Cottage Garden Makeover.....Before and After.

When we bought the cottage 2 1/2 years ago,  it had been used primarily as a rental.  Other than very weedy grass and some cedar trees, there was nothing in the garden at all. 

This is how it looked in the real estate listing.  Just some lawn, which was completely dead when we viewed it, and a lovely large porch with some very odd posts????.  The whole deck is composite, as are the railings and the siding is vinyl.  I wanted to make it less "plastic" and more in keeping with the area.

We overlook a marina which is on Georgian Bay.....there are amazing cliffs all around and the area is famous for it's flagstone.

It is a very rocky area.  I wanted something indigenous to the area and something that would keep the weeds under control.  It also had to create a sitting area where we could add some greenery to give us some privacy as we face the marina and there is also a public footpath between us and the lake.

The contractor really wanted me to do interlocking, but that seemed far too urban and far too likely to get full of weeds in the cracks.  He was very much for doing a uniform rectangular patio. I went to his stone yard and saw this gorgeous, massive flagstone and knew this was it. In the end I had to provide him with drawings that I did, as he couldn't visualise what I wanted. Aparently it is hard to get these large pieces of flagstone, but he managed to get enough from the local quarry.

We created a random patio from the flagstone, leaving gravel between the cracks to allow the septic bed to breath (the patio covers part of the field).   We also left a gap on the one side to add a small garden to break up the mass of stone. My Gracie Girl follows me everywhere and is also deaf, so she doesn't hear me calling her to get out of the picture.

We used large armour stone right in front of the porch to give it a looser, more haphazard appearance.  We removed the plastic white trellis covering the underside of the porch and used cedar boards instead.

I really wanted it to look like we had cleared the area and the stone was an existing element....

I planted some low lying shrubby plants such as ornamental grasses which remain wispy but give some privacy.

I made this little path for Mooch because he used to walk right through the garden to get to the grassy bit.  The plantings had to be rugged as this area gets really harsh winters....

We left a bit of grass for Gracie....it actually is more of a weed mix.  Much to our neighbors chagrin, we refused to use roundup in our yard.  They have a golf green lawn....as least they did, there is now a pesticide and herbicide ban in Ontario.........

With the exeption of a couple of Canadian Hemlock trees, all of the plantings came from my city garden.  I split all of my perennials and took them to the cottage.

Here is the after........(that unused satellite dish is going to go).  The ruls is, whenever you go to the lake you have to bring back a stone for the garden.....

And here was the before.............

 

Strawberry and Rhubarb Pie IceCream--REALLY!!

I have a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker and have loads of fun making different kinds of ice cream.  One of my favourites is Rhubarb Pie Ice Cream.  Any kind of pie will do (well not a steak and kidney).  Apple pie, rhubarb pie, pumpkin pie........cherry pie........You get the baked fruit in the delicious syrupy sauce and then chunks of flakey pastry...or you can use a crumb topped pie and have apple crumble pie ice cream.....

It really is so easy.  Here's the recipe.

2 cups whipping cream (not whipped)

1 cup homo milk

2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla.

 1/2  - 3/4 cup Whatever bits and pieces you want to throw in...

Mix the first 4 ingredients together

Pour into frozen ice cream maker bucket

Turn on for 25 minutes.

Break up a piece of pie and toss it in for another 5 minutes

Place in tupperware in freezer.

You can add anything you like.  I save bits of brownies, vanilla cake,  cookie doughs. 

You can also use your favourite chocolate bar, just break it up and chuck it in.  At the cottage, my neighbour's grandson brings me over Crispy Crunch bars to make him ice cream with.

Faffing Around at the Cottage

In serious need of a fresh coat of paint....

There's nothing I like more than faffing around at the cottage.  The cottage had a redo by the previous owners, covering the wood floors with vinyl tile and the entire cottage was treated to vinyl siding.  While it is maintanance free, I much prefer an older more authentic look.  I have been working steadily to AGE it.

I bought a couple of pairs of used shutters from a thrift shop and hung them on the windows and one door.  They had the perfect amount of scrubby-ness and peeling paint.  There were some nails sticking out and I hung some of my old crusty shells on them.

 

This wire basket was a prop I used to use when staging houses.  It now sits outside filled with beach BITS...... 

 

My inlaws came for lunch so I made tomato soup with fresh Ontario tomatoes....I had a bit of a rant in the grocery store as the only fresh garlic they had came from China...I tried to discuss rationally why here in Ontario where we grow an entire Winters supply of onions and garlic, should they be selling Chinese garlic.......The manager just shrugged and I am sure they were all were thinking.."Those damn city folk and their organic schmanic crap".

I dug out my vintage cutlery......

And I set the table with my vintage poppy tablecloth which was a gift from my friend Deb.

I planted my herb garden in vintage sap buckets......

Had to finally pull some weeds from the garden...

I planted my geraniums....I like the old fashioned oned with the varigated leaves and red blooms that my grandmother use to plant....

Friends have dubbed the cottage "The Beach House" and bought me that stripey sign.....

and then last year the local liquor store started stocking a wine called "The Beach House" which has now become our "HOUSE" Wine........

