Cleaning the Greenhouse....

Seems like it has  been a very busy spring.  

I knew it would be so I decided to tackle one project at a time.  

The first was my green house.

A couple years ago I shared my clean up with you. 

Well, a lot of stuff got piled in here last summer and fall.

Watch out!

Scary!

So the first weekend I carried everything in the middle out.

Sadly, I did not get done.

A storm was coming with 50 mile an hour wind gusts and rain so I covered the pile and hoped for the best.

I did not want to have to carry it all back in and back out again...

I had piled some pots to donate behind my shed.

The winds tossed them about a bit...

Round 2!

I had put some things back in that I did not to get wet.

So I started by carrying them out again....

I did make a couple dents in organization last weekend.

My husband always suggests going vertical when you need more space or storage.

Those little chairs were made by my great grandfather and I used them as a child.

My sweet husband helped to organize and move our tools.

My goal is to keep it neat but just in case....

The tools will be ready to grab right inside the door.

The space on the floor in front of them will be kept clear except for my little rolling cart.

Work continues...

Now that is a welcome site!

These shelves have not been clean in forever....

They are ready for some plants to be started...

I am thinking herbs this year...

I cleaned off my display shelves...again.

Pared down a few things.

It could use another go around for cleaning out but it is getting better.

We save pitchers and bottles for flower arrangements for the fair.

Again, to maximize storage, go UP....

The plant shelves look better.

Underneath I got rid of a bunch of stuff. 

 Now my extra glass scraps are there along with some pots.

This wall is much better. 

 I sorted through my books and kept my favorites.

There is a great mix of informational and some fun junking books.

My hat collection from high school is in here on the wall.

I also have my flower frogs on the shelves.

The green laundry bags up high hold light botanicals that I collect: pine cones, gourds, pieces of bark....

I gathered most of my clay pots in one spot.

Now they are handy and lovely under the potting bench my husband made me about 20+ years ago.

This is the cleanest the top has been forever.

Room to plant.

Or dream...

Or ponder...

Here are the display shelves from the other side.

I don't waste any space...

Above the door there are a few glass bottles.

I ended up putting one of the chairs I showed you before back here.

When I hung up some more bags of pine cones, the chair did not fit.

My chicken wire dress forms will sit here until I get them out into the garden.  

I have to start cleaning out the flower beds next.

Later I will show you a few of the collections that get stored in my green house.

Thanks for stopping by...

Sometimes A Collection Starts With 5....Hand Saws

It has been crazy around here.

  I will reveal why in the next few weeks.

I apologize for being a little MIA.

Earlier this summer I shared my apron collection.

It all started with one...

But sometimes a collection starts with 5.

That's how I am now collecting hand saws.

On one of my flea market trips this summer, I found 5 hand saws for $1 each.

Now, I could not turn away a bargain like that.

So my daughter and I dug out all 5 and put them in the little rolling red wagon we take on such journeys.

And home they came.

They have each seen their own share of work.

The handles are worn smooth with wear...

I had no idea whatsoever of what I would do with them when I loaded them in the wagon.

But a few ideas are dancing around in my brain now.

My husband was given first choice when I got home.

He kindly declined.

At first I was a bit disappointed.

If he had chosen even one, I would have had a reason for such a strange impulse buy.

Nope.

On my own here.

I do love the wear on the handles and the blades.

I always think of the stories a piece holds but cannot tell.

So it looks like I now collect hand saws too.

What odd little things do you collect and how did it all begin?

Thanks for stopping by...

                   Linking up with these great blogs.

Every Collection Starts With One... Aprons

My husband's grandmother was the sweetest woman.

Before she died, she gave me one of her aprons.

I never wore it, but it hung in my kitchen at our first house and does the same in our home now.

Soon, it had friends...

And like all sweet souls, they attracted more friends...

And more friends...

And more friends...

And so on...

Each one has a sweet little personality of its own.

I loved the sweet rosebud fabric in this one.

This one was well-loved and I got a kick out of the ruffle along the bottom.

More pretty pink rosebuds...and a pocket.

This one seems like a cocktail party apron.

The sheerness seems impractical, but I loved those birds.

How sweet are they?

This one is extra long to go the whole way around the wearer.

See?

It has the button hole to pass the tie through.

I love the colors, fabric and tiny pockets on this one.

Fun diagonal detailing...

This one reminds me of those old fabric wall calendars.

Fun fabric and rick rack made this one impossible to pass up.

I like polka dots.

And this one has been well-used.

I can imagine what heavy items started to pull the stitching.

Maybe the wearer tucked her hands in there often and that pulled away at the seams.

This one just epitomizes aprons to me...

Great colors and fun strawberries.

It has a few stains that have not come out after repeated washings.

Each stain has a story, a secret I will never know.

The crisp white of this one is lovely.

See those darling blue birds on the pocket?

Almost all my aprons except for the first one and this next one were picked up at flea markets for $1 each.

This red gingham one I bought at a church craft show.

 The lady selling them had not sold any.

I knew it was a gingham friend for Grandma's first orange gingham apron.

I also loved that the woman made aprons...

It seemed so nostalgic.

Most of my collection tie around the waist.

  I have just a couple that have a chest covering.

This one is a child's apron.

The only one in my collection.

I thought this one was a sweetheart...

Sorry...

I could not resist.

And this last one is so practical.

Like any collection, it begins with one.

I have them all hanging on a little hook rack on the side of my fridge.

In the summer I take them all down and wash and hang them on the line.  

I hope you enjoy seeing them today.

What special things do you collect?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.