Yard Sale Finds

Larry & I walked up the road last Saturday to check out a couple of yard sales going on in the neighbourhood. And, of course, I came home with some great finds!

I bought this old milk can...something I've wanted for years ever. It is smaller than I wanted, and has a painting of farmland and animals all around the body, not naturally rusted the way I like them. But, bonus is, the dairy stamp is still visible!  On closer inspection, I found it still has the UPC code! It is made by a company called Houston Harvest Gift Products from Franklin Park IL. The woman told me she could never figure how to get the lid off...probably because it doesn't come off, never meant to. I was so happy to finally find one at a good deal, I didn't check all this when I picked it up. I didn't even barter...then again, I rarely do...I usually just pay the asking price or when I have a few items ask what do you want for all this and then give it to them. lol Yard sale people probably love me. :) I don't go often enough to feel comfortable haggling about price. 

Laurel from The North End Loft posted on how she took a milk can that had been painted red then black and 'restored' it to it's original rusty patina. And all with paint! I was amazed at how natural it looked! I have to look into this...I'm hoping the picture can covered and the can will turn out rustic & old. Using her technique, I'm sure it will turn out to be just the way I want it. This is a project I will post when I finish...hopefully soon. 

The family was also selling a bunch of bird houses. I only bought 2, brought them home and immediately started spraying them with some paint I had left over. 

These need a coat of something or other...

I didn't get rid of all the decor on this one, just touched up a bit of paint here & there. Messed up the front, but hopefully the birds won't mind. Will probably work with this one some more, not happy with it...I was too trigger happy and in a rush! (Oh and the one in the background...dollar store, thinking this one's going to have a paint-job in the near future)

 I do like the way this one turned out! Used a pretty blue and 'splashed' some old ivory on top to give a bit of a worn look. I know the birds will be happy here!

Saw this metal container, now this is a patina I love!!! Didn't need to do anything with this fella, just fill with stones, soil & plants!

A couple of Echeveria and a crassula

I also found this old container that I don't think needs a thing done to it. I did have Larry drill a few drainage holes in it, now all I need to do is figure out which plant I'm going to transplant into it.

The church was having a huge sale. And all I came away with was this small Blue Mountain Pottery gravy boat for 50 cents.

 Potted it up with some succulents and it looks great!

 Off the yard sale topic, but still recycling...a nieghbour was getting rid of some old stairs that led to their porch, once upon a time. They brought them over to burn one night when we were having a bonfire. I really have to keep an eye on Larry and his fires...he loves to burn 'garbage' to get rid of it...I keep digging in his burn pile and rescuing stuff. I rescued these stairs and they make a perfect potting 'stand' for my collection of hibiscus!! And I don't need to do a thing to them! :)

I love finding reusable stuff that is usable as is!! And so much of these are perfect just the way they are. :)

Repotting a Huge Cactus!

I bought a Golden Barrel cactus from work a couple weeks ago. I was thrilled we got them in, always wanted one!! It was in a small green plastic pot and of course I have more interesting ones to plant it in. Or so I thought...

Here is my arsenal in preparation for handling this cactus. A little overboard? Maybe...but I didn't want to get speared by him! (I actually found it easier to handle than some of the smaller cacti with tiny spines!)

Our neighbour had a garage sale, and before work I had to stop over. I picked out a 'seatless' child's chair and asked them to hold it for me till I got home. When I got home, I picked up my chair, picked out another item and they gave me the most fabulous cement container! Almost needed the dolly to carry it home, it's so heavy.

I decided the cactus would look perfect in it. But, it looked silly...big as the cactus was, it was way too small for this container. Oh well, I had a new terra cotta pot on standby. The pot will look better when it's well 'used'.

I put a selection of other succulents in the cement planter...and they were a perfect match!

Hawarthia, crassula & echeveria

So this is what I did with the chair! I had a pot that fit perfectly in it, added some fennel and creeping Jenny. I like the way it trails and hides the plain black pot. I put it on the stairs beside the herb garden in the raised beds.

Still haven't put anything in my other garage sale find...pretty sure it will end up an terrarium. :)
(Oh brother...can't find the picture anywhere!! Will have to take another and add it tomorrow.)

It is heavy & solid, I love it. Mind you, it would make a pretty awesome canister or candy jar! Probably what it started out to be... guess it will sit on the table till I find the perfect use for it. :)

My New Potting Bench

Finally finished the potting bench! I'm so happy with it, being higher than the table I was using will make it so much easier working. The table is an old work bench from my husband's shop, I used parts of an old crib for the top shelf & rails for hanging things. Larry built shelves from old wood underneath for storage. I painted it with Rustoleum Oregano, love that colour!!

 Larry building the lower shelf.

 The finished lower shelves.

The upper area...shelf, rack for hanging and the potting bin.

I found an old set of curtains and stapled them to the sides & front of the bench. I love how it looks neater already! We have it set up beside the workshop/games room under the overhang so I can work out of the elements. 

I frequently browse through the Bibles for Missions shop in town. I have found some amazing containers for planting in.

When Mom and my sister were visiting for lunch yesterday, they loved the little pitchers I had. Mom chose one for me to plant up and then chose some plants. This was the first project done on the new bench. It's adorable!

Pachyveria glauca is on the top in the pitcher. Hawarthia, Echeveria sp and Crassula pellucida in the dish. 

What do you use to work on your plants? Do you have a potting bench?

Edit...
Can you believe it? This was my most popular post in 2012! Wow, that's pretty cool. :)

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