Great Minds

Think alike....I just pinned this photo as inspiration for Mr. K's birthday next month.

From here....with directions

I'm thinking a baking party might be in order when we get stateside. (T minus 9 days!!)
Thank you for the birthday wishes dearie.

Felicidades!

Image: cake via @dariusmonsef via snippet & ink

So I hear it is a certain someone's BIRTHDAY!  I saw this image last year of a Rainbow Party on Oh Happy Day! and I kind of wish you were so we could make mayhem in the kitchen trying to bake this cake.  I kind of love Oh Happy Day, not going to lie, I might also have a friend crush on the lady in charge, and as Mr. C commented, it made him want to wear bow-ties at a picnic in the park. It's just a happy place.


I hope you have a lovely day and Mr. K spoils you like you deserve!

Pallet-no-more

Ms. T -

I am glad that the idea gave you such inspiration for the community garden project. What happened there that it isn't going to actually happen? I loved the idea you came up with! (So does Mr. K.) With a quick internet search, there are dozens of tutorials of how to use pallets and I seem to like all of them! But, I love your original idea.

I am sad to report that the pallet idea never got off the ground. Too many steps, too many supplies, and too much aftercare (watering) needed for it to be practical to ever get up and running. Plus, it didn't help that the pallet we picked up, although beautifully battered and weathered, was missing too many bars to successfully pack the dirt. I still have hopes of building one once settling in LA for my sister-in-law. In the meantime, I'll keep dreaming of great ways to use the pallets.

Alas, it seems like our under-cover ops was not worth the risk. But, I'm glad it gave you a giggle. I didn't even mention the dark colored jacket and hoods we donned for the outing (and the copious amounts of wine too!) The mother and I do have our moments.

But on a happy note, the weather has decided to give us a warm goodbye and we've finally had our beach days. I found this walking home through town from the beach yesterday.

Until the mainland...

More Pallet Uses

Mrs. K,


Have I ever mentioned how much I love you and your mother. If my mother and I attempted that, for sure we would be caught and have to spend 20 years in a Greek prison and I don't know how kindly they would take to blondes.

I DO love the pallet idea. Before the project seemingly imploded, I had designed a fence for the Sausalito Community Garden using pallet as the main structure and zigzaging it with chicken wire. Can I just say I am enjoying the increasing use of these highly under-appreciated wood pieces.  A simple google search of pallet wall comes up with so many inspiring ideas.

So with the inspiration of your pallet planter project, I thought it would be cool to include that in the fence idea. So the plants I selected are known to be more deer resistant, because that is kind of a problem in the area. Thank you for giving me a fun little project for the afternoon!

Planter box inspiration

Hey Hey Ms. T.

How fantastic for someone who has a big beautiful wood desk for them to nestle those fun, colorful pots into. (read green eye monster for that desk!) Must admit, I do love the colors of those pots! I might just have to pick some up for some lovely household gifts next time I'm in the area. Unfortunately, that will be sans the tray. It's making it's home here in Syros. But, I am inspired for future flea-market finds.

I was checking out your recent posts on Richardson Street Workshop and must admit that your new white on white industrial chic planters are great! I am loving the new white on white shades that seem to be popping up everywhere this spring/summer season. It seems so effortless and classy.

In my last week with here on Syros, I am finally slowing down with household projects (yay no more drilling!).  But, I think I might try to tackle one last project for fun before we say adios to this fair dame.  See, I've been inspired by your planter idea. I've seen these photos floating around for the last couple of years in Sunset Magazine and now I found it again on Pinterest  (via Apartment Therapy). So last night, under the cover of darkness, the mother and I performed our own secret ops and stole this pallet from a construction site in town.

The question is if I can turn in into something at all like this pallet on the left! If I succeed I have plans on creating another in LA for my sister-in-law. She's got this great 1920's California Bungalow with a tiny-tiny yard. This would work great on her little porch in the front. (If not, I might steal this idea from Richardson Street Workshop.) I promised her as a belated birthday present/mother's day gift a garden treat!






I wish you a happy, happy work week!

Colored Pencil Management

Dearest Mrs. K,

So this may be, possibly, a bit obsessive but the state of my colored pencils, all those colors intermingling, has been driving me a bit crazy for a while. I could never find that right blue or yellow when I wanted it so now I can. I win! I may have also been kind of in love with these cute little colored pots since I started work and I finally found a way to justify adopting them. Yay for organization!

I am kind of hoping this tray will be making a journey westbound. I like it.  

Transformative Tray

Ok: so my title is a bit of an overstatement, but the alliteration worked so nicely, I stuck with it! Some of the more fun projects my mother has me doing as been updating an existing tray she had. It had been her mothers and held particular sentimental value to her. But, it had hideous, water-stained wallpaper in it that I removed before getting photo-conscious (so, no photo of it!).  But, use your imagination - old, moldy, Grandmother-eqsue 1950's wallpaper. After it was removed, we were left with it's cardboard back - rather boring if I do say so  myself.
It looked like this:

One of the neat things I found out while removing the (ugly) wallpaper was that my Gramma evidently was into crafting/artsy projects as well (a side I did not know). Whether she just bought it there, or if she "made it" herself we'll never know, but I loved finding this on the back.
So, using the limited supplied that I have on hand, I found and cut to size another piece of cardboard. I painted it a cool blue/grey color with leftover paint from (this) project.

But, I needed something other than just paint to make this interesting, so after one of my hikes around the island (mentioned on the Our Four Itchy Feet blog), I decided to go old school and press flowers! I was so excited to share this project with you, but alas, my attempts on pressing flowers failed. (Damn being too impatient!) So, we went with wheat, as it is easier to press and takes less time! The final product looks like this:

It's not perfect, but it's surely an improvement! (Don't worry,  I went in a fixed the crooked pieces afterwords!)

I love the veggie garden you are working on! How delicious! Anything going to be ready by June? Any chance those paint cans your planting in are the ones from my wedding? I remember Jenny saying she wanted some - I'm not sure if she took any.

Hope you're having fun in LA this weekend! 

Backyard Veggies

My Mrs. K.,

Those pictures are gorgeous! I also liked the pictures you posted on OurFourItchyFeet . I want to be in Greece going on bike rides and hikes to the beach. Until such point I actually make it to Syros, I will live vicariously through you and Mr. K.

And like your home improvement jobs at your mom's, we too have been hard at work setting up a backyard vegetable garden complete with Potatoes, Zucchini and Marigolds in trash cans and little herbs in brightly colored pots. I am including a couple of pictures.

Hopefully they will be ready for harvest by the time we see you.

May blooms

Hey Miss T

Welcome to May! Here are some blossoms and artsy shots taken on our hike today. I thought they'd be a good way to kick off the month!

Cheers!