Mom...really...really mom?

"Seriously mom, the date on this magazine is 1998."

which I replied...

"Well at least it's not 1995 like this one"

which she replied...

"Mom...really...really mom?"

(with that face and tone of a precious preteen)

That is somewhat of a recent exchange between my kiddo and I, not word for word, but you get the picture. Okay I will admit I seem to have this slight, well...maybe more than a slight habit of buying magazines.

Not just any magazines mind you, specifically magazines devoted to home decor, home styling, flea marketing, trash to treasure, DIY, yard and gardening, etc. etc.

A little history...

Years ago I studied home interior design via a correspondence school home study program. It was fun and I really did learn a lot. The time was before fancy design programs were available on the computer,  (I actually bought one of those programs recently, and that is another story), so I got into the habit of picking up magazines to search for ideas and colors for lesson projects.

If I remember correctly I think my first subscription was for Country Living and after that I was hooked. On my behalf though, while I may pick up an occasional magazine at the store...I only have one (1) actual subscription right now. So I can proudly say I don't blow a lot of the household budget on those pesky subscriptions that seem to always have renewals coming due.

It's probably worse buying them at the store...

Have you seen the price of some of those magazines lately? I refuse to pay $9.99 on a single issue of a magazine no matter how enticing it may be or what it may have in it. That being said, it doesn't mean I haven't caved in and actually done it, and then promptly suffered from a major case of buyers remorse.

Back to my current collection

At one time I had stacks and stacks of magazines that if I had to guess, probably would have piled up several feet high and several feet wide. So in my defense I have sent most of them on their way to the recycling bin, never mind that some of them probably dated back to before recycling was cool.

Honestly, I have tried to do what some organizing experts out there have suggested. Tear out pictures and articles and then put them in an alphabetized folder. But where is the fun in that? And yes I tend to read those magazines about "creative storage solutions."

There are times when I would much rather sit with a hot cup of coffee or tea and browse thru those magazines for the millionth time, than watch mindless television programming...unless of course my hubby isn't home and I can get away with watching marathon episodes on HGTV or DIY. (That's another story.)

So now the trick is to balance my time and not spend too much time lost in those magazines, continue weeding some of them out and being reasonable about how many I really need to keep. Those crafty projects made out of rolled magazine pages are looking more and more interesting, if I could only bring myself to tear them apart.

And then...what to do about the time I spend browsing thru all of the fabulous blogs on the internet that cover all of the same subjects as those darn magazines and then some...SIGH...what's a creative minded, junk obsessed mom to do?

 This is just a little bit of what I have left, so I think I'm doing pretty well.

Fifty or so magazines take up much less space than several hundred.

As for my kiddo...

I think it's time we go thru the cabinet drawers in our front room that are crammed with all of her copies of Tiger Beat and Bop, then we'll see what she has to say.

How have magazines and the internet (especially blogging) affected your ways of searching for design inspiration? Please share I would love to hear about it.

Have a great day!

Toodles

Warning Construction Zone

For the 20+ years we have lived in our home we have wanted and needed to build some kind of a workshop or garage.

Picture over 25 years of married bliss and accumulation in a 1700 sq. ft. manufactured home and you will get the idea. I promise I have gotten rid of things over the years but I swear there is just never enough room, no matter how creative I get with organization.

So after much thought and planning we finally made the decision to build a workshop. A glorious 24x36 pole barn shop with 11 ft. sidewalls.

Ground Breaking Day

Digging the holes for the poles

 Trusses are up - starting on the framing

...and yes this is the time when the excitement really kicks in, as we can see it taking shape. Visions of where everything is going to go start popping into our heads. 

All dressed in it's metal siding, waiting for the door...and
ripe for some personalization.

The corner I have claimed as my own.

In this shot the floor is still drying after a water bath by the contractor. I have a set of awesome cabinets to re-purpose from my nephew's kitchen remodel. I am going to install them in this corner to make a project work area. Now to either build or go on the hunt for a work table. I wonder what kind of inspiration I can find from my fellow bloggers, guess I will be paying them a visit today.

Let the fun begin...moving in...personalizing and getting all of those

projects started that have been on hold waiting for this glorious space!

I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to be able to have workspace to spread out and work, work, work. No more taking over the backyard and deck, no more scrambling to deal with the weather when I have a painting project going on outside, and the wind decides to blow or the rain sneaks in.

It's a happy day, I am truly blessed that we have been able to do this after so many years of wishing and wanting.

Do you have a special work space where you like to create? Please share I would love to hear about it!

Have a great day!

Toodles

Wandering In Toodlefetties Yard

Finally here in Central Oregon we are seeing some nice weather, still a little on the cool side for June but the sun is shining so you won't hear me complain.

Since it was such a nice morning I decided to get out in my yard and snap a few photos to share with you. When everything turns green and the flowers start blooming I just can't resist getting outside to enjoy it.

 This rusty old metal tool carrier has been hanging around for awhile

so I decided to add a few flowers and put it in a flower bed.

This particular day the sun was shining, the wind wasn't blowing and the birds were chirping and singing like crazy little feathered lunatics...

One of those little feathered families built this inside the horses shelter

Momma bird was a little more than annoyed at me for getting so close to her grassy abode. She kept fluttering from the Maple tree to the fence holding a big old bug in her mouth. I tried to get a picture of her, but she just wouldn't cooperate and stay still. I can't tell how many babies are snuggled in there but they sure make a racket when they are hungry.

The lilacs are blooming and smell so yummy!

 An early view of part of my garden, recently planted and...

things are starting to sprout, these will be big old fat tasty radishes...

  and I look forward to digging these potatoes.

 Miniature purple irises from starts that were given to me years ago by a dear friend who

has since passed away...they are very special.

 There's always a rusty element somewhere in my yard, like this old pitch fork

in this flower box nestled in the strawberry plants.

 My daughter's swing hanging in the big old poplar tree out back.

 These sweet little violets were the first sign of color this spring...

they are always a joy to see in the early spring.

 I'm still working on this little spot on the back deck...

don't you just love the little blue table?

I picked it up at a yard sale last weekend and the look on my hubby's face was priceless when he asked..."what is that for?" After this many years it cracks me up when he still has to ask these things.

I think it's perfect just the way it is so I will probably just give it a coat of clear sealer to give it a little boost of protection from the elements.

 and as usual something old, metal and a tad bit rusty!

I can't think of any other way I would rather spend my day, than out in my yard or garden. It's peaceful and relaxing...what fun things in your yard do you enjoy, please share I would love to hear about it.

Have a great day!