Month: June 2012

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Keeping cool and dirty pool water

We’ve been having record breaking high temperatures the last week and this coming week it’s supposed to be even hotter. Of course most of the US is like this, so it’s no big surprise. We all have been trying to find ways to keep cool.

For me, it was a matter of keeping the pool clean. The pool and pool accessory place that I go t to has been running out of chemicals I need. One would think that being in that kind of business, these people would be up on the weather situation and the need for stocking more supplies.

Because4 of the heat, covering the pool at night, just is making algae form very fast on the walls and bottom of the pool. Tonight, I’m not going to cover it and just run the filter and pump all night. I’ll see how that works. A good skimming a few times a day will help also. So stay cool, my friends.

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New bathroom vanity

Getting a new vanity in the bathroom had to be put on hold for awhile because we had developed problems with the pipes that came up from the under the floor and though I had kept telling my husband that I thought we had a leak, he had been too busy with work and other things he had on his plate, to even check it out. Something that of course upsets me to no end, as I don’t really know anything about pipes and plumbing. I didn’t even know how to begin to fix the leak or who to call that wouldn’t’ charge me a small fortune.

After talking to a good guy friend of mine, he came out and looked at it and thank goodness it was a fairly easy fix. I ended up using the barter system and promised him three loaves of homemade bread for him to fix my leaky pipe.

Shopping for the vanity was easy. There were only three that I had looked at and really loved, but only two that would fit the space. Since I couldn’t decide on which I wanted, I let my oldest son pick. I like his style and he knows mine, so we came home with a really nice looking and functional vanity. I’m happy with it and it does give me more storage space.

 

 

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First tomato of the season

Today I went outside and there was a ripe tomato on one of my tomato plants. I didn’t think it was fully ripe, but when I touched it, it fell into my hand, so I figured it was ready to eat. To be honest, it was a great feeling seeing that tomato ripe on the vine! I got a slow start, but our growing season is long, and by the looks of the way my plants are growing and the tomatoes on the vines right now…I’ll have plenty of tomatoes to eat and give away.

When you live in Michigan, you have to start tomato plants indoors and figure out when is the best time to plant them in the ground without risk of a late snow or killing frost. Usually I try to get the plants in the ground in mid-April. But some years we are still having freaky snow storms in April, so I have to wait until May.

If we can get them in early enough, there are plenty of fresh, ripe tomatoes ready for picking by the 4th of July. I’ve already beat that goal this year!

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Bamboo fencing and outdoor fountians theme

While looking for various theme ideas for the section of my back yard that I would like to make in to my own personal outdoor space, I came across bamboo fencing. I had never even thought to look at that type of fencing before, and I really like how it looks. I’ve always wanted a sort of tropical look in my gardens, and when I decided to make my own sitting area to meditate, read and just be alone, I wanted to fence it in, but none of the fencing I looked at was what I wanted.

Once I fence in my area, I’ll start putting in plants that look tropical, but can be grown in our area. I also have always wanted a couple of outdoor fountains, because the sound of the water makes for a really relaxing setting. I’d love to have moss as my ground cover also, but that is a project I have to work on and see if I can grow it. I’ve been looking at various fountains and I’d love to have matching ones, that have a flat back so I can put one on two sides of my fenced in area.

I’m really looking forward to this project, now that I’ve found the perfect fencing for it to come together. I know it’s going to take time, and will no doubt cost quite a few dollars to get perfect, but for serenity and relaxation, it will be well worth it.

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Closet cleaning

Despite of the high temperatures we are having, I decided to clean my bedroom closet. I can not believe how many pair of shoes I have and also tops I have that I don’t wear. Unreal. I bagged up darn near everything and am going to take it to one of the homeless shelters in town. Someone may be able to use some of it.

While I was at it, I went to the store and got some really great extension type organizers and after I installed it, it gave my closet so much room and storage space that I was amazed. Needless to say, I’m on a closet cleaning roll, so to speak now.

