From Yawn to YAY!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have SO much Blogging to catch up on!  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have been very busy with lots of projects! </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Let's head outside and see what I've been up to. </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> This is the patio underneath my deck.  The sliding door leads out from the basement.  We use this door a lot but kind of ignore this area.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Why? </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Cause it's <b>Snoozeville!!!</b></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91evQEKbeSJYvAv8YwKq-ebafhgnSud882n2J97Nnxdn-SlzV1RZoS8ZduCETy_yrXxsHTvhVmZ7Vj_-k8541ZtQ4kE9oAx_Bds2E1Cta78fpgouhIPGhJ1uuieJnpyXnGiU4DbXEBX2E/s1600/IMG_4635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91evQEKbeSJYvAv8YwKq-ebafhgnSud882n2J97Nnxdn-SlzV1RZoS8ZduCETy_yrXxsHTvhVmZ7Vj_-k8541ZtQ4kE9oAx_Bds2E1Cta78fpgouhIPGhJ1uuieJnpyXnGiU4DbXEBX2E/s640/IMG_4635.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But it has so much potential!!!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm_096I7t4pv3tJCH5fx6EPM_3aln-YGCOzJHvJh4XJvtfvv0J5DhmJId7ffqZbBdl4xaSoL2L9j_oANPkNnF8unJ86hDgWQxpTx2SKwnQPnYHHxgpb5wj-4FFQIf7MmXJJqS7L1NUm8b/s1600/IMG_4637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpm_096I7t4pv3tJCH5fx6EPM_3aln-YGCOzJHvJh4XJvtfvv0J5DhmJId7ffqZbBdl4xaSoL2L9j_oANPkNnF8unJ86hDgWQxpTx2SKwnQPnYHHxgpb5wj-4FFQIf7MmXJJqS7L1NUm8b/s640/IMG_4637.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And it stays shady most of the time!  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And right now that is important.  It has been over 100 degrees for most of the week and I see no relief in sight.  It's too hot on the upper deck and even on the Screened in Porch.</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  Let's see what we can do down here to spruce things up!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCeA_ZHmLdMHk05U3EEkk3GUz9C0iylpH_wqNbpsiqyVEFX69B2Q_TlWg2GYmvVDX6fLDWb3oSbq9XKAq8MarNqXa2qvDpEFsVxkGBy2R3w09MF5hho9FtEFuoWf8LjSMVMiQLvPbgTNP/s1600/IMG_4638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCeA_ZHmLdMHk05U3EEkk3GUz9C0iylpH_wqNbpsiqyVEFX69B2Q_TlWg2GYmvVDX6fLDWb3oSbq9XKAq8MarNqXa2qvDpEFsVxkGBy2R3w09MF5hho9FtEFuoWf8LjSMVMiQLvPbgTNP/s640/IMG_4638.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I have had this patio set for about 12 years.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We bought it when we lived in California.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I miss living there sometimes.  California is one place where outside living is a reality.  We used to be in our backyard with a pool from sunup til sundown. </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Oh well, I have to live in the NOW.</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I would love to buy new cushions but it's not in the cards.</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> (I priced them starting at $35.00X6=TOO MUCH MONEY)   So let's try to salvage these first.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">You can see by this photo that I have some mold and mildew issues.  And, I think the color of the chairs is a big sleeper too!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca1EmV3oShVyBlwnTh_LafbaDZzW40z4aT-DKgGEgyFftCZkp_pcbhEC9qV6eLzwD_HTvmepN7a6pxRuIPk97_oyvz1shzQ73Tda6Z5L66d5X_AOiAA2EMQY7qMPzUVlWAz97TJklN0wb/s1600/IMG_4641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca1EmV3oShVyBlwnTh_LafbaDZzW40z4aT-DKgGEgyFftCZkp_pcbhEC9qV6eLzwD_HTvmepN7a6pxRuIPk97_oyvz1shzQ73Tda6Z5L66d5X_AOiAA2EMQY7qMPzUVlWAz97TJklN0wb/s640/IMG_4641.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But, first things first, let's attack the mildew problem. </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I mixed up a bucket with a little bit of Dawn Blue dishwashing soap and about a half cup of Bleach.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I scrubbed the cushions with a stiff brush and let them sit for about 15 minutes.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4k68PTy5CM6L8N7blbNGSMBVx9kP8YqTozW3qrvQobztA0mASJ6-iOJ2hvjQiq3uAzYX5_fq92sNp36jLdiYBHAOeHkJUzchkMB4U85k16deeIEQCbeTZqOFrzxQ2sb3K9D_w39NuFh/s1600/IMG_4643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyX4k68PTy5CM6L8N7blbNGSMBVx9kP8YqTozW3qrvQobztA0mASJ6-iOJ2hvjQiq3uAzYX5_fq92sNp36jLdiYBHAOeHkJUzchkMB4U85k16deeIEQCbeTZqOFrzxQ2sb3K9D_w39NuFh/s640/IMG_4643.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">While I waited for the cushions to soak, I painted the chairs with Valspar Brown Spray paint.  OK, it took me longer than 15 minutes to paint them all but it's kind of like the magic of Television right? </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Look at how happy they look already! </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> My grass not so much!  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg760LWZYvIsv00pwN0JmSR4-pZ6APZDxj8K1y_FvSzYgUqyRRjM4On08IvYar6G13WguQa0_LheGVbN2TGH5YbwG26EcSWTCm-iy2GavYY6NploO4qBLf4rT_lbp5i43F9osJVqzJ7HyuB/s1600/IMG_4640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg760LWZYvIsv00pwN0JmSR4-pZ6APZDxj8K1y_FvSzYgUqyRRjM4On08IvYar6G13WguQa0_LheGVbN2TGH5YbwG26EcSWTCm-iy2GavYY6NploO4qBLf4rT_lbp5i43F9osJVqzJ7HyuB/s640/IMG_4640.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Back to the cushions.</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  Get ready to see all of this mold and mildew disappear! </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I used a power washer, yes a power washer.  They sell them at Costco for $299.00.  Awesome things you can do with a power washer.  You might even consider going in with a neighbor, friend or relative to split the cost.  I don't have any pictures of me power washing the cushions so you will have to take my word for it.  My arm still hurts from trying to start the darn thing!  Why can't they make things like lawn mowers, snow blowers and power washers "girl friendly"?  I guess I had better step up the weight lifting.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXGjdfKLV6UhdTUrwKs4U3dRGQWNbDTTZ4kkMtg95yY615NSwNsp8_b_MAMc8MP9V_lUQYmOk2qe0knHkFfjGnZqFpyFNXF8egFbP_MNKJMb4xNEQDm97pC-rqiR2MgQZPbiO8ygdKMXU/s1600/IMG_4662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXGjdfKLV6UhdTUrwKs4U3dRGQWNbDTTZ4kkMtg95yY615NSwNsp8_b_MAMc8MP9V_lUQYmOk2qe0knHkFfjGnZqFpyFNXF8egFbP_MNKJMb4xNEQDm97pC-rqiR2MgQZPbiO8ygdKMXU/s640/IMG_4662.jpg" width="540" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think?  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">YAY! </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi0Z6e8tu3SjCTtFvFAunI2I9wVKUrGnb0bqZZF4dBA6Wn66gScTMEdFsnr5W8Qip4hngcBwoppnq-Hed6UA-bYXYQ1yBAMUqTjE4THNS-1rhPBglMtSL61_7TVvJlE7NsJWck72EnF1S/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi0Z6e8tu3SjCTtFvFAunI2I9wVKUrGnb0bqZZF4dBA6Wn66gScTMEdFsnr5W8Qip4hngcBwoppnq-Hed6UA-bYXYQ1yBAMUqTjE4THNS-1rhPBglMtSL61_7TVvJlE7NsJWck72EnF1S/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Big improvement!  </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We are on our way! </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Stay tuned because in the next post I am going to show you how I stained the concrete patio (all by myself, I might add!).</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Now I am going in to get something cold to drink! </span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time,</span></i></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Beaux Reves,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">XO Cindy</span></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Susan at<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1057618964"> </a><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/">Between Naps on the Porch</a><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/12/beautiful-kitchen-renovation-welcome-to.html"></a>for Metamorphosis Monday</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/">Not Just a Housewife</a><br />Marty at <a href="http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/">A Stroll Thru Life</a> for Tabletop Tuesday</i></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Roeshel  at <a href="http://diyshowoff.com/" target="_blank">DIY Showoff</a></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Kristin at<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank"> My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a> for Tuesday's Treasures<br />Linda at <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/">Coastal Charm</a>for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday<br /><a href="http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Faded Charm</a> for White Wednesday <br />Kim at <a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/">Savvy Southern Style</a> for Wow Us Wednesdays<br />Judy at <a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/">DIY by Design</a> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Brambleberry Cottage</a><br />Gina at <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a> for Transformation Thursdays<br />Sherry at <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/">No Minimalist Here</a> for the Open House Party on Thursdays</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>  <a href="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From My Front Porch To Yours</a> for Treasure Hunt Thursday<br /> Cindy at <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/">My Romantic Home</a>for Show and Tell Friday<br />Courtney at <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">French Country Cottage</a> for Feathered Nest Friday<br />Heather and Vanessa at <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/">At the Picket Fence</a> for Inspiration Friday <br />Diann at <a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/">The Thrifty Groove</a> for Thrifty Things Friday<br />Debra at <a href="http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/">Common Ground</a> for Vintage Inspiration Friday<br />Sherry at<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/"> The Charm of Home</a> for Home Sweet Home Friday</i><i><br />Jen at <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/">Tatertots and Jello</a>for the Weekend Wrap-up Party <br />Donna at <a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/">Funky Junk Interiors</a> for Saturday Nite Special</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></i></span></div><br /></div>

