tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1824254755270957912024-03-04T22:43:18.751-06:00Retired YoungSalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-58552111760843807482011-10-29T20:44:00.003-05:002011-10-29T21:01:04.502-05:00So much to share...I have had so much going on lately, I have hardly even had time to be online this week. First of all, we finally got our new carpeting, so I can finally get my guest room done :)<br />
Here's the living room after we pulled up the carpeting, pad, and a million staples:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95YCUf6qgakhA928Y1KHqn6PNY1z4aYzDlDIVWMF0DiNRxHLkZoNV66HnaG9Hw-dTg13ap4Jt33x5sogC0hmidgBgM0vI77e5djLIzhMXfKpij-yw80L0eOiQxOJrImiM3aGEcYc51RHI/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95YCUf6qgakhA928Y1KHqn6PNY1z4aYzDlDIVWMF0DiNRxHLkZoNV66HnaG9Hw-dTg13ap4Jt33x5sogC0hmidgBgM0vI77e5djLIzhMXfKpij-yw80L0eOiQxOJrImiM3aGEcYc51RHI/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>How do you like that wall? There is a huge corner entertainment center/bookshelves that goes in front of there, so no-one sees back there. Lazy? Me? And here's our white trash front porch:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7tZHaxZdn7zW0zrfrrOiHE1mgVR8reInkTuT2Ow0Ka48lIowjNPYMuD1HfsjsyVNsQRgDYVLrmkiFkMJuWYCFxlXKC38Nus0-ZIaFiSNY9UNwmLl5AoFaXheE9NfClGQpytFw3i9iMex/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7tZHaxZdn7zW0zrfrrOiHE1mgVR8reInkTuT2Ow0Ka48lIowjNPYMuD1HfsjsyVNsQRgDYVLrmkiFkMJuWYCFxlXKC38Nus0-ZIaFiSNY9UNwmLl5AoFaXheE9NfClGQpytFw3i9iMex/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I love the new carpet, it is so clean and fluffy!!!<br />
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I stopped by a yard sale on my way home from the store today. We usually don't have yard sales this late, but we have had a wonderful fall, and the temps were still in the 60's today. Here's what I picked up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRN3xVKdFp6XShVofAPs_UUP0klQ_coKlmTFXTT8aemc3nWM1MDTColHlUQe7YAoEWVyyxRy30nlxTphhshEjxD6drA4ejzchqz4YVsrreXQz00yVqu6hhn4c8eUSGweq2wp_MV3Jod9d/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRN3xVKdFp6XShVofAPs_UUP0klQ_coKlmTFXTT8aemc3nWM1MDTColHlUQe7YAoEWVyyxRy30nlxTphhshEjxD6drA4ejzchqz4YVsrreXQz00yVqu6hhn4c8eUSGweq2wp_MV3Jod9d/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I started stripping paint off the top before I remembered to take a pic. I'm going to clean up the bottom and re-paint it white, and I'll do the top in black stain. I'll post pics of that soon. Here is the top after I got as much off as I could with the stripper (I hate that stuff!):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6qOV0ntBcw1A7kX5loNksMotgyDvL_G7KHNE2-5reN7Kd1YquIhFLYuVvNppCyBZHMKXxBNXLFWNzh8MYGU3bFIWexCBZULYe6GRCQQG77VWPN0K89OoWta7e17Rbo8Q-00-Eig0peQp/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></div>It had a few layers of paint on it, and I figure I'll sand the rest off tomorrow. Did I mention how much I paid for this? ONE DOLLAR!!!!! How could I pass that up??<br />
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I paid another hard-earned dollar on this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdv7_CoHfuvkxmUdkCG0oNegwQ5Uq1m735mlg5RT23d6HdLxNvYLtfaXrOijGfx9ZyZlH95qza8GB68qbCSl2tbQqT_STo3I_f0BpDQVUjkhakUIbHSKVUG5t4hlPHCtM45POFDU6m6sL/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdv7_CoHfuvkxmUdkCG0oNegwQ5Uq1m735mlg5RT23d6HdLxNvYLtfaXrOijGfx9ZyZlH95qza8GB68qbCSl2tbQqT_STo3I_f0BpDQVUjkhakUIbHSKVUG5t4hlPHCtM45POFDU6m6sL/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Isn't this a great chair? It's in perfect shape.... for ONE DOLLAR! This lady was really wanting to get rid of stuff. Ok, well, it's not completely perfect:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnoW4OD_y-CTygpMNB-zbNmLZvDvNHFNipc0rNqZ5tow4IYx27wMzJdbxVqdhzvFSIENb3VOVF_yTd4_6jY8vnKsDkcSNP8-nRghINN5vWQjY59xg9Qj99qpFONImw0CCnvGNv-D7He1i/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnoW4OD_y-CTygpMNB-zbNmLZvDvNHFNipc0rNqZ5tow4IYx27wMzJdbxVqdhzvFSIENb3VOVF_yTd4_6jY8vnKsDkcSNP8-nRghINN5vWQjY59xg9Qj99qpFONImw0CCnvGNv-D7He1i/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The lady said, "I bought it like that, it works fine!" And, actually, it does! I know my dh can fix it, and if he doesn't, it can go on the front porch with the last thing I bought at the sale:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOaLKQ_RDJg4JeH_QrcYl3bWbki_Rh17A67nlxa4AqGt_tJV5lw-iWbuSUje91u2HBiaUE0nbq_q8rcHcQQSA41n_RTW0RXaDEwP3k-iPiZmL6lQL70eW4V141j8wLUeebvPtyk2MNOTb/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOaLKQ_RDJg4JeH_QrcYl3bWbki_Rh17A67nlxa4AqGt_tJV5lw-iWbuSUje91u2HBiaUE0nbq_q8rcHcQQSA41n_RTW0RXaDEwP3k-iPiZmL6lQL70eW4V141j8wLUeebvPtyk2MNOTb/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's a little rough, but not too bad. We never use the front porch (people come in the side door,) so it's just for looks, anyway. With the cushion, I paid a whopping TWO DOLLARS!! That's right, $4.00 total for these three pieces. I'll take that any day of the week :)<br />
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If you read <a href="http://retiredearly-salpal.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-room.html">this post,</a> you saw my bench that will go in my guest room. I finished painting it. I don't love it, but it will have pillows all over it and I think it will look good in the room:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkROItkBSvKlg-nY1KmTsHwa_hv54Vptkp4UDZuCNlY1uYtreIQBM1Nji9CGXrV66KZg2m1DqN1TzGZ7S43BHa1-pH0yLzz9kMvQdFLKuTNyILUBY8Xbd-CSsMHwHLhNIiTin2dcZewIAK/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkROItkBSvKlg-nY1KmTsHwa_hv54Vptkp4UDZuCNlY1uYtreIQBM1Nji9CGXrV66KZg2m1DqN1TzGZ7S43BHa1-pH0yLzz9kMvQdFLKuTNyILUBY8Xbd-CSsMHwHLhNIiTin2dcZewIAK/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I will post pics after I get it set up in the room.<br />
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Here's one more thing (since I didn't post all week, I'll do triple duty on this.) At the same flea market I found the bench, I found a great old dresser. I paid $75 for it, but it was worth it. It had obviously been sitting out for many years, and was filthy. I thought I'd have to re-stain and varnish, but I found some awesome wood cleaner/restorer, and it cleaned up beautifully. I'm upset I didn't get a before photo, as you wouldn't believe the difference. Here it is after its cleaning:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc7PmFkPncHlJTEmelq3HxK0ugSNRHLjjoaMPfJOZuZwgxILQGfnZQGUIL1NxGWaT2RwmG7N15g7SEmbtzXecLEnJLnb-eM5NewB8f_I7yvNKQdCLa5D1RRuX0XQeuq1Bu4FPmPKHkxlW/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIc7PmFkPncHlJTEmelq3HxK0ugSNRHLjjoaMPfJOZuZwgxILQGfnZQGUIL1NxGWaT2RwmG7N15g7SEmbtzXecLEnJLnb-eM5NewB8f_I7yvNKQdCLa5D1RRuX0XQeuq1Bu4FPmPKHkxlW/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6feRvNQlaN65B1vGurifdhVV6RteCNeAhZt2S9c6GpMzWS8F3zw6ilfkI1DRLqnZk1DOLhd-plsPD9rPC4CgHWNpiRrR2Hf6wQWHUKXbvBafjLOSvkDPE_FjgvC4kHAfDdrP9qgap858b/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6feRvNQlaN65B1vGurifdhVV6RteCNeAhZt2S9c6GpMzWS8F3zw6ilfkI1DRLqnZk1DOLhd-plsPD9rPC4CgHWNpiRrR2Hf6wQWHUKXbvBafjLOSvkDPE_FjgvC4kHAfDdrP9qgap858b/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hope all this makes up for not blogging all week. I'll be linking up with some DIY parties!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.houseofhepworths.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/HoHnew1.png" /></div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-24786750057011333212011-10-19T20:46:00.001-05:002011-10-22T17:29:59.653-05:00Lamp re-doI have several projects going on right now for the new guest bedroom. I was going to look for a new lamp, but then took a look at the lamp that my dd had in that room when we first moved in and it was an 'angel' theme room;<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqoGJKwNtr-L9SjMGNJs1N5TDY6QKr34g7wK_cjdWlfRhVxlrECpbDAlRz4Lf8ds39eKGN8roxEfRXsbEP7j7iexqV7ofD1dUyl7EkAOS0V9wj8Myd14a9JM_rbWrGqzIRDiwPlhsPT3_/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIqoGJKwNtr-L9SjMGNJs1N5TDY6QKr34g7wK_cjdWlfRhVxlrECpbDAlRz4Lf8ds39eKGN8roxEfRXsbEP7j7iexqV7ofD1dUyl7EkAOS0V9wj8Myd14a9JM_rbWrGqzIRDiwPlhsPT3_/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I decided it was a neat lamp and I would paint it. But wait! I realized that the top and bottom had cool artwork on them that I wanted to keep, so I'd just paint the middle 'angel' part.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYOzmS8F6UBEHC37gY_ET2POPopSPxMYO3KyT7gHguRXJz5SALrMtGsiu8JlTEJzzEdCkCI3qw9Rkp58tDcfdYE7L0E5NaRQEiGbV843asUsaorltscLkhOu6mJcBQP2YCxxCoLWTTq-N/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYOzmS8F6UBEHC37gY_ET2POPopSPxMYO3KyT7gHguRXJz5SALrMtGsiu8JlTEJzzEdCkCI3qw9Rkp58tDcfdYE7L0E5NaRQEiGbV843asUsaorltscLkhOu6mJcBQP2YCxxCoLWTTq-N/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Isn't that cute? I just couldn't cover it. So, I taped it up and painted the middle part:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVqK0Q8XtU6qYp88IYMzoowU18ZgMKDJ9y03P6meNpMEZcQgvidt7IJ9sChX4-7bSM5UtGD5nuM0HNMuAt5SzWWxAzDx0Jr3S5e2L-6y6IwzrRz2yeQspDnTs1YdxKDBm4B4f1DrXwQJp/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVqK0Q8XtU6qYp88IYMzoowU18ZgMKDJ9y03P6meNpMEZcQgvidt7IJ9sChX4-7bSM5UtGD5nuM0HNMuAt5SzWWxAzDx0Jr3S5e2L-6y6IwzrRz2yeQspDnTs1YdxKDBm4B4f1DrXwQJp/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsCf3glOn_7iUMXtIYb_XUROpzV5vTEPczQE-RSlGDs5jHfVOKuRxndvtzIuX3SGG3z-ARv0ed-zNW3y9LXfdMS25YHLd5Ox2HgwrmyWGaR2nCS1hwlFWl-uskWjkTPTvx6Vd3hdKgWDc/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsCf3glOn_7iUMXtIYb_XUROpzV5vTEPczQE-RSlGDs5jHfVOKuRxndvtzIuX3SGG3z-ARv0ed-zNW3y9LXfdMS25YHLd5Ox2HgwrmyWGaR2nCS1hwlFWl-uskWjkTPTvx6Vd3hdKgWDc/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEKbSIekawdCC47EEbI0B5Z5ru8xWyfzslKzJuDAVB5D9ASiP1uS-BseNMTyBlZNurXn9tPV-8R9SPkXMllgNGeqpmQWKmoHDeRlOHUmYF-gsZF3ZM89wWrqmGGjD5PcxgQJZqScvwv8C/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEKbSIekawdCC47EEbI0B5Z5ru8xWyfzslKzJuDAVB5D9ASiP1uS-BseNMTyBlZNurXn9tPV-8R9SPkXMllgNGeqpmQWKmoHDeRlOHUmYF-gsZF3ZM89wWrqmGGjD5PcxgQJZqScvwv8C/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I like how it turned out! Now for the shade. I thought I'd give painting a try - can't hurt! Then if it doesn't work, I can go to Dollar General and buy one...<br />
So I taped the top and bottom of the lamp and spray painted the shade 2 coats of white. I didn't get a picture of it, but it looked good enough to work for awhile. So, to see it all together, I put on the shade and turned it on:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehgD7DoZpzF8RFVxUdC_RNdhy0X4vm36KU4Y0wY70mJHTvk7cserRIoa8sKznVf9PPxMoBitLVgdDMPPtPPiNpZMYlAUQ8ZxvzidyP-wFePNa0IN2vgE4V9TWekmiKBtuWCNIHjos2XjY/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehgD7DoZpzF8RFVxUdC_RNdhy0X4vm36KU4Y0wY70mJHTvk7cserRIoa8sKznVf9PPxMoBitLVgdDMPPtPPiNpZMYlAUQ8ZxvzidyP-wFePNa0IN2vgE4V9TWekmiKBtuWCNIHjos2XjY/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>BWAHAHA!!</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"> The picture came right through the paint!!!! WTF? I had to laugh and call it a great lamp base.... I'll just plan on going to Dollar General and spending $5 on a new shade. Alas, better than buying a whole new lamp :)</span><br />
