Month: April 2012

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Feathers, glitter and fancy fixings

Yesterday I went shopping at the hobby store and though it was a fast trip in and out, I did pick up a few items to make a mask for my daughter’s prom outfit. This year the prom theme is  Masquerade.

I was informed last night after being told by my daughter for months that she didn’t want to go to her Senior prom, she indeed was going and that she needs a mask by next Saturday. I work well under pressure, but this is cutting it thin, considering I’ve never made a mask before. With my costumes that I make, I work with big time make up to finish off the costume.

I bought a few feathers, two masks, and some little fixings and such, as I do have some ideas in mind. I’m going to mess around with the things tonight and then add to the list of items I’m going to need, once I get a creative brain storm. I might even have some of the items I need and that will save some money.

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Gardens for my daughter

After looking at hundreds of garden plans, my oldest daughter has put the decisions about what to do with the yards of her new home they will be moving into in a week. I realize I don’t have the time that I need this year to have them looking great, but it’s awesome that she would like my advice. She was never into gardens and gardening while she was growing up.

I’m thinking about putting in some simple raised beds for the time being and when she finds what she would like, then we’ll go on from there.

I have a feeling this is going to be an exciting but long summer for some beginning gardeners, for instance, my oldest daughter and my son, who is starting to get into it also!

 

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Auctions in the area

The village news is all filled with various farm auctions in this area, a long with the contents of barns, sheds and outbuildings. It’s sad to see some of the very old homesteads being sold. No doubt the houses will leveled and the land sold to make sub divisions. Some of the families are not able to, or just don’t want to contend with the cost or the hard work that it takes to run farms now, so a lot of these places are going to auction because of those factors.

The great thing about these auctions, is I’ve been finding all kinds of treasures, that I actually have had my eye out for. I make lists of items that is listed in the paper and then compare it with the list I have had been adding to in my journal, and it’s a good system so far, that saves me from spending a lot of money on things I don’t need, but just want.

There is an auction this Saturday that my whole family would like to go to. I should be able to round them all up early for this. Hopefully, they won’t overbid me, as this will be the kid’s first auction.

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Savings with home energy efficiency tips

When our heating and lighting meters were read by some man that went meter to to meter, we got our bill and knew it was way to high. I decided to find home energy efficiency tips to employ in order to save money. I knew that my family would not stick with these tips, but I wanted to at least try to make a good example by using the tips myself, so that perhaps the kids and my husband would learn by example, so to speak. I was wrong in thinking such a thing.

Months went by and there was only a slight change, and it was especially noticeable even during this winter, which was the most mild winter we have had in nearly 20 years. Global warming is getting pretty scary if you ask my opinion. Since I am concerned about how hot the summer may get and the fact that my family want air conditioning when it is hot, something because of the bills, I decided to talk to my husband about a home energy audit. I figure if someone who is a professional on this subject told him what was what, he’d indeed be more willing to use the tips I have been trying to use.

Also, since the weather has been so weird, and it’s hard telling what is going to happen in months or even a few years on down the line, I would like to check in to some home insulation contractors. We need more insulation in this house, and I’m sure it would help tremendously during both winter and summer.

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After Easter sales

Tomorrow my oldest daughter and I are going shopping for what ever we can find left over from Easter that is on sale. My daughter does volunteer work at the school for the younger kids in grades 1 and 2, and she wants to find things that she will be able to use for next years class room decorations.

She was bringing up memories today, about how I have Easter traditions, and how I used to go all out on decorations, baskets and egg hunts. I’ll admit, when the kids were young and up until about three years ago, I still did that. Now…no one believes in the the Easter Bunny, hadn’t for years, which I knew, but yet I still I did the Bunnie, “thing.”

Now, I just buy the candy they like and are their favorites, at sales after Easter, and give it to them. It’s kind of sad in a way, not to have anyone to decorate for, except me,  but as long as they don’t mind it, I’ll have to get used to it. At least I’ll be saving a great deal of money hitting the sales, and my daughter will find the decorations she wants for the little ones who still believe!! I love it when small children believe in the figures of holidays.

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Peaceful Easter day

It was a really nice day with the family all getting together and celebrating Easter together. I really enjoyed it. Since had already gotten everything  made and cooked and ready for today. All I had to do is pop the ham in the oven this morning, before I went to Mass and then put out all the food when I got back in time for everyone to be ready to eat. I love buffets. Much easier than a sit down dinner and I know the family like it better too.

The family all just hung out. Some watched television and others got a card game going. Some of the kids (they are still kids to me no matter how old they are) went for a walk and all in all, it was peaceful for a change.