From Yawn to YAY!

I have SO much Blogging to catch up on!  I have been very busy with lots of projects!  Let's head outside and see what I've been up to.  This is the patio underneath my deck.  The sliding door leads out from the basement.  We use this door a lot but kind of ignore this area.  Why?  Cause it's Snooze…

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Enjoying Chicago Architecture with a Little bit of Retail Therapy

<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are still in Chicago, my favorite little Big city! </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> We spent yesterday enjoying a little "Retail Therapy" on Michigan Avenue.  Miss Beaux and I try to catch up on shopping whenever we go out of town, as our shopping can be a little lackluster at home.  We had a quick dinner and saw <b>Rock of Ages</b> at the large movie theater.  Such Fun!!!  </span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today we tried to be better tourists and went on a Chicago Architectural Boat Tour.  We have been on this tour before but there is so much to see that it is worth going on again.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHh9dgEEcVSwkcWk2X7tpAMHU0yCKlWJ15dAUKjycS0iV7WieeuYwhDGT_ejOHGwCwRWwW-njkjtgMCcOYI4uZG2yexAmsa-0FGCQS9KBdi7EkB8IyTTg6R1kYxRnwXyrbASDRB6RIlBs/s1600/IMG_4539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHh9dgEEcVSwkcWk2X7tpAMHU0yCKlWJ15dAUKjycS0iV7WieeuYwhDGT_ejOHGwCwRWwW-njkjtgMCcOYI4uZG2yexAmsa-0FGCQS9KBdi7EkB8IyTTg6R1kYxRnwXyrbASDRB6RIlBs/s640/IMG_4539.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I love the Chicago skyline and the story behind the huge skyscrapers.  It makes you wonder what the city would be like if the Chicago Fire had never happened.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMbkww-6trNiJGwPC-rTg22OYRm4VHaWA8gRpnDVJZqtBWMngzuPp5UlG9A3ZgbkO5rIxWle1-SMFavm_-tE3z5Ab37Ch7xVplPd-vsjHiGf6KY-YStVYuhEzLw6zGX3xVLy8VvG7AboB/s1600/IMG_4495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMbkww-6trNiJGwPC-rTg22OYRm4VHaWA8gRpnDVJZqtBWMngzuPp5UlG9A3ZgbkO5rIxWle1-SMFavm_-tE3z5Ab37Ch7xVplPd-vsjHiGf6KY-YStVYuhEzLw6zGX3xVLy8VvG7AboB/s640/IMG_4495.jpg" width="358" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">The "Corn Cob" buildings are one of my favorites. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Look at the cars parked on the lower levels!  The only downside to these pie shaped condos is trying to arrange furniture in a triangle.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jlNqF1-6QP5SDkigo8b6iamnZNBMff9ruyNc2wGlBh2t9he_Pskmhxbzox1P3OizY71gufKq_MosQt6A8FfsD1p5GgQfL07ivVemxFAfQ9REkChyGuFPYC5qm_e8Z-xwfkAlNuhz_bpR/s1600/IMG_4502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jlNqF1-6QP5SDkigo8b6iamnZNBMff9ruyNc2wGlBh2t9he_Pskmhxbzox1P3OizY71gufKq_MosQt6A8FfsD1p5GgQfL07ivVemxFAfQ9REkChyGuFPYC5qm_e8Z-xwfkAlNuhz_bpR/s640/IMG_4502.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, here is where I'd like to be spending the week. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> The Chicago Merchandise Mart is 4,000,000 feet of floor space dedicated to furniture and wholesale goods.  Sigh, maybe someday when the kiddos aren't with me!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsV_80mbGePm4uOLAdB52ENYT0wgqk8hS1RyVX2FiEPr5-nSbkCAmvN9hiFv5me9rfVZJNDFWJ6a7Pm4MtVSjEtyOjPRV-JJMGv20s_HBv5loRU9TBjodZ_nT7nWbX1Q_pD2YYsTRTa1E/s1600/IMG_4498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsV_80mbGePm4uOLAdB52ENYT0wgqk8hS1RyVX2FiEPr5-nSbkCAmvN9hiFv5me9rfVZJNDFWJ6a7Pm4MtVSjEtyOjPRV-JJMGv20s_HBv5loRU9TBjodZ_nT7nWbX1Q_pD2YYsTRTa1E/s640/IMG_4498.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK29D8lSFCr9E4yEEeIl4EY804L7TFTofMIssbq6ys90LybJ_s0dsf9s8Iz38U9n6Rmj_AQlVDCJ8Bl8IKAcjsm34w3fjnoXJNJdPBJyUPjQfOWs1eoPnkSRl_L6tabbtsLJRctLemKKy4/s1600/IMG_4523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK29D8lSFCr9E4yEEeIl4EY804L7TFTofMIssbq6ys90LybJ_s0dsf9s8Iz38U9n6Rmj_AQlVDCJ8Bl8IKAcjsm34w3fjnoXJNJdPBJyUPjQfOWs1eoPnkSRl_L6tabbtsLJRctLemKKy4/s640/IMG_4523.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I was thoroughly enjoying the tour and snapping pics but someone...</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzDiPhjnpn7-YUXvi9QcxkJ8ktTiqOLLWiCdH7KyYSpQ-9vRFc491a5GOekHr_uBXgne52-IifY8RpjtIQDHWg_t8lPWUMrR2zKERsnPBlzkjfuDVQJjVwbvJy9pbtMluXW-ZmCbL-qDd/s1600/IMG_4524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzDiPhjnpn7-YUXvi9QcxkJ8ktTiqOLLWiCdH7KyYSpQ-9vRFc491a5GOekHr_uBXgne52-IifY8RpjtIQDHWg_t8lPWUMrR2zKERsnPBlzkjfuDVQJjVwbvJy9pbtMluXW-ZmCbL-qDd/s640/IMG_4524.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> was getting a little bored!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAHzINtBFtcGJ_QFol1LplU3eRqAWgLx6s2vx43qBdHmtU2EbsKaiazWT1IvMzhbwyMRBua9xDPT0Mj23SDIdEMvcAuwdSFu9_Fg_uggstbBwy96LzyZ5fqlsCDXS2mRdPXFmw33fN-tn/s1600/IMG_4503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAHzINtBFtcGJ_QFol1LplU3eRqAWgLx6s2vx43qBdHmtU2EbsKaiazWT1IvMzhbwyMRBua9xDPT0Mj23SDIdEMvcAuwdSFu9_Fg_uggstbBwy96LzyZ5fqlsCDXS2mRdPXFmw33fN-tn/s640/IMG_4503.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">OK, just a few more...