Home Dec. Ideas

Blundin2005 · April 2009

How do I make the pictures smaller?

abbadoodles · April 2009

Wow, you live in paradise! That sunflower could knock your eyes out. Too bad about the doggie issue. LOL I hope the plant survives. After all, they do out in "nature." I'm sure they get hit by various and sundry contaminants.......

You are doing just great on the pictures. To make them smaller, you can either do it in your camera program or a standard photo program like Photoshop. I don't think photobucket re-sizes for you but you can search around there. Maybe Windows has a photo tool. I've never looked because I have the full version of Photoshop.

I just noticed you doggie in the avatar. What's that he's chewing on? More mischief?

barbe1958 · April 2009

Bundin, GORGEOUS pics, I can just imagine your terrazo on a warm summer night with candles glowing.......sigh....

To make them smaller (don't go TOO smalll, at lot of us have old(er) eyes!), just before you post them from Photobucket, you have a choice of small, medium or large. I pick medium.

Keep them coming. I loved the lemon tree too!

Blundin2005 · April 2009

Napo and Zamia " mce_src=" alt="" border="" hspace="" vspace="" width="" height="" align=""

Napo one year old " mce_src=

Thanks ladies. This really is fun. I found the size medium.

...abbadoodles the avatar is when he first came to our house 6 wks old. He's chewing on a rawhide stick. These are some since he grew up. He was abandoned on the side of the road and he looked so little. We never dreamed he would get so big...not exactly what we had in mind. But he's been a joy. And to the theme of Home Deco....he changed everything. The carpets came up, the plants were moved, the balcony is his sentry look out and the garden.....well...it's his now....oh the patchwork of holes in the garden! I try to think of it as aerating. The watering system no longer works since he chewed the wires. We've had a few Dog Whisper conversations with him about it all.

Barbe....Glad that you are enjoying them with me. I lost a lot of photographs when my hard disk crashed in January. I'll take some more pics... and you are right...we lite the insect candles (what are they called?) to keep the mosquitos away at night. They work well and look nice. About the lemon tree...About one a month I use one whole lemon and blend it with garlic and olive oil and add a glass of water to drink for a detox of the liver and gall bladder. Read about it in Whole Foods for Health book. It sounds terrible but it's actually not too mad to get down and my body thanks me for it. Just thought I'd mention....

Thanks for the opportunity to be part of this. What a welcomed distraction.

Sierra · April 2009

Hi Blundin and all:

I just popped in as heard you

posted some px

they are lovely

and I can see you and your pals

enjoying the patio with wine

and good food

great px on this thread

tks everyone

just popped in for today

Hugs, Sierra

barbe1958 · April 2009

Citronella candles!! Woo hoo, I came up with the right word. I done good! Laughing

Blundin2005 · April 2009

Barbe--yep, you done good! Cool

sahalie · April 2009

BLUNDIN. WOWsers. You have beautiful plants and flowers.

But I especially LOVE your fur babies. So precious.

Congrats on posting your wonderful pictures. You found the perfect size.

Thanks to Tina and Barbe for being outstanding teachers.

Let's see more! Isn't it fun ! Way to go BLUNDIN.

Oh Cintrinella. Reminds me. I need a few of those. Thanks Barbe.

Hug those fur babies for all of us OK. Arf.

Blundin2005 · April 2009

Sahalie,

Thanks for your encouragement. It really does feel good to finally understand how to do the pics!

And the pics you post are some of my favorite styles. They were the first to really catch my eye. Napo says Ciao back atcha. He's bilingual! No Really! The little dog with him is his girl friend Zamia who visits...she's such a taunt....never stops running circles around him. In the picture, they were both in time out so we could have a break. They've been friends since he first came here.

Sierra--good to see you here...this is a fun thread ... stay around.

Best wishes to all as always

abbadoodles · April 2009

Speaking of citronella, does anyone have a substitute for it that is not toxic? I hate using deet products, but so far I have not been able to find any natural repellants that don't contain citronella. Unfortunately, it gives me a queasy feeling and a headache, Cry

so I cannot use it.

