Challenge Taken Part 3: Willow Corner

If you are just tuning into this series, you can access parts one and two by clicking here.   If you have been following along…lets get started!

When last we met here, I left you with a preview of the area at Mr. and Mrs. P’s farm I like to call Willow Corner. 
It’s not a terrible space the way it is…but it could use a little “something” to make it fantastic…don’t you agree?

I stared and stared at this space.   I racked my brain…Mrs. P wants this area to be a vignette that says relax…a still life that represents both nostalgia and a new beginning.   
The space used to be filled with wild flowers and perennial plants.   It is now just a turned soil area where the windbreak of trees meets the rest of the yard.  The flowers in this space were removed, as Mrs. P simply didn’t have the time, the energy or enough interest to maintain and care for them.   We all know that a neglected garden is a mess, and Mrs. P hates mess.
So…This space needs a low maintenance Tootsie Touch.

The chairs and little table will stay.  That is a given.   I need to add some interest to this space and still keep the rustic feeling of this area…hmmmm.

I remembered a bit of a conversation I had with Mrs.P earlier that week.   She said they love the way the pine trees make their own ground covering…like a carpet below them.   This gave me an idea!  I will make a primitive floor for this space!
I ran to the junk pile and got myself busy!

Once I got things going, and decided on the round rather than the square posts…I was good to go…this space started to flow…and it just kept getting better and better as the time went on!

I had tried a little of this and a little of that in this space…what didn’t work got stuck over here in the corner, to  wait for me to either find it a home, or put it away.  At one point Mrs. P walked up to see how I was doing and noticed it.  She thought I did that on purpose and likes it right where it is…so it stays!

I added a few more pieces of junk to that area…and some driftwood that they had collected on vacations from years past…I also moved a large concrete paver to this space.   It was one that the grandchildren had made with hands and feet prints.   This area became a bit of a memory garden so to speak.

…It seems that this entire area just got a little bigger!  lol
Mr. P is VERY protective of ALL of his trees….so there was NO pruning of any kind happening…I needed to be able to work around them…and I did.   Around, Under, Between and Beside… I even managed to find inspiration in them!  
This space is looking “okay” but not floating my boat the way I want it to ….YET.
It feels like something is missing.  

Ahhh….that’s much better.   I added an archway, and a few plants.  Those ferns that everyone loves so much are coming in very handy!!!   I will plant a vine in the archway…and talk Mrs. P into a couple of potted flowers…and that should finish my space!

I added one last thing.  I put a carpet of pine needles and cones in the wood floor, and added a few little special things here and there.  Mrs P loved it!

I just can’t seem to get the photos to make this space appear the way it does in person.   It is beautiful…calm and loaded with family memories.  It is exactly what Mrs. P wanted it to be.   She loves the potted flowers…loves the ferns …and is pleased as punch with the entire thing in general!
Next up…

Granny’s Garden.   This is going to be a challenge!!! 
Stay tuned…You will probably be surprised at the finished project!

That’s it for me today…I have loads to do today and need to get started!
Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   Never regret doing something that made you happy..

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


www.tootsietime.com

Did you miss part 1 and 2?

Part one of challenge taken:  The Bike, the Cream Can and the Tree.

Part two of challenge taken:  Birdbath corner

A Challenge Taken. Part 1: The Bike, the Cream Can and the Tree.

A while back, Grammie  (my Mom for those who are not familiar with this site yet)  decided that Tootsie needed to put some business cards for Tootsie Time on the counter at the store she owns, so that people can see this site.

I made some up and set them on the counter for her customers to pick up as they paid for their shoes, and that is where today’s story will begin.

A little more than a week ago, a regular customer, and VERY nice lady was in buying a pair of shoes.  ( we will refer to her and her hubby as Mr. and Mrs. P )  She picked up my Tootsie Time card and took it home.  That evening, she had a little bit of spare time, so she decided to take a peek at what goes on here!   As it turns out, she loved what she saw enough to email me and ask me to come out and “Tootsie” up the joint a bit!  Needless to say, I graciously accepted.


