Sea Shell Wreath

I saw this idea on a couple of different blogs this summer. It's a wreath made with sea shells. I made mine a couple of months ago and never got around to posting it. Better late than never.
You could find the Styrofoam wreath at some Dollar Tree stores or a craft store. Of course, the DT stores are only a $1, and you can't beat that price. The shells I got at the DT store in two different ways. Some came in a plastic bag and some were in a small wicker basket. I got some of each, as they had different shells and gave me a variety. I just picked out the ones I wanted to use or seemed to fit around the Styrofoam the best and started hot gluing. It took an hour and half to place and glue the shells on. I tied a light brown bow on the wreath to match the tones in my shells and voila.... it's done!
I hung mine on a wreath holder and put it on the hearth of the fireplace. I already had nautical items that I brought from other rooms, including the conch shell that hubby dove for in the Bahamas many years ago.

The left over shells in a glass bowl on an end table with an ocean pic of hubby and me.

I'll be taking this theme down in a wk. or two and putting up Fall decor.
Are you thinking Fall themes yet?

Thanks for popping in today. Enjoy your week!

Family Time

This is Ivy, our 9 month old grand baby. I couldn't believe her mother caught this pose showing her 9 teeth. Both our girls got their teeth early and all 4 grandchildren started at 4 mos., as well.

We have been helping with the grand kids lately do to a problem our daughter has been experiencing. We had them over the other night at bath time and hubby caught this cute picture of Jonas in the water. Both the kids have such big blue eyes. I hope Ivy is as blessed as Jonas with those longgggggg eyelashes. Hers are starting to grow now. We'll see....

On Sunday, Ivy was dedicated by her parents to be raised in a Godly Christian home. She wore a dress that the other two granddaughters have worn at their dedication services in the past.

She was entertaining the choir in this next picture.

We came out of church Sun. evening to a beautiful sunset at the end of a beautiful day! God's handiwork for us to enjoy.

If I could pick your brains for a moment, I'd like to hear if any of you have heard of this condition of the hands called Dyshidrosis-Pompholyx. It can affect the feet as well. It is not like regular eczema. Our daughter Sarah seems to be affected by it since giving birth. The hands can blister, peel, and be very painful, hence, why we are bathing the children. We have tried to find a remedy to help her but it seems to be rare, only 20 people out of 100,000. Dermatologists prescribe cortisone cream but it is just a band aid.
She has tried coconut oil and it works as well as the steroid creams.
I know someone may have heard of something that has worked for you or someone you know and we would be grateful to hear from you.

Thanks for taking the time to listen. I appreciate each and every comment.

A Day At The Lake

Hi Everyone,
I know I haven't posted in awhile. Summer is a lazy, busy time. Is that an oxymoron? I hope to get to posting a little more regularly.

Here's some of what's been happening. Some sweet friends invited us to go to Lake Jocasse and spend the day on their boat. Part of the lake is in SC and part in NC. It is truly breathtaking! We had a wonderful day of sun, boating, picnicking, fishing and seeing waterfalls.

Thanks Debbie and Dick! Hubby and I enjoying the ride.

They took us to a small inland to have lunch with our very own waterfall. Can't beat that for uniqueness and beauty.

It fell into a pond, almost at our feet, while we ate. They took sling chairs and plenty of food. They thought of everything.

Hubby and I just had to go behind the waterfall and have our picture taken.

We watched construction on a 7,000 sq. ft house. What a view they are going to have.

Hubby and I on the boat doing a little fishing. It was a very hot day and the fish were deep down trying to stay cool and not biting. Some spots are 200 to 300 ft. deep.

We stumbled upon another waterfall.

Not many boats on the lake that day and the water was calm.

Well we are speeding off the lake before it gets too dark.

How have you been enjoying your summer?

A Bit of Humor

In light of the stimulus or giveaway packages coming out of Washington, I thought I would post a little humor I just came across.


CASH FOR CLUNKERS...........I QUALIFY

IF MY BODY WERE A CAR... If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull. But that's not the worst of it. My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially hard to see things up close.My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.
But here's the worst of it -- Almost every time I sneeze, cough or laugh, either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires. My nagging cough is a sign of a clogged carburetor fighting for clean air.
CASH FOR CLUNKERS..........I QUALIFY - How about You?

Anniversaries

Today is our youngest daughter's ninth wedding anniversary. Where has time gone?
Happy Anniversary Sarah and Joe!

Did you know that this year is the 100th anniversary of the invention of the first commercially-successful electric toaster? A man named Frank Shailor developed his electric toaster, the "D-12," at General Electric How about a game of Tic Tac Toast? Two people, armed with peanut butter and jelly could have a battle of early morning wits....

How about this clear one. You would never have to pop a piece up to see if it's brown enough.

This contraption that allows you to write on bread through the use of a mounted hot-air gun.

Imagine finding messages from your spouse on your morning toast — Take Out the Trash!

Here is a clock, if it fits your decor.

What if companies made them with their logo imprint.

Here's Hello Kitty sold at Target.

This is just a few I thought you might enjoy seeing.

Hope you're having a good week so far!

A Little This & A LIttle That

Summer is a busy time doing outside jobs, isn't it? We have needed to paint and freshen up a lot of yard ornaments and furniture outside.
We got our white rockers on the front porch painted at the beginning of the season and then got busy with grass and flowers. The other things got put on the back burner till now.

Hubby just took the runners on this rocker and sanded and repainted them.

We just cleaned this little fountain again the other day and finally got some drops to keep it fresh.Hubby sprayed this table and the stand underneath it.

He also did the stand for the gazing ball. It makes everything look so much brighter and fresh.

He sprayed the next couple of items, as well. Don't you just love spray paint!!

This fountain/birdbath was very grayish before. So glad he did it black. I took the two flowers indoors. I gave them a new coat and sprayed them with a clear protective coat outside.
They look so much better.

Another ornament that hubby got hold of.

Our deer had faded quite a bit over the years and we sprayed them brown all over. It was easier that way. I then had to go over the antlers, the ears, nose and hoofs by hand.

Oh, there they are. They found their way back to the flower beds.

We even found time to fit in a wedding. Have you ever been to one with 11 attendants????

Check out this photo.

What have you all been up to? I would love to hear from you.

Till next time--Have a great week!

Backyard Makeover part II

It's Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch with our host Susan.

Last week I showed you the back end of our yard that we sculpted out and put in trees and other plants. Today I thought I would show you the part of the yard adjoining the house. It had a very small slab of cement that the builders laid down. (hardly big enough for a table set) We decided to extend the patio the length of the house and widen it. We have enjoyed it so much. We have a longer season here in the south to use it.

What a mess with all that red clay dirt. They dug up the grass and graded the area. New cement, freshly poured.

Some of the tiles already being laid.

The corner right outside the back door.

The table set sits right outside the back door, which is at one end of the patio.

Table set for company.

Right behind the the table is a little side bar for extra seating.

On the other end of the patio we have a gazebo with wicker furniture.

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment. Be sure to visit other blogs over at Susan's.

BTW Melissa at Melissa's Heart and Home is having a wonderful giveaway. Be sure to go enter.