sleepover at auntie's...

we had two little visitors come and stay with us...
we were kept busy and entertained.

it didn't take him long to figure out
that the high notes made auntie "happy"
and the low notes made her "sad".
he thought he was so fantastic!

but then he discovered his true talent...
singing twinkle twinkle.....
over and over and over again.
this boy loves his fans.

and he loves this old piano.
no one in our family actually plays...
but it is so worth having it around
for moments like these.

and just down the hall
it was my little dog whisperer...

she's good.
see how he sits...

oliver was so glad to have someone to play with

and i think she was having a pretty fine time too.
we all kept busy and
it seemed like we never sat still for very long...
i forgot how much little people drank
and ate and played and ran
and climbed and chatted...
a nice chance for this mama to do her job again.
i love my job
because i get paid with kisses and cuddles.

xox

finally finished...well nearly almost completely finished.....

when we moved into this house almost 5 years ago
it had one working washroom.
we have 2 daughters...
uh...not going to work for us...
so we found a way to turn a huge kitchen/dining area
into a kitchen, a hallway and a second washroom.
the washroom dimensions are tight
about 5x7
challenging, but do-able

so here's where the dresser fits into the story
(and the washroom)
it wouldn't have fit right if it had been even an inch more
it is perfect
additional storage, another surface
for their stuff and an extra mirror
(two girls)

here's a sweet shelf we picked up at the thrift shop
(i got to do some more spray painting)

cute flip flops...hey it's summertime in Muskoka!

between these two girls
we could open a shop...
lots of pretty little bits
this stand will help keep them from going missing

i love this enamel pot
theses girls sure go through the face clothes
and this is so handy sitting on the vanity counter

this project lasted a few years
but sometimes it's worth the wait
to make it exactly what you need
(still have a sparkly chandelier to install)
...so there you have it...
our small and cozy shabby cottage washroom

a ridiculously simple idea...

i wanted something simple over the fireplace for summer...
something cheap.
something quick.
something easy peasy...
i found a yard of fabric that i thought
would really bring a summer feeling to my room.
i paid about $5 for it.
we had a large white board stashed away
and i thought the size would do...

i duct taped it over the back of the board
(didn't want to see the contrasting frame through the fabric)
*DUCT TAPE PEOPLE*
biggest problem...
do i hang the stripes horizontally
or vertically?

it is LEANING against the wall...
no problem

we'll see how it progresses over the summer
might add some words
or some images
or i might not...
k.i.s.s.
(keep it simple stupid)
xox

wordless wednesday...not this time, i've got something to say!

for the first time in years
i am growing some tomatoes
...yum...can't wait...

i've been busy around here
weeding and planting
and getting the yard spiffed up.

i've also been working on this  project.
a few weeks back
i picked this dresser up from the side of the road
(yes neighbours...THAT ugly dresser)
but it was free
and it was made to fit. 

for a year or so
we've been on the hunt...
but nothing we found had the right dimensions...
so when we saw this we thought
"that looks pretty darn close"

not close...
bang on!
and it's solid wood,
but boy was it ugly...

it was a mustard colour with a coat of red under it.
the handles were not going to work...
i filled in holes and tried to smooth things out a bit.
at some point i just decided to go for a distressed look
because it was never going to be perfect.

good thing i'm a firm believer
that it doesn't have to be perfect
to be a beauty...
i even decided to add paper to the top
and roughed it up a bit.
I LOVE IT!

....just take a moment...
there's more.

this summer i am hooked on green
watch out...
'cause i've got a can of spray paint...

and i'm trigger happy...

this will be the last summer for the old picnic table
but i thought we could fix it
(hide the loose paint and rotting wood)
and make it work for a few more months.
i stapled a vinyl tablecloth to the top and the seats
and we are good to go!

too busy to cut the grass...
but that's ok
because the yard is full of wildflowers...
and i love them!

remembering 16...

this girl will be 17 before the summer ends...
i hope she remembers the good things
about being 16.

i hope it's the friends and the crushes,
the dances, sleepovers and fun.
i hope she remembers with pride
all of the things she accomplished.
the good job she did.
16 is big...
i remember it like it was yesterday...

the best friends i've ever had,
my first boyfriend,
a dreamy trip to a private school prom,
a life changing move, a broken heart...
and making new friends.
this was when i started to really learn the lessons
of making good choices...or bad.
listening to that little voice inside.
i wish i'd known then
what i know now.
be yourself
be yourself
be yourself
and your mother really does know
what it's like
to be 16...in a hurry to be 17.
xox

wordless wednesday...again so soon?