Perfection vs. Progress

The deck was looking really rough. I knew it needed a deep cleaning this spring, so I started researching the best method. There are plenty of cleaners out there, and some folks use power washers to get the job done. But our deck is getting old, and a bit spongy in places. I don't think power washing is a good option.

Simple Green is a good cleaner if you want something that's not so toxic. I'm using this outdoors, where the birds and critters and flowers are, and I want to keep them safe. 

The railings were so dirty, thanks to birds and squirrels and raccoons and trees.

And the stairs were pretty dirty thanks to Miss Muddy Paws.

It's a sunny day with a light breeze, perfect for the job. I got to work.

As they would say on Spongebob Square Pants...

...three hours later!

After a LOT of buckets of hot soapy water and scrubbing, it's looking so much better.

Is it perfect? Nope. Is it close to perfect? Not even! But it is much better, and now we can put out the rugs and patio furniture and enjoy the outdoor space once again.

I've said it before and I will say it again. Perfection is the enemy of progress.

My husband and I were doing some pruning of dead limbs and bushes at my Mom's house this week, and it was making my brothers so nervous.

"I don't know. Maybe we should call a tree service. Maybe we should have that Bradford Pear Tree taken down. Maybe we should wait."

My answer?

We can do that later. But in the meantime, let's make it look a lot better now!

Every job does not have to be perfect. It just has to show inprovement.

Stitching projects: don't wait for the perfect finishing technique. Just do it!

Card making: smudge? Put an enamel dot there!

Musical piece you are struggling with? Just keep practicing, slow down, and do your best.

Because if you tell yourself "Maybe I should wait", well, chances are likely it won't get done.

My back is sore, but in a good way. I think I made some progress today, and that makes me happy.

PSA: May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month

 

It's time for my yearly Public Service Announcement. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. And from what I've been reading, the tick season has been in full force this spring. Reported cases of Lyme disease are on the rise, too.

Here's a really helpful chart that has some great information:

Everyone knows that deer carry the ticks. But did you know that field mice are one of the biggest carries of the tick that causes Lyme disease?

And because we live along the woods and the creek, we have plenty of both.

A few things I do to be safe:

*I wear a hat when I'm working in the yard.

*I take a shower after yard work.

*I don't wander into the woods too often.

*I treat Jemma with Nexgard Plus and check her frequently.

*If I'm hiking, I wear the stinking Deep Woods Off. Yes, the chemicals are nasty. But it's the only thing that truly repels ticks.

And just because she's pretty (and I don't want ticks to get the last word), here's one more photo of our girl.

Stay safe, cafe friends!

Patriotic Decor

 

Are you feeling patriotic this year? I'm planning on celebrating our country's 250th birthday with some red, white and blue...in the garden, and in the home.

Walmart has a great collection from My Texas Home, and it's adorable. But so much of it sold out immediately. Waah! They had the sweetest pillows and striped buntings, but they were gone before you could blink.

I was at the store today, and almost bought this wreath. But then I asked myself "Can't I make something close with my wreath at home?"

And here's my knockoff!

I cut some strips of chambray with pinking shears, added a few more lengths of ribbon and lace.

This little stitching project has to be more than ten years old, but I still think it's sweet.

I didn't leave Walmart completely empty handed. I purchased these floral stems at a great price.

It's a bit early to be thinking of summery things, especially when you consider that we won't even reach 50 outside today. I was just ready for a change.

When you find a classic in your stash

 

I was rooting around in my cardstock cupboard the other day when I stumbled upon this pack of musical patterned paper from Papertrey Ink. How old is this pack? Ten years? Maybe more. And still, it's a classic!

I wanted to use these fun papers. I decided the music would go well with singing birds, so I pulled out this stamp and stencil set from Concord and 9th.

First up, big birds on 5 by 7 card bases.

Next up, little birds. One on a 5 by 7 card base, and the other on a standard A2 size.

Happy birds for happy occasions.

When life is hard

 

Some seasons in life are just hard. It seems like one wave after another comes crashing down. The death of a loved one. Aging parents. A loved one's heartbreak. Distance from one's children. Announcements and upheaval. 

