Makeover or Breakdown?

I’ve been moonlighting. Curious about my gig? A hint: I’m covered from head to toe in scratches. Have I been training alligators? Good guess, but no.

Okay, I’ll tell you. For thirty-one days, my moonlighting gig was in our front yard, making over the planter I built years ago. I’m posting about it because I like encouraging others who are considering changing their space on a budget. If you are a renter and don’t have outdoor space or can’t dig up a yard, you can brighten your world with a few potted plants. A cheerful splash of color does not need to break the bank.

The story starts on Saturday, February 21. I woke up and decided it was time for a change, so I marched to our front yard and started hacking away towers of Sticks of Fire, the orange pencil cactus. Some were almost as tall as I am. Thirty-one sweaty days later, I finished.

Sticks of Fire require almost no water, and their color is beautiful. But let me save you some trouble: if you get them, put them in a pot—not the ground. My Sticks of Fire forest started with a few small plants in the ground--which multiplied. Taking it down almost took me down.

Perhaps the story really starts seventeen years ago, when I designed our front planter. I measured a half-circle, bought concrete blocks, and created a semi-circular planter in our yard. I did multiple drives to get free dirt to fill my new planter and added succulents. Some were free, from Craigslist. It was a lot of work but satisfying. 

This is our front yard a few hours into demolition. The Sticks of Fire were five feet tall. The "before" was not bad, but things had become a bit too wild and I was ready for a change.

Fast forward to now, and the Sticks of Fire have multiplied and become trees, so I’m hacking away at them. I put out cuttings of the cactus and other succulents for people to take. It feels good to share these with others, since so many people shared cuttings with me.

Each day, my neighbors walk by, some with dogs. They ask about what the new look will be. “Top Secret,” I reply. (I love things that are Top Secret.) “Check back soon,” I say.

We broke heat records for February and March, but I kept digging. Some days I did an hour or two after working at preschool. A few days I wrestled stumps out of the ground for many hours. At times, I wondered if this was a breakdown of the stumps—or of me. (Maybe both.) 

My new garden plan involves mimicking the existing half-circle wall with two more half-circles inside. Here is the sketch I did, thinking the effect would be like a fountain. My final effect does not look exactly like this but I may add more plants. Who knows? Right now, I’m enjoying the change. 

On the hottest day, my kind neighbor Kat made me laugh when she walked her dog by our dirt installation. Her humor prevented a complete meltdown on my part (thanks, Kat). One neighbor offered help, and a few days later, another attempted to give help. I thanked them but explained that this is my mountain to climb. My sweet hubby definitely would have helped but I was determined to do it on my own.

Once the Sticks of Fire were down to stumps, it was time to remove them. The last two stumps were at least eight inches across, deep and stubborn. I used the electric saw, clippers, Japanese pull saw, and a shovel to loosen them. Mostly, I dug under the stumps to pry them out. I slipped on mud and tripped on slippery rocks. I fell into the 18-inch-deep hole I dug around the huge stump. There were tears and curses. Blisters and cuts. The preschool kids were impressed by my Band-Aid count (one day it was seven). I lift weights twice a week, but this yard work was a true workout. For all the upper body work I’ve done on this makeover, I expected my arms to look like Ronda Rousey’s by now. (They don’t.)

Day fifteen: I finally got the biggest Sticks of Fire stump out of the ground. The roots had formed twisty knots and wrestling them out was not fun. After a long labor, my bundle of agony was finally out of the ground. I'm exhausted but victorious!

Here I am, sitting in the hole that the stump was in.
It's 18" deep and almost as long as a bathtub!

.

The second big stump, Sir Stumps A Lot, came out next. 

Notice the weed cloth that did not prevent weeds. Instead, 
the roots grew through it, making the extraction...extra fun.

After that victory, I leveled the dirt and started building my walls. I’m using concrete blocks that I already had, repurposing them. I replanted succulents that I took out of our planter, as well as some I’ve had in pots. I'm putting down cardboard onto the dirt as a weed barrier (Sam, thanks for the tip!). Weed barrier fabric has not worked for me, so we will see if cardboard does. Next, I will add succulents, which I've been growing for years. They multiply, so this is great for my Small Budget/Big Impact plan. 

Progress shot...

I spent almost nothing on this project. I bought a bag of soil and nine extra concrete blocks from Craigslist. A lot of my materials we repurposed from my other projects. Back yard plants were moved into the front yard. I shoveled rocks we already had in the front yard into my new planter. Reusing is satisfying.

These wall planters were ones I moved from the back.
I already had mini disco balls and beads,
 so creating this area was free.

