Last year Brawn and oldest son went and fetched a bunch of old barn wood from some folks a few miles away who were about ready to burn the pile.
There were beams and planks, and even some tin.
The saw marks add so much character, along with the nail holes.
Saturday morning when I woke up, that little voice that likes to put other people to work on the weekend was talking to me.
It said "Bliss.... Blissssss.... you've always wanted wood shelves above your toilet, you must have them today". TODAY!
Friday
Thursday
Big Burlap Coffee Sack Winner
Maureen from It's All Connected is the winner of the big burlap coffee sack.
I think she is going to make sweaters and party hats for her chickens out of it.
Have some fun, stop at her blog and request chicken clothes of burlap!
Have some fun, stop at her blog and request chicken clothes of burlap!
Thank you to everyone who entered and welcome to all my new likes on Facebook.
Tuesday
A Bee in my Bonnet
This is one of those posts that isn't really written for my readers. No photos or DIY, just something to poke fun at. If you are a blogger, you will get it, and if you have a pet name for anyone in your life, you'll get it too.
Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet.
Now doesn't that sound nicer than saying a bug up my butt?
That's just what this post is about, people getting bugs and bees in places that make them talk smack.
And that really sticks in my craw.
Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet.
Now doesn't that sound nicer than saying a bug up my butt?
That's just what this post is about, people getting bugs and bees in places that make them talk smack.
And that really sticks in my craw.
Monday
The Family Votes on Laundry Room Flooring
when last I wrote.....
I asked for help deciding which flooring I wanted to update the 20 year old laundry room floor with because, well.... I suck at picking flooring.
Without a doubt most of you picked the wood look vinyl. This narrowed it down so next I brought in the experts who have suffered of my poor flooring choices in the past.
The family.
I gave the family the choice of the wood look vinyl.....
Or the next popular choice, the vintage hex tiles in gray tones....
Friday
Laundry Room Flooring, Help Me Pick
Things around the ranch the last few months have been hectic and full of anxiety, not to mention all I remember of the winter is snow and freezing temperatures.
We were just starting to wind down on stuff, like two surgeries and tests, only to have someone suffer a broken heart (not of the medical kind), another one have a mysterious new suitor, and then catastrophe of all catastrophes ......
There are plenty of appliances, gadgets and technologically advanced things that I can do without in my life, but my washing machine is not one of them. And you know how it goes in the home of DIY'ers - one project leads to another.
So while we were busy taking out the old machines and putting in the new.....
I got the brilliant idea that it was time to update our laundry room flooring.
We were just starting to wind down on stuff, like two surgeries and tests, only to have someone suffer a broken heart (not of the medical kind), another one have a mysterious new suitor, and then catastrophe of all catastrophes ......
the washing machine broke.
There are plenty of appliances, gadgets and technologically advanced things that I can do without in my life, but my washing machine is not one of them. And you know how it goes in the home of DIY'ers - one project leads to another.
So while we were busy taking out the old machines and putting in the new.....
I got the brilliant idea that it was time to update our laundry room flooring.
Tuesday
Seed Starting
Over the years we have had many gardens - some a sorry excuse, some quite bountiful.
Our very first garden we had a bumper crop of cantaloupes. Dozens. There were only two of us back then to eat them all. The last time I planted cantaloupes we harvested 3 the size of a dolls head with 6 people wanting to eat them. Many went hungry.
Our very first garden we had a bumper crop of cantaloupes. Dozens. There were only two of us back then to eat them all. The last time I planted cantaloupes we harvested 3 the size of a dolls head with 6 people wanting to eat them. Many went hungry.
Thursday
Winner Winner Ducky Dinner
Clyde the Birthday Boy |
Winner winner, ducky dinner
Ok, no.... not a duck dinner, or a duck winner,
Ok, no.... not a duck dinner, or a duck winner,
but I do have a winner and news from the land of duckens.
In case you don't know what a ducken is,
that's what you get when you are a 3 year old little girl.......
and you put the words duck and chicken together.
Halloween '13, but appropriate for this time of year |
So we don't have chickens and ducks here, we have duckens.
Last year I held a name the new ducken contest.
If daughter #2 picked one of the suggested names the winner received a cake tester.
Tina from What we Keep won with her suggestion of Clementine.
