Patio Sprucing and Table Refinishing

Here are a few before pictures of my back patio, it's looked like this for probably 8 years or so. I need to paint that garage wall and add something pretty to help camouflage the brick.

 

 

 

Not awful and use able, I just didn't love it anymore. Especially as the cushions had seen better days and some of the paint was peeling. I found a few sets I "liked" but didn't love and I wasn't ready to spend $1,000's on new stuff I wasn't head over heels for. I decided on a whim to see what I could find at my favorite goodwill and I hit the jackpot. For less than $50 I walked away with six chairs and a way sturdy table.

 

 

I threw on the trusty painter/project clothes and set to work cleaning, polying like crazy, painting, and refinishing.

 I also finally tacked the cute potting bench that was also a thrift find a few years ago. It is now party ready. I have since added a few extra flowers for color and still need to figure out what I want for a new top.

I actually really liked the natural stain on the chairs so just added outdoor poly and recovered the seats with outdoor fabric.

 

The table received several coats of white outdoor paint. It is already chipping a little as the weather just wasn't cooperating when I painted it. But I'm letting it go as I want it to look somewhat worn and weathered. I will re-evaluate and touch up as needed at the end of the summer.

A few candles, pots, and a fun galvanized tray and I'm ready for dinner parties.

 

Last year the neighbors almost threw these gorgeous chairs away. I rescued them from the curb and love the weathered/worn look. This is how I want the table eventually. A few fun SAMs pillows, a thrifted afghan, and it's ready for s'more making.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the whole patio blooming with flowers and herbs but this is as good as it gets for now. Amazing what a small investment and a lot of elbow grease can do to warm up a space and make it feel fun and new again. I for sure spent less than $150 total on the table project. Excited to set the table and host a dinner party.

Corn Crop

We have an amazing farmer that leases our farmland in Niobrara. This year is a corn year which excites me as I love watching the corn grow. I love how it looks as it reaches towards the sun.

Obviously this corn is freshly planted but in no time at all it will be waist high.

I keep thinking I should host my own version of Outstanding the Field during the corn years and carve out a dining spot in the midst of the field. Supply my guests can with a delicious farm fresh local menu served on china, drinks under the stars surrounded by corn and nature, and live music. Wouldn’t that be fun!

Gourmet Dinning in the Great Outdoors

I recently found the website for Outstanding in the Field and am in love with this idea/concept. This group travels the country setting up outdoor dinning rooms in spectacular settings and the local farmer brings their produce to create a meal and answers questions about their farm. The meal is paired with wine and each diner brings their own plate which adds to the eclectic feel of the event.



What a cool cool way to utilize the talents of local farmers and chefs, and enjoy the beautiful countryside.

This tour is scheduled to stop in Waukee, Iowa the 29th of July and I very much want to gather a few friends and attend. It is so unique and fun.


To me there is nothing better than country life, mix this with gourmet locally grown food, excellent wine, and good friends and you are in store for a very fun and relaxing evening.


I actually think this would be fun to do locally as well – we are staring a Farmer’s Market in Council Bluffs so maybe an addition to that would be a semi monthly dinner at the gorgeous farms in the area.

All photos from Outstanding in the field.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

Saturday afternoon my mom, Marissa, and I hosted a baby shower for Dani (oh yeah Justin helped also before he was banned from the girl party).


She is seven months pregnant and still tiny and cute as a button!


That is not what I will look like if I am ever seven months preggos. I will look more like a whale. The theme was “sugar and spice and everything nice, that is what little girls are made of” which turned out super cute. My mom made spice tea and baby rattle sugar cookies as favors.



It was held at three in the afternoon at the request of Dani so we just had snacks and desserts.

We tie dyed baby clothes for Dani as she loves tie dye

so figured why we were might as well get crafty and make a tablecloth and banner.


Of course we had to play some silly games – we had a word scramble, a measuring tape deal where you guessed the size of Danni’s tummy,


And a game where you had to guess the flavors of baby food based on smell.

Some were downright nasty!!! Ick, homemade baby food is the way to go folks.
I made a new friend, her name is Lilly and she was the prettiest smartest little girl ever (she is Danni’s niece). She turned three the next day so we had to find a present or two for her as well.

I am sure this is the first of many baby showers I will host.