I enjoy the variety of colors and textures.
Don't be afraid to experiment...

This is a mosaic pot I made years ago.
Painting the rim with turquoise paint I already had
makes the orange flowers pop. I love contrast!

The flamingos were moved into their own area

so they can be a flamboyance of flamingos.

(That is what a group of them is. Seriously!)

Moving things around (indoors or outdoors) can give your space a refresh, often without spending a dime.

I love sharing these triumphs to encourage others not to fear DIY projects. This post is not about bragging—it’s about sharing tips and a few laughs. You can make your space beautiful without spending a lot.

To be honest, I’m a little conflicted about posting this essay. We have a lot of terrible things happening in the world right now, and I don’t want to be insensitive by posting a lighthearted essay on plants. Still, I’m going to post, and I hope that my readers get a boost from it. I won’t deny that our country and our world are struggling hard. But we also need breaks from our stress--moments of joy.

It’s Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. Some friends will celebrate Passover this week. Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover or something else—I wish you a happy spring. I hope that you find beautiful moments each day and the sun warms your face. Until next time, be safe and shine on! 

A Giant Makeover

Once upon a time, there lived a twelve-foot skeleton who welcomed people to his San Diego neighborhood. His name was Festive Franklin, and he stood outside his home. He stood as a beacon of cheer to all who saw him, including an artist named Sarah, who regularly drove by his castle.

Sarah noticed that he had his own Instagram (of course he did—he was the unofficial mayor of his neighborhood) and she began to follow his account. For more than a year, Franklin had been posting pictures of himself, dressed in cool clothes for each holiday. Being a festive dresser herself, Sarah was glad that Franklin enjoyed celebrating life. But for the last few months, it seemed Franklin was so busy greeting neighbors and visitors that he had forgotten to wear festive frocks.

One day, Sarah dropped a note in the mailbox at Franklin’s place. She offered to make Franklin a “2026” shirt to help him ring in the new year. Franklin’s mom/manager/momager texted immediately and gave Sarah the go-ahead.  Which brings us to today….

Franklin in his birthday suit.

______________________________________

Blog readers, this is my first post of 2026. It is not an easy time in the world right now, and I hope this post brings a touch of levity to your day.  We can’t ignore the challenges in our world, but we do need breaks from stress. People need to smile and laugh, so consider this your creative coffee break.

Have you ever made clothes for a twelve-foot skeleton? Now, I can check that off my list. And you can, too!

If you want to dress a giant skeleton, you do not need to know how to sew. All you need is an idea. (Of course, you also will need stretchy fabric, and hot glue or fabric glue. But my point is, anyone can do this if they want to.)

Franklin’s mom and I texted ideas back and forth. She explained that you can’t put clothes onto Franklin the way you dress yourself, because there are cables behind him holding him upright. Any clothing would need to be tied in the back, like a hospital gown.

My initial sketch.

Over the course of two weeks, I chipped away at the project, after work or when I needed a break from my usual chores. First, I focused on a shirt for Franklin. I researched online how big the shirt would need to be, then cut pieces for it from a stretchy sheet I thrifted a year or two ago for another project. I sewed up the sides of the shirt, but you could hot glue them if you prefer. Next, I added decorations to the shirt, using felt, paint, gems and fabric scraps I already had. 

This shirt looked big. Would it be big enough?

Gems gave it some extra sparkle...

I wondered if Frankie might feel extra naked if he had only a shirt, so I decided to make him pants from the same stretchy sheet. (Online, skeleton pants measured approximately 93 inches long, which seemed really long—that’s almost eight feet of pants! But this was my first skeleton makeover, so I trusted the dimensions given.) If the pants were too big, I could cut them on site. They looked like they would be too large even for Shaquille O’Neal. I love Shaq. He is a giant at 7’1”, and he also has a big heart. Shaq often does kind things for kids and people who need help. 

Progress shot.

View from a six-foot ladder. 

How cute is he?

It turned out, the pants were not too big—they could have been longer! But we will get to that soon. I dyed half of the pants with green fabric dye that was left over from a past project. Tie dye is fun, and it felt like a fitting look for a guy whose name is “Festive.”

Once I finished painting and decorating, I cut the back of the shirt and pants, and attached ties made from left-over fabric. Frankie’s pants easily could have been another foot longer, but since this is San Diego, he won’t get too cold. This project did not cost anything to make, as I had all the supplies at home already, and it felt extra satisfying to create a lot of impact for free. 

