Survivin' ain't that easy ...

Several weeks ago, I showed you guys a cute little sign I came across on Pinterest. I told you I made one for myself to help keep my new aloe plant from entering into a downward spiral of depression that most flora seems to collapse into around here.

What I did not tell you, is that the bestie asked me to make her one too. Well, I am sorry to report that the bestie's hydrangeas could not be talked down from the ledge.

carnage ... total & complete carnage!

Apparently, I should have told her that while the survival sign is helpful ... it does not, in fact, take the place of actual hydration.

Rest in peace, sweet hydrangea, rest in peace.

I will survive!

Last week the Mister & I made a Lowe's run to stock up on some flowers for the window box & our porches. I murdered our aloe plant several months ago, so I picked up another one & apologized to it in advance ... you know, just incase.

I came across the most perfect planter on pinterest last week & I decided to put my own little twist on it ....

the inspiration piece ...

{source}

I thought this was a very appropriate phrase for a planter!

my spin on it ...

Hopefully, this positive reinforcement will help my plant live under the obvious harsh conditions that exist inside of my house.

I printed out my message of hope using Pea Noodle's Girlfriends font (downloaded HERE ) & a cute border (downloaded HERE.). For the background, I used the aqua glitter scrapbook paper I used for my NC silhouette project. 



Next, I cut the background paper just slightly larger than the bordered paper, glued them together, & then laminated it. The bamboo skewer is painted coral with a little leftover paint from THIS PROJECT.

Then I just hot glued the skewer on the back with lots of glue ...

And there you have it! A message of hope & survival for a very unsuspecting aloe plant.

I think this would be a super cute "get well" gift for someone, don't you?!?



a little pinspiration: broken pottery ...

my mother-in-law's best friend

sells pottery imported from spain.

when she receives a shipment

there are usually a few pieces that have

bitten the dust during shipping.

a few weeks ago, she gave my

mother-in-law a box of

broken pottery so she could use it as garden art.

my mother-in-law,

who is so sweet she sweats maple syrup,

shared her broken pottery with me!

sooooo ....

guess where i went for ideas?!?!

of course, pinterest!

i found a couple of great pictures...

 {no link available}

i didn't have this much to work with,

but i really liked how the broken pots

where still used as planters

opulent cottage

this made me want to break

a plate & stick it in a planter ...

& i love the pine cones!

so... i took my broken pottery & found a few places to tuck them.

{even this poor little geranium looks better

sitting in it's new home}

i smashed these a bit more
& just stuck them in top of the planter.
{note: wear gloves ... i didn't & ended up wearing a band-aid}

so, the next time you
receive a shipment of Spanish pottery
OR break a plate unloading the dishwasher,
{you know, whichever comes first}
don't trash it .... use it to fancy up your flowers or garden
& call it art!!!!



the window box: renewed hope ...

i have always loved window boxes.

well, several summers ago we visited charleston, sc

& i fell madly in love with them!!!

they are everywhere in charleston &

they are beautiful ...

 

 

just look at them ....

 

 

aren't they beautiful?!?

 

well ... after our trip, i had to have one of these lovely things ....

so, my in-laws were kind enough to

give me one the next Christmas.

i couldn't wait for spring to roll around so i could

"get my charleston on."

& "get my charleston on" i did .... for about 8 days...

then, tragedy struck ... everything in it died ...

i cared for those lovely flowers, i oohed & ahhed over them,

i watered them everyday ... but alas ... they didn't make it.

{true story}



 

& every spring this sad, tragic story has repeated itself.

i have high hopes of lush greenery over-spilling my window box

& brightly colored flowers over-flowing.
& they do ... for a few days,
but then for the other 49 weeks of the year
it looks more like a halloween decoration than
anything like a celebration of spring.

well, it is spring once more & people, my hopes are high!
i have a plan ... i have a different approach this year!
i am going to conquer death ... well, of the window box.
instead of planting directly in the coconut liner
i'm planting in plastic liners ....

so.... this is what i'm starting out with:
2 plastic window box liners
stones for drainage
potting soil with fertilizer
& a few unsuspecting plants (poor souls)

 

after i had a nice little talk with

them & laid hands on them & prayed ...

{what?!?}

i nestled them in their new homes...

 

 

 

 

now ... we wait ...

 

{from my little pink couch}