Category: HOMEMAKING TIPS

My plan last week was to get tons of things done and post about them too.  Well, as I always say, Man plans and God Laughs. That is the type of week I had last week.

I did have 2 days of routine follow-up testing for my cancer scheduled and they went well – NED (no evidence of disease) YAY!, but left me quite dehydrated and fatigued.  I thought I got a handle on re-hydrating, but evidently not when I had to be medic escorted away from the Skeeter’s game Friday night.  The humidity, heat, dehydration and fatigue just caught up with me and then I was forced into 2 additional days of down time to recover. So, I have HIGH hopes for this week to play catch up.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s already quite warm and we have a threat of rain ALL week so the humidity levels are also already quite high!

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW
The clouds are gray and  a bit threatening and there is NO breeze so I’m planning to get out and do my errands early and get back before the heaven’s open up.  Lately it seems to rain EVERY day and rain HARD, but not for long – just long enough to make it miserable outside and then it repeats itself 2 or 3 more times throughout the day.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
A banana and green tea.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
It’s STILL a mess from ALL the sorting I’ve been doing, but I did make a HUGE dent in the pile that had been in the spare bedroom so I’m feeling pretty good despite the mess. 

TO DO FOR THE WEEK/HOUSE PROJECTS
I am still amazed that SEARS did this install less than 2 years ago.  They actually installed a brand new hot water heater onto a collapsing 40 years old base and came NO WHERE close to bringing it to code.  Fortunately our plumbers are coming on Friday to do it correctly, but it really burns my butt that we are having to spend the money! I can’t wait to show you finished pictures next week. Hubby and I came up with a GREAT design for this area and I’m really anxious to see it completed not to mention that I can get several totes of things off my dining room floor once the cabinets are hung.

• Monday – drop off donations, run errands and grocery shopping
• Tuesday  – caulk molding in both bathrooms, kitchen and living room
• Wednesday – paint living room baseboard, more sorting to complete the donation project
• Thursday – paint bathrooms, rake backyard
• Friday – Plumbers will be here to bring water heater to code and install new plumbing so we can finish the laundry are next week.
• Saturday – Cleaning and laundry
• Sunday – Not a darn thing! except what we want and watch the race.

CURRENTLY READING

• Easy Kisses (#4 Boudreaux Series) by Kristen Proby

TELEVISION / DVR
We’ve been trying that new series, BRAIN DEAD, but just aren’t sure about it yet. We’re also trying the new AMERICAN GOTHIC.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
I’m trying another entire week of experiments.  I also have a couple success recipes from the last time I did that to still post.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

• Getting more and more decisions made on what to keep and what to donate. At the very least this experience has allowed us to regroup, get EVERYTHING under one roof and sort it out. I have to tell you we are LOVING the minimization that’s going on here!
• We’re planning a few trips for the fall that we’re looking forward to. We picked up some maps and tour books to read up on where we are going.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

 

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

It’s Monday whether we want it to be or not! I hope you had a great weekend.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s gray and stormy this week and doesn’t look like it will let up much any time soon.

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW
I see a long gray week with intermittent thunder storms.

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
A banana and coffee.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I actually see the progress we’ve made and am anxious to be done.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

• Shopping for a couple family meals.
• Cleaning.
• ?? no BIG projects with mom visiting.

CURRENTLY READING

• Ain’t She Sweet (A Green Mountain Romance) by Marie Force

TELEVISION / DVR
Nothing new this week.  We will look into getting cable soon after the last of the electrical work is done.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Planning a new pattern for quilts I am making my uncle and cousin from some of my aunt’s clothes.

HOUSE PROJECTS
Nothing new this week with family in for the funeral.

KITCHEN WISHES
I have so many kitchen gadgets and am finding that LESS really is more! So I no new wishes except to organize and clean out a bit more.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
My uncle sent home tons of magazines from my aunt for me to go through, many of which are cooking and recipe oriented so I’m looking forward to going through those soon.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY

• Hubby finished the floor molding in the living room.
• The new couch is the perfect color.  I can’t wait until the carpeting is complete and the companion pieces are in place.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA
I typed up my aunt’s obituary for my uncle and we included this picture of her with a friend’s dog.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE
It has been super pleasant this past week with beautiful spring weather and a gorgeous breeze, but today appears to be breaking that pattern and the rest of the week will be warm and humid.