Today was Dress Up Day, and I got to meet Franklin’s parents. They were friendly and fun and delighted that I wanted to do a giant makeover on Franklin. I was delighted that they wanted me to. Ares helped me dress Frankie, and held the ladder. If you dress a twelve-foot skeleton, bring a trusty person to hold the ladder. Also bring safety pins and clamps, just in case.

Franklin's green belt was supposed to be a headband, but I could not get high enough to fasten it, so we made it into a belt. Voila!

This was an enjoyable project for me. A bit of a challenge, but manageable. Sometimes you just need to do something that is a happiness-booster. Potentially, I can boost a lot of people’s happiness—not just mine. Anyone driving by will notice that Franklin is starting 2026 off with a festive look. If I can add a little joy to someone’s day, I’m glad to do it!

Making people smile or laugh has been one of my favorite things to do—for decades. As a teenager I did this through theater, and as an adult, I’ve tried to bring cheer to people through my art. I have been a teacher for more than eight years, and it’s been a pleasure to cheer on my students, and to give encouragement—a kind word, a smile, a high five.

So, from Festive Franklin and Sassy Sarah, Happy New Year. I will keep bringing some sparkle to my corner of the world, and so will Frankie…

Is there a project you undertook, simply because it sounded fun? Share in the comments below. Also, please send this to a friend or two. It would be fun to see how many people Franklin can cheer up. In my next post, I will let you know how many people we reached.

Til then, keep shining!

Backyard Magic

Like the earth itself, our backyard has evolved over the years.

The Jungle Age predated our arrival in 2003.

Our first kid arrived in 2004, beginning a ten year period known as The Broken Toy Age.

This overlapped with The Weed Age (which continues to this day).

By 2014, I finally had some time and energy for the yard, thus beginning The Great Gardening Age.

There were years—maybe a decade!—in which the yard was largely ignored and had to fend for itself. I had three little kids and 95% of my energy went toward keeping them alive. Any yard project that required more than twenty minutes at a time was penciled into the next decade.

But life is a little less hectic now that the kiddos are older, and gardening has become one of my favorite hobbies. On weekends you’ll find me covered in dirt, and I love it!

2003: the northeast corner of our yard before any changes.

A year ago I considered posting about our yard projects but I was concerned that the timing was wrong. I did not want the post to come off as insensitive or braggy, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. My friend M said that it might give people a boost to see something bright and colorful during a time when our spirits felt bleak. Still, I decided to wait, and I truly hope this piece comes across as cheerful and encouraging rather than as a brag fest.

Over the years, we enjoyed various aspects of our yard. We liked that the previous owners planted trees—they wanted this place to feel like home, rather than a temporary stop. The apricot tree was pretty and produced a handful of apricots (one year it yielded exactly one apricot, but why split hairs?). The overgrown tangle of trees and weeds provided nooks and crannies for our kids to explore when they were tiny. There were many hiding places for Easter eggs. It worked for us, so why change things? Plus, I was super busy with the kids and the yard was not an urgent matter. But at some point the kids grew and I could do a few “me” things, like working more in our yard. 

We added a few plants over the years, but the biggest change came in early 2018, when Hubby built a home office in our back yard. Hubby and I are both DIYers, and although I helped a little, he built it himself and did an amazing job. The color scheme and design matched our house, and soon I felt like it had always been there.

Winter 2018: Hubby's office is in the same corner that you see in the photo above.

Hubby's office, designed and built by my hubby, modest man who hates compliments. I think it's awesome.

I decided to build a garden wall, as the office met the patio in a way that seemed too abrupt. Plants would soften the transition. I discovered that I love building planters, which helped organize the yard. The geometry of the concrete block planters contrasted well against the organic shapes of the flowers and plants. 

The garden wall / planter I built below Hubby's office.

Once the office was in, I started looking at the yard differently. I wanted the yard to reflect us, rather than the previous owners. The apricot tree was dead, and needed to be removed. I took a long look at the yard and realized that I wanted to take out three other trees, too. Yet, I was racked with guilt because taking out four trees (even if one was dead) felt wrong to me. One tree was a dwarf orange, only waist tall, so it wasn’t like I was killing an ancient Sequoia tree. But still, I felt badly. Eventually I decided that it was okay for us to make our yard how we want it. Removing the trees opened up the yard a lot, and my ideas started flowing. (Side note: if you are a very stubborn person, you can cut down trees by yourself, refusing help from anyone else. You need a reciprocating saw, and it’s possible your hands will be unusable for two days afterward, too sore or cramped to do anything. But it can be done!)

The back fence after trees were gone, before I added planters.

