The Big, Brown Lawn: Summer of Reuse!

So this summer is all about creativity. I sometimes feel as though we could be on one of those HGTV shows. A combo of the one where they come through and make you look through all your junk for what to keep, get rid of, sell whatever, and any of those landscaping shows, along with one of those fixer upper kinds. We have begun the process of cleaning out our garage. Looking for ways to reuse/remodel the stuff we already have to create things we need for our new yard "areas". My brother, Chris, recently loaned us the DVD for that show Living with Ed. For those of you who haven't seen it, it is a show about actor Ed Begley Jr. and all of his eco-friendly ways that drive his wife crazy. We watched a few episodes which became inspiration for this Reuse Craze. I did like his bike that is hooked up to his toaster to create electricity. He rides for about ten minutes on his terrace and then eats his toast. I can relate, haul gravel, dig holes, build stuff, lift 30 lb. baby. Who needs to go to a gym?

Anyway, back on track...so it all started one night when I was on a cleaning binge and I dragged Josh outside after Mason was asleep and we began to work. He started digging out random things out of the garage and hammering them to this huge piece of wood. He turned it all into this functional work of art that now stands in our garden. An amazing garden totem, complete with places to grow things, hangs tools...I love it.

Mason loves it, too. It is fun to decorate around it with shells that Onyx can steal and drag around the yard.

We are also making and outdoor kitchen for Mason as they are "all the rage". Open any yard magazine and they have an article about them. Mason loves the kitchen and loves to play in them at all the kids stores, yet our little plastic castle is full of train table, also a favorite of his, so Outdoor Kitchen it is. We, of course are creating it out of stuff in the garage. Here is our little one helping out with it.