Another fun make-over. I just love this stuff!! <br />
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I finished up a couple other projects today... something to post about tomorrow, although Thursday is a busy day/evening for me. Peace ♥<br />
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Linking up at <img alt="" src="http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g254/laurieannas/farmhousefridaybutton.jpg" />SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-40302255703685330412011-10-18T20:57:00.003-05:002011-10-20T22:39:54.831-05:00Candle organizationI have a thing for candles, as I'm sure many of you do. I have a tart warmer that always has a candle in it when I'm home - it's located in a central location in the living room, so the smell goes all throughout the first floor:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ0b2sHnG_4_jiRtKDjPYzfwL1PAbf-cnBWxZUT708rkp6nOUg7IswEjfg_zhdni9d3tDmbR5ADkz7V62VtQv-v8v-d7s3wyPtAk1DNFNZJ_QfG8U_D9N_jjRbHaOFl1UnJn_rbwTwzWI/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ0b2sHnG_4_jiRtKDjPYzfwL1PAbf-cnBWxZUT708rkp6nOUg7IswEjfg_zhdni9d3tDmbR5ADkz7V62VtQv-v8v-d7s3wyPtAk1DNFNZJ_QfG8U_D9N_jjRbHaOFl1UnJn_rbwTwzWI/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>All my candles and 'candle stuff' are in a basket under that table. Today I got a new shipment of Yankee Votives, so on a whim I decided to clean out the basket. Ummmmm, there were magazines and catalogs in there from 2004. Need I say more???<br />
I didn't take a before picture (I always think of these things too late..), but here is a picture of what all was in that basket:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKKsB7CJW9bbocHhNCHkxRNVw7RAzFE-fMpHRcYrukIKF6G1zPJPXShd4P5gUAQV8off0cu5e90YjYdUbEYh7pHId-do8Pn50Sih5Po5j4xx6Ymt34kE2TF8g8cvN6CTq3rn_KEtWLaTt/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKKsB7CJW9bbocHhNCHkxRNVw7RAzFE-fMpHRcYrukIKF6G1zPJPXShd4P5gUAQV8off0cu5e90YjYdUbEYh7pHId-do8Pn50Sih5Po5j4xx6Ymt34kE2TF8g8cvN6CTq3rn_KEtWLaTt/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The 9x13 pan is left-over from my cabinet clean-out yesterday, the plants were brought in to avoid the freeze, and the bowl by them contains chocolate muffins :). The other stuff was all in there. After washing out the basket, I re-filled it with just actual candles that had been organized:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4BEGqgX6tgRtsNaZpuRcFS9wHGwCXkSGO0UWrhdRzFc7lMJsiPyXhQzSz7JERkEcYcNwoN761g1hbzqrPWyB2ctmkzEyfFczxpweW_l0APNEDpIDLOP6LgecaRb3GOm10sEatH6nsz95/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4BEGqgX6tgRtsNaZpuRcFS9wHGwCXkSGO0UWrhdRzFc7lMJsiPyXhQzSz7JERkEcYcNwoN761g1hbzqrPWyB2ctmkzEyfFczxpweW_l0APNEDpIDLOP6LgecaRb3GOm10sEatH6nsz95/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It's not much, but it's one more little place in my house that is organized. I cleaned it on a whim, but it does make me feel just a little better. That's not a bad thing!<br />
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And now here is my bar after I got everything put its place:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYlYQBGSCOh4XR7wepiQerXz0IJctv7Ka8zFGLBw-h0tXFNYK0IR2-yL5ptXnfmbZw83npzd7qO7nAhf5BfO9rtxJfjXFEV3XoHyaHQK3iEOVF1tpT22MQO5qoO6oA2KEHqbokJbZ1MCG/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYlYQBGSCOh4XR7wepiQerXz0IJctv7Ka8zFGLBw-h0tXFNYK0IR2-yL5ptXnfmbZw83npzd7qO7nAhf5BfO9rtxJfjXFEV3XoHyaHQK3iEOVF1tpT22MQO5qoO6oA2KEHqbokJbZ1MCG/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>That's a big ole beautiful blue ball jar full of zinnias from the yard. It's supposed to be in the low to mid-30's the next three nights, so that will probably be the end of my flowers. I've covered the mums, but I picked all the zinnias that were still in good shape and brought them in so I could keep just a little more summer around :)<br />
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I'm attempting to link up to <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-10595" height="125" src="http://orgjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Org-Junkie-small-2011.png" title="Org Junkie small 2011" width="125" /><a href="http://orgjunkie.com/2011/10/52-weeks-41-best-organizing-advice-giveaway.html">Organizing Junkie's 52 weeks of organizing</a>.SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-4638924938751288212011-10-17T21:54:00.000-05:002011-10-17T21:54:36.401-05:00OregonBusy, rainy, dreary day here in MO. I went to a district retired teacher's meeting for most of the day. Not too exciting, but a great lunch :). I didn't do anything crafty or organiz-y today, except clean out one cabinet in the kitchen - Every time I clean out cabinets, I get rid of stuff. I've had that cabinet organized about the same way for 10 years, and I finally re-arranged it in a way it makes sense. Why did it take me so long????<br />
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I have no picture of that, so I thought I'd just leave you with a picture of Mt. Hood. We recently got back from a Nat Geo cruise down the Columbia and Snake Rivers. It was awesome!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXEe1THTsgGVwCenBzwL03r1Ws-5hoFJ2gA1nqUfxaLoQ7SdIf9sUHNyxBoVU0_c4MWVGd2YIBmyRmPP0aohfX0QeJFEZfERBjpHKJrdDdjwxIfHCPvSir7cHGLl4gNbrtuOqdqhVcUyB/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXEe1THTsgGVwCenBzwL03r1Ws-5hoFJ2gA1nqUfxaLoQ7SdIf9sUHNyxBoVU0_c4MWVGd2YIBmyRmPP0aohfX0QeJFEZfERBjpHKJrdDdjwxIfHCPvSir7cHGLl4gNbrtuOqdqhVcUyB/s320/086.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-31402713204475616532011-10-16T21:41:00.000-05:002011-10-16T21:41:38.458-05:00kitchen-towel pillowsI am continuing this post from the previous one, in order to get my pictures on here. If you're reading this post, it actually begins on the next post (next older post, <a href="http://retiredearly-salpal.blogspot.com/2011/10/pillows-made-from-dish-towels.html">here</a> .) Blogging trouble....<br />
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I simply folded the towel around the pillow, and had the nice end out. That left me a bit over one inch on each side, and I decided to just sew straight down each side.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr6rLYbyPyrPkhX4_sJsxeIVMZ6fR7t6Av4hbOYthhYaNZ3zeu50ekf-BWkgSwd5ruXM6npoJiZ2-tCU0kbWSciV4t5SqvkBJ3ZI_njfcGhQpsj3y441HjLNtrezPvSuIlLHw5kHHU68V/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr6rLYbyPyrPkhX4_sJsxeIVMZ6fR7t6Av4hbOYthhYaNZ3zeu50ekf-BWkgSwd5ruXM6npoJiZ2-tCU0kbWSciV4t5SqvkBJ3ZI_njfcGhQpsj3y441HjLNtrezPvSuIlLHw5kHHU68V/s320/013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div> Here it is, pinned up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivri7r_3oVxMEsClVxdyKtGYs17U0uzT-sc1WIMyaFSjM-jbjGnOSUV-BfPSdKFcNsl6rJ5S_KqmUPldSizF6GkwSr0zmoAwRv8cHxRv4k7IxoDaEuzhNWeFnrRBPFAewQdE6JeboxlSDq/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivri7r_3oVxMEsClVxdyKtGYs17U0uzT-sc1WIMyaFSjM-jbjGnOSUV-BfPSdKFcNsl6rJ5S_KqmUPldSizF6GkwSr0zmoAwRv8cHxRv4k7IxoDaEuzhNWeFnrRBPFAewQdE6JeboxlSDq/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I sewed down that line, then also sewed just about 1/4 inch in from the side:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlwCPAnS-UGnl8MSNRdL7iDQbcc7FuXCj9y3BiREboKKLUpCTyunBhpQ28bDNOoJey1duWqyF6qFx7Me6EBnf6yE3ecaFoVZS35zBg6tJo5gSdN-MaHxfNm5e3Hh1de4CPKzcTtUYkXkW/s1600/100_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlwCPAnS-UGnl8MSNRdL7iDQbcc7FuXCj9y3BiREboKKLUpCTyunBhpQ28bDNOoJey1duWqyF6qFx7Me6EBnf6yE3ecaFoVZS35zBg6tJo5gSdN-MaHxfNm5e3Hh1de4CPKzcTtUYkXkW/s320/100_0279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ROFL! Did I just mention that I am having trouble downloading pictures?!?!?! How this pic got on here, I do not know. Looks like some early garden bounty...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back to the pillow:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>This is the mark I penciled in so I had a guide for sewing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwcMbPI0gV0Uy0vhIaAu_EgK3mRe_OOtUkhiW3Fzrp4t18nsZXBqiusnoynG3dkcL9cWuxsgSDkdJgjfn2aDSUiEfWFILebL2dEJnAgxtHn8MZIiVjOxbyDTMXSqHIzcljrL2V1tK2Msa/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwcMbPI0gV0Uy0vhIaAu_EgK3mRe_OOtUkhiW3Fzrp4t18nsZXBqiusnoynG3dkcL9cWuxsgSDkdJgjfn2aDSUiEfWFILebL2dEJnAgxtHn8MZIiVjOxbyDTMXSqHIzcljrL2V1tK2Msa/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the aforementioned quarter inch I was going to sew:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKCcszPFJH9IW_dhYqYJtfAAYACnweyL0CJXvPHRM8XygC4FO6kqSglcUBZKawCvCcZCOZ5UKZ4zUiJw0rcy-Ncp3HcAF07SRnH5XTzk0ABhHxM_zvJb0fWIWYptgUmwLzZifIaKHZV9s/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKCcszPFJH9IW_dhYqYJtfAAYACnweyL0CJXvPHRM8XygC4FO6kqSglcUBZKawCvCcZCOZ5UKZ4zUiJw0rcy-Ncp3HcAF07SRnH5XTzk0ABhHxM_zvJb0fWIWYptgUmwLzZifIaKHZV9s/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Hard to explain, but very easy. Voila:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0iJ7igZa-U_nj7oDsZbV-y_sQBn3jHaiGZRYsyu9O68hZeiMIdKpQ8a88tVK0u7R5_sYZhoSEbGQmCXhUtBY4eEZfnX3F2PMhWzbrpiJustf5FEr_WtyF1kHubCd9dxJPYCUCR8y0KSO/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0iJ7igZa-U_nj7oDsZbV-y_sQBn3jHaiGZRYsyu9O68hZeiMIdKpQ8a88tVK0u7R5_sYZhoSEbGQmCXhUtBY4eEZfnX3F2PMhWzbrpiJustf5FEr_WtyF1kHubCd9dxJPYCUCR8y0KSO/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's the envelope back:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_lK_Ag29KSt7QwTMzutnLSIOsu2W6YjDAxtoa5aDcc2KJlomp-SYsK3cr1Y1nvLNXChf9Vz_HtEAQkk9lcEK7Wcjw9Yy1fX65bujGbtDMRGYgtDlkIgyKS9XoHoViJNyleQ2T1eJHN-4/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_lK_Ag29KSt7QwTMzutnLSIOsu2W6YjDAxtoa5aDcc2KJlomp-SYsK3cr1Y1nvLNXChf9Vz_HtEAQkk9lcEK7Wcjw9Yy1fX65bujGbtDMRGYgtDlkIgyKS9XoHoViJNyleQ2T1eJHN-4/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The second pillow was a nice travel pillow that I got for 2.00 at Pamida. It was just the right size for me to fold over this great gray ticking striped kitchen towel and sew up each side:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yO5d9lPIg8szosnMQwXdomQJYlCPg_uwOXCnpK3-22hRlxBZnasIR5b4HTnbdSoP6szfrtx2vxKGPGX-M9Xk8ILJNPacuYZ1A0h5nMe8uGHLQz-KpMBNTVIcwNITxriRpgsel2UakFCG/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yO5d9lPIg8szosnMQwXdomQJYlCPg_uwOXCnpK3-22hRlxBZnasIR5b4HTnbdSoP6szfrtx2vxKGPGX-M9Xk8ILJNPacuYZ1A0h5nMe8uGHLQz-KpMBNTVIcwNITxriRpgsel2UakFCG/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ35cydMeQX9RXpRrp5K_xGgsYVdlswSndS8GGHxDEyCqqs3zaHhCFdfIm_dSm8s8KKi6hQoenOgDDtfuL4Wp00ByOoWw4rLk7ECBbaDE4Cm_GyVEbQXAgark69yLUDIK2x3wUqX0w1R8X/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ35cydMeQX9RXpRrp5K_xGgsYVdlswSndS8GGHxDEyCqqs3zaHhCFdfIm_dSm8s8KKi6hQoenOgDDtfuL4Wp00ByOoWw4rLk7ECBbaDE4Cm_GyVEbQXAgark69yLUDIK2x3wUqX0w1R8X/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I just love it! So, I had one towel left. I decided to actually cut off the extra of this one and sew it inside