maple 1940's shelf would have originally displayed plates in a dining room. I saw it's potential immediately, envisioning repurposing it as a book shelf for my son's room. Now it is being painted orange and will be the perfect place to store library books and weekly readers. The cost? $10. I just couldn't haggle, the price was pretty good already. Don't tell my husband but sometimes it pays to get to the flea market near closing! Did you find any treasures this week?

A repurposing conundrum....

I found this darling record cabinet on Craigslist. The owner had it listed for $100, then it went down to $60. I made an offer of $40 and it was sold. After quite an adventure to bring it home in my small car I finally dragged it onto my porch with help from a neighbor. Originally I had thought about refinishing the wood and getting the phonograph portion back to working order. However, after closer inspection I realized that this record player's playing days were over.

Now I'm mulling over several repurposing ideas. Ideally I think I'd like to turn this into an entry way piece with creative storage, a bulletin board under the lid and definitely give this a good coat of paint after a thorough sanding. The original finish won't be restorable as I always attempt to restore first. So, I think this has become my next fun repurposing project.

Now on to the conundrum. I'd like to keep the doors and I love the speaker cutout on the right side. Can you think of a creative way to keep this and still allow for storage? I thought about make the entire right side with the lifting lid a file cabinet. What are your thoughts on that? We could all use a place to file our receipts for tax time as well as important statements, mail, school forms, etc. This way the speaker portion would still show. That's one option. Another is to lose the cutout and make two shelves so it would be more like the left side. The top lid would open to a shallow storage area or you could open the door to put in more stuff. Hmm.

As for paint color I'm pretty sure I'm going with green. I really love a nice worn green with some distressing and it seems that would fit in many people's homes. Of course, by the time I'm finished with this I'll want to keep it. However, I currently have plans to deck this puppy out and sell it. Your ideas are definitely welcome!

Speaking of children.....

A friend of mine asked why I never blog with ideas for moms. Hmm, that's a good question. I guess I figure most moms out there pretty much have a handle on the day to day activities of their little ones. However, we do have a couple of things we use regularly I thought I could share.

In our home we set up an activity basket right on the dining room table. We have a big farmhouse table so I'm not too worried about messes. Our son has access to crayons (both wipe off and regular), color wonder markets, activity books, first readers, a chalkboard and chalk and miscellaneous other items that I add in to keep the basket fresh. Sometimes I add sticker books or modeling clay, play doh or water colors. I try not to restrict his play with these items and he knows to put them away when he's finished.

In our son's room I've added a wipe off board. We try to keep a letter and number of the day on the wipe off board which is helping our son learn his alphabet. I write each letter in cursive and in as many different ways as possible so he recognizes both upper and lower case, different type fonts and cursive, etc. This is a fun way to infuse a little learning into our son's room.

As I mentioned earlier, we like to have play doh accessible for our son to use in creative play. Commercial versions are great but you may also like to make your own as it's easy and non-toxic. Here is a recipe we like:

Kool-Aid Playdough

Materials

• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 cups water
• Saucepan
•  Kool-Aid powder for color
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups sifted flour

Directions

1. Combine salt and water in saucepan and boil until salt dissolves.
2. Remove from heat and tint with  Kool-Aid.
3. Add oil and flour
4. Knead until smooth.
5. This dough will last 2 months or longer.

Admiring houses.......

There is something so beautiful about old architecture and we certainly don't see enough of it in California. On a recent trip to Northern California I came across a street with some beautiful examples of the Victorian style. I thought I'd share these with you tonight as it's been a long day and I'm sure this is more exciting than hearing about our air conditioning quotes.

These homes (or ins or?) are all located in Arcata, CA. Each one makes me want to run to the top floor and look out the the windows, especially the green house. With a view of the water behind them and lovely brick commercial buildings just down the road I think this might be one of my favorite small towns in terms of aesthetic. Sit back, have a sip of vino and have a lovely evening!

Mountain Girl VIntage and the DemiJohn

A while back a dear friend of mine left our sleepy mountain town and returned to civilization. I was very sad to see her go, but am thankfully able to meet with her for coffee from time to time. Upon leaving she offered me a family treasure, one that she remembered from her childhood and from raising her own children as well; an antique DemiJohn. Wine enthusiasts and glass collectors are probably perking up at the mere mention of a DemiJohn but I admit it took some research to realize just what a cool object I was gifted.

