Welcome to my Outdoor Living Space

Hi Dear Bloggy Friends!

I sure hope you all are enjoying our 3 day Weekend

as we take this time to say

THANK YOU

to those who have served our country!

I always bring out my FLAG basket and

Flag, which hubby need to hang.

We have enjoyed one of the earliest warming ups

of spring that I can ever remember after living in

Michigan for over 18 years.

That got me spurred on to do more containers of

pretty colors for my Larger patio area.

This has been a much neglected living space.

I decided that I would START...

yes start, to create an outdoor living space

that is inviting for us all.  Now I really

think smaller, cozy spaces are so much

easier to create.  This may take me a few years

to achieve what I am dreaming of in my head...

but

I wanted to give it a try.

18 years ago we had this gorgeous brick pavers walk

way and patio done.  In an attemp to have some green

in our back yard area I added some

hardy perennial geranmiums, daisies, cone flowers

and loads of chives.  This has been such a challenge

as we get FULL ALL DAY SUN!

Yet these plants have seemed to fair pretty well.

 SPRING time around the patio is so pretty and colorful,

as you can see.

Today we are getting our table out so I don't have pictures

of that...but I have tried to create some pretty spaces

around this area we have.

Eventually, when we have the money we'd like to

put some type of retractable awning over this area

to make it just a tad more livable in the

all day sun and heat.

We had a 5 foot drop off from front to back

 when the house was built.  In an attempt to create an area

for us to have ease to the back yard we had to build the patio  up about

2-3 feet.  This  still created a delimma because brick pavers were

not sturdy enough for create that tall of steps.

  We went with a smaller deck off our kitchen. 

 So we have created a little sitting area with

chairs and a bench.

Hubby and I spend many hours in the warm summer

evenings with our kitties enjoying bunnies romping

and birds swooping and chirping.

This year I potted petunias in just about any pot or

container that I had.  These flowers seem to fair

pretty well with the all day heat...

if I remember to water! lol

Chloes likes to sit and watch the approaching birdies

as they try to eat!

It really is so cool to see all the hard work of planting and

setting up this space on pictures.  I hope you enjoy

my small piece of liveable space that I hope I am

creating for my family to enjoy during

to warmer days of summer!

UPDATE!

Our sweet Chloe is snuggling with her daddy!

She has been diagnosed now for sure with Kidney Failure!

Did you know that this is the leading killer of elder cats?

We are working weekly with our vet to make sure she

is well cared for and comfortable.

She has perked up a bit and seems so happy to be

near or snuggling with us.

We will love her until its her time to go!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I love to ready and hear your comments!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

My Sweet Chloe Girl Kitty

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday we had to take my Sweet Sweet Girl,

Chloe to stay for 2-3 day at our Vets.

Over the weekend we knew something was not right.

Monday I took Chloe in to see our vet and they ended

up doing blood work.  On Tuesday we found out she is

diabetic but they also said her Kidney values were

extremely high, meaning possible kidney failure.

I am just so sad because we know she may not have long.

She IS my girl.  We have a special bond.

I saw her birth her first litter and watched over her

little ones as the kids in our neighborhood would love to

come visit them.

She trusted me with them.

We have had her 11 years.  She was 8 month old,

when we rescued her from our local Humain Society.

Unbeknownst to us, this girl had gotten herself preggers!

In all the 50+ years of having lived around cats,

I had never had a momma kitty deliver or a

sweet bond that I have had with her.

She has the sweetest disposition. 

I just talk to her and she does a

*rocknroll* and starts to purr.

Or

she LOVES to siddle up right next to me and lay

half on, half off and straddle my arm/hand as I stroke

her tummy and she purrs away.

Chloes other claim to fame...

SHE LOVES BAGS!

Yep, she LICKS the insides and will

actually let you pick her up and walk around

as she is inside of a bag! Weird? but sooooo cute!

I KNOW so many kNOW what it is to be in the position

I find myself.  I am so forever grateful that GOD

puts these creatures into our lives, enriches us

with their personalities.

And, I know we all do come to a time of having

to let them go. 

So I hope you enjoyed my tribute to the sweetest

kitty cat I know!

My Chloe!

Be Blessed

Lorena

Tweeking In Pinks and Blues! ~Pink Saturday~

Hello Sweet Friends!

I got myself together these past few days and got some

things done that had been nagging me in the back of my mind!