A few days after her email, I drove myself out to the family farm where she and her husband live.   We met, chatted and toured around their home site, discussing a few areas that she would like me to Tootsify.   Normally being asked to do my thing in someone else’s yard is a huge undertaking, but it is not it the challenge of my skills that this task was going to be.  Mrs. P wants me to Tootsie around in her yard, wants her “junk” placed into vignettes that I am to create, she and wants it all low maintenance…with no flowers.  
Did she say NO FLOWERS?????   

NO FLOWERS!!!!

How on earth am I going to pull this off with NO FLOWERS???

Never in history has there been a Tootsie project done that didn’t include flowers!!!


This is a beautiful yard.  Simple, Mature and very clean.  There are a million beautiful little spots that could become fabulous here!   Mrs. P has chosen just a few of these special areas to be spruced up…just a little.  This tree line is one of those spaces. 

During my tour of the yard, Mrs. P showed me her stash of special “junk” that she had saved over the years.  There were old windows, antique cream cans, little nick- naks and best of all…her pride and joy…a lovely old bicycle.   I was instantly inspired to get busy!

The next morning bright and early I got myself out of town and onto the hi-way to begin my new project.   I had lots of time to collect my thoughts on the way there because it is approximately 40 minutes from home.   This was perfect…I could make a bit more of a plan on the way there.   There is just one little thing I am very nervous about…HOW on earth will I make this work with NO FLOWERS????

I arrived…and was instantly greeted by a very excited Mrs.P.   She could hardly wait to add a little bit of new interest to her yard spaces!   She chatted a little bit and then I went off to do my “thing”

This yard is rather large…and I needed to make some pretty happen along the drive way up to the house…as she was concerned that it was too “boring”.  

I got into the shed where the “good stuff” was stored…and pulled that wonderful old bike out.   Mrs. P adores her old bike.  She really wanted it to stand out and have a special place in the garden.   Fortunately, I have a big imagination, and a plan already formulated.   I dragged the old bike down from the back of the yard all the way to the beginning of the drive way, stood back and looked at where I originally wanted to put it…and HATED IT!


I wanted to place it here!   Under a tree!   I looked horrible there!   Think Tootsie …THINK!   As I stood there looking at the bike, trying to realize a new plan, I looked to my right…and saw the most beautiful spot.


What a beautiful old tree!!!   The dappled shade and all the surrounding shrubs and trees make this space PERFECT for the wonderful old bicycle!   I literally was giddy with excitement!  It is a darned good thing Mrs. P was busy doing other things, she would have thought me insane with the way I was talking to myself!

I grabbed the bike…placed it up against the tree…and zipped myself up to the back of the yard for some more “junk” and a piece of firewood I spotted in the wood shed during my tour.

Ta-Da!!!!   This is what I ended up with!   I added the cream can, old wooden pot, and that tree stump.   I also raided another area of the  yard for a few maiden hair ferns.   I LOVE IT!!!!  The ambiance of this area is perfect to just BE.   So…


I added a chair!

Now that’s more like it!

I just needed to talk Mrs. P into a few flowers…just a couple…and I will be finished here.

Even if she says no to the flowers, This space will still be wonderful…but…I am Tootsie…and Tootsie NEEDS flowers, like she needs air…so…I offered a few small flowers…and…


She graciously accepted.

WHEW!

That was close..ha ha…  Not as many flowers as I usually add to things, but hey…it’s a start.   I will eventually turn this sweet lady into a flower fiend like me!  



Mrs. P LOVES the little vignette!

If you are wondering what the bright green rectangle off to the upper right of the photo is, it is a little touch of humor that we added from her stash of things she wanted to use in the garden.


Isn’t it cute?   It just added a little fun to this space.


I love the feeling this space gives as one looks at it. 


Peaceful, Graceful, Calm…just what Mrs. P wanted!

So far so good…I managed to Tootsie with almost no flowers…

Off to the next space in the yard!


What ever did I do here?  

