Opulent Cottage

February First in the Garden

Our garden thinks it's spring here. So I decided to play along, and treated myself to a day of working outside. 

 

And to a few new flowers, I mean, isn't that what we do in spring?

 

A few weeks ago, we were the lucky recipients of a truck load of mulch. I wrote last summer about the free mulch supply at the local tree service. Sadly, that supply seems to have gone away. But fortunately, I remembered reading on The Quarter Acre Farm blog that if a tree service is working nearby, you can ask them if they would like to dispose of the trimmings in your driveway, rather than have to pay to dump it in the landfill. So ask we did. They unloaded their fresh mulch straight from the truck, and we tipped them enough for a nice dinner. Some firewood came with that deal also. Win, win!

 

 

I raked, bagged, and mulched. I needed to get on it, since the garden thinks it's spring, and the daylily shoots are coming up already. The flowering jasmine blooms are popping out. And my neighbor's Bradford pear trees are budding. I spray painted a couple of clay pots, so that when it's not spring anymore, which could be next week, I'll still have something cheerful to look at. 

 

 

Some friendly birdies entertained me, while nibbling from the seed I put in our windowsill. Our new mama squirrel, who is becoming quite tame, had her dinner with me working only a few feet away. Visitors to the garden are always welcome, and enjoyed.

I hope you are having a lovely day, wherever you are! 

Love, Andrea

Joining

Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Liz's Fresh Cut Friday at Rose Vignettes

Donna's Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

 

 

Victoria Magazine January Copycat Challenge: A Timeless Display for a Potting Bench

Since putting away the Christmas decor, I have been a little stumped on where I wanted to go next with the potting bench on our front porch. I mean, it's winter. We still have plenty of nice weather in Dallas, but it could get cold any time. It doesn't make sense to spend alot on plants, but the bench is what I see right out my kitchen window, and I can't just look at it sitting empty!

Remember the magazines I spoke of earlier? Well, it turns out that there's a reason I have never parted with them. Enter Victoria magazine, January 2001. This beautiful vignette stopped me in my tracks. Every issue of Victoria that I have been going through is still as lovely and relevant today as it was when published. That speaks volumes about classic design, doesn't it?

 

 

I loved every element in the photo. Then I realized, I have all of this! The galvanized pails, a white lantern, and lots of crusty pots. I dug around in our back yard and storage area, and now our potting bench has a lovely new winter vignette.

Y'all know me:  most of these items were thrifted, yard-saled, or just plain plucked from the side of the road. Seriously, could you drive past a big trash heap with watering cans in it and not slam on the brakes? Leave perfectly weathered galvanized buckets to their fate in the landfill? I didn't think so :)  And if you haven't seen my Christmas post about the potting bench, it was saved from a big trash day heap, also. As was that pretty lantern with the cut glass panels. OK, they're actually plastic, but I couldn't even tell until I took it apart to paint it.

The lush kalanchoes came from our local 99 Cents Store, for a whopping $2. Succulents are $1 each there, and I'm going to start picking them up whenever I see them for a future Copycat Challenge. (Hint: did anyone else see the spring Country Gardens magazine?)

I love this little touch of freshness in the middle of January. Granted, it was 76 outside the day I set this up, and I had to go change into shorts. But this is Dallas, and next week it could snow. If it does, the kalanchoes and succulents will come and hang out in the house until it warms up. Last night we sat outside with our friend Katy, lit all of the candles, and enjoyed the beautiful evening.

Funny too, that I didn't read the article until I had finished, and learned that this is a store! In Paris! Maybe I should set up shop on my front porch, haha.

Thank you, Victoria, for showing us beautiful, timeless vignettes that are as fresh today as they were eleven years ago.

I'm joining:

Seasonal Sundays #84 at The Tablescaper

Debbie's Magazine Copycat Challenge at Debbiedoo's

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Nita's Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Mary's Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage

Party Time Tuesday at Northern Cottage

Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday #98 at Coastal Charm

Marty's 100th Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Beth's Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z

Mary's Share the Love Party at Very Merry Vintage Style

Kim's Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Judy's Winter Blues Wednesday at DIY By Design

Paula and Patti's What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Sherry's Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Gina's Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Jill's French Inspiration Thursday at French Cupboard

Joy's Thriftin' on a Thursday at Savvy City Farmer

Diann's Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove

Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday#74 at Common Ground

Farmhouse Friday at Laurie Anna's

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Jen's Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots and Jello

Donna's Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

 

A Look Back at 2011

The recent blogging tradition of taking a look back at the prior year's accomplishments had me intrigued, so I decided to take a look back at the past year here at Opulent Cottage. Come along for the ride while I reminisce about some fun projects from 2011.

 

We kicked off 2011 with a couple of small projects that gave us a big impact. In January, we installed some thrift store shelving on a formerly bare wall and gained a new display area in our kitchen nook.

 

After years of loathing the builder-grade mirror in our tiny bathroom, I finally took Rhoda's advice and trimmed in out with moulding and square medallions from Home Depot. What a dramatic change!

