outdoor lanterns (for my fictional outdoor dining space)

once i get started thinking about something, i tend to obssess a bit. can't help it, it is just in my nature. so i keep thinking about when my outdoor table is finished (come on, chad!) i can't wait to have outdoor parties.

a few years ago we bought some oil rubbed bronze string lanterns for the backyard. they're still in their boxes in the basement. the other day i bought paper polka dot paper lanterns that are super cute. i was trying to find pictures online for both of these lanterns and ended up finding a ton of other really cute outdoor lanterns. check them out.

all of the above i found at walmart.com. the top set looks super versatile because they could go with almost any decorating style. and how cute are the tiny coleman lantern string set? those are solar LED. maybe i should get them for my mom (she just bought a fixer-upper cabin in the middle of nowhere). the last image is of martha stewart paper lanterns that don't light up. that doesn't stop me from loving them. they would be great hanging from the ceiling of a baby room or for an indoor party.

finding the LED colemans made me groove on the idea of hanging solar LED string lights in the backyard. here are some interesting ones i found surfing the net (when i should be working).

i like the above because they are plain and simple and, again, versatile.

these are a little more decorative. the bottom two images wcan be found here and here. the last picture is handblown glass but i would want the amber color - more cozy and warm feeling.

and i my absolute faves are these lanterns handmade by an etsy artist. although they are no longer in her shop.

i want, i want, i want...

these chairs to go with my outdoor barn wood table chad is going to make me. i posted about the barn wood we inherited last fall for the table. you can see the wood here and what the table will look like.

i love how they are old timey looking. from crate and barrel. you can find them here. we'll probably have two benches and then two of the chairs.

and this umbrella, probably in an orange, red or green, from pottery barn.

and i want to put this on the table with candles in it. i found it at an antique store a couple of weekends ago.

symphony in the park

last night was one of the great summer traditions in irvington. the indianapolis symphony orchestra played in ellenberger park. it is so fun to sit outside with friends, family and neighbors, drink wine and listen to the orchestra - all for free!

more landscaping

although there are a thousand projects to be started, completed or somewhere in between, the main focus this summer has been starting the bathroom remodel and the landscaping. more about the bathroom later, this post is about the landscaping.

chad has been busy implementing his landscape plan developed a few years ago. time and money have forced us to complete it in stages. last year it was the part of the back yard, part of the south side yard, and the north side yard. this year is continuation of the back yard and the south side yard. hopefully next year will be the front yard.
the above pictures show the back yard, the newest bed in the lower left corner and then a new tree, a river birch, with flowers given to us by chad's aunt. the bed in the back left is still under construction. it's our "holding cell" for replacement plants at this point.

this is the side yard. we have three types of hydrangeas in three different beds (hydrangeas are my favorite). currently i have tomato plants and some herbs in this new bed in the side yard but they will be gone at the end of the summer. i'll have to find a new place for them next year!

flowers from our yard

isn't it such a great feeling to display a vaes of flowers cut from your own yard? this is my favorite vase, too. bought it at the penrod art fair last year. love the color.

rain, rain go away

the rain we had over memorial day weekend didn't stop chad from planting in our newest bed.

don't i need this for the porch?

we have more room on the porch so i've been wanting to add a glider for a while now. i can picture me lounging and gliding...gliding and lounging. i'd like this one. it matches the rockers we have already so we'd just have to stain and assemble.

i'm not really sure how comfy it is because i've yet to actually see it live and in person. and, or course, i'd have to have a cushion for it. i'm thinking this for the cushion:

and this material for the throw pillows for the glider and also some lumbar pillows for the rockers:

we could do all of this for about $300, a little elbow-grease and some of my mother-in-law's fabulous sewing skills. don't you think i need it??