Stay tuned…I will reveal the Tootsi-fied look tomorrow!

What?   You didn’t think I was going to share it all today did you???   What fun would that be?  :) 

Thanks for popping in today…I can’t hardly wait to share what this little space looks like after I played with it!   See you here tomorrow…!

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*)   The common 'eye' only sees what's visible on the outside, and judges by that. The loving eye pierces through the visible and reads the heart and the soul.

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

Back Yard Renovation…part 1 An Evening Of Demolition

Remember the old shed that was in the yard when I moved here?  I cute-ed it up with flowers…


I am sure you do…I also know you will remember the Red Neck Shed Move post…  Man was this bugger heavy!!!  That was also the day I introduced you to my cowboy…  we sure did have fun that day!


Well…  One evening last week, GRAMMIE decided that it was about time that this moldy old shed would go!   Those who know her…know that when my mother decides something…  its done.  She does NOT mess around.
With her mind made up…  she grabbed Grampie, and dragged him over to our house…  and got things on the go!


Grampie and my Cowboy got to work straight away… removing the siding and dismantling this old shed.  
We did have high hopes of just dismantling the shed, and putting a new foundation under it…  but sadly…  it is rotten almost everywhere! 
Pretty much the entire structure has to go.


EVERYTHING that was in the shed was moved to my greenhouse!!!
EEK!!!
My baby is a mess!


Grammie also suggested that we move this shed too.
I worked SO hard to build the base for this shed to sit on last spring…  and now we are moving it???
It has to be done…  this tiny shed is also going to be leaving the property…  it isn’t functional for us, and it is not terribly attractive…  I will give it to someone who can use it once we build a new one.


The little tin shed was picked up and quickly moved onto the gravel pad.
EASY PEAZY! 


OH NO!!!  
WHERE are you going Grammie ???? 
These old poops are hard to manage anymore…  they are ALWAYS into mischief…   ESPECIALLY when they appear to be SNEAKING!!!!  
They always say that you get back what you did as a child ten fold…  EXCEPT I am pretty sure they meant with one’s children…  I get it back from my own parents AND my children!    I must have been very bad in a past life!


BUSTED!!!  She is trying to make off with a birdbath!!!   That thing is made of cement and is HEAVY!
Good thing Grammie is as strong as an OX!   hahahaha!   YEP Grammie…  you are an “OXY” old broad! 
After about an hour and a half of removing the siding and taking the door off, the window out and a few other little things…
It’s time!!!   It’s Time!!!   It’s Time!!!
Grammie!!!
Cover your eyes!!!
The shed is about to come right down!


Good girl Grammie!
Those boys just lifted that shed up enough…  and boom!!!


It collapsed right onto itself!
Gross hey???  
It was at that point, that Grammie decided that her work here was DONE…  and she loaded up her baby (Grampie) and they went home.  (probably to eat Cheezies and relax a bit)
They left me and my Cowboy to finish the job.


This is a mess. 
It is going to be a big job to finish taking this shed apart.


My Cowboy and I worked on it for a little bit that evening, and when it got late, and we couldn’t make noise anymore…  we went inside for the night.  
On my way inside, I remember thinking to myself…  my yard looks like a photo from one of those hidden object games!


Morning came and we got busy cutting and moving the rotten wood to the gravel pad.  
I just can’t stand the mess!!!


My Cowboy had a pretty good idea that I was freaking out about the mess and decided to light the fire pit for me. 
It was the perfect way to get rid of all that scrap without wrecking up the box of my truck!!!   Besides, the box of my truck and the box of my Cowboy’s truck were both full of garbage and junk that is slated for the garage sale we are hosting early next month!


Burn moldy wood…  BURN!


In just a few short hours, that shed was GONE!


I was left with a LOT of work to do!!!    Between the dog pee patches from the neighbors pets and the dead spot from the shed...
This spot…


…This spot…


…and this spot..(among other things) 
…DESPERATELY need a little Tootsie Time!!!!

I wasted NO time...   I got right to work...   I have a wonderful idea!!

