Shabby Re-do and Garage Sale

No time for glamour shots with the garage sale being tomorrow,

but let's take a look at the bedroom furniture that I'll have out...

Isn't she beautiful?  
(I have the cross rails-not shown, too).

Couldn't you just see her with fluffy pinkalicious shabby bedding?


Target

And some classic details...

A vintage creamy white chocolate finish by Ben Moore.

Here's a before shot of the headboard.

A secret favorite--

we use Kwik Wood epoxy putty

to help repair damaged detailing where necessary before a cosmetic paint job.

She also has a highboy to accompany her
(no before shots on this one)...

...and a matching mirrored vanity that I haven't even started yet.

Stop by if interested!

Thursday-Saturday
8-2

Sharing with:
Share Your Cup
Redoux

Country Living Inspiration and a Garage Sale!

When I got the July issue of Country Living magazine this week,

I was inspired by the dining room they had arranged on one of the first insert pages.

Isn't it natural and refreshing?

Know what else?

I have a very similar pedestal table!

It will be available this Thursday-Sat at our neighborhood garage sale.
It seats four.

Wouldn't it be cute paired with these $35 chairs from IKEA?


IKEA

Or this fancier version for $95



IKEA

Or, if you like the style, but need more space,

I have a double-pedestal table that seats six and has a leaf.

If you're local and interested,

let me know or swing by.

I'll have some more things out, too,
including some beautiful bedroom furniture I'll post soon,

but it's been a cold and wet spring overall

and supplies are limited.

Hope you all are having a great week!

Sharing with
French Country Cottage

Repairing a Taxidermy Fish and Vote for a Color

Last year, Dan brought home a big sailfish.

He was driving around and a neighbor had thrown away 

a very battered trophy fish.

It was about 7 feet long.
She had seen better days.

This fish had Paris Hilton stickers on her, 

tabs from where party lights were once strung,

she had really been a party girl at one point.

All of her fins were broken off.

Dan thought we could try to restore her,

so he hung her in the garage.

This spring he set out to finally do it.

Mind you, these are not conventional methods.

But, we are resourceful people and make our own ways.

1) He spackled all rough areas with regular household wall spackle

2) He rebuilt the back tail fin from a flattened paper towel roll

3) He rebuilt fins with pieces of cut paneling that he jigged out

4) He added ridges to the paneling with glue to mimick spines and details.

5) He primed the fish with primer

6) We painted her high-gloss white

We really couldn't decide on a final color-

Dan wanted me to recreate the natural ocean blue tones on the fish's skin.

Since this is no longer an authentic fish, I wanted to go more bold or modern,

like a bright all-over lemon yellow.

We had to get her out of the garage for now,

 but she will resurface again in a future post with some final paint.

Here, she sits on our sons' bedroom wall with a bolt.

An antique yellow fishing pole sits underneath.

For now, she's Dan's Big White Fish.
We are in the process of redecorating the boys' room with more 
seaside/navigation-oriented decor.
We know it's not like a professionally done fish,
but the boys don't care!

So what is the vote?
1) ocean-blue natural patterns
or 
2)all-over lemon-yellow
?
Or do you have a different idea to offer up to us?


Sharing this week with:

Tuesday:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Wednesday:
Savvy Southern Style's WOW Us Wednesday
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Friday:
Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Saturday:
Saturday Night Special at Funky Junk Interiors

The Winner Is...

Chosen by random generator, but I couldn't figure out how to post the game chip:

#3- Sheri at Red Rose Alley!
Sheri, you just won a beautiful vintage styled dress from the Shabby Applegiveaway at Town and Prairie.
Congratulations, and thank you to all who participated.

Last Chance to Win the Shabby Apple Giveaway!

Okay girls, time's running out!

Tonight is the last night you can enter the

Shabby Apple vintage giveaway!

Remember to drop in a comment on this post

about how much you love Shabby Apple's vintage style!

Shabby Apple Giveaway HERE!

Hello Girls!

I have exciting news!

Shabby Apple *(homepage)

has a vintage clothing line

and they would like to

sponsor a giveaway through this little ol' Town and Prairie blog!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post
stating how much you love vintage styled ANYTHING

 and I will select a random winner by Thursday night, June 20th.

If you are a follower for Town&Prairie, it's most appreciated by moi, 
but it's not required to win.

Who wouldn't love a new summer dress or skirt?

Or maybe one to save for fall?
I love this little number below called Ski Bop.
I've already got that painted piano in my front room,
let's get the dress to complete the scene!

The only requirement from Shabby Apple is that your shipping address is in the U.S.

Good luck girls!

Check out some of the Shabby Apple vintage styled items 
on the giveaway list
HERE.

Sharing this vintage giveway with:
Debra at Common Ground
and Courtney at French Country Cottage

Holly and Polly

...sounded so much better than Bullox and Baltimore...

but those are the names you get from a little boy
who brings home two chicks from school.

On the other hand,

they were pretty creative names from a young chap.

Here they were already showing their combs.

It's amazing how fast they grow.

In just two short months they were small wee hens

all feathered out.
We're pretty sure one is Rhode Island Red and the other may be a Leghorn.

Grandma didn't really need more hens,

but Bobo (and mom) strong-armed her into taking them

after he reared them a bit.

He's such a good boy, especially at school, 

we didn't want to let him down and say no.

He'd been banking on the second grade chicks all year long

and had his little heart set.

Here are the ladies the day they left...

all feathered out!

Bo Bo's Chicks

Yes, we're shameless chicken lovers.

Bobo was able to bring a few home from school 

a few months ago
when they hatched a batch in class

and he has been taking care of his babies ever since
all by himself.

Today, they made their way over to Grandma's
(as they are no longer tiny peeps)...

...but not before the kids (and  Dan and me, too)

had the opportunity to get a chicken-fix.

These are just a few of my chicken glamour shots.

I'll share more in the days to come!

Regards, A

Sharing with the Farm Blog Hop!

I'm Addicted...

...to flower bundles at Aldi.

When I go grocery shopping, I can get a half-dozen roses for $3.99.

It's a safe vice.

Then, after they fade out or start to droop, I'm still saving them.
I just snip off the buds and add them to some collection around the house...

Right now they're everywhere.

I have them in vintage brass bowls,

on my Remington,

                                             

on my Corona,

in mercury glass votives, 

in blue glass jars,

in green glass jars,

and clear glass bowls!

Reds, yellows, pinks, oranges, whites,
they're all beautiful to me.

By the way,

it's been a tough spring.

I've had a lot of distressing breathing problems
throughout much of May and some of June

with the spring allergens and humidity,
so much that I didn't feel like doing anything at all
and have been absent from my station.
My doc says I've developed adult asthma,
so that's lovely.

But I am finally starting to feel better

and will be posting more prairie love soon.
Thank you for being patient!

This romantic riot is for you!

Regards, A

Sharing with:

Funky Junk Interiors
French Country Cottage
Common Ground