</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt-6VKV8ovh-cbY_yVWcWRkyw_kBG-FOASs0PllXvIRylrbLjEm0Q494FMOB4Yl7VsCcChpiPQdLomT_mh5j4cgS6S31AjFlRUulEJEkhwNk7ZZZNpAvUCmQRyfDQnP2VbmQj1EpfL53h/s1600/IMG_4507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt-6VKV8ovh-cbY_yVWcWRkyw_kBG-FOASs0PllXvIRylrbLjEm0Q494FMOB4Yl7VsCcChpiPQdLomT_mh5j4cgS6S31AjFlRUulEJEkhwNk7ZZZNpAvUCmQRyfDQnP2VbmQj1EpfL53h/s640/IMG_4507.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWQgYwzCutBSYycsXqdI2UYBlcw7E9zQw2drWUwA5JS57_6UYNR2rf9ObGlKpRxrtBFwPC5lw8zFGU2CH7yqXNDvyyozj7ZCzRC4uPteGQ8GTvmokvcDw7VlL4Gqq0nvoUq581JsmybP6/s1600/IMG_4530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWQgYwzCutBSYycsXqdI2UYBlcw7E9zQw2drWUwA5JS57_6UYNR2rf9ObGlKpRxrtBFwPC5lw8zFGU2CH7yqXNDvyyozj7ZCzRC4uPteGQ8GTvmokvcDw7VlL4Gqq0nvoUq581JsmybP6/s640/IMG_4530.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I love how they mix the older Beaux Arts buildings with the  modern as they have in this building.  See on the right how they have just added on to compliment the existing building?</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXrwkLD16M0VXTKKh0Bu2BqoYLkdSpXFeWJYg44sTWRpbDGK7ICEEhorRm76d4ZQLrrcvd-Gl0q0_i_VQkketgrUA85A_USJBhSevV27af5oLSJ-hbrV42gt0tWVCrAmT9g4lHM4dQPxi/s1600/IMG_4535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXrwkLD16M0VXTKKh0Bu2BqoYLkdSpXFeWJYg44sTWRpbDGK7ICEEhorRm76d4ZQLrrcvd-Gl0q0_i_VQkketgrUA85A_USJBhSevV27af5oLSJ-hbrV42gt0tWVCrAmT9g4lHM4dQPxi/s640/IMG_4535.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">But my favorites will always be the older 1920's beautiful buildings like the Wrigley  Building named the</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> "Jewel of the Mile".   </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of Mile... </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We have more retail therapy to entertain.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Off to Michigan Ave.!!!  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow we see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work.</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Then,</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Beaux R'eves,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">XO Cindy</span></span></i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Kristin at<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank"> My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a> for Tuesday's Treasures<br />Linda at <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/">Coastal Charm</a>for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday<br /><a href="http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Faded Charm</a> for White Wednesday <br />Kim at <a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/">Savvy Southern Style</a> for Wow Us Wednesdays<br />Judy at <a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/">DIY by Design</a> </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Whatever Goes Wednesdays at <a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-119.html" target="_blank">Someday Crafts </a></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Brambleberry Cottage</a><br />Gina at <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a> for Transformation Thursdays<br />Sherry at <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/">No Minimalist Here</a> for the Open House Party on Thursdays</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>  <a href="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From My Front Porch To Yours</a> for Treasure Hunt Thursday<br /> Cindy at <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/">My Romantic Home</a>for Show and Tell Friday<br />Courtney at <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">French Country Cottage</a> for Feathered Nest Friday<br />Heather and Vanessa at <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/">At the Picket Fence</a> for Inspiration Friday <br />Diann at <a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/">The Thrifty Groove</a> for Thrifty Things Friday<br />Debra at <a href="http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/">Common Ground</a> for Vintage Inspiration Friday<br />Sherry at<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/"> The Charm of Home</a> for Home Sweet Home Friday</i><i><br />Jen at <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/">Tatertots and Jello</a>for the Weekend Wrap-up Party <br />Donna at <a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/">Funky Junk Interiors</a> for Saturday Nite Special</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/" target="_blank">Five Days...5Ways</a></i></span></div></div>

Enjoying Chicago Architecture with a Little bit of Retail Therapy

We are still in Chicago, my favorite little Big city!  We spent yesterday enjoying a little "Retail Therapy" on Michigan Avenue.  Miss Beaux and I try to catch up on shopping whenever we go out of town, as our shopping can be a little lackluster at home.  We had a quick dinner and saw Rock of Ages …