 

 

In February we said goobye to the formerly dark walls in our dining room, and embraced the neutral style that so many other bloggers had inspired me with. The room seems lighter and brighter, and I love having a neutral palette as a background for seasonal decorating!

 

 

With spring right around the corner, in March I featured our red toile bedroom. We have loved this room for years, and never more so than when the sun is shining in and the vibrant colors come to life.

 

 

April brought a small addition to our foyer, some sweet tole trays that inspired me to update this tiny room.

 

 

In May I must have sensed the long, hot and dry summer that was to come, and I simply perked up our patio pots with found items, forgoing the planting of fresh flowers. What a blessing that turned out to be!

 

 

And indeed the summer was kind of miserable for us here in Texas! We kicked it off with a citrus-themed birthday party for our daughter,

 

 

Spent a good amount of time here,

 

 

And canned and preserved summer's bounty for the first time! And yes, we are still enjoying the wonderful roasted tomatoes, and will never let a summer go by without doing this again.

 

 

Before we knew it, along came fall, where we were distracted by football games and all the activities that came along with our daughter's senior year in high school. I did manage to create a cheerful fall tablescape,

 

 

Bring out the kitty collection,

 

 

And decorate for our Halloween party.

 

 

November arrived with its lovely cooler weather, and we welcomed the chance to be outside again. On a walk one day I found this amazing vintage screen grate. I promptly brought it home, cleaned it up, and gave it a place of honor with a pretty wreath for fall.

 

 

Another found object was this potting bench, plucked from side of the road. Such a lucky find!

 

 

It hardly seemed possible that December was upon us. Along with all the usual holiday decorating, I was honored to have two of my handcrafted projects featured. These plates were included in a Dallas Morning News article on handmade gifts, written by my friend Jamie Knodel.

 

 

And this Pottery Barn copycat vase was featured by Beckie at Knock Off Decor. It was a thrill to have these items recognized, as I always hope to inspire others to give handmade gifts a try. 

 

 

Now when I ask myself, what did I do last year, I have proof that I accomplished at least a few things! There are so, so many more projects on the to-do list here at Opulent Cottage, and my hope is that we will tackle quite a few more of them in 2012. Many thanks to all of you who have visited, and encouraged me throughout this last year. I look forward to another year of being inspired by your projects and improvements also! 

 

Many wishes for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

With love to you all,

Andrea

 

I'm joining these blog parties:

Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

Sherry's Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home

Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday 

Honey's Potpourri Friday at 2805 

Alison's Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense

Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Nite Special at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Table Top Tuesday at Marty's A Stroll Thru Life

Recap Party at DIY Showoff

Holiday Rain Boots

I know the copycat party is long over. But really, with so many great ideas bobbing around in blogland, it's hard to stop!

I had to copycat once more, with Kim's copycat from Ballard. But I didn't have riding boots that could be left outside, so I went with some well-loved rain boots. In this tiny house, it helps to have things do double-duty anyway!

This may be one of my favorite holiday decorations ever. But these vintage quilt pillows are really running a close second! I've had this cutter quilt for a while, and these pieces appealed to the homespun type of Christmas mood I have been in. 

It's raining now though, so our front patio photos will have to wait. Good thing the rain boots are waterproof :)

See y'all soon! I'm joining Kim today for Wow Us Wednesday, Claudia's Defending the Small House at Mockingbird Hill Cottage, Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground, Inspiration Friday at Vanessa and Heather's At The Picket Fence, Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, and Nita's Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life.

A New Potting Bench

It's here! Finally time to decorate for Christmas! I have been ready for a month :)

 

For the next week our house will be a whirlwind of boxes, packing materials and just chaos in general while we morph from fall to Christmas. We actually didn't get our tree yet, which is unusual. But we have all been a little under the weather, and just sort of wiped out from all of our activities. So I may be a little naughty and leave it all up longer this year.

 

We have been doing a few simple projects, too. We found this adorable potting bench last week, yes, on the side of the road in someone's big trash. I know, right? How is it possible that I find almost everything I have ever wanted for my garden on the side of the road?! The big trash fairy must really like me.

Well, you all already know what I was going to do with it, so I'll just go ahead and let the photos do the talking.

 

The vintage plaid cooler came from an estate sale years ago, and last summer I was lucky enough to snag the thermos collection from Lisa during the sale she held at Paper Cowgirl. I have been chomping at the bit to use them.

Merry first Christmas display! Lots more to come!

 

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Rebecca's Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much, Mod Mix Monday at Nita's Mod Vintage Life, and Martyat A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday and Kim's Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.

 

 

Garden Creativity

This is almost embarrassing to admit, but I haven't bought a single flower yet this spring. A few are still hanging around from last year. And we usually have pretty mild winters, so alot of my annuals make it to the next season, but not this past year. On Monday, after a way-too-busy Mother's Day weekend, I decided to give myself a few hours to work in the backyard. I was stuck at home with no car, and no flowers to plant, and craving some color. So until we can go to the garden center, our garden color is coming from plates, garden critters, and a few other accessories.