The only thing that put sort of a damper on the day, was that it was windy and despite it being a bit over 60 degrees outside, the wind was strong and it was cold! At least it didn’t rain though and the sun was shining! I would have liked to do some gardening with the plants I was given for Easter, but it was too cold outside for me.

 

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Considering personalized address plaques

My friend Amy is about to buy a very nice home, for the first time, and I’ve looked at a whole lot of personalized address plaques to consider as a housewarming gift. I really believe she would like that, considering after a really rough divorce, in which she changed back to her maiden name. Buying the house wasn’t from any proceeds from the divorce because there wasn’t any. Amy bought this house with all of her own money that she really worked hard and for a long time, to buy it out right. I’m proud of her.

While looking at all the plaques, I also saw some really nice bronze address plaques. I’m thinking that the bronze would match the bronze numbers on her mail box, since it is out by the road and where she lives, one must have address numbers on their mailbox and even the paper box. To me, this is a bit of over kill, but it is a must do, so perhaps I’ll go with the bronze.

I’ve decide to perhaps go with the whitehall products. I was checking out the whitehall address plaques, and I really like them. I believe the ones I was looking at were made of nickle, but I could be wrong. Still, no matter, I love the class of them and how the look. It’ll all come together, but in the mean time, I have a feeling Amy would love this kind of house warming and congratulations gift.

 

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Bathroom ventilation and decisions

We’ve recently put in a high powered vent in the bathroom. Before we had it, the walls and ceiling gathered black mold, so I had to consult an expert, since I needed help immediately. I’m happy to say my bathroom is now mold free, which is a great feeling. This house is so old that no one had thought about what would happen with no window, and no ventilation. One vent didn’t get it, so when we got rid of the mold, then repaired the damage, we put a second one vent in and the problem, was solved.

Now comes the rest of the remodeling, and it’s about time. Now though, since we have the vents, I can hang wallpaper without it bubbling up, or drooping because of the dampness that was always in the room before. I am either going to wallpaper, or wait until all the kids are out on their own, if that ever happens, and paint for now.

I’m debating now as to laying bathroom carpet, or just getting new tile. The tile that is on the floor now, isn’t very old at all, but it was laid before the vents and so it’s pulled up in places. I’ve heard bathroom carpet in such a small carries a whole lot of bacteria. Maybe I’ll just get new tile and new bath rugs that I can wash once a week. I’m leaning toward that. I plan on taking one day to go shopping and looking around for what I can find that I really want in the bathroom. I figure when I see it, I’ll know!

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To Moms for Easter

We’re all going to my Mom’s house for Easter. We’re going to get there early, so I can help my Mom with anything she needs to have done before everyone else starts to arrive. I’m hoping it doesn’t rain and isn’t cold on Sunday, but that is like hoping to win the lottery. It’s hard telling what it will be like. I actually stopped watching the weather reports because any more they are simply not accurate here.

Mom was telling me about what all she was cooking. Once again she’ll be in her pure element. My family and I love anything she cooks. I’m glad I didn’t buy a ham this week, as she bought a big one and told me that any left overs are going home with me. Okey Dokey Mama…I’ll take em all! 🙂

If it’s nice out, I’m going to try and get some of my family to start a horse shoe game. I loved to play before I lost the strength in my arm. Still, it’s fun to watch my family and friends that show up, play. They are really competitive, in a good way.

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Try direct tv or not

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from my daughter about direct tv. I’m not really “up” on all the new changes in cable and satellite providers and yet my daughter told me that even reading about the services this provides, is quite informative and tells what kinds of service packages they have. They will tell you the up front cost and that since she and her husband already have a satellite dish that will mess up the television if there is a strong wind or nasty weather, they are seriously considering changing to this service.

Myself, I went to www.dx3.net   to take a look see for myself.  Now, mind you…I am not technology savvy about anything dealing with my television, internet and even the telephone. I haven’t gotten that far in reading yet to see if they deal with telephone services yet, but you can bet I indeed will call the number given, after I am finished reading all the information, so I can ask the questions I will have.

I know that I am not happy with my cable internet and television services. Not at all. Lately they basically have been telling lies about being a high speed internet provider, and believe me, they are not. As for the other televisions in the house, we have to shell out a heap of money to get boxes for my kids to be able to watch television in their rooms. We can’t afford it. But from what I HAVE  read about dx3 direct tv , a tech guy will come out and install the system and its free for up to four rooms, which would be awesome because it’s free. That alone is a good sign. I’d be saving some money! The channels available are really great, everything from sports to the media, movies, and favorite shows. That in it’s self would be totally awesome.