Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Summer?


I'm having a hard time with the fact that summer is almost over.  It doesn't help that this weekend was in the mid-80s and the past few days were in the low 60s.  I almost feel like putting the heat on!




Even my garden is taken off guard.  The morning glory are just starting to bloom.




The zinnias are just starting.




And my nasturtium have yet to bloom.  A cold June, and a hot and dry July really got everything off to a late start.   





A friend visited for the long weekend and helped me finish a few projects.  I've really been at a standstill with the spool bed since getting its new dark brown finish on.  I wanted the finished bed to be sofa height so using a box spring and mattress would have been too high.





So I've adapted it with a few cross braces that have legs.  And then I added 3/4-inch MDF...





....to create a really solid platform for a mattress.  

As with most things in the house, I like them to perform a dual purpose.  This baby is so sturdy, I can remove the mattress to create a stage...




...and reenact River Dance.  

Performances open October 7th with matinees on Sundays.  Reserve tickets now.


at

37 comments:

  1. Cindi MyersSeptember 7, 2011 at 8:15 PM

    You have totally lost it.
    River Dance?
    and you are SAD? that summer is almost over.
    This horrible long hot humid summer?
    Anyway....
    Thanks for solving MY daybed problem. I finally know what to do to keep it from being so high.
    :) - Cindi

    ReplyDelete
  2. DebSeptember 7, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    I'll have a ticket please. Our plants are way behind too and Stephen lit a fire today in the kitchen. Depressing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KathySeptember 7, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    No such "cool" luck here....still cranking the AC...but grateful (after Irene temporarily took our power) to have it. I'll take a ticket too...there's nothing like a man dancing without moving his arms ......k

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    102 degrees here today... I'll share it with you!

    Tickets? Yes, please!!!

    Karla in CA

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Don't worry Steve, summer will be back this month. Plenty of warm, sunny days ahead for your morning glories to flourish. Can't wait for the performance...almost lost it imagining Steve Flatley smokin' the platform ! Two tickets please.

    ReplyDelete
  6. flwrjaneSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Wait a minute Shelley, make it 4 tickets.

    GG and i wouldn't miss it for the world.

    And there is a very good chance I'd join in.

    very good.

    xo Jane

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I think I might join Jane...I took tap for 20 years. :)
    It's chilly here too. My flowers don't know what to do either and I seriously thought about turning the heat on. I'm ready for fall, I think, but I know that means snow is to follow.
    What a great idea for the bed. You're so full of creative ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pine Tree HomeSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Hehehehe. I saw those tapping shoes and wondered...is there a tapper in the family? I am totally bummed that summer is ending, but I was a little giddy to buy a new scarf on the chilly day. What's up with it being gross muggy humid again?

    ReplyDelete
  9. BonnieSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:24 PM

    We are so looking for an end to the awful temperatures, but I certainly understand where you are coming from. I am so laughing over riverdancing on the bed. Love the bed! Happy tapping!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Comeca JonesSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    Fabulous idea Steve I mean I need to do something like this with one of our guest room sets. Ive been itchin for a day bed! So minus the boxspring huh?!

    ReplyDelete
  11. WindlostSeptember 7, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    I would pay to see your riverdance on that.

    What a great idea to make the bed a little lower, a day bed. You are so clever. I love that you bother. I have ideas, but I cannot be bothered. But you do it all.

    Summer has apparently left Boston and arrived here. Today it was 30C/86F and tomorrow also, for almost the first time this summer. This is the first week of truely hot days. Weird. But overnight lows are so cool, like 5C/40F. Our furnace kicked on in the night last night and today was bloody hot (relatively speaking....we don't get that east coast heat, thank God).

    All my plants are so confused. Leaves are turning on some but others seem to be thriving...

    xo T.

    ReplyDelete
  12. the gardener's cottageSeptember 7, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    it is stupid hot here. my zinnias and nasturtium were done a month ago. i want a front row seat to that performance.

    ReplyDelete
  13. niartistSeptember 7, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Front row, please! :) I know what you mean - same weather here. My garden looks like hell.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mary Ann PickettSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    You are so funny. What a beautiful bed!

