Just a Swingin'

While browsing Pinterest one day I noticed a picture of a bed hanging from a tree and got lost in the idea of how relaxing it looked.  Perhaps on such a bed one could escape the many demands of motherhood and even of being a wife/homemaker sometimes.  While lounging on said bed I was pretty sure all cares of this world would disappear!  I showed my hubby the "pin".  My hubby has such a love/hate relationship with Pinterest.  I've tried many recipes from there lately and some have been a flop and others a hit!  It's not uncommon to be eating our supper and have him ask "Is this a Pinterest idea"?!  I can usually tell by his tone if he's loving or hating it at the moment.  So anyway, I showed him the pic and said "Doesn't that look so relaxing?"  His mind immediately went to the pile of barnwood in the garage and he started planning it all out within a few minutes.  We walked around our property and found a tree that looked like a good sturdy tree.  One that could probably withstand people not only lounging, but kids probably bouncing! 

Brad had off of work July 4th so he decided to spend the day making this thing for me. 

So get this...I was regretting saying something to him because I would've loved a day "to myself".  Baby C is outgrowing everything and it's tough to go shopping with 2 in tow.  Brad knew I wanted to get out a little so after he was done with the first part of the bed he sent me out the door to go shopping oh and while you're out...get yourself a pedicure.  Spoiled much?  Yup I am and I have no trouble admitting it.  I so LOVE this man and the way he showers me with love!

He had a very willing "helper".  She follows him around all day when he's home.  So he got her a hammer, some nails and a few pieces of wood and she was entertained for a while!

An hour or 2 later it looked like this!

I dug this old thing out of the corner it was dwelling in.  I got it free at the auction I used to work at.  It was going to be used in a scene at our Christmas Nativity but never made it there.   Brad fixed it so that the light parts went up instead of down and stripped the wires.  I spray painted it black, put candles in and hung it above the bed.  We need to figure out how to hang it lower because it's kinda hidden in the tree!

I wasn't home when Brad drug the bed out to the spot in our backyard we picked out so I have no idea how he got it there.  He set the bed on jacks to allow him to work with the rope.

Pretty much my only instructions to him were that I don't want to be laying on it and be afraid that I'm going to fall down or off.   He used thick heavy rope and used heavy duty loop thingys and knots to fasten the rope to the frame.  We looped the rope around the end closes to the truck for added support.  This tree is growing weird.  It grows on an angle so that allowed us to hang it this way and yet have room for the bed to swing freely.

After he had it hanging I told him he has to be the first to try it out!  It moved and creaked but held fast!  We seen right away that we would have to do something about the foot end.  We didn't think about it that that side would hang down farther and so we should use less rope on that side. But that's a project for another day!  Once he was on, I could barely persuade him to get back off again!

Then we both got on and gave Miss A the camera!  She was delighted to snap some pics of us! : )  We laid there for a while but couldn't ignore the screaming kids for too long!  See what I mean about the lower end hanging down?

I think my favorite part of the whole bed is the headboard.  He used old lath to make it.

I was so so happy with how it turned out.  It's so relaxing and I can't wait to spend some time out there.  It's really close to our fire pit so I'm picturing many relaxing evenings out there! 

Now for the cost of the project:

All the wood we used was FREE...salvaged from the old barn we tore down a few years ago

The Rope:  Salvaged from an old tug of war Brad was at years ago.  The rope tore and they were going to throw it out.  I know what you're thinking... THE ROPE TORE and yet you trust it to hold this thing up?  Brad assured me that it only tore after being pulled by a truck on one side and a tree on the other...

The heavy duty hook thingys were about 6 bucks a piece...

Mattress cover and candles came to about $20. 

$26 buckaroos...not bad huh?

Landscaping Project

Last weekend I went to the beach with some ladies. While I was gone, my wonderful hubby did all of the landscaping and mulching! A few weeks ago when our youth group had a slave auction to benefit their missions trip, we bought the 3 "Esh boys" for 4 hours. I wanted to be at home when it all happened so I could take pictures as they were working. My hubby lovingly told me to go and have fun. He said he wouldn't get as much done anyway if I was home. He says I'm distracting! Whatever! I must say though, that it was oh so nice to leave and come back and the work was all finished! And I was soooo pleased with the results!

This side of the house was all grass and we decided to make it a nice big area! The white bench I found FREE beside the road. The stone there is where our 2 angel babies are buried. We plan on making a little walkway to the bench.

I think this area looks a million times better too. I still want to add some perennials someday.

The left side of the house we did on our own. I had gotten some perennials from friends and my mom. We tried a thing where we did all newspaper and compost and planted the plants in it. So far it's been true to it's word and has been weed free. By the way we did this side about a month and a half ago! The guys just finished it off to round off to the front and join the rest.

Love how this area looks now! (I feel like I'm repeating myself!!)

My hubby even mulched the hedge. It looks so neat and clean now and will be easier to mow. So much trash gets thrown into this from passing cars...GrrrAnd now...for your opinion! When we pulled into the landscapers place to go over the final plans, I noticed this tree along with what I call "squiggly bushes". I told Brad that I sure hope he doesn't have any of these in his plans cuz I don't like them. Guess what....HE DID. Brad and I laughed right away and I told him exactly how I felt about said tree. In the end he, along with my hubby's help, convinced me that it will look nice! It IS growing on me, but I'm still not 100% sure! One of the Esh boys named it the lollipop tree! What do you all think?! Maybe I don't wanna know, but regardless of what your opinions are the tree IS staying. (I think) They say it takes a few years for lanscaping to look it's best. I think too, that it will look even better when things are grown out more!