Nantachie Lake, Louisiana

We stopped at Mom and Karl's camp in Louisiana.  Yes, in Louisiana (lake houses are called camps).  I know my cousin in Minnesota calls his a cabin.  In Texas they are lake houses.

Whatever you call them, they are all relaxing.

The fish house leading the boat dock is surrounded by cypress trees.

The house is surrounded by trees filled with Spanish moss.  I did bring a bag of the moss home for filling the inside baskets of hanging plants.  

The view above from the fish cleaning house.  The view below looking outside from the den/kitchen.

How does Karl keep a weekend garden?  Very well it seems.  

Tomato plants waiting, but labeled.

And blueberries this year, if they can beat the birds to them first.  

Great picture of Mom and Karl on the back deck.   We caught them as they were getting back from church.  Amazing how they can keep up with it all.   Luckily my nephew just graduated college and spent a week up there doing odd jobs that needed done.  Thanks Daniel!

Hubby said no to black shutters

But I saw this on Pinterest and it got me thinking.

My shutters in my kitchen were bad and broken.  So bad that I could not find one picture for my before shot other than the one below.  Where I had already given away the window treatment and was in the process of taking everything down. 

BEFORE

I made a new window treatment.

I took the shutters outside and sprayed with a matt black paint.  (3 cans, 3 dollars, hollar!)

Splurged on a new chandelier from Ballard's catalog.

Rearranged some sussies.

AFTER

I sit in this part of the kitchen much more now.  I think I need smaller bulbs on the chandelier, but I do like it without shades.  

PS ~ Hubby loves the black shutters!  He wasn't so crazy about hanging the light fixture.  I think his favorite dinner is in order.

Sharing with:
Coastal Charm
Cedar Hill Ranch
Savvy Southern Style
Primp
At the Picket Fence
My Romantic Home
Inspired by Charm

Funky Junk Interiors
Debbiedoos Pin Party
Unusual Window Treatments - Funky Junk

Kitchen curtains ~ New

Remember my find of a great fabric sale at Cutting Corners in Dallas.

I found this fabric 

This is a real life mess in the kitchen . I gave away the old curtains and had started to remove all the "stuff" while making the new curtains.  Note the broken shutters that will soon be fixed.  Light fixture to be replaced.  

and made these and LOVE them.

Coming soon this..

Pinterest inspiration

and a Ballard purchase

Wedding reception fun

This will be my last post from the past weekend wedding.  It's a long one, but great ideas below.  The theme was rustic vintage.  Everyone was greeted by a moss C and K on the church doors, that they will be able to use in their first home as well.

Pew markers carried out the them with burlap ribbon and tall moss sticks.

The father of the bride, our friend Robby, created an arbor out of two old doors.  Caitlin and Barbara found a chandelier at Canton for the center.  I added the grapevine and fresh flowers. Three bird cages surrounded the front edges.

The brides bouquet.

Every table at the reception was different.  The bride wanted bottle and jars filled with just a few stems of flowers each.  Again used the burlap ribbon for table runners and incorporated more moss, grapevine, bird nests, birds and tree stumps.  

One of the more unique elements was moonshine shots.  Since the groom was from Kentucky, the father of the bride picked up some Kentucky moonshine on their last trip there.  Flavored, strawberry, apple pie, long island iced tea and white lightning.  The ribbon banner was made from leftover ribbon from her bridal shoot.  See here.

I don't look tired, but I was getting there.  The bride's aunt made mini pecan pies and they were placed on trays on old wooden ironing boards. 

The Etsy ribbon banner fit in well by the pies.  This was also in the main entrance across from the brides cake and next to the grooms cake. 

You were greeted at the front entrance by ladders and crates, more moss, grapevine and flowers.

Scented hand made soaps for favors.  You just filled a burlap bag.  There was not one piece left at the end of the night.  Again placed in cute wicker baskets on an old wooden ironing board.  

I almost forgot her Dad also made mason jar chandeliers.  

These looked great in the dark with little battery operated lights.

Thanks for all her family and friends for helping.  My daughter's got in town Friday night and I put them right to work.  Since we have been through two weddings of our own, they were glad to help any way they could.

Sharing with:
Funky Junk Interiors
Debbiedoo's Pinning Party

Favorite parts of last weekends wedding

Well just a few of my favorite parts of my Louisiana friend's only daughter's wedding.

It was all about the details.  But first the best part was getting to spend more than a weekend in Alexandria.  I arrived Wednesday morning, right after the first flower delivery.  Nickie's house, my mother-in-law sweetly offered to let her home be my studio.  

Billy Balls

Used everywhere and in the flower girl vases.  

Assorted greens

Stock

Ranunculus and freesia

Plus babies breath, star of Bethlehem, dahlia and roses.

All varieties were used on  the wedding arch made from old doors with a chandelier at the center.  The bride wanted mainly white and greens in the church flowers.  

Boutinierres and Grand-mother corsages were perfect.  

Check out the unique programs ordered off Etsy.  The back is where the wedding party was printed.  

No detail went without notice.  Everyone raved at each special treat.  You wouldn't believe the creativity.  This old window was for the guest sign in with sharpies.  WOW.  

A big thanks to our best friends Barbara and Robbie for letting us be a part of it all!

The photographer will be sharing some of the wedding and reception pictures.  

I didn't even take my camera inside after we were finished decorating.  I was just a guest at that point!