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ATTENTION!!! Please do not steal my content! ALL of the content on this page is property of Tootsie Time is not to be copied and used elsewhere unless with the expressed permission of Tootsie! There have been a lot of my photos found on various websites and none have permission. Removing the watermark is not permitted under any circumstances. My work is MINE to share, and should never be seen with someone else's name attached to it. That is stealing!

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Showing posts with label Tootsie's new start. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tootsie's new start. Show all posts

Saturday, January 8, 2022

The Knotty Seat

In your mind, imagine the sound of a telephone ringing.

“Hello?”

“Hi…nothing important, just working out in the yard. ……….ok….see you in a few”

And off I went.

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I arrived at my destination to see this: The tall one is my Dad…we call him Grampie…That little one…well…you guessed it…it’s Grammie…My mom.

They had to remove two huge trees that died and they wanted me to haul away the stumps. The old man next door to me wants them for his wood stove.

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Lets just say that the “little one” was not a happy Grammie…she was ticked about the loss of those trees…Isn’t she stylin and gorgeous today? I told my kid not to get too close…was fearful she might be wild! hahahaha!

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We loaded the first bunch to take to the guy next door. There would need to be two trips…for sure! These ones didn’t feel the least bit heavy. I was confident that I would be able to get this done quick and easy. Who would have thought this was gonna take a turn for the “silly”

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I know what you are thinking….

I just KNOW what you are thinking.

You are asking yourself how the heck I can be surprised that anything take a turn for the “silly” when this man is involved!!!

I know…hahaha….I kinda laughed too when I caught myself!

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The second load was stumps that had been cut so that if I wanted to use them for something in my gardens I could…if not I was supposed to drop them off for my neighbor to burn…with the exception of one piece. Ya…I said it…there was one piece that was reserved completely and totally just for me!

Scared yet???

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THIS is that piece…it is the KNOTTY SEAT! Grampie made it JUST FOR ME!

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See how happy the “short” one is that I have a Knotty seat??? Ya…Mother’s Day is just around the corner missy!!!

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We finished loading my truck…and I must say…those stumps are HEAVY!

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Grampie had to help this time…and we got smart and used a dolly.

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Grammie is super human and she just carried hers…hahaha!

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I tried my best to change the subject…I even tried the hey…look over there!!!…technique. It didn’t work…

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..I got sent to the Knotty seat. It is too tall for my legs…and it is a tad crooked…makes for a slightly uncomfortable sit…but hey…it’s a knotty seat…

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...at least the back is tall!!! hahahaha!

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Grampie made sure there was room in my truck for the seat…and off we went! They followed me home to help me unload…”cuz they are fairly heavy” was the excuse...

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I think they followed me home to make sure I kept the Knotty seat…ha ha ha!

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I did keep quite a few pieces…I will find some place to put them…if not…my neighbor can have them.

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Now I Just need to give some serious thought to find a spot for the knotty seat!

I hope you will tune in tomorrow when I will be coming to you live from the outside of my house! From this Not so secret location you will get a sneak peek at the changes I have made in my yard this weekend! I am using today to “tweek” them a little bit and get ready to share! Thanks so much for popping by today!

Until Next time……and Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. And once you have it, you might not know what to do next. After all…says you can roll a turd in powered sugar but that doesn't make it a jelly doughnut!

(¯`v´¯) `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. www.tootsietime.com

