Gorgeous Weather

 We finally have had a Saturday to catch up on some yard work.  There is still a lot to do, but we could finally clean up some of the sludge mess left from winter.  I know that all of that trash wasn't originally here. The wind has blown some interesting things into our smallish yard in the last couple of weeks.  Being the last house on the block, I think that we accumulate more than our share.  We found worksheets from the elementary school, candy wrappers, cigarette butts, tumble weeds, and just plain old weeds.  So I hustled the 'button boys' out there to help get the garden ready to till, clean out some of the flower gardens and mow the lawn!

 I love the smells of spring and playing in the dirt is my kind of fun.  I love discovering all of the flowers that are waking up, and making plans for what we need to pick up at the nursery.

 My dad also has our tomatoes and some of the flowers started in his green house. How lucky am I that he does that for all of us?  (We help buy the seeds and soil to get things started and then by Memorial day it is ready to plant out.) He has done this for as long as I can remember.

 I love being outside and my house doesn't get the attention it needs after the weather turns warm So if you come to visit, I might take you out to the deck  so we can sit in the shade and visit outside.  Just kidding. I'll just close the bedroom doors.

  I can solve all the world's problems when I'm weeding.  I get all kinds of quiet time to my self.  I think that the boys avoid me on purpose when I'm weeding.  I might ask them to help. I just make sure that my mp3 player has good batteries, and that I can find my gloves and a trowel, and the rest of the world fades away.

 Oh, and bare feet are a must! There is nothing better than being barefoot on the grass!  Ahhh, I'm  de-stressing just thinking about it.








                                                                            Any way, back to spring........the fairy garden is ready to go! And as soon as the last freeze comes, we'll get the fountain up and going. This is my favorite little corner of the yard.  It makes me happy to sit out there with some Chamomile tea and listen to the water trickle.  I'm SOO excited to get these things done!

So....how do you get ready for spring?











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Fabulous Finds

 Life has been busy at the Button Box this last week.  I picked up  added 3 new clients at work, co-hosted a bridal shower for my darling niece and gave her a fabulous do for her bridals (which the wind promptly blew apart).  I finally have time to post my last two projects.  I am sooooo happy with the way they turned out.

So first we'll visit the junking shopping trip with my sister from another mother, Shawna. We spent a fun Saturday morning together and then I went back with my sister-in-law later that afternoon. And am I ever glad that I did!

Yes, as you can see, this was before Easter that I went shopping, so ignore the ever so cute eggs also on the table. This was from the morning excursion, along with a cabinet for my television (downstairs) and a small nightstand that my husband is using for his boy scout and hunter's education materials.  We will be for sure changing the appearance of the cabinet, but not until the weather warms up a bit.

This little cutie just needed a coat of paint and a new ribbon......to become this

Not too much work, and I happen to prefer lavender over forest green for Easter.

Now, for the rest of the story. shopping treasures........

 

BE-YEW-TI-FUL aren't they?  I have such plans!  Not sure what to do with the angel picture, it doesn't go with any thing I have in my home.  It was the frame I was after.  I needed it to fit........

THIS!! 

I am sooo excited about this find!  I have wanted a picture of George Washington for a long time.  My absolute dream would be to have 'the Prayer at Valley Forge' but I'm too cheap thrifty to pay that much. So this is the next best thing.  I do have to tell you that my dear sister-in-law kept telling me at the check stand how much she likes this.  I kept telling her, "I do too.  That's why I'm buying it".  I had to promise to leave it to her in my will.  She is way jellz that I found it first.

So, I ripped the angel picture out of the frame, sanded it and painted it black.  Thought I was going to love it, but it looked way too harsh with the picture, So I sanded that down a little lot and stained it with 2 coats of maple stain!  And now I have...........

THIS!!!!!!

I absolutely heart this! Water stains and all! So for a whopping $4.00 and a little effort I have a wonderful portrait of the father of our country hanging in my home, and yes Vicki can have it when I die, or get tired of it, whichever comes first.

The last project was the Welcome sign, of course you already know that it won't stay that way.  I needed the wood for another project.  And I like to use the 3R's, (you know, reduce, reuse, recycle). So, go back a couple of pictures and check out the before, it's o.k., I'll wait for you................(insert Jeopardy music), ready? 

                                              

 First, I gave it a good sanding and then headed outside to give it a nice coat or two of my favorite black spray paint.  Silly me, the wind was blowing, yet again, sigh, it's hard living in a wind tunnel.  So back we go to sanding and then using one of my favorite tools, a Tack cloth!  It cleans ALL of the saw dust off!   A coat of black craft paint.....

A trip to my scrapbook stash and  Grandma's button box.............

.......And we get this frugalicious little gift for my Christmas stash! (Yes, I do shop for my gifts all year.  That's the only way I can afford it)   I am very happy with the way these have turned out! 

I'm having a hard time getting any scrap-book pages done........I keep watching all of you in blog-land to see the gorg projects that you are all doing.  YOU inspire me!! I have several ideas for my kitchen that is long over due for a makeover.  As soon as the weather cooperates, I'll post some of that project. For now, I'll just be happy with your projects. 

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Happy Easter!

Wow, hope you all had a fantabulous Easter Sunday!  Here at the Button Box we had lots of family fun, our favorite kind!

                        We started off Saturday  afternoon coloring eggs with the little cousins .....

 "Look, I can do two!"

 We try to get as much family together as possible and share all of the egg decorating supplies and duties.  Auntie Des showed the kids how to write with a candle before dying......totally forgot to get that picture.  Sorry, I was trying to get the rice crispy treats done at the same time.

When the dads and papa were through with their work, we all went to see "How To Tame Your Dragon"  I had more fun watching the kidlets than the movie.  But I will say that it is a cute movie and we will probably be purchasing it later this year.

This morning we listened to General Conference and loved that most of the talks from church leaders today focused on the ministry, atonement and resurrection of our Savior.  I couldn't have asked for a better Easter Sunday for my family. They munched on Easter goodies while listening to the General Authorities and our beloved Prophet  until it was time to go to Mamma and Papa's house for dinner and the egg hunt.

  Oh and we didn't want to leave Jade out of all of the fun........

                        PUPPY POWER!!

 For dinner, we had dutch oven chicken, dutch oven potatoes, salads, homemade rolls and deviled eggs and ................

.......... the cake that I made for our dessert,  I got the idea, I think, from Everyday Celebrating.  Check the link under blogs I frequently stalk.  She has some amazing ideas.

After dinner, you guessed it, it was time for the Easter Egg Hunt! We had enough eggs that we invited the little family across the street.  (Sometimes you have to borrow small children for holidays.)

It was very short lived as we have yet another snow storm coming in.  And I don't care which direction the wind comes from......without any sunshine it is just nasty and cold!

 I actually got to snap a few of the adults at the 'party' too!!!!!

My cute sister and her husband, posing cuz she can.

My Dad, observing the goings on in his back yard.........                                                                                

Me and the hubs, we don't have too many pictures of us together.......(I'm lurving the new 5 minute hairdo, he's NOT!)

Matthew and Camyce, snuggling to keep warm.

 My brother, his wife and the father of the other kids that we 'borrowed'.  He and his wife are soooo kind!

 Heath, Shane and Jesse had a great time being the "Easter Bunny" and hiding all of the eggs and candy.  I hope that they can always find something to enjoy about this holiday. 

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