MONTAUK STATE PARK & A LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH...

The Memorial Day holiday was filled with all kinds of fun things for our family. We had BBQ's and good times both at church and with family.  We also spent a family day out on Saturday at Montauk State Park where we picnicked and played in the waters of The Current River.

As I mentioned in my post the other day, we live right in the heart of Missouri's Ozark Scenic Riverways, which is in my opinion, some of the most beautiful country there is. We are truly blessed to have a multitude of nice parks and areas of recreation right outside our backdoor in every direction. LITERALLY!  We are surrounded by rivers.  We have the Meramec River, Gasconade River, Current River, Huzzah, Black River, Jacks Fork, Big Piney River, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Niangua River, Bourbeuse River, and on and on and on!

Anyway, today I thought I would share a few pictures of our day at Montauk State Park with you.

The first thing you see besides river upon entering the park is this gorgeous old mill with it's beautiful patina...

I absolutely love things like old mills, cabins and covered bridges so this mill was the highlight of my visit here at the park.  It's too bad it wasn't open so I could have a peek inside.

The kids got a kick out of hand feeding the fish at the trout hatchery they have there...

I thought I took more pictures of that part but I guess not, so no up close pictures of the fish...BOO!

Sis's flip flop broke so she stayed at our picnic area while the bubs and I went for a walk alongside the river where there were lots of people trout fishing.  I think you can tell by this picture that the bubs was just a little too happy that his sis was not going to be able to come play with us...He's so ornery!

One of our favorite parts at this part of the river is the waterfall...

Though it's man made it's still pretty and the bubs was just dying to walk on top of it like the fishermen.

Of course, I said no because I really did not want to have to go swimming when he fell off. hehehe. I know I am SUCH  party pooper!

It was nice that there were lots of little areas to stop off for a rest along our walk...

And some areas that the bubs could get in the water and splash around a little.

Don't it look like they are walking on water?...

Too funny!!

We had such a nice time there and on our way home we got an extra little surprise when we stumbled across this cute old country church.

I'm not sure how old this little church is but what is amazing is that it is still in operation. Yes, they still have mass every Saturday at 3:30 p.m. according to their sign.

The reason we stopped is because it was just so cool and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take pictures of this neat old building (see I told you I love old buildings), the cute little gardens and other areas that someone has so lovingly taken the time to care for.

The entrance...

 I would have loved to have seen the Wisteria growing on the entrance when it was in bloom.  I know it would have been soooooo gorgeous!

 Thank you Jesus for the cross!!!

This is just a few of the gardeny areas they had on the church grounds and the parish grounds were even more gorgeous but we weren't sure if we were trespassing or not so the hubs wouldn't let me go that far or take any pictures there.  Awww!

Anyway, we had the best day. The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cool, just PERFECT and we overall had a GREAT day spending time in nature with each other. Now isn't that what life is all about...or at least it should be!

If you would like more information on Montauk State Park go HERE, and if you would like to visit the little country church, it is located about 15 miles southwest of Salem, Missouri off Highway 119. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!

P.S. We missed a baby shower AND a cousin's graduation party that day in order for the hubs and I to spend quality family time with our kiddos. I hope no one is mad at us or offended because of that but we have decided that we are going to spend valuable time with our children every weekend this summer. We rarely get vacation time and we go to church on Sundays so that only leaves Saturdays to spend time together. Please forgive us if you plan an event on a Saturday this year and we don't show up. It's not because we don't like you! It's because life is short (and getting shorter by the minute when you reach our age), time is in short supply and money is tight (sorry we cannot give gifts either) and our kids deserve special time with us too. Thanks for understanding!

$12 + 4 RUSTY WHISKEY BARREL RINGS = ONE FABULOUS GARDEN SCULPTURE...

So, how was your holiday weekend?

All I can say is we SURVIVED yet another holiday weekend here in "tourism" Missouri.  Yes, I say "survived" because we live smack dab in the middle of Missouri's Ozark Scenic Riverways and passing through our little town is the only way to get to those scenic riverways. Needless to say, the traffic here is a NIGHTMARE on holiday weekends.

Everyone starts driving in from the city on Thursday afternoon and when it's time to go home on Monday it looks like a mass exodus around here.  No kidding!, but while I hate the touristy part of it all, I really do love living here. It's simply beautiful, and other than the traffic, we had a terrific weekend enjoying some of our areas beautiful scenic riverways too.  I hope to share some of that later in the week.

Today I want to share a little project I worked on over the long weekend. It's something that I have been wanting to do ever since I found these awesome rusty whiskey barrel rings at my favorite local flea market a few months ago.

I got all four for just $12.

I knew from the very moment I saw them what I wanted to make with them...

A nice big metal orb "sculpture" for the yard.