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Summer Mantel

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday, friends!  Can you believe that summer officially starts in three days ?!  This year is flying by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been busy, busy continuing to refresh my parents' home and look forward to posting more pictures soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now, I thought I'd share our summer mantel.  And, I'm sure you're not surprised one bit that it has a coastal theme to it!  You *might* even notice that the wall color has changed, too!  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ7JZu3BC-QCsxeFFFWMM-ac3UDnks8D_iInHCOxhyH-D_5hKa6ulZOtcmO9gMEgVuV1PekJuOPWItJB2AjW0SJh0KCAcwbEqZ6BxXhP7CKk8_RskTUXs6C6IfUzFXC7mvLKRMAVKl9M/s1600/mantelsummeroveral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQ7JZu3BC-QCsxeFFFWMM-ac3UDnks8D_iInHCOxhyH-D_5hKa6ulZOtcmO9gMEgVuV1PekJuOPWItJB2AjW0SJh0KCAcwbEqZ6BxXhP7CKk8_RskTUXs6C6IfUzFXC7mvLKRMAVKl9M/s640/mantelsummeroveral.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starting on the left ... I kept the soft, white flowers in our cream vase, but added Manzanita branches for a bit of depth, texture and coastal feel:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R_yFBSVUyJvTye6PyJwz2T4qev7_mfSAJVPmxTUCJ2l4mh6PkuQqjJJRf62nHlPJ6ZlRjRSMrEeesNNNQY1VcebG_9glr28lynRpQ9KyUuPaH3PCAEnO8t3JZH42RzvuygfX9z9spJw/s1600/mantelsummerfloral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R_yFBSVUyJvTye6PyJwz2T4qev7_mfSAJVPmxTUCJ2l4mh6PkuQqjJJRf62nHlPJ6ZlRjRSMrEeesNNNQY1VcebG_9glr28lynRpQ9KyUuPaH3PCAEnO8t3JZH42RzvuygfX9z9spJw/s640/mantelsummerfloral.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found this cute boat at Home Goods ... I like the neutral color, vintage look and how it pops against the mercury candle holder in the background:</span>  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI_a3CBMUtx4xWeuTvYvOfaP-_rlgxulgp0EsT58Es_9VbjN4wrdy5N0eImlz_U9eUWgNViQbjbKqAO4vYCAtVAHuM15tTGiihDTo6RL1sc3XtQMug4ZxHDN5ZX7l-ko1lSlVS037CWA/s1600/mantelsummerboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaI_a3CBMUtx4xWeuTvYvOfaP-_rlgxulgp0EsT58Es_9VbjN4wrdy5N0eImlz_U9eUWgNViQbjbKqAO4vYCAtVAHuM15tTGiihDTo6RL1sc3XtQMug4ZxHDN5ZX7l-ko1lSlVS037CWA/s640/mantelsummerboat.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This whimsical print is from a local store ... love that it adds a pop of blue right in the middle of our mantel-scape!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcpwfEAuoe-WvqrJENOhLewG6xbw5l9aC3PzAXZuDt46QRzXnEEMrCxtwKUnb8vhc2R9N9cgqcZ8iyDJCIfYbRcK7CKEgd35mWk-iXb-M5Q7Ce4sDa_PrVjSL2m-4r2nrk33xivMZY0w/s1600/mantelsummersign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcpwfEAuoe-WvqrJENOhLewG6xbw5l9aC3PzAXZuDt46QRzXnEEMrCxtwKUnb8vhc2R9N9cgqcZ8iyDJCIfYbRcK7CKEgd35mWk-iXb-M5Q7Ce4sDa_PrVjSL2m-4r2nrk33xivMZY0w/s400/mantelsummersign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adding coral is such an inexpensive way to pop coastal elements to your space.  I stacked this one on plates I had on hand just to give it a bit of height.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDUGKQjuYiYNsfhmcNeZyexln0S4prvukETL47q-Sl8x0LwYU4pRMjqEdDl0aEAVbEVsOX4Q5Q53baA08fKtsA9v0EXK1YJZOYqAzwAdDC9SjoIoAyAeiDQFdIewaj4MQbaulD1gfOYE/s1600/mantelsummercoral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDDUGKQjuYiYNsfhmcNeZyexln0S4prvukETL47q-Sl8x0LwYU4pRMjqEdDl0aEAVbEVsOX4Q5Q53baA08fKtsA9v0EXK1YJZOYqAzwAdDC9SjoIoAyAeiDQFdIewaj4MQbaulD1gfOYE/s640/mantelsummercoral.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnd, I just can't seem to "retire" my mercury candle holders.  I love the shiny touch that they add to another otherwise neutral palette.  Peeking through is an oversized sea fan ... you guys know I love layers!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigki4Toxj0Uadsz-Af6oZR3fslDhY7bu8x7kzyh3xbGvYBHfuWgPbrWkgseWQlwDDLzWPxtvj30HegAZfZvP8KrvpI6ot65PoxXpVJb_6Z6B3fyGGrsKGeYJFRjZhia4fNJgPB0BBfLVQ/s1600/mantelclosecandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigki4Toxj0Uadsz-Af6oZR3fslDhY7bu8x7kzyh3xbGvYBHfuWgPbrWkgseWQlwDDLzWPxtvj30HegAZfZvP8KrvpI6ot65PoxXpVJb_6Z6B3fyGGrsKGeYJFRjZhia4fNJgPB0BBfLVQ/s640/mantelclosecandles.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, down below ... I added rolled up vintage maps to an urn I had on hand.  Because I didn't have that many of them, I then rolled up inexpensive craft paper and tied a burlap bow around those as well ... they make a great filler and help the maps pop:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduVrNPFFBhAONF7vLRn_W6RHsryq8lS8MSjKNtQTATNtHg89aRp_jT6122uRsbXIdmXEgZqHgbjC5fHBmdIGIMrhhG-3nPnobLSlsDwZIjjD-sSzUZf7tKxvPFrTgxyexKbQ2IpEICyI/s1600/mantelsummermaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduVrNPFFBhAONF7vLRn_W6RHsryq8lS8MSjKNtQTATNtHg89aRp_jT6122uRsbXIdmXEgZqHgbjC5fHBmdIGIMrhhG-3nPnobLSlsDwZIjjD-sSzUZf7tKxvPFrTgxyexKbQ2IpEICyI/s640/mantelsummermaps.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, there ya' have it ... our summer coastal mantel!  Thanks so much for taking a peek.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWG3VdYNFwlqUv0IHAXh2enixXsf2_obvKmjPHG_2xMP-SruNowbAa4LsHu0-NIk6NqUR0tuoVzLfl0LciTl5k1wBglsgIbWPV9P1n22PRLo7BeIbKbY5H6-U6JvKm1vpncNrXkVHc_Y/s1600/mantelsummerclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWG3VdYNFwlqUv0IHAXh2enixXsf2_obvKmjPHG_2xMP-SruNowbAa4LsHu0-NIk6NqUR0tuoVzLfl0LciTl5k1wBglsgIbWPV9P1n22PRLo7BeIbKbY5H6-U6JvKm1vpncNrXkVHc_Y/s400/mantelsummerclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, as always, thanks so much for stopping by, sweet friends,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm linking up with:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lettered Cottage/<a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party/">Summer Mantel Party</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/06/wow-us-wednesdays-71.html">Wow Us Wednesday</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-91/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-91">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Summer%20Mantel%20Link%20Party/Summer_Mantel_Party_Button.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" /></a></div>

Summer Mantel

Happy Monday, friends!  Can you believe that summer officially starts in three days ?!  This year is flying by!I've been busy, busy continuing to refresh my parents' home and look forward to posting more pictures soon.For now, I thought I'd share our summer mantel.  And, I'm sure you're not surprise…

