A Bench re-do for the Rooster Party and DIY!

Today starts the big anticipated Rooster party at Bella Vista! It's also DIY at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land. I decided to combine these two since my rooster collection is a little on the small side and it all started with a bench re-do! My first rooster is an apothecary jar that I purchased this summer for a mere $7.00. I filled it with some wooden eggs and wooden baby chick and tied a red ribbon around it's neck. My MIL made me the lovely table runner from scraps of fabric.

She is a very talented quilted and I love that she just used what I had left from my pillows and bench cushion to fashion this lovely runner for me!

Another view! I just love this table runner and use it often.

My bench re-do was inspired by one I saw on RMS. I have had this bench forever and decided it needed a new look or it would have to be relegated to this storage bin.

I primed it first and then painted two coats of Behrs Cottage White paint to give it a new lease. I found the rooster fabric on E-Bay and ordered 1 yard. I think it was $10.00 for that yard and since it is a better quality upholstery fabric that seemed like a good deal to me. I made a cushion and two pillows with that yard of fabric and my MIL used the scraps for the table runner!

Hubby painted the old shelf for me and I added the rooster plate and my one and only wooden rooster to the mix!

An here you have, my rooster corner! I attempted to stencil a rooster onto the bench. Don't laugh too much now. He was a freebie and in order to use him I had to delete his legs! Now for some real rooster collections go visit Barb and don't forget the DIY party at Kimba's! Thanks for all the birthday wishes you sent my way! I will try to get back to each and every one of you too. Cindy

It's a Party! Met. Monday, Let There Be White, Blue Monday and my Birthday!

      It's a Party!!! Tomorrow is my birthday and in celebration I am doing a triple! Please visit these ladies wonderful blogs! Susan for Met Monday.

Sally for Blue Monday.

And on Tuesday, Kathleen for Let There Be White Part II.

The old dining room table had been needing a new look for a long time. I was wishing for a new one but then I had an idea! Maybe with some paint we could give this table and chairs a whole new look! Luckily, I have a hubby who loves to paint because each chair took about 3 hours to complete. He primed them first and then painted them a cottage white.

The before: Brown and boring and although I liked it once upon a time, it needed a face lift.

And the after! Amazing what paint will do! I am so happy with the new and improved old table and chairs. I am also participating in Let There be White with one color at Cuisine Kathleen's.

For my centerpiece, I am using a tea-pot with one blue hydrangea (real). The tea-pot was purchased for $1 at an auction and the little plate was a GW find. I am using a little white crocheted doily that belonged to my Grandma.

A candlestick that I had previously spray painted. (it was brass) Little target birdies and some votives finish out the look.

I've had these place mats for ever and ever. The plates are Myott Finlandia purchased from a garage sale and E-bay. The vintage silverware was a $1 a bag purchase at an Estate Sale. OOPS, forgot the salad forks! The napkins I love and they are paper to boot! I purchased these at TJ Maxx, and I think they work well with this china.

An early morning view with the sun shining in.

More sun, more viewing. LOL!

I love the look of my new/ old dining room table and chairs! Thanks honey!

Light the candles for a more romantic meal.

Thank-you for visiting my triple post! I have some celebrating to do! Happy Monday. Cindy

Outdoor Wednesday/ Beautiful Door County, Wisc.

Dan and I recently took a little jaunt to the other side of Wisconsin. Door County is a well known tourist destination and with good reason. Although we have visited numerous times each visit is still a new experience. With the beauty of Lake Michigan and quaint little towns with names like Fish Creek and Egg harbor there are days and days of things to explore. Door County is know for it's beauty, cherry trees, lighthouses, fish boils and of course the Lake. The numerous charming shops in each little town add to the fun! See map below for a view of the county.

Numerous lighthouses dot the shores. There are many state parks to explore with miles of beaches and lighthouses.

After a brief storm, a rainbow appeared and Dan was able to get the shot!