The previous owners added a patio in sections and a raised brick planter at the back of the yard. “Planter” sounds small but this area is big—fourteen feet wide by thirty feet long, and it’s about a foot higher than the patio. Once I started removing trees, weeds and overgrowth, I found more brick walls that had been covered by leaves, weeds and dirt. It felt exciting—like stumbling upon ancient Mayan ruins!—well, maybe not super old or Mayan. But still, it was fun to unearth walls I’d never seen, and the walls gave me some direction for how to create other zones in the yard. 

Who knew that a brick divider wall was hidden under robust weeds?

                                                                                                                                                                         

A few drawings to illustrate the changes made in our yard:

2019: trees are gone. Wall is found. Pool is deflated. Dirt is...dirt. Mama is tired.

2019--Building a planter against the back fence.

Planter wall, including some cuttings from friends.

In 2019 I made a peacock garden mosaic, and built two more concrete block planters. I also bought gray cement pavers to put in front of Hubby’s office, but I got distracted and they sat in a heap in the yard for months. 

Some of the pavers I painted.
Mixing and matching is marvelous and magnificent.

More pavers. Keeping it lively.

March 2020: the pavers are not finished but at least I started.

In 2020 I built one more planter, and finally got stern with myself about painting the pavers to install in front of Hubby’s office. I wanted an eclectic vibe, and I was inspired by blue and white Moroccan and Mexican tiles I saw online. I used inexpensive blue acrylic and I hand-painted designs onto the pavers. There are a few repeats but most are unique, and it’s a playful mix of traditional looks, modern spatter-painted pavers, and space age designs. I love to mix and match. The painted pavers may not endure for a hundred years, but eighteen months later they still look great. This paver “patio” goes with our blue accent color and provides pattern and whimsy.

During the stressful, isolated months from 2020 through 2021, gardening was a lifejacket for me. In the early months of COVID-19, I didn’t go into stores, so I wasn’t buying materials or plants. But container gardening allowed me to rearrange plants out back, and working in the dirt was soothing to my soul. Doing something that made our yard look good gave me a boost during the pandemic, when I felt helpless and anxious. 

2020

I used river rock from the front yard to fill in spaces.

Summer 2020.

 Lessons I’ve learned and want to share:

1.       When you are redesigning or refreshing a space, see if there are existing elements that work for you (like our brick planter). If so, use some of what is already there. This cuts down on cost, effort and time. Plus, it makes you think more creatively because you are mixing old with new, rather than using a blank slate, and you often you get a more interesting effect.

2.       It’s okay to make your space your own. If you decide to remove something, be it a wall or tree or whatever it is, you’re not a criminal! It’s your space and it should reflect you.

3.       Be patient and celebrate each finished stage, big or small. It’s tempting to want everything to look finished right away. Who doesn’t like immediate gratification? But when a project happens in stages, I appreciate each victory, thereby extending my satisfaction.

4.       Try your hand at DIY projects. They are gratifying because they have your stamp on them. Plus, you save money (sure, they take more time but think of this time as in investment).

 To be honest, our yard still looks a little like a construction site. It’s not finished and may never be, as I tend to rearrange things every few months. The old me would have wanted to share photos only after everything was finished and amazing. The new me knows that perfection does not exist and that the quest for it only pressures me. Sharing real photos, like our giant dirt pile, reminds us that no one’s yard or life is flawless. 

And so, to keep things relatable, here’s a list of what else was not pictured: weeds, occasional doggy doo, plant leaves with chomp holes from caterpillars, dog hair on the edge of the patio, more weeds, a gopher hole, supplies jumbled in the side yards, spider webs, bird poop on the planters, rotting premature persimmons that fell on the ground…and more weeds.

Years ago someone said something a bit snarky to me. A mutual friend described all the creative things I do and the other lady said, “Oh, well, I don’t have time for all that.” Her righteous tone implied that I spent time on meaningless stuff, whereas she was doing important things. I shook it off but years later, I almost feel a need to explain my life. Yes, I am lucky that I can spend time on my yard. Sure, it’s not essential, but it brings me joy. My family comes first. I love teaching. I do the chores that need doing. But in my leftover time, I love gardening. It calms me, and it provides beauty (and sometimes tomatoes). My yard looks different from how it used to because I put time in daily. These progress photos span years, so this is not an overnight makeover. 

Spring 2021

Especially in the early days of parenting, I didn’t understand that self care is vital. Gradually I learned that it is important to do something that feeds your soul. If it brings you peace and doesn’t hurt others, do it! Maybe it’s playing music. Maybe it’s going to ball games. For me, it’s reading and gardening. Find whatever it is that feeds your spirit.  