I wanted to drill holes and use bolts and nuts to hold it all together but I got lazy and decided to just wire it together with bailing wire instead. Besides the hubs was too busy working on his boat to help me with it. The wire worked but it's not as secure as I would like it to be so I will probably (eventually) redo it with bolts and nuts. I really like how it turned out though and you can't beat a nice BIG "garden sculpture" for just $12.

Oh, by the way, did you notice that the cardboard weed barrier is all covered up? We finished laying mulch Friday evening and I got a few more things planted over the weekend. I will be back to share some pictures with you soon.

Ciao,

MY YARD LOOKS LIKE A CARDBOARD FACTORY THREW UP ALL OVER IT!...

HELP!!!  A cardboard factory threw up all over my yard!!!

NOT!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Y'all!

While most people are going out of town and planning fun events for the Memorial Day Holiday I will be finishing up the massive planting bed that goes halfway around the house.

Yes, you should feel sorry for me....whaaaa!

Naw, just kidding, I will be finishing the planting bed but it should be done by sundown tonight. All I really have left to do is spread the mulch which shouldn't take long and then we will be ready to do some fun stuff.

First though, before I take off for the holiday weekend, I wanted to show you our progress on this garden. We started by tilling and getting rid of all the grass and weeds that had overtaken the place. I have no true before pictures of that, though you can see a little bare ground here...

You might be wondering what's up with all the cardboard.  WEELLLLLLL....Lemme tell y'all about it...

It's an all natural, biodegradable, FREE weed barrier. A lot of people used to use that black fabric or plastic commercial weed barrier, you know the kind, to control weeds in their gardens. However, those are not anymore effective at keeping weeds at bay than newspaper or cardboard. They are more expensive, harder to use and they are BAD for the soil because it smothers all the living organisms that promote plant life.

Now with everyone being so conscientious about going "green" they are using more natural products in their landscaping too...and for good reason. Newspaper and cardboard are not only all-natural (because they come from trees) but they are also biodegradable and...they help to produce and richer more nutritious soil for your plants as they degrade. Oh sure you may have to add another layer in a few seasons but that is not a hard job and they are quite good (or so I have been told) at keeping the weeds away. There will be a few weeds at times from weed seeds that blow in from the wind but those will not be able to take root (because they will not come in contact with any soil) so they will pull out easy.

I have read a lot of good things about this procedure so I am looking forward to seeing how it all works out.

Have you ever used newspaper or cardboard in your landscaping?  If so, how'd it do? I'd love to hear all about your results.

Not to get off subject or anything but, I will be getting a few more plants for this area and...boy aren't the dwarf roses and fountain grass doing good? Ha, I love it.  They have filled in so nicely!

Okay back to the cardboard...the reason I am doing all of this is because I know first hand that mulching alone does NOT do the trick.  Of course you all probably already knew that.

I used mulch down both sides of the sidewalk last year (remember this)...







Looked great but I have had to weed at least once a week since then. (or when I get the chance) and you should see how horrible it looks now since I haven't weeded in well over a month.  It's HORRENDOUS! I didn't take any current pictures because I didn't want to scare you away.

Anyway, I am going to put a layer of cardboard down the sidewalk too...as soon as I get the chance, but I don't think that will be this weekend.  Why? Because....I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING A FUN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND with the family.

You do the same, mmmkay!

 Ciao,

VINTAGE CONTRACTOR'S BOX TURNED INDUSTRIAL CART STYLE COFFEE TABLE...

As I mentioned last week when I showed you this design board for the screened porch, I already had a few projects in the works to make it come to life.







One of those projects is a DIY rustic industrial cart style coffee table.

I was going to make my own table and add wheels to it like the one shown on my design board but when we were out on a family outing a few Saturdays ago I stumbled across the perfect rustic industrial style "table"...already built ...

It's a vintage contractors toolbox and it is PERFECT...the perfect size, perfect rusticness, perfect industrialness...PERFECT!!! It even has hidden storage for things like games, books and magazines, which I will show you some other time. All it needed was wheels.

I scoured the web and found these 4" caster wheels on sale for just $14.99 for all four, which is an incredible deal...most wheels this size are $15+ per wheel.  OUTRAGEOUS!!!

I attached the wheels last night and VIOLA'....instant rustic industrial cart style coffee table for the porch...

I love it, don't you?

It looks simply FABULOUS out here!

I have several more projects in the works to get this porch all Summerized but it might be a while before I get to any of the rest of them.  Why, you ask? Well, because last night the hubs decided to till up this flower bed that wraps from here in the front of the house, around the screened porch and all the way to the back door.





Now I am going to have to focus all my attention on preparing, mulching and planting this bed until it's done . UGH!

Don't worry though, no matter what I'm doing, I'll be sure to share.

