L&S Gardens

It's a bit late in the year to be talking about a plant nursery/garden but I will absolutely forget if I have to wait.

This August my mom told me about a place she had to take me - L&S Gardens located just outside the town of La Pine, Oregon. I'm so glad she did!

This garden experience is an expansion of a passion is what it looks like, considering it is on their home property where you can see their personal garden (more on that later).

Outbuildings like an old west ghost town are filled with antiques and things great for decorating if you're a fan of junque like I am.

 They have several greenhouses and each has a false front with a distinct personality.

And "the schoolhouse" complete with bell.

They even allow you to walk through the beautifully done landscaping around their home.

 If you happen to be in the area, this place was a wonderful treat to visit.

They even have a website.



Be sure to visit Little Red House to see all the beautiful mosaics!

 

A month of thrifted goods

This summer I spent a month visiting my mom in central Oregon and we made the rounds to all the thrifty places we could find and here's my haul.

The can of Poly was only $1.00 at the Redmond ReStore. I have SUCH plans for that little can. I've been wanting some for ages.
The white decorative pieces are a part of a drawer pull. I bought them at the La Pine ReStore. I don't have a specific plan for them yet, but liked that they were flat on the back and can be put on anything else flat. They cost me $1.00
That $0.50 glass dome also came from the La Pine ReStore. It's for a light fixture but I have plans similar to [this] for it.
The other little dome was just $0.10 at a garage sale.

That enormous roll of burlap strap came from the La Pine ReStore and cost me $3.00. I was so excited when I saw it and my mom says, "What on earth do you do with that?" Oh so many things. She doesn't believe me.

The glass tumbler came from the Bend Goodwill and cost me $0.99 - it is going to hold my makeup brushes in some coffee beans so I can be as cool as this person.

I love drinking my morning coffee out of a vintage Pyrex mug I have and since I didn't have one while visiting my mom I bought one. Found at the Redmond Goodwill and it was the half price color so I got it for just $0.50.


I've never owned a camera tripod but I know I *needed* one for photos at night or dusk. This one was at the Bend Goodwill and was $2.99

And when I got my new camera and had nothing to put it in, I found this case at the Bend Goodwill (during a spectacular lightning storm I might add) for $1.99.


I have been wanting a makeup brush roll for quite a while now but could never fit it into my budget. They had a few of these never used Mary Kay brush rolls at the Redmond Goodwill for just $1.99! Also I love anything Mary Kay because MK is also my initials. It makes me look important to have all my makeup bags monogrammed. ;)

The umbrella was on a clearance rack at Target for just $3.74. Pink? Yes. Polka dots? Yes! Also? It not only opens with the button, it closes with the button!

I read a ton of books while I was visiting and had to buy a couple extras. I remember Cat talking about The Day The Falls Stood Still so I got that at Bend Goodwill for $3.99 (more than most of anything else I bought. Why so spendy on books Goodwill?)

I used to have two copies of The Scarlet Pimpernel - one of my favorite books - and one is on loan to a friend and the other I couldn't find. This copy was just $0.99.

I have been traveling nonstop this summer and one of my travel bags had more hole in the top than it did top. I picked up this Skyway Kid's Gear bag for just $2.00 at Second Tern.

Yes, it is for kids. Did that stop me? No, it did not. Plus it has wheels and a retractable handle and no giant holes so there.

And the icing on the cake...my new super zoomy camera was found at a Bend Pawn & Trading for $90.00.
I have only owned pocket cameras and I can't afford a DSLR so this is a good in between. Plus I can ZOOM. Quite a bit. So much fun.

I wasn't wearing makeup so I was only brave enough to show you my haggard looking eyes.

They gave me a week to try it out which is why there is still a sticker stuck to the bottom.
Oh! I forgot to take a photo of all the movies I got there for just $2.00 apiece. Oh well. Anyway it was a really nice shop, as you can see from their website.

Minus the camera all my thrifty goodies cost me just $26.77!

Blog neglect

I have been away, could you tell? I made sure to write several posts in advance and schedule them to post so I wouldn't look completely gone, but you may have noticed they were heavy on the photos and not so much the projects. It also meant I couldn't visit you back when you left me lovely comments.
I have been here:

A panorama shot from both sides meeting in the corner at the same mountains.

I have also been here:

And I'm headed back. But I have several more things to share with you! Like some of the fantastic wildlife I've seen and all the wildflowers and a fantastic plant nursery.

Mosaic Monday - Bauman's Farm & Garden

I briefly mentioned Bauman's another time in this post but this time I was with a friend and her extended family and a small herd of little ones so I got to see more while I spent more time there.