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Vintage Chicago

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> We were very busy with a Birthday for Mr. Beaux and Father's Day on Sunday of course.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We took off for Chicago on Sunday morning tagging along with Mr. Beaux while he speaks at a conference.  We were looking for something different to do besides the usual touristy things.  I spied a Vintage Flea Market that was going on while I was surfing the net.  Miss Beaux LOVES Flea Markets so I thought this would be a hit.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyt0Q2GFw92rLQqYG2SW1EklZIePLQF7xHgaBXG3JB4YET2hP3F4Cz9rEd1ZzCvNX-qQB51HvkrQHJ2NXK3siZC6XdngAq4mve5P_lGzAhSs4Ew7Ms-CxBa1taKf2A6-XtjMuHsxRiZ47/s1600/43136108901465891_EFFjwZ5o_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyt0Q2GFw92rLQqYG2SW1EklZIePLQF7xHgaBXG3JB4YET2hP3F4Cz9rEd1ZzCvNX-qQB51HvkrQHJ2NXK3siZC6XdngAq4mve5P_lGzAhSs4Ew7Ms-CxBa1taKf2A6-XtjMuHsxRiZ47/s400/43136108901465891_EFFjwZ5o_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">It's called <a href="http://www.vintagegaragechicago.com/#" target="_blank">Vintage Garage Chicago.</a>  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">They hold it in a parking garage and everyone sets up shop </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">from the back of their car. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Kinda like an old fashioned Swap Meet.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiT2ZK4JmGXs6f79jfEKzB8XbE2D2pHtcdE5CH9r2LURDwyOUwQQnFF7Hakx1bueXHDgySSm3iLwSHfled0WHG-YRvhapg92uVTawEX98oRd8Srs5faaxzbCtzPLGnXyzahdjDEoY1dup/s1600/IMG_4483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiT2ZK4JmGXs6f79jfEKzB8XbE2D2pHtcdE5CH9r2LURDwyOUwQQnFF7Hakx1bueXHDgySSm3iLwSHfled0WHG-YRvhapg92uVTawEX98oRd8Srs5faaxzbCtzPLGnXyzahdjDEoY1dup/s640/IMG_4483.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">While Miss Beaux was looking at jewelry I found some beautiful brown transferware being sold at a wonderful booth manned by Janice.  She allowed me to take some pictures of her delightful vignettes.</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Don't you love that pitcher?  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIjkfq2h02qOm2JKwncPxt-yJE1Kp5aQO-sEEtRNPnTI4TSl3xQrdnRLi-nZF4Dw547Wubuj-xQ0JLHy9Tq6qdO1bvFn51F7akJgHLfnCRECxLE5fYrczd8KTJauhyVUnj911R9dtkDks/s1600/IMG_4483a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIjkfq2h02qOm2JKwncPxt-yJE1Kp5aQO-sEEtRNPnTI4TSl3xQrdnRLi-nZF4Dw547Wubuj-xQ0JLHy9Tq6qdO1bvFn51F7akJgHLfnCRECxLE5fYrczd8KTJauhyVUnj911R9dtkDks/s640/IMG_4483a.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  And look at this covered casserole dish. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I even adore the chair that it's perched upon!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg-i3DCUYuCrAGa5228FwYIX6u8uxnmAdlZqJLvQh-qylVNzUuBr7fj8Xp2U75WJ87PGEOOFVkVd4g2yRXR87yfuIaaDovn44e-99jQ6Rm5D9cWk6feo7N5FgmARV4uMxxqVGDY_7vhh3/s1600/IMG_4487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg-i3DCUYuCrAGa5228FwYIX6u8uxnmAdlZqJLvQh-qylVNzUuBr7fj8Xp2U75WJ87PGEOOFVkVd4g2yRXR87yfuIaaDovn44e-99jQ6Rm5D9cWk6feo7N5FgmARV4uMxxqVGDY_7vhh3/s640/IMG_4487.jpg" width="410" /></a></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiommOCcSndPSDlaJwOwdASItRPzjRtE319BvXRUwMgf0nMxaHz32zrFmpGCj7Ija1oDQrdsVOthKzx6pwFq-3qWIZCGHag8__0Mcjwbehe30d_Yl3HDFW34C0DkjAuIcguplUYv_vzvoVi/s1600/IMG_4485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiommOCcSndPSDlaJwOwdASItRPzjRtE319BvXRUwMgf0nMxaHz32zrFmpGCj7Ija1oDQrdsVOthKzx6pwFq-3qWIZCGHag8__0Mcjwbehe30d_Yl3HDFW34C0DkjAuIcguplUYv_vzvoVi/s640/IMG_4485.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Pretty glass doorknobs!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC76JNGRrK5ifWGcoKKVBww8xtDHSeGCRnWIXmonkNLrFvwr2X93htYli4-NS0iCaU0OQKUgZ2OT_KYEok9ZPRODgkAnfRD4ynMKBl5Y2gVv9PzlQG2OZa9qQAbVIETceHgtzszgmkX8mU/s1600/IMG_4488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC76JNGRrK5ifWGcoKKVBww8xtDHSeGCRnWIXmonkNLrFvwr2X93htYli4-NS0iCaU0OQKUgZ2OT_KYEok9ZPRODgkAnfRD4ynMKBl5Y2gVv9PzlQG2OZa9qQAbVIETceHgtzszgmkX8mU/s640/IMG_4488.jpg" width="608" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I soooooooo wanted to take home everything from Leslie's Booth for our Colorado home.  Tartan blankets, old trophies, and look at these Camp Glen Eden awards.  Apparently in 1946 Ralph Berenson was the <b>MAN!!!</b>  He took home every award from Chess and Checkers to Best Athlete!!!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9W0lVsUD_5IwOzP0U2kuvwDH2si-DlvHrl5JPBN2JAims1QpXHFqs9Hd36iZPIlRJGCB5DjcLyLof3wNZq3EnzWzdND5l7pkwufMkSVBPI9X7WljIm78PDkvIP-DK7wVe_ULF0dFpU-q/s1600/IMG_4489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9W0lVsUD_5IwOzP0U2kuvwDH2si-DlvHrl5JPBN2JAims1QpXHFqs9Hd36iZPIlRJGCB5DjcLyLof3wNZq3EnzWzdND5l7pkwufMkSVBPI9X7WljIm78PDkvIP-DK7wVe_ULF0dFpU-q/s640/IMG_4489.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Go Ralph!  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnSA9hYl_lkRaHTOdlt5zAwIAEC_hClbiRDBOWNaISd0osksb69d6Rt3S5Na32DUGSxEXKv2C3sYBA8I2Z3ghCeUiCjKow7qLy5WY1Oa5Au_myMgzYXkZLRMR67-0HUUBjiSl6bniUCFP/s1600/IMG_4490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnSA9hYl_lkRaHTOdlt5zAwIAEC_hClbiRDBOWNaISd0osksb69d6Rt3S5Na32DUGSxEXKv2C3sYBA8I2Z3ghCeUiCjKow7qLy5WY1Oa5Au_myMgzYXkZLRMR67-0HUUBjiSl6bniUCFP/s640/IMG_4490.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a cool Union Jack table that was sold.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Great idea for tripod lamps on top of the table as well as some vintage suitcases below.  There were quite a few vendors with their goods and it was a fun "Non-touristy" day.  No idea what Miss Beaux and I will do in Chi-Town tomorrow...</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time,</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Beaux R'eves,</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">XO Cindy</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sharing at:</span></span></i></div><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Southern Hospitality: Thrifty Treasures </span></a></span></span></i><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></i><i>Susan at<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1057618964"> </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_330306498">Between Naps on the Porch</a> for Metamorphosis Monday </i></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Kristin at<a href="http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/" target="_blank"> My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia</a> for Tuesday's Treasures<br />Linda at <a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/">Coastal Charm</a>for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday<br /><a href="http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Faded Charm</a> for White Wednesday <br />Kim at <a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/">Savvy Southern Style</a> for Wow Us Wednesdays<br />Judy at <a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/">DIY by Design</a> </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Whatever Goes Wednesdays at <a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2012/05/whatever-goes-wednesday-119.html" target="_blank">Someday Crafts </a></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Brambleberry Cottage</a><br />Gina at <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a> for Transformation Thursdays<br />Sherry at <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/">No Minimalist Here</a> for the Open House Party on Thursdays</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>  <a href="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From My Front Porch To Yours</a> for Treasure Hunt Thursday<br /> Cindy at <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/">My Romantic Home</a>for Show and Tell Friday<br />Courtney at <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">French Country Cottage</a> for Feathered Nest Friday<br />Heather and Vanessa at <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/">At the Picket Fence</a> for Inspiration Friday <br />Diann at <a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/">The Thrifty Groove</a> for Thrifty Things Friday<br />Debra at <a href="http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/">Common Ground</a> for Vintage Inspiration Friday<br />Sherry at<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/"> The Charm of Home</a> for Home Sweet Home Friday</i><i><br />Jen at <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/">Tatertots and Jello</a>for the Weekend Wrap-up Party <br />Donna at <a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/">Funky Junk Interiors</a> for Saturday Nite Special</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><a href="http://www.fivedaysfiveways.com/" target="_blank">Five Days...5Ways</a></i></span></div>

