My grain sack foot stool

I have this really nicely made chair and ottoman that belonged to my mother-in-law. Pat gave this chair and foot-stool to me before Ed and I were even married. Unfortunately my mother-in-law died from leukemia about a year before Ed proposed.

Fast forward a couple of years and one of my cats decided to use the ottoman as a scratching post.
I don't need to go on.

Someday I would love to have both pieces professionally recovered. The chair is very, very sweet, so I don't ever want to get rid of either.

But in the mean-time, I thought I would have some fun with it. A friend of mine gave me an old heavy burlap grain sack.

With a little cutting, stapling, and hot gluing, it has a new look!

Pat would love what I did with it. She was an avid collector of antiques and interesting items that most would probably toss.

But I often wonder what my grandpa would say if he saw my new use of an old grain sack. Surely he would think I had lost my marbles!

I'm linking up today with Linda from Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

And with Kristin from My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia 

And with Gina for Transformation Thursday

 And finally with Sarah for A Good Life Wednesday

Breakfast on the porch

BREAKFAST ANYONE?

Good morning! With the weather finally cooling off here in Northern California, I'm finally able to enjoy my breakfast out on the front porch.

Just give me the morning paper, some steaming hot coffee, fresh berries and a bowl of hard boiled eggs.

That always gets my day going!

As many of you know, I am always on the look-out for vintage plates and linens to add to my ever growing collection. The crocheted table cloth above is one of my newest goodies I picked up at the thrift store for a song of only $2.00!

The flowered apron was also a couple dollars.

Here are some pictures of the porch taken this morning. I think it's a great way to begin your day;

after my ritual of doing a few sun salutations and some quite meditations, I enjoy coming out to the front porch with my Bible.
I open to some of my favorite passages and sip on my cup of fresh brew.

I hope you all have the opportunity to have your own breakfast on the porch, give it a try! 
Do you have your own morning ritual?  Do hit the gym early in morn, read the paper...does anyone read the paper anymore? Or do you roll out of bed after smacking the snooze button 26 times just so you can jump in the shower to get to work on time? I'de love to know.
In the mean time, enjoy your weekend friends, and visit some of these other lovely blogs.

I'm linking up with Cindy for Show and tell Friday

How sweet The Sound For Pink Saturday

With Hakan For Saturday Show Off

And with Courtney for the biggest blog party ever!

The Birds The Bee's And An Army Cot

Vintage French Hen's Secret Hide Away

 

Just down the walkway...

As you follow the brick sidewalk...

You will come to a garden of very tall sunflowers...

But as you peek through the branches of these very tall sunflowers, you will discover...

A little quiet hide away...

A relaxing spot to sit and read, dream, watch the birds, and share with the bees.

With the combination of bird-feeders and sunflowers I have learned to share my quiet little spot. The birds love it as much as I do! 

For the LONGEST time now, I have been searching for an Army cot. They are hard to find, and can be quite expensive. 

But then a miracle happened! I was driving down the road, and what do you think I saw, lying against an old building?

YEP! An old Army cot, circa 1951. It was up against a building next to a dumpster.

And...It was love at first sight!

It was exactly what I have been searching for. Perfect for my little secret hide-away, hidden from the street.

Here are some pictures I took early in the morning, so pardon the glare..

It's supposed to be 103* today! 

My book of inspiration comes from "Shed Chic" By Sally Coulthard.
I'm in the process of remodeling my milk house, which is directly behind the garden. It was the original milk house for our once running dairy that our home now sits on. I'm hoping to have it completed by July so I can feature it in "Where Bloggers Create 2011" blog party hosted by Karen of My Desert Cottage.

 Thank you for visiting my Secret Hide-Away... If you're ever in Nor-Cal, I would love it if you would stop by for your favorite beverage of choice!

Today I am linking up with Kristin from My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia

And with Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

 And with Sarah for Good Life Wednesday

For some reason, Sarah's button wouldn't download for me this morning, I will have to try again later!

 

How exciting! I can't wait to go blog hopping, it's one of my favorite things to do, you should join in the fun!