Friday, August 21, 2015

Best Door in the House

Welcome.   It’s been a while…I know.   Trust me, it feels like forever since we got to have some time together!   Life around here just seems to be so busy all the time that I am having trouble finding enough hours in the day just to do the things that are necessary!  
This week I decided to take a much needed break from my little company…(which is growing like a healthy child!) and have a decorating vacation!   Yep…I have been doing a little work on the inside of my house again.   It has been 4 years now…I think it is about time I just finished the bits and pieces of this place that are not quite done…and maybe freshen it up a little bit along the way.   Oh who am I kidding…I get bored looking at the same thing …and I MUST change it up here and there!
About a year ago I decided to do some painting in the house.   I chose two colors that were not white or cream…and I did some decorating.   It didn’t take long and I was in a total state of decorators regret!    Although I do like the colors…they just did NOT work for this house.   So…it’s time…again. 
NO…I am not sharing any photos of that paint faux pas…in fact I am not sure that I even have any photos of the darker colors…it was shortly after that painting adventure that my little company decided to go gang busters, and I haven’t had time to do much other than work!  
This week, while I was painting, I did a little purging…cleaned out the clutter…the old, the unwanted.   I had set out three baskets…one for donations…one for trash, and one for things that simply need to be relocated.   I am positive that all of the closets were thanking me for this.   All of them except the front door closet.  
The front door closet in this house has been my arch rival since the day we moved into this house.   The door…which was supposed to be a sliding bi-fold door…was a nightmare.   It would not stay on the track and would always swing all over the place and scratch up my floors…or just simply look ugly ALL the time.  I hate the closet doors in this house.   There…I said it, and no…I don’t regret it.  
What do the front door closet doors even look like you ask??
When we first moved in…just before I painted the house…
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I know right????   NASTY!   So I painted them all…and we changed that ugly front door out…since this photo…and…I have painted a couple of times…lol.  
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I somehow managed to delete any other photos that I had of the front closet doors…so I will use this one of the cleaning supply cupboard.   It is pretty much identical, so I am sure you will get the idea.
Instead of the doors sliding and folding…the whole thing just flops wide open!   I just could not stand it anymore and took matters into my own hands.
Within minutes the heavy, ugly uncooperative closet doors were TOSSED out into the back yard!….ok…well neatly stood up against the fence.  Hey…I didn’t want to damage the grass or anything!  
I then went to town on a very special pile that I had been trying to save for that ‘one special project’.   It only took about an hour and I had built myself a brand new Old Wood door!
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Ta-da!  My barn wood sliding door!   I love the new look!   The swarms of teenagers that are here on a regular basis love the new look!   Anyone I have shared it with…thinks it looks fantastic!   Even GRAMMIE liked it!  (and she is so NOT a barn wood decorator…she’s very frilly and lacy)   I have one more glider to put on that track…but otherwise it is finished!
…And that’s the end of the story!   Well…sort of…almost…ya…there will never be an end to the story around here!   I am plotting and scheming to replace some baseboards, trims and moldings here before I go in for a much needed surgery in the near future.  I want my house to be totally in order so that I can recover without delays because I couldn’t stand to look at something …well you know. :)
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I have some more project photos to share…but those are a story for a different day…so stay tuned!!!   This Tootsie has been on a roll!  :)
Until Next Time…Happy Junkin’/ Renovating/ Decorating!

*)*)*)…I’s sad that bullies have the misguided idea that they are so cool and that people are impressed by them. Bullies are the most uncool, pathetic people of all.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.
www.tootsietime.com
today’s post has been proudly sponsored by Chic-a-Boot
chalk board sticker
Check them out!

Monday, May 4, 2015

The Pink Antique Sofa Set …and the Dye.