Vintage Chicago

I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend.  We were very busy with a Birthday for Mr. Beaux and Father's Day on Sunday of course.  We took off for Chicago on Sunday morning tagging along with Mr. Beaux while he speaks at a conference.  We were looking for something different to do besides the usual touris…

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Musical Benches

<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I recently showed you my fabulous Frenchy Bench that I scored at an Estate Sale last week for a great price.  I wasn't quite sure where I was going to put it but I knew that I <b>HAD</b> to have it!  Yesterday I had to do some picking up because we were having company and I thought it was the perfect time to do some Switcheroing... </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Let's play a game of musical benches.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">You remember that game when you were a kid right?  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I <b>never</b> won because I was too scrawny and always got pushed off of my chair by some bigger kid! </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Here is the "new" bench:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WiEZ2e3eFQED5KguXyxV00oFFVi14QoWtroACRTA8WiCq10usljkk4lPOV3ffhWB8TGWlEMvZfextdc3JhxslZdZ5hoV-Ue1J7OSeu4UYDsXlpQ1c9yxythDmS3wc3U5O9UdA2FskXbI/s1600/IMG_4466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WiEZ2e3eFQED5KguXyxV00oFFVi14QoWtroACRTA8WiCq10usljkk4lPOV3ffhWB8TGWlEMvZfextdc3JhxslZdZ5hoV-Ue1J7OSeu4UYDsXlpQ1c9yxythDmS3wc3U5O9UdA2FskXbI/s640/IMG_4466.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I placed it over where the black dish cabinet used to be in the Hearth Room.  Do you like my improvised end table?  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBbfUd7dIu8nonINeUh-fUoOPHw1Yu2msdNKR4CpbncM-kwAEkIYreXOeEOsaJWRqrrYZGskZKYfiT2hi81a5HfmEi4Q19ATFJF2XQQnRV4jDdS37ByRjTMs3bEH0X7fR__mWgAvUw4sB/s1600/IMG_4464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBbfUd7dIu8nonINeUh-fUoOPHw1Yu2msdNKR4CpbncM-kwAEkIYreXOeEOsaJWRqrrYZGskZKYfiT2hi81a5HfmEi4Q19ATFJF2XQQnRV4jDdS37ByRjTMs3bEH0X7fR__mWgAvUw4sB/s640/IMG_4464.jpg" width="442" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I set some books on my Pier One vase and placed my teapot lamp on top.  This corner needs more light at night. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> So where did the black dish cabinet go?</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_hOz3nRpShBgFcRy9GdEwwK04wJQiuATdMZ60y3dtecZlht2gbB47-UnaJXPXVqHlZ9WA1rN0HlNAOn8NTUeIHO4sRp6B_OmQEbfMLMtMzVC0R2cEzkHEKAvgRBGcIZf9nzOr0Fghq7E/s1600/IMG_4456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_hOz3nRpShBgFcRy9GdEwwK04wJQiuATdMZ60y3dtecZlht2gbB47-UnaJXPXVqHlZ9WA1rN0HlNAOn8NTUeIHO4sRp6B_OmQEbfMLMtMzVC0R2cEzkHEKAvgRBGcIZf9nzOr0Fghq7E/s640/IMG_4456.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Miss Beaux and I moved it over behind the Kitchen table.  I should have put it here to begin with but we tried it and it never looked right.  The table was too large.  So, I took the leaves out of the table and angled it slightly.  Now it looks like it belongs there and it is part of a set.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh181NrrHFfwP2gF5722E2pb6EB-uxlh6xF_lJIl8R5lMvODO9MoIuSLEVvjhMQ3jAq91Div_V4IKJKKciJT3Fx3J7MAeEIMO_xK1KNyboxVvBKnaftwB7yOFc0OesU4ENbfMY9YvSKa2jd/s1600/IMG_4465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh181NrrHFfwP2gF5722E2pb6EB-uxlh6xF_lJIl8R5lMvODO9MoIuSLEVvjhMQ3jAq91Div_V4IKJKKciJT3Fx3J7MAeEIMO_xK1KNyboxVvBKnaftwB7yOFc0OesU4ENbfMY9YvSKa2jd/s640/IMG_4465.jpg" width="378" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I placed the extra chairs on the side of the cabinet and used one of my black tole trays to hold some books and a pretty Sunflower Bordallo Pinheiro plate.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h4aGc8trfGlGu7ZEZRGVZstWeA9MMF6OU7ag9cjL8MiSoq6kZ2w9H-j4cm_Gs1abgC-FaVoIvhFhrC61IMQ9M7tDEP0sRHj_Wwej4_fNRKe2muuAlTUiqWVCFdooWcGHQVJfq5F6w-zY/s1600/IMG_4475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h4aGc8trfGlGu7ZEZRGVZstWeA9MMF6OU7ag9cjL8MiSoq6kZ2w9H-j4cm_Gs1abgC-FaVoIvhFhrC61IMQ9M7tDEP0sRHj_Wwej4_fNRKe2muuAlTUiqWVCFdooWcGHQVJfq5F6w-zY/s640/IMG_4475.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I think the whole room just flows better now.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think?  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP12Cry775DtZE9k9iM-RFYHd4u6wpCrt36ctov4BJU58JUTfjIoKGaVTuRA7aF8McSrv4NxZ-raGQGWOHb3GO3Z-3nfAvxXqa9kiKeracQt5czstj9ilokYiUimCIxL73HNe134TvD1z3/s1600/IMG_4482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP12Cry775DtZE9k9iM-RFYHd4u6wpCrt36ctov4BJU58JUTfjIoKGaVTuRA7aF8McSrv4NxZ-raGQGWOHb3GO3Z-3nfAvxXqa9kiKeracQt5czstj9ilokYiUimCIxL73HNe134TvD1z3/s640/IMG_4482.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">This black bench with the rush seat used to be behind the kitchen table.  It's in the guest room for now.  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Undecided as to whether I like it there or not.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPXQmaSVupSys-Yq0CIAwOv5VKZrwzhaQnTG8rdqYut0UQhnoF6a3TKOvaSd0hqInnIK9Ku4XlffB6i0wfaoF9WPpC316z_-jpLVMmllOEGc40bgzgX5a0UPB-2N7kTXTl0zy5Mlo2TRE/s1600/IMG_4480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPXQmaSVupSys-Yq0CIAwOv5VKZrwzhaQnTG8rdqYut0UQhnoF6a3TKOvaSd0hqInnIK9Ku4XlffB6i0wfaoF9WPpC316z_-jpLVMmllOEGc40bgzgX5a0UPB-2N7kTXTl0zy5Mlo2TRE/s640/IMG_4480.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And the iron bench that I recovered made it's way home to the Master Bedroom where it joins the matching iron bed. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Everyone seems happy in their new homes..... </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time,</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Beaux R'eves</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">XO Cindy</span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I'm linking up to these fun parties:</span></i><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Susan at<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1057618964"> </a><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/">Between Naps on the Porch</a></span><a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/12/beautiful-kitchen-renovation-welcome-to.html"></a></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Cindy at <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/">My Romantic Home</a>for Show and Tell Friday<br />Courtney at <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">French Country Cottage</a> for Feathered Nest Friday<br />Heather and Vanessa at <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/">At the Picket Fence</a> for Inspiration Friday <br />Diann at <a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/">The Thrifty Groove</a> for Thrifty Things Friday<br />Debra at <a href="http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/">Common Ground</a> for Vintage Inspiration Friday<br />Sherry at<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/"> The Charm of Home</a> for Home Sweet Home Friday<br />Jen at <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/">Tatertots and Jello</a>for the Weekend Wrap-up Party </span></i></div>

