How I met my house!

I am so excited to join this party!!!

We were looking and looking for houses for about 6 years!

Nothing was ever right to the point that I thought we would never find a house and we were destined to live in my parents upstairs apartment for forever!

I wanted a Victorian fixer upper and the hubby wanted a ranch!

He was not going to budge.. so I did... reluctantly!

I drove by our house for 2 years... looking at the for sale sign thinking 

"yah it is a brick ranch BUT look ... there is no yard" and every excuse I could think of!

Online too I kept running into our house...3 bedroom ranch I would read... not again I would think... I don't want that house!

But our house was persistent ... in perusing us!

So ... one day I finally said to the hubby that in order to clear my mind I needed to see this house!

Even though it was a ranch he did not even want to see it... it was too small... no yard... too old... too much work!

So we called our family friend/Realtor and asked to see it!
He thought we were crazy and really did not want to show it to us!

So on a rainy, dark and dreary day... we met and it was 

Love at first sight!

It was everything we did not know we wanted!

Within a month we closed on this house and spent the next month making it liveable... and we are now content to spend the rest of our lives making it a home!

We are so blessed!

Some Yard Stuff...

Oh how I long for spring... last week, we had summer, this week is winter!

Rarely do we ever have a true spring anymore!

I did some decorating of sorts this week outside on the patio 

The lattice is a divider for the patio which will eventually be removed

I added two metal sconces that I bought at the thrift store for $2.00 each

They are really heavy and in the shabby chic theme I was going for

The mirrored door was at CTS for $1.00 last year at clearance time it has fruit on it in a basket

The grill is being freecycled for parts this week!

The stained glass fruit was my moms and she gave it to me a few years back. I never really did have a theme in my kitchen so I never used it. When we were moving I had placed it in a dontate pile and it never ended up donated... and for that I am glad because I think it looks so cute here

I still need to trim the chain... and the lattice is being replaced soon!

I love our rockers so much~!

They are resin and are so heavy duty!

My parents gave us one for our porch at the other house and then I bought one for $5.00 at a yard sale last year. 

The hens and chickens in the pot are from my Uncle ~

I picked up the blue striped pillows at Christmas Tree Shops last week for $5.00

They are weather proof and will match our new patio set perfectly!

I adore wind chimes!!!

Here are some pics of some bargains I picked up... price tags included LOL

This metal boot was $4.00... actually it is cast iron!

I loved it and thought it would look great as a flower pot soon!

I have no idea what this stuff is that is growing in my yard.... LOL

$1.50 bought me this bird feeder... oh and yes it is on top of a TIRE planter (came with the house) ... still trying to decide if I should keep the tire planter or if I should freecycle it ~ or maybe paint it red!

Joining

OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

Easter Party in pictures

Easter Party

Categorically Crafting

Our green and white Easter hutch!

Spring Mantle

Kellie is having a party ... and while you are visiting, you HAVE to see her craft room!! 

WOW!

In the beginning there was a lone black mirror over the fireplace

Then there were shutters from CTS that I bought last year on clearance for 1.00 each

Then came the apothecary jar bottom that I bought at Aldi for $7.00

The eggs that I made from Dollar Tree supplies came next with a large stick... from my yard!

Another pic...

Then came the filigree candle sticks and my grams Easter Greetings blocks!

Gram had these seasonal blocks for as long as I can remember... when she went to the nursing home they came with her... when she passed away,  I was honored to get these.

A closer view of the sign and some hippy chicks!

I added our initial and I hot glued some faux forsythia to the branches

I added the candles which I will have a tutorial on soon... and some blue check ribbon

I am LOVING my mantle!!!

It is bright and cheery and it is totally me!!

Linking up with Linda

Linking up with Cindy on Monday

Linking up with Diana on Monday

Linking up with Jan on Wednesday 

Joining Kendall too!

@

THE SHABBY NEST

CREATIVE CATS

St Patricks Day Decorating!

 Joining 
Cuisine Kathleen... for her blog crawl!!

St Patrick's Day is my holiday! 

After all... my name is Patricia, I am Irish by lineage and married an Irish lad!!

We are all about Parade Day and Banquets and Shamrocks and ... fun!

I have Irish decor (belleek) in my home all year long ~ The day after Valentines Day however I break out all the other goodies!

This year I am lucky because Easter is in April so I do not have to compete with St Patrick's Day for space for Easter!

Here is my mantle!

DANNY BOY... Celtic Woman

The wreath and sign are from Etsy... the Celtic coasters are from the dollar tree

 

 St Patrick's Day Parade

  

 

Here is Annie... she was a gift from my mother in law, Annie, who is a huge collector of all things Irish!

HERE is a LINK to my Belleek collection

Too~ra~loo~ra~loo~ra
Irish Lullaby

Over in Killarney 
Many years ago, 
Me Mither sang a song to me 
In tones so sweet and low. 
Just a simple little ditty, 
In her good ould Irish way, 
And l'd give the world if she could sing 
That song to me this day. 

Chorus: 
"Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, 
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry! 
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li, 
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's an Irish lullaby." 

Here is my corner hutch

The angel is from my Aunt and it has the Irish Blessing on it

Sign is from the dollar tree, I aged it and added the ribbons and fun fur!

Here is my other hutch... all ready for the party!
I added the ribbon and the shamrock twirls
I hung the irish sparkle on a blank frame!

Here is a little doll my In~Laws brought back from Ireland
The claddagh doily was my grandmas!

In the kitchen I have a runner and a small sign and these awesome waffle weave towels... I am just thinking I should put one in the bathroom for a hand towel!

 

 

Thank you for stopping by!!