Window Shelf – Think Outside the Box!

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Spring has sprung in Seattle. In fact, spring has been springing for the better part of a month now. Daffs have been blooming for weeks, rhodies are starting to show some colors, and the cherry blossoms are full-on.

While last year, we had the rarest blizzard ever and were snowed in by a good two feet of the white stuff, this year has been, well, the polar opposite. No snow to speak of, very few freezing days, and now, when we should be in the thick of winter, there's nary a snowflake or patch of black ice to be seen.

I shouldn't complain. I hate the bone-chilling, ever-damp, dark gray Seattle winters. 

But the truth is, I haven't been ready for spring. It's just not the right time. I mean, what if I accept it and let spring fever overcome me and then, wham, two months of gloom?  What a cruel joke.

This week, though, I let a couple people convince me. "I think spring just came early this year!" "Winter? We already had it."

They better be right, because now I'm feeling the inklings. I bought some lettuce seeds. I whipped out the plans for our backyard after months of disinterest (now there will be a project). I'm ready to weed, plant, mulch, and bask in the sun with a nice margarita.

I do have a point, other than the fact that Mother Nature has suckered me and she's undoubtedly up there laughing her ass off right about now.

Here's my point: I was going through some old photos and found these from a couple of years ago. At the time, I lived in a tiny old cottage that lent itself super well to shabby thrift-store chic. So naturally, I went with it. It was so fun.

One year, I redid the backyard on $100 of plants, a bunch of repurposed thrift store stuff, and a serious case of spring fever. The back of the house was a little bare, so one of the things I did was pick up a gold metal shelf for a quarter, gave it a shot of white paint, screwed it to the house right below a window, and gathered a few plants in some old terra cotta pots on it for a makeshift window box.

Not only was it way easier to assemble and install than a full blown window box, it was so easy to switch pots and plants around with the seasons and my whims. Super flexible.

Look closely – see it under the umbrella? Note: This was not an excuse to show you, yet again, my cute dogs. Really. Truly. But aren't Angel and Lizzie cute?

Anyway, I loved my little window shelf. Still do, when I see these photos. So I thought I'd share the idea, and maybe also share a little spring fever. I mean, even if it isn't officially here, it's right around the corner.

I hope.