Summer Firepit

What do you do with a fire pit in the summer time?  You turn it into an umbrella table.  The wheels have been turning in my husband's head again and look at what he did all in ONE Saturday afternoon.  Sorry for the blurry pictures.  This is what happens when I don't have my glasses on. 

Construction Stage 1:  Cutting the slats

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Stage 1:  Finished.

Stage 2:  Painting and sanding.

Stage 3:  Add umbrella.

It even matches the chairs.

We have already spent many afternoons eating around the FIRE PIT! He already has in his mind what he is going to do with the table for the winter.  You'll have to wait till fall to find out.  It's a secret.

Money Does Grow on Trees

Recently my neighbor gave a retirement party for one of her teacher friends.  She will be going on a trip soon so she was surprised with a money tree.  It was in FULL BLOOM too!  How would you like to be surprised with this?

Can you see the rolls of money tied to the branches?  The vase is adorable too.  It looks like the branches are part of her hat.

This is a money tree that I did a few years ago for a friend's wedding shower. (Can you tell that it was held in a school media center.)  Yes, I run in a circle of classroom teachers. Look at that cute price tag.  The art teacher made that.  She is so creative. 

Our faculty was so generous and the sweet couple used the money toward their honeymoon.

Below are some pictures of money trees that I found online that are available for purchase.  

I don't really like these money trees.  I think they look cheap.  The trees that my neighbor and I made appear more tasteful.  

What do you think about money trees and have you ever made one?   I think it's a great way to surprise someone special.  

Birds and Trees

I have some more pictures from my dear friend's home.   I went all around her house taking pictures. Remember that chair with words that she found online?  Look at the vase that is placed next to it.

She took some tree branches from her yard and spray painted them black.

 

The branches that she added blend in so well with the vase because branches were etched into the glass.

Don't you just love the addition of the little bird!

Do you see the little bird on the wreath?

 

And that's not all!

Remember the scene in the Wizard of Oz when the apple tree throws apples at Dorothy?

This tree in her back yard reminds me of that.

It looks like it is either waving or getting ready to throw an apple.

How do you like those apples!!!