Heads Up...

I guess this post could be filed under several topics, but firstly it would have to be the top contender for "you don't know how wrong something looks until you photograph it and then put it out on the blog for thousands of people to see". The next category would be "coming super late to the party". 

The second category, first...

This is my first shot at Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

I know, I know....

don't judge me for being a little slow to get to the party.

LOVE this paint...

dried quick, distressed so easy,

but then you ALL know that don't you?

I've had a can of Old White for over a year, but when you have a husband that's sick

or any kind of family issue, most projects just don't happen...nope. not happening.

(He's much better, long road...but better.

Inner ear surgery for Meniere's Disease)

I've had this wonderful old piece of detailed wood hanging out in the garage for months, taunting me to get my rear in gear and paint it. 

but when I saw this photo (below) from a post I did back in March I cringed,

'cause the teensy header I had was lost on the door and flanking windows.

(btw, this post was my highest viewed post ever)

"Spring in the Entry"

So I finally got around to doing the deed and hopefully making the entry look a little more thought out. I love using old headers and furniture remnants to help beef up the moldings above the room openings. This space could use something even bigger, but until then, I think this will work.

Skinny moldings must have been all the rage in 1982...

This one is above the Entry in the Dining Room.

another smaller one heading toward the Kitchen.

Here is the culprit from the entry that found a new home in the Hallway, 

going into the Dining Room.

(I need to straighten it up a bit)

 from the Hall into the Powder Room

(and no, that's not dust on the door panels,

I just like a gray film all over things...)

But here's my fave baby of them all.

The hunky piece that got me started on this.

I swooned over those scallops.

In the Kitchen going to the Living Room.

That's just one little thing I can cross off my to-do list.

and a note from Tornado Alley...

we're all so so tired of this.

Joining in on these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

Knick of Time Tuesday

Have a great weekend,

xoxo,

Be Inspired # 142: Creating a Beautiful Life

Hi Everyone, and welcome to Be Inspired!

There are so many things I love about blogging, and getting to see parts of the country that I've not seen before is one of them. Jeanette from Creating a Life was in search of Lilacs, so she took us along on a family excursion and shared the sights of the day. She had two posts, that not only were filled with beautiful photos of her local Colorado scenery, but her kids were with her and I'm sure it made wonderful memories for them all.

Lilacs in May

On the Way to the Lilacs

from Jeanette at Creating a Life

More Lilac Inspiration from Susan
at Evelyn and Rose
Her posts are always like visiting your favorite magazine!

Full of vintage inspiration, this New Master Bath 

from Terry at Forever Decorating

Little Miss Maggie created this Lovely Rose Flower Bucket
from a graphic and added stenciling for a wonderful hand painted look.

Julie from Restyle Relove gave us a Restyled Dining Room Tour 
with Before and Afters.
What a wonderful new look!

Great ideas for a Patriotic Celebration Table this Summer

from Judith at Botanic Bleu

And for all you gardeners out there,
DIY Faux Chalkboard Garden Markers

from Jennifer at Thimbles, Bobbins, Paper and Ink

Jennifer also shared her yummy looking
Lemon Tart with Chantilly Cream
napkin please!

And today's Be Inspired is brought to you by Christie Scibior,
who has new designs in her shop that you'll love.
Watercolor Paintings, Prints, and Stationary
Here's a little collage sampling of what you'll find in her shop.

Thank you so much Christie!

Hope you'll join in on the party today,  Be Inspired is now open to all inspiring posts, not just Vintage. Please have a link to Common Ground within your post to be featured. And if you've ever been featured, feel free to grab the image below.

and while you're out check out these other fun Friday parties!

 Have a wonderful weekend,

xoxo,

Be Inspired Showcase and Hometalk's Country French Pinboard

So many great links last week! The warmer weather is getting us in the mood to redecorate, freshen our outdoor spaces, and find the weekend shows for some great shopping. Here are the Top Three Visited Links from last week, and let me just tell you, if you haven't read these following posts from the original blog, then you will for sure want to take a minute and click over to visit. So many great photos and inspiration in these wonderful links from Be Inspired last week!

Lucketts Design House Tour

from Housepitality Designs
(I have an old cedar chest that I've been wanting to transform.
This may be my inspiration)

Outdoor Room

at MT Tails
(you'll love the fun crate display on the back wall)

Grandma's Corner Cupboard

from Hymns and Verses
(Doreen was worried about painting this, but wow, it's fabulous!)

thanks ladies for joining the party!

Hope you'll join in tomorrow around 11:00 am Central Time.

Now, on to some more fun from Hometalk and Pinterest.

Do you get weak in the knees when you see images like the following?

Does your heart skip a beat at a curved table leg?

Do you want to take a trip to the French Fleas for some fabulous finds?

Do you love to browse Pinterest for inspiration?

if so, you might be a French Country Decor addict...

I know that I am!

Well, now you have a chance to be an "honorary pinner"

with some of the rest of us gals over at Hometalk.

Click on over to Courtney's blog,

French Country Cottage

and enter, for the chance to share your love for French Country!

see you over there!

xoxo,

A Vintage Flower Wagon

I've been seeing photos of some adorable vintage children's wagons being filled with flowers this Spring; some planted, others just holding the pots. I had this little guy, here, that I found a few years ago to fill with pumpkins and mums, but it was just sitting in the garage all forlorn, so I brought it out to the deck and decided to liven it up a little.

It's just not Summer without Red Geraniums, so I had to include a few of those, then Million Bells, Petunias, Lobelia and Marigolds. I wanted it to be bright and colorful, since the wagon itself is black.

It's not but just a few inches deep, so I had to use peat pots for the Geraniums and some of the others that were larger plants with more root base. Then I just filled the whole wagon with potting mix to help hold it all together. My husband drilled a few holes for drainage before starting, and that will help this Fall too, since water always collected in the bottom around the pumpkins.

My picket fence gate from the sunporch came out as a photo background.

Here it is last Fall on the front porch, and then a few others 

from my Pinterest Board, Wheelbarrows, Carts and Wagons.

LOVE the idea of using one for Herbs.

 I just have a few other things to get potted, 

most of it is done.

Now, I just get to wait and see them fill out.

I'll show you how it's growing in a few weeks.

Hopefully it will be spilling over the sides to cover up the pots.

It's been nice having more room on the deck now that the Monster Gas Grill has been adopted by the kids. We went to Academy Sports and Outdoors and found a little charcoal grill on sale yesterday. My husband said that he'd never thought of me as a "cheap date" until that purchase. Hey, doesn't take a lot to make me happy...sometimes.We grilled filets, and they were heavenly. But we've decided not to tell the kids that we went "cheapo" on the cooker. Bigger is better in their minds. Not me, I just want a steak that tastes like "steak".

joining in with these party gals:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at Ella Claire

Share Your Cup Thursday at Mrs. Olson
Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Simple and Sweet at Rooted inThyme
Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage
Funky Junk
Blitzed on Pinterest

Hope you're start of Summer was a good one!

xoxo,