So in the middle of June, I started several “outdoor room” makeovers. I might have been a little too ambitious, but that is how I roll. I went to Lowe’s and had so much fun, I got all sorts of great things to add privacy, function and beauty to my patio and deck areas. And then summer weather decided not to start until August. And then we got our puppy Jack. And my daughter had her emergency surgery. And my husband and I went away on a romantic getaway. And, well, you get the idea. Life happened.

But, while the projects went a tad bit slower than I had hoped, I still got ALMOST all the way to the finish line with my projects! I’m not much of a gardener and nothing is perfect yet, but it was fun working outside! I worked on a family fire pit area, a potting table,  a front porch, a fairy garden, and a pallet garden and now, my back deck! So, at least I have a great start on my yard for next year!!

Alas, the delay in getting started means my by the time I got around to showing you the back deck, the patio furniture is is wearing WHITE after Labor Day. Is that one of the unpardonable decorating sins? Not sure. But who cares anyway when we are still having summer weather! YAHOO! I’ll be enjoying my recovered cushions and prettier deck for another couple of months before it is time to put the cushions away for the season.

BEFORE

I started out with a frightful mess. Dingy moldy old patio cushions, dead plants, and no privacy at all.

BEFORE

It was pretty depressing. I had dead sticks on wimpy trellises.

And I ended up with gorgeous lush greenery, beautiful trellises and white covers for my furniture. And my lovely yellow pallet garden which is just to the side of the chair, somehow I forgot to get it in the picture.

Yes, I chose WHITE Sunbrella fabric (you can find the fabric source here) for outdoor cushions, not only because it goes with my green and white striped umbrella but because the fabric is easy care, it won’t fade in the sun and can be washed and bleached as needed! The cushions will be put away all winter and be lovely all summer.

And in case you are wondering, no, I didn’t end up sewing the slipcovers myself. I fully intended to try, but I have such a busy life my mom came to my rescue again. Not sure how you DIY divas do it all yourselves, I have to delegate! I guess I’m a “DIY {with Help} Diva.”

 I brought my HomeGoods curly woven planter (purchased last year and used indoors in the winter) out for plants. The cute clay pots were from Lowe’s. I loved the colors!!

And my yellow HomeGoods planter, YUMMY!

I had my hubby attach my new trellises (from Lowe’s) around the deck for the vines to grow on and give us the privacy we had hoped for. They are such great trellises, they look so heavy duty and substantial, not like most ready made trellises I’ve seen.

The wisteria vines are so hardy and fast growing they’ll cover those trellises next year! Eventually I’ll probably have to plant them somewhere else so they don’t take my deck down with their vigor, but for now, they are awesome. I also got a blueberry bush which has provided us with delectable blueberries! The plants came from Lowe’s.

You can see how NOT fancy or remarkable the deck is, it is a very ordinary suburban Washington state new house deck. But a few trellises and plants (and of course, my pallet garden) help to give it a little more personality, greenery and privacy.

I also covered up the worn deck (since I wasn’t ready to refinish or restain our deck just yet) with a weather and dog friendly outdoor rug from Lowe’s.

And then, the part that will tie it all together and give it the punch and pizazz, will be my new fabric which will become pillows for the chairs. They will be like the icing on the cake. Not sure when I’ll get around to sewing them, but hopefully in the next couple of weeks. The sources for my fabric can be found on this post.

They are such fun colors and patterns, I am really excited about them.

While I was out taking pictures I let Jack come hang out with me. He got into paper towels and every pine cone, branch, stick he could find. I kept taking them away saying “You are going to choke on that.”

You can see by his picture, he had a thing or two to say about THAT.

Sassy pup.

Thanks to Lowe’s for the plants, trellises, large pots, and outdoor rug and paint  for this outdoor space! 

I had a few of you ask about my miniature tabletop garden on my front porch, so I thought I’d show you what it is and tell you a little bit more about it! It is finally summer around here (we’ve been having great weather for the most part the past couple of weeks or so) and I’m still really enjoying my outdoor projects! I’m going to be back inside soon enough, might as well enjoy the sun while we have it!

I was at a cute little garden center near my house earlier this summer and came across the most adorable little fairy gardens in wood boxes and pots.

I got so excited about how cute they were I decided on the spot I had to make one of my own. I sent a text message to my girls telling them I wanted to make a fairy garden and they ignored me. They totally thought I was kidding. I think they were worried I was turning into a crazy grandma who puts little ceramic animals in her potted plants.