out. But what to do to make in fun and to do something with the edge I cut off? Hmmmm:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeF75Hx2oQEE5WRw3kRqj7mKTUxgHLKJL6hBF8fwlTDyvGMFbHncqGFoFPimY7NI72Js610L3GJqZsU1aGI0pVRtUtsfoF_2-0WFCkq6U1m5TVhKT7YTctr5ny_Lv-4Nbkmy_JccHFi5i/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAeF75Hx2oQEE5WRw3kRqj7mKTUxgHLKJL6hBF8fwlTDyvGMFbHncqGFoFPimY7NI72Js610L3GJqZsU1aGI0pVRtUtsfoF_2-0WFCkq6U1m5TVhKT7YTctr5ny_Lv-4Nbkmy_JccHFi5i/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I looked up several ideas from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/sallyj/">pinterest</a> boards, and got some inspiration, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. So I tied it in a knot (I know, brilliant, out-of-the-box thinking!!), stuck it in there, and sewed it up, then turned it right-side out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc7Uus_cPCD4UVmYVXH3Bd622bCN9gy1pyvmT-ePLgEagDs-ZDfETJoLNGt93GGP8hsLajJm21gty1dvLAlJ9ifxGXMzJ6UwEwuiW-EAh9Kq5J5mIQR7NwoF-Abjxat26lQLkvlsbwo3c/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoc7Uus_cPCD4UVmYVXH3Bd622bCN9gy1pyvmT-ePLgEagDs-ZDfETJoLNGt93GGP8hsLajJm21gty1dvLAlJ9ifxGXMzJ6UwEwuiW-EAh9Kq5J5mIQR7NwoF-Abjxat26lQLkvlsbwo3c/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDkh9tF6PxI82Wv9e64kiyRRE_9fT1epKprZBYMVueuTWMvAzmtkt-dIQAIJT3Bq_foA52go8y7NwVkjeCwIAtGNm9vn1JiuCwiEmhng6BFwm-hKrOvGeWupwA9OX4efhhJshHeIrDSR8/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDkh9tF6PxI82Wv9e64kiyRRE_9fT1epKprZBYMVueuTWMvAzmtkt-dIQAIJT3Bq_foA52go8y7NwVkjeCwIAtGNm9vn1JiuCwiEmhng6BFwm-hKrOvGeWupwA9OX4efhhJshHeIrDSR8/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CPSDmtmoVXo7YoSIka2Kt4GPRjn2E-kB7XaM_SWig0HvnnnImV7P_T3hRcNmcuRqbuKPe68RkJ26viDTBEKvlEkgZ16J9Wq5AqUJrYHD5kis1EPaencfVBU7au15e4MMipTkbQtdw3GH/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CPSDmtmoVXo7YoSIka2Kt4GPRjn2E-kB7XaM_SWig0HvnnnImV7P_T3hRcNmcuRqbuKPe68RkJ26viDTBEKvlEkgZ16J9Wq5AqUJrYHD5kis1EPaencfVBU7au15e4MMipTkbQtdw3GH/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I just love how it turned out :). So here they are, all together:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgqGH5wOcmd17wi7fG3VyFbYolrz85rdWm88tMQG_aMHyZQoDRthIpFWYDvJcLu43xMjVA_xnIxXFGkeu4FO9hvC4Zk38ZherUzvNdYevWFEWSX10dLoeyDWMdQX-IFgvdPtcrRpTKiX/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIgqGH5wOcmd17wi7fG3VyFbYolrz85rdWm88tMQG_aMHyZQoDRthIpFWYDvJcLu43xMjVA_xnIxXFGkeu4FO9hvC4Zk38ZherUzvNdYevWFEWSX10dLoeyDWMdQX-IFgvdPtcrRpTKiX/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I think it's taken longer to write this blog than it took to sew up these pillows! I will keep on the look-out for dishtowels from now on - that made these pillows easy-peasy!SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-53983702865609668872011-10-16T20:40:00.000-05:002011-10-16T20:40:22.554-05:00pillows made from dish towelsSurprise! I haven't blogged for a few days. I will try to make up for it today. I just can't get to the computer every day. I'll try to do better :)<br />
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Friday I had the best time making pillows!! I want to pretty up the bench I showed you in the last post. Here's what I got for my birthday:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-z6IvFkhZffgEmYpyjmon2Qie38FNTKyKYk73_vyLF7oNQvswxiwsWigqI_HX9SwB04xBYACWwP2wLYcsjCsjKrtwryls0Vmhy1u-eOqVInc7_ZA8LmNbfAyXaFsGZhJkyGaM-WOWxvf/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-z6IvFkhZffgEmYpyjmon2Qie38FNTKyKYk73_vyLF7oNQvswxiwsWigqI_HX9SwB04xBYACWwP2wLYcsjCsjKrtwryls0Vmhy1u-eOqVInc7_ZA8LmNbfAyXaFsGZhJkyGaM-WOWxvf/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I thought I had a better picture, but yes, it is a new sewing machine - with 88 pre-programmed stitches. That's probably 86 more than I'll use :) <br />
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Anyhoo...I ordered the comforter for the bed in the guest room from Target. When I was in Target the other day, lo and behold, there was a set of kitchen towels that <em>matched my comforter!!! </em>I was way too excited there on the spot over kitchen towels!!! The pic above is the very same print, and here are the other 2 towels that came in the set:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzGKdwErEst7H5C6NxBAJfuYkMBUD7BkeV78bHRjBUeYPAWFR6QncFFGWtdPGOhHHJwESqBRs0uqtPB-KSf2V-7c6w9on5Am38fBg3-xACemuJFu8d1OJ6kvKjeoZrZr-dPCXP6TwvUe_/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzGKdwErEst7H5C6NxBAJfuYkMBUD7BkeV78bHRjBUeYPAWFR6QncFFGWtdPGOhHHJwESqBRs0uqtPB-KSf2V-7c6w9on5Am38fBg3-xACemuJFu8d1OJ6kvKjeoZrZr-dPCXP6TwvUe_/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I had 12x12 and 14x14 pillow inserts, and found that the 14x14 were too big, so I had to go with the smaller ones. I'll do something different with the larger pillows.<br />
I hate to stuff pillows, so I sewed each with an envelope close. Here's the first one:<br />
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Sooooo, my computer is not letting me upload my photos. I'm going to publish this and then see if I can start a new post to finish this. This is why I don't blog as much - it takes forever to upload one photo....grrrr. I wish I knew more about computers and could figure out my problem :)SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-9753279899840780482011-10-11T19:39:00.000-05:002011-10-11T19:39:30.109-05:00Guest RoomWe (I) are changing our daughter's room into a guest room. I am SO excited, as I can finally do a room the way I want to - no-one else telling me what "they" want in there. I am giving you a sneek peek of one of the pieces going in there:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRyF7gnhvzticc-YmuAE2QFzcHBv5UpksltCdA7OwqiLA5puwVrHoHA7vj3SxQ5EUMORo4RXPr3FScF9a5AVxM9hPF_4LRU8Jy5_AY_lc5NW5i2-wAC3ZxTJYM-7-tkrb4WPxHyh-yA-e/s1600/246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRyF7gnhvzticc-YmuAE2QFzcHBv5UpksltCdA7OwqiLA5puwVrHoHA7vj3SxQ5EUMORo4RXPr3FScF9a5AVxM9hPF_4LRU8Jy5_AY_lc5NW5i2-wAC3ZxTJYM-7-tkrb4WPxHyh-yA-e/s320/246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I found this bench at a flea market for $20. This is it hosed off (and the mud-dauber nest sprayed off of it :)) I have it partly painted and have all the batting to make several pillows for it. I am so excited!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwx5_An0iX45cVfINYj9CxGAwzIi8r2E4p0LFUCh-KMuALS4p69D_Te0n_IbkLmS98zY_SK9gWKWrvdTc-shVVlQpVyRcAMwNuxJFW51pSqavLPxSYXF0AZe-M0xnCp-rznqiLwwWwbKc/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwx5_An0iX45cVfINYj9CxGAwzIi8r2E4p0LFUCh-KMuALS4p69D_Te0n_IbkLmS98zY_SK9gWKWrvdTc-shVVlQpVyRcAMwNuxJFW51pSqavLPxSYXF0AZe-M0xnCp-rznqiLwwWwbKc/s320/251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here it is cleaned off. I used a mixture of about 3/4 vinegar and 1/4 Dawn, and a stiff brush. I was going to strip the black paint off, but I decided to just sand it down, paint gray over the black, and distress it so the black will come through. I'll keep you posted...SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-73758518465247657092011-10-10T22:00:00.000-05:002011-10-10T22:00:41.447-05:00BluebirdsBusy today and not a lot of time to get online. We're getting new carpeting through a lot of the house, so I've been working on getting stuff ready to move out of rooms, and getting ready to pull up old carpet (which we are doing ourselves.)<br />
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I was sitting outside on a "break" today and saw something similar to this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP54o3UwQHPpnC86NnihWZ2Gcayh13UIvXAEvVq8tlnvinTw94E07IwzhjshjtOoyFVOvkcxGY9eK0y35Qw7i_twkmtgoJFf1TPEZxnU03OqtcwVGIos1oYj1bNojBEdGZN24tf4uQMjrf/s1600/488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP54o3UwQHPpnC86NnihWZ2Gcayh13UIvXAEvVq8tlnvinTw94E07IwzhjshjtOoyFVOvkcxGY9eK0y35Qw7i_twkmtgoJFf1TPEZxnU03OqtcwVGIos1oYj1bNojBEdGZN24tf4uQMjrf/s320/488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is a birdhouse dh built me for mother's day several years ago. It sits in the back of my garden right off our pergola. This summer, this lovely pair of bluebirds nested here, right in front of our eyes - it was so exciting!!! (We are obviously easily amused...) DH cleaned this house out this weekend (bluebirds only nest in a clean house) and the birds were back checking it out today!! I hope they come back here to nest next summer. Wonder if they're on their way south???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZ-0DKu-rE4reYF_pjmEiDRzhInOZr-bOyF37dbF8nW9E40w37WQusrjTdaKdLn_g47-PmHE0AKMi1ALIySsi6Rs_7QNSEPZ07mXq2Drdfj_z2J8EO_hK6C60ye4uFs4ZeWoL2L1Ogmq/s1600/487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOZ-0DKu-rE4reYF_pjmEiDRzhInOZr-bOyF37dbF8nW9E40w37WQusrjTdaKdLn_g47-PmHE0AKMi1ALIySsi6Rs_7QNSEPZ07mXq2Drdfj_z2J8EO_hK6C60ye4uFs4ZeWoL2L1Ogmq/s320/487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaFqUgrATLGPkS4sSmY9jbmUBcH8Rkl6Uq-CwMuc8g_UFKYDmGI6zDvJM394JltA9aGYWwSvhqtcYbQeQ1ZxjgipkGNkdkPQL7ikALIYDc0e27dYiiwCK8s6HmfycxMaQV2KCTmLEPCF9/s1600/489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaFqUgrATLGPkS4sSmY9jbmUBcH8Rkl6Uq-CwMuc8g_UFKYDmGI6zDvJM394JltA9aGYWwSvhqtcYbQeQ1ZxjgipkGNkdkPQL7ikALIYDc0e27dYiiwCK8s6HmfycxMaQV2KCTmLEPCF9/s320/489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of shots from my seat on the pergola. You can see how close the birdhouse is to us. These pics were taken in June...the garden looks a lot different now in October!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__MLot26dJwC7POVKJYJ9eA8x81Xqd9zjuLOMd8mY9dLaYd9XgL7BTsMK77mrEqPxll9NUbnpJEkzcyQsXha8QlDGXv0AYrA_vGHFizyDXaCjKRNuyb73YSzr-e8uIMeFeqQG2k65Ookg/s1600/Chickens+in+yard+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__MLot26dJwC7POVKJYJ9eA8x81Xqd9zjuLOMd8mY9dLaYd9XgL7BTsMK77mrEqPxll9NUbnpJEkzcyQsXha8QlDGXv0AYrA_vGHFizyDXaCjKRNuyb73YSzr-e8uIMeFeqQG2k65Ookg/s320/Chickens+in+yard+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-37927770482034788392011-10-09T17:30:00.001-05:002011-10-09T17:32:16.914-05:00Painting plastic<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here I am, 2 days in a row! I know I can make myself do this. Since I've retired, I seem to be on "<em>whatever...</em>" time -- Not that I'm complaining.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana;">My parents just left, they came up to celebrate my mom's 81st birthday. She has not been very well this summer. I hope she comes out of it and that this is not the beginning of the end :(</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana;">Enough! I'm going to do a short post today to show you how I painted plastic. The guy who owns the local pool/hot-tub place GAVE us some great plastic containers with screw-on lids. We use the large one to put chicken food in, and had 2 left for the dog and cat food:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqER3VsHTnTEqockJ3_2SXE2AwZIUiDRagMJsFeL3Cs82lflKKs5vv3nKZsC0dLuWUTaNL4NfQaccgehqHyPalbRFuSKYQp96R8xlC3We1nsS9ekh7vU4wpje7vLltI8v1aZUsjmTCuOcZ/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqER3VsHTnTEqockJ3_2SXE2AwZIUiDRagMJsFeL3Cs82lflKKs5vv3nKZsC0dLuWUTaNL4NfQaccgehqHyPalbRFuSKYQp96R8xlC3We1nsS9ekh7vU4wpje7vLltI8v1aZUsjmTCuOcZ/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I taped off the top part and used the "Rustoleum plastic" paint you see in the picture. I had to wipe them down with alcohol, but that was it. I sprayed one coat, waited a couple hours, then sprayed another coat. THAT'S IT!