Hey guys!   Long time no see from me hey?   I do apologize…I just have not had a choice.   Things in my world as of late have been hectic.   I have been struggling with some rather serious health issues…and have had to make a few concessions in my world to accommodate that.   My little family is growing up so fast, that I don’t want to miss anything with them…(and they are super busy)…My little company has gone gang busters, and I am so very busy with that, that I have no time to do much else.   I have been forced to learn to schedule my time by the hour…just to get things done every day!   This is a good thing…but it did take a big bite out of my ‘play time’.    But…as any good mother would tell ya…sometimes real life has to go before the junkin’ fix …I do plan, in the near future, to write a post to let you all in on what has been happening around here…but today is not the day…today…we are doing another fabulous project!!!
so…lets get started!
If you have followed me for a while, you know I love junk…and I love antiques.   I love to decorate with both of them…and that when I find the perfect piece…it must be mine!  You will also know that I always try to wait just a little while before I make a big change to a piece of furniture.   Especially if the change is to the upholstery.   I like to get a feel for it, decide if I am in love with it, and if I plan to keep it for a long period of time.   There are a few exceptions to my ‘think it over’ rule…but for the most part, I force myself to be just a little bit patient.
This project is not one of those exceptions to my rule.  
My story begins almost 3 years ago.   I was in an antiques shop in a little town not too far from home, and I found a loveseat and a sofa that I immediately fell in love with.   Sadly, I did not have anywhere to put a large antique sofa set and, had to leave them behind.  
I pined after these pieces …talked about them to my friends, children and anyone else who would listen to me…and still I did not think I could work them into my home…so at the antique store they stayed.   Months went by…and I never imagined they would still be in the shop…but they were…and I still loved them.
I spent a little time, trying to make the small settee that I had re-done a few years ago work for my living room…but sadly, it didn’t offer nearly enough seating for everyone that we have visiting us regularly…so I had made the decision to store it until one day I have a space that it will work in.   I finally had made room for my beloved set!   I called the store…excited to tell them to hold onto it until I could pick it up…AND IT WAS GONE!
Someone had bought my sofa set!  
I was ticked!   WHO deserved that set more than me?   HOW could this have happened?   I guess I will just have to live with my beautiful yet much too small setee …for now.
I had all but forgotten about the antique sofa set…I was kicking myself for not snatching it up when I had the chance…It was a really good price…and in very good condition.  I thought that the set was meant to be mine.  
When Christmas arrived and we were all sitting on random chairs and stools and the floor, I mentioned that I wish I had purchased that set…it would have been perfect for all of us to sit in.   15 minutes later, I opened an envelope that had a photo of my beloved living room set in it!  
The very next day, the sofa set was moved into my living room where it sat for the last couple of years, (with me contemplating it over and over again…)  and it is still there.
I suppose now would be a good time to share what it looked like….right?
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THIS is the sofa.  The loveseat, (photo did not turn out) is the exact same…only smaller of course.  
(To be honest, I never really got a lot of photos of this set…between my recent health issues, my little company, the kids, work, and life in general, photos kind of were one of those things that didn’t take priority. )
Back to my story…
I love the bones of this set.  Now…take a good look at this photo.   Can you tell exactly what it is about this piece that I absolutely was NOT in love with?
Here…I will share it again.
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WHAT about this sofa do YOU think I am not loving?
Well?   Did you see it?
IT IS PINK!
Ya…I am NOT a pink girl.   My sister is a pink girl…Busy is a pink girl…millions of other girls are in love with pink…but Tootsie….not so much.
The other day, while I was at my desk working, I looked up, and there it was…in my earth toned living room looking pinker than ever…I finally make the decision that the PINK HAD TO GO!  
…the only issue I now had…was that I don’t have a lot of spare time to play around and re-do the upholstery.  
Because I am a busy single mom…(and about a million other things right now)…I decided that I would take a very big risk and try to simply update this sofa set.   The pink has got to go…and slip covers won’t do the job.   I decided to dye it.
Off to the store I went…to pick up the supplies I would need.   I have never done anything like this before…so I wasn’t quite sure what I would need…not to mention, I live in a tiny little town that hasn’t got a whole lot of options to offer…so I got what I could…and took the leap of faith. 
The whole time I was spraying on the dye formula, I kept telling myself…that the worst that could happen would be that I will have to bite the bullet and shop for some fabric to cover this sofa and love seat.  
I am pleased to say…
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It turned out fantastic!!!
All I did was purchase several boxes of fabric dye powder (there was no liquid dye available to me so I took what I could get)   I then put down a LOT of garbage bags to protect the floor below....yes...this is a very messy project.
I mixed the dye fairly strong and added some salt to help it set.  I wanted a color in the olive/khaki/brown family...so I decided to mix equal portions of dark brown dye with forest green dye.   I also took into consideration that the dye mixture would have to mingle with the dusty rose/pink that was already on the sofa...and figured that it would be great if in some places a little more of the pink would show than in others.   I also was prepared for different shades showing up in areas that were more faded or worn than others.
Put the mixture into a spray bottle…and started to spritz it on!      I made sure the entire surface was saturated with the mixture…and left it to dry overnight.  
In the morning, I took out my carpet cleaner, and mixed up a cold water/vinegar solution to run over the whole thing with.   This step pulled any excess dye out …and helped prevent dye from transferring to our clothing.   Once that step had dried…I sprayed it all down with scotch guard…and we were good to go!
I love the way the whole thing turned out…It was a fairly long and involved process…but was just a fraction of the cost and time that it would have taken to have re-upholstered the set.  
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Now….my antique sofa set looks wonderful in my earth toned living room…and I can work without the distraction of the PINK sofa screaming at me to change it up!     My antique sofa set can sit like this until I find the perfect fabric to cover it in…and the time to do it!  Yay!!!  Maybe by that time, I will have been able to get the dye that stained my hands off.  haha!
It is difficult to see the exact color of the new look...it is an olive brown...but it looks different in different light...in some light you can see more green tones...and in other light...greyish brown...I love it!
I still need to do a little something to the wood on this set…but that will be a post for another day. :)

That’s all I have for you this time…but very soon I will share what I have growing in the greenhouse…and possibly (time and energy permitting) I will be able to share more of the inside of my little house.
Until next time….Happy decorating!

 *)Unless you're ready for what comes around... Perhaps you should not go around in the first place!  You only end up being the laughed at!  (you know who you are)  “hugs” :)

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

today’s post has been proudly sponsored by Chic-a-Boot
                                                    chalk board sticker
Check them out!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers June 7/13 & (Back Yard Renovation Part 2)

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WELCOME!

Do you know what day it is???

It’s Friday !!!! 

Friday is a BIG day for us here at Tootsie Time…(ok, just me…there is no one else here…lol)  It’s a big deal because it means it’s PARTY TIME!!!!
Fertilizer Friday is the day of the week than an ELITE group of gardeners from all around the world get together, snap photos, link up and Flaunt Their Flowers!!!

If you are new to Tootsie Time and Fertilizer Friday, I just know you are asking yourself…”How do I join?”
Well…it’s easy really. Here’s all you need to know to become a part of this great group of gardeners, bloggers and friends:

If it is spring or summer where you live, you need to snap a few photos of what you have growing, blooming or just love to look at that is of the plant variety…if it is winter where you live, you may post past favorite photos…or indoor plants…whatever you like.

