Inspiration is All Around Us

Since we are on the topic of gardening/yardwork today, I thought I would share some inspirational pictures I took while recently visiting Las Vegas.  I get my inspiration for my projects, both interior and exterior, from all over the place.  I have done this all of my life.  What follows is an example of what can be done with a little time and patience.  I thought these gardens, and in particular the scuplted evergreens were just beautiful.  I would like to include this type of look on the grounds of Crest Avenue.  It will take some time for the plants to mature, but in the end it will be worth it.

These speakers are cleverly placed amongst the landscaping so that you cannot readily see them.  The sound they produce is amazing.  I want to do something similar at Crest Avenue.



Of course, I do not intend on installing a duck pond, but I am inspired by the landscaping around the water in these pictures.





And I will not be opening a casino.  But I liked the look of the plantings here.  The different colors of the leaves and just generally how they used different plants that worked well together.





Now, the waterfall I will be installing - Not!  If only I could.  This was just too magnificent not to photograph.

So, like I said, I get inspiration from all over.  Surely I do not have the budget to make my yard into a replica of the grounds at Wynn, nor would I want to.  But I can take some ideas from what they have done here and utilize them in my landscape, as can you.

Inspiration is All Around Us

Since we are on the topic of gardening/yardwork today, I thought I would share some inspirational pictures I took while recently visiting Las Vegas.  I get my inspiration for my projects, both interior and exterior, from all over the place.  I have done this all of my life.  What follows is an example of what can be done with a little time and patience.  I thought these gardens, and in particular the scuplted evergreens were just beautiful.  I would like to include this type of look on the grounds of Crest Avenue.  It will take some time for the plants to mature, but in the end it will be worth it.

These speakers are cleverly placed amongst the landscaping so that you cannot readily see them.  The sound they produce is amazing.  I want to do something similar at Crest Avenue.



Of course, I do not intend on installing a duck pond, but I am inspired by the landscaping around the water in these pictures.





And I will not be opening a casino.  But I liked the look of the plantings here.  The different colors of the leaves and just generally how they used different plants that worked well together.





Now, the waterfall I will be installing - Not!  If only I could.  This was just too magnificent not to photograph.

So, like I said, I get inspiration from all over.  Surely I do not have the budget to make my yard into a replica of the grounds at Wynn, nor would I want to.  But I can take some ideas from what they have done here and utilize them in my landscape, as can you.

I picked up some of my favorite cut flowers; Alstromera.  You can find these in the floral department at most any of the large supermarkets.  In my area, I find that Giant Food usually has the best selection.  If cared for properly, you can get a week out of these and possibly even longer.  I trim the stems, remove the leaves on the lower portions of the stems and place them in a container with about two inches of water and a splash of Clorox.  Just a splash is all it takes.  If you would like a true measurement, I would say no more than one-half teaspoon of Clorox per quart of water.  It helps to keep the bacteria that forms at bay.

This is sort of an "artsy" picture that I took with my Fuji camera.  I love this camera.  I have not figured out all of the things it can do, but suffice it to say, it is capable of taking a good many different types of pictures.  I thought the way it just picked up on the light coming through the window to highlight the flowers while keeping the other masses of petals dark was particularly pretty.

I found a glass vase and placed the two bunches in there.  I adjusted them a little here and there and this is what I ended up with.  It doesn't take a lot to arrange flowers.  Each arrangement is subjective.  Each arranger will see it through their eyes and will either like it or start over.  It's all about what you like and what you want in your house.  Nothing could be simpler than using these little bouquets of alstromera that you can pick up while grocery shopping to add a little ambience to your house.  Just plop them in a vase of water, adjust a little here and there so there are no obvious holes, and set them out to enjoy.  I would have preferred this vase with three bunches rather than two.  So next time I'll pick up three bunches.  Enjoy the series of pictures I took which follow.

Fresh flowers in the house, especially this time of year, is as essential to me as anything else I can think of. 

I picked up some of my favorite cut flowers; Alstromera.  You can find these in the floral department at most any of the large supermarkets.  In my area, I find that Giant Food usually has the best selection.  If cared for properly, you can get a week out of these and possibly even longer.  I trim the stems, remove the leaves on the lower portions of the stems and place them in a container with about two inches of water and a splash of Clorox.  Just a splash is all it takes.  If you would like a true measurement, I would say no more than one-half teaspoon of Clorox per quart of water.  It helps to keep the bacteria that forms at bay.

This is sort of an "artsy" picture that I took with my Fuji camera.  I love this camera.  I have not figured out all of the things it can do, but suffice it to say, it is capable of taking a good many different types of pictures.  I thought the way it just picked up on the light coming through the window to highlight the flowers while keeping the other masses of petals dark was particularly pretty.

