Search Results for: toolbox

Upcycled Toolbox Planter

June 11, 2015 by Barb 12 Comments

About two years ago I purchased a rusty old toolbox for $5.00 at a garage sale, thinking I would use it as an upcycled toolbox planter. I felt a little sheepish when I got home (especially when the hubs told me he thought it should have been free … haha … I thought so too.) But at the time I had a plan … a plan that did not materialize for two years … in fact, this spring the toolbox almost went to the dump because I couldn’t figure out how to fit any plants into the shallow trays.

But, miracle of miracles, something happened to stop me in my tracks!

I was at the garden centre at Home Depot when I spied a sedum mat … I’d never seen such a thing and was quite intrigued … it hit me right away how perfect it would be for the old toolbox …

I basically cut off chunks and stuffed them into the partitions … and quite unceremoniously too …

So my junky toolbox …

was saved from the dump!

… at least for another year.

An Upcyled Link Party at Funky Junk Interiors

Featured at Rodale’s Organic Life

Pretty funky …

5 Great Ideas for Succulent Containers

February 19, 2017 by Barb 21 Comments

Today I have 5 great ideas for succulent containers.

Seriously, I’m addicted to succulents (in case you hadn’t noticed!) and when I was in Arizona I purchased a few tiny specimens to play with. I’d rather have succulents than roses (although I did have roses too ;)

I love the textures, the shapes, the colours, and the fact that they look beautiful in pots ranging from concrete, to clay, to glass … happy little sigh.

I found several of these containers at garage sales. Note the tiny little G. Wolff & Co pot. It’s such a treasure, and was a steal at .25 cents! I’ve since done a little research on that pot and found the maker. You can check him out here. Unfortunately this little gem may end up costing me, because I won’t be able to hold back if I ever run across any more (I think I’m in love ;)As I mentioned, succulents look good in just about any pot and I especially love them in glass containers filled with rocks or pebbles.

I simply placed a few rocks and a little soil in the bottom of the glass container, set the tiny succulent in and filled the sides with pebbles. It will need repotting sooner rather than later, but it works for quite a while. Just be sure to not over water it because there is no drainage. Drainage is key people! (See my link at the bottom of this post.)

For the larger concrete pots, I like to put the succulents in a plastic liner first.

Here I recycled a food container. I punched holes in the bottom with scissors, placed rocks on the bottom, added a bit of soil, inserted the succulents and filled the sides with soil.

After a good watering and draining, I put it in the pot.

5 Great Ideas for Succulent Containers

Concrete pots. I used a liner, but if the concrete has holes for drainage, you don’t need to.
Rock-filled glass containers. You can find tons of glass containers at garages sales and thrift stores.
An old toolbox
Cake pans, muffin tins
A ladle … basically any kind of junk!

For even more container ideas, and if you’d like more information on caring for succulents and to find out my “dirty” little secret, check my post Tips for Overwintering Succulents Indoors

Foraging for Fun

October 19, 2015 by Barb 5 Comments

I spent this past Sunday morning outdoors, foraging for relaxation and a few photos to work with for The Studio | Online prompt. Foraging is good for the heart, mind, and soul wouldn’t you agree? I’m so lucky that I can walk out the door and into a natural reserve where there is no shortage of inspiration. I need it like I need air to breath.

It goes without saying I’m smitten with succulents, leaves, and rustic wooden backgrounds. And there’s nothing I love more than a quirky succulent … there’s just something so fun about them. I watch as they sprout up and spray outward, reaching for the sun (and probably more space.) I rescued these two from my Upcycled Toolbox Planter which had become extremely crowded over the summer.

I’m also a lover of repetition … leaves, leaves, and more leaves …

Foraging for Fun, Barb Brookbank, Keeping With the Times

kk_SoftLightMoreLeft

… so perfectly imperfect … I was shooting outdoors so I didn’t use studio lighting as did Kim in her lesson, instead I used kk_SoftLightMoreLeft to slightly enhance the natural light coming from the left …

kk_SoftLightMoreLeft

That pot of succulents on the top shelf is so funny; it’s been struggling all summer and I love it to pieces!