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxl1T8DICbtN5YIfIe6Qr-Xh5o7ddNfnr4ra5aR0X-3lbqH7ebwI1BKFpcYqx4Yurbqtxsmo42979zaahfrgeQQoXZ2GZafsBdAPQLhqMRupp3DuIfbx1KL7Vm9L9UU79utI0sKCiyH6h/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxl1T8DICbtN5YIfIe6Qr-Xh5o7ddNfnr4ra5aR0X-3lbqH7ebwI1BKFpcYqx4Yurbqtxsmo42979zaahfrgeQQoXZ2GZafsBdAPQLhqMRupp3DuIfbx1KL7Vm9L9UU79utI0sKCiyH6h/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you feel like you have a crick in your neck? I don't know why this picture won't rotate. Ah, well, you get the idea :)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVO16lkP6KimpYgrJ2Za1KEQFvjsbkwY4dmHXcfIy_c-vJcsarcmt9rosZ4xgZamb3Ugl3neuBqqYGr_0SMEbeCY5wFA-h8FCyrpHseP7J-quKKp28U-5e8tP0DfWmkwuw9JBpV9gkr97/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVO16lkP6KimpYgrJ2Za1KEQFvjsbkwY4dmHXcfIy_c-vJcsarcmt9rosZ4xgZamb3Ugl3neuBqqYGr_0SMEbeCY5wFA-h8FCyrpHseP7J-quKKp28U-5e8tP0DfWmkwuw9JBpV9gkr97/s320/035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is where these buckets "live." In the laundry room, where the animals eat. They are great containers for pet food, and I think they look SOOO much better painted than they looked before.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana;">So that's my quick project and quick post for today. I still have some of this paint left and I'm sure I'll find something else to use it on ;). Hope you've had a great weekend!</span>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-33863853651558801172011-10-08T19:05:00.000-05:002011-10-08T19:05:01.936-05:00I'm baaaaack!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I realize it's been almost a year since I posted. I don't have any excuses. Got busy, did a lot of subbing, and spent waaaay to much time looking at other people's blogs and on <a href="http://pinterest.com/sallyj/">Pinterest.</a> I have done lots to post about and got most of it on <strike>film </strike>camera. I'm going to do my best to post 2 or 3 times a week, maybe more, maybe less, but I AM going to work on being more productive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Do you find that this is a time of year when you become more productive inside the home? I love the "nesting" feeling, as well as not feeling guilty if I'm not outside working in the garden (pics of those later...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Speaking of nesting.... I figured my first post back from the grave should be about something big in our lives! Since we're at that 'kids have moved out but not married or grandkids yet' stage, it doesn't take much to amuse us. Here's what we started on last May:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tuPCm5bo7h3y96FHeWSPhbrhHkDJdGDT9sWTbc73o4ymsHROLwOZee3ERpHdKHJ2iVtrcs4WLMxrDBn_HYEuWhD4RUnq0OTBVLVWd65vGDBUUGJPn38lmV2JYh8MyENq89IPoehewFqW/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tuPCm5bo7h3y96FHeWSPhbrhHkDJdGDT9sWTbc73o4ymsHROLwOZee3ERpHdKHJ2iVtrcs4WLMxrDBn_HYEuWhD4RUnq0OTBVLVWd65vGDBUUGJPn38lmV2JYh8MyENq89IPoehewFqW/s320/024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's right ----- We.Got.Chickens!!!! DH has been wanting to do this for awhile, and I finally got on board. I've been wanting a garden shed, so he built a garden shed/chicken coop combo. What a guy ♥. I have lots of pictures, but I'll try not to bore you too much. We're just the proud parents, dontcha know :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsgId6MTMjyGNvOI5caAx-i-MnevDbmIjQ7qncNBtqW24VE1q9tJ8oPVTBQdUx69n0e3wKlVPSTOmouRysY6Uz3KZcDwVXbWpMiwFIIShU2Z23x7No-6alGHKpcdWtvUW9e5_o2_6Mg5v/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsgId6MTMjyGNvOI5caAx-i-MnevDbmIjQ7qncNBtqW24VE1q9tJ8oPVTBQdUx69n0e3wKlVPSTOmouRysY6Uz3KZcDwVXbWpMiwFIIShU2Z23x7No-6alGHKpcdWtvUW9e5_o2_6Mg5v/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the front of the coop/shed. The shed is 10 ft X 10 ft, and the coop is 10X6. He salvaged the front door from his dad's shed (where everything from their 56 year marriage has gone to die...) and I LOVE it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_PfvXLP4bp7K9HclWy4u8BFGUoZYkl4RrEeXnIw-5EiphTw2GCPrCoVnESN2tzWwzQz07OsY9q8m7L9tyI4_eOR39-C2gkHD7Le8I2Ninri7c0GIRE1ElLKIlU2-_CU0X0lEEd_dkckD/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_PfvXLP4bp7K9HclWy4u8BFGUoZYkl4RrEeXnIw-5EiphTw2GCPrCoVnESN2tzWwzQz07OsY9q8m7L9tyI4_eOR39-C2gkHD7Le8I2Ninri7c0GIRE1ElLKIlU2-_CU0X0lEEd_dkckD/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's the back part (chicken coop part.) I have gotten the extra paint off those windows since the picture has been taken. I did all the first coats of paint, then it got to "hotter than hell" status this summer, so it didn't get its next coats until September.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ncIQohA9vxmw9UrTGrn7_HwRVGA0hexyLtP0toO4IZMJfBWenxlMQJtd8jo-ySIYJezFY165ovbfyWbfK9dbJfNkLy4p_inZPaTSN5r4HR2E64ttvz2h20ZZN5mUZ3tHEetfT2TSPByj/s1600/Chickens+in+yard+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ncIQohA9vxmw9UrTGrn7_HwRVGA0hexyLtP0toO4IZMJfBWenxlMQJtd8jo-ySIYJezFY165ovbfyWbfK9dbJfNkLy4p_inZPaTSN5r4HR2E64ttvz2h20ZZN5mUZ3tHEetfT2TSPByj/s320/Chickens+in+yard+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E8udRLwcmZR5DqzjAqnP4NiA_YkMuQjQvz3MHO2CJegprEalot4Eh7Qcymdk3xylL2Vfq7zgYqoG4lflFWbnw1Arc4V6gpIKUqzUsgKw_0HP4ljyCejJ2XE6wb_r_2WSHPlqoya0CNSK/s1600/Chickens+in+Yard+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E8udRLwcmZR5DqzjAqnP4NiA_YkMuQjQvz3MHO2CJegprEalot4Eh7Qcymdk3xylL2Vfq7zgYqoG4lflFWbnw1Arc4V6gpIKUqzUsgKw_0HP4ljyCejJ2XE6wb_r_2WSHPlqoya0CNSK/s320/Chickens+in+Yard+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bottom picture shows the coop before we ever let the chickens in; it will never, ever be this clean again... Yes, the whole thing was painted, thankyouverymuch! On the left are the nesting boxes. Many of the roosters you see in the top picture are now in our freezer. We have 8 hens and 1 rooster now. We had 12 hens at one time, but they flew the fence and became a small morsel for the dogs before I got them away (fortunately for you, that was not documented on YouTube!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We don't plan on making money off these girls. We are doing it for fun, fresh eggs (and chicken) for us, our kids and our friends. We'll hopefully be able to sell a few eggs, but that's not our main goal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyhoo, we got the babies in the mail on May 7th(ish):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Siur2-UlW4Ho5tuGSGb4K-P12Flo6Huah0kgTwSjEpYIxp4KLt68bzP36NY4LdxWZuAqQEouFk_43_qJsGg2VvUvQy2wtSRka3N6IzTEoAgivPlDNS4uYSjob5oo2McdiNB08lo8HVX1/s1600/472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Siur2-UlW4Ho5tuGSGb4K-P12Flo6Huah0kgTwSjEpYIxp4KLt68bzP36NY4LdxWZuAqQEouFk_43_qJsGg2VvUvQy2wtSRka3N6IzTEoAgivPlDNS4uYSjob5oo2McdiNB08lo8HVX1/s320/472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, as of the end of September, they have rewarded us with:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lq9oHQiou_KyYz2DELr9Bx3w422ByVrfd9v-5kxABMWgAUBXgMl4X4b7VMsrHgY11VAOZpzYNclsaB9gTVnJVkINPEL1rnVw9OAh0pElAa6vACtH7NBo5F27fbaR1ZtYpnf2Xn6S8oi8/s1600/231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lq9oHQiou_KyYz2DELr9Bx3w422ByVrfd9v-5kxABMWgAUBXgMl4X4b7VMsrHgY11VAOZpzYNclsaB9gTVnJVkINPEL1rnVw9OAh0pElAa6vACtH7NBo5F27fbaR1ZtYpnf2Xn6S8oi8/s320/231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">EGGS, BABY!!! We're averaging about 5 a day, and they are to.die.for. If you've never had fresh eggs, well, you haven't had eggs!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A couple more pics of the inside of the garden shed:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EWwP_ejbvSsBlTMejT7fz0tXBJE_lFJfDZVEoYjKt2iF8-8ATunv6N8dutJRt-FeACSwxd9v_5p9egsCtlHS8uT38X_gLFFGqNra3NZE-YUPYczisJRnyVlk6ReBXxbSUBaYCjd7eQP4/s1600/233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7EWwP_ejbvSsBlTMejT7fz0tXBJE_lFJfDZVEoYjKt2iF8-8ATunv6N8dutJRt-FeACSwxd9v_5p9egsCtlHS8uT38X_gLFFGqNra3NZE-YUPYczisJRnyVlk6ReBXxbSUBaYCjd7eQP4/s320/233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">looking from the door - those are the other side of the nesting boxes, so I can collect eggs from the shed side and not have to go into the coop. Brilliant!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAXxKK70VB3z70FCEOfSI47GH1vXaPRvJfLAS2yRLt0Xne31abcvoNmgHds7Yg_a4HZMbrrUP8SXxw5qlOH2jqMw2jBKl7CMwUzqoeNbCSC3lcXaD5lu4c3PGxLY1dVraLf4swTMKfUo6/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAXxKK70VB3z70FCEOfSI47GH1vXaPRvJfLAS2yRLt0Xne31abcvoNmgHds7Yg_a4HZMbrrUP8SXxw5qlOH2jqMw2jBKl7CMwUzqoeNbCSC3lcXaD5lu4c3PGxLY1dVraLf4swTMKfUo6/s320/237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">closer up of the nesting boxes. The un-painted part of the wall is supposed to be a greenhouse window in the future. Frugal = paint was left-over from another project, and that stool cost me $2.00 at a garage sale :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjeVPxuIUeLqFU6AtoTq309Cjqkmicer12D11_v56X9xErhLY3PYhoHsNLLVx6Hovzcv1MqDFYE78YXeoUHvOyFrCz5hkMIMLgmMQ4pupUQ7jYRlIAI-vOPrAN99e_S777lbRj104QjNQ/s1600/234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjeVPxuIUeLqFU6AtoTq309Cjqkmicer12D11_v56X9xErhLY3PYhoHsNLLVx6Hovzcv1MqDFYE78YXeoUHvOyFrCz5hkMIMLgmMQ4pupUQ7jYRlIAI-vOPrAN99e_S777lbRj104QjNQ/s320/234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the old box on the shelf that has my egg cartons in it. Awesome! Another treasure from the in-law's shed :)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKXjRPTQCuVHiVHuGJUi1HTiuocXD6SDBRcZtSVLUUQHfUIMIQRjDUzjGQmW4HGkWEHSWjbXDVyk8WmpeqwkHgrt3xmh17Owmo8GLqJjH6vnVVsXt3nPKwegGC9Q7kPmY3hzSwJFUXMAw/s1600/236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKXjRPTQCuVHiVHuGJUi1HTiuocXD6SDBRcZtSVLUUQHfUIMIQRjDUzjGQmW4HGkWEHSWjbXDVyk8WmpeqwkHgrt3xmh17Owmo8GLqJjH6vnVVsXt3nPKwegGC9Q7kPmY3hzSwJFUXMAw/s320/236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The potting bench dh made me several years ago that was in the garage. The nesting boxes are to my right; also, in the top left corner you can see the corner of a counter...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoD-PgaOk8CqejtFsRFIUn_-RdHL9qR-6ulS3SKFBy_E_1rcOrRTjtHyR7JAxMVD9mNWVsjlI-Tg3BfNDh5WOa7VQLzp2tkIjYATFQlUdRI7cYyJxUtEJUPKgAHvEoad9SNMJ_JwiWCXw/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoD-PgaOk8CqejtFsRFIUn_-RdHL9qR-6ulS3SKFBy_E_1rcOrRTjtHyR7JAxMVD9mNWVsjlI-Tg3BfNDh5WOa7VQLzp2tkIjYATFQlUdRI7cYyJxUtEJUPKgAHvEoad9SNMJ_JwiWCXw/s320/232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is on the opposite side, and shows the matching countertop. These two used to be put together and served as the counter in our laundry room for several years until we got built-in counters and cabinets. Since then it has been in the garage. Now they are split up and will hold my outdoor junk!