Patience is a Virtue: Wildflowers

I'm not sure if it was the two tornadoes and heavy rains and the insane humidity and heat we've been having, but something has finally spurred my Wildflower Garden to life. Just when I was starting to think that my idea for a low maintenance flower bed was going to peak as a weedy mess, I spotted them. A few lone blossoms in a sea of green!

In case you missed it, an old shed in the backyard crumpled and left quite a mess. We cleaned the area up and decided to block it off and create some low maintenance curb appeal. Considering the shed was hideous and once it was gone, there was still a hideous open spot of dirt, anything would would be a step up. A couple of bags of wildflower mix and several weeks of watering and rain later, we finally have our first signs of color!

Keep the Curb Appeal Coming...

Renovation Status Update: We are making extremely slow progress with the County and the bank(s). {at least it's something though...} In July we will be applying for a grant that St. Mary's County is offering to residents in critical areas {check} for a new innovative sand septic system. After speaking with a couple Health Department officials, this seems to be the route we need to take.

We've also researched all of our options for financing this project. Now we have to decide who we are going to go with {offering the best rates}, and how soon we can get started.

Next on my check list is to call Dave Decker Plans LLC and schedule an appointment for him to come out to the cottage and draw up our addition {or second story} plans.

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Ok, so in the mean time, we're working on boosting our curb appeal. Bubba took the initiative to freshen up our fence in the front yard with a fresh coat of white paint {pictures to come soon}, and it looks GREAT! That was one job I was MORE than willing to hand over to him. I'm all about painting inside the house, but a white picket fence? I'll leave that to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, or in this case, Bubba Hill!

More up my alley was the flower basket I added to the gate of the fence. I found this cute little metal basket with a flat back and knew it would be perfect for the fence. It just needed a little bit of spray paint and a couple of screws. 

Oh, and of course some flowers too! I grabbed a couple buy one-get one portulaca's from a local flower and vegetable vendor, Betty Russell in Clements, and the project was complete. It turned out so cute, now if only I could get the flowers to bloom out a little more...

I threw a couple of the extra portulaca's in a pot and placed them on stump by our "driveway". 

PBC Survives Another Waterspout

We were expecting some pretty heavy rains yesterday evening here in Southern Maryland, and boy did we get them. Around 8:30pm the thick clouds finally gave way and drenched Colton's Point. Just as I was making my way to the bedroom to read I asked Bubba to mute the TV because it was the loudest rain I'd ever heard in my life. And then it sounded like the porch was going to rip off, and I'm pretty sure the house was shaking/rattling. We flipped on the local news stations and saw that we had a tornado watch in full effect. I got nervous and wanted to head to the guest room in the center of the house, but withing minutes the howling and rattling stopped and the rain slowed down.

We never lost power or had any other cause for concern. But then I got a couple of worried text messages and phone calls and started to wonder if the rest of the neighborhood had seen something we didn't. Luckily, it wasn't much, and there was very minimal damage, but it appears that a waterspout did make it's way down the top half of Point Breeze Rd. and across the Point onto Beach Rd. You can read about it on the local fire departments website, HERE.

I quickly snapped a few pictures as I left for work this morning:

Beach Rd.

Top of Point Breeze Rd.

Top of Point Breeze Rd. (if you head straight ahead in this photo, you'll be on beach Rd.)

Top of Point Breeze Rd.

Top of Point Breeze Rd.

The only damage we sustained: My garden decor/bird, who had been sitting on my porch railing, fell to the ground.  Honestly, I think this so-called spout shot off into the River once it got down in front of our house, so we were pretty lucky!

We Love: Keepin' It Local!

Photo from Keepin It Local FB page.

Growing up in the 7^th District of St. Mary’s County I was always familiar with the old Morganza Post Office. It was right down the street from my high school, and every time I passed it I thought, what a cool, old building, but I bet it’s a mess in there. Given the capital, my mother would have snatched that place up in a heartbeat and flipped it. But since that wasn’t an option we just admired it from a distance hoping that no one tore it down. Then one day we noticed that it had sold and someone had started to renovate it. Though mildly jealous, we were happy to see the old place was being given a face lift.