AS I LOOK OUTSIDE MY WINDOW
I see gray skies and drizzle, but am hoping for a sunny afternoon without humidity. LOL a girl can dream can’t she?

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE
COFFEE, more coffee and a bowl of oatmeal.

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE
I’m becoming a bit more settled as I look around the house each morning.  We’ve been working long hours to try and get things done before my mom’s visit which has now been moved forward 3 weeks with the impending funeral for my aunt.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
This week will be Monday/ Tuesday heavy and then as needed with my mom visiting.

• A trip to Lowes for a faucet for the spare bathroom.
• Call electrician to fix the last problem from the electrician my uncle hired that has really messed up the living room as well as fix the back porch light.
• Cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen. 
• Laundry.
• Paperwork.

CURRENTLY READING

• Fortune Hunter (Miss Fortune #8) by Jana DeLeon

TELEVISION / DVR
We watched a few season and series finales this past week, but I’m just really not into TV much lately with ALL the hours we’ve been spending on this house.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Nothing new this week.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
I thought I would show you how well the apple cider vinegar is working at collecting gnats and fruit flies. There are 7 or 8 EVERY day so this bowl has become a permanent fixture on my shelf.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY
I received a WONDERFUL text from my psuedo daughter/niece for Mother’s Day that made me smile and cry all at once.  Amber fills my heart with love.  She has turned out to be a beautiful woman and fantastic mother that I am SOOO proud of.  She is the epitome of one of my favorite quotes.

FAVORITE CAMERA PHOTOS & HOUSE PROJECTS

These are totes full of all the bubble wrap from unpacking waiting for their turn up the ladder to the attic. I couldn’t just throw it all out.  What if we move again?

I planted a few drought resistant Lantana in yellow and variegated pink and Mexican Heather with the pretty purple flowers in the front planter to brighten things up.  And look at how big that Christmas tree has gotten.

It took me 4 coats between caulking and paint to turn the brown center beam in the ceiling white and then it took us 3 coats between sealer, primer and paint to cover the walls. 

The living room still needs some work in a few areas, but it will wait until after my mom’s visit to get done.  We ran into a bit of a problem when we took down that gold fan and put up the new one. It is really hard to get a good electrician these days and sad that we are going to have to spend money to fix what my uncle thought he got fixed just a year ago.

I did get another quilt hung, but the rest of the room is a bit sparse until we get carpeting and some furniture.

We decided to let me try my hand at Giana stone countertops. I also decided to add an extra challenge by starting with wood and not Formica. We added a cute molding along the edge and pre-cut the hole for the sink. I got a bit scared when the first step was a black onyx primer and spent a few minutes thinking what have I gotten myself into? Especially since I had to wait a minimum of 8 hours to move onto to step 2.

Step 2 was all the sponge and designing.  I felt A LOT better after this step.  Step 3 was 3 coats of the actual marble sealer and was a 4 hour wait between coats so this project didn’t take long for each step. but took over 3 days to complete.

I still need to finish the mirror and clean it up, but all in all I’m quite pleased with the results of the paint kit.
INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

I have a favorite saying, “Man Plans, God laughs, We Adjust”.  I try to live by this to remind myself that I am not always in control and learning to roll with the punches is the best way to live without stress.

Many of you know that our family has been dealing with my ailing aunt. My aunt has been recovering from a really bad fall that shattered her knee in early February, the surgery to repair that and then the infection that sent her back to 2 more surgeries when she spiked a VERY HIGH fever on Easter.  We received a call Thursday 2 weeks ago that she’d had a stroke… the rest of the time has been a blur since then.  She was in “Skilled Nursing” (that place was a joke) at the time and rushed back to the hospital. She also had respiratory distress/pneumonia and a CDiff infection so she was placed in an ICU quarantine after the ER.  She conquered the ICU quarantine and began to improve even being moved to a regular room in the main hospital as she was breathing better and they were even going to begin physical therapy again. She still couldn’t communicate from the stroke though and was in so much pain she was unable to hardly lift her fingers. Unfortunately she was returned to ICU just a few days later and the pneumonia took over coupled with kidney failure and we lost her last Friday.

