Old Benches Refinished and More Garden Pics

We have 2 benches on the deck that are looking pretty sad. Here is one of them. I have been wanting to refinish them and I finally did it! I remember sending for a free sample of Valspar paint a few months ago and I decided to use it so this refinishing job did not even cost me anything.

Do you see the mosaic lion fountain on the wall? Well, it used to be a fountain but I got tired of having our handyman, Mitch, keep unclogging it. And the pump just went again. The water reservoir is too small and the hot weather in Mississippi dries it up making the pump malfunction. I had already replaced it in the past. So, I decided to pull out the pump and convert it into a planter. I placed a tall plant to conceal the electrical wire of the lantern.

Here are the benches after I painted them. I distressed them a little bit too and waxed with Minwax afterwards, just to protect them a little bit from water.

Ooops, I accidentally deleted the picture that shows both benches in full view and I cannot put it back because I am in TX now and the photos are on my desktop computer at home. Anyway, here is a mosaic showing part of the benches.

I moved this bench here and moved the newly painted one where this used to be, on the other side of the wall near the master bedroom. Both benches are on the same side of the wall now and I will show them to you next time. I still have to work on the tables.

And do you see the trumpet vines planted by the gazebo? They are starting to climb up.

John found this "SWIM" sign at Homegoods in Pensacola and I found a perfect place to hang it. I laid bricks around my flower bed.




The honeysuckles are blooming again.

The lily that Vicky of Paint or Dig gave me when we had a MS Southern Belles bloggers get together here, came back and is blooming now.

I hang an iron planter on the wall.

Yellow flowers of curry herb and dusty willows are blooming. I love both their silvery colored leaves.

Vegetables are growing well.

The canna lilies are blooming.

I bought that hexagonal planter on a pedestal from a local garden shop.
I was going to put it on top of the column on the right but John wouldn't let me. He is afraid it will fall on the kids when they come for visits and it is very heavy so I just placed it there on the ground.

My job in the garden is never done. I still have these to plant and once planted, I know I will buy more.

I am linking with

Susan's Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Kim's Wow Us Wednesday at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Glenda's Fertilizer Friday at http://www.tootsietime.com/

Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com/

Thank you so much for stopping by and thanks to our hostesses for these fun memes.

Tea Time and Karaoke

Last Wed., my friend Debjani asked if I wanted to do Scrapbooking the following day. I said "Sure!" so she planned to come over at 1 PM. I woke up early to finish all my daily chores, you know, watering the plants, blogging, feeding my mom, blogging, putting away the dishes, blogging, laundry, blogging and getting the garbage ready for pick up. I also had time to go to my booth at the store to drop off some items to sell. Then, my mom and I stopped by Dairy Queen to get lunch and headed for home. I made it by 1 but Debjani called and said she was

running an hour behind. So what do you think a dedicated blogger would do?

I blogged again, lol.

I also ordered the second part of my blog book, second quarter of 2009 and it had more than 400 pages. Wow! No wonder it took forever to create.

When she finally came, she said she had no time to get her scrapbooking stuff

together because she was asked to help with an essay and then had phone calls. She asked why don't we just do karaoke? You know me, I am very flexible so karaoke it is!

Of course, I had to get some tea and cookies ready so we don't get hungry while singing.


I can't believe this is the first time I have used this teapot with a bird finial. I think it is lovely. I took 2 of my Warvel teacups from one of the china cabinets. I have yet to do a tablescape using this dinnerware which I have a 46 piece set (service for 8). They are made in Poland. I love the shape of the tea cups.

I baked some (refrigerated ready mixed cookie dough, I love short cuts, lol!) sugar and oatmeal with raisins. Nope, Debjani and I did not finish them all but they were good.

We left a few for my hubby.

To hold our napkins, I used the white bird napkin holders I just bought from Z Gallerie a few days ago and I always like to use a teapot warmer when I serve.

We had so much fun singing. We even figured out how to record using the singing machine and then we would listen to us and just laugh so hard.

Do you like my flatware? I just got the set either from Neiman Marcus or Horchow, can't remember which one.

Thank you so much for joining us for our Karaoke session.

I am happy to link with the Tea parties today in Blogland:

Lady Katherine's Teatime Tuesday at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Sandi's Teatime Tues at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/
Teacup Tues, Martha and Terri at http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

WandaLee and Pam's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday at http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/
and Amanda of http://thesweetdetail.blogspot.com/

Thanks sweet ladies, for being such gracious hostesses.