Do you ever do that?

I love tweeking and redoing things as much as creating.

It gives such a feeling of satisfaction.

I have had wall space in my Garden Tub area that has

been bugging me forever!

I finally figured out what it needed...

a few larger pieces, like shelving!

Once I figured that out...well as they say...

the rest IS history!

A few years back I added a large rod across

the tub area.  I then drapped sheers and lace to

give a more intimate feel.  We have High

cathedral like ceilings, which I think

makes it very hard to decorate and feel cozy.

This shelf had been in my shower/toilet area.

It NOW looks way better here with some

pretty things displayed on it.

This pink framed hand painted rose picture is going

to be listed soon in my etsy shop.

Isn't she sweet? I got this little

girlie statue cuz she reminded me of

a little girl who grew up in rainy

Seattle! (moi!)

I am still thinking the walls below this sweet

shelf are just a tad bare?

What do you think?

Any suggestions?

I did paint my pink roses on this shelf

yesterday and am so happy with how well

it goes in this area!

So...there you have it!

All tweeked!

I have been stopping and awing when

I can cuz I am so happy with how well

it all worked out!

Thanks for stopping by!

I am linking over at Beverlys

PINK Saturday!

Be Blessed!

Lorena

Would you Help Me Encourage My Sweet Friend?

Hello Sweet Friends!!!

How are you all doing? Did you have a good weekend?

I certainly did...I have been a busy girl making my

sweet lil clay roses for 3 huge orders that I have been

so blessed to receive.

The above picture is for a sweet gal in Texas who is

adding these pretties to her jewelry!  When I started

so many years ago I never DREAMED that my clay roses

would embellish jewelry, craft projects and wedding appearal.

The Lord certainly has shown me that I needed to step out of

my comfort zone and he will bless!

Cool huh?

Anyway,

 I am really writing today in hopes of sharing with you my dear friend

Shelly's new venture into the world of selling on-line.

For over 25 years she was an amazing elementary school

teacher.  In January God showed her he had something

fresh and new for her.  She is an amazing seamstress and has

gotten bitten by the creativity bug.

(sweet shabby rose fabric Neckroll)

Last week I helped her to set up her 1st Ever Shop on etsy...

*KeepsUinStitches*

and...

 I am hoping YOU my sweet following friends

will be sure to stop by her shop and say hello!

(darling babies top with shoes and headband)

She has so many wonderful goodies to offer and will be adding

and creating more as time goes on.

Be sure to tell her Lorena sent you!

Thanks so much for helping me encourage another

my very creative friend on in her new

venture!

Be Blessed

Lorena



Dearest Bloggy Friends...Hello!

I know I have been MIA from posting and I am soooooo sorry. 

I guess I needed a break and just didn't realize it.  I often think I just don't have any interesting ideas that other would love to see...oh I know, woe is me, im gonna go eat some worms.  Well...yes and know about all that. 

Whats really been going on?  I have been healing from my kidney infection and doing other projects around my home and also took on a huge furniture painting job for a sweet 89 year old gentleman.  I don't think I enjoy painting that many pieces of furniture.  I decided to really concentrate more on

smaller items and painting roses.

I have done some recent tweeking of furniture in my entry (as seen above) and dining area.  Thought you might all enjoy seeing what I have done.  I know I always love to see other peeps decorating ideas.  You never know when a clever idea will be spurned on by yours or some elses' ideas.

We had moved a sofa table in this main entry area during the holidays.  Although it was okay it just didn't feel completely at ease with how it looked.  Then on Friday I was cleaning in my dining room, and realized I had the PERFECT wall for this piece.  It now resides and a side-board in the walk through area around my dining room table.  Truly a *Why didn't I think of this sooner*  idea.

I really am happy with how it all looks now!

I also have a few vingnetts and tweeking I did in some other

areas...hope you will like them.

These next pictures are in my Kitchen/eating area.

Below is the projects that we started in September of replacing

our patio slider with French Doors.  It was a DREAM of mine to

have since we moved into our home 19 years ago.  It took longer

than we had hoped to finish but they are so nice to have now.

Still need to paint the trim and wall...but at least they are in.

Man was this a hard picture to do...all the southern exposure

makes it hard to get a good picture!

Now I am off to gather supplies for a huge order I received

over the weekend for my sweet *Tea Rose Spoons*.

Thanks for stopping by...I DO love your comments!