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Well, that was an awfully long post for just coming back from the grave. I'm going to link in with the other great bloggers who are doing <a href="http://beautyandbedlam.com/beauty-and-the-budget/">31 days of.....</a> and I'm going to do 31 days of getting back into blogging - I have about that many <u>thrilling</u> posts of things I've accomplished in the last year. See you tomorrow (I hope!) OH! Just one more picture:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxF0gg7ZaMR6NS_Xgg1r_FuDWcQkTXalcm-sDZ4nPyRGb_A94qZfb4uMywbvteP22NdItP_UxV0LBnqDf5xKY_6PAB-rJiMJUZVyfCJ4jdEG83-93XzQnL4jVKowJA-CKDTAXfzFYws2O/s1600/242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxF0gg7ZaMR6NS_Xgg1r_FuDWcQkTXalcm-sDZ4nPyRGb_A94qZfb4uMywbvteP22NdItP_UxV0LBnqDf5xKY_6PAB-rJiMJUZVyfCJ4jdEG83-93XzQnL4jVKowJA-CKDTAXfzFYws2O/s320/242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is our other baby, Daisy. My dd gave her to me last Christmas. She's all mutt (part terrier...) and makes us laugh all the time.</span>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-88147561795420099562010-10-31T18:55:00.000-05:002010-10-31T18:55:26.886-05:00Painting wood<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We have a wood stove in the basement which we have used the last couple of years to help heat the basement and first floor. We also have a stove in the living room that we haven't used much...Duh... We have decided to use both of them this year and see if we can get our heating bill down ~~ The 2nd story is basically closed off, since that's where the kids's rooms are.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">ANYHOO...Hubby built a box for me to store wood in upstairs. He had to buy some of the 1 x 4s and 1 x 2s, but the main large pieces of wood are just cheap, thin plywood. He actually told me I could PAINT IT!!! This from a man who cringes over painted wood. I was so excited I almost peed myself. Ahem... Now, 3 walls of the living room are a light brown, and the 4th is a darker brown. I first painted it the light brown. Hmmm...</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfAgj2YUZjRH89JYBAXExoOMNqSzasdiPUMPezazELM7xeVR8Xi-tFRWuEADkSSdH3DwIZN3_GNba-0wrsbV35HLZ8Z5kFn0ZYbBgPBxM9WrNtW4QZhKr9OGyHDyTcPkPlhWh1NAh45ob/s1600/Blog+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfAgj2YUZjRH89JYBAXExoOMNqSzasdiPUMPezazELM7xeVR8Xi-tFRWuEADkSSdH3DwIZN3_GNba-0wrsbV35HLZ8Z5kFn0ZYbBgPBxM9WrNtW4QZhKr9OGyHDyTcPkPlhWh1NAh45ob/s320/Blog+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is the back side. After some thought, I decided it looked too "hi, I'm a painted cheap box!" I wondered what would happen if I decided to paint over part of it with a dry brush the darker brown. So this was step 2:</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LEAZFtiWbn2Kmj65W6PwM3KtlQ9RREik4k11JvPS_LCjJ9iZ3RHEJDmqGz8AWQ4w9xwSLTwVdmb0W0NKx4KyKnCc_qgPmUFAd2tcqC1hri52KCZg9RigruKZiXTvLHeb-iw6sMrNucrh/s1600/Blog+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LEAZFtiWbn2Kmj65W6PwM3KtlQ9RREik4k11JvPS_LCjJ9iZ3RHEJDmqGz8AWQ4w9xwSLTwVdmb0W0NKx4KyKnCc_qgPmUFAd2tcqC1hri52KCZg9RigruKZiXTvLHeb-iw6sMrNucrh/s320/Blog+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c2cxIC7pj5K-IWgpoiN5KGmWg8sMfkdjGU55xF4lMuNRhyphenhyphen4muFCd_7KJl3nrNsy4bf0Xl8mXKuPZuvdob_6ql0c8A84fh4sj3yry-YnJ55F02FLpioI71VTBEoBYU6Xcj_2iuI35Gqg8/s1600/Blog+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c2cxIC7pj5K-IWgpoiN5KGmWg8sMfkdjGU55xF4lMuNRhyphenhyphen4muFCd_7KJl3nrNsy4bf0Xl8mXKuPZuvdob_6ql0c8A84fh4sj3yry-YnJ55F02FLpioI71VTBEoBYU6Xcj_2iuI35Gqg8/s320/Blog+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpH05OCq-b4j0I9jWMY5LaKpR4LH11wbR9w4ECAfpgK93JLjxJJb2nDjOYDXdh8V-Iw1zABNwaYFfsynq2opEX4KML-Lxp79QOjxs_TH7F3C6o1r7ATyq3c1xHQHhoPsuvdn28Su90jff/s1600/Blog+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpH05OCq-b4j0I9jWMY5LaKpR4LH11wbR9w4ECAfpgK93JLjxJJb2nDjOYDXdh8V-Iw1zABNwaYFfsynq2opEX4KML-Lxp79QOjxs_TH7F3C6o1r7ATyq3c1xHQHhoPsuvdn28Su90jff/s320/Blog+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The last one is just so you can see the inside. After looking at it for awhile, I decided I really looked the "painted over" look. My next decision was whether or not to paint the whole thing with that look, or keep it as is, to make the lighter brown areas pop. I spent quite a bit of time pondering, wondering, debating, questioning... Finally I decided I liked the painted over look, as my living room is somewhat rustic, and I thought that look was softer and not so much "look at me!!" So, I went ahead and did it all:</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYhX4c-C81eG2D5BhLbNF_c9v1AK_dMZ9q5PzAzLQdRV41kG537yca9LxYi3gy1YsyTl0hBCUiA_C13eQKfkhhD9LR-s-Pr1mBYzldkvRO_b4TwjYoj3XhJKIr6MLTnuTJluPQmF1sFhE/s1600/Blog+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYhX4c-C81eG2D5BhLbNF_c9v1AK_dMZ9q5PzAzLQdRV41kG537yca9LxYi3gy1YsyTl0hBCUiA_C13eQKfkhhD9LR-s-Pr1mBYzldkvRO_b4TwjYoj3XhJKIr6MLTnuTJluPQmF1sFhE/s320/Blog+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xYIwKKr-Aku2GWqYUZirX1sLKWovVXf44ae-fNsdyUrSg1TMN17Yz04kb0nGVtW8oKNNRaonre2AF39kTc0NOT7IjrlLZ7xiRPEBmvb1UQe0QTwrVQ-pymDtQNOdQs4macZsLI7kCi6i/s1600/Blog+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xYIwKKr-Aku2GWqYUZirX1sLKWovVXf44ae-fNsdyUrSg1TMN17Yz04kb0nGVtW8oKNNRaonre2AF39kTc0NOT7IjrlLZ7xiRPEBmvb1UQe0QTwrVQ-pymDtQNOdQs4macZsLI7kCi6i/s320/Blog+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What do you think? I like it much better this way. Even hubs likes it, and he usually rolls his eyes at these types of things. It's drying right now, and I can't wait to bring it in. Below is a pic of the living room. This will sit to the left of my <strike>throne</strike> chair, to the right of the fireplace (in front of the window.) The box that is sitting there will be moved:</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH_FpXl3PPrUGDLxHW6JceKGe_Eei1M8rFtwGKpMChZiuf8zymrDATgY8aqfUT3VFWMdWsny8DjW6yN7Ug1eznTQwtSSYb22ICr6ZjqwsZufMM6m9kUBxA5854DwZ54ozkdC3vO1CnVFD/s1600/Blog+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioH_FpXl3PPrUGDLxHW6JceKGe_Eei1M8rFtwGKpMChZiuf8zymrDATgY8aqfUT3VFWMdWsny8DjW6yN7Ug1eznTQwtSSYb22ICr6ZjqwsZufMM6m9kUBxA5854DwZ54ozkdC3vO1CnVFD/s320/Blog+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What do you think? How would you have painted it??</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-44144257845495596892010-10-21T20:30:00.000-05:002010-10-21T20:30:23.446-05:00Fall<em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love fall. I love fall this year more than ever before. I'm not sure why that is. When I was teaching and the kids were younger, I was so busy with starting school and all their activities, I never paid much attention to the season. The last couple of years, I've worked and been so busy helping with the HS football team (feeding them, that is,) that I still didn't realize how beautiful the season was.</span></em><br />
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<img align="middle" alt="Beautiful Autumn Picture" src="http://geniusbeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/autumn_6.jpg" width="496" /><br />
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<em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first year I've been able to step back and really breathe in the season. I've done all this decorating, and I can't seem to stop! I've been out walking in our woods and found things growing I never knew were there. </span></em><br />
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<img align="middle" alt="Beautiful Autumn Picture" src="http://geniusbeauty.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/autumn2.jpg" width="496" /><br />
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<em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been savoring the apple cider, and I can't wait to bake some pumpkin muffins this weekend. I love opening the windows at night and burrowing down into the blankets. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial;">Here's the bottom line. I never thought of fall as a great season. Now I think it's my favorite. How about you? I'm off to get some more apple cider :)</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-8670007436601557242010-10-17T17:16:00.000-05:002010-10-17T17:16:17.198-05:00Why we clean<em><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been gone/subbing/busy for the last week. Thursday was my only day off. I made a list, turned on my timer, and got it all done! I was so pleased when it was all done, and felt like we all feel when we've done a good job. Why is this important? I always think "...it will be clean if someone just stops by." How often does that really happen? And, I don't know about you, but people only "just stop by" when my house is a mess, anyway! What's up with that?? Anyway, I am working on not worrying about that. I'm worrying about how I feel. After all, isn't it all about me????? Being in my home makes me endlessly happy. Being in my home when it's nice and clean, well, that makes me feel just short of heaven. Where did I ever get the idea that I was working for people who stop by? The only people who 'just stop by' are my friends, and their houses are semi-messy, too. So, I need to learn to relax about my house-cleaning. It's done for me, and if it's not done perfectly or always, that's ok. It's still home.</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-69899858775544896112010-10-05T16:08:00.000-05:002010-10-05T16:08:29.942-05:00Crafty Fall<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Reading my blog, one may have noticed I just might be a bit ADD...Oh look, a butterfly! I have finally brought everything together and am going to show you what I've been working on to do some cheap fall decorating. I'm really proud of myself, and find that I'm starting to get back into crafting...Danger...All it took was 20 years and the kids out of the house!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">First of all, I found this great idea over at <a href="http://sassystyleredesign.blogspot.com/2010/09/me-my-little-red-wagon.html">Sassy Style</a>. Lo and behold, I had a small vintage red wagon that was sitting on my hearth. I had planned on doing something cool with it, but it just sat there. Also, my ds tried to ride it like a scooter and broke one of the wheels (really? a 260 pound lineman could do that??) Since my living room has red in it, I thought this idea would work great.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig174a1oR_KZbTiQDwUpdFmNcuVGxc-H4l-jcGDzgnzW3jsgoT-vPOXzc1xyrdp-6NWTJvX-qCwg8yTgg5vMlb6E-XEqdoUMgwBDQJiOMIjND_QZa9pMDxN9IVifqwSOJQ20_KXl7ghCxN/s1600/Blog+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig174a1oR_KZbTiQDwUpdFmNcuVGxc-H4l-jcGDzgnzW3jsgoT-vPOXzc1xyrdp-6NWTJvX-qCwg8yTgg5vMlb6E-XEqdoUMgwBDQJiOMIjND_QZa9pMDxN9IVifqwSOJQ20_KXl7ghCxN/s200/Blog+040.