Bird Nest Cottage

Happy Thanksgiving...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wish all my family, friends and fellow bloggers a wonderful holiday!

                                                        Gretchen

Modge Podge Project

This is a plastic trash can I bought at Dollar General for $2.50.  I originally was making it to go at my desk but I decided I like it better in my bedroom.

All I did was cut out scrapbooking paper in squares, applied Modge Podge to both sides of the paper and put them on the plastic can.  It's kind of like wallpapering but much more forgiving.  You can overlap the paper and it doesn't matter. 

 

I think it has that Laura Ashley kind of look and if I ever get tired of it, I can just soak it in water and reapply other paper.

Cute, huh?

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Chloe turns 3 years old...

Chloe checking out the pre-party painting supplies.

 

 \

 

 

Major error in assigning credit...

My daughter-in-law Noelle (the pediatric nurse) called me from the hospital this morning, (should she really be checking my blog at work, it's not for me to say-LOL) to remind me that she, not my sister got me this little calendar.  We can blame my numerous medications, advanced age or just trying to type a quick blog.  They are probably all true.

I must say, I know she gave it to me and I know that it reminds me of her and her kind heart (and sense of humor - I hope) every day when I change the date.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Christmas Gift Ideas...

My sister gave me this little calendar from a Hallmark store a few years ago for my birthday.  I keep it on my kitchen windowsill.  I move the numbers every night when I clean the kitchen so that the next morning it has the correct day.  Love it!  Great inexpensive gift.

This calendar I bought for myself at a Hallmark store and I keep it on my desk.  My littlest grandchildren like to pretend they are feeding the cardinal the birdseed.  Since I'm blogging every day, I change the date when I sit down at my desk in the morning.

Great gift for few dollars.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Christmas Cactus

Last December Mr. Bird Nest bought me this Christmas Cactus.  I kept it inside until Spring when I put it out on the screened porch.

About a week ago I noticed that it was getting buds on it and with the temperature going down, I brought it inside.

Now don't laugh, but I saw a movie once where they put their Christmas Cactus in a dark place to keep it from blooming.  For the last week I've had it in the pantry (which is dark most of the time). 

I'm hoping by Christmas it will be lush and beautiful.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Are the clothes in the dryer done...

Am I the only one who forgets if I have clothes in the washer or dryer?  I've found a new way to keep up with my very bad memory and my husband even likes the system.

I've seen several people with big laundry rooms who have decorative lights in the room.  I put one of my favorite little lights (one of my sons got it for me when he was in high school) in a basket on the dryer.  When there are clothes in either the washer or the dryer, we turn the little light on.  Even with the bi-fold doors we can see when the light is on and know to check on the clothes.

This has solved that problem of wrinkled clothes in the dryer.  I like to iron but not that much.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Pansies, pansies, everywhere...

 

These are pansies I planted in containers on the screened porch.

 

Here are a few pansies I planted near this hydrangea bush.

 

I just threw this in cause it's so cute.  It opens up and you can put a tea light inside.  It hangs on a hook outside the steps of the screened porch.  Chris & Elizabeth got him for me for Mother's Day one year.

The boys got me this stone for Mother's Day a long time ago and I thought it needed pansies around it too.

I planted a few pansies around the new pillars.  The leaves keep blowing into the beds.  I can't wait until they finally all fall down and get mulched up.

I love all the pretty colors.

These pansies are around the light post.

Right now they look a little better from a distance, at least until they fill in a bit.

I just told Mr. Bird Nest today that we have a turkey flag I need to get out and put up.

 

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

The other side of the front porch landscaping complete...

 

We moved the stone wall to this bed and continued with the border grass near the edge.

We are especially glad to have the stone wall done.  Those flat stones don't look that heavy, but trust me they are.

In the upper left hand corner is my bunny garden.

 

We still need to add more mulch but at least we have gotten started.

This is one Monday we're proud to fly our Pittsburgh Steeler flag.  A win is a win.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen

Additions to the front porch...

I thought my little bear needed to be out here with these hunters plaid fleece cushions.  It's almost bear season in Pennsylvania so I'm glad he's here in South Carolina where it's safe.

Even my newly painted bird house fits right in with the bear and the pine cones.

Finally, some pansies at the front door to welcome visitors. 

These topiaries are going to be perfect to add holiday lights to. 

 

I'm not sure this ivy will make it through the winter but the pansies will.

Thanks for reading,

Gretchen