Saturday, November 29, 2014

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!


7 comments:

  1. Great work all around and that is one dreamy (sorry!) sunset.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah… I love plays on words like that :))
      We have had spectacular skies.

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  2. I'm impressed with your projects. How creative with the styrofoam. And I love bathroom vanities made out of dressers! We have a gorgeous sunrise going on right now!

    Cindy Bee

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    Replies
    1. The styrofoam is just a stop-gap measure. I did call a contractor ages ago and we were supposed to meet at his yard so I could pick out a few scraps. Somehow that fell through. I am just feeling a time crunch now, so the foam will do for a bit!

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  3. You have been busy! The styrofoam looks great, just like bricks! I used it once just like that on some train scenery for a brick tunnel:) Good luck with the Orchids...that Greenhouse should take fine care of them! I would kill them for sure:)

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    1. I was actually surprised at how well the foam blends in with the rock. Some day I'll finally catch up with a contractor and get a few pieces…or we'll redo the entire thing! (Mr. Dreamy has never been a fan of the stacked rock.)

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  4. You are so talented, Dreaming! I cracked up when I read about your fireplace, but was quite envious when I saw how you put that new sink stand together out of the old dresser. Envious in that I wish I had your talent and skills ~ very inspiring you are! Enjoy the rest of your day!

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