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilbuiT_XJSG-kTd5aHCZr1DLzcemnQ_WnyrYK7tPg8AskVPXYQD85LgHi77imPgIOFjsU_aj-cY-h_b4qvCiJQy-MYhLK-pbm888yinHL3UCKbKyxs0bIk9QCeXaFlWV8eJF4LZkN5BdY/s1600/Blog+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilbuiT_XJSG-kTd5aHCZr1DLzcemnQ_WnyrYK7tPg8AskVPXYQD85LgHi77imPgIOFjsU_aj-cY-h_b4qvCiJQy-MYhLK-pbm888yinHL3UCKbKyxs0bIk9QCeXaFlWV8eJF4LZkN5BdY/s200/Blog+041.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FJCsCmF61DDIos96BWXfpwT3TvkhMneAiHxnGRE9W8b5QWBcWdWBDU7XP8gRFVAuWtTazf0VSBo9tDVTGHZ0B_oMe5E3_Ajhwbpu3tQt5wxp04Ot5ZavcVVsB5dDWSPk9OZwHon4-Low/s1600/Blog+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FJCsCmF61DDIos96BWXfpwT3TvkhMneAiHxnGRE9W8b5QWBcWdWBDU7XP8gRFVAuWtTazf0VSBo9tDVTGHZ0B_oMe5E3_Ajhwbpu3tQt5wxp04Ot5ZavcVVsB5dDWSPk9OZwHon4-Low/s200/Blog+042.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top picture shows the little wagon in it's original state (cobwebs?? must be just a fuzzy picture...) I started by removing the wheels and such. The front nut and bolt were so rusted together, dear hubs ground that part off (can you see the sparks?) He just rolls his eyes when I start these things, but fortunately he goes with the flow! The last picture shows what it looked like after everything was taken off. I decided not to paint or anything, just scrubbed it really well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf6IeKB2NoisO779mObt6CUDGG8V7PYBPFP-Omw66CC0zOrMoazP6c8lkcwfraPqAvhS0Rgc_SNEC7Cw48uJ9ixAfRellfiuAfUHq4wQOJjOCuTCoVKpiPtZkUvwfUMySG-i6dDuCzk-4/s1600/Blog+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOf6IeKB2NoisO779mObt6CUDGG8V7PYBPFP-Omw66CC0zOrMoazP6c8lkcwfraPqAvhS0Rgc_SNEC7Cw48uJ9ixAfRellfiuAfUHq4wQOJjOCuTCoVKpiPtZkUvwfUMySG-i6dDuCzk-4/s320/Blog+044.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here it is, the new tray on my coffee table. I didn't add the handles. The pumpkin is a Dollar General find, and I just love it!</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I went to a thrift store and a fabric store with a friend yesterday, so here is the next project. Pumpkins made from toilet paper rolls covered in fabric. So easy, even I can do it (directions - google "toilet paper pumpkins"). These took about 2 minutes each, and I think they are so cute!</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAr2hYfpfd5H-uoSpBKlA2kYS5o8cxpausvoab6Cf3_MG3HTPb7QYycke5_UdPXHYWeR25VR4HyQgw1t7jR18Ra2nQq-mIu7eHKCiGsZW4m7T2Hc1ROuV7hOH0p1MfLG9tZviDIK16PW/s1600/Blog+056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRAr2hYfpfd5H-uoSpBKlA2kYS5o8cxpausvoab6Cf3_MG3HTPb7QYycke5_UdPXHYWeR25VR4HyQgw1t7jR18Ra2nQq-mIu7eHKCiGsZW4m7T2Hc1ROuV7hOH0p1MfLG9tZviDIK16PW/s320/Blog+056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGqHkXeeNElp83_U3kOppWEUtX3Uso_vjPMWyMz92HHlB6gIiFzUKw2T-rr-hKtoN7ucvymV6a2M20mqUM18lI0MFW9NYg_pMTEd8Sj6Qi-WYwbxF4riTt5iru5LKT0y5kJD2zlul87B2/s1600/Blog+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGqHkXeeNElp83_U3kOppWEUtX3Uso_vjPMWyMz92HHlB6gIiFzUKw2T-rr-hKtoN7ucvymV6a2M20mqUM18lI0MFW9NYg_pMTEd8Sj6Qi-WYwbxF4riTt5iru5LKT0y5kJD2zlul87B2/s320/Blog+058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">How cute are these? I made a couple for friends as well. I also found some dead branches in my wooded yard, and used those as the pumpkin 'stem.'</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I finished up what I wanted to do with my little table in my dining area:</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTkElT8wGsi9SeC9FA1EuRPNuJcBoZ6oyRULv2BAdpW-zCHKKkQeX2QeM1fz5ywcfXpfHKTSsahFH4WmecEYC7r2QNQM6B_b5VajDX6HRLIyGpS8YqfZEmCIoRWDmpYe8mMAhWkShYp0F/s1600/Blog+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTkElT8wGsi9SeC9FA1EuRPNuJcBoZ6oyRULv2BAdpW-zCHKKkQeX2QeM1fz5ywcfXpfHKTSsahFH4WmecEYC7r2QNQM6B_b5VajDX6HRLIyGpS8YqfZEmCIoRWDmpYe8mMAhWkShYp0F/s320/Blog+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_0BHuETHS_iKlEa3hAUgIEY2c_7H-DT_piwWDjez3EFqgGnMif-ZQigtGZrY-Avagc8AKy4W6dHnlygh0T2IOwpqnOoBp9-yjFqVyL18Q4_AaCYmAo3oUQJQNc6-3OaLqFVZjKiG0zTi/s1600/Blog+055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_0BHuETHS_iKlEa3hAUgIEY2c_7H-DT_piwWDjez3EFqgGnMif-ZQigtGZrY-Avagc8AKy4W6dHnlygh0T2IOwpqnOoBp9-yjFqVyL18Q4_AaCYmAo3oUQJQNc6-3OaLqFVZjKiG0zTi/s320/Blog+055.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The little runner was some fabric I found that I really liked. I bought 1 1/2 yards, <strike>ripped </strike>cut it in half lengthwise, folded it, then tied it with some cute ribbon on both sides. Voila! The candle was 25 cents at the thrift store, and there is one of my new little pumpkins! I am so excited (easily amused...obviously :))</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, that kind of wraps up the current house reformation and crafting. Stay tuned for more!</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-13769997578620133342010-10-03T20:36:00.000-05:002010-10-03T20:36:59.277-05:00Redneck fire pit<span style="color: orange; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>So I got a bunch of cool projects done this weekend and I was going to blog about them, but then something else happened tonight that I knew I had to write about instead! My dh is one of those people who like to keep stuff "cuz I'll use it somehow again," and he actually does. He can build and fix most anything. I'm lucky, I know.</em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We were sitting out on our pergola (that he built about 3 years ago,) and the temperature was dropping. We have talked about getting a fire pit, but the pergola has a roof structure over it, and we were afraid of the fire getting too high. He was talking about getting a new grill, and as he walked off, I thought 'he could take that old weber grill and make a fire pit out of it!' Lo and behold, he came out of the woods with the old, old Weber, and an idea was born. </span></em><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Enter, the <strike>redneck</strike> frugal fire pit!!</span></em></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9AV5ZRr8kFM4Moj7aBDvYoVo-QmEhr9f6bF-Q60V5-RSmCQrZF4e0FH-B2AbRf-GJQWZgNFaUmnfbdG4svu-aOVSU3H33eOTmk3Je58T_TbZkFQC4APw9XkmoBwwt8kNFK6r9u8KoQeR/s1600/Blog+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9AV5ZRr8kFM4Moj7aBDvYoVo-QmEhr9f6bF-Q60V5-RSmCQrZF4e0FH-B2AbRf-GJQWZgNFaUmnfbdG4svu-aOVSU3H33eOTmk3Je58T_TbZkFQC4APw9XkmoBwwt8kNFK6r9u8KoQeR/s320/Blog+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: purple;">That's right, folks. The bottom of an old Weber grill set inside a large truck tire rim. Hubs is loading it up ;) Yes, it's still daylight out, but the temp was dropping.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp2aw9SKSYMnEeaQOCdfY0Pph-Zp3ZCtEr7vP9lCMApC_QPzkaLt5-NRJo19EUKVJzWgFBtWLJsoHcPTpQcTX2GADICj-P631U33MFJ72k-fGGP2FWuilThkDbgbPZAR5qUiIc6vTlVQK/s1600/Blog+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTp2aw9SKSYMnEeaQOCdfY0Pph-Zp3ZCtEr7vP9lCMApC_QPzkaLt5-NRJo19EUKVJzWgFBtWLJsoHcPTpQcTX2GADICj-P631U33MFJ72k-fGGP2FWuilThkDbgbPZAR5qUiIc6vTlVQK/s320/Blog+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">Yea fall!!! Yummy warmth :)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UNO3getMrC26dtuwQICQDfdFV88EICxf0lmjApMeIizmPVfyivH20IKeqjozF2l1C_sIp-Kyzb-o9GMMqRqH2wHbCzNSMzhcQphS3Omnm6E44QHxV4bQvS4vwMX8xf1O6W20miFPazkl/s1600/Blog+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UNO3getMrC26dtuwQICQDfdFV88EICxf0lmjApMeIizmPVfyivH20IKeqjozF2l1C_sIp-Kyzb-o9GMMqRqH2wHbCzNSMzhcQphS3Omnm6E44QHxV4bQvS4vwMX8xf1O6W20miFPazkl/s320/Blog+045.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">This is a shot from the deck looking over the porch (ribs smoking on the grill. yum yum) ~ and the bucket was the first try at the base of the fire pit, but hubs decided that would be too tall. Past the deck is the pergola, where we live in the warm months - redneck grill ready to go.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So that is my post of the day. We are both challenging ourselves to 'do with what we have,' and hubs came through on this one :) I take back anything bad I might have said about him over the last 21 years...</span></em></div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-53681807362376815202010-09-28T15:25:00.001-05:002010-09-28T15:32:56.299-05:00I'm crafting! Film at 11 :)<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me repeat what I've said before. I am not crafty, artsy, etc. However, with my HGTV and decorating blog addictions, I think I'm becoming a fairly decent decorator. Slowly but surely, and done on a tight budget (I'm challenging myself in that area, but it's been fun!)</span></em><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana;">I know I said I was going to put up more of my fall decorating pics, but I thought I'd wait until I'd finished up with that. Plus, I did something spontaneous today and I wanted to share. About a month ago, I bought a 9 x 12 artist canvas on sale for $1.00. I'd seen a lot of ideas using those, and I had originally planned on covering it with some cool fabric. However, something came over me today and I decided **Paint it** instead! I didn't think it through (typical...), I just went for it. Here it is. Don't judge...</span></em></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Paint left-over from many projects. Trust me, there's more in another room. On my list of things to clean/organize this winter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">The dollar canvas</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Painter's tape put on haphazardly. No, I didn't measure anything. Again, just did it without thinking. It may come back to bite me, we'll see.<br />
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The area when done.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtS8P2jcLlFqz40QWZ7LKDHhH8KdMD-Dc7wjZwKrDwzudSBOqywsnSW_kQjG1oklQGpC9IbV4WbuswoCzqmUI-bs9QRA-7fc172q9Xy1DzasUQM1zJtCsIyqYmMXSTRwaTI3Jl_OtrLlh/s1600/Blog+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtS8P2jcLlFqz40QWZ7LKDHhH8KdMD-Dc7wjZwKrDwzudSBOqywsnSW_kQjG1oklQGpC9IbV4WbuswoCzqmUI-bs9QRA-7fc172q9Xy1DzasUQM1zJtCsIyqYmMXSTRwaTI3Jl_OtrLlh/s320/Blog+032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, so this is what it ended up looking like. They are all shades of green, although they look like shades of brown! All are greens with brown tint, I suppose. The dark is from my son's room - hunting theme, so it is like a dark green camoflage. The other colors come from the dining area/back hall, the laundry/mud room, and the kitchen. I'm not sure where it's going, but I guess it will fit in any of those places (except ds's room, as it's getting painted to be a guest room someday soon.) I'm going to put a on second coat tonight, then I'll take off the tape and then re-tape and finish it tomorrow or Thursday. Of course I'll post my results. Unless they're really crappy :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VghjM0rB7VenAXtFVbtJb9ZHzwLslnQAifwt6uCXzBeyca8PeKT5jAiWJkoteGjXZiAOieEbOrjH5uR6Qec8ZTj_HLyp4QRNPoRFsBljzE-XVVN1cZ8byzdSYLDADeDozakqQRyrarKU/s1600/Blog+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VghjM0rB7VenAXtFVbtJb9ZHzwLslnQAifwt6uCXzBeyca8PeKT5jAiWJkoteGjXZiAOieEbOrjH5uR6Qec8ZTj_HLyp4QRNPoRFsBljzE-XVVN1cZ8byzdSYLDADeDozakqQRyrarKU/s320/Blog+034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a window I bought a couple weeks ago for $2 at a flea market. I painted it the green from ds's room and am planning on hanging it in my re-done upstairs bathroom. It doesn't have a window, so this is the next best thing??? Maybe I'll put the picture with it...<br />