DemiJohns, originally known as Dame-Jeanne (literally Lady Jane) can be traced back to as early as the 1400's. These glass bottles were used to collect molasses, in wine making, ale production and for other liquids. Americans first starting seeing DemiJohns in the early 1800's when wine was shipped from overseas. Since their beginning DemiJohns have been hand blown and range in size from a few inches tall (think medicinal bottles) to those that hold upwards of 20 gallons.

The lovely bottle that I received measures in at roughly 27" tall and 57" around. Based on the olive coloring, the bubbles in the glass, the stem, etc. this piece probably dates to the early 19th century. Regardless of it's exact provenance this amazing piece is an incredible example of early glasswork, one which we are honored to own. Thank you to Karen and Terry for their gift.

Sharing favorites.....

I've been a seller/buyer on Etsy for years and have always kept my favorites under lock and key. After all, I wouldn't want someone to purchase something I've been coveting. While I'm still very protective of my prized first choices I thought a nice compromise would be to share a few of my favorite online Etsy shops to further spotlight these amazing and talented people.

from JeanJeanVintage

Those who know me know I love vintage and antiques. So, it's no surprise that one of my favorite Etsy shops specializes in estate and vintage jewelry. I have purchased a few pieces from this particular shop and check back often as the inventory is an ever changing, well curated collection of highly desirable items. You may have guessed that I am speaking of Jean Jean Vintage. Pictured is one of my current shop favorites.

For Yevgenia

Another really beautiful shop is Yevgenia who paints these amazing pieces of glass and pottery. All of the items in her shop are elegant and useful. This shop is ideal for housewarming gifts and something unique for that special someone. I have not yet had the pleasure of making a purchase but I'm keeping my eye on a few favorites.





I absolutely love the tiny succulent garden necklaces by WoodandBelle and have already asked for one for Mother's Day. They are so realistic I honestly believed they were actual succulents. Upon reading further I learned these are actually sculpted out of clay. Amazing!

I'm pretty picky about vintage shops and everything comes down to how well curated the shop is. The Old Red Hen on Etsy is amazing. Not only is the product photography beautiful and browse worthy but the entire shop is filled with cottage goodness is neutral shades. It's just a beautiful shop.


I hope you enjoy these items and these shops as much as I do. Please click on any of the shop names to be taken directly to the shop so you can do a little further browsing. As always comments are appreciated. Feel free to share your own favorite shopping links as well.

Live and learn- the death of our vegetables

For the past two days we've had snow. Despite all my efforts to keep my newly planted vegetable garden alive it was just not enough. This is one of those lessons one must learn on their own. Sometimes doing something first or early does not lead to much success. With my head hung in defeat I must start my vegetables all over again. This is pretty sad as I'd collected varieties from up and down the California coastline and many cannot be replaced for this growing season.

Still, I'm going to take the good with the bad. This will make me a better gardener for next year. Next year I will calm down, plan things out better, and listen to the locals when they tell me not to plant until after Mother's Day. Research and reading does not always yield a better answer than those who have lived and seen with their own eyes what works and doesn't. This is simply a valuable lesson learned.

What garden defeats have you faced? What lessons might you pass on to a novice vegetable gardener?

Only warmer weather will tell....

Today we had a fresh blanket of snow where yesterday we were enjoying 70 plus degree weather. This is going to be a learning experience for us as our vegetable garden was already started outside. Luckily, each seedling is covered in a plastic bottle and we are hoping that our little plants come out of this weather alive. Enjoy the pictures we took from our porch....

Assembling a family.....

My husband's aunt, my friend

Some families come from genetics; a mother, father, sister brother, etc. Some families are brought together by fate such as an adoption. Other families are simply assembled over time with friends and relatives, some known to one for ages and others much less. What is important is not who makes up your family but how they impact your life.

My own family is complex. I have my husband's wonderful siblings, parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents; generations of tightly woven genetically joined additions. My side of the family leaves something to be desired. However, this doesn't mean I am lonely or lack the emotional ties one needs to feel loved. We've added to our family with friends we've gathered over the years, friends with similar background and moral beliefs.

Cindy and Diane

What I've come to realize is that these friends, over time, become just as close as any real family ever could. This assemblage of people join to make our life whole. It's the entirety of the group that make up a complete package and bring us joy. These are the people who share in our happiness, empathize when we have setbacks and who champion us with our new endeavors. You see, what I've discovered is, family is not what you are born with, that is just DNA. Your real family is what you decide it is, the people you choose to share your life with. A big hug and thank you to the the friends and family who bring me peace and happiness.