Can I just get a break? Please, God.

It all became too much today. 

So Jemma and I sat on the deck, soaking up the sunshine in peaceful contemplation. 

Just for an hour.

And in that hour we saw...

...deer grazing in the woods.

A rafter of wild turkeys.

So many birds.

Goldfinch...

..and mourning doves playing on the deck.

Blue jays and cardinals and sparrows.

We heard the trill of the redwing blackbirds in the marsh. We saw the squirrels and chipmunks scurrying through the yard.

And I was filled with so much gratitude for that moment. For our home. For the beauty that is all around us every day. For spring and green grass and leaves and flowering trees.

I don't know what the future holds. But I know that the Lord of all Creation is good, and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Church Rummage Sale Finds

 

Who doesn't love a church rummage sale?

The church down the road from us has one every spring, and I try to go if I can remember.

Last Friday, I popped in early, maybe an hour after it started, and found some great deals.

The first thing I found were these two end tables. My son, Sam, is still trying to furnish his new apartment, and I was pretty sure these would match the coffee table he picked up at a resale shop. Sturdy and solid, and $30 for the pair? Sold!

On a table filled with office and stationery supplies, I found these two brand new notepads from Wrendale Designs. Wrendale is a British company with adorable artwork. These sell at high end boutiques for at least $8 each. And I got them for $1. I can always use cute notepads!

I've been collecting tole trays for a while. They make great artwork on walls, too. This one was in great condition, and I liked the color. These trays can sell for $10-$100, depending on the condition. I got this for $1!

And because I like tole and sweetly painted things, I couldn't pass up this vintage mantle clock. I put in a new battery, and it works! $1!

This is the third copy of this cookbook that I have purchased this year. Hollyhocks and Radishes. Maybe it's a Michigan thing (because it is based on a farm stand and the recipes are all from the U.P.), but when I found it the first time, I was so enchanted with the delightful drawings and stories. And whenever I see it, I buy it to gift it to someone. $1.

Sam is excited to take these tables home with him the next time he's in town. And I'm excited to find such great bargains.

The weather is warming, and soon it will be garage sale season. Do you like to shop at them? Do you like to have sales? The selling is always a lot of work, but it can pay off well, too. I had one last spring, and managed to clear out everything from our storage facility. 

I won't have enough for a sale this year, but I always donate to my local resale shop. I have a box of books that are ready to find a new home, too.

Hope your spring is full of treasures!

More Creations With My Make-Do Card Kit

 

I was inspired by the Catherine Pooler Trail Mix release to pull out some oldies but goodies and do some "make-do" crafting.

Critter Crew is a fun stamp and die set of woodland animals that pairs perfectly with outdoorsy cards.

I made this one for my son, who hit a raccoon while driving on the highway last weekend. Sad story! It's hard to avoid the critters in Michigan, especially in the spring when everyone is waking from their winter slumber. (That fat raccoon did some damage to his car, too!)

For this card, I added the moon from "Shine Like Stars".

The card above features the whole crew! I love that sentiment: Unplug and Go Outside! It's from an old CP Canvo set called Go Outside.

And this card features the other sentiment from that same set: Life is out there, don't miss it!

I used old Papertrey Ink branch frame dies ( square and rectangle) for all of these cards.

Next up: Night time themed cards!

This set uses images from that same CP Canvo set that I simply fussy cut. Don't you love that starry paper with the constellations?

And this card uses a sentiment from Shine Like Stars with the stamp set Scenic View.

So, looking back over the cards I created with my Make Do kit, here's what I found as substitutes from my own stash that I swapped in place of new items from Catherine Pooler:

Critter stamps and dies

Camper stamps and dies

Tent stamps

Sentiment stamps

Branch frame dies

Enamel Dots

Rhinestone stars

Background cover plate die

Outdoorsy nature-inspired papers

Total saved: over $275

I'm sure there are stampers out there who may be new to the craft and they may need all the new things. And sometimes, there's a release that has so many new-to-me products that I find myself wanting it all, too. But there is a real feeling of accomplishment when I can make do with what I have.

And now I have a good stash of outdoorsy, nature-inspired cards that will work well for the men in my life, too.