Our Italian stone fountain, which is located in our front yard, was beginning to show signs of deterioration. The iron spouts had completely rusted and the stone was covered with crusty lime that was leeching from the stone. You may recall, this project is on my New Year’s list of home maintenance needing attention (see post here).

It didn’t make sense as to why the lime was leeching out of the stone as the plumbing system inside the blocks was supposed to be self-contained and not leaking.

However in taking the fountain apart, we found a jury-rigged system using PVC pipes. The entire inside of the stone fountain was filled with water, hence causing the lime to leech out and form a white crusty mess on the outside of the stone.

I contacted Relics where we had purchased the fountain nearly 20 years ago to find out where we could get new spouts. Unfortunately, the initial style they sent to me was too contemporary for this type of fountain. Thanks to the internet I began my search looking for replacement copper spouts.

As a result, I discovered Black Oak Foundry in California. They were extremely helpful and asked that I send pictures and dimensions to them.

In the meantime, I was unable to remove the rusted spouts to find out the size of the male NPT (National Pipe Thread~~see what you can learn here?) and needed the assistance of a plumber. It took two men with big wrenches to get them out.

Once we had the parts out, then we had to determine the proper size of the replacement. Since there are no local stores or vendors who supply this, we had no choice but to buy spouts online. Black Oak Foundry recommended 2 sizes, with wide pricing differences.

Using an old pizza box, I roughly designed the dimensions and then I cut out mock ups of the two different size spouts available to us.

This was a mathematical challenge because we had several factors to consider. Obviously the size of the spout was important from an aesthetic perspective. But the fountain serves a purpose. Not only is it decorative but the running water drowns out some of the road noise. We had to take into consideration the distance from the spout to the basin, the dimension of the spout hole, and the speed in which the water would flow. We didn’t want the water to splash up or out of the fountain.

Since we had a bit of rust staining, this spout needed a custom escutcheon to cover the rusted insertion hole. So once I placed the order, if it was wrong, I couldn’t return them for a refund.

Aesthetically, the smaller spout seemed to be a good choice and our plumber said he could make it fit to the new plumbing. We ordered two spouts with an oil rubbed bronze finish.

The spouts arrived and I was very happy with the quality. I ran out and held them up to the fountain, hoping and praying they would fit!

The plumber installed new copper plumbing guts so it will not leak anymore and attached the new spouts.

What I didn’t consider is that the tip of the spout is flanged so the water makes a bit of a helix as it falls to the basin.

It is a bit unsettling to order something sight unseen while spending lots of money at the same time. I am delighted these spouts look beautiful and create a lovely water sound. I still need to clean up a few rust spots, but it feels good to get another project done!

Are you crossing any projects off your list?

Now for some more DIY backyard projects! If you are visiting from one of these fabulous women, thank you for stopping by today.

Andrea of Design Morsels should be the Cliff notes to all things home related. She is the master at evaluating products, creating design solutions and just being resourceful. Check out her blog post on refinishing teak furniture. I need to put this on my list of things to do.

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations has yet again found a way to make another interesting DIY project. Her ingenuity is endless and today she shares not one, not two, but 3 ways to use solar lights outside.

Tarah from Grandma’s House DIY has story after story about her renovation of a 100-year old farmhouse. She has done an incredible job on her outside deck. Now she is making her own bar top deck railing with this amazing piece of oak.

My new friend, Kippi from Kippi at Home, is a chef but also does everything else from home decor, crafts, sewing and gardening. Her outdoor project is this obelisk that you can make yourself.

Thank you for joining all of us today at our monthly home DIY blog hop.

Now that the freezing temperatures are behind us, it is time to start planting the Spring garden. The evenings are still cool and the days are nice and warm (but not too hot). I am often asked if it takes a great deal of time to garden. The answer is no. Some planting attention is required 4 or 5 times a year at the beginning or end of the season, but the benefits far outweigh the work. Here’s what I plan to do in the garden now.

Over the weekend, I tore out all the older winter vegetables and prepared the beds for new plants. In order to keep the soil nutrient friendly, I add a bit of organic fertilizer and/or compost. I rotate the crops so I’m not planting the same thing in the same place season after season. To see more about my winter garden, click here.

As you recall, I have 5 raised beds for vegetables and herbs, with a picket fence around the perimeter. To see a previous post on how I designed my garden, click here. Though birds can fly in, the fence keeps the chickens and dogs out. Sox, especially, LOVES the fertilized soil and lays in it because it smells good to him. Pee-ew.

This season I am planting more tomatoes than ever. There is nothing better than canning your own tomato sauce and using it in December. Tomatoes in the winter look like tomatoes but taste like nothing, nor do I trust those raised out of the country. I am hoping to have a bumper crop!