Disaster prep, The Details- Guest post by William E.

Last time I introduced some basic emergency preparedness items.  Don't worry, we'll be going mobile soon enough with vehicle kits, evacuation plans, and the "cool-kid" disaster prep stuff.  Hang with me through these basics and we'll get to the fun stuff...I promise.

For now, we're going to delve a little deeper into these "critical" things to have at home.  This is going to be a two-part post...Normally I'd say something like it's so dramatic it won't fit in one post, or it has a great cliff-hanger.  Reality?  It's too frickin' long.  So here we go....

Smoke Alarms:  
    Houses burn down all the time during power outages.  Why is that you say?  Because people light candles and candles use fire, which has a tendency to spread.  If your smoke alarms are hard-wired you want a battery back-up.  If your smoke alarms are not hard wired that's ok, just make sure you change the batteries regularly (same with battery back-up) as per the instruction manual.  Put one in each bedroom, the top of the stairs and/or the end of long (30 foot plus) hallways, and one in the garage.  Done?  Now you're good until the next battery change.  Mark it on the calender and buy your batteries now so you have them. 

Fire Extinguisher:
    The most common place for a fire in the home is the kitchen, followed by the garage.  Both of these places should have an "ABC" rated fire extinguisher (start with the kitchen...we can't buy everything at once...).  Your car will need one too but that's a different discussion.  When using a fire extinguisher, aim at the base of the fire (not at the flame itself) and call the fire department even if you think you have it under control.  Your taxes pay for them and they have no problem checking things out.  They are the experts and I for one would rather they decide things are OK  than a new fire starting later.  Check your fire extinguisher to make sure it is still in the green "good" range every time you change your fire alarm batteries.  

Gas Shutoff Wrench:
    Get one (cheap works fine...Some locales will provide one for free.  We got one for taking an earthquake survey), attach it to the outside gas valve using a zip tie or similar, and know how to use it.  Generally the gas valve will shut off with a 90 degree turn.  Some day I'll tell a funny (now) story about our family cabin almost (well, it sorta did) blowing up and my lack of preparedness in this area.  

Next time:  Flashlights and First Aid.  Then we leave the house for a while.

The Potting Bench Project....

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Salvaged table top

I've been looking at potting benches online since the dark days of winter. There are so many commercially available models of benches that deciding on one can be quite a chore. My other problem was that I am trying to salvage and repurpose more of what I already own. So, I started thinking about the materials we had lying around. While we didn't have a lot of wood, what we did have was an amazing 1940's metal table top that I'd picked up for $5 a few years back. I've collected these tables for years and I was sad to find the top sitting in a salvage yard with no purpose. This got the gears turning in my mind. What could I create using this table top?

The plans

With my husband willing to lend a hand I described what kind of potting bench I'd like. I wanted one that was taller than most you find on the market. I also wanted something simple enough to serve as a sideboard for outdoor parties. I didn't need a lot of bells and whistles and I wanted to keep the project cost under $30. All he had to do was incorporate my metal table top and a hook for my enamel pail which I use when I'm planting. He drew up a quick sketch and we went to the hardware store for some douglas fir and a few cup hooks. The total cost was $23.

The finished table

Vintage metal bucket for potting

With the materials home we assembled the bench in just an hour and a half using wood screws. The metal table top fit on perfectly and will be easy to keep clean. We installed five cup hooks to hang garden tools on one side and a double hook (found in the garage) for the metal garden pail. Now I have a simple, stylish and affordable place to plant, store my chicken food and garden supplies and serve outdoor guests. The total cost was $28. You can find similar metal buckets at flea markets and antique stores. Look for your own creative pieces at local thrift stores and yard sales.

Spring cleaning- some natural alternatives..

Spring is in the air and for us, that means cleaning the house, washing the windows and getting ready for a lot more entertaining. With that being said, this brings to mind a few of my favorite natural cleaning solutions which I have found to actually work.

For carpet- sprinkle baking soda on your carpet. Wait 15 minutes and then vacuum. You'll have fresh smelling carpet and pull up way more pet hair too.

For showers and sinks- mix baking soda with a little bit of baby shampoo until it forms a paste, then use as a non-abrasive scrubber.

For tile floors- Mix hot water (1 gallon bucket) with 1 cup of vinegar and a few drops of baby shampoo. This really cleans my floors with no harsh fumes or sticky leftovers

Open up those windows, purchase some fresh flowers and change your sheets to lighter colors to welcome in spring. Hopefully the sun is shining in your neck of the woods and these tips will help your home shine too!

