Category: MISC

House UPDATE ~ Chronicles of a bungled Real Estate deal ~ Stairway ~ Part 5B

As I sat down to start the binding on this quilt it started snowing yet again!!

After hubby finished painting yesterday, he took the time to hang the quilt hangers and get the red, white and blue hung yesterday. It was by far the worst to hang with the turn in the stairway!
I love seeing these as you walk up and down the stairs. The red, white and blue was my very first quilt I made while hubby was deployed in 2004. The tropical colored one has a “twin” out there that I made for my cousin Jenn over at What I Did at School today for her birthday a few years ago.

It seems like we’ve been working on this project for months, but it’s really only been a few days. Tomorrow we’ll pick up the gloss trim paint and the textured floor paint for the stairs and then maybe we’ll yet finish this project this upcoming week.

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A bright star to a long hard day – Thanks Laane

Triple Award. Sisterhood, Lemonade & Best Friend.

I was super delighted to receive this award from Laane over at Crocodile Soup for the Soul who bestowed this wonderful triple award on me. This truly made my long hard day better! I’m so truly honored that she thought my blog worthy of the award.

Here are the rules for the recipients:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I would like to pass this award to:
Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Barbara at Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers
Kiy at Rocking Chairs and a Tricycle
Jenjen at Tatertots and Jello
Diana at Forgetfulone
Misty Dawn at Misty’s Words
Mimi at Screaming Mimi
Michelle at Scribbit
Janet at Fond of Snape
Storyteller at Sacred Ruminations

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Camera Critters ~ Gunner & Whiskey


hosted by Misty

Gunner’s new favorite place ~ on the super bed in front of the fireplace since Whiskey stole “HIS” chair. I just love how she sits with her paws so daintily out in front of her.

They eat like they don’t get fed twice a day, every day for the last 6+ years! They always choose the same bowl no matter what position they are in.

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Aloha Friday

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would participate and take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

We’ve had a houseful for the holidays and a bit of cabin fever with the weather. There have been a few heated discussions and one in particular left me with

Today’s question: ARE YOU A LIST MAKER? DO YOU MAKE A GROCERY LIST? DO YOU ACTUALLY CROSS THINGS OFF AS YOU ACCOMPLISH THEM?


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Friday Fill-Ins


Hosted by Janet at Friday Fill-Ins

1. Enough with the ARCTIC BLAST already.

2. Politics causes me to be conflicted.

3. I’ve been craving a combo of sweets and fruit.

4. My animals always make me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to sis-in-law’s house next week.

6. Everything (too many lists running around my head) has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing with a little TV, tomorrow my plans include football playoffs and quilting and Sunday, I want to watch more football and quilt!

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Favorite Ingredient Friday ~ Beef & Pasta Pie


hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy

Light & Creamy Tuna Casserole is what I posted last week, but Kathryn was away so here is the link.

This week is for a great casserole that looks good for potlucks or company.

BEEF AND PASTA PIE (pun intended)
3/4 pound mini penne pasta or elbows
3/4 pound ground beef
3/4 pound ground pork
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic, jar
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 large can Rotel tomatoes with green chiles, drained
basic sauce (see recipe below)
4 eggs + the white from the sauce recipe below
1 package frozen broccoli florets, chopped small
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare pasta according to the package directions.
  • Saute meat, onion and garlic.
  • Drain off fat.
  • Add tomatoes, broccoli and seasonings.
  • Heat through. Add cheese and set aside.
  • Set aside.
  • Prepare sauce (recipe below).
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the sauce and pasta until well blended.
  • Spray a spring form pan with PURE.
  • Put 1/2 of the pasta mix in the pan and form a ‘crust’ along the bottom and up the sides similar to what you would a cheesecake.
  • Top with the meat mixture.
  • Finish with the remaining past mix.
  • Bake covered with foil for 45 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes.
  • Bake on a cookie sheet just in case!
  • Run a knife around the edge before removing the sides.

SAUCE
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1 egg yolk, beaten
1/2 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese

  • Melt butter in a saucepan.
  • Add garlic and saute until fragrant.
  • Gradually add heavy cream, stirring constantly until thickens a bit.
  • Stir in salt, pepper and grated cheese and stir constantly until melted.
  • Whisk in egg quickly and heat through.

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Picture Tag

Shannon over at Shannon’s Moments of Introspection tagged me with the 6th Picture meme.


***Rules***
1. Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.
2. Go to the 6th Folder and then pick the 6th Picture.
3. Post it on your bloggy and tell the story that goes with the picture.
4. Tag 5 other glorious peoples to do the same thing and leave a comment on their bloggy tellin’ them ’bout it.

Here is my 6th picture in my 6th folder.

Now as for tags, I can’t think straight. I’m exhausted with all the physical work we’re doing so I’m throwing this out for whoever would like to play along.