Blundin2005 · April 2009

Tina--I had no idea! Thanks for the insight.

so I googled....and EPA says it's OK "if used as directed".

I don't recall that my candles ever came with instructions except maybe 'keep away from flame'. I also thought that it was the smoke from the wicks more than the citronella that did the trick.

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_021901.htm

Then this link talked a bit more strongly on the subject....yikes!

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35066

Recently I heard someone say they were going to try to use a spray of lemons soaked in alcohol to deter mosquitos ... can't remember where I heard this. Lemons are citrus ... alcohol is used as a base (like perfume) I suppose.

This is also a piece of the recipe for lemoncello, a favorite after dinner drink here. Laughing

This might be a good deco project in a sense.

I remember that farmers planted specific flowers in proximity to their crops to lure or deter bugs. The fields were beautiful to see. Probably info we can find at an agricultural University...30 years ago when I wanted to find out about soil and water I inquired at Rutgers in NJ...I don't know where it would be these days.

Sorry about your headaches.

Love your bunnies...are they yours?

abbadoodles · April 2009

I don't think citronella is thought to be toxic but I am sensitive to something about it that makes me ill. Probably most people are not affected by it. It's is tons of products but I just cannot use it. I didn't mean to scare you.

Here's a tip about posting links. After you have "pasted" the URL, just hit either the space bar or the enter key; that will make the link active. You will see the color change in the edit box. If you don't do that, the link will appear but will not be active, ie. not "clickable."

The bunnies are mine. Smile

Texgirl · April 2009

just saw this discussion..I have painted my L.R. Grey Burch it is a lt shade of heather green very soft and it really goes with everything. Home Depot can make it for you (but I originally got it at an IGI paint store)..they have it in the computer ..don't think it is on a chip right now.... I have had it for 6 yrs and still haven't tired of it and get lots of compliments..heather may not be a good name for it ..but it is still lovely

Blundin2005 · April 2009

Tina--do you remember the push-me, pull-me in Dr. Doolittle? But they were Lamas. Your avatar reminded me.

abbadoodles · April 2009

I don't think I ever read any Dr. Doolittle, although I am certainly an animal lover.

The avatar shot was simply serendipity. Not posed.

94 degrees here yesterday and 40 overnight. That's New England. Ah, but the lilacs are budding up and the sun is shining. Grass is greener and the black flies are out. Must be spring.

Anonymous · April 2009

I remember the Dr. Doolittle movie with Rex Harrison. Much different than the modernized version. I remember the push-me-pull-me too!

barbe1958 · April 2009

Wasn't it really a llama? I used to think they all had 2 heads until I saw a real one Embarassed

Blundin2005 · May 2009

Flowers for any table " mce_src="

I need more sun! " mce_src="

Joking of course but ..... flowers really do dress any table!

The sunflower is struggling and there is a little bud...but I think the problem really is that it needs more sun.

I took one of my kitchen. I'll try to post that next. It's small and we make the most of it. Oh and the plate...that's next.

Blundin2005 · May 2009

Sahalie--This is the peacock plate. The designs are delicate...that's why it reminded me of the black and whites here.....this plate was made in Florence....

Photobucket " mce_src="

First strawberry of the season...almost ready.

Photobucket " mce_src="

This is the mighty mouse kitchen....

Photobucket " mce_src="

I thought the kitchen could show how to do much with little. We've made lunch and dinner for as many as 14 people in this kitchen! In fact I laugh at myself when I think of how much kitchen some people need to cook frozen dinners!

Ciao ladies

candie1971 · May 2009

avon makes skin so soft whichis good as a mosquito repellant.

barbe1958 · May 2009

Ah Blundin, what a slice of European life you've shared with us! I think it's all so romantic. We have such sterile layouts here it's disgusting! I agree about the size of some of the kitchens!

