Don't Toss Your Worn Out Welcome Mat

Welcome to July's

And boy do I really mean the welcome part this month, in fact, I'm putting out the whole welcome mat for you!

Farmhouse Cement Plank Patio Table, Part 2

Our family is growing.  I'm not getting any older of course.

What started out as a couple of young newlyweds building a life, turned into a large family of eight.  Six kids - four boys and a couple girls.

The oldest two flew the nest, and then the family grew by a daughter and son in law, and eventually two grand kids arrived.

This August another little peanut will debut as #1 Daughter and that son in law I mentioned start their family.

Cement Plank Farmhouse Patio Table

Math fact - most patio tables will not seat the amount of people that my family needs to seat for a meal outdoors.

Which actually means most tables won't do that for a price I'm willing to pay.

And then there is the fact that if something I desire can be made by the man with the power tools, basically that adds up to I won't be making a purchase of the item even if I found an affordable one I liked.

Painted Pond Fish

I get a lot of my ideas from fellow bloggers. 

You know how someone can look at something and see it in a new light, update it, and the next thing you know you're looking at something similar that you own and thinking, hey I can do that!

That was the case with this old scaly chipping fish decoration that I had setting next to our pond for ten years, and I'm going to show you how easy it is to update something with a fresh coat of paint.

!!Sweepovac Winners!!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win the in wall vacuum from Sweepovac USA.

The two winners are:

Powder Coated Steel Pond Bridge....From A Garage Sale

On a recent outing with daughter #2, cruising around at some city wide garage sales in I don't even remember what town, there was nothing extraordinary going on even though we did have two large furniture pieces stuffed into the back of my vehicle.

One for me, one for her.

We came to a house that had a mattress set and a sea of pink kids clothes in the yard, and as I hit the gas to keep on going I saw it....  

is that a pond bridge sitting among-est their sale items? 

Before I even got out of the car I decided the odds were against me finding the one thing we really could use, at of all places... someones garage sale.

Mini Dessert Banners

When I host a party I usually gather all these great ideas that I want to incorporate into the event.

Trouble is many of those ideas have to be assembled or carried out at the last minute while I'm running around making sure my hors 'd oeuvres don't burn, as guests arrive early and my hair is still in a towel, so lets just say it's not unusual for a great idea to be forgotten.

Sweepovac USA Giveaway

It's time to enter a

 GIVEAWAY here at Bliss Ranch

Don't know what a Sweepovac is?

Well first let me just say you want one.

Sweepovac is an in wall vacuum unit that has helped me keep up with all the dog hair  and dust on the floor around here.

I've ditched the dustpan and I'm pretty tickled about that.

From the Sweepovac web site:

"Sweepovac is a revolutionary kitchen vacuum that eliminates that pesky dirt-line often left behind by using a dustpan! It is easily placed in any kitchen by installing it in the bottom of the cabinets and does not require a central vac system. Its strong suction, removes dirt in seconds and its sleek design allows for no loss of space".

Sweepovac In Wall Dust Vacuum

Last week I showed you a bunch of dog photos and told you about my life as the dog whisperer, how I host a few doggie guests at a time that sleep in my mudroom while their owners go on vacation.

I also told you I would show you one of the coolest products to pass through the Bliss Ranch doggie door and I think you will understand why it's so great to have it around here.

My mudroom is a good size, it's also where I have a computer so I can spend time with the dogs when they come inside to nap.

Kreg Jig Winner - Me!

There's a group of six ladies who host a weekly link party titled "Creativity Unleashed", and they also host giveaways.

Who doesn't like to win a prize right?  I know I do.

So when time is on both Mick Jagger's side and on mine, I cruise around to my favorite blogs.  If it happens to be a day I've got a project to link I will include it, and if there is a giveaway I'll follow the rules and enter.

For sure I can't win if I don't enter, so why not throw my name in the hat since I'm already there.