This past week was wonderful. We had a few days that were absolutely perfect, weather wise. It was dry and sunny with a light breeze and it was glorious.
I took advantage of those days and spent as much time outside as I could. The lawn got mowed. (Which is more work than it sounds; as we use a push mower for our farm….and it is not self-propelled.) I got a few more things planted in my garden and I had a great time potting herbs. I planted chives, rosemary, mint, thyme and have one pot just waiting for sage.
The pots I used were saved from the junk pile of my in-laws several years ago. They were the pots we all bought in the 80’s that came from Mexico. A couple were slightly charred and one is pretty rugged looking. (I told my husband it had character.) I had some fun-colored spray paint on hand; and set about sprucing them up a bit.
It is always amazing to me what a bit of paint can do for things. It does not completely cover the flaws and that is okay. It does renew those items and I am also good with that!
I have a feeling we are a bit like those pots…at least I am. We might be a wee bit worn or a lot worn. We might have dents and dings, scratches and scars and other flaws but with a bit of paint, also known as love, we are made beautiful again.
It is wonderful to know that with time and love, we are renewed…not like brand new but we are reclaimed. Our lives are still flawed; but they are beautiful and have purpose. It is also good to remember that perhaps we can help in the restoring of someone else.
Like my pots, let’s look for the beauty that may not be readily in view. Let’s allow things to get “messy”….because restoration is messy and takes time….but the end result is worth it. Let’s see the blessing in the cleaning, the painting and planting that makes us reclaimed treasures.
People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anyone.
– Audrey Hepburn
The Chicken Grandma 
I love your spruced up pots. We have mint and chives that come up every year. Wish we had dill.
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I have not grown dill. I know they have plants in the greenhouses around here.
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We like dill on tomato sandwiches and salmon.
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Thank you for the great metaphors as I’ve been feeling a little flawed and chipped lately. You remind me that we all have the capacity to be transformed.
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You are so welcome Ray. I am kind of in the flawed chipped category myself. The pots just reminded me it maybe doesn’t matter,
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The pots look beautiful! You have said this perfectly. I feel a little chipped up but it sure does make you grow. Happy gardening! Talk about a workout to mow 😍
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The mowing is a workout but my husband rationalizes that we don’t have to go to a gym that way LOL. I think he does make a good point on that one. I think you are right….the chipping makes us grow more than if our life was perfect.
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They look great! I would have saved them too.
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A wonderful post Faye with a very good message. I love the colors of your pots – may do that to some of my old pots. I use to have one of those push mowers that took brute strength. Not sure I could do that type of mowing anymore. Enjoy each good day that comes your way. Been picking strawberries and loved every minute outside.
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Your strawberry picking sounds wonderful! I went and bought some in the grocery store so I could make a fresh strawberry pie. They were not as good as self picked berries but they were still pretty tasty.
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There is nothing like a strawberry right off the plant in the garden. I do manage to eat a few as I pick. Ha
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You and my wife are two peas in a pod (or pot.) She has been doing the same thing as you for the past few beautiful days. Also like you, she uses the outdoors as her refuge from the more mundane daily tasks. I’m not sure which of us is happier, her, enjoying her planting and dirt turning, or me, seeing how happy it makes her! You know what they say, “happy wife, happy life!” He, he, he.
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And you sound like my husband Al! He seems to enjoy watching me be happy outside also…..maybe because it does make a happier household???
I always kind of liked the saying “Happy spouse….happy house”. :).
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Dill for fresh pickles….Its a must. Without old pots I would be lost .Maybe I should paint mine. Haven’t done that. This has been abeautiful weather week but rain coming back in. Rivers still over flowing. Bad year for farming.
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It was so much fun painting those pots. I used Rustoleum 2x spray paint. That seems to work really good for me.
You are so right about the rain and farming. It has been tough to get field work done. The corn is still not in due to wet swampy low spots and the bottom small field is not going to get planted till we know the river isn’t going to flood again.
I wondered how you are doing down there with your river!
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Great post, Faye. I love painting things to spruce them up. In my younger years, instead of washing a wall or the wood work, I’d give it all a fresh coat of paint once a year. Of course I’m not capable of doing that anymore, but I still like to paint old things to jazz them up for use in my garden. For example, my husband’s old Jenny Lind crib was unsellable because of safety issues, so I antiqued painted it and placed it outside. The spring now holds different pots of flowers and has become a flower bed.
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I have an aunt that used to paint her ceiling every year because it covered the fly specks LOL. I think you two are on to something with that.
I love the idea of using the old crib for a new purpose. I bet it looks great!
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Oh yes Faye. Just like your pots I may not be as pretty as I once was but am still very functional. A little TLC can go along way. Wow all that mowing with a push mower – I am in awe of you.
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My husband thinks pushing the lawn mower keeps us in shape…he may be right. It isn’t so bad now but once it gets humid it gets to be a bit of a challenge.
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I think you husband is right. When I was in my twenties I worked landscaping for a summer. We used push mowers and I was in the best shape that summer. ☺We drank lots of water.
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Your words and your freshly painted pots are beautiful!🌷
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Thank you so much!
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Your quote always fits the post perfectly and today’s post is no exception Faye – I like those bright-colored pots as well. I have a push mower too, but have a small piece of property. I had to get it because sometimes, like now, if it rains too much in Spring when the lawn is lush, I can’t mow it with the electric mower, so use the old standby.
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We used to have a rider mower but it was always breaking down. We decided years ago to just buy a push mower and have not regretted it. I like to bag the grass to mulch my garden so it is a win win.
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I have done the lawn really early in the morning when it’s cool and none of the neighbors would say I woke them as it is so quiet. I have such a small property that it doesn’t take long at all to do.
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I did the same thing this week! Your s are pretty.You are so right about people too- We must love ourselves enough to care for our self. love you like rain-Michele
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I am sorry I took so long to respond Michele. We were gone the weekend to our children and grandkids. I am still trying to catch up! I have a feeling you totally understand that.
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