I am a Victorian Soul, live in a small townhouse that was built in the mid 1970's, not a huge Mega Mansion, with my Hubby Joe, who is a Retired Letter Carrier. I worked night shift as an RN on a Hospital based Rehabilitation( Physical Medicine) Unit for 37 years before I had Knee Replacement Surgery and officially Retired in 2019 after 41 years working in Direct Patient Care ... I am LOVING Retirement!!!!

I DABBLE IN A BIT OF THIS AND THAT!!!!

" IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN"
George Eliot
George Eliot was actually a pen name for a woman named Mary Anne Evans......

BLOGGING FOR FUN AND FRIENDSHIP!!!!!!

Saturday, July 27, 2019

A Few Colorful Projects for the Garden and Patio


Welcome to Debbie-Dabble Blog!!
I am so happy you decided to stop by!!

Our back yard Cottage Garden and our Patio in the back of the house is very colorful and whimsical so I thought that I would add just a bit more color to it........

But first, I want to Thank these Hosts for featuring my post, Lighting the Way to Our Home, in which I shared how I made my Light House out of Clay Pots!!
Thanks to Bev, over at Across the Blvd., for featuring it from last week's Snickerdoodle Create Bake and Make Linky Party!!
Thanks again, Bev!!

 Thanks to Bev, over at Eclectic Red Barn, for featuring it from last week's Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop!!
Thanks so much, Bev!!

Thanks to Barb, over at French Ethereal, who featured it from last week's Share Your Stlye Linky Party!!
Thanks again, Barb!!

And Thanks to Katherine, over at Katherine's Corner ,who featured a picture of my Light House and my post, Color Summer Patio,Part 2,  from last week's Thursday Favorite Things Party!!
Thanks so much, Katherine!!

Also Thanks to Katie, over at Let's Add Sprinkles, who featured it from last week's Keep in Touch Link Party!!
Thanks so much Katie!!

And lastly, Thanks to Karren, over at Oh My Heartsie Girl, for featuring it from last week's Friday Feature Linky Party!!
Thanks again, Karren!!

PLEASE stop by and visit all these wonderful Link Parties!!!

If we do not support the Link parties then more hosts will stop hosting them and they give all of us great exposure!!

First let me start by sharing a colorful Theme Basket that I made up to donate to our Church's Annual Festival  and Theme Basket Raffle!!

I called it "Party on the Patio"!!
I packaged it up all in a nice bucket.......
You can see the contents on the paper I printed out and attached to the basket.....
And I always print up a picture of the contents displayed so people can get a better look at what is inside the basket.....
This was far easier to make up then the 25 -30 baskets that I used to make up with very little help when I ran our church's Craft Fair and we also had a basket raffle with that event!!!

Solar Lights.......

We all have them but what do we do with them when they die and even the replacement batteries do not make them work........

These were Westinghouse ones that Joe bought at Wegman's and since they were glass, I did not want to simply throw them out...........
So I decided to spray paint them, making them into colorful globes for the garden!!
I grabbed a few cans from my spray paint supply and Wa La!!
Colorful garden globes!!!
And here are 2 more.......
They add yet another punch of color to the garden and I guess you can say that I upcycled them!!!

Next up is this sweet sign that says " I have to go Sprinkle"
In past years, I had it hanging on my Baker's Rack turned Potting Bench but the Sun had really faded it.......

Here is what it looked like last year.....
Not too colorful....sort of bland, wouldn't you say?

So I got out some of my craft paints and "Dabbled" a bit!!!
Much better, I think!!!!

Now an artist, I am not!!!

But it does add a bit of pizazz to the Baker's Rack Potting Bench!!
Don't you think????????
Last year I bought a bunch of colorful pots......
And they go well with the sign now.......
So much better than this.......
The faux flower arrangements that I had in some of the containers out in the Patio were really looking a bit weather beaten so I raided my stash of flowers and put together a few new ones......
I left the pink flowers that were in here but I added blue and yellow ones to it!!
This bird house just had greenery in it.....
Now it has a bright floral arrangement...
And I added a bit of color here too......
A few pink flowers tucked in the one pot....
And an arrangement of yellow, pink and purple flowers with a bird house in this tin planter from
Dollar Tree......
  So those were the colorful additions that I made to my back yard Cottage Garden and our Patio......

 Last weekend, we had temps. in the 90's with dew points in the 70's which is considered to be Tropical!!!

Imagine it being Tropical in NEPA!!

Where did this weather come from?????

I do not do well in the heat and humidity because of auto immune disease and this is one of the symptoms that it gives me......

Swelling of my ankles and feet......
Yep! Not a pretty site and the right leg which is the leg that I had the surgery on , is more swollen than the other making that knee replacement joint very hard to bend and walk on......
By the end of the weekend, Thank God, a cold front came through but we ended up with torrential downpours!!
Over 2 inches of rain by Tuesday morning!!
But it cooled off the temps. and the dew points and humidity decreased making it a fairly tolerable nice week!!!