I found a glass vase and placed the two bunches in there.  I adjusted them a little here and there and this is what I ended up with.  It doesn't take a lot to arrange flowers.  Each arrangement is subjective.  Each arranger will see it through their eyes and will either like it or start over.  It's all about what you like and what you want in your house.  Nothing could be simpler than using these little bouquets of alstromera that you can pick up while grocery shopping to add a little ambience to your house.  Just plop them in a vase of water, adjust a little here and there so there are no obvious holes, and set them out to enjoy.  I would have preferred this vase with three bunches rather than two.  So next time I'll pick up three bunches.  Enjoy the series of pictures I took which follow.

Fresh flowers in the house, especially this time of year, is as essential to me as anything else I can think of. 

A Walk Around the Property

We survived the storms last night.  We got a good deal of rain and wind, but it was not as bad as we expected.  I could hear the awnings thrashing about with the squalls of wind during the night.  There is some flooding this morning in Montgomery County, MD which is north of us.  News reports of people being caught in their cars in flash flooding.  Others driving through standing water and finding themselves being washed away.  The sky was just beautiful when I made my way outside for the first time today.

A fairly clear sky this morning as seen through the sweet gum trees at Crest Avenue.

The weather yesterday was very spring-like.  Not so much today.  It was considerably cooler this morning than yesterday at this time.  We still have to make it through February and then hopefully we can begin to look forward to spring which arrives on March 21.  But we should not be foolhardy.  I have seen snow in March on more than one occasion.

I enjoy seeing the ornamental grasses even in the winter.  Here is one in the front yard.

I will cut this back to be level with the ground in about one month.  Once we start having days that are consistently warm, we will start to see green sprouts shooting up from the center of the root ball.

Unfortunately, the topiaries on either side of the front entrance have not faired well during this cold spell, which just goes to show that yes, even I make mistakes.

I cannot recall what these were called.  I saw them at the garden center last year and thought they would look wonderful on the front porch, so I bought them and placed them there.  I thought they were some kind of evergreen.  Obviously, I was mistaken.  It pains me to lose any plant, but these in particular because I was so pleased with how they looked.  So, . . . looks like we'll be off to Behnke's when warm weather arrives to get something new for these pots on the front porch.  This time I will make sure it is evergreen.

We also need to do some work to the privacy hedge we started along the front yard last year.  You know how when you go for your annual review one of the boxes they check to describe your proficiency in any one area is "meets expectations?"  The front hedge does not "meet expectations" right now.  We will talk about that more tomorrow.  Get ready for some very unpleasant pictures of that.  Ugh!!

A Walk Around the Property

We survived the storms last night.  We got a good deal of rain and wind, but it was not as bad as we expected.  I could hear the awnings thrashing about with the squalls of wind during the night.  There is some flooding this morning in Montgomery County, MD which is north of us.  News reports of people being caught in their cars in flash flooding.  Others driving through standing water and finding themselves being washed away.  The sky was just beautiful when I made my way outside for the first time today.

A fairly clear sky this morning as seen through the sweet gum trees at Crest Avenue.

The weather yesterday was very spring-like.  Not so much today.  It was considerably cooler this morning than yesterday at this time.  We still have to make it through February and then hopefully we can begin to look forward to spring which arrives on March 21.  But we should not be foolhardy.  I have seen snow in March on more than one occasion.

I enjoy seeing the ornamental grasses even in the winter.  Here is one in the front yard.

I will cut this back to be level with the ground in about one month.  Once we start having days that are consistently warm, we will start to see green sprouts shooting up from the center of the root ball.

Unfortunately, the topiaries on either side of the front entrance have not faired well during this cold spell, which just goes to show that yes, even I make mistakes.

I cannot recall what these were called.  I saw them at the garden center last year and thought they would look wonderful on the front porch, so I bought them and placed them there.  I thought they were some kind of evergreen.  Obviously, I was mistaken.  It pains me to lose any plant, but these in particular because I was so pleased with how they looked.  So, . . . looks like we'll be off to Behnke's when warm weather arrives to get something new for these pots on the front porch.  This time I will make sure it is evergreen.

We also need to do some work to the privacy hedge we started along the front yard last year.  You know how when you go for your annual review one of the boxes they check to describe your proficiency in any one area is "meets expectations?"  The front hedge does not "meet expectations" right now.  We will talk about that more tomorrow.  Get ready for some very unpleasant pictures of that.  Ugh!!

