{ galvanize my heart }

I'm in love with galvanized metal containers

This is my galvanized pail planter scored at a yard sale...love it.

Old galvanized tin scoop, can't believe I sold this one...what was I thinking? : (

I love this galvanized metal feed tray.

 I'm in love with this vintage locker bin.

These vintage fan blades would make a cool accessory.

Love this vintage metal box.

This vintage milk box could be used for unique storage.

How lovely is this long metal planter?

How about this awesome metal tray.

Has a flour cannister ever looked so cool?

I adore this baby wash tub.

very cool office file box.

This is just some of the awesome galvanized goodness I found on etsy.

click on any link,  and that goodness can be yours.

If you buy some of that awesome goodness

tell the seller you found it here

on { the vintage wren }.

Hope you all are having a lovely weekend.

{ feature friday }

{  Petits Metier  }

a fun little etsy shop

specializing in unique wedding

decorations and favors.

Aren't these favor boxes just adorable?

She also makes the cutest custom pinwheels,

and other unique paper accessories for weddings.

so hop on over to her etsy shop and visit my sweet little sis.

Find the perfect favors for your next special event at

Petits Metier

Happy Weekend

{ tonight only }

{ A LEGEND }

t h e   c r o w d s

t h e   m a s s e s

{ A DIFFERENT CONCERT EXPERIENCE }

o u r    e n t r a n c e

o u r    f l o o r

t h e    g i r l s 

t h e    b o y s

o u r   s u i t e

o u r    g r u b

m y   g r u b 

o u r    v i e w

t h e    w r e n s    w a i t i n g

o u r    b u d s    w a i t i n g

f i l l i n g    u p

h e r e    w e    g o

b l a c k b i r d

s w o o n

What an awesome experience.

I would love to have been closer,

or better yet, smarter....

don't know why I didn't bring Nigel....

I could have gotten some great shots with my tele-lens.

What was I thinking, bringing the little guns to a legends concert?

Well, at least I was comfortable,  that's a concert first for me.

Usually I'm wearing the highest pair of heels I own,  just so I can see,

and before the end of the night I'm hobbling out... whining.

No complaints here, it was a great night,

one I'll never forget.

Thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield for the awesome tickets & show,

and to great friends for sharing another awesome experience.

Love those guys up there.

{ landscape design part II }

LEFT SIDE OF BACK YARD BEFORE

LEFT SIDE OF BACK YARD AFTER

The left side of our back yard is actually the lot next door to ours,

we purchased the extra lot to the left of our home to ensure more privacy.

This lot is also where I plan to have my orchard, and my potting shed { eventually }

I've added two plum trees, and four apple trees to the left, but as of right now I only have

one of each, and they are tiny little friends, so I'll have to wait a while to enjoy this view.

There in front of my potting shed you see my own little raised beds which I plan to expand,

and probably close in with some sort of pretty fencing, and pea gravel paths in the future, 

to help keep the crab grass { cursed mess }, and cute little critters out.

Again, we will add an evergreen border along the far left side of the property line for more privacy.

I have Leyland Cypress in mind because they grow very fast, and I love their shape.

 Cryptomeria's are also an option though because they are even more lovely, 

have the same shape,  and are a more durable evergreen species.

Right now there is a drainage ditch that runs through the back of both of our lots,

I would love to add rock to this area and make it more of a dry river bed,

more of a feature than an eyesore.  In the photo I've added a wooden bridge to cross

over this feature, and I hope to turn the area behind it into a sort of secret garden escape.

Because of the drainage area, I've chosen the River Birch, and the Weeping Willow,

 they should do well in that wet area, and help soak up the water that stands after a storm.

I'm no landscape expert or anything, so obviously I will discuss logistics with my landscaper 

before moving on into serious planting to make sure everything will work out.

I just love the planning, and I've had these ideas in my head for many years now.

I can't wait for the day that I get to see it all come to fruition, and obviously the sooner

I can start the better.  I finally have Papa pinned down so that each new guitar he gets,

I get more landscaping .  So this fall, my evergreen borders are going to get planted, woo hoo.

We both agree we should have gone ahead and spent the money years ago, and we would

already have that lovely border, but hind sight is always 20/20, and it's better late than never.

I'm so excited, I can't wait for fall.

Thanks for all of your helpful comments, I love any advice & experience.

I know what plants I love, and outside of that I always consult with the specialists before I plant.

I have had a lot of fun adding the actual trees and buildings etc. to my landscape, 

it's so nice to have a real visual, other than the ones in my head.

Now, when I tell Papa I want a potting shed maybe he won't roll his eyes at me

because he's thinking I want to throw up some sort of horrible little lean to building.

I'm talking about some really pretty architectural work here people...it has to be pretty,

and a little covered front porch would be ideal so I have another place to sit back

and enjoy the views of my gardens and home.

Oops, sorry there  I go again.

{ landscape design part 1 }

This is the view into my backyard.

See our lovely trampoline that was demolished in the last storm we had.

It ended up close to the driveway of the house behind us....can you believe that.

Now it sits in it's original home, unusable, and I can't wait to get rid of it,

or at least move it over to the left side of our lot { out of the picture }.

While I was sitting outside this afternoon, enjoying the slightly cooler weather today.

I was daydreaming about the trees and landscaping I would like to add to improve my view.

I really do love the wide open views of the skies at night, but I don't care for seeing

other houses. My goal is to create a park like setting in my backyard.

I long for complete privacy, and surrounding myself with 

NATURE.

So, Here's the planting PLAN

I'll need about ten of these Leyland Cypress,

four more of these River Birch to add to the two I already have,

two of these lovely Yoshino Cherry trees

four more of my favorite Limelight Hydrangeas,

and last buy not least by any means, one of my favorites the Weeping Willow.

Now, here's what I have in mind.

You can barely see the house behind me, 

and I'm sure I don't have the cypress scaled to full size.

What do you think?

Is it an improvement?

You have to forgive me for my symmetry,

no matter how hard I try, I just can't get away from it.

This is just a plan too,

things are always subject to change in my world,

Now, my image isn't true to life, because never would my cherry trees

and limelight hydrangeas be in bloom at the same time,

but you get the idea.

I'm thinking it would be the perfect spot for a wedding someday.

Is it crazy that I'm even thinking of that.

I can't help it, I would love to see my backyard be beautiful enough

that my children would wan't to be married under that weeping willow someday.

A girl can dream can't she...now let's just hope I can make it that pretty.

I used photoshop, and the images above to compile the finished photo.

 floridata.com  { yoshino cherry }, sodahead.com { river birch tree }, wofarms.com { leyland cypress }