When I brought it home I sat it by the car while unpacking the day's goods, and the door closed accidentally and broke out a pane of glass. Now I have to get a new pane and some window putty. Getting kind of expensive for a cheap window!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-81833593531506243592010-09-27T22:37:00.000-05:002010-09-27T22:37:21.420-05:00Fall decorating for FREE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTjCelD_cx54_Nd-EothCnrX-0ioVQluwyxorAe9CtFNBNcfWQNLQstrKRaDkXb4OvCLnOm_QLMZV4_9F619Kn_3BqYiJpuGVxO0SREcQAIy6J2q8sQZbw5Q0d_QaNtpd6eXCKtq8CMpG/s1600/Blog+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTjCelD_cx54_Nd-EothCnrX-0ioVQluwyxorAe9CtFNBNcfWQNLQstrKRaDkXb4OvCLnOm_QLMZV4_9F619Kn_3BqYiJpuGVxO0SREcQAIy6J2q8sQZbw5Q0d_QaNtpd6eXCKtq8CMpG/s320/Blog+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ok, this blog is all about my fall decorating, but I had to put up a couple of garden pics while I was at it. Today was a day that had "fall" written all over it. Cool, crisp, and sunny. My garden is not looking as good as it was earlier this summer, but I'm enjoying what I have left.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">After reading fall blogs all day yesterday, I was fired up to do some decorating. I have a few (very few) fall decorations. Some were given to me as gifts from students over the years, a couple things I bought at the dollar store, and I bought 3 boxes of "fall do-dads" from Yankee Candle a couple of years ago for a total of about $5. The pumpkins came from my garden (the only ones that were salvaged after the squash bugs began attacking...) There are also a few other things from the garden. I know I need a little extra here and there. I have a $5 off coupon from Dollar General for this Friday, and since I have to sub in the town where they have a DG, I'm going to pick up a couple more CHEAP things to add. Remember, I'm not a designer, and I don't play one on TV. It's not beautiful, but it was free :)</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Dining area:</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Before:</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9v2b-fyrquSUovz8cLV4jXWfDmZbFiRQvunMmMZ2vLVmeSRRe9jtCgiMIHMywemDaygnHjo9CUKd-hEhzVWu6QdhsHzORexNU7Hia3vCht5HGg7jG-Z9UBqf9rSWDXLdcABctQO6fEyj/s1600/Blog+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9v2b-fyrquSUovz8cLV4jXWfDmZbFiRQvunMmMZ2vLVmeSRRe9jtCgiMIHMywemDaygnHjo9CUKd-hEhzVWu6QdhsHzORexNU7Hia3vCht5HGg7jG-Z9UBqf9rSWDXLdcABctQO6fEyj/s320/Blog+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, that's a cat on the table. They think that's their private spa when the sun is shining in the window. My tablecloths are usually hair-covered. Fortunately, dh and I usually eat at the bar... Is that too much info?<br />
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After:<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">That's right, more cats on the table...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpe3aAx-9tqu7WFvj4OwXIM1d5W5MP-ZfDOPu6kBPSmYSS-PrHrxW8CnI1LfZah6QBWtgw2keiqb4Wx5pdue0HMKE-lH4REv6g4wRNlAz43ahUKcOu-H0cH7hsjzlcIyVpFQSWTyaouKr/s1600/Blog+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpe3aAx-9tqu7WFvj4OwXIM1d5W5MP-ZfDOPu6kBPSmYSS-PrHrxW8CnI1LfZah6QBWtgw2keiqb4Wx5pdue0HMKE-lH4REv6g4wRNlAz43ahUKcOu-H0cH7hsjzlcIyVpFQSWTyaouKr/s320/Blog+024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen window, before (sorry, sun was shining through, so these pics didn't come out so clear.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXHGgq3em7DkxRwdQxSJLHHQFlOdatmKH1CQgCMBLVT5veHr5EIybz-cUFgEluQTKAiBjFjjGVV38xBG874mYiOZqLpsBBUwlKAQZHnh0uh58LdfyYxVrUb-HrSYfHx3lOwVaAMIBYxxH/s1600/Blog+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXHGgq3em7DkxRwdQxSJLHHQFlOdatmKH1CQgCMBLVT5veHr5EIybz-cUFgEluQTKAiBjFjjGVV38xBG874mYiOZqLpsBBUwlKAQZHnh0uh58LdfyYxVrUb-HrSYfHx3lOwVaAMIBYxxH/s320/Blog+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After. I just added this 1950's vase and put in some oat grass and blackberry lily branches from the garden. They look good during the winter months. I've never put anything red in my kitchen. Oops! I guess the dishtowel is red lol! The walls are green, btw.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That's all for tonight, I'll post the living room tomorrow ~ computer is acting up. I would love to see how others are decorating on the cheap :)</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Have a great Tuesday!</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-53640799078886920752010-09-26T22:10:00.000-05:002010-09-26T22:10:12.930-05:00Inspiration<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>So I have done a lot more subbing lately than I had inticipated, but when I haven't been subbing, I've been cleaning, cleaning, organizing like crazy, and throwing out everything that doesn't belong! Ok, not everything, but I've really put a dent in things. I am in a groove!! I've never been a "keeper," per se, but I figure you can always go through and get rid of stuff. It is so freeing!</em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Anyway...We spent the weekend with the fam at ds's college for "family weekend," then we got back in time to watch our beloved <span style="color: #990000;">KC CHIEFS</span><span style="color: #bf9000;"> go to 3-0 on the season by beating the 49ers!!! So exciting to see them playing better. The last few years have been so depressing (I may not have mentioned that I love football??) After the game, I sat down at the computer (biiiiiig mistake...) After reading my emails, I started looking at blogs. I had one of those days where I probably looked at over 100 blogs. I think I could read them all day! I get so inspired. I was going to work on cleaning tomorrow, but after all this reading, I'm ready to start doing some fall decorating. I've never been much for doing much decorating for the seasons (except Christmas,) so I don't have much to work with. Ahhh....I love a challenge. Tomorrow I'm going to take some before and after pics so I can post them. I'm going to try this with spending no money :) I have been "shopping at my own house" lately, and I'm going to see what I can come up with. We'll see what happens. I will have pics up tomorrow :) With temps that went from 90 last Monday to 50 as I write this...Fall is here.</span></span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-87348507851840233952010-09-05T22:03:00.000-05:002010-09-05T22:03:11.446-05:00The definition of clean...<span style="color: #4c1130;"><strong><u>clean </u></strong> verb –adjective</span> <br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">1.free from dirt; unsoiled; unstained: She bathed and put on a clean dress. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">2.free from foreign or extraneous matter: clean sand. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">3.free from pollution; unadulterated; pure: clean air; clean water. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">4.habitually free of dirt: Cats are considered clean animals. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">5.characterized by a fresh, wholesome quality: the clean smell of pine. </span><br />
<span style="color: #4c1130;">9.not ornate; gracefully spare; forceful and simple; trim; streamlined: a clean literary style; the clean lines of a ship.</span> <br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged. It has been a very busy week. I subbed a couple of days and spent the rest of the week cleaning the house. For the first time in 20 years, I haven't had a kid in the house to follow me around and mess up what I've cleaned.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">As I walked around smiling and satisfied on Friday afternoon, I wondered, just what is the definition of clean? It has got to be different for everyone. When my kids were toddlers, my definition of clean was when there were less than 10 toys strewn around the floor and no more than 3-4 sippy cups out on the surfaces. As they got older, clean meant their dirty clothes were not thrown around where everyone could see them, and there were only a few pairs of shoes littering the downstairs (instead of in the laundry room where they passed through and then took them off mid-stride through the kitchen / dining room / living room...)</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">My house looked lovely, warm, and homey to me. Everything was picked up. The vacuum and swiffer had done their jobs. The bathrooms were clean (shower, tub and all!!), as was the kitchen and all its counters. The laundry was done and put away, and the laundry room was clean. Lots of extra "deep cleaning" had been done. I even painted the back doors. To me it was paradise. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">Here's the kicker. Most of my house was not dusted. The closets are less than cleaned and organized. My pantry could use a good cleaning out. Most of my baseboards need a good scrubbing. There are hundreds of areas around my house that need deep cleaning. But you know what? To me, my house was still wonderfully clean. It was GOOD ENOUGH! I would have been proud if someone would have dropped by (of course, no-one did...they'll wait til it's a mess!) If I were a "type A" personality, would I have seen my house as nice and clean, or would I focus on all the things that "are left to do to make it perfect?" All I can say is, thank God I'm not "type A."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">**You'll notice I used the past tense...My ds came home from college late Friday night, and my beautifully clean house quickly became no more!! That's ok - it's great to see him, and I can pick it up after he leaves tomorrow.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia;">Remember - clean enough is clean enough. I don't think you can ever get every spot completely cleaned at the same time. Who would want to spend their time worrying about that, anyway? You'd never enjoy your home. What a waste that would be.</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-60695712701552252662010-08-29T15:11:00.000-05:002010-08-29T15:11:34.271-05:00Housewife 2010<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love being at home. I can go days without leaving and almost hate when I have to go out sometimes! When my kids were younger and I worked full-time, we were constantly on the go. The only day I almost always knew I'd be at home was on Sunday ~ and then I spent the day cleaning, doing laundry, grading papers, etc., etc.