You Can Do It Too
You are about to hear how George built our floating dock out of scrap – in his words.
***
As you have probably seen by now we are masters at recycling and repurposing.
No longer in need of the old cabin – it did not take long for the cannibalizing to begin.
Grab a cup coffee and find a seat gals – because your world is about to ROCK!
After 8 months of blissful living in our crooked little cabin and 2 years of sawing, painting, and staining, I am shaking the sawdust out of my hair! It is time to start decorating – and I am loving every minute of it!
There has been a lot of inspiration cross my dusty path over that time and I was paying close attention.
One thing that caught my eye was a “Recipe Wall” from my friend Karianne Wood over at Thistlewood Farms.
I loved it and couldn’t wait to create my own wall with words that held meaning for me in my new kitchen.
Now, this gal has been known to cook, (pointing at myself here) – but, I have never found a recipe worthy of a wall.
I promised myself – when it finally came time to decorate our home –
I would only use things that make me happy,
things I love,
things that trigger a memory,
things that have genuine meaning.
It had to be something appropriate for the kitchen, and a song that would
…lighten our hearts each morning.
This song, Morning Has Broken, was a hit on the radio during the early 70’s but somehow it didn’t capture my attention until the early 80’s when we sang it at the funeral of my Aunt.
Frankly, I was in awe to see a hit song from the 70’s in a Hymn book.
Not to mention we were singing it at a funeral.
This must be a mistake…
As I sang from those written words, it was like I was hearing this song for the first time.
After over 10 years of hearing this song, those words were soaking in.
So – I present to you my friends – our Lyric Wall – featuring
People credit Cat Stevens with the lyrics – but he actually found the song in a children’s hymn book.
He put the chords to it and it became a hit.
In case you are thinking of creating your own wall of inspiration… your favorite quote, words of wisdom, a line from a favorite movie, a recipe or even a song! Here is how I did this one.
Dish rack is optional…
Once I had the song in mind I had to choose a font, and the letter size to be visible from across the room.
After experimenting with various fonts the one I decided to use was Apple Chancery.
I typed it up just how I wanted the spacing – took it to the printer with the approximate dimensions of the space available on our wall. While at the printer I picked the color for the adhesive letters.
The printer was able to tell me the exact dimensions so I could paint the area before applying the lettering.
I had Wool Skein by Sherwin Williams left over from our basement walls. So, Wool Skein it is!!
Three days later I picked up the lettering.
We applied the adhesive lettering to the wall and then we built this gorgeous plate rack around it.
Okay, maybe this doesn’t actually ROCK your world like it does mine – but hopefully, it created a bit of inspiration for a wall in your home!
I am anxious to hear your thoughts in the comments.
*** Full disclosure – when I, Lady Laughs-a-Lot says “we” I mostly mean “he”, Sir Lots-a-Wit ***
All photos, thoughts, experiences, and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.
Copyright © Lost Mule Lodge 2017 All Rights Reserved
It has been three years since we packed up all our possessions and moved into our little cabin in the woods.
With each load, our pick up truck and the flatbed trailer in tow were heaped so high with our junk, we looked more like the Clampets than empty nesters with a dream.
The dream was one we shared, discussed and visualized all our lives. We had sketched and researched, scrimped and saved.
Finally, it was happening. We had sold our home and were headed for the Hills!
Better than Beverly Hills, our own little piece of isolated paradise tucked in the Green Hills of Missouri.
Our budget warned us that it was not going to be easy, these were some big dreams.
We would be doing a lot of work, very hard work.
Many nights we would go to bed soooo exhausted and with soreness in places that we didn’t know existed.
Only to greet the next morning with mysterious bruises ready to hit it again.
We were lucky to finally get some help… We recruited these 2 helpers who agreed to work in exchange for popsicles. One day they will share bragging rights!
During the week Sir-Lots-a-Wit would seek asylum at his desk job as a reprieve from the evenings and weekends.
From the front door of our crooked little cabin, we watched for 8 months as our future home became weather tight. When the dry wall was complete, the crews all went home and our work was just beginning.
That was just two and a half years ago.
Last weekend we finished the final fireplace. The only big thing left is the basement flooring.
From here on out what’s left seems minor, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that light gets brighter with each day!
My part of this fireplace was the design.
Sir Lots-a-Wit did all the framing, ran and connected the flues, made the mantle and supports.
Then he closed it in with the cement board, used a gazillion screws on the lath.
Covered the lath with mortar, then began with the rock.
It was a long and dusty process.
That mantle and the supports under it? Last fall we were walking through the woods and found an oak tree that had fallen near the back of our property.
Blink if you know the rest of the story….
We used a downed tree for the fireplace mantle in the living room too –
but this one is a little longer,
a little rougher,
with a little more WOW effect.
For now, he can stand back and admire his work with one hand on that mantle and the other holding a Bud, just in time for football season.
As for me? This will be my new happy place.
When you hear the north wind start to howl and the leaves turn to a crimson red – you can find me right there – to the left of the fire on the gorgeous dark gray seat – sipping my hot chocolate and dreaming of basement flooring.
When you are working at fulfilling your dreams, you never think of quitting – not even once.
Thank you Sir Lots-a-Wit for another job well done!
All photos, thoughts, experiences, and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.
Copyright © Lost Mule Lodge 2017 All Rights Reserved
The minute I laid eyes on him, I knew he was coming home with me.
Below is his before photo. He had been hanging out in a Southern Iowa barn. Looking a little gritty and weathered.
One day at a time we are getting things done.
Some things we just check off our to-do list without much thought.
But this, this homemade light fixture takes my breath every single morning!
I am beyond excited… so much so that I had to share with you so you could SEE for yourself!!