Month: February 2012

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Deciding on bathroom tile

I’m thinking about going to the tile and carpet store in town, which also sells roll upon roll of wall paper and accessories, to check out bathroom tile. I really am not sure which kind I want, but my bathroom needs to be totally remodeled. I’m tired of looking at it the way it is not and there is no way the husband is going to do this project. I usually end up doing all the home improvement myself. It’s one of those true statements, “If you want something done, ya have to do it yourself, ” around here. Sometimes my daughter will try and help me, and sometimes my oldest son will, but they get into the project for awhile, then when it isn’t fun anymore, they stop. I usually end up finishing it myself. I’m glad I had family who were in the remodeling and building business and a now deceased husband who taught me a whole lot about home improvement and construction work. I even know how to build a pole barn!

So, I’m going to go check out tile, wall paper and paint tomorrow for the bathroom. I did get a new sink that is kind of classy, even though it’s white, which I didn’t want, but it was on sale. I have to remember that I need to find deals while doing home improvements, since it’s all being done with my cookie jar money.

I love the look of the wood floor, but I’m still undecided. Tile or wood look. If my daughter and I lived here alone, we’d do the wood laminate. We aren’t slobs. With the guys? Pffffttt. Ya’ll don’t want to know.

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Grand daughters garden plans

My grand daughter who is nine called me this evening. My daughter had called earlier to ask me if I would be home so KK could ride the school bus to my house after school. She had to take my grandson to the dentist before school was out and didn’t want to take KK out of school early.  Of course it was fine by me, but I didn’t want KK riding the bus, her aunt and uncle ride home, as they were staying after school (at the high school) for computer lab and wouldn’t be able to make sure the bus driver stopped at our house. Plus this bus has a long route and doesn’t get the kids home until a lot later, so I’m going to go to the school when the kids are let out to pick her up.

Well, when my grand daughter called she told me that she had drawn out plans for her garden here. I wasn’t really surprised, since even when she was really young…not even in school yet…she would sort seed packets into the right categories, and knew the difference between annuals and perennials, and the herbs that could be eaten and the ones that couldn’t be. She knew which flowers and herbs could heal which ailment and actually she was pretty impressive with the way she caught on to all of what I told her at such an early age.

Now that she is nine, KK knows about root systems, various was to use herbs for healing, and which ones are to make tea out of, and the herbs that go with what foods to make them tasty. Not to mention the ones that are for decoration since they are poisonous. I’ve taught her how to make ointments for both people and animals. And the list goes on. In the winter she studies seed magazines, my books and all the garden magazines I get and had to her for the winter to read.  I can’t wait to see her garden plans tomorrow. She is so excited. I might just take her into town when I pick her up for school and get her some seedling trays and some packs of seeds to start. I’m looking forward to this!

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A home alarm system needed

Living here, I have always trusted my dogs to watch my house, until new people started building around us and moving in. Now I’ve found that I need a Home Alarm System. It’s pretty sad that I have felt safe where I am living for over twenty years, and now I don’t. Homes are getting broken into all around us, we had our windows smashed last summer, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. I love my house and don’t want to move, but if this keeps happening, I’m afraid we are going to have to move out to the farm house, which needs a whole lot of work.

I’ve been checking into Home Security Systems, and reading recommendations. I’ve also been asking friends about the systems and companies they have and trust. So far, I’m not sure exactly what I want. Actually it’s looking like we are going to need what I’d like to call “full coverage.”

All these break in’s and destruction started about six years ago. Until then, folks around here watched one each others homes and garages, and were good neighbors. We all were like family. But new low income houses started being built and old people were moving, as taxes kept going up because of the new houses and water being pumped into the village, plus the break ins that started. It’s a shame that this is all happening. I saw an ad about ADT Home Security that I am going to check out. Maybe I’ll feel a bit more safe and relaxed if I know we are safe and our home is when we are gone.

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Wally World adventure

Yes folks, I call Walmart, Wally World. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t around here. I have to say if I know I’m going to WW…something I very rarely do, I check to see if I’m dressed right and I don’t have anything hanging out. It is because of the photos I see on the internet or in emails titled, “The people of Walmart.”

If anyone even tried to take a photo of me, I would totally go berserk and no doubt get arrested. Well, maybe not arrested, but for sure I would at least grab the camera, and yank the film or smash it. Isn’t there a law about taking a photo of a person without asking, or do I just have etiquette?

So there you have it. Another reason why I don’t go into Wally World unless there is garden things or seed packets on sale realllly cheap.

