GREAT FINDS

Isn't this just the cutest metal sign?  I know, it looks like it belongs in a nursery but I fell in love with it and it's in my kitchen.  I moved it here to take a picture but otherwise I have it on the window ledge above the sink.  It looks really cute at night.  Do you ever go to Joss & Main?  I really have to avoid it ,but for some reason, I clicked the email open one day and I found a few neat things and at quite a savings.  I'll show you more further on in this post.

I have my mind on Easter.  It's very late this year and I have a really good feeling that our "real" spring is going to be just behind it.  March is just flying by.  We had a little tease last week with warm weather and sunshine.  On Friday morning I went out to the back yard and hooked up my hose and sprinkler.  It was in the mid fifties and I didn't bother with a jacket.  I have a garden bed that is under an overhang of the roof, so I have to keep it watered in the summer.  I checked over the winter that it was getting snow because even when plants are dormant during the winter, they need moisture.  The blowing snow we had so much of did the job most of the time, but I decided to give it a good long soak with the sprinkler.  It was so great to be out in the fresh air, the sky was a wonderful shade of blue.  There wasn't a thing in bloom and all the trees and bushes are bare brown.  All the mulch I laid last summer is pretty much disintegrated and the yard is full of sticks and small branches.  But the dogs were running and romping and playing and I thought, this is going to be one heck of a summer!

Remember me showing you pictures of the dessert plates and napkins Pottery Barn had for spring?  I ordered the napkins but when I tried to order the plates, only one color was left.  And then a few days they were gone and there has been nothing since.  I really felt a little angry because I now have the napkins and they match the no~longer~existing plates.  Our closest PB is 40 minutes away and I think I just may pay them a visit.  Maybe the store can get them.  Anyway, I turned to Williams Sonoma and I saw this large platter.  And yes, I mean LARGE!  (I just got my tape measure out.  It's 19 1/2 X 14).  The Husband isn't thrilled when I shop online, but he also knows I'm not a "shopping/lunching" wife, so he takes it with a grain of salt, though he has his limits.  I woke up early one morning with him shaking me, "Where did you get that tray?  It's beautiful!!  It's going to be a family heirloom!"  Wow, I loved that!  Made me want to head back to the website!

This is a close up.  It really is lovely.  So take that, Pottery Barn!

My pictures are a bit out of order, this also came from Joss & Main.  It's called a French flower trough.  Has anyone seen one of these?  Maybe in France? :)  I suppose I could use it for fresh flowers but these are some really big containers...I don't grow anything in profusion that would fill these darlings up.  

I've been looking at the wood, I may paint it but not sure if I should do something really colorful and use it outside (I could make drainage with some pebbles and plant flowers).  Or should I paint it a light shade of color and keep it inside, maybe on the hearth with dried flowers?  Or maybe you like the natural wood.  Tell me what you think.

I have been very, very cooped up.  I still don't have a car.  You know, in my next post I am going to include a picture of The Husband's little roadster that gives me such misery.  It just sits in the garage all snug and cozy all winter long.  There was a day not too long ago that I was going to use it, I really needed to make a hair appointment and I thought, heck, if it starts to snow I'll just be blocks away.  And then I remembered last spring, all the tires lost their air once it was backed out...from sitting in one place for months I guess.  I didn't want to get stranded with a flat.  Anyway, Emily and I made plans to do some antiquing yesterday.  We went to a little town just south of us here that has a lot of little shops and one larger place with booths.  But first we had lunch at a little Mexican restaurant, Mario's.  Her hubby Mike works 20 minutes away so he joined us on his lunch hour.  Fun!

This is the place with the booths.  I was really impressed with the furniture...lots of great pieces.  Emily was looking for a small desk and chair, she want to have a little office area in the "future nursery".  I just loitered behind her although I kept seeing new natural wicker chairs that were quite a deal and could be painted any color in the world.  I just can't fathom where I could use one.

Emily was successful in finding an affordable desk that she could paint and jazz up.  I was really happy for her.  I recently got a new laptop and gave her my old one.  She has been using an IPad for ages and was happy to have this.  I'm surprised she hasn't set up a home office by now, she works on a lot of designs at home after working hours.  We made a final stop at an antique/junk shop just a few blocks from home.  This guy has old doors, shutters, garden/backyard furniture and statuary and chairs galore.  We found this chair and it was a perfect fit.  She cleaned the seat up with a little soap and bleach and it's as good as new.  I saw a neat Windsor chair, the back of it rather high which made it cool.  I just dismissed the thought because the car was packed.  I really have a thing for chairs, I use them indoors and out as little props for plants and books and you name it.  I have them scattered around the lakehouse.  I think I may go back for this.  But, I didn't come home empty handed. 

Ta Da!!  Isn't this cool?!  $20.00!!  It's huge (I've used that word 10 times in this post).  Perfectly solid and chippy.  I propped it up by the sofa so you can see how big it is.  If I had the room and wall space inside I could use it perhaps with plates in the box section, maybe some hooks underneath with teacups hanging?  But I'm dreaming.  I have zero space.  And the first thing The Husband said was, "It's not coming inside."  Like I brought home a stray dog.  

  Ooh, I love it!!  Girls, you have to make one of these (or withhold dinner until your hubby makes you one).  I am going to hang it somewhere outside, either here or at the lake and after I drill drainage holes in it I will plant flowers in the box.  I need to woop up the window part...any ideas?

Abby has been on spring break from teaching this week.  I'm taking her to have those wisdom teeth pulled bright and early tomorrow.  I will then have her car at my disposal for the rest of the week.  What sort of damage can I wreak at this point?  Ha!

See you soon! :)

Joining Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House.  Thanks, Brenda!

XO,

Jane