And what a face lift it received, it is absolutely adorable now with blue paint, white and red trim and metal roofing. Curiosity piqued; we researched the local papers and online articles to see just what was going in the building. Keepin’ It Local: A Maker’s Market is the name of the store/market that calls this beautiful old building home. They are filled with products that are locally MADE, GROWN or FOUND. Brilliant!

Photo from Keepin' It Local FB page.

One Saturday after a particularly hot and unsuccessful morning of yard saling, we made our way through Morganza and decided to check out the new Market. Upon pulling into the parking lot I couldn’t help but notice the adorable hanging signs telling visitors what the fresh produce available that day is. We walked in the door and it was exactly how I’d imagined it: Hardwood floors, an open layout for displaying their goods, a separate section for the produce as well as an upstairs and down stairs filled with local finds and artisan products. I even had a mild “freak-out” moment when I saw the CD’s being sold at the counter with a co-worker’s song as the headlining track! Make sure you check her out, HERE.

Here at Point Breeze Cottage, we LOVE the idea of selling locally and keeping capital within the community. Plus it’s pretty cool to see all of the talent and creativity in your own backyard! It’s safe to say that we’ll be frequent customers of Keepin’ It Local.

Baltimore Love, Hon!

From 1953 to 1983 the Maryland hometown football team was the Baltimore Colts. Winning back to back NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 and several division championships in the 1970’s, the Colts were led by legendary quarterback, Johnny Unitas. Baltimore was disheartened however, when the Colts were offered the opportunity to move to the city of Indianapolis after several shaky seasons. Unable to persuade the team to stay in Charm City, the city government attempted to change state legislature and give the franchise ownership to another group promising to keep the Colts in Baltimore. Unwilling to wait for the government to make a decision on their fate, the Colts franchise packed up all of their equipment and files and headed to Indianapolis on the eve of the legislatures scheduled debate to determine the teams future.

The Baltimore Colts are well known for “leaving town in the middle of the night,” but they still had a loyal fan-base and are part of Baltimore History. That is why we think these Baltimore Colts items are so special and unique. We have a Youth Size 14 sweater with the Colts helmet and logo that is in EXCELLENT condition- I’m willing to bet it’s never even been worn. We also have a Colts helmet lamp that is in working condition, and is only missing a shade. As well as a stadium seat that is also in GREAT condition without any rips or tears, just a slight bit of rusting around the metal portion of the bottom.

This collection of memorabilia would be perfect for a native of Baltimore who has an affinity for the Colts, despite their heartbreaking departure to Indianapolis. Please feel free to contact us about purchasing this set, we’d love to see it go to a good home! You can purchase via our Etsy site or send an email to ptbreezecottage@gmail.com.

The Art of Disguise

I have lived in my home for 18 years. For 18 years I have tried, cajoled, encouraged folks to come in through my front door since there is lovely landscaping, a porch with rockers and flower planters, a pleasant entry! But no....EVERYONE insists on coming in through the back door, which is the laundry room, which was standard back in 1994 (Smart people these days put their laundry close to their bedrooms!). All those years my laundry room/back entry was functional, it served an active household with three busy teenagers, but it was not a pretty room. This always bothered me. But nothing bothered me as much as day in and day out the first thing you would see when you entered through the back door was this darn water heater.

Tapping in to the wealth of ideas on Pinterest, and utilizing my local Habitat ReStore, I snapped up a shutter style louvered closet door. The finish and color were all wrong for my style; pine doors with a honey stain and glossy polyurethane, but I knew they could become the shabby, weathered, antique looking "shutters" I envisioned to disguise the water heater. One coat of Zinsser 123 Primer, a coat of Tulip Yellow like my newly painted laundry room walls, a coat of Graphite, a light coat of Old White, a coat of AS Clear Wax, and finally after buffing, some sanding and roughing up and Voila! My version of old shutters with a lovely aged patina to hide my ugly water heater.

