Loving My New Simple Life – Page 4 – finding joy, peace, and happiness in knowing who I am and appreciating all that I have!

08
Jun
2021

Tomato Cage Projects

categories: DIY, Summer

Yes, you read the title correctly!

Crazy, but I used old tomato cages to make some outdoor projects.

So simple!

If you do not have lots of money, like me, or do not want to spend too much money on your porch, patio, or yard area, these projects are for you!

After I cleaned the old cages, I spray painted all white.

This first one is amazing, just place the tomato cage in the ground and add a large plastic bowl to the top ring for a birdbath.

I used a beautiful floral bowl I purchased at Dollar General last year for $3.00.

It’s wonderful, isn’t it?

For the next two projects I used wire cutters to remove the straight wires, the wires that go into the ground and turned the cage upside down. The larger ring on the bottom.

On this one, I added a large wood piece, purchased at Home Depot, painted it, and attached to the wire base for a simple patio table.

It fits great between two chairs.

Not so overwhelming as other tables.

This last project, so simple, just place a plant in the top ring for a plant stand.

Planning to put one on my small front porch to hold a basket of colorful flowers.

I know there are different cages, some a heavier gauge than others, but for these projects I just used $1.97 cages I purchased at Walmart last year.

I also saw some cages that are already painted bright summer colors.

Have fun with these projects, get your outside areas ready for the summer ahead.

Till next time, blessings.

02
Jun
2021

Old Table Leg Planter

categories: DIY, Summer

It seems like most of my recent posts are about summer, a birdbath, a birdhouse, and a bird feeder.

But of course, summer is just beginning, and being outside is here!

Today I want to share one of my favorite projects, a planter made from an old table leg, a scrap piece of wood, and an old wood box.

After painting all the pieces, I used wood glue and wood screws to attach the 4 x 4 wood piece to the leg.

As I do so many times, I added a decorative knob to the box to give the planter a finished look.

When completely dry and set, I used screws to attach the box to the leg and wood piece.

I dug an 8 inch deep hole next to my back porch, and back filled the dirt around the leg and tamped it down.

Decided on red geraniums and vinca vines to fill my planter.

It is beautiful!

So unique!

Of course, I love it!

So hard to believe that this is what has come out of an old table leg, a scrap piece of wood, and a wood box.

Hope you all are getting ready, finishing outdoor projects, planting flowers in pots for your porch or patio, so that you can sit and enjoy summer and being outside

Hugs, until next time.

09
May
2021

A Gift From Momma

categories: Mother's Day

Tiny stitches, each one made by hand.

Thousands of them.

Made by my Momma.

This quilt, a gift to me, made with so much love.

She has been gone for years, but she is with me, always in my heart.

I cherish this beautiful gift.

Oh my, the time she spent cutting out each piece, sewing each together, and quilting, always with her thimble on her finger, amazing!

There is so much I would love to say and ask Momma today.

How happy I would be to just hug her today.

If your Mother is still with you, spend time with her today, talk to her, love her and tell her.

Just be with her.

Store up precious memories, you won’t regret it.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms today, and to my Momma in heaven.

05
May
2021

A Fun Cinco de Mayo Table Idea

categories: Celebrate

Most of you know that I love to do a little extra something on special days.

Look at this cute Cinco de Mayo idea using a Mexican hat as the centerpiece on your table.

I filled it with bowls of queso, salsa, and pico de gallo, with tortilla chips in between.

So festive without a bunch of planning or expense.

Cute isn’t it?

Hope you all are doing something special on this day, at least have tacos or enchiladas for dinner!

Enjoying these simple, maybe silly to some, special days, is part of what enjoying life is all about to me.

Enjoy this 5th of May.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

03
May
2021

DIY Kitchen Utensil Holder

categories: DIY

Last Thursday was a cold, rainy, and very windy day.

A miserable day in Ohio.

I could not work in my yard, and it was just too dark in the house to clean.

Nothing else to do but to turn a large flower pot into a kitchen utensil holder.

I bought this terracotta flower pot at TJ Maxx’s for $6.99, loved the details.

Kinda reminds me of dandelion puff balls.

A flower pot wasn’t something I needed, but how wonderful it could be in my kitchen to hold all the large kitchen utensils I have.

I painted it with two coats of white chalk paint, inside and out.

When it was completely dry I sprayed with a matte sealer.

That was all I had to do to turn it into this wonderful utensil holder.

There are lots of holders out there but they never seem to be large enough.

Lots of room in this pot, and an eye catcher in my kitchen.

Just a perfect rainy, windy, cold day project.

Love it, and I love all you folks who take the time to read my blog.

Hugs.