Thank you everyone for your notes and prayers. I do believe they made a difference, at the very least for myself and our family. The only consolation is knowing that she is no longer in any pain and her worst fear will never come to light.  She was so fearful of eventually being “institutionalized” for her Alzheimers. We will be having her funeral on my cousin’s birthday which also seems apropos since we lost Beth just 18 months ago.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
It has been pretty nice in the mornings and late evenings, but fairly miserable midday, every day with the heat and humidity from all the rain we’ve been having, but this week looks like we’ll be a little more spring normal with mid 70’s days and very little rain.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
Despite last week’s to do list getting kicked to the curb AGAIN, we got A LOT done!  What didn’t get done last week will start this week’s list.

• Second coat spare bathroom vanity
• Spare Bathroom Floor
• Set toilet spare bathroom
• Paint Living Room 
• Hang Living Room fan
• More Kitchen Organization 
• Order flooring for living room and Atrium??
• Laundry

CURRENTLY READING

• Tender is the Night – Callaways #10 by Barbara Freethy

TELEVISION / DVR
Nothing much yet.  We have rented a few more movies.

• Misconduct
• Back Track 
• Jane Got a Gun

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
I may have already mentioned this, but it works so well, it’s worth mentioning again.  I keep a small glass jar full of apple cider vinegar on my kitchen shelf.  Gnats and fruit flies both are drawn to it!  I spoon out 8 or 9 every single day.  Makes me feel better, like I’m doing my job since we have biting gnats here in this area.

ON MY MIND
How fleeting life can be and how to find better and more purpose in life. I re-evaluated everything in my life during the cancer and find myself doing it yet again as we mourn the passing of my aunt.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY
Just a quick update on my 30 day minimalist challenge.  We were aiming at 465 items as per the original challenge.  I can say that we are very pleased to have hit 701 items at the close of day 9.  It feels fantastic to be ridding ourselves of items we no longer use and be giving them to others who can.  A local boy scout troop picked up 2 easy ups, 4 camping chairs and a table today.  Tomorrow I will make a 3rd trip to the local resale shop for the women’s shelter and then Tuesday a 3rd trip to Habitat to Humanity.

FAVORITE CAMERA PHOTOS & HOUSE PROJECTS

These are easily removed as we continue to paint, but I needed my “Cross Wall” to be up. Helped to get things off of tables.

We also found a great clock for the “BIG wall”.  I can’t wait until the beam, ceiling and walls are finally painted.

I had a hard time getting a decent picture with the humid conditions, but this is a beautiful mini rose condolence gift from my neighbor.

The spare bedroom is as good as it is going to get for now.  At least it is ready for use with family coming in for the funeral.  Eventually the bookcase will not be there and the things on the bed are from the bathroom we’re working on. Since this is the “family room” it was pretty cool to add my uncle’s Vietnam era Army footlocker to the room.

I was also able to get one of my favorite quilts hung in the studio. The studio itself will be a chaotic mess for a few more months to come as it will be the LAST thing to get finished. I’m going to pare down in there too with craft tools and projects.

Remember the cabinets I told you about from Habitat for Humanity that we bought for hubby’s garage?  They are really helping him get organized! I can’t believe how good his garage is looking.  Looks even better now than when I took this picture a few days ago.
PRAYERS & INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

We had a busy and productive weekend. EVEN WITH THAT I WISH I HAD ACCOMPLISHED MORE.  LOL There are just NOT enough hours in the day, but in reality within the next few months I may change my opinion of that.  Then again I may not as we begin the yard and the garage in the heat of summer.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
Yesterday was wet and windy with tornado warnings, but today and tomorrow are supposed to be nice.  It’s just that time of year where you don’t really pay attention to the weather forecast because it’s going to change within the hour.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK
Despite last week’s to do list getting kicked to the curb, we got A LOT done!  What didn’t get done last week will start this week’s list.

• Second coat spare bathroom vanity
• Spare Bathroom Floor
• Set toilet spare bathroom
• Paint Living Room 
• Hang Living Room fan
• Kitchen Organization 
• Order flooring for living room and Atrium
• Find a chair for the spare bedroom
• Laundry
• EOM/BOM (end of month/beginning of month) stock-up shopping
• Start on Studio Organization

CURRENTLY READING

• Tender is the Night – Callaways #10 by Barbara Freethy

TELEVISION / DVR
Nothing this week.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Not much new going on this week.  I have been working on some sketches for a few new craft ideas. I have been working on reinventing an old beat up dresser into shabby chic. Spray paint is the girl’s duct tape and I’m loving how it has helped me do the shabby chic thing and save so many things from the trash pile.