They are still a work in progress, as I am looking for just the right decorative objects to hook on the slats. I've only found one cute little thermometer so far to put there. So just remember, even utilitarian objects with no style or beauty whatsoever can be camouflaged through the "Art of Disguise".  If you like the distressed and aged look of my "shutters" you will probably like some of the other pieces we will be offering over the coming months. Check back with us often!

Calling All Photographers!

Featured Product

Happy Monday, everybody! Today’s featured product is actually a grouping of 3 pieces we have for sale. When we first started Point Breeze Cottage and this journey into restoring old pieces and other vintage items, we noticed a trend. We were selling children’s rocking and other small chairs like they were going out of style. And then we realized that the majority of clients buying these chairs were photographers. Which made sense considering Photography is a rapidly growing career path.

Having dabbled in Photography a bit myself and considering it a hobby of mine, I can see the appeal of a sweetly painted rocking chair when shooting children’s photos. We love finding an old rocker when we are out “picking” and if the price is right, we almost always buy it. Check out the three adorable little chairs we have for sale in our shop right now:

This sky blue rocker would be perfect for a little boy and his 1^st birthday photos!

Rustic and Outdoorsy, this chair would be great for photos of a child who loves to be out in nature.

A child sized rattan chair painted in a pale tangerine looks like it belongs on a sandy beach somewhere.

The only hiccup when it comes to selling these chairs is typically the shipping price. The rockers on the bottom of the rocking chairs make for an awkward shape and size, requiring a larger box and equaling a higher shipping price.  So if you are somewhat local to the Southern Maryland area, please let us know if you’re interested one of these chairs as we’d love to sell them locally!

Before we go, here are some of the rockers and small chairs we’ve sold in the past. See a color or design you like? Let us know and we can recreate the look for you!

Tropical Paradise

Featured Product

That is what I think of every time I look at this vibrant chair, Tropical Paradise. Given to our team from our fabulous yard saling partner in crime, Cathy, this retro chair was in great condition. Sturdy, solid, and structurally sound. Everything you want to look for when re-doing a vintage piece.

Our design expert, Donna, was the creative genius behind this chair, using Barcelona Orange AS Chalk Paint, AS Clear Wax, and a piece of fabric from Calico Corners. If you are looking to add a pop of Tropical to your home, sunroom, or beach house, this is the chair for you.

Please visit our etsy shop to purchase, or shoot us an email at ptbreezecottage@gmail.com for more details!

Thrifty!

With the United States in somewhat of an economic crisis, I’ve noticed a rise in the popularity of Thrift Stores. It’s hard for me to imagine someone not knowing what a Thrift Store or Shop is, but just in case, I’ll break it down for you.

A Thrift Store is a place that accepts donations of used clothing, home goods, furniture, jewelry, and electronics. Some stores are charity or non-profit based, while others can be owned by individuals. The goods that you find in a Thrift Store are often sold at very affordable or “thrifty” prices seeing as they are used. Sometimes the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” rings true when shopping at a Thrift Store, and other times they are full of junk that people just don’t want. But they are definitely worth browsing through when looking for cheap furniture to restore!

Here at Point Breeze Cottage in Southern Maryland, we have several different Thrift Stores to choose from. After an unsuccessful day of yard saling or maybe during a long lunch break, we like to frequent the Thrift Stores of St. Mary’s County; In particular the Leonardtown and Lexington Park locations. These stores accept donations and the majority of the proceeds benefit the ARC of Southern Maryland.

So for today’s “We Love Wednesdays” we are recognizing our old standby, the Thrift Shop. We’ve been frequenting these establishments for as long as I can remember, whether to donate clothes and other used items, or to look for an affordable piece of furniture that needs a breath of fresh air!

Chalk One Up for Point Breeze!

Success!

As much as we love ASCP and the results we achieve using it, we thought it was time we tried making our own. Recipes abound on Pinterest and various blogs, but we stuck with a very straight forward method, 3 parts Valspar satin finish paint, 1 part calcium carbonate. Mix well. Wax and buff once paint is dry, and voila! A lovely finish. Take a look at my most recent project done in our custom mix. We love this patina!

