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Sunday, July 14, 2013

SUMMER INSPIRATION

About eight years ago, my sweetheart and I began planning to build some kind of structure in our backyard.  One night, I googled “outdoor structures”, which led me to the HGTV Rate My Space site.  At that time, I didn’t know anything like that existed on the Internet.  I lurked there for about six months, finding photos of real people’s beautiful homes, before I finally began posting a few pictures of our home. It was so much fun for awhile.
  wish I had all these rabbits!
Then, the meanies moved into the RMS site.  Just as they are on blogs, they were commenters who weren’t posting their own rooms on RMS, and they made a lot of folks stop posting on RMS.  Then, one among us, Michael Lee West, began a blog (Designs by Gollum) and got the word out to some of us who were long-time RMS members.  Once again, I was so out of the loop, I didn’t know what a blog was!
 
garden cottage
love the herringbone brick floor
After awhile, most of the “Designs by Gollum” readers, started their own blogs.  I was one of the last DBG readers to start a blog.  That first night I pushed the “publish” button, I thought it would be my first and last post to this blog!
Garden room...
Love all of the red on this porch.

It is so hard for me to believe that the first blog post I published was five years ago!  It is also so hard for me to believe that this journey began as I tried to get ideas for an outdoor structure eight years ago, and we still haven’t built the structure in our backyard!

potting table
this space is actually open, but the look would work just as well in a sunroom
This has definitely been a journey of learning, and when I learned about Pinterest, the learning continued.  The search for the perfect outdoor decor continues, and Pinterest is encouraging my dreams.
My Potting Bench Has Gone Red White
A House Romance
At least, I’ve apparently admitted to myself that when I’m looking at ideas for our backyard, I am just dreaming.  These photos were taken from my Pinterest board, “Outdoor Dreaming”.
blue and white stripes..
potting bench inspiration
You can find some of my other outdoor dreams on my Pinterest board.
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If one of your photos appears in this post, you are welcome to post my button on your blog.
 
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If your photo is in this post, and you do not want it there, I sincerely apologize, and if you’ll let me know, I’ll remove it as quickly as possible.
Thanks for coming to see some of my summer inspiration.  laurie

13 comments:

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

We sure get a lot of wonderful ideas from our favorite blogs! Happy Sunday my friend!

Terra said...

These are lovely ideas and that line of rabbits caught my fancy.

Sarah said...

Laurie, I'm glad that Michael Lee started a blog and encouraged you and others to follow along. I never knew of RMS. Good luck with the design ideas. There is so much inspiration out there it amazes me. I'm in love with the rabbits marching along the walk. When I clicked on the site, there is nothing like that on her blog. Do you have the post where she shows these. I'd love to know more about them.
Happy Sunday ~ Sarah

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

I love the rabbits, Laurie. Great ideas, thanks for sharing.
Have a great week.
Mary

Cass @ That Old House said...

Laurie, what a fun post. I was never an RMS person -- didn't know what it was until after I started blogging and read about it on blog posts!
Love your outdoor dreaming -- I had such BIG plans for our garden and yard and porch this season, but got started late -- of course! -- and now it is SO DANGED HOT.
The weeds are winning.
And It's even too hot to spray paint!
Let us know when (not if) you get that outdoor structure you are dreaming about.
Cass

Mimi said...

Laurie, you always amuse me- especially when you say you started browsing years ago for inspiration ideas for outdoors- sounds just like me- so many ideas in the cooker- so many that will remain there-ha!

How thinks come and go - RMS was all the rage then- now it is Pinterest!!
xo
mimi

Palomasea said...

And I am SO glad that first post wasn't your last!! You inspire and bring so much joy...just for being you!
Love and blessings,
- Irina

Tara @ Suburble said...

Five years!?!? Congrats, Laurie - that is fantastic! And thank you so much for sharing some of your inspiration. I love those rabbits! I want to find some and recreate that! :)

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Wow! So glad you've continued your blogging journey because you've got so much to share! I was unaware of RMS until I started reading about it on blogs.That's probably a good thing! Love your inspirational photos and I have a few of the same ones pinned!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Laurie,
Just got your post via email and love it. Yes, the blogs really give us so much inspiration that fuel our dreams. The pics you share are wonderful.
Congrats on 5 years of blogging too. Your blog is certainly an inspiration and a joy to read.

I posted last Friday for the WBC. I just had to come back for the
5th year of the event. I sure miss everyone and hope to try and be back in the fall.
Have a great week.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

Dewena said...

I can't imagine anyone not wanting their pictures on your beautiful blog! I bookmarked a few of them to visit later. Congratulations on blogging for 5 years! Seeing blogs like yours has inspired me so much--you know the first one I ever saw was your cowboy dinner for your husband's birthday and I've saved it for my own Texan's birthday coming up before long! And was there ever anything more fun than Pinterest? Nothing that doesn't fall under the name Chocolate anyway?

Timing is everything and eventually you'll know exactly what you want for your outdoor structure.

The Tablescaper said...

I loved learning about your journey.

Wonderful to have you at Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Sarah, since I got these photos from Pinterest, I just used the link that the photo took me to when I clicked on it. I also just went to Zsa Zsa Bellagio and I'm sorry to say that I couldn't find the rabbits. Aren't they wonderful? laurie