Now a year later I am happy to announce that Clementine, Cleo, and Hazel
have started laying eggs - just in time for my Easter basket.
So in addition to the two chickens laying eggs for us, we get up to 3 duck eggs a day.
Duck eggs are suppose to add extra "umph" to baked goods.
I haven't made a cake yet, but I did make a duck egg asparagus quiche.
Anyway.... Clyde the original duck and keeper of the ducken harem, had a birdday,
and in honor of his second birdday
I thought I would let him announce the winner of last weeks cake tester giveaway......
Enjoy the Easter weekend, we'll be having ham.... the duckens are all safe.
P.S. If you want to enter the giveaway for the big burlap coffee sack, go {here}.
Sunday
Junkers United Barn Wood Window Cabinet
This post is filled to it's junky little rim.... with a party and best of all links to the other Junkers United Team members and the projects they created specially for this party.
For my junk project I've upcycled one of the gazillion old windows I've accumulated. It's not an earth-shattering-never-before-seen project, but for us it solved a storage problem......
the storage problem of where to keep the toilet paper.
Friday
Black Purses
~ The Purses ~
Now I am not a purse snob in any way shape or form. I can use a $10 purse just as easy as a $100 one. I've got Gucci and I've got Garage Sale.It always comes back to features for me, so in that way I am a purse snob, I like what I like for comfort and ease.
I don't like to fiddle around looking for my phone when it rings, in fact I don't like to answer my phone at all so there is a good chance I won't even if I can find it.
I need a certain kind of handle to fit comfortably in my small hands. Not too long so it drags on the ground, and in the perfect purse world the handles would be just long enough to also wear on my shoulder.
Notice the rounded handles on all those retired purses.
Wednesday
Cake Tester Giveaway & Moo Cards
It's that time again when I raid my daughters pretty baubles and decide I should give a cake tester away, compliments (unbeknownst) of her.
Friday
Plates, Plates, and More Plates
The threats will be a kin to what happens when someone paints a vintage piece of furniture and the crowd goes wild, and not in a good way either.
They don't like the message or the messenger at that point.
Wednesday
Alberts Barn Burn
This post is not for the faint of heart. Or at least not for those who see a decrepit old barn and want to load all of it's wood in the trunk.
(Now that would be funny - someone trying to fit a whole barn in their trunk).
(Now that would be funny - someone trying to fit a whole barn in their trunk).
Old Alberts Farm |
Friday
Vintage Pump Organ Knobs Turned Wine Stoppers
I'm not sure why I didn't think of this sooner, I mean I've had these knobs for two years.
They're vintage knobs from an old pump organ I believe, possibly Victorian.
At least that's what Google tells me.
They're vintage knobs from an old pump organ I believe, possibly Victorian.
At least that's what Google tells me.
Tuesday
Restoration Hardware inspired Clock Knock-Off
For the main contest Bloggers have been paired with Super Bloggers and each week they compete/create in a pre-determined category and the rest of us folks can vote for our favorite till there is one blogger left that wins it all.
There is also a link party of the same theme that anyone can link a project up to.
The Mark
(The original photo has been removed, so I don't breech any copyright laws, but lets just say mine looks exactly like it)
(The original photo has been removed, so I don't breech any copyright laws, but lets just say mine looks exactly like it)
Friday
Wednesday
Lets Play Kitchen
When I was a little girl, play time was usually all about being a mommy. I never played lawyer and can't talk about those times playing doctor.
I loved dolls, playing house or going to the pretend store. I have all my old dolls, they are pretty scary and hidden under my bed. Any with curly hair got a hair cut.
The play food was really tiny back then too. If I'd of eaten that size portion all my life there would never have been any discussions with my thighs about their girth.
I think I need to find an old armoire and convert it into a play store like this one from Inspired Whims....
For the past year I've been pinning ideas to my Kid Stuff Pinterest board of cute play kitchens, with the intention of making one for a certain 3 year old.
I loved dolls, playing house or going to the pretend store. I have all my old dolls, they are pretty scary and hidden under my bed. Any with curly hair got a hair cut.
The play food was really tiny back then too. If I'd of eaten that size portion all my life there would never have been any discussions with my thighs about their girth.
I think I need to find an old armoire and convert it into a play store like this one from Inspired Whims....
For the past year I've been pinning ideas to my Kid Stuff Pinterest board of cute play kitchens, with the intention of making one for a certain 3 year old.
Friday
Soda Crate Storage
Originally I made this crate for a guest post over with Angie at Knick of Time, and I decided that since a year has gone by it was time I showed it right here on my own blog.
Wednesday
Bedroom Redo with a Door Headboard
Still cleaning out the archives here at the Ranch. Today I have a glimpse into daughter #2's bedroom, that is while it's sort of clean......
(Originally this guest post was for Shanna at Just Us Four).
I laid in wait till my daughter was gone and sprang on her room with my camera.
(Originally this guest post was for Shanna at Just Us Four).
I laid in wait till my daughter was gone and sprang on her room with my camera.
Door headboard with original back plate, glass door knob and key |
Friday
Tree Branch Alphabet Art
I regularly pin things to the Bliss Ranch Pinterest Boards that I intend on doing. I'll be busy making stuff till the year 2050, which when I first typed that year it sounded so far away, but for a baby born today they would only be 36 years old. Wow.
Wednesday
Baby Boy Gift Sign
Half Moon Bay California, quaint, fun town on the ocean. That is where my BFF lives. I'm not sure where those two young girls we used to be have gone, nor how we grew old enough for our babies to be having babies of their own, but you won't hear us complaining about that second part.
When her #2 kid welcomed #2 son into the world I set out to make a rustic gift for new little blue bundles' woodland themed nursery.
When her #2 kid welcomed #2 son into the world I set out to make a rustic gift for new little blue bundles' woodland themed nursery.
DIY Enamel Look Tags
Friday
Talking Java At Cozy Little House
This post is for coffee lovers. If you don't drink the stuff you probably won't get it. Maybe water is your deal, and you start each day with a big glass and you're satisfied, happy, and ready to conquer the world.
More hydro-power to 'ya.
More hydro-power to 'ya.
Wednesday
Maple Syrup Make'n
Bliss Ranch has a lot of maple trees. And you know what you can make from maple trees right?
Maple syrup.
Maple syrup.
Clothespins
What sort of collections do you have?
Me.... I've got all sorts. Some I could part with, some I don't even like anymore, and some I can't get enough of.
Me.... I've got all sorts. Some I could part with, some I don't even like anymore, and some I can't get enough of.
Boys Bathroom Price Pfister Faucet
In the last century we, no scratch that, they, started a bathroom redo. They is the boys, and since I don't use the boys bathroom and only go in their when forced, I was a bit stunned at such an ambitious undertaking by the males at the Ranch.
I did take care of one important detail...........
The Ashfield Price Pfister faucet.
I did take care of one important detail...........
The Ashfield Price Pfister faucet.
CitraSolv Transfer Method, Napkins and Chairbacks
As my faithful readers might recall, recently I redid some dining room chairs I bought on craigslist. The "recently" part was, ohhhh, a year in the making. Obviously I didn't rush into that redo!
Working with anything fabric is out of my comfort zone. I can't sew and even fabric projects that don't require sewing intimidate me.
Unlike my chairs, this project is quick, simple, and took me less than a year. Originally this project was a guest post for Fox Hollow Cottage.
I was trying to look all crafty and impress Shannon's readers. Hopefully no one passes out because I actually did a tutorial.
Working with anything fabric is out of my comfort zone. I can't sew and even fabric projects that don't require sewing intimidate me.
Unlike my chairs, this project is quick, simple, and took me less than a year. Originally this project was a guest post for Fox Hollow Cottage.
I was trying to look all crafty and impress Shannon's readers. Hopefully no one passes out because I actually did a tutorial.
Throwback Thursday Link Party Guest Host
Thursday has a new meaning here at Bliss Ranch. Well at least one Thursday a month.
And that's because I will be a monthly guest host for the Throwback Thursday link party. Now I didn't say throw down party, I'm not taking up wrestling. Throwback Thursday is a link party that as soon as it hit I loved it.
Why did I love it? Because it didn't matter if I had a new post to link up, in fact that's the idea, a NOT new post, get it.... a throwback. You are SUPPOSE to link up a post from your past.
I thought about linking ones that were so old most people never saw them....
like my very first feature ...
from my very first month of blogging....
of my very first ever link party.....
A Valentine vignette from The Copy Cat Challenge at Debbie Doos. If you want to see the magazine vignette that I copied you will have to click {here}.
