Desk make-over

I got a Craigs List dining table and moved my old round one in my office (after Mr. Spouse took MY desk). MY desk was perfect. It was a rectangle with a large enough work surface.

This is the new Craigs List table.

And my office table????

I made do. It did have a large enough surface to spread out my school work and laminator, etc

Then I began looking for a new table. I found one that I thought would work. The price was really, really cheap. I put it--in the backseat of my car (which should have led me to the idea that it might be a little too small.

Here is the makeover (after finishing with black stain).

The hunt is the fun!

Summer Porch

Finally it has warmed up in Tennessee. We have had a very cooooool Spring! Only the last two weeks have been consistently warm.

Here is a peak at some of my flowers on the screened in porch and deck.

The screened in porch (why do I use three words to describe it?) gets no sun due to the north facing side of the house. It makes it really nice because it is cool enough to enjoy almost every summer day! Ferns love it here just as much as I do. The little fountain was a gift from one of my students several years ago. Next to it is a remnant of a poinsettia from Christmas. I took it to school and it lived in the window there until school was out. It kept blooming--I guess because it got lots of darkness. When school begins I'll take it back and just maybe it will bloom for Christmas!

I love red geraniums. I've had great luck with Lowe's $5 ones for the past two summers. I tried to keep some over the winter and they are blooming--but not like these!

Our little home for some tiny birds entertain me. The funny part is that they move in without moving out last year's furniture! Mr. Spouse says there is not enough room for them but they love it here.

My project this week is to scrub the deck. By the same shady part of the house that creates a nice cool place to enjoy --it also gives green algae a home on the deck and side of the house. Last week I cleaned the siding. So this week I shall tackle the floor!

Summer Projects

I am. out. of. school! Yes, I am a teacher and this summer I am not teaching summer school. I will have time to relax on the screened in porch. I will have time to plan and FINISH projects.

I finally finished the last painting project in my living room. The curio cabinet was the easiest by far. It joins the others.

I think if I make a list each week I will be more dedicated forced to accomplish some of it. This week I really have to work on the steps. I have lightly sanded them and will have to sand and poly them. My son's dog scratched the finish on them. Hopefully I can make them more presentable. The issue will be that we will have to go out of the house via the screened in porch for a day or two. 

We will see next week if I accomplished this week's goal.

Happy summer!

Repaint. Redo.

This week I've been on Spring break from school. I also have spent hours with a paint brush in my hand. Not how I had planned to relax.

On the previous post I was not happy with the results of my painting pine project. The someday became yesterday and today. I think I changed my tactics. This time I decided to redo the tops of the end tables. I sanded and sanded them smooth. This time I put on a layer of Kilz 2 primer with a roller. 

I applied the Coffee Bean paint--with a roller. 

Looking  better already! Next went the satin poly top coat. They look MUCH better. Enough that I can live with them.

Today I tackled the base of my Fontana media cabinet. Since we hung the television above the fireplace we removed the top portion.

Again, I followed the primer, two coats of paint, glaze tinted with black, and top coat.

And the finished project is now finished! Completed. The rest of spring break will not be spent with a paintbrush!

I think it needs to be spent looking for a new camera. Mine has just bit the dust!

Painting Pine

I thought I needed to update my living room tables. They are pine and I've had them for quite a while.

My inspiration came from a friend who happened to have the very same tables. She casually mentioned she had painted her and I asked her to email me a couple of pictures since she's moved away.

I bugged her repeatedly ask her several times questions about how she did it. I went to Lowe's and Home Depot several times--buying and returning. Last week I began.
First I cleaned, sanded, and painted two coats of paint. (Coffee Bean mixed at Lowe's).

Next step was to add black to glaze and highlight --this is where I steered away and ended up going over the entire piece. I regret that decision!

It was looking alright until I added the satin poly top coat. Then...doom! It just doesn't look right. I've tried sanding it to get some of the high gloss. 

Check out some other paint projects on Beneath My Heart's Linky party. 

I may just have to start all over again...someday...

Time for Porch Living!

Oh, Spring is beginning this week! Can't wait for my favorite time of the year. I began updating my screened in porch. This is the before:

I've had that rug for years and years! I am tired. tired. of the Christmas green.

So I went shopping and picked up new cushions and a new rug.

I guess I am in an aqua faze! The cushions have the light turquoise and light brown accents. I lucked upon the cushions at Big Lots--total was around $75. Not bad! They are reversible.

The new rug brings in all the shades. And to me the lighter rug is calming.

The rug came from Lowe's. Since the weather doesn't get into the porch it should be fine. The other one was for years, and years, and years.

Now I'm anticipating the ferns that will be out soon! Until then I laid a silk one on the table--just to give me a spring in my step.

It will go from this:

To this:

I've tried to keep my geraniums over by storing them in the garage. Does anyone know exactly how to bring them out--do I begin to water them more and just set them outside???? They look alive but barely. They were gorgeous last year!

Happy Spring!

White to Bright

I am stressing during the dark days of winter. Especially the north facing kitchen and dining room areas of the house. I just cannot get enough sun to chase away the winter blues.

I am adding more "white" to the kitchen. I lucked out at TJMaxx the other day. These little canisters were a steal! And since one is labeled tea and the other coffee it will work out perfectly since we drink decaf coffee at night. (Need I say that we are addicted to coffee--and lots of it!) I put the decaf in the tea and explained it in detail to Mr. Spouse. The coffee is in the coffee container. And coffee is in the tea container. But the decaf coffee is in TEA. And he gets it. 

I really like the detail in them. It pops out!

Every time I go in TJMaxx I am on the lookout for more "parts" of this white ware. But nothing yet. But then, the looking is exciting too!

What do you do to chase away the winter blues?

A good cup of coffee is comforting. Now I just need to get rid of the cord hanging down. But I'll worry about that another day!