Mine's not big and we have torn all the upper cabinets down and are working with lower cupboards only. That has really opened up the kitchen. I have cool metal shelving in one area for glasses, some of my larger artwork between the two windows and an old hutch for the food. I love it! Still in the renovation project, have everything including the kitchen sink, except the $5,000 for the new cupboards. Time.....

KAK · May 2009

Oh, Blundin..........sigh! I need to get to Italy one of these days.

And speaking of which, Barbe, my name is Kathi and I'm a chinaholic. I happen to love Italian pottery and Portuguese pottery and French pottery. Here's a recent purchase (French espresso cups & some older china in the background), and then a photo of some china designed by Versace (see? another Italian designer) that I'd love to own!

BTW, loved the bird nest bed frame and the upholstery, Sahalie! And those gorgeous plates, Barbe! They look like the sun!

sahalie · May 2009

Good Morning World Wide Home Decorators. : )

Raining and cold here today but no damper on these spirits. I love the rain.

BLUNDIN * We're building a guest house on our farm with your name on it.

Napo and Zamia must come along too. There will be a bowser bungalow ready for them.

They'll fit right in with our herd of animals.

Being it's a farm ~ my favorite style is a simple efficient space to cozy up in.

A simple and "green" abode for fun and pleasure.

The style: Farm shabby second hand chic.

*

Your peacock plate is beautiful ! ! !

SPAR must see that. She works with glass and tiles.

KATHIE * Gorgeous plates and cups. I need some new cups and am always looking.

I heard a neat thing a while ago that any time we need cheering up or what ever * we should

always drink our liquid refreshments in the most beautiful glass or cup we have.

It works. Try it even if you are drinking water. Get out that crystal glass stuck in the china

cabinet and put it to good use.

If we don't use them ~ who will.

CANDIE (Hi) is right on about the Skin So Soft scaring the bugs away.

Our family person in the military was told to use that while stationed in Hawaii.

It works. Who knew. Thanks Avon.

Like BARBE * we tore down the big elephant in the room cupboard over the counter and it opened the room up big time. The ceiling was already finished like the rest of the ceiling when the builder installed it so that was a huge plus. You cannot tell there was ever a long cabinet there. I love wide open and light filled rooms. White walls. Green colors to accent and plants.

My philosophy most of the time is . . . Less is more. When I can get away with that. Or. Until I see an amazing kitchen like yours Blundin. Makes me want to fly right on over there and cook something up with you in your great kitchen. It looks so inviting.

Does the sunflower maybe need some kind words and a little super soil sprinkled around it? I added some super soil a few weeks ago around my roses and they are blooming like crazy. They had colonies of afids (you know . the little bugs) all over the new buds and I've always heard about all the things to do and how lady bugs are great for eating the afids but one day I took the hose and blasted the buds. All the afids got washed off and I haven't seen any since.

That was my "green" remedy for my roses.

The blue jays are stealing the dogs food out on the rainy deck. Dodo birds.

XOXO

barbe1958 · May 2009

You can use soap and water on the aphids too!

I think Blundin's dog peed on the sunflower..... Yell

sahalie · May 2009

APHIDS. I knew I spelled it wrong. Thanks Barbe. Soap and water took too much effort. Ha.

I just blasted the buds with the hose. So far so good.

The dog is the culprit eh. Poor sunflower. Napo is just to cute to be mad at.

sahalie · May 2009

Good Sunday Morning All.

Just to share a happy moment with you that does touch upon home decor of the floral kind.

It has rained monsoons here which is a good and wonderful thing for our beautiful west coast state.

During a rain respit this morning and noticing drooping foliage touching terra cotta planted foliage

I went out to do some pruning.

While outside and a smelling all the fragrant roses I noticed how clean all my roses are of bugs

and aphids (thank you barbe : ) * )

and the semi blooms ready to open so I cut some blooms with tri colors

of yellow. orange. and pink.

They are so beautiful and now in a pretty glass vase next to the other big

bouquet of roses I brought in yesterday.

No bugs.

Aphids suck the life out of rose buds so thank goodness I blasted them with the hose.

Rose infested with aphids.

I took the advice of my favorite garden place and also bought some flowers

that attract the gentle red ladies in their red armor that take care of bugs in the garden.

The Lady bugs.

My garden person gave me a Home & Garden article that says:

"Aphids are sneaky and inconspicuous little beasties.

They can show up, breed like crazy and completely destroy your flowers,

vegetables and even trees before you ever know there's a problem.

There are many species and colors of aphids.

They come in shades of green, red, brown, black and yellow and almost all

have fat little pear shaped bodies with several little tubes poking up out

of the back end called cornicles.

They feed by piercing plants and sucking their juices.

In doing so they can transmit viruses that cause yellowing, curling and distort growth.

Aphids also secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that often results

in the colonization of an ugly sooty black fungus.

The following are suggestions to help keep your gardens and plants safe and healthy."

Aphid Control Frequent Inspection.

Catch them early.

One "colonizer" can produce up to 80 offspring in as little as a week

and is capable of doing so several times.

Slowly walk through your garden several times a week paying

close attention to the underside of leaves.

Also check for aphids on newly purchased plants and transplants.

Don't over fertilize. I use Osmocote granules.

Aphids prefer the new growth that is found in abundance in overly

fertilized plants.

Use only slow release fertilizers.

It is also a good idea to grow plants inside or under a cover until they

are large enough to be a little more tolerant.

Spray with water. I was happy to know I did the right thing.

A strong spray of water is an effective way to dislodge aphids from your plants.

Most dislodged aphids will be unable to return to the plant.

The Bug Blaster is a hose attachment that works great for this.

Infestations are readily and easily controlled.

All is takes is "a Lady in red" to rid the blooms of these nasty bloom suckers.

The Lady in Red taking care of business.

*

And a blast of water. Love it.

I hope this info is helpful to all who grow flowers and especially beautiful roses.

Bring your flowers in the house * decorate and enjoy.

barbe1958 · May 2009

Sahalie, I can't see your roses pictures as I'm at work (security issues I guess) but I LOVE that colour combination!

I've also heard that growing Marigolds at the base of the rose bushes annoys the aphids enough to not want to stick around (pun intended).

Good for you to know about blasting them! Too funny. I wonder why they "can't return to the plants"....embarrassed? Embarassed

sahalie · May 2009

BARBE. I think the little suckers are like those things you get in the gum ball machine that

when you throw it against the wall it sticks.

So when they get blasted off the rose buds and land where ever . . . they stick to what ever they

land on.

Hopefully it's dirt.

Also we've had some good rain this last week so the little monsters get washed away from

the rain maybe too.

Thanks for the Marigold tip. I will get some. I love their bright colorful faces.

Blundin2005 · May 2009

Kak--beautiful cups and dishes. My mother always used her china. I don't know why but it always made the tea taste better.

Barbe--marigolds...yes! That's what the farmers used too among others. I'll try that around the garden. I also saved soapy water from the dishes to spray on the flowers. You need to do it every day ... best at night so the sun doesn't burn the plant. I had no idea they were sticky but that makes sense.

Sahlie--so sweet the puppy and sunflowers...and the flowers on the table. And the lady bug...I still get excited to see lady bugs here. When I lived in US I bought them...yes bought them can you believe it?... from a garden book for my garden to control the bugs. They didn't always stay around. I often wondered what they thought about their location change! I don't believe that they think in the sense that we do...but certainly their senses had to tell them a shock was in the making!

good information too about over fertilizing...didn't know that! Thanks.

barbe1958 · May 2009

Oh Blundin, that is too cute! I've heard of farmers and others buying ladybugs and always wondered if the bugs actually stuck around? What can you do if they fly away? Ask for your money back?

Maybe they were "homing" ladybugs and the seller gets then back and just keeps selling them over and over... Surprised

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