Introducing.....Tamarah from Shabby Vintage Junk Blog

Tamarah's own home....doesn't she just have a way with display....

What I LOVE about blogging is that it enables you to reach outside of your box and into other peoples lives, homes and countries, and increases your exposure to new and varied styles, topics and people.  I read and enjoy such a variety of blogs, ranging from pink and frilly to sharp and crusty.....

Today I wanted to introduce you to a fabulous blog Shabby Vintage Junk and the person behind this wonderfully quirky and always interesting blog....Tamarah.  You all know that buying salvage, vintage and shabby chic is great fun, great for the whole recycling initiative, and a super and affordable way to make your home interesting. BUT, being able to SPOT the treasure, RE-PURPOSE it and DISPLAY it, in a way that makes your home fabulous and not look like it's own flea market, is where Tamarah has a real gift.  

Look at the art of display here in this cupboard built by her husband.  Note the "gouping" of collectables...the quilts, the jars, the clocks and bowling pins....This is the secret to not getting a junky cluttered look......

I met Tamarah through her blog and was one of her first followers and have been a devoted one ever since.  Why??? because her blog is real and authentic and Tamarah has a quirky charm and and a genuine passion for old "BITS". There's no Fluff and Frou Frou here. She spends most weekends knee deep in thrift shops, flea markets and scouring in and for what she calls "HARD RUBBISH".

One of her incredible finds....I don't know how she does it...if I tried this, my guests would say..."some kid left their scooter in your living room", ....but in Tamarah's house it just works......

Every weekend, Tamarah gathers her found treasures and posts them on her blog.  This is where you can see just how good her "eye" is.  She spots interest and life in things you would never imagine bringing home...but when you see them all pulled together for her photo, they make sense and you realise what she spotted.

An example of her weekly stash...(love those cubbies)

Tamarah loves old, shabby, scruffy, antique, vintage and scrubby junk so much she is pulling together an event in August in Australia (Melbourne) modelled on the Junk Bonanza & Barn House Boys from the USA.  She is gathering 15 vendors for the Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza.  How I would love to attend, but since I am in Canada, I can't.  But it is a fabulous idea.....one I am sure many blog readers and bloggers would love to see in their neighborhood.

 This new townhouse could easily be an old vintage cottage....her decor is fun and so interesting.

Anyway, I decided to do a little intereview with Tamarah so you can get to know her better and see her gorgeous home and her "ShabbyVintageJunk" style.

Q. How did you get into junk, antiques etc.?

A.......Hmmmmmm....I found this question difficult to answer simply because it seems as if I've always loved & lived vintage so pinpointing where it all began took some thinking....!!

I remember as a child spending my Christmas holidays at my grandparents....When my Poppy went to work, Nanna & I would watch playschool & afterwards we'd 'investigate' the trunk under the bed in the sleepout where she used to store her Treasures....Used wrapping paper, empty toilet rolls, balls of wool salvaged from old jumpers, metal bottle tops from soft drinks, peanut butter & vegemite lids, buttons & the 'binders'....Perkins paste & brown string....!

This trunk was a 'making do' box & Nanna & I would while away the hours making magical things from the scraps it housed....I guess you could say it all began right there with my Nanna....Laughing & playing with simple utilitarian objects creating lasting memories out of bits of tat....!!

Q. What type of a house do you live in, and how do you make the vintage work here?

A. We bought our single story Townhouse just after it had been built 3 1/2 years ago....It's our first home & is one of four sitting at the back of the block invisible from the street....While I ADORE the privacy, the contemporary style is a definite departure for me having always dreamed of buying a red brick California Bungalow style home....!!

With one long rectangular living space, 3 x small bedrooms ALL the same size, bathroom with no external windows, tiny laundry & a single loo, I've tried to keep my look reasonably'minimal'....I borrow a little from each of my FAVE design styles - shabby chic, vintage & junk which works well with a grubby man who thinks nothing of sitting down on the lounge covered in dust & who manages to leave finger prints on everything he touches as well as two fur babies....I've given up on being able to decorate with white, relying on dark surfaces with splashes of red & green to 'hide' the reality....hahahaha....!

I trade 'accessories' in & out of each room to add layers & to change things up....Milk & soft drink bottles are used as vases....Galvanised ANYTHING, wrought iron pieces, wooden moulds etc....By rotating smaller pieces & moving them about, I can create the appearance of an ever evolving 'look' without the need to change out my bigger pieces....!

Q. Money no object, what would you be doing?

A.  Oh this is an EASY one....If we didn't have a mortgage, I would travel around the US & up into Canada during the summer months buying up all the neat junk I could at the best shows & ship back here to Australia where I would host the most jaw dropping sales ever....During our warmer months I would live & breathe hard rubbish....I would collect pieces, take them back to my warehouse where I'd be busy recreating, repurposing & reinventing....** sigh ** Yes....That's what I'd do....!