The sun sparkles off of Lake Michigan!

A well known restaurant draws crowds with their grass roof and live-in lawn mowers.

Another view! The day was beautiful and they seemed quite content .

A fish boil is one of my favorite Door County traditions. They use fresh White Fish from where else,.... Lake Michigan. The pot is filled with fish, potatoes, and onions.

One of the cooks explains the history of the Door County Fish Boil.

One more step before dinner is served.

One more stir and dinner is served!

Don't forget to visit our hostess Susan by clicking on the logo above. There are so many wonderful Outdoor Posts to enjoy. Thanks Susan!

Cloie Annabelle's Baptismal on Beautiful Lake Pepin/Blue Monday Too!

I'm linking this post to Blue Monday with our hostess Sally. Be sure to visit her blog! See my blue in the water and skies below.

Last evening, as the sun set over beautiful Lake Pepin near Pepin, Wi we celebrated the Baptismal of Cloie Annabelle. Cloie is my sister Susie's youngest child. I blogged about the baby shower I hosted for her. To see that post click here. Cloie wore her Paternal Grandmothers Baptismal gown. This simple yet beautiful gown was last worn 70 years ago . What a treasure for my sister and her husband Najeeb to have.

Here she is all bright eyed and gorgeous! A picture perfect baby girl with a darling disposition.

As the sun began to set over Beautiful Lake Pepin......

Family and friends gathered. The blond girl wearing the red dress and holding the bible for the minister is my sister's daughter Noel. The girl in the polka dots is my sister's daughter Kristin. Friends and relatives were her sponsors.

Mom and Dad, family and friends. The little boy on the far left is my sister's son Ben. Big brother Justin was not in this pic.

We all gathered close expecting a lot of unhappiness from Cloie.

The minister was very gentle and she never made a peep!

The proud parents say a prayer.

As this darling baby girl with slightly damp hair gazes out to her admirers. Thanks for sharing this with me, Cindy

Prairie GardenTable/Tablescape/Thrifty Thursday

Welcome! After a few days away I have blogging posts to catch up on. But first, its Tablescape Thurday with our lovely hostess Susan.

It's also Thrifty Thursday, with our lovely hostess Leigh. Please visit these ladies blogs by clicking on their logos . My theme today is Prairie Garden. My only new purchase is a tablecloth from the Martha Stewart Collection. I purchased this on e-bay for a whopping $8.00!

My centerpiece is a creamy white ceramic watering can from GW, the target birdies, a fat little birdie borrowed from a bedroom, a white chair borrowed from the LR and blue candlesticks inside Wal-mart candle holders.

I took some pics at night using my flash and then some without a flash. The plates are my bargain Vera Bradleys from TJ Maxx,$1.00 for the plates and .70 cents for the salad plate! The napkins are GW , the blue glasses TJ Maxx and the wine glasses are a garage sale find.

I used flowers from my garden to fashion a centerpiece. I tried to arrange them decoratively and I am gradually getting the hang of it. ( I hope) LOL!

The pretty place mats are from Kohls, only $1.00 a piece and the napkins rings are my super thrifty find. Read more about them below.

I like the fat little blue bird on this table and the target birdies are back to work!!!

My gingham napkin rings!

Trying to capture a nighttime by candle-light view. A little dark, but I still like the romantic glow!

Now onto my super thrifty napkin rings! None in my house fit and I remember a post I saw earlier on someones blog. Grabbed a toilet paper roll! Their Free!

Measure 1" width and cut. If you had two empty ones I would make them 1.5" across.

I cut a piece of wired ribbon leftover from my wreath.

Wrap ribbon around the ring and add a dash of glue with your glue gun. Simple hey? And free!

A finished view. The wired ribbon works great but you could also use fabric strips.

And whose the wiser? Now that's my thriftiest contribution to today's post! I have some blogging to catch up on and I will be getting to your blogs as soon as I can! Have a great week-end too! Cindy