Musical Benches

I recently showed you my fabulous Frenchy Bench that I scored at an Estate Sale last week for a great price.  I wasn't quite sure where I was going to put it but I knew that I HAD to have it!  Yesterday I had to do some picking up because we were having company and I thought it was the perfect time …

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Mulch Better-Part 2 The Backyard

<div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you all enjoyed my <a href="http://beauxrevesamore.blogspot.com/2012/06/it-looks-mulch-better.html" target="_blank">Front yard tour</a>.</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  Well, the backyard was even more fun to mulch! </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">It took twice as long to finish and it was probably three times as HOT outside last weekend.  But it's done now and looks so much better.  I'll give you a short tour around the property: </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3HJJaIzWjSYOuBItiNmXQpeVbOGTkaNcedtJhmX22XPjtMn6iiKdbWUo5YsWPacR8wo2BvnPKeRq-yg87c2yhO77DR9aDOYIoUPbgSjUye2CoScFu3OWIdtT_CzMwLL_982HDBZtQL1T/s1600/IMG_4431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3HJJaIzWjSYOuBItiNmXQpeVbOGTkaNcedtJhmX22XPjtMn6iiKdbWUo5YsWPacR8wo2BvnPKeRq-yg87c2yhO77DR9aDOYIoUPbgSjUye2CoScFu3OWIdtT_CzMwLL_982HDBZtQL1T/s640/IMG_4431.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">This is what the backyard looks like from the golf course.  I don't play golf but I like looking out onto the course.  We are surrounded by two ponds which are really pretty too.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsl5ikwRPbFgNn1HSiK4XlTD9YN82eMH9oqlWc_QIbc6LfJzN0_Jf5Uz4HjK2JjsI5zhgwf123MrdNkr3AJ28YycdO0u0c3BthA39hXElFru0xcBCPAHYqMQuCt1PlMPlZEBOzwnMoQjR/s1600/IMG_4423-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSsl5ikwRPbFgNn1HSiK4XlTD9YN82eMH9oqlWc_QIbc6LfJzN0_Jf5Uz4HjK2JjsI5zhgwf123MrdNkr3AJ28YycdO0u0c3BthA39hXElFru0xcBCPAHYqMQuCt1PlMPlZEBOzwnMoQjR/s640/IMG_4423-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Our lot is on a slope which allows us to have a walkout basement but our backyard would have been a small ski hill without building this retaining wall.  It's made out of local stone and is about 8 feet high in some places.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORhVovAj6_R5vrSVcedUgLbMxOPPffrGXqpGkKM48ZUG26PWkmjai1cjcXrvJ2QPrOjnxgZeS2o-HhYEozCmvgYakPqbjbvHQrC4Cn5VUq1b-Ayzav2Oz8MLoCiKnsNMDhHi3gdduKOeV/s1600/IMG_4424-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORhVovAj6_R5vrSVcedUgLbMxOPPffrGXqpGkKM48ZUG26PWkmjai1cjcXrvJ2QPrOjnxgZeS2o-HhYEozCmvgYakPqbjbvHQrC4Cn5VUq1b-Ayzav2Oz8MLoCiKnsNMDhHi3gdduKOeV/s640/IMG_4424-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">We planted all of the beds ourselves 10 years ago.  Now the ornamental grasses are huge and the creeping junipers are a little too "creepy" for me.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-9lBdVuSWSo6_13TDYmFmJWGp6dRgMU_RNjCuqZiSBvx05dlRA67q3_AcDM4D6lMP5qUMvY80JenJPjs8iUzsI9grkImsx2Tn6XnsL64lAkikAun2y3rfckQRed-bNsUtJ40zUjASFXv/s1600/IMG_4421-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-9lBdVuSWSo6_13TDYmFmJWGp6dRgMU_RNjCuqZiSBvx05dlRA67q3_AcDM4D6lMP5qUMvY80JenJPjs8iUzsI9grkImsx2Tn6XnsL64lAkikAun2y3rfckQRed-bNsUtJ40zUjASFXv/s640/IMG_4421-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">This is one of the ponds.  I love my daylilies around the small plum tree.  They never disappoint me and grow without much care.  I need kids like that!  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eGgCd22jnlm8qWyvfTJ-uB6e9jyrGCexYbIf88Exr9GRCOxAQQsoK0F6Y0WQRRw6eScTEg-3UKQuKvuf2y_-Y2QCa1DbaAFCZ2LQkFGjYIu0pi419Vp9-kQJrROH98Z6pZDILfEbF3g7/s1600/IMG_4428-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eGgCd22jnlm8qWyvfTJ-uB6e9jyrGCexYbIf88Exr9GRCOxAQQsoK0F6Y0WQRRw6eScTEg-3UKQuKvuf2y_-Y2QCa1DbaAFCZ2LQkFGjYIu0pi419Vp9-kQJrROH98Z6pZDILfEbF3g7/s640/IMG_4428-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And here is a view from the other side of the pond last night.  The neighbors make our house look small.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnAk5ndHR88ZJX-iNCKZkoTxnyBE4i3eViBBv-9HjcvvcJ0DUDgfQ_ka5qxgk6AWfddzNOL9_ONP1T6ctxo_8FivveD8v5PCj9TsOp1znxQwLj3Cz32t4NpDD1zxmbwftiFt-5rFG_c1K/s1600/IMG_4436-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUnAk5ndHR88ZJX-iNCKZkoTxnyBE4i3eViBBv-9HjcvvcJ0DUDgfQ_ka5qxgk6AWfddzNOL9_ONP1T6ctxo_8FivveD8v5PCj9TsOp1znxQwLj3Cz32t4NpDD1zxmbwftiFt-5rFG_c1K/s640/IMG_4436-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">This is my favorite part of the backyard, the stone patio.   Mr. Beaux built a firepit around the stone steps.  It's fun in the summer to build a fire and make smores.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhferNDh0wiZqlDfh0KoIqUdqpUdoFgW-rYguQex1s7pCCQUtIZhj8zi4o_KYCrSHTge7UbGQAP4HVhnHVl5GDofe4dHevgj-sIPgJ2D8LU_MCnH_sD81lB-IWF7aYgE5I-j97Q3VDeB1ev/s1600/IMG_4446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhferNDh0wiZqlDfh0KoIqUdqpUdoFgW-rYguQex1s7pCCQUtIZhj8zi4o_KYCrSHTge7UbGQAP4HVhnHVl5GDofe4dHevgj-sIPgJ2D8LU_MCnH_sD81lB-IWF7aYgE5I-j97Q3VDeB1ev/s640/IMG_4446.jpg" width="466" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> My hydrangea bushes look so pretty against the stone wall.  I had a lilac bush that I just pulled out.  Everything was so crowded in there.