Gnome Home   I received 2 of these barrels one day.  Some one else's trash became my treasure.  I had seen a picture on a message board about making a gnome home and decided I had the perfect item use.  I'm not the best painter in the world but practice makes perfect so I'm sure the second barrel will turn out better than this one. I'd like to add some little wooden window boxes and some plants to finish it off.   The gnome home now sits between 2 muskoka chairs on our deck.   It is the perfect addition to my garden architecture.  Do you have a garden gnome? Garden gnomes are supposed to bring luck to your home and garden.  Legend says they live underground and guard buried treasure.  They are supposed to help with chores around the house and garden.  That is why they carry tools or push wheelbarrows.   These busy gnomes live under the toadstool by the front door.   "Just living is not enough" said the butterfly fairy, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." Hans Christian Anderson I just love to add whimsy to the garden. On one of our trips exploring stores and garden centers in small towns and villages I discovered this little set of a door and 2 windows and just had to have it for the garden. And look, already a garden gnome has come to visit. But where are the fairies? I'll have to plant some foxgloves as legend has it that the fairies sleep in the bell shaped flowers and sometimes wear them as gloves. The spots inside the flowers are supposed to be the fairy footprints. That's the way to tell if you have fairies in your garden. Other plants associated with fairies are saffron, rosemary and roses. Another legend says that if you take a concoction of thyme the fairies will be more visible to you. After planting the fairy garden, I'll just have to sit back and believe. See some of my rock homes and buildings. craftygardener.ca Please sign or view the guestbook.