Whitfill Nursery has a wide variety and selection of tomatoes. I purchased San Marzano Redorta, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Kellogg Breakfast, and Sunsugar starter plants, all non-GMO. I have had great success with the Black Krim, which is an early heirloom from the Crimean peninsula of Russia. The tomato is a beautiful dark mahogany color.

Currently, I have 3 tomato plants that sprouted from a previous season’s seeds. I think two are Pearson and the hardiest plant is a cherry tomato variety.

Years ago, I purchased 40″ tomato cages from Burpee and love them. Since I have more plants this year, I am buying additional cages online. Here is the link and I highly recommend them. With the code BURPEE20 you can get a 20% discount in February. The quality is very good and they fold flat when not in use. I have purchased cheaper cages that fell apart after a few seasons. Tomatoes need cages to support their growth and tomato production.

During the growing season, I may need to protect the plants from intense sun, frost or too many birds. The white hoops you see in the above and below picture provide a framework to add netting, shade or frost cloth. Using a piece of rebar that sticks in the dirt, you can bend the PVC pipe and slide the end over the rebar to make these frames. The rebar and PVC piping can be purchased from Home Depot or any hardware store.

In addition to tomatoes, this week I am planting Shishito peppers and fennel (which I have not grown). The peppers are sometimes called “the wrinkled old man pepper”. They are mild with a hint of spiciness and great grilled with olive oil and sea salt. I love fennel thinly sliced in salads or with oranges. It’s fun to grow new items each season.

Even though I bought artichoke plants, they tend to come up on their own year after year.

I haven’t started sowing my seeds for French breakfast radishes yet, but will soon.

Ah, carrots. I do grow them from seed. Some years they are fine and look long and slender, but last time I planted them, they looked like this.

Gardening is joyful because it is a bit unpredictable. Crops vary with the weather. Sometimes your harvest is perfect and other seasons you just scratch your head and wonder what you did wrong.

My raised flower bed has a mind of its own. There is no room for me to plant anything, because the nasturtiums, hollyhocks and poppies have self-propagated and taken over.

Here is a list of vegetables that are good to plant now if you live in the Valley of the Sun. The P means you can plant plants now and the S means you can plant seeds. SP means either. If you live in a different planting zone, consult with your local cooperative extension to find out what grows in your area. Here is a link (click here) to find extension services by zip code.

• Artichokes – P
• Asparagus – P
• Bean-Pinto, Black – S
• Bean-Italian Bush – S
• Bean-Lima-S
• Bok Choy-P (most of my plants bolted except one. I will see how the last one fares in warmer weather)
• Carrot- S
• Swiss Chard -SP
• Corn – S
• Cucumber – S
• Eggplant – SP
• Jicama- S
• Kohlrabi – S
• Lettuce- SP
• Melon- Cantaloupe – SP
• Onion – Green – SP
• Parsley – P
• Peas- P
• Bell Pepper- SP
• Radish – S
• Soybean – S
• Spinach – P
• Sunflower – S
• Tomatillo – SP
• Tomato- SP

Whether you have a large or small plot, raised beds or just a few pots, I strongly encourage you to garden. There is something very gratifying about getting your hands in the soil and watching something grow. Picking a fresh snap pea or a tomato warmed by the sun feeds the soul.

In the next few weeks I will continue to add to the spring garden. Do you have a garden? Has this post inspired you to try gardening? I am always happy to answer any questions you have. Our growing seasons here are a bit different from other parts of the country and it took me a while to understand what to plant and when.

Happy Gardening!

This week began with my husband going out of town for 4 days. Do I tackle a big project or sit and watch chick flicks and relax? As his plane was departing I was already pulling things out of the “does a hoarder live here?” garage. Two out of the 3 bays are relatively organized, but this one was the dumping site for just about anything. It is embarrassing to show you this picture but here it is.

For 3 full days, I worked countless hours, sorting and organizing and I only put a dent in it. I’m not sure if it was standing on the concrete floor but I was so sore and fatigued after doing this. But I’ve made good progress and now there is some breathing room to work in. How one collects so much stuff, I do not know.

With any luck, I’m hoping the garage project will be finished before the brutal summer heat.

Do you remember I planted a bulb garden in September? In addition to dividing all my irises, I planted nearly 450 bulbs. See post here. I am excited to report that the hyacinths are already showing their purple flowers. The tulips and alliums are breaking ground too!

Since the frost is behind us, it’s time to start planting the Spring garden. The winter vegetables are past their prime. The broccoli and bok choy are starting to bloom.

I yanked all the cauliflower, broccoli, peppers and lettuces that have bolted, in preparation for tomatoes, artichokes, and spring herbs. The chickens love getting the discarded plants. The beds have been cleaned and fresh fertilized soil will be added.

It’s King Cake time! As you may recall, I was introduced to King Cake when I was part of a work crew that went down to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina (see post here). I make this every year before Fat Tuesday (the day before Lent on Wednesday).