27
Apr
2021

For The Birds

categories: DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Living with MS, Spring

This post is not only for the birds, but also for my husband.

As I have written before, he suffers from Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

He has deteriorated this past year.

Walking is impossible without some assistance from a walking stick, and now a rolling walker.

He never complains, but his activities are very limited.

Now that the weather has improved, our back porch is his sanctuary.

He reads, listens to music, puts his feet up for many afternoon naps, and loves to watch the birds in our backyard.

His binoculars are always around his neck when he steps onto the porch.

We have a birdbath, which draws many birds, so I thought I would add a bird feeder to hopefully welcome more to our yard for Jim to watch and enjoy.

I gathered some items that I had, a wood piece, an old tin pie pan, and a wood candle holder.

Cleaned and spray painted all with black paint.

Used screws to assemble, added a hook to the top of the wood piece, and jute to hang on a branch in our large backyard Maple tree.

I added seed, and the birds are gathering.

Pleased with it, especially that I just used items in my junk stash.

I found this $2.00 unfinished wood bird house at the thrift store.

It was in good condition except for a bad spot on the front.

Cleaned, sanded, and painted the house.

To cover up the bad spot I added a decorative knob.

You all know I love to use vintage looking knobs and handles to add a final touch to many of my projects.

Just a beautiful way to finish and complete an item.

Hobby Lobby has a very large selection, 50% off every other week.

I hope to find a special place nestled in a tree that some special little birds might love.

Hope to see some sweet little birds hop on the knob and into their new home.

Two simple, inexpensive projects, completed in just a day, that will hopefully give some joy to my husband, and our backyard birds he loves to watch.

Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful days of spring.

20
Apr
2021

Broken Pot Wind Chime

categories: DIY, Spring

On my last post I showed some thrift store items that I was able to restore, items someone tossed away.

Well, today I am sharing one of my almost thrown away items, one that I was able to reuse, to make something pretty wonderful.

I have always loved this pot.

Loved the distressed look.

Unfortunately, as I did with my birdbath, I left it out all winter and the bottom cracked and came off.

As I was about to pitch it, I thought again.

Is there any way I could reuse it?

I thought of a wind chime I saw at Hobby Lobby that used an upside down ceramic pot. I loved it, but not for $39.99.

Using a $2.00 round wood piece and some silicone, I attached the wood to the bottom of the pot.

Applied the silicone generously, inside and out.

Attached a hook to the top of the wood, and also a hook on the inside.

Found an inexpensive bell chime that I planned to hang from the inside hook.

Painted the bells and beads turquoise, and I also painted and added some extra beads to the top.

Used some fishing line to hang the wind chime.

Finished.

It is really nice.

Whatcha think?

Love the soft sound of the bells when the wind blows.

Perfect hanging on our back porch

Think before you throw away items.

Look for the potential in everything you think you don’t need anymore, have some creative fun reusing.

Until next time, blessings.

16
Apr
2021

Three Step Projects #3

categories: Flea Market Finds/Thrifting

Today I will be sharing a few thrift store or flea market finds that require 3 steps or less to complete.

I found this cute little box at the thrift store for $2.00.

Unfinished wood, with white ceramic drawer fronts.

Cleaned it, inside and out, sanded, and painted.

I also added at piece of scrapbook paper to line each drawer.

My plan is to use this piece in my craft area.

Maybe a place to store all the old buttons I have collected over the years.

I remember my Grandma had a large button box, I loved looking at all the different colors and shapes. I often wonder where her box is today.

This second project required very little work.

I had a beautiful turquoise birdbath a few years ago, but unfortunately, I left it outside during the cold months, and the bowl cracked.

At first I thought of trying to make a lamp using the base, but a lamp is not really needed.

So I found a plate at the thrift store for 50 cents, the exact color of the base, and decided I would try to use the two pieces to create a plant stand for our back porch.

After cleaning both pieces, I attached the plate to the base using E6000 glue.

Wonderful!

The color is perfect with the pillows I am using this season on our porch.

This last project only required cleaning.

It was a bit expensive for a thrift store purchase at $5.00, but I have seen this piece for as much as $39.00 in stores.

So many uses, but I see flowers, small pots of colorful Impatients, or maybe a centerpiece at a summer cookout filled with utensils, napkins and such. Or maybe as a caddy on my potting bench to hold garden tools.

A fortunate find, love this piece.

I am hoping that these simple projects might inspire you to visit a thrift store or flea market, or now with the warm weather coming, some local yard sales.

How rewarding it is to use something you might have thrown away, or find someone’s throw aways and upcycle them with very little work.

Thrifting is a great hobby too!

Good thoughts to all on this beautiful spring day.