Abell's Diner

Today's local establishment that we love is none other than the delicious Abell's Diner. Located at the 4-way stop where Rt. 242 and Rt. 234 cross, Abell's Diner is a landmark in its own right. Sometimes referred to as the Greasy Spoon, the diner serves Breakfast and Lunch daily. Personally, I am a big fan of their breakfast menu, the "Bushwacker" in particular. Nothing tastes better after a long morning of yard saleing or a night out on the town than a big plate of greasy, homemade breakfast. (Try the biscuits and gravy, you won't be disappointed.)

Their lunch menu isn't too shabby either. As a child, I remember frequenting Abell's with my Dad and siblings, cramming into a booth and chowing down on a freshly baked pizza. My mom, Donna, who works about 5 minutes down the road from the diner, enjoys a cheeseburger and fries for lunch for only $5.50. In this economy, what a bargain!

Abell's is a small, family owned diner, started years ago by Carl Abell. I believe it’s their old school atmosphere and family run vibe that gives it such success. For example, in the cooler months when they make their signature vegetable soup, Carl’s daughter Terri, who now runs the show, will call the company my mom works for, just to let them know it’s a soup day. Another personal touch that caters to the community is during the Catholic Lenten season when they serve fish and other seafood exclusively on Fridays. There may not be a ton a businesses located in the Clements/7th District area, but you better believe that Abell’s parking lot is nearly packed almost every day for breakfast and lunch with all walks of life!

Out of the Blue

Thursday's Featured Product

Back in early spring our yard sale pickings were slim; The thrift shops were depleted, and craigslist was right down pitiful. It seemed there was absolutely no one with anything good to get rid of! After a disappointing Saturday morning we decided to detour and make one last stop, at the local Habitat Re-Store. There were the usual building materials, light fixtures, floor tiles, sinks, etc. and then we made our way in to the “furniture room”. Didn’t see much at first, but as we rounded a corner, there it was, an absolutely wonderful credenza/buffet straight out of a late 60’s or early 70’s dining room. Clean lines with a touch of pizazz? Check. Solid, sturdy, and well built? Check. Drawers and doors in good working order? Check. Is the price right? Well….maybe.

We all looked at each other, and nodded in approval, THIS could be the makeover piece we have been searching for.  You see, all three of us LOVE the way credenzas and buffets are being repurposed in to gorgeous places to house today’s Flat Screen T.V.’s. Storage abounds in these cabinets for DVD’s, games, puzzles, books, just about anything you would use in your family or media room.  We have also noticed a trend for using them in entryways as a place for keys, gloves, mail, purse storage, cell phone docking, etc.  We went up front and asked the very friendly clerk if we could purchase the credenza (or buffet, we still are not sure exactly which it is, although it has a silverware compartment so I guess it is technically a buffet?) She said, “Sure! If you buy the matching china cabinet I’ll give you a discount.” Hmmm we hadn’t even thought about taking on a china cabinet, but what the heck, if Sweet Bubba will pick it up and haul it for us, we’ll give it a whirl!

Bubba picked both pieces up and brought them home for us. We needed muscles, lots of muscles to wrestle them in to the shop, but boy oh boy were they worth the effort. Blue was the unanimous color choice, and not just any blue. Annie Sloan’s Aubusson Blue was what we were all drawn to. So we got to work, painting, and waxing, and waxing some more, buffing, and buffing some more, and the results are so pretty we are having a hard time parting with them. I actually had a scary moment of considering changing the entire décor of my living room just to accommodate the credenza, but sanity prevailed (and my husband Jeb’s look of disbelief kind of  brought me back to my senses), because I just repainted and refurnished my living room!

Let us know what you think of our two lovely pieces. We have enjoyed bringing a shot of color and fun to their somewhat boring original finishes.  You never know, sometimes a wonderful piece of furniture comes your way “Out of the Blue”. We certainly weren’t expecting to find these that dreary morning, but are we ever glad we did.