It was a gorgeous day and a tad warm so...

My friend and I got iced coffee drinks from inside their store (where you can buy an assortment of delectable baked goods that I try not to buy ALL of every time I go) and sat in this little, out of the way, gazebo next to a water feature.

This entranced me and I kept taking photos of it. (Is it larkspur?)

 It was deliciously cool in there and the air smelled like the blossoms we were surrounded by.

They also have a lovely lawn with pathways if you're interested in a stroll.

Hydrangea bliss.

At the end of one of these pathways I found some picnic benches near several raised beds of herbs. Lavender always catches my eye.



These gorgeous lilies were taller than me. But as my friend sarcastically put it, "that doesn't take much."
Tis true.

 And they have a spectacular collection of roses.

You can buy plants of all kinds, yard decor, baked goods, seasonal produce, assorted packaged local foods like sauces and canned goods. If that doesn't tempt you they have play structures and a petting zoo for the kiddos. They also host seasonal events like a pumpkin patch, corn maze, hay fort, etc. And during the summer they have classes that include canning and preserving.

You can visit their website here.

If you're in this part of Oregon I highly recommend stopping by.

Be sure to visit Little Red House to see all the beautiful mosaics!

Also check out Centsational Girl's garden link up.

Mosaic Monday - The Oregon Garden

I recently got to spend my weekend at The Oregon Garden Resort with a friend. We had spa treatments, delicious dinner and local wine and, of course, a walk in the garden after our departure day breakfast.

 As my friend said, "I could get used to having a delicious buffet breakfast prepared for me and then an hour's walk in the garden."

To find out more about The Oregon Garden click here. There's more about the resort portion of the garden here.

Be sure to visit Little Red House to see all the beautiful mosaics!

Molly's Revenge

Don't you hate it when your friends move far, far away? Me too.
But when they come "home" to visit you're sure to have a good time.

Last Friday I was invited to join my friend and her dad for live music - we knew it was Celtic but had no idea who they were or what they were called. Imagine the laugh we all got when we saw the band's name.

I texted my future sister-in-law the photo and she said I should walk in and say, "the star has arrived!"

My friend that was with me was feeling a tad nervous, "are we going to get in here and the doors will lock and Molly takes her revenge?"

Ha! Oh there are some I would be tempted....but no.

 Forgive my all black but I had been to a funeral that afternoon with no chance to change.

The paintings on the building could only be explained by knowing more about the town.


The band of Molly's Revenge* was fantastic. You can check out their website here.

If you are in the area and are interested in going to the Mt. Angel Performing Arts Center you can check out their website here.


Also if you are in the area (sortof) and into interesting music, the annual Gymanfa Ganu will be on June 26th.
Don't worry, I can't pronounce it either.


*Can I just rant for a minute about how if it isn't every farm animal and family dog that is named Molly then it has to be an amorous hag? What is the deal?

The Vintage Shoppe & Lavender Hill Cottage

I and a few others spent all of yesterday visiting vintage and thrift shops in Oregon City. If you grew up in Oregon you know how important this city is to our history - it's the site of the end of The Oregon Trail.

Anyway, our first stop was at...

This shop is on 212 14th St. Oregon City, OR 97045 for all you google mappers. :)

This shop is located in an historic home which just adds to the charm.

I completely spaced taking photos of the downstairs because I was more concerned about dripping on the pretties since it was, of course, POURING rain outside as we walked in.

Upstairs each closet and tiny room is filled.

And you have to really spend a lot of time just standing and moving your eyes around to see everything.

I loved these dishes and teacup stacks.

There's even a basement full of goodies too (there's an old dumbwaiter going down to the basement that I was fascinated by). My mom bought a beautiful shabby chic pillow and I drooled over a few things but didn't have any cash with me - dang!

Just two houses up the sidewalk is...

 There is actually quite a lot of lavender inside and it smells divine.

They had the most fantastic collection of plaid thermoses and lunch kits in one of the baskets on the left - why didn't I take a photo?

Right inside, this closet was filled with vintage clothes and accessories.

The kitchen is filled with kitchen items...

It is completely adorable inside. Talking with the woman working there, the place is run by several people and they take turns working so one person isn't stuck working there all the time. A nice way to run things, I think.

I loved all these vintage suitcases.

If you are in the area do stop by and visit these shops!

 Several stops later and we finally made it home. My future SIL and myself shared some of this uniquely flavored sorbet. It's very creamy and not really sweet but I liked it. I think I may have a mild soy allergy so I appreciated that this treat was made with coconut.

A very wet, very tiring day, but oh the pretties! :)