I used a bonding primer since there was a stained and worn finish on the wood and then finished it off with a satin white spray paint.

The handles were extremely worn and very date, but the hammered silver Rustoleum spray paint spruced them right up. I used the same paint on an old beat up brass lamp and voile’, it’s like new.

I still need to finish installing the drawer pulls on the remaining drawers and do some touch up paint on the mirror, but as of now it’s good to go.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

RECIPE FINDS TO TRY LATER
I sat and went through several old issues of Cook’s Illustrated and saved the recipes I want to try in the future.

• Orange Honey Glazed Chicken
• Apple Maple Glazed Chicken 
• Pineapple Brown Sugar Glazed Chicken
• Apple Galette
• Hot Chocolate Layer Cake with Homemade Marshmallows
• White Chocolate Macadamia Cake 
• Pear Crisp
• Caesar Parmesan Dip
• Chipotle Lime Dip
• Cocktail Meatballs in Tomato Saffron Sauce
• Buffalo Nickel Hamburger Loaf
• Hungarian Beef Stew
• Carne Adovada
• Skillet Apple Pie
• Galveston Shrimp Creole
• Hunter’s Chicken
• Maryland Caramel Tomatoes
• Sicilian Meatloaf
• Coke Fried Chicken
• OH MY GOD Chicken
• Lazy Daisy Cake
• Peach Puzzle
• Cider Baked Ham

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
Tip #1 – I quit spending a fortune on rinse aids for the dishwasher and just fill the compartment with white vinegar.  It still keeps the spots at bay, is environmentally friendly and works just as well.

Tip #2 –  If you need to zest a piece of citrus, but the rind is too smooth place the whole piece of fruit in the freezer for 30 minutes until partially hardened.  The rind being firmer will zest easier now.

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME HAPPY & PRAYERS

• Getting closer to completing the house
• The trash pile being bigger than the supply pile.
• Remembering Michelle today on what would have been her 42nd birthday.
• Prayers for my aunt as she recovers from ALL the medical upheaval of the past 2 months.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I had to laugh.  She just couldn’t resist he warm laundry.  Fortunately it was a load of rags so I had to indulge her.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

I just realized I haven’t posted anything since last week.  Last week was NOT what we planned, but I can fortunately say things are getting back to normal.

My aunt has been recovering from a really bad fall that shattered her knee, the surgery to repair that and then the infection that sent her back to surgery on Easter.  We received a call Thursday that she’d had a stroke… the rest of the week was a blur after that.  She was in “Skilled Nursing” (that place was a joke) at the time and rushed back to the hospital. She also had respiratory distress/pneumonia and a CDiff infection so she was placed in an ICU quarantine after the ER.  Happily I can report that as of today everything is looking up.  The stroke was minor and the quarantine has been lifted, she’s breathing better and they are even going to begin physical therapy again today.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
STORMY & WET!!!!!!  Glad I planned on staying in today.  We are getting slammed with the latest storm with standing water everywhere!  The city is locking down for the day.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

• Spare Bedroom Floor.
• Atrium Floor.
• Second coat of paint spare bathroom. 
• Second coat spare bathroom vanity.
• Spare Bathroom Floor.
• Set toilet spare bathroom.
• Finish Kitchen Floor.
• Paint Living Room.
• Kitchen Organization.

CURRENTLY READING

• If I didn’t Know Better  (Callaways #9) by Barbara Freethy

TELEVISION / DVR
Nothing this week.

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Not much going on this week.  I have been working on some sketches for a few new ideas.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

HOMEMAKING/COOKING TIP
I read recently that the most effective way to clean fresh produce is apple cider vinegar.  I took 2 apples and washed one the “normal” way and it looked and felt clean enough.  I took a second apple and washed it with the vinegar before washing the “normal” way and you wouldn’t believe what washed off the second apple! I filled a spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and conducted my own test.