Taking Advantage of Savings at Costco

Everybody loves Costco.  Well, maybe not everybody but many of us enjoy shopping there.  I am a member and a frequent shopper.  Yesterday I received their in-store savings flyer.  I generally go through and check to see if there is anything on sale that I need.  In doing so, I have come up with a quick way to mark what you want in the flyer so that you can make your way through the store with the greatest of ease.

First, get yourself a pad of the long, narrow post-it notes;

Then, get your sale flyer;

Then place a post-it note on each item you are interested in;

And now you are ready to make your way through the maze of goods at your local Costco.  It is very easy to get distracted in Costco and to end up with a basketful of things you had no intention of buying when you arrived.  I have had this happen many, many times.  But if I go in with specific items that I am looking for, I am less inclined to pick up additional items than when I just go in "browsing."  For me, just "browsing" through Costco is usually very costly.

Taking Advantage of Savings at Costco

Everybody loves Costco.  Well, maybe not everybody but many of us enjoy shopping there.  I am a member and a frequent shopper.  Yesterday I received their in-store savings flyer.  I generally go through and check to see if there is anything on sale that I need.  In doing so, I have come up with a quick way to mark what you want in the flyer so that you can make your way through the store with the greatest of ease.

First, get yourself a pad of the long, narrow post-it notes;

Then, get your sale flyer;

Then place a post-it note on each item you are interested in;

And now you are ready to make your way through the maze of goods at your local Costco.  It is very easy to get distracted in Costco and to end up with a basketful of things you had no intention of buying when you arrived.  I have had this happen many, many times.  But if I go in with specific items that I am looking for, I am less inclined to pick up additional items than when I just go in "browsing."  For me, just "browsing" through Costco is usually very costly.

Hook Me Up

I love Crest Avenue.  There can be no doubt of that.  I fell in love with her from the first time I stepped inside.  I knew it was the property I had been searching for immediately.  The floorplan.  The yard.  Everything was exactly what I wanted.  As I have told here before, she had been neglected but I could see her beauty and knew I could bring her back to life.  That being said, there were/are structural anomalies which exist in a house that was built in 1947.  One of those is closet space.  Or rather, the lack of such.  The closets are few and tiny.  I refer to them as "broom closets" which is what we called the closet in the kitchen of the house I grew up in that was there for just that purpose - to hold brooms and other cleaning supplies.  The only difference was that all of the rooms in the house I grew up in had large, expansive closets with sliding doors.  Crest Avenue, on the other hand, has broom closets throughout.  So I have had to be creative and utilize every available space for storage.  And that includes adding shelving where possible and utilizing the backs of doors where appropriate.

Below are some ideas I have implemented to help with the storage space.



In the bath, I installed a shelving unit over the door which adds a handy space to hold things that you don't have room for anywhere else.  At present, I am using this shelf to store paper towels and bath tissue.  I buy both items in bulk and store the majority of the purchase on shelving in the basement.  But I keep a few rolls at the ready on this shelf which prevents me from constantly running to the basement to retrieve these items.  You could use the shelf to store extra bath towels or place fanciful glass jars with bath fizzies and soaps and such.  Whatever works best for your situation.  I gathered the items for this shelf from Lowe's.  Since the door is so close to the corner of the room, I had to use small shelf brackets so that the one on the left would fit between the door jamb and the wall.  The shelf is particle board with a slightly rounded front which makes it a little more pleasing to look at and gives a nice finished look.  There are two screws in the wall on either side of the door and the brackets slip over the screw heads and slide down to lock in place.  The shelf is adhered to the brackets utilizing a hot glue gun.  For added support, the shelf should rest not only on the brackets, but on the top of the door jamb also.




Recently, I added this hook to the back of the bath door.  I found these at IKEA.  They are called Blecka.

 

I like the design of this hook.  But they have many different styles to choose from.  Just to let you know, the screws needed to install these hooks do not come in the package.  You can find the appropriate sized screws at your local hardware store.





Here is another closet door.  You can see the plastic insert in the center of the door from a previous hanger I had on this door to hold my baseball caps.  I found storage for those someplace else, so all I had to do was install the new Blecka hook in the existing spot.





And, voila!  A little extra storage space in the front entry closet.



I will be using this hook to store my winter scarf.  We have had some very cold and blustery weather recently and I was continually searching for my scarf.  Sometimes I would fold it and put it away.  Other times I would place it inside one of the arms of my coat and hang that in the closet.  Now it is right where it needs to be.  Every time I open the door it will be conveniently at my hand.

So, just a few ideas of how to add extra storage space to your home if you find yourself searching for places to store all of your trinkets.