Preparing Old Barn Site For Play Set

I discovered the old barn site the day we first looked at the house. I say "discovered" because it was buried behind grape vine, poison ivy, tall weeds, old tires, broken glass, tree limbs, and more.  But I was smitten from the beginning.  All that is left of the barn was the lowers walls.  

Half of it is stone, and so cool looking.  The other half has old concrete walls, not quite as cool.  But with plants, vintage gates, etc we will give it more of a vintage vibe.  THAT is the half the way are talking about today.  It sits directly behind the new guest house. To make it safe, I would have either had to rope off the barn site or clean up all of the glass.  So this spring when there was a huge ditch around the guest house exterior I knew it was time to act.  I filled the ditch with all of the old metal, broken glass, melted glass that had been inside the barn site.  No more danger zone.  It took a few months for us to decide the next step.

Last weekend we ordered pea gravel from a garden center, and it was delivered Tuesday.  8 scoops. Also on Tuesday I found a playset (new fangled word for swingset) on facebook marketplace.

 We ended up buying it for $100.  

Today we fueled up at our favorite restaurant.

And tackled the disassembling and LOADING of the playset.

Good old van!

Barely got everything inside and on top.

Next Saturday is assembly day.

Stay tuned!

Pumpkin Patch Learning Curve

 

This is my second summer of growing pumpkins.  Last year I let pumpkins compost from the previous fall and just transplanted the young plants as they popped up.  And I had more luck than this year!

This year I purchased three packages of seeds -- one was a flat white variety.

And the other two were squatty gray-green varieties.  

This is my ONLY white one.

For a long time the white one was the only one that "set" on the vine.

Now, we are finally getting a few more babies (no white.)

There are quite a few differences from last year, including use of seed.

Last year I planted in a field that used to have livestock,

so maybe the soil was a little better.

(This is my biggest one, I have to lift it with two hands.)

Last year the field had a bit more sun than where I planted this year.

Last year we had more rain than this drought-ridden summer.

Last year the pumpkins plants were surrounded by wildflowers,

this year maybe there weren't enough polinators.

I think the main problem was that I didn't plant early enough.

I planted late May when it was recommended,

I feel like one more month would have been idea.

Probably next year I will plant in this same spot, and one additional area.  

One of these summers I will have a bumper crop in the pumpkin patch!

Cool Looking Fungus On Stump

My Antiques At An Antiques Shop

My friend Renee owns a little local antique shop.

I try to help her out, because I once owned my own antique shop -- and it is a challenge.

So, when I decided to liquidate my inventory, I gave her a call.

She bought all of my suitcases and picnic baskets...

my dress form (just didn't have room for her in my house),

even the garland draped across her was from me (getting rid of all of my "props").

Folding bench and crazy quilt -- from me.

Didn't she do any awesome job putting it altogether?

Basket cart and little white light?

Mine, and now hers.

All looking for their forever homes.

Luna Moth Caterpillar

 

Not a huge surprise when I found it what it was.

We have seen several luna moths since moving here.

Front Porch Tour Of Stonecrest Cottage

 We are basically on the home stretch with Stonecrest Cottage Guest House.  The porch is done.  I may add a string of lights, and next year we will be adding some plants. But we are calling it good.  I want it to be simple and sustainable.

We tried very hard to use what we had.

We already had the bench.  It will be handy to sit on while people remove their shoes 

(wishful thinking?)

I also find it handy to set packages by the door while I unlock.

My husband made this tray a few months ago,

as well as one for our own "mud room".

(Corona Virus Isolation Project #10).

These motel chairs were sitting in our chicken run, they like this location better.

The mesh table and milk crate are all leftover from my antique stock.

Even the cattle fencing were segments left on our property when we bought it.

I will probably end up painting the chairs.

We have had the porch swing for awhile.

It is oak and STURDY.

The indoor/outdoor rug was from out NW Missouri house.

I mentioned the quilt in one of my last blogs -- I saved it from the brink.

The front door was left from the previous owner in our garage.

We just added some detail and paint.

Even the straw mats are not new -- 50 cents each at a garage sale.

The wagon wheels on either side of the steps we did actually buy for this project.

$5 for the pair. My husband and son rolled all of these huge rugs into place at the base of the porch. Next spring the flowers will go in front of the wheels and 

on the sides of the porch.  

I can see guests (and us!) really hanging out on this porch.

And lastly, this is the view from the porch.

Porch Quilt For Stonecrest Cottage

 

I am purging like a crazy woman. Getting ready of all of my antique stock.

I recently sold most of my quilts, but I kept this one back.