New Blue Orbs and Bowl

Last Wednesday, we went to Baton Rouge and went shopping at Perkins Rowe. After shopping at Anthropologie and Sur la Table, I went in Z Gallerie, which has always been one of my favorite stores when I lived in Florida. I was so glad I went because they had some items that were 80% off and I love most of them. I bought some white plates (chargers, dinner and salad)and some brown ones with a boar, deer and rabbit, which I have not taken a picture of yet. But I am so excited about this blue bowl and orbs.


The orbs or spheres were originally $9.99 each but it had a sign saying $50 % off. So, I brought 3 to the cashier and to my surprise, the cashier said they just discounted them further to $1.99 each. So I took the last one that I left out and bought all 4 of them. These are big and heavy. I asked if the bowl is also discounted and he checked. It was orignally $64 and with the 50% off, it would still be $32. That was why I left it on the shelf but when the sales clerk told me it was just further discounted to $12.89, I grabbed it.

The bowl is big and very heavy, at least 15 inches in diameter.

See the details? It has raised white scrolls.

Do you see the big painting on the wall? It's oil and I painted it myself.

I found this book box at Ross and if you know me, you must know I love peacocks so naturally, I bought it.

I placed it under the Sevres casket to raise it a bit. Here's a glimpse of the formal dining room.

I also moved one of the Sevres shell pair from the end table and added it to the coffee table vignette. Same thing with the fairy lamp.

And this is how I left it for now. I think I like it now and I hope you like it too.

I really like the color of the bowl and spheres. It matches our Sevres collection.

See the painting above the fireplace? It is an oil painting of my childhood home. A good friend of mine did it for me. One of these days, I will try to paint one myself. In fact, I will try to paint several to give to my cousins and siblings. I just have to gather my mood and energy to start, lol.

This Sevres compote with 3 putti was moved from the coffee table to this occational table by the lion chair.


Love the lion candle which I placed inside the crown. I bought it from an antique shop for, I think, $7.

And this table is on the opposite wall across the sofa. More peacocks on the Tracy Porter "Artesian" tea set.

I am linking with:
Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Sherry's Home Sweet Home Friday at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
Diann's Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/
Susan's Met Mon at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Mary's Masterpieces Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

SJ at http://www.homemakeronadime.com/
Cielo's Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/
Sally's Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/
Marty's Tabletop Tues at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for stopping by!

Happy Pink Sat. Anniversary &Texas Trip

Before anything else, I would like to congratulate Beverly on her third anniversary of Pink Saturday. Thank you so much for hosting this fun meme, Beverly. Send your wishes at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

To celebrate, I am having my favorite cookies. They are Cheryl's cookies and I get an automatic shipment 4 times a year. Mmmmm, yummy!

About a month ago, I accompanied my friend Debjani, to drive to Katy, TX. Her parents live there and she had a medical appt. It is about a 6 hr. drive from here.

Traffic is one thing I don't miss in the city. I am glad I live in a trafficless area.

We stayed at her parent's house. And of course, I had to drag my mom along.

There's Debjani's mom and the nurse who takes care of her dad.

We ate at a Mexican Restaurant.

I had 2 kinds of chilis on my enchilada, green and red, and both were really good.

I was so surprised when the Mexicans came to sing "Happy Birthday" to me.

They even gave us sombreros to wear.

While Debjani was at her appointment, I went to Home Goods and went shopping. And boy oh boy! Did I go shopping! I filled Debjani's SUV trunk with stuff, lol.

We also bought crab and lots of seafood.

I bought shrimp, red snapper, red fish, bass and tuna steaks, in addition to the crab. Can you tell that we eat a lot of seafood?

Before finally driving home, we stopped by Todai to eat lunch. I couldn't believe Debjani has never been there as much as she loves Japanese food. I love sushi, do you?

Look! I am even wearing pink!

I had to get back a day before John and my birthday. I did not want him to spend his birthday by himself. Yep, we were born on the same day, 3 years apart. It was a short trip that we did not even have time to go sightseeing, but we had a lot of fun.
I was also glad to meet Debjani's parents for the first time and see his brother again.

Thanks for stopping by, y'all! And Happy Anniversary to Beverly's Pink Saturday again. Thanks for being such a gracious hostess! More power to the coming years!