A New Leaf on Life

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist the play on words.

But, I really do have a new leaf.

See it here?!

I have two phalaenopsis orchids.  It is hard to resist buying them at Costco or Trader Joe's. They are so beautiful, but generally, once they have finished blossoming I can't do a thing with them, except throw them out. This year, knowing we'd be traveling and house plants would not receive even my terrible standard of care, we installed them in this handy dandy greenhouse my son gave us a few years ago. 

It seems they like the humid environment. Duh! They live in the jungle, you know!! Besides the new leaf, the other phalaenopsis put up lots of roots… and a new flower shoot. It turns out it was drowning in an inappropriate pot with no drainage. I guess the flower stalk was a last chance bid to share its genes in this world! I repotted it, in orchid bark, in an orchid pot, and put it back in the greenhouse. It will probably die, now!

However, the reason I chose to select the picture above is so you can see the background. See the gapped-tooth grin in the stone on our fireplace? When we moved in a lot of the rock had fallen off. We never found the one(s) that went front and center. But, now….

Ta-daaa...

My painted styrofoam looks pretty good, don't ya think?! I'm not certain what I'll do when we turn the fireplace on. Perhaps it will have to be like dentures that have to be taken out at certain times!

Here is another example of a new leaf on life…

This cruddy, old dresser was exactly the right size to be reborn as a vanity for the sink we pulled out of the bathroom in the basement. 

I took the top off. Cut the drawers and cut the back for the pipes and drain.

I realized the vanity was going to be really short. 

So I added some height.

 After a few coats of paint…

and some details…

It's finished! 

And look, it has leaves, too!

Now I just need to wait for Mr. Dreamy to come home to help me hoist the sink on top!

Oh, and yeah, I have to decide what to do about knobs for the drawer fronts.

We have had some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.  Last night, as I was leaving my Dad's building, I was hit, smacked in the face, by this sunset. The cerulean/turquoise blue of the sky was almost blinding. The brilliance doesn't quite translate over to the picture. But, coming outside to this just takes ones breath away… and certainly gives one a new leaf lease on life!

I hope you can enjoy a new 'leaf' on life, too!