New life for an old Bench

We pulled out some old benches that were stored in the basement to use on the new patio.  There were a couple of old fashioned wooden benches and this one.

A real gem! It came from the Hershey factory where my husband and I worked collectively for 62 years. yikes! At one time, all wooden items, including the floors, were removed from the factory because of possible bug infestation and somehow we ended up with this much used break room bench. It's a fixer upper with evidence of quite a history.

If this bench could talk I’m sure it would have tons of interesting stories to tell.
I could see carving on the seat, but it was only after some sanding that the word Jesus became clear. It made me wonder what the carver was thinking. Was it meant to be a praise or was that person hurting or grieving? Do you ever wonder about the previous lives of your old furniture?
 
So here it is, after sanding, repair and painting.  I still want to rough it up with a little more sanding, but I like this bench. In it’s own way it’s a part of history….a part of my personal history.
 
In a circular from ChristmasTreeShop, I saw these monogrammed pillows for $6.99. There weren’t many initials to pick from so I just grabbed these. They’re decent pillows and the price was good for a monogrammed pillow.
A coat of aqua spray paint and some sandpaper prettied up the little bench for use as a table.
I’m almost done working on the patio and will post about the finished project soon, there’s just one more thing I need to work on and it’s something I’ve always wanted….can’t wait!
I just realized that WPMT is a local tv station, Fox 43, I think I’ll send them this picture….lol


Linking up to
House of Hepworth
Tales from Bloggeritaville, Thrifty Thursday
Beyond the Picket Fence, under $100. linky

PSST, don't forget to enter the book giveaway, in the post below or click here.

Debbie (((xx)))

Book Review and Giveaway

A Very Modest Cottage, book review AND Giveaway. Enter here at the review page.

 Please click over to my review page, Bungalow2, do not leave your comment here.
^Debbie

Those thrift store Flamenco Dancers

 

I visited sweet little Mia on her 2nd birthday. Here she is in her beautiful birthday dress from her favorite Aunt. It was the perfect dress for the birthday girl.

While I was there I stopped in at Volunteers of America thrift store and bought the Flamenco dancers in the pretty old frame.

I really only wanted the frame. What, you don’t believe me?

 

Anyway, Mia walked over to the picture and pointed to the man and said, “Dada,” then pointed to the lady and said “mama.”

Wasn’t that cute!

I hope she was just identifying the gender and didn’t really think that was Mama and Dada!

^Debbie

 

Parade of Bedrooms

Welcome to the Parade of Bedrooms.
 
Let’s get started, here’s our master bedroom.
In my effort to lighten up the bedroom I decided to use dropcloth panels on the windows.
Dropcloths come in different weights and a couple different sizes. The ceilings in our house are just 8’ so I bought two 9’ x 12’ cloths at Lowe’s for about $20.00 each.
I cut them in half directly down the center. That gave me four panels 4 1/2’ wide and 12’ long.  
If you bought smaller dropcloths and depending on the size of your windows, you might not even need to cut.







Here’s one panel I hung to see how they would look. I didn’t fuss much, just did a little folding on the top, clipped on the ring hooks and voila! I like!
I found the ugly white rod propped in the hall at my Dad’s. Someone gave it to him….he’ll take anything. So I claimed it, cut it in half,( it was just  long enough for the two windows),  and painted it. Free rod, that’s pretty thrifty! Since I had to buy the brackets to hold the rods and the ring clips, this whole project cost about $80.00. That’s not cheap but I got two windows done with nice heavy fabric…..the fabric alone would’ve cost that much, so I’m happy.


Except, the dropcloths were not the same size. At one window they just kiss the floor and they’re hanging on the floor at the other window. I ironed and ironed but couldn’t press out all the wrinkles.
I need to work on the hem…..I do like the way they look though and the rod turned out nice.
Here’s the old bedroom with gold lamps, botanicals above the bed and the ugly green wing chair. You can see the old window panels and red coverlet.

Here is the stripped down version. I’ll be removing the scrolly thing too.

Do you like my new piece of thrifted artwork?
Just the frame, I’m not hanging Flamenco dancers in my bedroom! But it is a perfectly good canvas that I could paint over.

I tried out the frame vertically and horizontally to see which looked better and I think I like horizontally, er….long ways.

Another project I want to do is to make something to hold my jewelry. I have a jewelry armoire but don’t like it. I think it would be much easier to hang it on the wall…..in a frame, maybe cover the back in burlap. I just lay it on my dresser now, and over lamp shades or anywhere actually.

The topiaries need to go too. I loved those  when I made them.
Some nice throw pillows like these, new art work, new chair, and some accessories in a pretty aqua color is what I’m going for in here. Aqua and red seems to be a hot combination right now and since I’m not into tearing off wallpaper it will work for me.

Now Link up and start showing off your bedrooms, or at least a bedroom you love. I need lots of ideas, inspiration and suggestions.

Add the  permalink, which is the link to your actual post and not your blog url and please link back to this post.
Thanks so much!
Debbie

Flirty Aprons for Mother's day.

Check out  Flirty Aprons, a site that offers the cutest aprons for women, kids and men and is having a 40% off sale just in time for Mother's day.




Have a Great Day! Debbie

I want to see your bedroom.

