A make-shift fireplace for my gathering. I actually found four masons that came and gave me an estimate for my fireplace. Some tried to talk me into gas, others a wood stove. It will be tiny because of the mantel, only 26 inches wide. Since it's not a standard size, it has to be done by a stone mason and they are very expensive. The first estimated 18-20 k!!! I've gotten it down quite a bit, but will still be costly, but worth it. It will be enjoyed by guests and add value to the farmhouse.
Living in a gap yields abundant greens for holiday decorating. I spent the afternoon filling containers with greens that smell like a fresh cut Christmas tree.
Fairy lights add the finishing touch.
The entryway has faux stems, greens and pinecones with icicle lights.
Still adding lights to this tree, a work in progress, but had to post this photo of Timber. Inside the tree is up, the table set for a small gathering of neighbors invited for some Christmas cheer.
Brought out some vintage embroideries in fall colors.
A "new" vintage lamp shade with touches of gold.
Our Labor Day weekend project, spreading gravel and making paths.
Like this beige gravel much better than the gray.
Before
After
This side path to the kitchen door just came to me. I needed a way to use these square cement blocks that were here: recycle, reuse, repurpose! Before
After
Have also been putting in mondo grass hair plugs, replacing the weed lawn that everyone parked their trucks on. Hopefully this spring it will be thick like the rest of the lawn.
I have to stop buying bushes, trees and plants. I have so much to plant this fall. These are for the farmhouse, a huge pussy willow bush, one of two red crepe myrtles and a bush I know nothing about, but when I saw it had to have it, a pink snowberry bush.
This summer I have been going through cabinets full of old magazines. I look through each one before taking them to the library to pass onto others. One House Beautiful from the early '90s had an article on the founder of Hickory Chair and his home in the NC mountains, and I saw this fireplace! Now I don't have to describe to the stone mason what I want, I can show him a photo. This, just a smaller version.
As with all trades people I have dealt with on getting things done, Mark the stone mason has been saying he is coming for weeks, supposed to be here Wednesday or Thursday this week, but the weather may put a stop to that. On the main road into town I watched a stone mason build this wall, so I finally decided to stop to talk to the owners and get his name and number, just in case I never see Mark.
I went up, knocked on the door and a really nice guy was more than happy to give me Jason's number and tell me about his work and his log home he has been restoring. He moved from Miami and he and his wife have been renovating slowly, like us. I found out that Jason's father had built the original stone wall which needed repair and that he is Mark's cousin!! UGH, stone masons run in the family.
I told him about the log home Bob and I moved from Maryland to Georgia, that it was 1883, this home is from the 1900s, hence the round logs.
I didn't go in, but through the front door you could see these beautiful glass chandeliers. He had two dobermans and cats in the room, so that's why I was not invited in, one of his dobbies had an injured paw and was resting.
After leaving the log home I went past the Tryon Arts and Crafts School that was having a yard sale. I bought a group of faux bois branches with greenery and pinecones that will be used during the holidays. I left a smaller bunch there and decided to go back the next day, only to find they had been sold.
BUT!! I spied these andirons in great condition, only $10! When I went to pay, it was half price day! SCORE! These will be perfect for my fireplace in the farmhouse.
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