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Some new flower boxes

My flower boxes are old and starting to look really shabby. I would really like to get some new ones. I love how the flowers are under the windows so they partially look like they are peeking into the house. I can also tell when they need water, or pruning and weeded. I don’t know where the weeds come from since I plant with clean dirt, but I guess they sort of blow in from all directions and of course the birds that come up to feed on the feeders hanging on the front porch have a lot to do with it. I’ve decided to get new boxes this Spring. I honestly don’t think the ones I have will last another summer. And even if they did, they wouldn’t look nice.

I’ve been “finger shopping” on the internet and think I may have found the window boxes that will look awesome under my windows. They are kind of pricey, but look and seem like they will last a good while. This is worth the price, since the ones that I have now, I sort of scrimped on and are already looking like they are ready to fall apart.

I’m going to also go with a window box under my kitchen window that I will grow only herbs in. I think that will be a nice touch for the kitchen, not to mention handy, since my screens slid up easily and I can then get fresh herbs when I need them.

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My daughter would love these

My oldest daughter would love these. She collects giraffes and has since she was a very young kid. She was fascinated with them even when she was a baby. I posted them to her and told her I wanted to get these for her, and she loved them. I indeed might try to find out who makes these. I found this on an actual shoe site, and then someone emailed me a bunch of photos that these famous shoe designers had made. Some were quite bizarre, but others were very cool!

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Happy Birthday to my little brother

Where does the time go? My little brother turned 50, and it’s hard to believe. Memories flood back of him coming to my house after school and I would make him chocolate chip pancakes. Back then, the chocolate chips came in mini size. He loved the pancakes and I think that is the reason he used to come over. That and to play one of the very first electronic games that came out…sort of like Nintendo, but I can’t remember the name of it. I never could figure out the controller, so I never did play the thing, but my little brother loved it. He did end up getting it from me.

So.. Happy Birthday Chief! I hope you have a wonderful day and all your wishes come true!! I love you!
XOXXO

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Finally a great pool supply place

Since my kids that are home are older (…15,18,20 yrs) and much taller than when we got our pool two years ago, I want to get them a new pool come Spring,  but dread going to the pool supply place that is closest to home. Every Spring and through the Summer, for two seasons I’ve had to hunt stores and the pool supply shop for the items that I need for our pool It is a good size round pool, that is about three feet deep, and not big compared to the one I would like to get this Spring, but it was very pricey for the up keep.

The worse problem I had was finding pool filters after June. It was a terrible experience that I would rather not go through again. I had to actually make my old filter work somewhat, but with leaks and spurts and lots of duct tape,  since the stores in town ran out or didn’t stock them, and the pool supply shop had to “special order” the filter I needed for my brand of pool, with a “IF we can,” type answer I got when I asked.

To me, this is not my way of spending my summer. So…I got online. I don’t actually know why I hadn’t thought of it before, but I just didn’t. I think since I didn’t want to go though what I had the last two seasons, I wised up when I friend of mine recommended Dohenys Water Warehouse, where she bought her supplies from. The prices are great and they even have free shipping, not to mention the filter I may need if something happens to the one that will come with the pool.  Now for sure I am going to surprise the family with an big above ground pool. I even have a guy who will build the deck for me. I’m going to be a happy swimmer and so will my family!! I’ll never have to get my pool supplies from anywhere else!

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A great gift from a friend

My friend who I call Radiogal, or Radio, sent me a wonderful clip board she made especially for me. She has been buying clipboards and then decoupaging little pictures of things that remind her of whom ever she is making the clipboard for. It’s really thoughtful and also handy to have.

The clipboard she made for me, had a lot to do with sewing, and also my other hobbies. Clay jars, collecting buttons, a certain sort of stationary I use…things like that.

The clip board is going to come in handy she said, when I have surgery and am feeling great and want to write a letter to her. While I’m in the hospital, she said that I’d need something to prop on my lap to write on. I love this woman. She is so artsy and thoughtful. I am going to make her something special once I have surgery and am able to move well enough and bend my neck again.

 

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Lists and coupons

Thinking I’ll make my life a bit simpler, I’m getting a jump on Saturday grocery shopping. I’ve got my list partially made up, and coupons cut…thanks to my daughter. I even feel somewhat organized.

I’ve been going through the freezer and the pantries, and throwing out things and at the same time, organizing…with the help of my youngest son, foodstuff. Also we all have been looking at the two refrigerators to see what we are running out of, then writing it down on the list.

Saying that I feel like Suzie Homemaker is really stretching it, but I am feeling a bit more organized. Now, if I don’t forget my list and coupons when I go to the stores I need to go to, it’ll really be an accomplishment.