how does my garden grow

without pesticides!

Being on two acres with 52 acres behind us of natural grasses, trees and wildflowers……I have a challenge. 
Especially when the grasshoppers start to show up!  I decided to start with a couple of tomato and pepper plants close to the house. 









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Brandon gave me back the camera he bought for me two years ago ….. since he is now way beyond the Nikon D40. View his photography at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kustomphotography/    I finally have to learn to use this camera instead of my point and shoot!  Starting simple.
     
Needing to work on my macro shots without a macro lens. 


Have a beautiful weekend ~Cheryl

sense of smell

Very few things transport you in time like your sense of smell. It is the oldest, most primal sense and the one most tied to memory.

I opened up the mail today and there was a perfume insert in a small catalog to a local department store.  It was Jennifer Aniston’s perfume.
 
 To me, it has a hint of Coppertone! 
 
I was immediately transported back in time.  Back to the 60’s. Back to being at the lake during the summers.  I see my daddy sitting in the fold up lawn chair…the one with the aluminum frame and wide nylon straps woven in and out. Smothered in Coppertone.  So handsome and tan. As handsome as the young Robert Wagner and smelling so good with Coppertone all warmed by the sun on his skin.  My daddy. That’s where I went…..like dreaming…..but so REAL for a brief moment.  A cherished memory.




My "movie star" parents !!  :) The 50's !!!



~Cheryl

patina repurpose

Garden art.  Check out the background.  Patina Headboard.  Purchased years ago on the coast of California at a garage sale.  Headboard and footboard with no rails.  Used in the garden in California for about 5 years and Texas for about 5 years.  Patina at it’s best.

Eventually, we knew that we wanted to bring it inside and use it in it’s original state in a guestroom.  Like many things in life, we were forced into finally doing it because we were “under the gun” to get our second guestroom set up. Family and friends would be coming in from out of town for Brandon and Megan’s wedding which took place this past October.

My husband creatively rigged up some angle iron for the side rails and painted them a dark brown to blend with the patina.  He then sprayed the headboard and foot board with a matte polyurethane to prevent the rust from getting on the bedding.  He cut some 1x4 hardwood boards for the slats for the mattress and (low profile) box spring to sit on.  And here is the outcome of our patina repurpose:

   

    
Cheryl ~

the drought is over … the lakes are full!

Hopefully it will be another 20 years before we have to go through what we went through last summer.  Sixty some days over 100 degrees and no rain.  Summer 2011 was the worst summer.  Summer 2012 = Boating Summer !!!!!!

Come on guys….lets get this red machine in the water!!!!!!

 

Admiring the homes on the lake.

So…….. should we sit on the upper, middle or lower level of the lawn?  REALLY?????? Ok, I'm a little envious!

Being on the lake just before dark ~ My favorite time.

 

Good night lake.

~oxcheryl

Table Numbers - DIY

DIY Table Numbers

These are the table numbers that I made for the wedding tables.  Since Brandon and Megan’s wedding was at a Vineyard and Winery, colors were purple and green and pastas were being served …. I chose pictures out of my last year's Tuscany calendar.

 

Calendars are great places to find “themed” pictures for minimal cost.  Most calendars are about $13. I just happened to use one I had.

Cut pictures to fit frame size.

 

I picked up these frames at the dollar store.  16 frames for $16 dollars! BARGAIN !!!!

I headed to Michaels to pick up some numbers or letters. I decided to use lettered tables to switch it up a bit.

With large dinner receptions, many brides and grooms choose to name their tables to help their guests.  While most couples choose to use numbers to name their tables, (its easy), you may want to do something different to show your individuality.  The table names you choose can be anything that you like. If you love your job, choose names much like your occupation, something that relates to your wedding reception, something exciting about your honeymoon, or even just things both you and your fiance love!

A box of glittered stick-on letters was about $6.

 

Rhinestones were also in the theme of the wedding so I bought a couple of packages of crystals to glue on the corners of the frames.  I needed two packages of crystals which ran me about $10.  I like the Swarovski Elements.

It just happened that the corners of the frames that I purchased had these little circles within the “scrolled” corners that the crystals fit in perfectly. 

Finished product: Sixteen 5x7 frames with picture, letters and crystals. My Total Cost: approx $35

Table G ~

HAPPY CRAFTING! 

~CHERYL

ps.  speaking of rhinestones, you can purchase rhinestones by the yard on ebay (here is the link).  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rhinestone-Cake-Banding-Ribbon-Trim-Wedding-Decoration-/330713151672?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d000a38b8

I needed to purchase 8 yards for the tiers of the wedding cake at $8 per yard.  These rhinestones were gorgeous!!!  There was no way to capture the actual glitter and shine in a photo….

 
 
BEST CRYSTAL CAKE TOPPERS ARE BY “TOPPERS WITH GLITZ”.  VISIT THEIR WEBSITE below.  They have been featured in The Knot, Weddings, Brides, and Modern Bride as well as on NBC and “E”.   http://www.topperswithglitz.com/monogram-cake-topper-pictures.pl
THEY ARE PRICEY…..BUT AGAIN, THE PICTURE DID NOT CAPTURE THE TRUE SHINE AND GLITTER OF THESE SWARVORSKI ELEMENTS CRYSTALS. By saving on the DIY projects you can spend more money in other areas like the cake topper!

most beautiful wedding part 2

There are hundreds of pictures I would like to share……. but I have tried to choose my favorites for you.  After searching wedding websites and photos day after day and long into the nights during the preparation of Megan and Brandon’s wedding …. searching for the details that make a beautiful wedding ….. being patient with decision making, we are proud of this wedding day! A beautiful bride, a gorgeous wedding, family and friends who all came together to witness the joining of two wonderful souls starting a new life together. But at the end of the day, it is the making of a new family ~ the reason for life …. the only reason for life ….. love.  That is what truly made this the most Beautiful Wedding.  The love of Brandon & Megan.

Details in Megan’s Lime Green/Purple and Rhinestone Wedding Day!




Brandon never had the chance to meet his grandfather, my dad … but he honored him by wearing his cufflinks on this special day. ox




Brandon and Megan took the more modern approach and she revealed herself to him in a private moment together before the ceremony.  He was obviously very pleased!  I love this picture!!





Brandon’s antique car really tied the wedding details together!






You all know my niece Drew, from my blog and as the x-factor contestant.  She sang “marry me” before the bride walked down the staircase.  We had this planned before she was the finalist on x-factor, and we all waited and waited for x-factor to release her to sing at the wedding.  At first they had said “no” … which we understood …. but of course we were very disappointed.  But, literally, a week before the wedding she got the “ok” and it was a beautiful performance which brought tears to the entire room!
   

My mom. Brandon and Drew’s grandma.


Details!


It’s all in the details …. a motto I follow. 

 

  
Megan’s girls that brought her to tears.




Brandon’s guys……. an amazing speech!


I think this is another one of my very favorite pictures!



The Bride’s Cake!



Groom’s Cake!



The vineyard in the background.



They say that it is “good luck” if it rains on your wedding day….  It didn’t rain entering the venue, but rained during the wedding, and stopped before the bride and groom left ~ how perfect! 


How can a bride be soooooo beautiful at the end of a VERY long day? …… Love.
The most amazing feeling ….

Perfection!



Have a wonderful life my children.  I love you.  Love Mom. ox