My recent lack of blogging is by no means an indication of the lack of productivity around here.  In fact I will inundate you today with projects, inspirations, and a recipe to boot!

Operation Backyard Renovation began this weekend.  So far, it has been mapped out into at least 6 phases.  1 1/2 phases were completed this weekend!

On Sunday, after a little inspiration from some left over edging stones and an empty swing frame (thank you previous home owner!), we mapped out a pathway in the back half of the yard that has gotten minimal use (until now...).  

Once the path was completely lined, we added pea gravel to fill the walkway.  What a difference it makes already!

In case you haven't figured out what Phase 2 is yet, it's a swing!  I've been begging Dan for one since about the time we were house hunting and saw this swing frame in what would become our backyard.  Patience is a virtue as they say, so I waited patiently until we had just the right idea on how we wanted to make it happen.

After the success of our Pallet Plate Rack, I've been on a bit of a pallet kick.  The options just seem endless- there's even a website called 101pallets.com .  Talk about inspiration!  With a little help from 101pallets and my new friend Ana White, our vision could become a reality.  Dan brought another pallet home from the warehouse at work and we were ready to build.

A little sawing, a little sanding, and a little drilling.  All of a sudden our pallet really had transformed into the beginnings of a swing!  With a few leftover scraps from the plate rack pallet, we added supports and attached the seat to the back.

Gotta check for stability-- Abbey approves!

Slanted arms were screwed in and sanded down.  It's looking pretty good now if I do say so myself.  And so far, this swing has not cost us a penny!

We did manage to get to Lowe's for hardware, chain, and paint before the sun went down on our busy weekend and halted the completion of Phase 2.  But!  Painting should be pretty quick and weather permitting, we may even be able to fit a few coats in this week.  That just leaves screwing in some hardware (I make it sound so easy) and then up she will go!  Can't wait to find some fabric for throw pillows;)

Up next, a sneak peak at the inspiration for our kitchen island that is also officially in the works.  

A five dollar rectangular piece of granite that we picked up over a year ago at a garage sale has been collecting dust for far too long.  Soon, it will be the top to our kitchen island that has been inspired by This Old House.  Very exciting!

And last but not least-  check out this Apple Crumble recipe we indulged in last week.  Super simple and oh so yummy!  Reminiscent of an apple pie, this was the perfect sweet treat to accompany the fall-like weather we've had lately.  I put in less than half the sugar it called for, too.  I find the fruit is always sweet enough just as it is.  

  

  

Pinterest.  I'm still trying to figure how it really works.  I always thought I was a visual learner until I logged onto Pinterest for the first time and had never felt more confused or overwhelmed.  What were all of those pictures "pinned" everywhere and why in the world did I want to try and sort through them all trying to glean inspiration on recipes, outfits, furniture design, and party planning??  But like the good Generation Y- internet junkie that I am, I signed up for an account and attempted to navigate my way through the pinboards...

So far, I've found minimal success from my ventures to Pinterest.  Until today!  Although my inspiration didn't come directly from Pinterest I will give credit where credit is due.  I was on Facebook (duh!) when I saw a link that a friend had "liked" about attending a "Pinterest Party" where they would be crafting a "Book Page Wreath."  The attendants were also asked to bring their favorite Pinterest recipe to share with the others.  Hmmm.  Ok, kind of a cute idea (I guess)...  Like a modern spin on a tupperware party if you will.  But what I really wanted to know was what is this Book Page Wreath all about?!  I suppose I should have logged onto Pinterest to check it out.  But I'm a pretty big believer in Google.  So google it I did.

Ahh, a book page wreath-  thank you google images!

The next thought I had-  I CAN DO THAT!  But I don't have any books I'm willing to part with on hand.  Oh but I do have a stash of Midtown Raleigh News papers!  And how am I going to secure it to a base of some sort?  The cardboard backing of an old spiral notebook in the bottom of my craft drawer-  why not?  I cut my newspaper pages into squares, rolled the squares into cones (securing them with hot glue), hot glued them to the cardboard (that I cut a circle out of), and added a ribbon to the back for hanging (with nothing else than more hot glue!).

Pretty cool- not only did I create a unique piece of upcycled art, it also didn't cost me a dime!!

    

I learned a valuable lesson recently.  ALWAYS take your cell phone with you on a walk.  If I'd known the importance of having a camera at your fingertips every second of the day then you'd believe me when I say Abbey, Dan, and I met and held Annie-  one of our neighbors chickens...

We were on a walk one evening after dinner and passed by a neighbor's house who has been the topic of many a conversation upon our arrival to the neighborhood.  His front (and back) yard are less than traditional; covered with mulch (NO grass) and exotic plants, a fountain, bird, owl and bee houses galore, and a garden/greenhouse area.  The picture that I was able to snap quickly the other day by no means does it justice-

On our way back home from said walk we finally met the owner of the crazy yard-  Laslow (of course)!  He is a super friendly + funny guy who immediately took us on a tour of the grounds.  The mulch is less maintenance and keeps his soil nice and moist for the array of plants he is growing-  See how well my pear tree is doing (he informed us)!  He also pointed out his watermelons, let us sample some blackberries (yum!) growing wildly in his side yard, told us to pet his chickens who lay eggs in the hen house he has out back (Abbey was less than sure about Annie and the other fowl),  and sent us home with tomatoes pulled straight from his vines.  He really is running a one-man show over there!

His tomatoes made a delish bruschetta!

As if the tomatoes weren't souvenir enough, Laslow also insisted we return for Elephant Ear plants that he claims he can't get rid of- "they just keep popping up all over my yard."  Being the friendly neighbor I am, I returned to gather the Elephant Ears as promised.

Thinking I'd walk away with one pot in each hand, he was adamant that I come with my car to take all six plants.  We've just gotten them into the ground and are hoping they do well!

Call it inspiration if you want, but we decided to try our hand at some real gardening ourselves.  We've experienced success with potted herbs and peppers so why not get some seeds into the ground??  Our cucumbers were planted about two weeks ago (still trying to figure out where to grow this lavender before it gets too late).  How exciting to begin seeing some sprouts! 

And what garden would be complete without a whimsical sign?  I painted this slat from the leftover pallet.  Then Dan sawed the end into a spike and hammered her into the ground!

Lastly, for your viewing pleasure I leave you with a big "cheese" from our Abbey Girl-  enjoy!