 I want to see your bedroom because I can’t decide what to hang above our bed. I am in need of inspiration….. from you!
Not my room, but it sure looks serene. Three pieces above the bed or two?
 
One larger piece or a collection?
I love this red toile room. It looks like mine, but currently mine has nothing hanging above the bed.
 Above photos From Bedroom Decor Gallery
 
Aqua and red seems to be an IN color combination right now. I ♥ it.  Above photos from Better Homes and Gardens
 Couldn’t you crawl right in this bed for a nice long nap? It looks so cozy and comfy.
Do you prefer one piece with lots of impact, above the bed or a grouping? I’ve got a collection of photos here but want to see YOURS!  I need more inspiration.
So, lets have a link up next week on Thursday, that’s the 22nd.
Get your photos ready and showoff a bedroom you love or your bedroom, especially the headboard wall. Let’s inspire each other. I know there are plenty of talented and very creative decorators in blogland! So spread the word, Please and let’s have a party!

^Debbie

The lowliest of lowly casseroles

Tuna Noodle Casserole.
I can take it or leave it, but I can’t deny that it’s ageless and quick.
Without soups like cream of mushroom, or chicken, how could we just whip up dinner! Was there even tuna noodle casserole before condensed soup?
I did a little searching and found out the answer is Yes! This recipe from 1935 uses a cream sauce to make TNC. I really don’t have the desire to do that, guess I'm spoiled or just lucky.
 
1935, Tuna-Noodle Casserole
1 seven-ounce can tuna
2 cups cooked noodles
2 hard-boiled eggs
2 cups cream sauce
1 tablespoon diced onions
salt and pepper.
Butter bottom of baking dish. Put in one layer noodles, then one layer tuna and eggs. Cover with noodles and pour over the mixture the rich cream sauce with the onions in it. Bake in oven for thirty minutes."
---"Let Can Opener Care for Unexpected Guests," Los Angeles Times, October 23, 1935

And then, canned cream of mushroom soup was introduced in 1934,  right in the middle of the depression. It just happened to be in the right place at the right time because it took off. This recipe is thought to be the first TNC casserole recipe published by Campbells.

 
1941, Casserole dishes.
Learn how to use Campbell's Soups in your casserole dishes. Discover what zestful flavor they give--what quick and easy substituted for cream sauce some of them are--the precious minutes they save you in preparation--they make meals so attractive! The following recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
Company Casserole.
1 package (6 oz) egg noodles
1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 cup milk
1/4 pound pimiento cheese, sliced
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 can (7 oz) tuna fish
6 tablespoons flaked cereal crumbs, buttered
---Easy Way s to Good Meals: 99 Delicious Dishes Made With Campbell's Soups, Campbell Soup Company [Campbell Soup Company:Camden NJ] 1941   From the Food Timeline

 70 years later and we still make TNC, well, I do. My version is pretty close to the original recipe., but I don’t use hard boiled eggs and I will admit to using generic brand soup and adding in different ingredients to jazz it up. A couple handfuls of frozen mixed veges or peas, sometimes a few dollops of sour cream or I’ll stir in some cream cheese or even mayonnaise. Condensed cheese soup makes a great TNC too.
 
This time I added grated Longhorn cheese and black olives (on half ) and topped it off with panko bread crumbs. 
 
Is TNC a dish you still make? Original recipe or your own version? Have you ever put hard boiled eggs in it?

Here’s dinner, Historic Tuna Noodle Casserole, my way, circa 2010. Doesn’t it look good?

^Debbie

New Life for a pretty old table

Remember this story from a previous post?
I spotted this neat table at a yardsale a couple of years ago and loved it instantly.  It wasn’t even for sale, just holding things to be sold. I asked if it was for sale and the sellers just shrugged their shoulders and said, “ahhhh, sure.” I came back later and picked it up after they carried the chairs out of their basement. $20 is what I paid for the table and 4 chairs!
 
Since our patio is much bigger now , the table will finally get a chance to show off. I happen to think she’s so pretty.
The weather was so nice for working outside, so I got to working on her. Her previous owner was quite enterprising in recovering the cushions……..they used an old towel and seat cushion and just wrapped the whole thing up in vinyl, which I discovered after removing a bazillion rusty staples.

Not to be outdone, I decided to use that same cushion. And I’m kinda cheap at times.
I tore off the blue fabric, spread out the fiber, filled up the holes where there was tufting in the cushion and filled those holes with more tufts of stuffing. Got that?

I had the wooden base, next a layer of foam, topped off with the guts of the old blue cushion and ended up with a sort of cushion sandwich.
Next I stretched and stapled on some white fabric that I had on hand and the pretty fabric on top of that. I’d like to add that tools are a gals BFF. The right tools will make any DIYer’s project easier.
Before, ugly grey vinyl. After, pretty lime green!
This set was in our basement for about 3 years. When I bought it I didn’t even know where I would use it. I just loved her cute curlicues, but here she is at last. I ♥ it!
  Here are the fabrics I chose to make some pillows and cushions for a bench and a swing. A swing we got in a very thrifty way. That’s another post.

Linking to

DIY Showoff

 Southern Hospitality, Thrifty Finds
Between Naps on the Porch, Met Monday
Sumo's Sweet Stuff 


Best DIY Projects for April at Beneath my Heart