Autumn in Alberta II

October 6, 2015 by Barb 4 Comments

Autumn in Alberta II … because it’s just so amazingly gorgeous out there and I want to remember it … one of the reasons I continue to blog.

The wood pile photos were taken a few weeks ago as we started the preparations. We ordered a full cord of birch which will probably last us three years! Hubby stacked it all … I begged off because of a bad back, and sore knees, etc. etc. etc.

Most of my Upcycled Toolbox Planter is going to have to hit the compost heap … I simply cannot save everything (that succulent in the middle being an exception).
I dropped everything and took a walk …
If you click on the following photo you will be taken to my new IG account @barbbrookbank where you can watch the leaves fall, and listen to the sound as a light breeze blows through them …
Have a wonderful Tuesday!

About

Hello! I’m Barb, and welcome to Keeping With the Times

Not long after I started blogging I was inspired by this quote by Brian Tracy

learn something new, try something different, convince yourself that you have no limits
Brian Tracy

While I may not be convinced that I have no limits, I am convinced that can learn something new, and I can try something different.

Lifelong Learning

As someone who is committed to lifelong learning, my blog is the place where I show up to prove it.

Lifelong learning” is a common term used in education today. Lifelong learning is the concept that “It’s never too soon or too late for learning”, a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organizations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviours. Lifelong learning sees citizens provided with learning opportunities at all ages and in numerous contexts: at work, at home and through leisure activities, not just through formal channels such as school and higher education. Wikipedia

It is my hope that something I do here, may inspire you.

About me

I’m a retired woman of a certain age, married to the love of my life. I’m also the proud mother to 2 beautiful daughters and over-the-top proud grandmother to 5 precious grandchildren.

I’m a blogger, photographer, and photo editor. I love still life photography and you can read my heartfelt musings about it on this post: My Art is not Frivolous.

I love to garden, cook, bake, play with flowers, and generally create. It doesn’t matter whether its a Naked Cake or Dictionary Paper Trees I’m all about trying something new!

Both my husband and I love to travel and hope to do more of that in the near future as he becomes a retiree as well. Whether it’s in our own back yard at Abraham Lake, a neighbouring province at the amazing and beautiful Emerald Lake, across the ocean in Maui, or “down south” exploring Arizona we love to get away!

Popular Posts

Why do I blog? and why Keeping With the Times?

I started this blog in 2010 to literally keep with the times. The technical aspects of blogging and dealing with an on-line world which is ever-changing, challenges and inspires me.

Much to my surprise, blogging has not only changed the way I look at life, it has changed the way I live life.

Incredibly, having a blog has given me permission to take on all sorts of exciting new ventures:

Should I buy that new camera? Yes.
Should I take that photography/editing class? Yes!
Should I attend that amazing retreat? Yes, yes, and yes!

Now when I talk about my experiences, I like to tell people “so far, nothing has blown up” in other words, don’t be afraid to try something.

I believe there’s a place for everyone in this vast blogging world. I refuse to listen to the naysayers who declare that blogging is dying/dead … my blog is not dead until I say it’s dead. And to this end I’ve created the series “Blogging Bits and Bytes”. Check here for more information.

Or simply subscribe to my general newsletter (see sidebar on home page.)

My Photo Gear

Nikon D750
Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4
Nikkor 24-120mm 1:4

Nikon D7100
Nikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR Lens, 18-105mm, 55-200mm
iPhone 7Plus

My Editing Gear
Photoshop CC and PSE12
Lightroom CC

My work has been featured here:

FTD A Gorgeous Place to Gather
Huffington Post 11 Brilliant Ways To Decorate Your Home With Holiday Cards
Readers Digest 10 Gorgeous and Inventive Ways to Reuse Your Holiday Cards

Instagram
Instagram (yes! INSTAGRAM!!:)
@anthropologie
@teavanatea

My work has been published in: