Josie's birthday western-inspired tree...

For my newer followers, I have a year-round tree in our sunroom that gets decorated all-year-long (including family birthdays and some made-up holidays).  With Josie's cowgirl/cowboy themed party scheduled this weekend, the tree is now decked out in western decor.  

The cardboard cutouts and western lights were purchased from Oriental Trading company.

Emma's jeans that she trimmed into shorts were used for a tree skirt.

I also added a few Kim K. decorated bingo cards.


A few vintage pictures  and hop-along cassidy trading cards were also printed off and added to the tree with clothespins.

Giddy-up!


Get ready for lots of party pics!

XOXO
 

Another cowboy/cowgirl inspired bunting...

I've been busy putting final touches on Josie's Western party decorations. 

 When I found these felt hats at our Dollar Tree to use as gifts for Josie's friends, I knew that I wanted to use them as decorations too.

They are now hanging up in the sunroom on a clothesline made of twine. I tied strips of checked fabric between the hats.

I can't wait to see her little friends all dressed up.

Tomorrow, I'll post pictures of my year-round tree.  I gave it a western-inspired makeover.

Happy 21 and weekend farmhouse finds...

Today is our 21st wedding anniversary.

We haven't changed a bit (smile).

Saturday morning, the whole family went to the third day of a farm house estate sale where everything was 50% off. Specific items needed for Josie's upcoming Western party were crossed off the check list.  These saw horses will be turned into some kind of animal to be used in a lasso contest.

  Chris can also use the saw horses on his never-ending construction projects.

A couple of hats and a horse scarf will be used as decorations.

Rusty horseshoes will also be turned into party decor.

This cement fruit urn has nothing to do with the party, but the $3 price tag was perfect.  It's very heavy.  Chris got a workout carrying it to the car and then down into our backyard.  It looks perfect in our shade garden.

The girls felt their tree house needed this pink mailbox.  You never know, secret letters might need to delivered.

These binoculars will also be used for tree house spying.

On Sunday, I ventured to the Allegan Antique market with my mom and sister.  Only a few things came home with me.

This miniature fencing is now around the Gnome house in our toadstool garden.

A vintage western bracelet.

I think the bracelet might end up on my own wrist at Josie's party.

I'm planning on color copying the cover of this 1920s magazine to frame in our sunroom.  The dark-haired little girl reminds me of Josie.

 Lots of great finds this past weekend. I also have all kinds of cowgirl/western party decorations to share over the next few days.  Giddy-up!

PS.   Thank you for my print, Viv. You spoil me so.
 

The reveal...

Back on this post, I shared the "free" wooden structure that found its way into the back of Chris's car.  

 As part of my birthday present, Chris gave it a makeover for our toadstool garden .

Using supplies left-over from his tree house project, he and Josie shingled the little gnome house to match the tree house.

My mother painted this toadstool sign as part of my birthday present.

Here is a view the little house at dusk when the Christmas lights are turned on.

Christmas lights are also tucked inside the gnome house.

I found the miniature white picket fence Sunday at the Allegan Antique market. 

Josie helped me plant a few impatiens.  

 She and I also created the pea gravel walking path around the perimeter of the house.

I especially love my toadstool window boxes.

The gnome house turned out far better than I ever anticipated.

Mischief and merriment awaits!  Josie and I think we should write stories about our special gnomes and their woodland adventures this summer.

Thank you, family...especially my handy husband.

PS. I'm tempted to sneak a "before" and "after" picture into the mysterious neighbor's mailbox who left the "free" structure on the side of the road.
 

Early morning remembrances...

"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women." -Ronald Reagan

We were up and out of the house very early this morning. 

Emma's marching band performed in a short parade followed by a full service at Grandville cemetery.
 

Thank you for your service, for protecting us and keeping  our nation safe.

Thank you for letting us share this important history lesson with our family.  We are remembering those who paid for our freedom today.

Happy Birthday to me!

As soon as my University work obligations are done later this afternoon, I'm planning on spending the whole weekend celebrating my birthday. 

 I started early by treating myself to this vintage-inspired picnic basket from World Market.

Sandy (521 Lake Street) featured it on her blog last week and it just had to come home with me.  Thanks for the tip, Sandy!

As long as the mosquitoes don't carry us away, we are planning to do a bit of landscaping around the gnome house that Chris has been working on this week.

 I promise to share the big reveal once the landscaping is complete. For now, here's a sneak peek of the miniature window boxes that Chris and I worked on Thursday evening.  I dug up moss from woods and painted wooden knobs to look like toadstools. 

A date night with Chris, visiting a few estate sales Saturday morning, attending the Allegan Antique market with my mom and sister on Sunday, finishing up a few more Western decorations for Josie's birthday and enjoying our local Memorial day parade (featuring Emma's marching band) is all on our weekend agenda.

Happy Memorial weekend, everyone!