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana;">I have learned so much about "building a home" in the last couple years that I've been retired. Being raised in the 60's and 70's, I bought into the "Women's Lib" movement. I still do, but I now believe that a woman can be liberated and still enjoy being a homemaker. My dh told me, after I'd been retired for a few months, that he liked coming home to a clean house and dinner almost ready. He quickly explained that he didn't want me to take that the wrong way. He thought of me a much more than "just a housewife." If I admitted that that made me feel good, was I abandoning my liberal ways?? </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Verdana;">I have definitely come to terms with this. I have found that I love making our house into a home. It's a place that's comfortable and homey feeling. My kids love coming home and flopping down on the couch. DH and I both love being here. People always comment how comfortable my house looks. Dare I say it? I love being a housewife! I love cleaning (ok, maybe "love" is too strong a word, there...) I should say I love when my house is clean. Now when I clean, I take my time and enjoy it more, knowing I am taking pride in my home when I "bathe" it! I know it's hard to slow down and enjoy cleaning when you've barely got time to clean, but maybe a quick clean-up every night of the week (5 min.) will give you time to enjoy doing some cleaning when you do have time. Don't think of it as drudgery, think of it as making your house a wonderful home....your wonderful home.</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-68243698355287248972010-08-25T21:10:00.000-05:002010-08-25T21:10:29.727-05:00Procrastination - can it come back to bite you?<em><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lately, Sunday has been my "veg on the computer and/or read day." Since I haven't had to work this summer, I treated myself to that as long as everything was basically cleaned up. This weekend, the house was basically clean, but I wanted to get some stuff done upstairs. I knew I had plans to go out Monday and Tuesday, but the rest of my week was free. Therefore, I figured I could work on that stuff later in the week. I proceeded to do very little on Sunday. Tuesday I got a call to sub on Wednesday. Today while subbing, they asked if I could sub on Thursday and Friday as well. You know, money is money...</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial;">So, now all the things that needed to get done won't be getting done til this weekend. This is why I should go ahead and do the work when I have the time. HOWEVER>>>> I refuse to work all the time and worry about cleaning! I am so over that! My house is clean. It gets messy in spots at time, but it's clean and organized. Life is too short. I should not feel guilty about spending a day relaxing and doing something I enjoy. This is the mantra I'm trying to get into my head. I have worked and mothered so long, I feel guilty if I'm not busy doing something. Ridiculous. Does anyone else ever feel this way?</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-44297314336225343712010-08-23T23:18:00.000-05:002010-08-23T23:18:32.625-05:00She loves me (or, rather, my cooking!)<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dd came to visit today, and I took her shopping for her birthday. She'll be 20 next month ~ hard to believe! She lives about 45 min. away in a house with some friends, and will be starting school to become a massage therapist next week.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She decided to stay for dinner, and while I was cooking, she copied down several of the recipes in my box. This from a girl who would never come in the kitchen with me! As she was going through the recipes, she kept oooohing and aaahhhhing and telling me how much she loved my food. I guess it took her moving away and cooking for herself and her friends to appreciate me. So for those of you out there with teen-agers, they do come around and and finally appreciate you. :)</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-9973877202330864432010-08-22T12:10:00.001-05:002010-08-22T12:14:45.748-05:00Homemade Cleaners<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>I've been retired for 2 years now, and have been fiddling with several homemade cleaners. I thought I'd spend a couple of blogs talking about what works and what doesn't for me. I am also dying to know what some of you out there use that works.</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>Why do we try the homemade cleaners? To save money? To help save the environment? To make sure our homes aren't filled with toxins? All of the above? Something different? I go back and forth on this. My answer would be 'all of the above.' So why do I still occationally buy the other stuff? Actually, the only thing I still buy is Dollar General window cleaner. It's a dollar, does a great job, and lasts me forever (which gives you an idea of how often I clean my windows...)</em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Here's my new favorite homemade cleaner:</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeLJPiJgGJEw_nuTCNNcwc4RuueK1LonUKJtillDp54ChLZWFUHFz-gFzsvHkXdKQtCNNrS5XIop4xws3ikWQaZPSZEwvBx0IN81tWcjPI98PaWvU6QsCwQ8U_-c71HReByp-iTjqkiJ7/s1600/100_0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeLJPiJgGJEw_nuTCNNcwc4RuueK1LonUKJtillDp54ChLZWFUHFz-gFzsvHkXdKQtCNNrS5XIop4xws3ikWQaZPSZEwvBx0IN81tWcjPI98PaWvU6QsCwQ8U_-c71HReByp-iTjqkiJ7/s320/100_0295.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">The one on the right, silly! I've read about it on other blogs and on some of the yahoo groups I belong to, so I take no credit for it. It's the vinegar/Dawn cleaner some of you may have heard of. Fill half your spray bottle with white vinegar, put in your microwave for about 30 seconds to get it warm. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with Dawn detergent. The recipe calls for the original blue Dawn, but all I had was the orange, so I used that. I started with the refrigerator. Ours is white, and the handles were dirty. I had tried everything on them, but figured maybe they were just worn down and the "paint" was coming off. I used the new cleaner on them and, amazingly, VOILA! Clean as new. I then used it on the little drip pan that's below where the water/ice come out on the door. I had also had trouble getting it clean. It cleaned up great! I love it when something homemade works so well!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I had read that the cleaner worked on soap scum. I took it up when I cleaned the bathroom (if you remember the disgusting "before" pictures from a previous post...), and it worked great on the soap scum. After awhile, I opened the cabinet and found the other cleaner (the Scrub Free, above,) and decided to try it. Well, it worked the same, but the fumes forced me out of the bathroom. I quit using it altogether, and it is going out to the curb. This is my new bathroom and kitchen cleaner. Cheap and wonderful. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Please share what you use!</span></em>SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-74479001924859895832010-08-20T15:59:00.000-05:002010-08-20T15:59:56.449-05:00Men are from....???A different galaxy, obviously. My dh is one of those men who can fix anything and build anything. I am sitting in the office he built me by knocking out a wall and building out over part of the front porch. He is very talented. I sometimes have wondered what my role is. What are my strengths? Ok, I was a good teacher, a pretty good mom, keep a pretty clean house, and am a pretty good cook. A lot of "pretty goods," huh? I'm not crafty, nor do I sew (I do the basics, and can sew, just not very well - nor do I have much interest.)<br />
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One thing I really enjoy, and feel I'm good at, is decorating. I feel like our home is our...I don't know...our sanctuary? We planned and built it together, and it's our dream home. When we built, we did everything top notch, but we saved on several of the accessories. We have been replacing and redoing as we go along, a little at a time. Since I've retired, I've re-painted the entire downstairs. It's been redecorated mostly with things I've repurposed, so the process hasn't cost us much ~ very few, if any, splurges. <br />
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One thing we've replaced as we've gone on is the bathroom hardware. We started with these ugly, cheap plastic towel and tp holders. As I've redone each bathroom, I bought new nice ones (although I was careful not to spend too much money, I got ones that I liked.) Since I cleaned the kids's bathroom, I decided it was time for new, which I bought yesterday while shopping with a friend. Well, dh was not happy and said the ones we have are fine. WHAT?? Does he realize he's taking away my one thing I'm good at and enjoy? Does he spend money? HMPH! So I went up today and took the old ugly ones off (I'm giving them to him to put in his bathroom in the basement - so there!) I'm going to try to put the new ones on myself, so I'm going to learn something new. I love my dh, but what is up with this? Are you all marriage counselors? Well, maybe...<br />
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OK - I'm through venting now, and I feel better now that I've gotten this out, LOL! Sorry for rambling and griping. I'll post pics of the new hardware when I get it up. I also got the landing cleaned and painted it yesterday!! Woo Hoo - progress!!SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182425475527095791.post-23008018096534810742010-08-18T22:25:00.000-05:002010-08-18T22:25:51.427-05:00"Freedom" tastes like...SHOPPING!!! By freedom, I mean, the whole empty nest thing. I had $20 "free" money I <u>had</u> to spend at Kohl's by today. We live about 25 miles from the city (where Kohl's is), so I don't go "shopping" all that often (good thing!) For the first time in over 20 years, I really relaxed and enjoyed my shopping trip. I've always had to 'hurry up and get home' for someone or something. I've been wanting to try a couple craft projects (I'm not crafty, so these should be interesting...), so I went to Michael's after Kohl's to get some things. Normally I would hurry up and skip Michaels because I 'don't have time to go there and don't have time to do any crafts...' I wandered around in there for awhile. Then I stopped at a "real" grocery store ~ as opposed to our little store here in town ~ and got stocked up on lots of stuff. I took my time, in no hurry. Wow. What a feeling of....Freedom! This empty nest isn't bad at all :)<br />
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An afterthought... I was doing a really good job of being frugal as well as buying low-fat stuff for dh and me at the grocery (we're both determined to lose weight,) until I rounded the last corner. Isn't it great how the stores make sure there's the deli that you have to pass on your way to the check-out? Here it was, close to 6:00, and the place smelled like fried chicken. As I started to pass the deli, I noticed they were putting out fresh chicken, and it was chicken Wednesday -- 8 pieces of chicken and 2 large sides for 6.99. Guess what we had for dinner?SalPalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00066382817163461189noreply@blogger.com0