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2011 at 4:10 AM

    Dance chimpy!
    I'm wading through wet leaves already here, backbreaking work is ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My Little BungalowSeptember 8, 2011 at 5:23 AM

    I live in the South and I too am sad that summer is coming to an end. It's funny, everyone complains about the heat (summer is supposed to be hot, no?) but soon "winter" will be here and everyone will complain about the cold. I'll take summer's warmth and longer days of sunlight (bare feet, shorts, balmy nights) over winter's chill (two layers of socks, cold hands, darkness at 5pm) anytime.

    ReplyDelete
  17. ClaudiaSeptember 8, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    I'll be in the audience - it's a 'must see.'

    ReplyDelete
  18. Amy ChalmersSeptember 8, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    haha! left me laughing out loud Steve!

    ReplyDelete
  19. RenéSeptember 8, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    I'm in! Love me some river dancing. What a great idea to use mdf for the base. My bed was made by my father and the mattress & box-spring are so thick they cover the pretty mahogany headboard. I have considered purchasing a thinner boxspring, but the expense stands in my way. Might have to explore this a little further.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Linda@ Lime in the CoconutSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Spool bed tap....It has a ring to it.

    Love the bed.....and the colorful posies. And here, we are JUST getting into the THICK of summer. sigh.

    ReplyDelete
  21. DMSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    haha! oh, I want to audition for back-up being an irish lad and all!

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    Projects accomlished. What a solid feeling of gratification. Thanks for the inspiration and chuckle. Yes, I, too, plan to attend the River Dance performance on your small stage.
    Cheeers from Linda in soggy Virginia missing summer while yearning for a crunchy autumn.

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownSeptember 8, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    My garden looks ok...except for the gallons of extra water it's gotten the past few days. Cooler days and lots of rain here in Syracuse.
    Plenty of time for nicer weather left though...afterall...it's only Spetember and I love the fall...except for that nasty season that follows...:-)
    **Tami

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nita StacySeptember 8, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    ha ha! I can just picture you dancing on your stage. I want to reserve my tickets now!

    ReplyDelete
  25. DianneSeptember 8, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    I am sooooo looking forward to fall. Our summer has been hot and humid and wet finished with the big bang of Irene. I am welcoming fall with open arms!!!
    Of course you figured the best way to solve the daybed mattress problem. You always do. I can't wait to see the completion. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Kerry Steele- Design du MondeSeptember 8, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    Hilarious!
    The weather in the NE always bummed me out. Glad I live in the South now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The Vintique ObjectSeptember 8, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I just almost spit out my iced tea.

    Summer isn't over. Not in your garden and not in my book!
    Camille

    ReplyDelete
  28. MiricaSeptember 8, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Front row center please. ; )

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesSeptember 8, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    OK, Mr. Flatley! Can't wait to see you jig! I'll be looking for the YouTube video soon! LOL!!!

    My veggie garden is so confused, I've got tons of green tomatoes! Zucchini blossoms, baby peppers, baby pickles etc., I'm hoping for a warm spell so they'll ripen up for us!

    Have a great day!

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  30. From Beyond My Kitchen WindowSeptember 9, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    I can hear the clicking of the dance shoes as I type this. I enjoy fall so much though it is hard to leave summer behind.

    ReplyDelete
  31. the fishermans cottageSeptember 9, 2011 at 4:58 AM

    The world does seem to be having some very strange weather.. even though its quite warm there's a smell of Autumn in the air here :)x

    ReplyDelete
  32. Carol@6WilsonBlog.comSeptember 9, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Okay. That's funny. River Dance! I'm loathing the end of summer myself. I'm a hot weather girl. Anyway, bed looks great. Really looking forward to the magic in that room!

    ReplyDelete
  33. CatherineSeptember 9, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I hope video footage is to follow...

    ; ) Trina

    ReplyDelete
  34. A.J.BarnesSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    A stage and tap shoes...not were I thought this post was going...but it made me smile!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Share my GardenSeptember 9, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    Can I book a front row seat next to Janet, please, then we can gossip in the interval. Evening of the ninth - my birthday treat! (I'll try not to laugh too much.)

    ReplyDelete
  36. SHERRY HARTSeptember 11, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    I would be sad summer is over also...cause winter is scary in your neck of the woods. And, I am only going to see Riverdance if you are clicking your heels together :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. JenSeptember 15, 2011 at 12:26 AM

    The morning glory photos soooo pretty!

    ReplyDelete