Now on Friday, the heat and humidity was down and what a difference it makes ......
Almost no swelling!!
And one last thing I want to mention.....

I had an appointment with My Ortho Surgeon on Thursday and I am pleased to report that I am doing well but because I am still having problems with walking up steps normally instead of one at a time and due to the swelling that I am having when the heat and humidity is high, he has extended my Medical Leave until August 19th.

He also took Xrays of my other knee, the left one and there is some degeneration and narrowing of the joint but not enough to warrant a Knee Replacement at this time.....

He is impressed that I am now doing 5 miles in 24 minutes on my stationary bike daily!!

And he has released me from his care as far as the right knee is concerned.......

Soon I will talk about what my Future holds after my Medical Leave is over.....

I hope you all are surviving this very hot Summer......

 And I hope you will stop by to visit again soon!!

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......

  I am linking up to these parties:

SUNDAY
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Silver Pennies Sunday
Happiness is Homemade Linky Party

 MONDAY 
Inspire Me Monday
Love Your Creativity Link Party
Busy Monday

 TUESDAY
Tuesdays At Our Home
Inspire Me Tuesdays
Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop
Sizzle into Summer Party
Talk of the Town Party
Party in Your PJ's
Waste Not Wednesday
Style Showcase
A Gathering of Friends Link Party, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday

THURSDAY
Vintage Charm
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Style Thursday Link Up Party
Inspired Creations Linky Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 
Grace at Home Party
The Homemaking Party

FRIDAY
Friday Features Linky Party
Friday Favorites
Home Matters Linky Party
Flaunt It Fridays
Weekend Blog Hop
 Funtastic Friday

 SATURDAY
Saturday Sparks
Pink Saturday-Anything Goes!!
Best of the Weekend Party

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

20 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Debbie! Your poor feet and legs. I'm glad you have them propped up and I am glad you had a good report from your surgeon. I hope you have a full recovery very soon.
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you are healing but sorry you have the ankle/foot swelling. I also have one ankle that swells when I am on it too long giving me a kankle(as the kids call it). lol Your outdoor area is very pretty. Lucky you! xo Diana

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  3. Glad you are on the mend! I love the painted globes! What a fun before and after! Laura

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was unable to find any other way to get in touch with you so I am responding here. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to comment!!
      Hugs,
      Debbie

      Delete
  4. Your garden is amazing!I hope you get better.Hugs!

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  5. I am thrilled you got such a good report from the surgeon but felt for you with the swelling. Hope the extended sick leave will help. Love how you painted the globes they make such a great pop of colour in your whimsical area. The gift basket was amazing, a great donation.

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  6. The swelling probably will be more off and on than the one with out the surgery. Mine did a long while. I have to have the left one done eventually but will probably wait until after I go to Maine to see my sister, that's if we still can go.
    You have made some mighty pretty things and that basket is just so wonderful!
    Take care and keep your feet up! Betsy

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  7. What a beautiful garden you have! A wonderful place to sit and relax.

    Alexandra
    EyeLoveKnots.com

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  8. Oh dear! such a vibrant beautiful patio. Love it love it , and love it.
    You asked me what kind of camera I use. Dear! believe me, it just my Samgsung phone.
    XOXO

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  9. Your patio is so bright and cheerful. Fun place to relax. Hope your feeling well today - God Bless!

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  10. Hi! Love your garden pics! I am a newbie and I also have a health issue like yours.But the garden and flowers help my mind relax. Enjoy the day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by!! I could not find any other way to get in touch with you so I am doing so here...
      Hugs,
      Debbie

      Delete
  11. Your garden sure is colorful like you say! I love what you did with your solar lights. I wish I had some to paint . . .

    Thanks so much for sharing this at out Party in Your PJs link party.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nina,
      I could not get in touch with you any other way so I am responding here !! Thanks so much for visiting and for taking the time to comment!!
      Hugs,
      Deb

      Delete
  12. LOVE the bright colors with those pretty white chairs! And yes, you DO sparkle!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Debbie! I am back from my long blog sabbatical and I am excited to read everyone's happening. I love all your garden treasures. So colorful and fun! I hope to start posting pics of my fairy garden soon. ~Gina

    PS I'm your newest follower!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I hope the swelling in your legs and feet goes down soon, Debbie. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm--your Patio Party basket is a darling idea!

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  15. Deb look into "lymphatic massage" to relieve the swelling, my husbands legs were twice your size and after 1 month doing some simple little massages at home we got his legs to normal. We were told it is a backup of proteins in the lymphatic system. You can Google to learn more. It also helps the immune system.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Debbie, what a beautiful garden you have! Sounds like you are mending well! My hubby had his knee replaced 2 years ago and he did so well he wished he had done it sooner! I have been reading you blog for some time but I think this is my first time to comment...

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  17. Thank you for sharing this colorful garden! I hope you continue to heal quickly!

    ReplyDelete

I always love to read your comments and opinions!!
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If you are a vendor and insist upon leaving a comment with a link back to a website, it will be deleted immediately as I check my comment several times a day!!

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