I knew that I wanted one for the cottage front porch.

And this was in deplorable condition 

(which means I would have had to sell it for next to nothing.)

So I got my scissors, needle and thread out.  On one end I had to cut three rows of squares off because they were so worn.  Then I wrapped this bias tape stuff (which I already had) around the cut end.  And stitched it on by hand.  Then I actually tackled the opposite side -- which only had some damage on the first row of squares.  Instead of hacking off any more quilt, I dug out some feedsack material and wrapped that on both sides of the last row of squares.  Not only will it protect the damaged area, but it will prevent future wear.  

So I am left with a very usable front porch quilt.

And you are left with a preview of the front porch.

Expect a complete tour soon.

Butterflies on Butterfly Bushes

We have two large butterfly bushes on the south side of the garden shed.

Like most plants on the property, it is only a couple years old.

This is the first year it has flowered profusely and as promised --the butterflies are loving it.

 This is the violet variety,

and it has the most flowers -- and butterflies.

 This is the dark purple variety,

and it has some fans.

 While I was taking pics,

I caught this guy mid-lunch.

My oregano is also a popular butterfly stomping ground.

Antiques Liquidation Sale A Huge Success

 

I knew that I was pricing things TO SELL.  And that was no joke.  Above is what my garage looked like by 10 am.  I opened at 7 AM and people were taking stuff out as fast as they could pay me and get it loaded.  I actually closed the door and put up a "sold out" sign at 10 am.

Empty, sparse.  I will reprice what  little is left.

Then I will haul out all of my Christmas inventory and

get ready for another liquidation sale in October.

Whew.

Juvenile Western Rat Snake

 

I walked out my front door to find this guy on my front porch.  So of course I ran back in and got my camera.  I knew by the eyes that he was not poisonous, so I wasn't afraid.

I know he looks bigger, but he was only about 14" long.

He had a striking pattern, and I thought he was one I hadn't seen before.

Or had I?

It turns out that he is "just" a black snack.

A young one, that still shows off his gorgeous gray and black pattern.

In another year or two he will be completely black.

Fall Vintage & Antiques GOING OUT OF BUSINESS Liquidation Garage Sale

Fall Vintage & Antiques GOING OUT OF BUSINESS Clearance Garage Sale. That is kind of a big title.  But I want people to realize that it is a big deal, and that they should make a herculean effort to come.  I had already mentioned earlier in 2020 that I had made a decision to pretty much curtail my antiques business:{  That meant quitting my antique booths cold turkey (good decision right before covid hit!)  Slowing my ebay selling to a trickle.  No more shows.  And putting a squelch on buying the rusty, primitive junk that I love to sell....and look at.

January 2020 we started to build our "guest cottage" which we still hope to turn into an AIRBNB.  Construction is basically (finally) over. I had kept a tight hold on some of the leftover antiques inventory because I didn't know what we would be using to furnish and decorate the cottage.  But in the last couple weeks I have been schlepping stuff in (and out) of the guest cottage, and it is time to let go of the items that we won't be using.  We are not only clearing out my leftover inventory, but items that I had collected just for the cottage and that now I realize there isn't room, or it just doesn't fit the look. A REAL RUTHLESS CLEARANCE SALE.  Garage Sale prices.

This is Saturday is SALE #1.  All of my Halloween and Fall inventory.  Slashed.  Whatever doesn't sell Saturday I am taking to a flea market and selling for $1.  I am not kidding.  I also have a bunch of furniture in Saturday's sale.  Whatever furniture doesn't sell will go on Facebook Marketplace. 

Some of the furniture is already on FM.  Also, there are stacks and layers of items that need to be sold, so....

SALE #2 will be in a month or so.  It will hopefully purge the underlayers.  And the CHRISTMAS inventory.  I want to get rid of all of it.  I am a motivated seller.

SALE #3 will be early next spring.  All of the springy merch.  All of the pastels, florals, cutesy and sweet items.  All of the garden items.  All of the outdoor items.  EVERYTHING that is hiding tubs that are stashed under the folding tables and out of sight.  All gone.  Including "props", tablecloths, tables --- everything needed for the bones of setting up.  I want it all gone.  So that I can use the shop (which previously was my antiques storage area) more as a workshop, and maybe even have room to put a vehicle in it.  

AND THEN?  Well.  God laughs at our puny plans.  Just look at 2020.  But a rough guess / sketch of 2021?  As I mentioned, hopefully running an AirBNB.  More volunteering / entertaining. And we are expecting our second grandchild -- that will help to keep us busy.