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House Update ~ Chronicles of a Real Estate Nightmare ~ Stairway ~ Part 5A

We’re moving right along this week. It was just too cold to go outside so we’ve been trying to accomplish inside projects. If you’ll remember we stripped these walls of their UGLY wall boards, made repairs and did fresh texture paint. Today started the paint portion of the project which will be the same Oklahoma Wheat that we used in the living room and yesterday in Amber’s room.
The ceiling is painted BEHR Innocence white like the ceiling in Amber’s room and all of Kathryn’s room. The door casings will be Innocence White also, but semi-gloss which we thought we had, but will get on Monday. They were painted that dark beige you see, but it just looks like muddy water to me. We still have to finish the foyer tomorrow.

The banister spindles will also be painted with the semi-gloss BEHR Innocence White and the wood work cleaned and polished. It has been neglected for many years. The stairs are going to be sanded and painted brick red. Uh-oh I forgot to put the light back together.

This house also had NO linen closet anywhere! We added thes cabinets to make one upstairs just outside the bathroom and did a similar one downstairs just outside that bathroom. What a difference a linen cabinet makes. Here’s a sneak peek at one of the 2 quilts that will hang from the quilt hanger in the foyer. I have an almost matching one I hope to finish this weekend for the smaller of the two quilt hangers. This is a red, white and blue Yellow Brick Road.
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House Update ~ Chronicles of a Real Estate Nightmare ~ Stairway ~ Part 5A

The stairway was another area with no mold problems but was just UGLY! They had 2 different wall boards that didn’t match and molding that made no sense. We tried a couple of areas with painting over the paneling, but it was looking just as ugly. There was some texture coating already done on one side and the upstairs hallway so we decided to remove the paneling and texture coat that side too.

After we removed the ugly paneling we found texture coating already underneath, but in need of repair. So we repaired the bad areas and put a new coat on top of that. We also vowed to NEVER use texture paint again. We personally hate it and it makes a HUGE mess.

We’re going to change the old molding to molding that matches up with what you see there on the second story level. We are also going to paint the spindles under the banister to match. The plan is to carpet the stairs, but I may paint them in a better color prior to that as the carpeting will be the very last thing we do. Hubby is also securing the handrails better than they were and will be adding a handrail on the right hand side. I have a 6 foot oak quilt hanger that will get hung on the long wall and I’m working on a quilt to go there that I hope to finish on Sunday.

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House Update ~ Chronicles of a Real Estate Nightmare ~ Amber's Room ~ Part 4

BEFORE BEFORE
Amber’s room was not part of the mold issue, it was just ugly. It originally had a drab gray paneling and the molding was not done very well. The interim before pictures below don’t look so bad with just primer, but believe me it needed painted. The previous, previous owner had built a built-in desk in the alcove area and shelves above it for his daughter Amy which was cute, but not made very well and was now 25+ years old so we tore it apart and use the alcove for the dressers instead. We never got more than the primer on the walls before it started being used as a guest room.

INTERIM BEFORE



See what I mean about the molding?
DURING

Hubby has been a real trooper getting everything done on this house since so much of it wasn’t even planned. I did the cutting in and the trim work while hubby did the rolling. We started early and finished just about dinner time after 2 coats of BEHR Oklahoma Wheat which dried very quickly.
AFTER

We do need to do the molding around the ceiling after the room has dried a bit more. We’re going to stain it to match the closet and bedroom doors. It will give great contrast to the Oklahaoma Wheat on the walls and the Innocence on the ceiling. I just love the blues and sage green against the warm walls.

Amber, your room is ready!
final blog signature. ♥

House Update ~ Chronicles of a Real Estate Nightmare ~ Amber’s Room ~ Part 4

BEFORE BEFORE
Amber’s room was not part of the mold issue, it was just ugly. It originally had a drab gray paneling and the molding was not done very well. The interim before pictures below don’t look so bad with just primer, but believe me it needed painted. The previous owner had built a built-in desk in the alcove area and shelves above it for his daughter Amy which was cute, but not made very well and was now 25+ years old so we tore it apart and use the alcove for the dressers instead. We never got more than the primer on the walls before it started being used as a guest room.

INTERIM BEFORE



See what I mean about the molding?
DURING

Hubby has been a real trooper getting everything done on this house since so much of it wasn’t even planned. I did the cutting in and the trim work while hubby did the rolling. We started early and finished just about dinner time after 2 coats of BEHR Oklahoma Wheat which dried very quickly.
AFTER

We do need to do the molding around the ceiling after the room has dried a bit more. We’re going to stain it to match the closet and bedroom doors. It will give great contrast to the Oklahaoma Wheat on the walls and the Innocence on the ceiling. I just love the blues and sage green against the warm walls.

Amber, your room is ready!