Crafts and What Not

I'm trying to get the house done before summer and decided to spruce up some wreaths that I had in the garage.  They weren't in bad shape, they just needed to have the faded flowers removed and new ones glued on, I also added some new bows.  Just a couple of bucks and they look like new.

This wreath also gets flags put on to the right side to even it out.  I hang it every year on the front door for Memorial Day, Flag Day and July 4th.

 Took a plain grapevine wreath and added some sunflowers, lavender and a burlap bow for summer.

The yellow flowers on both of these wreaths were faded and dried out so I replaced them with new yellow flowers and made them look happy again.

 The hubby and I also made this pebble stone walkway between the deck and the shed that leads to the backyard.  It has been a thorn in my side since the shed was delivered about 9 years ago.  We needed the stepping stones in there because it's kind of damp and wet all the time.  You could not use the lawn mower to cut it, you had to use a weed whacker which always looked sloppy.  This year, yes after 9 years of trying to convince the hubby,  I FINALLY got the pebbles and re-set the pavers, looks so much better and no grass to worry about.  You can see how bad it was in the picture on the right.  First we layed weed preventing cloth, then staked it into place.  About 10 bags of pebbles ($3.29 each), the pavers I got 8 of them for $5 at a yard sale a couple of years ago and the weed preventing cloth was $1.00 for a whole roll on clearance, the walkway cost us about $39.00, not to bad to improve such a hard space, now it looks much nicer and neater.

Battling Nature - All GOD's Creatures Great and Small

This year I decided to fancy - up the shed.  It's been lonely without any plants and just plain blah.  So I put my husband to work with the rototiller and had him dig out two gardens, 18" wide and the length of the shed, I put one on the side and one in the back.  There is a sidewalk on the other side.  I wanted to plant deer and groundhog resistant plants, we have ALOT of those animals, so I went searching on the Internet and found that they don't like textured or fuzzy leafed flowers.  So off to the nursery I went and came home with Rudebeckia (Black Eyed Susan), Bee Balm and Montana Bluette.  Below are before and after pictures when you set out a feast for all GOD's creatures great and small! Nothing will stop them. I love nature, but COME ON give me a break here.

BEFORE - the side of the shed, just planted

BEFORE - the back of the shed, just planted

AFTER - the side of the shed, 2 weeks later

AFTER - the back of the shed, 2 weeks later.  The only thing left standing

 was a knockout rose bush.  Looks like they enjoyed the buffet

 I planted for them!  Guess what I will be

 planting  next year.

Also put in a new rhododendron bush, you guessed it -groundhog

ate through the roots and dug himself a home.

  Never underestimate the power of a groundhog.

Not only do deer and groundhogs feast, so do the bats!
We have alot of hummingbirds that fly to this feeder all day and into dusk
everyday.  I filled it one night and to my surprise was empty the next morning.
Bats sucked it dry.  Do you all get the picture of what I am dealing with?


I bought these citronella candles to keep the bugs away, but evidently it
doesn't keep raccoons away.  I didn't even have a chance to light them.
If you look closely you can see the claw marks
in the wax.  He was actually eating the wax! It was all over my rug
 and deck and the oil from the candle stained both.

I found this Spanish Lavender plant at Home Depot.  It was in a 6" pot 

it's growing like crazy and smells so good when the wind blows.

I moved the solar birdbath/water fountain (QVC) to a better place and gathered some

of the deck flower pots around the bottom.  Looks prettier now.

I also moved the ferns from the entryway. They were starting

 to get too much sun. When that happens they get burnt and brown.

I love ivy but never plant it in a garden, it is very invasive

and will ruin everything in its path.  I found three different

varieties at an Amish nursery.  All of them were only one small strand

 of ivy in a pot for .99 cents each.  I planted them all in one pot and 

set it out of the sun on the coffee table on the deck.

My husband and I built a base for our other fire pit.

 Purchased the pavers and sand ($48.00),

 the Fire Pit ($29.99 end of season sale)

and the Chairs ($7.99 each, also end of season sale)

all at Home Depot