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1JURbq8khmZAWZD3RNddp99pj3nupCnIulgtzf8N0mRiS2DSmPy1g3626WV4de01yp2myldm87C7PIqyKMc3hKO2zhy_NIq_5Xp29ex7-DZAOk9yQkaSKZ0slfbN6FwVEHEOulebLv4n/s1600/IMG_4443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1JURbq8khmZAWZD3RNddp99pj3nupCnIulgtzf8N0mRiS2DSmPy1g3626WV4de01yp2myldm87C7PIqyKMc3hKO2zhy_NIq_5Xp29ex7-DZAOk9yQkaSKZ0slfbN6FwVEHEOulebLv4n/s640/IMG_4443.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">These were green and white last year and I stuck some rusty nails in the ground.  I have to work on the other ones this year.  I forget what else you can do to change the color. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Hello Google!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUKEF6j4mC3BEg2aYKhS4YJhX2mLfNVTc-UyoqPgbnR_mbmtjbEAJU0sFkAjVTjFNXFCFj8nNiJnquFFuEYYxSxbKyoPZ8fL-c4EmVpMkpdQeSVm-QSfGYdG5acrQrrdYlwsYT_D3cew4/s1600/IMG_4447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUKEF6j4mC3BEg2aYKhS4YJhX2mLfNVTc-UyoqPgbnR_mbmtjbEAJU0sFkAjVTjFNXFCFj8nNiJnquFFuEYYxSxbKyoPZ8fL-c4EmVpMkpdQeSVm-QSfGYdG5acrQrrdYlwsYT_D3cew4/s640/IMG_4447.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">And more hydrangeas against the house.  We planted creeping moss and Irish moss inbetween the stones.  It took a long time but it finally grew in nicely.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa0JgcWUVwBPjYp1avO7RX1u10XyOYRBXecSv9Oe7uQyoZmuHeW7smn8-QeTg5M4IFkwBXdGa48YCzqghdk-SCjm_s4ior_tTNQEEivAM9iHAcmA0K0MobVvftMVU_GGH_9nNnI8GADGX/s1600/IMG_4444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsa0JgcWUVwBPjYp1avO7RX1u10XyOYRBXecSv9Oe7uQyoZmuHeW7smn8-QeTg5M4IFkwBXdGa48YCzqghdk-SCjm_s4ior_tTNQEEivAM9iHAcmA0K0MobVvftMVU_GGH_9nNnI8GADGX/s640/IMG_4444.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">OK, anyone know what these are?  Some kind of variegated hydrangea?  Why are they only partially blooming? </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> I've got a great green thumb I know!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDSAxgP7JaoHX9M31tSbvDpekvrelPnd8wUG59thvO1ldp54Mx3yDyfpYsahZwoz2vo-Y2l4Tb0k9wnCUf06kfkL4qZews_cDM5lrunxQ6J9uFpclsg6H-LHi9Eg96uj6aleKTIagWjPj/s1600/IMG_4448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDSAxgP7JaoHX9M31tSbvDpekvrelPnd8wUG59thvO1ldp54Mx3yDyfpYsahZwoz2vo-Y2l4Tb0k9wnCUf06kfkL4qZews_cDM5lrunxQ6J9uFpclsg6H-LHi9Eg96uj6aleKTIagWjPj/s640/IMG_4448.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Stone steps up to the driveway. </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> Aren't these cool?</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  I want to take a family picture here someday.  </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo4UJz79PYhKWeuCKpkBufui78WkIbv7YJZrFAIki3yFfoL0MpGlD4r-vGtlxP_hm_tZ3VfePEOK7o6YYd0Vp8U6L3OyXJD-tT8v3JG3-vV-ykJwPkri_n7cxDNaad1kUpLsbdpzl29uC/s1600/IMG_4449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmo4UJz79PYhKWeuCKpkBufui78WkIbv7YJZrFAIki3yFfoL0MpGlD4r-vGtlxP_hm_tZ3VfePEOK7o6YYd0Vp8U6L3OyXJD-tT8v3JG3-vV-ykJwPkri_n7cxDNaad1kUpLsbdpzl29uC/s640/IMG_4449.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">A little secret pathway under the deck to the patio.</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">  Hey!  Some Bunny has been eating my Hostas!  If they weren't so cute I'd set traps out or something...</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for coming along on the tour of my backyard!  </span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Until Next Time,</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Beaux R'eves,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">XO Cindy</span></span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Linking up to:</span></i></div><div style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Kim at <a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/">Savvy Southern Style</a> for Wow Us Wednesdays<br />Judy at <a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/">DIY by Design</a> <a href="http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Gina at <a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/">The Shabby Creek Cottage</a> for Transformation Thursdays<br />Sherry at <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/">No Minimalist Here</a> for the Open House Party on Thursdays</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">  <a href="http://frommyfrontporchtoyours.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">From My Front Porch To Yours</a> for Treasure Hunt Thursday<br /> Cindy at <a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/">My Romantic Home</a>for Show and Tell Friday<br />Courtney at <a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/">French Country Cottage</a> for Feathered Nest Friday<br />Heather and Vanessa at <a href="http://www.atthepicketfence.com/">At the Picket Fence</a> for Inspiration Friday <br />Sherry at<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/"> The Charm of Home</a> for Home Sweet Home Friday<br />Jen at <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/">Tatertots and Jello</a>for the Weekend Wrap-up Party <br />Donna at <a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/">Funky Junk Interiors</a> for Saturday Nite Special</i></span></div>

Mulch Better-Part 2 The Backyard

I hope you all enjoyed my Front yard tour.  Well, the backyard was even more fun to mulch! It took twice as long to finish and it was probably three times as HOT outside last weekend.  But it's done now and looks so much better.  I'll give you a short tour around the property: This is what the backy…

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