Antique store and salvage- Auntie Lou's Antiques

I love when antique stores have outdoor spaces full of garden and salvage. Auntie Lou's Antiques in Bakersfield is the perfect mixture of indoor and outdoor items with a great touch of salvaged items too. This tiny antique shop located at 910 18th Street in Bakersfield CA is the perfect treasure hunting destination!

Visit this shop and you might find recycled chicken coops in metal (a personal favorite) great signage but businesses past, antique lawn furniture and a yard cat too. This is where I found my galvanized water bucket with the bakelite spout in red, my pyrex collection which I use religiously and many pieces of furniture. Overall it's a very well curated and thorough collection of goods.

What is your favorite antique store? How often do you go antiquing?

Chicken update....

Mabel, Maude and Ethel free ranging

It's been three weeks since we picked up our newest family members. Mabel, Maude and Ethel are settling in quite nicely. We set up their coop, then moved it, and now we are slowly redoing the chicken yard to make it more appealing. The girls love exploring the yard and are helping me get rid of the weeds. Keeping chickens is easier than you think. If you are considering raising your own backyard flock here is our basic day:

1. Wake up and open the coop. Give the chickens fresh water and crumbles (feed) along with a breakfast snack like spinach or kitchen scraps.

2. Later in the day I go out and give the girls some free range time, talk to them, maybe give another snack.

Ethel finds a worm

3. After the sun goes down the chickens have already put themselves to bed. I close and lock the coop door so they are safe from predators. I bring in their food and water containers to clean for the morning.

4. Once a week I clean out their coop and the run, adding fresh pine shavings and newspaper.


That's it. If you have questions feel free to ask. Sure, there is a lot of information and it can be overwhelming but this is really a typical day of chicken raising. I'm really glad we decided to get them.

Progress on the new vegetable garden....

Three raised beds

My fingernails are covered in dirt and I've got a bit of a tan but I can proudly say that our raised garden beds are up and ready to go. Many of the seeds we had planted were well on there way and needing to get out and in the ground. So, we finished off the raised beds and will now work to slowly move plants outside. Clay pots and recycled milk jugs will help prevent against any night time drops in temperature.

When I first discovered Mel Bartholomew's book "Square Foot Gardening" I thought I was discovering a very new technique. Little did I realize that the book I was clutching at the used book store was written in 1981. Never the less the technique is widely popular and Mel has since written more updated versions. As you can see from our beds, we have divided them up by 12" sections. This will allow us to plant more in less space. I highly recommend the book as it's full of useful information.

Every farmer needs a windmill

 With our three raised garden beds we hope to produce enough vegetables for our family but also enough to share. We'll have a separate area of the garden for watermelons, cantaloupe and pumpkins. We've never planted such a large amount before. Barring our single tomato plant last year and a meager windowsill herb container, we really have never grown food. This is all an experiment, one which I hope will be fruitful.

Someone is waiting for you...

When I think of spring I think of flowers, warmer weather and barbecues. However, spring also bring to mind the influx of puppies and kittens being born, among other animals, and all the shelters that get overcrowded at this time of year. I am a huge fan of animal rescue and always try to encourage friends and family to first check rescues when adopting a pet. Choosing to rescue a dog doesn't mean you can't have the dog of your dreams. There are many breed specific rescue groups just as there are shelters with adorable mixes and mutts.

Olive

My husband and I adopted our dog Olive almost four years ago. She and her brother, along with her mother were left in a box at an animal shelter in Santa Barbara. Later, the father dog was confiscated from the same owner, a known dog hoarder. Olive is half boston terrier and half jack russell and by far one of the best, healthiest and most fun dogs we've ever owned.

Frankie pauses by a snowman

Late last year we contacted Forever Friends Golden Retriever Rescue after deciding we'd like to adopt a Golden Retriever, specifically. Frankie was matched to our needs and willingness to take on a special needs dog. You see, Frankie has epilepsy. While this might frighten off some folks, we didn't see it as a problem and either does Frankie. With the right veterinarian and the right medication Frankie is seizure free and an amazing four year old beauty.

So, a little pause for thought. If you are considering adding an animal to your family this spring please first consider a shelter pet or breed rescue. Shelters are also a great place to find chickens, rabbits, livestock and a number of other pets. They say dogs don't have long memories but I can attest that a rescued dog knows they were saved and are grateful!