Yes. Maybe I am a crazy old lady now.

I actually didn’t get any fairies or animals for my garden (YET, anyway, HA!), but I did get a couple of little miniature garden accessories and plants. Mostly I was super excited about the plants. I have always loved “step-ables” which is a brand name (I think) for adorable little creeping plants that if you planted them between stepping stones, you could step on them and not kill them. You can see them here (Stepables is not a sponsor, I just like them!).

My old garden (many years ago)

When I designed my patio and put in my little garden about 10 years ago in Portland (Eastmoreland), I planted tons of creeping plants and mosses around stepping stones. You can see them in the photo, above. I really miss that patio, and all my creeping little plants. I cannot describe how happy those plants made me.  I’m a dork I guess, it doesn’t take much to make me happy. Just to clarify, I’m definitely NOT a skilled gardener at all. This was the first and only real patio/garden I ever designed or planted in. I was completely in love with it.

Anyway, every time I have been to a garden center since living in my current house, I’ve wanted to add those little creeping plants to my landscape, but just didn’t have my yard ready to use them. So far at this house, I’ve only done container gardening.

I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before, but once I saw those miniature fairy gardens, I realized I CAN use creeping plants — in planters and crates!! So, this miniature garden was my first attempt. It probably took about 5 minutes to make. I need more practice but I’m excited about all the ways I can use these adorable little plants. And, I can’t wait to watch and see how the plants fill in.

I think I’m now addicted to table top miniature gardens. I love having this little garden in a crate because I can set it on the nesting table on my porch as a conversation piece. If I want to use the table for something else, I just pick up the crate and set it aside! Easy and portable!

Have you ever used creeping plants and mosses in your pots or gardens?

PS. Winners for the two weekend giveaways a week ago will be announced this week! I forgot to post them!

Wanna come with me on a drive by on San Juan Island?

Or more like a walk by, that is the leisurely pace of a getaway like this.

I feel like I’ve been away from my blog and blog friends FOREVER! I snuck away last week on a getaway to a B&B on San Juan Island with my husband. Sorry I couldn’t tell you where I was going at the time, but you know, killers and all might take advantage.

When you are as busy as we are with a business, church, and life, getting away together (and without the family or the puppy or the dog!) is a pretty rare thing! Honestly I am pretty sure this was the longest we had been away together just the two of us without our kids in 18 years. Crazy? Yeah, week long getaways just aren’t something we get to do very often. Clearly. Gah.

Last weekend when we had the unexpected opportunity to get away I shut down my blog and we took off for the few hour drive and one hour ferry ride to San Juan Island! Woo hoo! My daughter was well enough to be alright without me (after her appendectomy) and my parents came up to be tortured by I mean enjoy taking care of the Jack the puppy. We had a leadership conference at the end of the week, but the first few days of the week were all days off for resting and exploring San Juan Island!

Loved this house and all the pretty colors and details.

The landscaping around these homes in Roche Harbor was so amazing, the textures and shapes and colors completely captivated me.

When I get really close up to houses I am worried they are going to pop out of their door and hit me on the head with a frying pan. But I fell in love with this porch and the teal green porch roof. Ah. Had to get close to see it.

This blue house pretty much swept me off my feet and it wasn’t even done yet.

FABULOUS, isn’t it? Wonder who the new owners will be? Lucky ducks. Maybe they will let me tour it on the inside when they move in.

Whoa! That was an abrupt transition. Sorry to scare you, should’ve warned ya I was changing subjects like that. But in addition to gazing at lovely houses, we went to an Alpaca Farm on the Island and jeez, those animals are CRAZY! They play just like siblings. And they look just as crazy.

OK, back to charming things. I had a deja vu of this restaurant from when I was a kid. Such a memorable place!

And this hotel was so charming. Probably for rich people who wear golf shirts and own yachts. No offense if you wear golf shirts or own a yacht. I would like a yacht myself. I saw a 7 million dollar one in the harbor.

The garden in front of the hotel was a really old lovely garden. I could have spent hours just looking at all the plants. So gorgeous!

This flower smelled like chocolate. I’m not kidding, I’ve never smelled a flower that smelled like chocolate!! What is it?

This was a lovely lavender farm on San Juan Island. It smelled like ….lavender. Heh heh.

There is nothing as wonderful as being able to explore charming streets, shops and linger over coffee!

And, as a life long lover of the sea, walking around by the boats in the harbor is always my favorite thing.

Good memories, lovely place.

Where have you escaped to this summer? I’d love to hear about your summer adventures!