Not all rust is created equal.......

.......I had not thought much about it before and some of you may start wishing I had not thought of it at all but, I realize that I really like some rust.  Not all rust but some is very desirable. For instance.....

....this rusty trowel.  It was already rusted when I bought it. In fact, if it had been a new metal look I wouldn't have wanted it.  And, I like the nice smooth old-looking handle. These first things are on my screen porch.

This stool was also rusty when I purchased it years ago at "When Pigs Fly". It has rusted a good bit more since then because it gets wet here on the porch. This is why I started to think about rust in the first place. I noticed last week that the feet are starting to disintegrate.

This is a metal hanger.

Here is the bottom.  The jar hanging from it looks rusty but that is paint.

These bumble bees have very rusty wings and spirals.

I have a set of three of these standing in the ginger bed outside. I love their rusty corrugated roofs and chippy paint. They are getting so chippy as to have nearly no paint left.

They are not real birdhouses because they are made from four by fours and are solid.  This one has a nice green color mixed with its rusty roof.

Another birdhouse with a rusty roof.  It's "home sweet home" sign needs to be repainted.

One of my most treasured pieces of rust is this crown from London.  My daughter mailed it over when she was living there.  One thing about rust is that eventually it will destroy things. This is one piece that I oil every once in awhile hoping to make it last longer.

I love this old rusty and moss covered bench!

I had to have two trees removed from this area and now the bench is more exposed and doesn't look like it belongs here like it use to. Before it was like a little secret garden area.

A rusty obelisk.

This is one of many hose guides all of which have become homes to rust. I don't especially like them rusty so they will all get spray painted soon.

The finial will remain rust covered.

I am not liking this rust at all and will need to scrub it with my metal brush and give it a new coat of paint.

A tall hose guide.

And, another.

I have a set of three of these and so far, I like their rusted look.

I like the rusty bent-tine rake but, need to paint the cage.

And finally, one more rusty trowel - love it!  Should have gotten rid of the spider webs before I took the picture, though.  I have several other rusted things but will spare you.  What about you?  Do you appreciate some rust or are you thinking, what a ridiculous post!

~~~~

My Friends Blog.......

I want to call your attention to a blog that is included in my list of blogs. My friend Ginger does a daily writing - she has a gift for writing and insight into things we all need to know about our Lord and Savior and how we can walk in His way in our every day life. Check out todays post by clicking on hers from the list on the right side - Fall Therapy Ministries - Daily Dose - 4/8/12
                                                                           ~~~~~~~~

Happy Easter!

Garden Talk Again.....

   ........I have spent some very fun hours outside lately.  The first thing I want to show is what I got with my Michaels gift card.....

I walked through Michaels thinking I would find one of those things that I often admire but, is usually too pricey for me to get except this time it would be a gift.  I chose this great urn planter. Since it was 40% off I was able to choose another nice thing which was a Martha Stewart item for half off. That one will be a gift that I give to someone for their birthday. More about it later. I also got a couple of small items and still have $5 left on the card.

I love the way it planted up with the caladium, purple petunia and a variagated ivy.  This area should look better after the polka dot plants spread out and fill more of the empty space here.  Notice the tiles - something I won in a Christmas game and had not used.  They are actually four coasters.  I love them for this use. After looking at this picture I see the one on the left needs to be switched with the one on the right.

I just planted this pot today with mostly succulents. Some are new starts that my friend Carole gave me yesterday and the rest are plants I already had in single pots. If they all do well it should be a nice collection.

The grass clump in the back is a dwarf and won't get as large as most of that type plant does.

I spruced up the gnome area and gave them a new patio.

Carole invited myself and two other friends to her house yesterday to work on mosiacs.  One made two large birdbaths and the rest of us did stepping stones.  I like the way mine turned out. It is bigger than it appears here.  I scattered some sea-glass in complimentary colors and this area now has a neater look.

The project turned out better than these pictures. They don't really do it justice.

This week I had this vistor to come walking up the street - a white Ibis.  I always feel bad when I see only one as they normally travel in groups - maybe a dozen or more.  This one got separated from his group.  It is difficult to tell a "he" from a "she".  The young ones are dark grey but adults are snowy white and all look just alike.

They are always a welcome visitor. They love to feed off of bugs that they find in lawns. I hope my neighbor across the street intentionally killed his weeds and has plans to put down new sod. I saw him using a spreader and soon after everything turned brown.

Now, here are the birds and the last pictures I will show of them in the nest.

Just after I took this picture I decided to try to raise the window to get a better photo.

But, I scared them off of the nest - see one hopped to the window sill and shortly after down to the ground and the second one followed.  I felt so bad and hope they were mature enough to leave the nest and learn to fly and find their own food.  The last I saw them they were still on the ground.

Sunday before last, I found out the garden wagon I have been wanting for years was on sale at Big Lots for $50 instead of the $80 that I have been seeing them priced at in other stores. I decided this was my time. 

Does it look like a wagon yet???  It came in many parts. In this picture I had already put the axle pieces on and at one point had my doubts about ever getting it together!  Especially after I misplaced the directions!

But, I finally found them and proceeded to put all those parts together and just look at it!!!

I'm in love with my new wagon and it may save me some doctor bills.  I have been carrying things that are too heavy for me to be lugging around. It will be very handy for several things, like when we are expecting freezing weather about two or three nights out of the whole year and I move a zillion pots to the garage. Or, anything heavy that needs to go from one area to another.  It's actually big enough for me to sit in. If I lived on a hill I might would try to ride it down the street!  One thing is for sure, I will never get to ride my sled (I still have a wooden one) here!