Until next time, have a fabulous week, oh and a Happy Memorial Day if I don't see you before then.

Ciao,

MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY...A NEW SIGN FOR THE PORCH...

You all are going to think I am "sign happy" when I tell you that I have hung yet another sign around this house. Yes that's right, ANOTHER sign!  This one is for the screened porch and actually I have had it for a couple of years, long before all the other signs were even dreamed up.  It's true!

When I saw it at the thrift store for $3.00 I couldn't pass it up because I knew it was simply perfect for the porch and shares my EXACT sentiments for spending quality time with friends and family. It has been waiting ever so patiently in the attic for the screened porch to be done.

Now that the porch IS finally done, I pulled the sign out of the attic the other day and gave it a quick makeover. It was sporting those 1990's hunter green and burgundy colors.  Remember those? Yes, I know you do! Anyway, those colors were the only thing about the sign that wasn't perfect and that did not work with what I have had in mind for my sweet little porch. It's just too bad I don't have any before pictures to share with you. I guess I was just TOO excited about this project that I started the makeover before pictures even crossed my mind. BAD BLOGGER!

The makeover was super easy. I simply sanded the sign down to bare wood, stained the words and frame with Minwax provincial, sanded again painted the relief white and then sealed it.

Now it's absolutely perfect for my soon to be rustic luxe style screened porch and shares MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY...

I  hear the weather is going to be really nice this week.  Especially nice for sitting on the porch. Why don't you stop on by. We'll SIT LONG & TALK MUCH about anything your little ol' heart desires.

Ciao,

I PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE MOOD BOARD FOR THE SCREENED PORCH...

Howdy!  Have you all been enjoying the lovely weather this week?  I sure am.  While the temperatures have been a little cooler this week, I am thinking of summer and mostly about my summer touches on the screened porch.

I am SOOOO thrilled that the porch is finally able to be used and since hot humid weather is just around the corner I want to decorate the porch in cool summer whites with some sandy, beachy, driftwood tones, a little mercury glass and sparkle and a few other beachy elements.

I am going for somewhat of a rustic luxe feel and I already have a few things in the works.

The main thing will be to cover my existing patio furniture cushions in drop cloth fabric. I hope I can get to that soon.

In the meantime I have thrown together a little mood board for inspiration.

What do you think?  Do you like?  I want the porch to have a cool and relaxed atmosphere.  I think this will do the job!

I hope everything works out like I envision it and that it comes together quickly.

I hope to be back soon to share a little something I already have in the works.

Have a great week!

WELCOME TO MY PORCH...

The porch is FINISHED y'all!  YAYYYYY!!!

I am so excited to share a little peek of it with you today. I can tell you that I still have some decorating to do so don't judge too harshly. I need to find another small side table and tweak some things but at least the porch is finally usable and COMFORTABLE!

I can also tell you that it is going to be one of those tight, small spaces that is EXTREMELY difficult to photograph....so sorry for the not so great pictures. Some of the poor photography, okay a lot of it, is my amateur fault and because I was too lazy to get out the big camera with zoom lens and tripod, but most of it is because it's just such a small space. Today we are blaming it ALL on the small space, ummkay!

Anyway, we have enjoyed sitting out here every evening since I finished everything up on Tuesday.  WE LOVE IT!!!

Even the kids love it and have been using it A LOT. The bubs, my sweet boy, was even taking a nap out here the other evening when I came home from work. Awww, seeing him there made every ounce of hard work, time and money spent on this project worth it.  It's exactly why I have wanted to get this project done. I want my family to use and enjoy every space in...and out...of our home.

Like my little reading nook?  It's perfect for thumbing through magazines or reading the newspaper and has quickly turned into the hubs favorite spot too.  Should've seen that coming, ugh!  He has been spending every chance he gets there looking through his Bass Pro wish book. He wants a new boat motor. Yeah, I told him he's gonna have to wish on. Hahaha.

In terms of design I have great plans for this little porch. I want it to have a rustic luxe feel to match the changes I am making in the rest of the house. One of the main changes I hope to make this year is changing out the cushion fabric. That is if I can get to it this year. The to do list is already long and getting longer by the minute, hehe...but, if I do get around to recovering them, I think I will be using drop cloth. It's durable and inexpensive.

I am looking for some tree stumps to use for side tables (or extra seating) and I have a few DIY projects in mind too, like a nice beverage station for those hot summer days when I want some nice cold lemonade or tea. Sounds great, right?  Yeah, I can't wait, until then though I am truly ENJOYING what I have.

It's supposed to rain all weekend but I will still find time to relax on the porch. If you have a little free time stop on by and watch the rain with us from our DRY, bug free porch.  We'll make room for ya!

Ciao,