ON MY MIND/PRAYERS
Prayers that my aunt’s recovery continues to make great forward progress.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

We had a busy but productive week and then a relaxing weekend so I’m fresh and ready to go this week with high hopes of a lot more progress.  We even decided to take Tuesday off and go play – so much easier to do mid week when everyone else is at work!

WEATHER OUTSIDE
It’s absolutely gorgeous this week and I’m hoping it lasts for several more weeks after this!

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

• Start putting up the tin kitchen ceiling.
• Remove the LAST bit of old carpeting from the spare bedroom.
• Paint the spare bedroom.
• Hang ceiling fan in studio.
• Finish vinyl flooring if they have gotten it back in stock.
• Plant Lantanas.
• Take a day off and go play at the beach!

CURRENTLY READING

• Rafe – Mule Hollow by Debra Clopton

TELEVISION / DVR
I enjoyed the Country Music Awards last night, but have just not been too interested in most TV these days.

HOUSE PROJECTS
I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING DOING THE SHOWER IN THE MASTER BATHROOM FOR QUITE AWHILE NOW.  1) THE REFINISHING KIT IS AN EPOXY AND I HATE EPOXY ANYTHING. 2) I KNEW IT WOULD BE MESSY!  I cannot tell you how glad I am that this job is over.  It looks amazing, but what I did NOT know is that I would be down for 2 days after finishing it.  This epoxy paint is horrible.  Despite the exhaust fan, a room fan and the windows and doors open I was definitely feeling the effects of the fumes – ended up dizzy, with a sore throat and headache.  My recommendation if you need this done is to hire a professional.  Some jobs are not worth saving money on.

BEFORE

AFTER

CRAFTS & PROJECTS
Still hoping to get to a few things soon, but nothing seems to have gone my way in that department recently.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK

SUCCESSFUL RECIPES and their links FROM LAST WEEK

• PREACHER’S DELIGHT
• RUSTIC GARLIC JALAPENO CHICKEN & GRAVY – recipe later today

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

This is a favorite photo for a weird reason. This is what fell out of gram’s washing machine as we rolled it out the back door.  It also means we are committed to purchasing the new ones this week or visiting the laundromat LOL. (The washer dryer set I want is on sale through Tuesday, but I have no idea when it can be delivered). After they hauled it away, I realized we probably should have taken it apart to see what else was in there.  We may have just thrown away a thousand dollars or winning lottery ticket.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Ours was strange to begin with and then became life threatening in a heartbeat.  We had volunteered to host this year, but after my aunt’s fall a couple months ago that shattered her kneecap, the subsequent surgery, rehab and her invasive Aspergilius allergy (only 4% survive after this allergy is detected in this type of situation) that she barely survived when they implanted her pacemaker 12 years ago, the subsequent stroke topped off by her having Alzheimer’s we decided I’d still cook, but at their house so she could be in her home and comfortable.  She was great when we got there at 2, but by 3 she was disoriented and had a 104° fever and we ushered her to the hospital. They determined a massive bacterial infection and she was rushed into emergency surgery.

WEATHER OUTSIDE
We’re supposed to be clear and warm with the threat of scattered thunderstorms most of the week.

TO DO FOR THE WEEK

• Refinish shower
• Sort books
• Unpack remaining boxes
• Laundry
• Grocery Shoppping
• Start backyard
• Drop off donations

CURRENTLY READING
Nothing this week.

TELEVISION / DVR
Not much this week.

MENU PLANS FOR THE WEEK
For the next few weeks I’m going to be trying links for recipes I’ve bookmarked from around the web.

HOMEMAKING TIP

If you’re like me you save boxes for the electronic items since they need the added protection in case you move. I want them out of the way though and don’t want them to collect tons of dust.  So I slip them into large trash bags from each end and secure them with masking tape before placing them into the attic.  When you need to use them you’re probably moving anyway so now you have trash bags at the ready also.  For the extra large items I buy the extra large Christmas wrapping bags in January when they are 75-90% off.

FAVORITE PHOTO FROM THE CAMERA

I tried the silk tie way to dye eggs method that has been circulating all over social media. These were old ties I used and I think it worked relatively well.  You can even make out the Tobasco bottle on the top egg.

INSPIRATION

Be sure to link up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Happy homemaker Monday and with Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.