Summer 2021.

Now where was I? Yes, gardening. Anyway, if you love DIY (Do It Yourself) projects the way we do, or if you’re willing to try them to save on cost, you will be amazed at what you can do yourself. Some of my supplies (bricks and plant cuttings) I got for free online—one neighbor’s trash is another’s treasure, right? Making a place look great is not necessarily about spending a lot—it’s about using your imagination. Buy the smaller plant for a better price, and wait for it to grow. Patience will reward you. You need some time, a modest budget, supplies, and the interest in making it your own.

I hope this backyard refresh brightened your day, and I’ll see you again soon, here on the blog. School is starting up and before long I will have loads of student art to share. ‘Til then, I will be moving potted plants around, cursing at the weeds, occasionally finding a Hot Wheels car or Lego brick under layers of dirt, and watching Mother Earth work her magic…

Wacky Wednesday #98: Postage Stamps

I’m back again with another Wacky Wednesday costume I made from everyday objects. This time it’s postage stamps. It’s been a long time since my last Wacky Wednesday (over a year!). For many Wednesdays, I had a valid reason: I was teaching art at school, and costumes would have to wait. But then, a certain virus derailed all Wednesday plans, all over the planet. 

In theory, the order to stay at home meant I could make wacky costumes every Wednesday. Except for two things. Reason #1: it’s not fun to wear these costumes only at home. Being out in public to surprise and amuse my people was a big part of my creative impulse. And Reason #2 (which is really the bigger reason): I was depressed. And being wacky when you’re depressed is not doable. There were days when I felt like myself, and other days when I felt anxious and resentful. Why get into that here? Because being real about all these mixed feelings helps. I’m wacky, but I’m human, too.

So I decided that the next Wacky Wednesday costume would wait until my spirits had lifted enough to match my outfit. My Wacky Wednesdays involve the use of everyday objects, elevated to new heights by becoming wearable art. And what is more of an everyday object than a postage stamp? Most of us see them almost daily. But if you stop to look at them closely, they are far from mundane. They are tiny pieces of art. And put together they can create a colorful, textured mosaic of wearable art.

I have collected stamps for decades. Not “collecting,” as in going to stamp shows, and preserving mint condition stamps in albums. I have kept used stamps on envelopes because I’m a sentimental person (and borderline hoarder) and I’ve kept hundreds of letters from friends and family over thirty years, since before the Age of the Internet. I have almost 900 stamps, and 440 of them made it onto this outfit.

There are stamps showing almost anything you can imagine—from historical people or moments, to sports figures. From hobbies to photos you can upload into custom stamps. At some point someone saw the potential for stamps to raise awareness (and money) for causes such as breast cancer and the protection of endangered animals including African elephants, marine turtles, tigers, great apes, rhinoceroses and Asian Elephants. I love that something as small as a postage stamp can have a big impact. 

Fun fact: our modern postage stamps have been in use since 1840. But way back in 1661 postmarks were used (created by a hand stamp) to deliver local mail in London.

Have you seen stamps that are not rectangular or square? They are unusual but there are stamps that are circles, triangles and hexagons, to name a few. There are even scratch ‘n sniff stamps now!

Although I was not sure what to do with my collection of used stamps, I saw their potential. Some are from the ‘80s and ‘90s, when a stamp cost twenty two cents. A few years ago my mom gave me some stamps that predated that. It’s been fun to look at stamps from decades ago. Some are postmarked from countries far away. Some are kind of plain. Others are colorful and whimsical. There are people who would find it odd that I’m not trying to sell this mini collection. But most of these stamps are not in mint condition and I’m not interested in selling. I’m motivated by creating. But how to group them on my costume? By color? Country? Image? Value? I ended up grouping the stamps into the following categories: patriotic, holiday, foreign, historical, famous people, nature, animals, pop culture, causes and miscellaneous. Some stamps were hard to categorize: did Elvis belong in Famous People, or in Pop Culture? I had multiple Elvis stamps, so I put some in each of those categories.

Got stamps? Got a mask? Got stamps on a mask?

If you’ve been reading my Wacky Wednesday blog posts since I started this journey in 2015, thank you! If you haven’t been reading since day one, that’s okay, too. We’re getting close to wrapping up this chapter, and it makes me nostalgic. I like the idea of completing this with the round number of 100. It’s been so fun to create and blog about costumes. There are two more WWs to create but I'm almost ready to call this chapter complete. There are a lot of other creative projects I want to do, so don’t worry—there will still be creative blog posts coming soon to an inbox near you…

Fear not. This wacky gal is not leaving anytime soon...