I absolutely cannot wait to show you what I did!!!
 
Tune in next time for part two of the back yard renovation!

Until Next Time…Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) Don't worry about things you can't control, work on the things you can :-)  


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

No More Little Girl’s Room…It’s ALL Va - Va - Va - Voom! bedroom makeover part 2

In my last post, I shared the beginning of a huge makeover on my oldest Daughter’s bedroom.  In that post I showed how her dressers looked before I started the challenging task of making a little girl’s room look more like a funky Teenager room!   If you want the full scoop, you should begin your reading by clicking on the photo below.


This is the point where I left you all in suspense as to what this teenager was going to see when she first returned home.  

Shall we continue???   Lets get busy…we have furniture…now we need to decorate!

With Georgie getting a larger bed in her room, she needed a headboard.   I didn’t have time to go and junk one up for her, and living in this small town, there isn’t much for shopping for such things.   I needed a fast and easy solution to this problem! 



While I was out and about one day, I happened upon a dollar store.   As I was walking around in there looking for some bamboo stakes for the greenhouse, I decided to walk down an isle I don’t usually bother with…and came upon these wonderful little plastic squares!   They came in a package of two and they included the little wire clips that join them together!   They were a buck a package and they were perfect for my Georgie’s room!  I bought several packages of them (and a couple of other little odd’s n ends that would be good for this project ) and headed for home!
First thing, I got busy joining the squares together and hung them on the wall where I had decided to place her bed.



Loving the way these looked…I proceeded to dress her bed!



NOW do you see WHY this room was such a challenge for me???   I love the colors…but I never decorate my house like this…I use these colors in my gardens!   This room was not an easy task for this Tootsie.   I am more prone to decorate with a soft, muted, shabby style.

Next up…was the walls, her little bedroom window.  


Georgie LOVED the curtains I had made a while back for her little sister’s bedroom…and she really wanted some like that in her room…so I made her a chicken coop valance similar to the one I had done for “Busy’s” room.   The difference is that I made Georgies’ in her colors.  

This bedroom is in the basement of our house…so the window is teensy and not terribly easy to dress.  I tried to put up curtains, but they looked ridiculously ugly, so a valance hung on a curve is the way it will be!

The walls…



I hung a few of the wall words sayings…(which are a bugger to keep stuck by the way)…and then decided to make some original wall art on her wall out of watering cans!



I had originally planned to make several of these for her wall, but because they turned out to be quite big, she got only one, as I didn’t want it to start to look too tacky!   She did get several sayings…and…



…a funky wire dress form wall hanging.



So far…so good!   NEXT!!!



Remember this paragraph from the first part?
“When I ask Georgie what type of bedroom she would like, she simply would say “lime green with black.   Walls can be either color.  I also want horses and cool stuff in my room mom…no ruffles or old lady stuff like you use in the rest of the house please” “
Well…I had to keep that in mind…so the horses stay…for now.  


The other little vanity dresser did get a little more funk…and I sneaked a little of  my style in there too with the flowers…lol.    I added a shiny black framed mirror and….



Yep!   I added a Lava Lamp!   I just know that will be her favorite part!



Again…I still need to do a new cover for her chair…but otherwise this little vanity looks pretty spiffy!




After a lot of work, sweat, cursing and swearing, Georgie finally has her newly updated teenager room…Tootsie Style!
Like I said before...
…nothing like watching a Tootsie step right out of her element!

There is still baseboards and trims to be added and she is getting a new window this spring, but for the most part, this room turned out much better than I had planned!   I left a wall blank except for a bulletin board, for anything else that she might want to add…or that I find in my travels that would look sensational in here!

Well…what do you think?   Do you think she likes her new look???

SHE LOVES IT!   Yay for me!!!   I TOTALLY ROCKED IT!

Stay tuned...there are two more kid's rooms for me to share!

Until Next Time…Happy Decorating!

*)*)*)   Remember that at the end of the day, you need only be satisfied with the performance of one person - you.
(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•. www.tootsietime.com