Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Cleaning Things Up Around Here

With the remodel of the inside on hold for the summer, there's been a lot of work going on around here on the outside. Many of us have growing lists of things to do to our homes, I've had a few on my list for quite a while, I decided this was the year was to take action on a few of those projects.

Mother Nature has put a stop stick on a few of those with all the rain, today is gorgeous and promises to be for the next few days, I'll be hitting the yard each evening after closing the shop to mark a few of those things off the list.
For the past
few years I've used a cream colored umbrella at the table outside the shop door, then I didn't put one up at all. When I brought the pillows out for the bench this Spring it hit me light a lighting bolt I needed a black and white striped umbrella for the table. Shopping in Walmart one day I discovered they had the perfect umbrella. The price was right, just needed to sell the cream colored one. Boom! It sold right away to the neighbors and they're enjoying it as much as I am the one I purchased.

Notice anything different? The arbor is gone! You can view how it looked during one of my Christmas Open Houses HERE , HERE , and HERE. Wow! What a difference cleaning up things can make in an entrance. I am loving the change.
It all started one Saturday afternoon, I decided to pull the fence posts up that was holding the arbor in the ground, then the small fencing located on either side. I loaded those in the mule and dropped them off at the barn. Then I moved (strain on back) the large pots around a couple of the posts. You can say I was a woman on a mission.

The north side planter box has been empty except for nasty grass for over four years now. I would weed eat it or put weed killer down to keep things looking some what neater looking. Then it dawned on me it needed a little bit of love. While cleaning things away around the entrance I noticed a lot of small things scattered here and there with no true purpose in where they were located. I gathered them to put a way and then that light bulb moment hit once again.

The bob cat was used to pull quite a bit of dirt and rock back, over the years it has slowly crept towards the house causing a pooling problem. I'm a big girl now and ordered my first load of rock. It's so much cleaner looking than it was, there's still more to come once we can get dry enough weather to complete this portion of the clean up.
The first thing to go in was the metal bird bath that used to sit by the shop door.

I decided to plant Liriope grass, or some may know it as Monkey grass. It's hardy and super easy to care for.
The large red rocks were brought back from Oregon by a client of mine. He's since passed, so show casing them is my way of honoring what this dear gentlemen meant to me.
The moccasin planter belonged to my Betty, for years it had succulents growing in it. This year I pulled some ground cover to stick inside for a bit more added color.
Now you knew there would be a bunny hopping around here some where, in fact there are a few more, I didn't want to bury you with picture over load.
Lastly plastic was put down and lots of river rock.
 Even with the umbrella down the area is just so darn cute.
I told a gal she could have the wheel barrow, it's never been picked up. So..... I grouped it with a few of the planters and the copper chimera. I feel the look is cohesive and not as cluttered as it once looked before.
The  signature ferns are beginning to take off .


Thanks so much for stopping by. What do you think? Better with the arbor or without?
Fondly ~ Lynne ~

10 comments:

Pat said...

Lynne,
Better!
I L O V E the new "clean" look, dear friend!
You know, my all~time favorite color scheme for tablescaping is black, white and green. . .
so~o~o I'm loving every black and white stripe combined with the green on your patio/deck!
"Mr. Ed" & I have been doing some of the "same" here on our side of the Prairie!
We may have to wait for Autumn to finish the front landscaping adventure.
Still trying to get "Mr." on board with the design. All in due time! (wink!)
Fondly,
Pat

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Dear Sweet Pat, thanks for your kind words. I too am loving the new "cleaned" up look. It's been a long time coming and I'm enjoying all the hard work and the out come each time I put "my" mark on things around here. Enjoy this beautiful weather we're having. fondly ~ Lynne ~

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

It all looks so pretty. Gorgeous place.

Blondie's Journal said...

Love your changes, Lynne. I never thought back and white would look so great outdoors and you have proved it does. Nice changes to your house, too. Nice work!

Jane

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Hi Lynn! Long time no visit. I am so glad I did today. I love your cleaned up look without the arbor. It's much more open now to the rest of your property and seems like it would be more inviting when you sit out there between customers or with so that now you can enjoy your view. I love it. You have been so busy and it shows. Everything looks so good!

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Lynne, you have been a busy lady! The space looks so much more open without the arbor. The black and white also looks so crisp and clean. You've done a great job; and I love the plantings in the wheelbarrow. Everything looks great!

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Thanks so much Marty, thanks for the visit. fondly ~ Lynne ~

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Thanks Miss Jane, I've enjoyed the process along with all the hard work, still putting finishing touches on some key areas, you know the old saying a woman's works is never done. lol. fondly ~ Lynne ~

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Such a nice surprise to have you pop in Mary. Hope things are well with you. I'm loving the open feeling it gives around here, has give me the courage and thoughts to change the name of the blog, other changes may be coming. fondly ~ Lynne ~

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Thanks so much sweetie. There has been a lot of yard work, I've loved every minute of it. Thanks for popping in, hope things are well with you. fondly ~ Lynne ~