The only criteria is that it is a plant or something growing!

You do not need to use fertilizer to participate in this party, but if you do, this is the reminder to fertilize weekly!

All I ask is that: Your post must include the logo above and/or a link to Tootsie Time, or the linky will be deleted.

So?????....I would like to invite each and every one of you to join in and share your photos...
 
This week I am going to share the beginnings of my back yard.  I shared the first part a few days ago and have been working like a bugger to get far enough along in the project to share another installment with you!
 
I also have been busy working on a very challenging garden for a client.  I have never done a yard/gardens without using flowers before.   Mostly I am re-purposing a few items, transplanting and relocating some perennial foliage plants and designing vignettes in different spaces in the yard.  I haven’t been home much the last week or so, and I can honestly say that when I do make it home, I am pooped!   This is most of the reason that I have only made it around to 1/2 of the party people from last week!  I am so sorry guys…I need a clone of me to do everything I need to do every day before I collapse of exhaustion!   I am so grateful that my kids have been so good about doing chores and making life a little easier for their old mom.
 
Anyways…I am excited to share my own garden with you today…it’s not finished yet…but take a look!
 
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If you remember, we ripped down this rotten old shed…
 
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Which left me with this mess of dead grass from the neighbors dogs, and from the shed being there. 
 
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We also moved this little tin shed…
 
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To a temporary position on the gravel pad…
 
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Which left me with this mess…
 
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And all the mess that goes along with the move.  LOOK at the piles of junk just sitting there!
I was overwhelmed by the stuff sitting there at first…
 
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As I was sitting on the back steps staring at this pile of  “stuff” trying to figure out where I would even start…I had an idea!  There was inspiration in this pile of junk!!!
 
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I set my sights on the big empty space… all dead and ugly… layed my garden hose out as an approximate guide…and got to work.
 
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Before I knew it, I had a shape…and a very big flower bed!   I salvaged what sod was any good…(as you know, I need all the green grass I can get at this point…)
I worked up the soil and got my edges dug out. 
 
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I then put some old plastic garden edging across the back side to hold my soil inside the fence line.  
I am READY to create!
 
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I started out by moving the pile of  “stuff” into separate  places…to get it off my lawn and to sort through it a bit.   This wood is garbage wood.  It is just horrible!  It will not burn no matter what you do.  It just sits in the fire and does NOTHING!   It would never be burned…but it does have a certain appeal…so I used it…and a lot of other things that most people would consider trash! 
 
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I took that stack of wood…and sorted out what would never be burned…and stacked it in the corner of the flower bed.   I put a large stump in behind that pile of wood and set a pot on top of it.  I hung a few hooks on the fence posts and added hanging baskets, and the rest was easy!
 
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I needed a way to walk into this huge flower bed to get to the pots I put on the fence and in the basket of the iron bike I added to the scene.  so…I used some of the wood logs!  I just dug them into the soil so that they are all even and level to step on.  I like it!
 
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You will notice that I used another old tree stump and that rusted out old iron headboard.  I also brought in a very rusted out wash tub and a sign to accessorize a little bit.  I am not ready to break out the annuals!!!
 
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In just a couple of hours this bed was PLANTED!  I have a little of this and a little of that in here…everything from alyssum and pansy to dahlia and geranium….If I had it in the greenhouse, it seems to have made it into this bed!
 
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I needed to turn my attention to the ugly dead grass in front of my new  “Rust-ic Flower Bed”
 
 
013I leveled and pieced and seeded the lawn…I watered and nursed and waited and waited… and WAITED…
Today…I am STILL waiting…
 
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…Not only are the flowers catching and starting to grow…
 
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…but my grass seed has started to sprout…and things are looking MUCH greener!   I am excited to see how this bed will progress and what it will look like in a few weeks!
 
I still have a huge project growing on with the rest of the ugly spaces that were left behind when we moved the shed…but that…I will save for another day.  
 
My Flaunt for today is done…so now it’s YOUR TURN! 
 
This brings us to the end of my flaunt for this week…and YOU know what that means!!!

That means…I can’t wait to see what you have!

Well…what are you waiting for???

GO!!!

Get your flaunt on!!!

I wish all of you hugs and smiles, and safe and happy weekend plans!

Thank you all so much for dropping in today, and to those that faithfully link in to this party…and who are patient while waiting for me to FINALLY visit you…it seems there are not enough hours in a day anymore...THANK YOU!

Until Next Time... Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   The true colors of a person comes out when no one is watching, those who are willing to join you in lies and deception  will help to corrode your soul.

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

www.tootsietime.com

All of my house and garden plants are planted in Sunshine potting mediums.  
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