Farm Of Dahlias

This story is really a labor of love.

Really.

With lots of labor.

And lots of love.

It started many years ago when the parents of our good friend Mike went about their life on the farm and planted some flowers in their yard.

Rustic Wedding Pallet Tables

Things here at the ranch are in high production mode at the moment for an end of September shindig and I've got pallets coming outta my....... shed.

There are things to do, and lots of 'em before a tent arrives in a couple weeks.

I would call the wedding of #2 Daughter a true DIY.

She is definitely a hands on bride and thankfully she knows her way around power tools - enough so that she is teaching the groom.

My kids grew up with hammers in their hands, so it's a bit unbelievable for my offspring, but the groom didn't.  Nope, he didn't grow up in a DIY family, no siree.

The groom has said he isn't even sure his dad owned a screw driver.

Hard for my kids to relate to that fact for sure.

Tasting Cake at Amy's Cupcake Shoppe

There are lots of places to visit on the quaint Mainstreet in Hopkins Minnesota.

I have frequented many of the little shops over the years, finding treasures in the Thrift stores, unique handmade items by local artisans, or bits and pieces of vintage memorabilia from the antique booths.

But the frosting on the Mainstreet cake these days, is located at Amy's Cupcake Shoppe.

Mmmmmm mmmmm.

Thrifty Style Team Trash To Treasure

You know the saying.

I really don't have to repeat it, but I will anyway......

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

For this months Thrifty Style Team, I will be decorating with someone's trash, and I tell 'ya, it is totally a treasure as far as I'm concerned.

In this case it was truly worth hopping in that dumpster.

Hyde Tools and Colorado To The Rescue

The dog days of summer are coming and at the ranch we are still picking away at projects that we hoped to have accomplished two months ago.

After last summers weather blew through with three storms of destruction, it has taken us this long to clean up and get a vision for putting things back together.

One of those visions is going to take more time than we have right now but a new and improved playground is in the design stage with input from the short people that use it.

And with the help of some complimentary tools from Hyde Tools we are making things presentable for this summer.

But let me tell you those short people have some definite ideas about how it should look!

PoppedCorn Minnetonka Minnesota

The thing about kids is that they grow up.

So because another one of mine has done just that, I get the opportunity to meet fun people.

Like Sue from PoppedCorn Gourmet Treats in Minnetonka Minnesota.

Let me warn you now that this post will probably be filled with corny puns because I just can't resist!

There is a party in a bag fixing to happen around here.

September is rapidly approaching along with the wedding of #2 Daughter, but more things than just the question have been getting popped.

Thrifty Decorating July

Thrifty Style Team July.  

July !?!?!  

Yup, July.

Oh how fast summer is going and I don't seem to be getting much done.

I've been saying that a lot lately, the part about not getting much done.  I think when my list is long I feel that way, but the truth is I am probably accomplishing lots of things.

Things other than what is on the list anyhow, like playing with a certain 9 and 6 year old and snuggling with a certain 11 month old.

And those things really should be at the top of the list anyhow.

What's Shaking At The Ranch?

So you wanna know what's been shaking at the ranch and where the heck I've been?

I know you do because you email me. Thanks for missing my projects.  I miss my projects too!

I've got the best readers who enjoy DIY, so I've gotta tell you that today I'm departing from the normal paint and build, so feel free to depart yourself if you're not wanting to hear boring life stuff that's void of DIY photos.

Karen from the blog Somewhat Quirky posts a "20 Things" list when she has been MIA, so I'm gonna steal that idea from her, but no promises mine comes in right at 20 or that it goes in the actual order of things.....

1.  We hosted a high school graduation party where I fed a hundred people and the weather was beautiful.  My BFF flew in from Half Moon Bay for the occasion.  I love her.

Now before you think things like HOLY CRAP 100 people at a grad party????, let me tell you that my husband comes from a family of 12 siblings.  Just them and their kids is close to 50.

Thrifty Style Team June Stool Makeover

Thrifty Style.  What exactly is that?

It might be something different to you than it is to me.

Is it simply shopping at thrift stores and garage sales, or is it taking something you find at those places and remaking the item into something better or something that works more for your own taste and style?

Or is it updating an item you already own to keep you out of thrift stores and away from garage sales?

Is it all of those things and then some?

Probably.

Pfister Laundry Room Faucet

I suppose no one reading this has ever started a household project that should take a mere couple of hours tops, only for it to drag on for something like 2+ weeks, right...it's just me?