Luckily, a few pots of ivy and lambs ear did make it through the harsh winter we had. I found a few colorful plates, and added little birds, some pretty rocks, and a few pine cones to fill in the bare spots.

Eveyone needs a chicken in their garden, right?

This thrift store candleholder got a coat of red paint to brighten a pot of ivy, along with a pretty blue plate. I added a few rocks from Lake Travis, where we found them while vacationing in Austin last year.

I gave Pig a pretty spring bow! And dressed up this gerber daisy plant with an Old Britain Castles plate and some pretty shells found on our vacation in Mexico.

A spray painted digger brightens up the oregano pot. This sweet bunny's ears disappeared several years ago. But I kept him, and do you know I found those ears a couple of years later?

Big Pig is happy amongst the growing lemon balm.

Thank you for coming by to see our garden! Today I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday, Sherry's Open House at No Minimalist Here, Sherry's Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home, At The Picket Fence's Inspiration Friday, Courtney's Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, and Kate's Outdoor Ideas Party at Centsational Girl. Thanks for hosting, ladies!!

 

Fall Color, Finally!

Hi everyone -- I sure didn't mean to go two weeks without blogging! This past month has gone by in a flash, and I haven't had any craft or decorating projects going on, just work. And I'll admit I wasn't into decorating for Thanksgiving like I usually do. But I'll be going after Christmas with a vengeance!

Looking back at this past year, I certainly did not devote myself to this blog as much as I would have liked. That's going on my list of New Year's resolutions for sure, to get better at taking a few minutes to share more of my everyday life with you all. I know I always enjoy reading the little things that you share with me!

So today's is  just a quick post, to share the beauty I'm seeing when I look down the street.

 

Love that my neighbor's tree matches their front door. Here in North Texas we don't start seeing our real fall color until late November. It's usually at full peak the first week of December. We have to wait a long time, don't we?!

 

But it's so worth the wait.

 

Do you see what I see, on the edge of our roof? Yep, Christmas lights! They get turned on Thanksgiving night, every year. No cheating, either, and turning them on early, even though Iwant to!

 

I'm joining A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday. Enjoy!

My Exciting Garden Reveal

If you read my post from yesterday, you know that I hinted about an exciting new item here at Opulent Cottage!

Here's the big reveal -

 

Our new picket fence! A cottagey, homey, adorable white picket fence!!

 

I have waited for this for a long time! Life in a 1926 home often revolves around doing damage control, and we have certainly had our share of that lately. So I waited, and dreamed, while our pickets sat in the back yard overshadowed by projects like gate repair, pool pump replacement, and installing a new dishwasher. But oh, were they worth the wait!

 

Now sadly, one project that did not make the list this past spring was replacing the azaleas that had bitten the dust on the east side of our front yard. Our newly-transplanted liriope took a beating this summer, too. And these poor pittosporum shrubs have certainly had their day in the sun, and now need to have their day in the compost pile! We'll have to live with them a little longer though, as this is not the best time of year to be replacing them. I cut them back for now, and will have some time to research which low-growing shrubs might be a good replacement this coming spring.

 

That's OK though, as I'm too busy picturing our new picket fence with lighted holiday garlands, springtime baskets of perky bulbs, and summertime blooming vines to worry about shrubs right now!

So what do you think . . . isn't this a huge improvement in charm factor? Here's the before . . . overgrown shrubs, looking a little sad . . .

 

And after. Now this makes me smile! Is it too early to put my Christmas garland up?

 

Today I'm joining Kim at Savvy Southern Style for her Before & After party. There were so many good ideas last week, I can't wait to go over and see this week's inspirations!

 

More Fall Touches



It’s a beautiful fall morning here in Dallas! I added a few more small touches of fall to our front porch to share with you.

 

A happy rooster on our small table.

 
 

This wonderful, chippy-peeley old chair deserved a little embellishing.

 
 

Pumpkins on the porch make me so happy!

 
 

Lovin’ the color of these mums, too.

 
 

As I was taking these photos, my neighbor came out. He had two words for me – “Go Rangers!”

 
 

Hope you are having a lovely fall day, also. . . . Go here for this week’s Outdoor Wednesday.

Love,

Andrea

Fall, Finally!

We have finally broken the 95 degree streak here in Dallas! It was a lovely 63 this morning, and is only in the low 80s now. I know, that doesn’t really sound like fall, does it? But that’s fall here in Texas! To celebrate I planted these pretty crotons and mums --

 

And made some gold and red toile pillows for our Adirondack chairs. It’s cool enough to sit out and enjoy them now!

 

It will be a while before the leaves really begin to turn and fall, but that’s okay, when it’s this pleasant outside. We had several inches of rain this weekend, and everything is actually really green and lush looking. Like our grass, which you can see definitely did not get mowed!

 

I sure hope you’re enjoying a lovely fall day too, wherever you live. Please visit this week’s Outdoor Wednesday, where there’s sure to be fall color galore!