Be Blessed,

Lorena

Thinking of Spring and Beyond...Pink Saturday

Hi Everyone,

Been a bit under the weather and dealing

with a kidney infection...man they sure get me down!

Im am Linking up with Beverly at
HOW Sweet The Sound
for
PINK Saturday.

But, I am pulling my bootstraps on and reaching deep

to share a few vignettes I have

created for spring...

as well as some goodies I made for my

etsy shop!

I found these darling Bunny Planters a few years

back and meant to get them ready for spring.

FINALLY...got them finished this year.  I took

my colors from the planters and then used

vintage and newer ornies on them.

These are ready for a great home and listed

in my etsy shop.

I need spring to happen this time of year...so

after I cleaned up my Christmas stuff and got it

put away I pulled out these cuties.

This darling shabby pink bird house is also

listed in my etsy shop.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

THINK SPRING!

Lorena

***This and That...***

Hi Sweet Friends!

Oh my, how the time has flown since I last

posted almost 2 weeks ago.

So sorry to not have gotten in sooner but I have

been a busy girl.

Also, to my NEW and Dear friends...I

so apologize for not getting back and visiting you...

I will be by soon!

I told hubby I'd put the tree and rest of

Christmas *stuff* away at the end of the month...

he just loves to enjoy the lights and feels

that Christmas goes way to fasy and furrious for

him to do this.

Alas, this takes me over a week to do, cause I

clean and reset everything back up.  Along the way

I did bring out

a few of my Spring/Easter things...but

am purging, but time. So this has kept me quite busy.

AND...

I also have been busy getting things 

created and painted up for

my friends shop.  NOPE, she still hasn't opened.

(not sure still when, but hopefully soon).

Wanna see a few goodies that I have done?

I hope so, cause here I go!

Creating these beauties in the mid of winter...

well...

it is just good for the soul!

Below is my Wreath I made using a broken

plate and added gorgeous pinks/whites roses

all around an old painted wood frame!

LUV!!!

At *Sweet Chateau* my friend will be creating

cupcakes and other yummy treats...

so I made up some sweet cupcakes

thinking these would fit is so well into her shop

and

 without all the calories! lol

Her shop is done up in pinks, white and

spring green...shabby chic perfection!

The last two are sweet lil bunny planters that

I have had for a couple of years and I so wanted

to make them up with trees and vintage ornies.

Love these to pieces and I

KNOW

I will have a hard time parting with them.

The one below I added some fun eggs along

side of some pretty vintage ornies...then

glittered the eggs...YUMMY!

So, I hope once again I have inspired you to

create and enjoy the life you have!

Be Blessed!

Lorena



***Hankie LOVE*** Sharing Display Ideas (Pink Saturday)

Hi Sweet Friends!!!

Welcome to my humble blog!

Today I am joining with Beverly over at

HOW SWEET THE SOUND

for our weekly Pink Party!

Please click on the link to visit other

PINK lovers!

My post today is around my LOVE

for vintage hankies. 

I have been collecting these for longer than

I can even remember.

I love them so much that I wanted to

incorporate them into the decor

in my Master Bedroom.

I hope you will be inspired to display

these wonderful pieces of history.

There are so many patterns and beautiful

arrays of floral that touch this

rose lovers heart.

Shall we get started?

These first two pictures are of Spoon Racks

that I have turned into hankie holders.

My sweet friend Rhea is the one that

I saw this done.  I LOVED this ideas

and asked if I could copy it!

This display wrack was actually a trash pick

that a friend gave me because she knew I

could come up with a unique idea for it...

These next 3 pictures below are of another shelf

I have in my bedroom.  I have some vintage

planters that I picked some pretty hankies

and placed them out for display in them.

This hankie is so special to me.

It was made by my sweet grandma who

we lost a year ago.  She was a lady ahead

of her time.  I credit her with the creativity

that GOD has given me.

This is sweetly folded, after pot pourri has

been placed inside...

and then sewn together as you see it.

My last pictures are of 3 hankies that I fell in love

with and found frames to place them in.

These are above the headboard.

Do you think these are just soooo purrrty?

I do, and I love the vintage feel they give to my room.

I so hope that I have encouraged you to think

outside the box.  Dig through your drawers and

find some unique ways to display hankies...

and

I'd love to hear your ideas!!!!

Be Blessed,

Lorena