And that's because I will be a monthly guest host for the Throwback Thursday link party. Now I didn't say throw down party, I'm not taking up wrestling. Throwback Thursday is a link party that as soon as it hit I loved it.
Why did I love it? Because it didn't matter if I had a new post to link up, in fact that's the idea, a NOT new post, get it.... a throwback. You are SUPPOSE to link up a post from your past.
I thought about linking ones that were so old most people never saw them....
like my very first feature ...
from my very first month of blogging....
of my very first ever link party.....
A Valentine vignette from The Copy Cat Challenge at Debbie Doos. If you want to see the magazine vignette that I copied you will have to click {here}.
Saturday
The Napkins, The Barn & Fox Hollow Cottage
You've seen the dining room chair backs, and heard how I loved the whole process of redoing those chairs (my nose just grew because that is a complete lie) but you did not see a tutorial on how to transfer the image.
Mostly that's because when I'm in the zone, stopping to take photos almost never happens. That and my tutorials usually suck.
But when I do a guest post I don't skimp.
So while my friend Shannon is on vacation in my old stomping ground of Southern California, I'm at Fox Hollow Cottage today with a tutorial on how I took some old muslin napkins and used the image from my chair backs and made matching napkins.
Mostly that's because when I'm in the zone, stopping to take photos almost never happens. That and my tutorials usually suck.
But when I do a guest post I don't skimp.
So while my friend Shannon is on vacation in my old stomping ground of Southern California, I'm at Fox Hollow Cottage today with a tutorial on how I took some old muslin napkins and used the image from my chair backs and made matching napkins.
Thursday
Lamp in a Box
Have you heard of Lamp in a Box?
Well let me just tell you; they are P.D.C.... Pretty Darn Cool. This one arrived at my house as a Christmas gift from the Lamp in a Box folks.
For the base there are several styles and the usual finishes. Mine is satin nickle.
There isn't anything extraordinary about the base, but that's because for me it's all about the shade.
I have this little corner in our bedroom where I like to curl up to read. I'd tell you that's with a good book, but more than likely I'm answering emails or reading blogs on my Ipad.
Monday
Laundry Room Makeover Plans
I have a laundry room makeover coming up. The thing is, it's not my laundry room.
That means there has to be some trust that I won't do something stupid in there.
Nope this isn't my laundry room, this one is much cleaner with by far less laundry.
However I remember the days when I happily washed this little girls clothes for her. I also remember after she started washing her own clothes - static cling caused a thong to stick to one of her dads sweatshirts. I deposited it in her room out of sight - dad wouldn't of been able to handle that!
That means there has to be some trust that I won't do something stupid in there.
Basic downstairs laundry room |
Sunday
Favorite Mug Desserts at Bliss Ranch
It's January and while everyone is busy getting organized, eating healthy and shedding pounds, I'm snuggled in for a long winters nap with a goal of my own.
Chocolate Fudge S'mores Mug Cake from How Sweet It Is |
Wednesday
Dining Room Chairs With a Vintage Grain Sack Look
You know how you are so excited to finish a project that you hurry up to work on it and then you love the whole process so much you stretch it out for a year because you wanna extend the process of the whole mess since you are having so much fun and you don't want it to end?
Me either.
But Thanksgiving 2013 arrived, two more turkeys were purchased and eaten, and the chairs were completed.
And now 2 months later, January 2014, their debut......
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
BB
Disclosure Policy for Bliss Ranch:
From time to time there might be a written review of services or products on this blog for which Bliss Ranch may or may not have received that service or product for free. Receiving a product or service for free or at a discount will never dictate what is written on this blog or guarantee a favorable review. All opinions here belong to Bliss Ranch and Bliss Ranch alone. Bliss Ranch is not monetarily compensated to write anything on this blog... period! For the complete privacy policy please see the tab at the top of the blog.
From time to time there might be a written review of services or products on this blog for which Bliss Ranch may or may not have received that service or product for free. Receiving a product or service for free or at a discount will never dictate what is written on this blog or guarantee a favorable review. All opinions here belong to Bliss Ranch and Bliss Ranch alone. Bliss Ranch is not monetarily compensated to write anything on this blog... period! For the complete privacy policy please see the tab at the top of the blog.