To learn more about King Cake, Mardi Gras and its tradition, click here.

We are having heavy rains this morning! With 299 sunny days per year, we love and appreciate the rain. This is the first time I’m adding a video link to a post, so hopefully you will be able to view it. We have a rain chain off the master bedroom terrace to slow down the rain run off from the roof. I think it’s mesmerizing to watch in the rain. Make sure to turn on the sound.

Have a wonderful Saturday! Just enjoying my coffee and a quiet morning so far! Do you have any special plans this weekend?

I went out of town and came home to a kitten. This happened to me twice. Seriously. My mother did not like cats. It is one of those questions I wished I had asked her before she died. Why didn’t she like cats? Growing up we only had dogs, no cats. By osmosis I suppose, I haven’t been very fond of cats. Indifferent at best.

While at the Brimfield Antique Show in 2010, my phone pinged and there was a cute kitten picture from my husband, with the text, “look what the girls found”. I immediately called him and was told the girls were playing in the yard and they captured this kitten. I promptly asked what we were doing with it? The response was, ” We will find it a home.”

I returned a few days later and the kitten had a home…..ours. There was a new litter box and the kitten had a collar and a name. Sigh. But she was a cute little thing and the girls were SO excited. I agreed, as long as I didn’t have to clean out the litter box.

About a year later, I was out of town again. This time I received an angry phone call from my husband. He thought the girls were playing nicely and happily running around the yard. But unknown to him, they were trying to capture another kitten. Whaaat? This time he was NOT happy about it and we definitely agreed that this kitten had to go to the rescue shelter. When I got home, the kitten had a name, a collar and a new home…..ours.

At that time, we had 4 dogs, chickens, ducks, rabbits and now CATS!?!? God made kittens cute for a reason. I must admit that these furry creatures did worm their way into my heart. Donovan, a Maine Coon male, is so people friendly and not afraid of anything. Tippy is our prissy, aloof female.

The cats and dogs get along rather well. Donovan loves to play with Cooper’s tail. When the house is cool, they all snuggle together.

Last year, Donovan suddenly became very ill. He was fine in the morning but by dinner time we couldn’t find him. After a lengthy search, we discovered him huddled behind the washer/dryer. I didn’t realize cats could get gravely ill so quickly. Being indoor cats with restricted access to the entire house, I couldn’t imagine what he had gotten into. This is what prompted me going down the rabbit hole with my Google search into cat food and illnesses.

I was surprised to learn that cat food is commonly recalled. And there are numerous articles about the deficiencies of dry cat food. It was rather terrifying to read all the problems with cat nutrition. I was already making our dog food (see blog post here), so how difficult was it to make healthy food for the cats?

Many of you have asked for my recipe for fresh cat food. I have sourced this recipe from The Whole Pet Diet by Andi Brown. I make it monthly and freeze it. We add a big spoonful of this to their kibble twice a day. We also add a few drops of the Beautiful coat oil (see previous blog post here), which helps prevent intestinal blockages.

The cats LOVE it! They lap it up and there is never any left over in their bowls. And we haven’t had any further emergency visits to the vet.

I have to thank the girls for being such good trappers. The cats are wonderful additions to our menagerie. As much as my husband was adamant about not keeping the second cat, Donovan loves him the most.

When I finally get off my feet at the end of a long day, this is a typical scenario. The cat(s) and dog sit on me/my legs and settle in for the night.

The cats have enriched the childrens’ lives as well.

Do you like cats? Out of all our animals, they are the least labor-intensive. But they have added such value to our lives. It’s been a good lesson for me to understand old prejudices, make my own choices and to give cats a chance.

I know you love Before and After pictures. This blog post is about a neglected foyer that transforms to a gorgeous stately entry, using paint and a lot of elbow grease.

Let’s look at the grand exterior of this 1920s historical house I restored/remodeled. This beautiful home is now owned by a wonderful young family. In spite of its deterioration, the house has such a gorgeous front door and impressive entrance.

The Before

As you may recall, this Jeffersonian house was built in 1922 and prior to my purchasing it, was locked up and unused for 20 years. This house spoke to me and it was so sad that it was in this state of disrepair.

The foyer is grand, albeit very shiny, very FUSCIA and very gold.

The previous owner was a little heavy handed with the gold paint. The plaster curlicues are glued to the walls and the staircase. But look at this arched door?

The entire home is in need of updated electrical. But can you see the potential in this space?

The pink madness continues up the stairs to the second landing.

But the bones are there, aren’t they?

During the Restoration

Under the heavy layers of paint there is a mahogany bannister. Using a heat gun, I carefully peel back years and years of paint. We remove the gold plaster accoutrements and prime the room a neutral paint color.

This is a tedious process, but well worth it in the end. I am concerned about how blotchy the railing looked. Will it take the stain the same way?