~~~~~~

An intimate Spring Setting at the Edge of the Woods ....

It seemed just the kind of day to be out in the shade to enjoy the spring weather and a little refreshment.......

I cut a few sprigs of woodland greenery, a few flowers and took this opportunity to use the rabbit picks that I have had unused for years. I remember getting them at JoAnns after Easter at 70% off.  They are beautiful metallic colors.

I moved the little garden table to the shade just at the edge of a stand of trees.  I had been wanting to use this spring-looking tablecloth I got a GW.  It was a great bargain.  It is circled with flowers, ducks and rabbits. Looks like this might be its first use.

I gathered together my rabbit plates and eggcups, all from Hallmark.  I have a friend who likes to shop at Hallmark for gifts.  These came from her.

I had found these beautiful, large cookies at Big Lots.  They came individually, tightly sealed in plastic and also in a see-through bag and tied with a ribbon.

Still wrapped but, isn't it pretty!

A pretty, lacey napkin always seems to fit a spring setting.

The other color plate (I also have a yellow and a blue one).  The cookies are large and came in three different designs - $1 each

A small glass of ice cold water with a rosemary/lemon spear.  Slice the lemon thin and fold it so you can put the rosemary through two folds. This is so refreshing!  Why don't I think to have it more often! Especially since I have rosemary year round.

A close-up of the centerpiece.

Someone is thinking - those rabbits shouldn't all be headed in the same direction.  But, their ribbon bows are all on this side.

I love this little spot with the table all fancied up! The birds were singing, the rabbits playing and a big kite (bird) was soaring overhead.  They are so graceful and occasionally come swooping down pretty low.

                           A nice relaxing afternoon.  Oh, by the way, the big cookies are yummy!

"Let the Little Children Come To Me........

.....and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." - Mark 10: 14,15.


This time I am doing a different type of post. I just could not resist this opportunity.

This is little Annie, and with the permission of her Mommy who is my niece I am showing Annie in her new Easter dress.  All these pictures were taken by her mommy, a very good photographer. Isn't this the picture of perfect innocence!

Mommy is also a good seamstress and made this special dress for Annie to wear to church on Easter Sunday.

Annie is blessed to have parents who are Christians and she will also grow up to loving the Lord.  Children are innocent and fully open to life with a joy that adults sometimes lose.

We, as adults can learn a lot from little children. Their lives are founded on trust that their needs will be met. We can have that same trust in the one who loved us so much that He gave His life and was raised up by the Father.

Children innocently and spontaneously express what is within and possess a simple trust and harmlessness.

Oh, to be childlike and to become as one of them in trusting our Maker and our Caretaker.

We can have a sense of wonder, trust, dependence and obedience, wanting to please that One to whom we belong.

~~~~