Oh that's happened to you too?

Such is the tale of installing an awesome faucet in a not so awesome laundry room sink.

Most people who come to my home wouldn't describe it as old.

Around these parts old houses are those that have been here since the middle ages.  But even a 20 year old well used home can find a way to complicate a simple project just like a place built before indoor plumbing.

Updated Lamps April Thrifty Style Team

Welcome to the April edition of the Thrifty Style Team, where I try to prove that I have an eye for rescuing some cast off or worn out piece of junk from a garage sale or thrift store.

New Fireplace Mantel With Fusion Mineral Paint

Our family room has gone through many changes over the years.  Half round log siding, an addition, changing couches and changing colors.

But one thing stays the same.... it's a well used room.

I mentioned that I would like to update the mantel to something bigger and brighter, and the man with the power tools and Fusion Mineral Paint accomplished both.

When we built this house it had a rustic-living-in-the-woods-by-the-lake feel.  Most of that style has been gone for quite a while, but the old worn rustic wood mantel stayed on.

Dining Chairs With Old Sign Stencils

Somewhere between the stomach flu and my current head cold, I decided to get rid of a couple 20 something year old chairs.

And then I decided to keep them.

Thrifty March Madness Baby Scale

Welcome to March Madness of the thrifty kind with the Thrifty Style Team.

For March I transformed an antique baby scale made by Continental Scale Works.

What's March Madness anyhow, isn't it mens basketball?

Pallet Topped Coffee & Side Tables

A couple of years ago I picked up a coffee table at a garage sale after I eyed it up for potential.

I determined I could do a little something-something with it, and for $7.00 bucks it came home with me.

This is the 3rd makeover that the family room table has received, and you know what they say - 3rd time's a charm!

Thrifty Style Team February, The Barber Shop

The Thrifty Style Team is back for 2017, kicking off February with some thrifty wares.

It's all about how to use cast off, thrifty or thrifted items in your decor.

This month I'm going to show you some of my favorite finds, although I don't know if I can actually call them thrifty since they sort of cost me thousands of dollars.

This old register unfortunately was not filled with vintage money.

I didn't  pay for these vintage finds by the item, which makes them thrifty, but I did have to buy a whole building in order to call them my own, and that makes them spendy when you throw in the cost of the bricks and windows.

Quirky Sign With Homestead House Milk Paint

What month is this?  Janulazy?

Of course I'm not talking about myself, I haven't been lazy.

OK, yes I have, I admit it.

It's partially a patience thing, but I did make a sign.

Our high speed DSL has been acting like the evil step sister to dial up, and patience is something I have on my bucket list to experience sometime in this life.

Bliss Ranch 2016 Pick 'O The Litter Projects

I had my favorite projects of 2016, but that doesn't mean they were also my readers favorites.

So like the November election results, some of these reader project favorites of the year, might surprise you!

Even if they are not everyone's favorite, the Bliss Ranch Blog readers have spoken and these are the results......

The Top Eight

Earthy Holiday Pillows From Sew A Fine Seam

I've mentioned in the past that the colors in our family room are muted shades of rusty orange, browns, and earthy colors.

We like it that way, specially at Christmas when the pine cones are in old crates  and a fire is snapping in the hearth.

And I love these three pillows as much as the warmth of the fire and glow of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Tree Crate Base

A few years ago I made a three sided bottomless Christmas tree crate, with a paint job modeled after one I saw on a friends blog.

Why three sides instead of four?

Pine Box Keepsake Gift

I have a rather wordy post today and it might get a little long.

A story for you, but it's not really mine to tell so I won't be including many of the more personal details. 

Just enough information to explain about a stinky pine box no one else wanted at a garage sale.

We have some friends.  Close ones.

Our families are pretty entwined, we have the old friends thing, the Godparent thing, the mentor thing, the previous boss thing, the kids are all friends thing, the be in each others weddings things, etc. etc. etc.. 

Even the family tree thing - some sort of third cousin deal I can never remember.  I think the grandparents were first cousins.

Bakery Gift Sign With Funky Junk Old Sign Stencils

Depending on the specific occasion, we enjoy making gifts around here.

And as far as we can tell, the recipients like receiving them.

You know the saying about the apple doesn't fall far from the tree right?

Well there is also another saying..... whatever sprinkles your donuts.

When one of my daughters had a housewarming and "Friendsgiving" meal to attend for a college friend over the weekend, she of course wanted to make a gift.