Q. What have you bought that was the "best thing or things"

A. hmmmmm....This is hard because the majority of my pieces have been found on the side of the road in the hard rubbish for FREE & funnily enough, they are the pieces I value the most....The CHEAPEST Treasure I've ever bought was my smallest Vintage Terrier in my blog header....He's a Steiff & I scored him for a dollar from a sweet US Ebay Seller who point blank refused to take any more money, advising I won him fair & square....His name (the Terrier that is) appropriately enough is 'Lucky' & I ADORE him to pieces....!!

5. You have a special event coming up. Tell us about the extravaganza.

A. I'm so excited about the upcoming Shabby Vintage Junk Extravaganza....It's being held at the Ashburton Scout Hall here in Melbourne on Friday 13th & Saturday 14th August....15 vendors will be putting on a show the likes of which I don't believe has been seen here before....My inspiration for this event are the Junk Bonanza & Barn House Boys shows in the US, albeit on a smaller scale however, I believe it's time to shake things up here in OZ....Personally speaking, while I LOVE a good car boot sale, trash & treasure market & swap meet, there should be more to a vintage buying experience than perusing tables of unimaginatively displayed items on a trestle table....!!

The Extravaganza will be a visual feast which I'm hoping will create a buzz in our little vintage world & create opportunities for each of the very talented vendors participating....!!

The logistics of putting this together while working full time in a high stress industry has certainly kept me on my toes however, I'm enjoying the challenge & can't wait to see all the pieces come together....I wish you could be here Chania....!!

Would you not LOVE to sit on these chairs at this table for a glass of wine?

Tamarah was into Demijohns and Carboys (doesn't that sound awful...they are those giant wine making bottles you see here) long before Pottery Barn was selling them for $229.00.

So,  please pop on over to visit Tamarah's blog.  You will be fascinated by her finds and her home.

Click here to go to Tamarah's blog.

A wee note from Tamarah...

(I agree wholeheartedly about blogging bringing together friendship and chamaraderie........)     

                                                        

"I'd like to thank you Chania for the opportunity to be featured on your LOVELY blog....When I received your email this morning I almost fell off the bed with my laptop....In all seriousness though, I would like to say how very happy I am for you to have 'found' me & for reaching out & offering your friendship & support....I see it written all the time in blogs all over the world about the camaraderie blogging offers & I can only add that it's SO true....If you are a lurker, lurk no more....Jump in with us & join the fun.....!!

                                                           Thanks so much TAMARAH

Garden Party

I decided this weekend to have an impromptu dinner party to welcome back some neighbors who moved away 9 months ago and missed the neighborhood so much they moved back!  (Please excuse the wrinkley tablecloths.  I DONT iron my linens)

The weather was great.......my Muskoka chairs freshly painted in a color inspired by my favourite OPI nail polish color "An Affair in Red Square"...........

The flowers were blooming and vibrant.....  I put out the word there was to be a garden party.... and pronto, we had 15 confirmed guests.....By 5 pm, they had all bought wonderful wines and thrown together cheeses trays, pasta salads, proccuito wrapped breadsticks and I had bought burgers and sausage and made potato salad and a couple of cakes.  It's not hard to throw together a last minute party if you keep it simple.  I always accept offers to bring something and I buy pre-cut veggies and hummus and pitas for appetizers. I bought the burgers already made into patties and sliced up big wedges of tomatoes and onions and cheese to go on top.

We have a long thin patio that is far better suited to entertaining than my dining room.  I can easily seat 25-30 people along here..

We hauled out the fold down tables........

I "decorated" with pots of geraniums, my vintage silverware and pink cotton napkins.....

I used purple veronica and chartreuse hosta in old milk bottles for centerpieces.....

.........The locust tree in the yard drops little green buds when the weather gets hot......it looked like I had sprinkled green confetti over the table. People thought I had done it on purpose until they left with their hair full.   I had to invert the wine glasses so we didn't drink the bits....

We put up the hammock for those who needed to lounge..... 

 I use old sugar bags for pillow cases on the hammock pillows. 

 My Gracie girl just wouldn't get out of the picture....she knows when those tables come out that food will be dropping all night.....(that map isn't usually on the fence...it was a gift from our neighbor...a garage sale find and map of our cottage area)

 

I picked some "Sum and Substance" hosta leaves and petunias from the garden...no need to buy flowers when the garden is bursting..... 

I decorated the cake with pansies from the garden..... This is a favourite cake of my friends and neighbors. It is the Cupcake Cafe Vanilla cake and I posted the recipe here.  We all just call it Ky's birthday cake as it is my daughter's favourite cake.  It makes a huge cake.  I served it with a bowl of fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries lightly sprinkled with organic sugar to extract the juices and bring out the flavours.   All you need for these 2 deserts is flour, sugar, vanilla, chocolate, buttermilk and about 5 lbs of butter......

 I also served this dense gorgeous chocolate cake.  You can find the recipe here.  I often keep to the same recipes, the ones I know will work every time and are easy to do.

 Our friend always wears his garden party shirt when invited over here....

It great when a large group gather on short notice.  Everyone springs into action and tosses together their favourite dishes, music and enjoys the start of the summer party season.......