Retro Ashtray Stand Table

Like I say, I am blessed to have friends and neighbors (you know who you are!) who give me their cast offs to repurpose.  A few weeks ago I saw this cool, retro ashtray stand on top of my neighbor's trash can.  After a quick text asking if I could have it, I snagged it because I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do with it.

 I loved the whole retro feel to this piece so it was definitely going to be a table for my gazebo, and of course, it would HAVE to be red.  

 Another friend had given me a lot of 'stuff', and in that haul was this lazy susan.  So I removed the "rotating" part from the bottom by just removing a few screws.  A quick coat of white chalk paint and some distressing and this was ready for some artwork.

 Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate winter and how much I love summer.  I knew that I had to find a 'summery' quote for this piece and was so excited to find this quote by Lucy Maude Montgomery, (gosh I love that name!) author of the Anne of Green Gables series.

 In keeping with the 50's feel of this piece, I found this great retro font.  I printed it out using WordArt to get it to curve and then traced it onto the wood using graphite paper.

 Here it is, painted and with a few coats of wax. A little E6000 glue attached this nicely to the base that I had sprayed with a few coats of glossy red paint.

 I love red (did I say that already??) and I love summer (said that too??) and I LOVE spending as much time as possible in my gazebo on hot, summer nights so I am thrilled with how this turned out.

 Ava likes it too :)

I wonder what it WOULD be like to live in a world where it was always June!?

Linking to these parties this week:

The DIY Showoff   http://diyshowoff.com/ (Monday)

I Should Be Mopping the Floor http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/ (Monday)

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/ (Tuesday)

Cedar Hill Ranch The Scoop http://cedarhillfarmhouse.com (Tuesday)

Creations By Kara http://www.creationsbykara.com/

Savvy Southern Style http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

Ivy and Elephants http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/ (Wednesday)

The Thrifty Groove  http://www.thethriftygroove.com/

Living Well Spending Less http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/ (Thursday)

The Feathered Nest http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/ (Friday)

The Charm of Home http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/ (Wednesday)

Simple Nature Décor http://www.simplenaturedecorblog.com

French Country Cottage http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/

The Enchanting Rose http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/ (Tuesday)

Bella Rosa Antiques http://www.bellarosaantiques.blogspot.com/

Villa Barnes http://www.villabarnes.com/

Peach Pie Scones

 I love peaches -- especially when they're in something yummy like these peach scones! I found this recipe on alattefood blog and just had to try it -- WITH a few modifications to make it a bit 'healthier' for our diet.  Be sure to check out the original recipe!

A dear friend is moving (insert sad face here) and knowing my love for vintage teacups, she gifted me with some from her collection.  This is one of my favorites and it came with the matching dessert plate.

I love the gold detail and Royal Albert is definitely one of my favorite makers of china cups and saucers.

We are enjoying one of the FIRST hot days of the summer (FINALLY!) with a heat index near 105 -- perfectly logical day to heat the oven to 400 degrees and bake scones!

Below is the original recipe with my modifications.  Enjoy!

(Note: I DOUBLED the recipe 

so I could freeze some of these)

• 2 cups + 2 Tbsp all purpose flour (4 cups + 4 T flour)
• 1/3 cup brown sugar (2/3 c brown sugar)
• 1 Tbsp baking powder (2 T baking powder)
• 1/2 tsp salt (1 t salt)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cubed and cold (still just 1/2 c butter - I used salted)
• 1 egg (1/2 c egg substitute = 2 eggs)
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream, plus more for brushing(1/2 c fat free half & half)
• 1/4 cup sour cream (3/4 c fat free Greek yogurt)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract (4 t vanilla)
• 1/2 cup fresh peaches, diced (1 c diced peaches)
Vanilla Glaze
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (1 c powdered sugar)
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract (2 T vanilla0
• 1-3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream (2-4 T fat free half & half)

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Once combined, cut in the butter with a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Whisk together heavy cream, sour cream, egg, and vanilla extract. Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
4. Stir in the peaches, and mix until just combined.
5. On a well-floured surface, turn out the scone dough and pat into a small disk that's about a 1/2" thick. Cut into 6-8 slices, and transfer to the baking sheet. Brush each scone with just a bit of heavy cream.
6. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or just until golden brown. Allow to cool.
Glaze
7. Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1 Tbsp of heavy cream. If the glaze is too thick, continue adding in heavy cream, one 1 Tbsp at a time, until it has reached the desired consistency. Pour over warm scones and enjoy!
   Linking to these parties this week . . .
   The DIY Showoff   http://diyshowoff.com/
   
   
   I Should Be Mopping the Floor http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/
   
   
   Nifty Thrifty Tuesday http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/
   
   
   Creations By Kara http://www.creationsbykara.com/
   
   
   Savvy Southern Style http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
   
   
   Ivy and Elephants http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
   
   
   The Thrifty Groove  http://www.thethriftygroove.com/
   
   
   Living Well Spending Less http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/
   
   
   The Feathered Nest http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/
   
   
   The Charm of Home http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/
   
   
   Simple Nature Décor http://www.simplenaturedecorblog.com
   
   
   French Country Cottage http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/
   
   
   The Enchanting Rose http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/
   
   
   Bella Rosa Antiques http://www.bellarosaantiques.blogspot.com/
   
   
   Villa Barnes http://www.villabarnes.com/