Here is the view to the inside of the front doors. There was a lot of trippy paint in this house….maybe too many hallucinogens? Go figure.

In stripping off the paint on the posts, we realize they are pine and will not stain like the mahogany railing. We decide to leave those white and repaint them the same color as the balustrades.

The front foyer looks better all ready just by toning down the paint color.

The handrail is carefully sanded by hand to remove any residual paint. After some research to solve the blotchy problem, I prepare the surface with a pre-stain conditioner by Minwax. It prevents blotchiness and conditions the dry and thirsty wood.

Here is the railing with the new stain on it. Using Minwax PolyShades, I am able to apply stain and polyurethane in a one step. I am very happy with the results.

After painting the walls and balustrades, the stair treads and flooring are refinished.

The upstairs linen cupboard is given a new custom door. The missing chandelier is replaced with this one from Ballard Designs (Claire 6-arm chandelier in Etruscan Gold). It is the perfect size and shape for the space.

The existing downstairs chandelier is too big and hung too low….plus the beads and crystals are plastic. Obviously not original to the house. Here is the Before picture again….

The After

And here is the finished After photo!

In the entry, the new small pendant is elegant with a short drop so it works better with the ceiling height. I could have sworn I bought it from Pottery Barn, but I couldn’t find it online. If anyone needs the resource, let me know and I can search through my files.

Structurally, this room was sound. It just needed some love. The floors are original and brightened up with light sanding and refinishing. The house is staged with furniture prior to going on the market.

The restored front foyer is now appropriate to the quality of this stately home. The darker handrail highlights the beauty of the staircase. Personally, I wanted to be the one to bring this bannister back to life. I would often imagine all the hands that have gone up and down this over the last 100 years.

Though this house was neglected and a huge eyesore, after a 9 months re-birth, it is now a neighborhood gem. It fills my heart to know that a young family have made it their home and are creating their own wonderful memories.

I did write a few blog posts during this renovation so if you would like to go back and read them, here are the links. The Willetta Remodel, click here. The Willetta Renovation is Finished, click here.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Resources:

Professional photos: Adam Peter, My Haus Photo

Painter: John Cruz, Ultimate Interiors

Electrician: Tony Boyer, Boyer Electric

Flooring: Wildwood Custom Floors

Staging: Castle Designs

Hardware refinishing: My husband

My very first blog post in September 2016 was about a charitable English tea we had here at Bella Terra with New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, Rhys Bowen.

Not only was the event a wonderful fundraiser for Family to Family, (they provides scholarships to students in rural El Salvador) but it wasn’t your typical tedious fundraising event. Everyone got into the spirit of the English tea by wearing fabulous hats and dresses. The caterer, Julie Greder, outdid herself by providing beautiful sandwiches and scones.

As a result, we had a subsequent English tea fundraiser in April 2018. See blog post here. What made both events extra special was the main speaker. Rhys Bowen, with her lovely British accent recounted her hilarious stories about her characters, the details of her extensive research and her book writing experience. Surprisingly, Rhys writes two books a year!

During the event, there are charitable items you can bid on……one being the ability to be a character in one of author’s next books. My sweet husband purchased that item two years ago and quite frankly, I completely forgot about it.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Rhys asking if I would like to attend a book event at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, where she would be discussing her new book. It was at that time she told me that I was a character in her latest novel, Above the Bay of Angels. What? Wait? Weren’t we supposed to discuss this beforehand?

Since the book hadn’t been released yet, I didn’t know if I was a villain, a tramp, or a pathetic historical character. I don’t know where I got the idea that this famous author would consult with me on what role I would play in her book. Delusions of grandeur?

We drove to the book event which was very well attended. I was excited to hear about the book, while discovering what character was I going to be.

Known for her historical research and her attention to those details in her novels, Above the Bay of Angels is based in London and Nice in 1896, during Queen Victoria’s reign.

Naturally, I was anxious to get my hands on one of her “not yet released” books. I surprisingly found this lovely dedication in the front.

Rhys made me a delightful character! I am in my 40s, married to a Marquis and live in a villa in Nice, France. What I love about Rhys’ books is not only are they a joyful read, but there’s a history lesson in each. Above the Bay of Angels has it all~~oppression, opportunity, crime, adventure and romance.

They say that everyone has their 5 minutes of fame….I’m guessing this is mine! I haven’t finished the book yet, but am in the last few chapters and truly enjoying it. Rhys has a gift of keeping the answer to “whodunnit?” to the very end.

That’s my exciting news for the day! If you love to read and want an author to follow, I highly recommend Rhys Bowen. Her series include the Molly Murphy Mysteries, Constable Evans Mysteries, Royal Spyness Mysteries and currently she has 5 stand alone books. Click here for her Amazon link.

It’s hard to believe it is already Wednesday! Enjoy your day!