Steptoe & Co

Good afternoon dear friends & readers,

While I am more than happy to be called "Mrs Steptoe" & to cart home everybodies throw-out junk  "treasures",

I realised that the section was beginning to look a little like Steptoes Yard

It was time for a sort-out & a clean-up after the winter . . .

plus I have a group wanting to eat their lunch on my deck tomorrow, so I needed to use some elbow grease  :-)

The birds really like my candlelabra for perching on ... but they insist on leaving me little "calling cards" on the table underneath

A quick trip to Cambridge to this lovely store here acquired me 2 nice lengths of Oilcloth to freshen the area up a little

Even the fat fluffys old kennel got a scrub-up & a nice dotty piece for the top

Leeanne do you recognise the wire basket??

The fluffies "house" is a great height if I need to use the hot water Urn for my groups - plus I dont want to get rid of it in case one day another fat fluffy decides to come & live with us 

The Mr tells me "its all very well you collecting all this derelict old stuff but you need to keep it in good condition too - this place is looking more & more like Steptoes yard!!!"

The day I decided to scrub & clean everything I had 6 lots of customers (this is a busy day for me) ...

One lady walked up the driveway & announced "Oh you have a garden full of weeds you realise" 

 "Um, sorry ???" I asked her

"Oh all these grannys bonnets, & foxgloves & poppies ... you realise they are just weeds ... they will self sow everywhere & you wont be able to get rid of them!!!"

"Um, actually I quite like them & often plant them out" I explained

"well you will be sorry mark my words ... anything that self sows into my vege garden is a weed as far as I'm concerned ... even those poppies you've got there..."

She cant mean my beautiful poppies - surely NOT??

"Um I actually planted those poppies myself,  but thankyou for your advice" now buggar off!!!   (sorry I didnt actually say that - but I did think it)

The Mr tells me when I scrub the house I look like a Homeless person who has been caught in a shower of rain (I get more water on me than the actual house) - I think the customers that came thought I was the hired help

Shane these are some of the seeds I have sent you  :-)

My little witchey was looking tatty, so she got a coat of Hot Chilli Paint

Beautiful speckled foxglove .... I sure HOPE these "weeds" self sow everywhere in my garden !!!!

I have been dehydrating oranges from our tree to make my citrus potpourri - the house always smells lovely when I do this job

When dried (this takes 8 - 9 hours) I sit them on cane trays, in my hotwater cupboard for a few days to finish them off ... then I make up my next batch of potpourri

Lean in close & take a really big sniff  

All year round, like a squirrel, I gather bits & pieces to make this up

Some of the wooden bits I was working on last post have been finished  

a rather tatty looking wooden stool/table got a revamp  . . . 

This little 50c Op Shop tray (below)

The wooden basket is still a work-in-progress

turned out rather lovely I thought

And continuing on with my bathroom "budget-makeover" I found an old wooden shelf in the woodshed which I gave a rough coat of paint & a rough sand back ... I wanted a really rustic effect

which I think I acheived 

(incidently the Mr asked me "when are you going to finish off that shelf in the bathroom, its looking a bit rough ??!!!")

Yep, rough . . .  just the way I wanted it  :-)

Well folks best I get "on my bike" & finish some more chores,

I hope the coming week brings you crafty ways & happy days,

and watch out for those "weeds" out & about on your travels  :-)

thanks so much for stopping by,

much love/hugs/friendship,

Julie