Recycling at its best

Happy Friday to you:)

As many of you know

I LOVE to entertain!

Because I like to have many people over a a time

I have quite a few outdoor chairs.

It rains a lot here

and many of my chairs

are forced to live outside

year round.

Mr. SSH & I had some friends over for dinner

a few weeks ago.

Mr. SSH joked that we should put our friend

Rob in the wicker chair

whos seat is about to drop.

Of course we didn't:)

He chose a wood chair

that I would have guessed was super sturdy.

Well.........

we were all sitting having great conversation

when.....

snap

Rob's chair collapsed into about 12 pieces.

Of course we all waited to laugh

until we made sure Rob was okay:)

Here is some of the chair:

I am not joking

Mr. SSH did not have to take it apart

it fell and all pieces came apart.

I knew I could use these old pieces of wood for something.

My brain has been busy "thinking"

Yesterday I looked out at this:

The light bulb went on!

I painted on all of the special places

Mr. SSH & I have gone.

Mr. SSH was kind enough to screw it all on to a leg of the chair:)

Mr. SSH & I got married September 14, 1991.

For our first anniversary we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Napa.

To this day, that place makes me sigh due to

its amazing beauty.

We stayed in the Crow's Nest

which was a little house on a hill

with a waterfall coming down the rocks.

Every January Mr. SSH's company holds their

holiday party at The Nines.

I always look forward to our time there:)

We found a little paradise in Las Vegas called

The Hotel.

It is a quiet romantic spot which

Mr. SSH & I love.

Mr. SSH & I have spent many springs

in Maui.

And last year Mr. SSH and I

found Troncones, Mexico.

We plan to make many memories at

this special place in the coming years.

I loved making this sign and looking out at it 

 because it reminds me

of how lucky I am to have Mr. SSH

in my life!

I hope all of you have opportunities to spend

quality alone time with your loved one!

Happy treasure hunting,

~Dena:)



It is happening!

Each year I wait in anticipation...

I feel like a mom about to give birth:)

I am about to give birth to many beautiful blooms!

It looks to be a bountiful year

for my beautiful hydrangeas!

Oh, I am such a happy camper right now:)

Hydrangeas to me are like how I feel about the ocean... nothing but sighs & smiles!

Do you have anything in your garden that you feel this way about?

Happy Thursday!

~Dena:)

Getting crafty

It all started with these felt rolls

I found at a garage sale for $1.

I decided to spell out the word JOY

I had fun creating the J and the Y.

I find it a good reminder to always look for joy:)

I found a styrofoam circle at Goodwill for .99

I wrapped it in felt

I glued on some seashells

and a new wreath was born:)

I love how it turned out!

I moved the wreath that was in the family room

into the living room.

I do love me some wreaths on my mirrors:)

I hope your day if full of JOY!

~Dena:)

It is the little things:)

Happy Sunday:)

I have been absent this past week

because my middle daughter was in the hospital.

We are blessed that today she is at home recovering

and getting better each day.

I have been spoiled today

having time to poke around the house.

Looking at the flowers

blooming,

and a bit of entertaining:)

Guests always make my heart smile!

I love draping sheets over my chairs.

A fun new basket

for a steal of a deal

at an estate sale.

wrapping a piece of fabric around

the yucky plant container.

Sometimes just a single flower

looks

better than a bunch of flowers:)

I am so thankful

to be able to enjoy

the little things

in life

that make me sigh:)

I hope you are also able to do this today!

~Dena:)

So blessed!

I hope your Father's day was wonderful:)

Our family is truly blessed to have amazing men & fathers!

Mr. SSH is truly an incredible father.

My dad, papa SSH is also an incredible father & papa.

The weather cooperated and we were able to dine outside last night.

I was the barbecue chef.

The meat actually tasted good:)

This is Mr. papa SSH.

Mr. SSH looking so handsome:)

I hope your day was blessed with amazing father's as well!

~Dena:)



Unique treasure finds

Just as I was feeling sorry for myself

while treasure hunting with Mr. SSH

for not finding anything

I came upon this:

This was made by a local artist in Portland.

The woman selling it used it for her dress shop in Portland.

She paid $150 for it.

 I got it for $15.

Do you LOVE it?

I do!

The next thing I found was this chippy frame.

I am sure it has lead paint.

It was only $5:)

Mr. SSH said it should have been free.

What does he know?:)

I hope your day is full of fun treasures:)

~Dena:)



Sorting, sorting just keep sorting:)

Our neighborhood is having a garage sale tomorrow.

I decided this would be a perfect time to sort my shelf on the garage.

It seems I may have a "thing" for chairs, candle holders, flower holders and bags:)

Here are a few pictures of the stuff I am selling:

 I love this wicker tea cart:)

I have another so this has to go:(

Whatever doesn't sell is going to Goodwill.

My shelf is sighing,

 so happy not to have to hold as much:)

I decided to keep this cart because it folds up.

I know many of you will cringe when you see what I did to it!

Oh yes I did paint it white.

Just right:)

I hope you all have a wonderful sunny rest of your Thursday!

~Dena;)



Last day of school:)

Just a thought on thank you gifts:)

Often it seems people feel they have to do a lot/spend a lot to say thank you.

In my experience

it seems that even a small thought means a lot

I used small bottles I already had.

Paper & stamps I already had

to thank ladies in our school office who do so much for our kids:)

A small thank you that cost nothing

but hopefully lets wonderful people know they are appreciated.

On the last day of school each year I make a sign to put across the porch.

When the kids get off the bus they stand in front of the sign for a picture.

It is such a fun memory:)

Here are two of my cuties:)

Do you have end of school traditions?

I hope you all have a blessed day!

~Dena:)

I never get tired of looking at flowers:)

Happy Monday to you all:)

As I write this

I am smiling

as I listen to my kids playing in the backyard!

It doesn't get much better than this:)

Sun

kids

free time

laughter

Life is good!

I recently took my camera into my backyard

to document the blooming flowers:

 I love the different shades of green:)

 I love the orange poppies!

Last year I cut my hydrangea at the wrong time

and I only got one bloom on the entire plant.

This year it is full of blooms:)

This was a mini rose from Trader Joe's a few years ago.

A friend/neighbor was trimming her peonies.

She was going to throw them away.

She happily let me take them:)

Thank you Tina!

Are you loving your flowers in bloom?

Which are your favorite?

I hope your Monday has been and continues to be amazing!

~Dena:)