Tag Archives: cleaning

Deck redo

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Mr. Aitch and I needed to do a major overhaul of our deck.  I don’t remember how long it had been since we really, really, really cleaned it.  Yeah, Mr. Aitch would power wash it every couple of years but it was in pretty sad shape.

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So we decided to get to work.

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We cleaned it.

 

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We scrubbed it.  I’m not affiliated with Sherwin Williams.  This stuff is just fantastic for removing old sealer and stain.

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We stripped it.

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We neutralized the stripper.  Don’t I look “neutralized”?

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We stained it.

Post-cap

We replaced the old wooden algae-covered post caps (as seen above) with these sleek copper ones.

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The entire process took about eight days as we had to work around the heat and humidity but it was worth it.

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We are enjoying it.

 

I am my mother’s child

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My mom would find ways to reuse things that most people would throw out.

Our house number changed last Fall because of a new 911 system to help first responders in rural areas.  Some residents had to change the street name as well.  We’ve lived in this house for 21 years and this is the fourth address.  The first address was a route and box number.  The second address was a real street and house number.  The third was the same house number and street name but different city (and I use that term loosely).  And now this house number change.

Over the years we accumulated address labels.  We’d get them with donations to various organizations and charities.  Sometimes our insurance agent would mail them to us.  We used them but since we switched most of our bill paying to on-line banking, we just didn’t mail much any more.

And now they have the wrong house number.

So last weekend I pulled them all out of the junk drawer and decided to do something with them…besides just throw them away.

Most of the labels had a cute graphic next to the address.  I cut the graphic off using an X-acto knife, my quilting ruler, and self-healing cutting mat.

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Most of them are about a half-inch square.

Now I have to figure out what to do with them.  Use them instead of gold star on chore charts for my grand kids?  Advent calendars for next Christmas?

What would you do?

 

Inherited paint

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I helped our daughter clear out part of her basement last week. They inherited many partially used paint cans when they moved into a new-to-them house.

Over 25 partially used paint cans.

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The previous owners had different tastes when it came to paint colors than she did.  They also didn’t know how much paint to buy and had a lot left over.  One can had never been opened.

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But what to do with their old choices?

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That were at least ten years old?

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100 pounds of kitty litter helps.

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Look at that rusty can.

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She has a lot more room to store the things she needs to with all these paint cans gone.

Paint-cans-7wmWhat do you do with your old paint?

 

Crunch time

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Edit: I had this ready to post on the 19th but forgot to click the “publish” button.  My apologies.

I did not fall off the face of the Earth.  I’m still here.

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I’ve been decorating, cleaning, decluttering, partying, praying, gift-wrapping, knitting and sewing along with the usual working, eating, and sleeping stuff that happens whether I want it to or not.

My brother-in-law is coming to our house today Thursday the 19th so that’s the cleaning, decluttering, and decorating part.  He’s doing the narration for Mr. Aitch’s Cantata on Sunday evening.

Three and two-thirds slippers have been knitted.

Birthday gifts have been wrapped and hand delivered for the twin’s birthday party last Sunday.

Pillow cases, quilt backs, and a drawstring bag have been sewn.   The drawstring bag was a last-minute gift idea, and I mean last-minute gift for their birthday.  I filled it with four squeeze bottles, a package of neon food coloring and instructions for making “snow paint”:  Fill bottle half way with water and add 4-6 drops of coloring to paint the snow.

I made pillow cases that match the quilts…that aren’t finished.

Crunch time list in no particular order:

  1. Finish the quilts.  They are not even sandwiched together yet let alone ready to be quilted.   Do you think I’d still have a job if I took my sewing machine to work on Monday?
  2. Sew pencil/marker cases for four grandchildren.
  3. Make snowman kits (carrot nose, eyes, buttons, felt hat).  And make another drawstring bag for the kits.
  4. Sew a “taggie” ball for my newest grandbaby.
  5. Knit the last third of the second pair of slippers.
  6. Make a cheesecake for Saturday.   Done
  7. Make cheesy potatoes for the party after the Cantata on Sunday.  In the oven now.
  8. Make another cheesecake for Christmas Day.
  9. Wrap all the gifts that are en route.
  10. Wrap all the gifts that will (soon) be completed.

At least my Christmas cards are ready to be mailed.  Mailed Thursday afternoon.

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