While I was shopping, I picked up some nice mirrors to install on the closet doors also. And of course, I had to get new towels, since while going through the linen closet, I noticed that for some reason our towel supply is dwindling. I looked out by the pool, on the clothes line and in the washer and dryer. No towels. I got each of the kids their own beach towel (again) and this time, if they misplace theirs, too bad. They will go without. (mean mommie…)

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Late seed and plant shopping

Today, my mom, daughter and I went late seed shopping. It’s not really late, since our growing season last into fall, but it’s sometimes iffy to plant late like this. Still, mom knew of some stores that had seeds really cheap and if I don’t use them this year, I’ll use them next year. Unless seeds are a few years old, I don’t pay much attention to the expiration dates. I keep them in air tight and water resistant containers, so I’ve never had a problem with them growing.

Tomorrow we’re going to take my mom out for dinner for Father’s Day. She doesn’t want me to spend my money on this and wanted to cook us dinner. That is just the way she is. Today I bought her some great inside plants that she’ll get tomorrow. It was hard to get them into the cart and paid for, then into the trunk of the car without her seeing them, but I had my daughter distract her. Actually, mom has eyes behind her head and doesn’t miss a trick, so she no doubt saw them or had an idea that I got them for her. She’ll act surprised though.

My garden here is starting to look really nice and I’ve been working on my son and my bale garden. It’s fun and interesting to see how well the veggies are going to do planting this way, since we’ve never done it. I’m getting a lot of advice from my friend Lindsay though. It’s been a long day, I’m tried after walking all over today. I’m looking forward to scattering s0me seeds tomorrow though in a spot I dug up along the sidewalk.

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Home repair grants

Having written about home repair grants in the past, I am a firm believer that more people should take advantage of this service. I’m in the process of looking for a contractor to help with venting and also repairing the old pipes in the bathroom, and believe me when I say it can get very expensive. With the economy the way it is, any help with money situations is a big deal and it’s worth checking out to see if you are eligible. It only takes a bit of one’s time and it can make all the difference in the world.

A friend of mine moved back to where she had been renting out the home she owns. When she got there and was settled, she decided to check out assistance with home repairs as the old tenants had trashed her house, then skipped out on the rent and repair bills. My friend was in dire need of assistance to help with the repairs since she couldn’t afford it on her own.

I was told an insulation assistance in NJ was just the thing she needed, as my friend’s previous tenants had even run up a heating bill in the winter that was outrageous. The utilities had been included in the rent so she went into debt with that also. I’m glad she is using her head and checking out various grants and professionals to help with and do the work she needs to have done.

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Attic renovation and organization

After spending the day upstairs in the attic yesterday, I’ve decided it is in dire need of some organization and in general a major overhaul. I’m seriously thinking about putting better flooring in and also drywall. I need a dumpster first to throw out junk I’ve sort of hoarded over the years, that I really don’t have any use for. I went shopping and got storage containers for clothes but I know that the boxes that are in the attic need replaced by something plastic, since the air despite of the vents in the attic, was a bit humid.

There are basically two rooms up in the attic, and I took measurements of the one side we don’t use. It could be made into another room, and I want to contact a contractor or even a few of my guy friends that know how to renovate rooms or “transform” attics to see what it would cost to make a useable room out of this room that is basically gutted.

I found a bunch of wall hangings and items I forgot I had and am switching the decor in my living room. Sort of swapping things. This will save money on redecorating also, since no one has seen this stuff. We’ll see what the professionals say about fixing the extra room up there and I’ll have another winter project!

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Shopping for summer

I’ve noticed this month is the best time it seems to shop for our summer clothes. I went to some various stores last week, and didn’t find many sales so instead I sort of held off in hopes of finding better prices on clothes and shoes/sandals that we could wear this summer.

While picking up some bath and shower items that my daughter and I were low on, I had to pass the woman’s clothing section. Wow! The store I was in had so many sales I nearly forgot the bath things. I got my daughter the basic skinny strap tanks she loves to wear for only about 4.00 a piece, compared to 11.00. I went a bit nuts on these, buying one of each color I could find. They will be put to good use though, as she wears these as “undershirts” in the winter also. I’m saving a lot of money so I’m glad I waited a week before buying these kind of items. I also got some great storage containers on sale to store the winter clothes after they are organized. I like this kind of shopping!

The shoe department at that store didn’t have much to choose from in way of sales, but I went to a popular shoe store at the mall and found great sales on sandals there. Some were buy one and get 50% off another pair, which was great, as most of the sandals were only about ten dollars. So all in all, I did pretty good this morning and it’s still early. I needed to come home to get my daughter so she could pick out her own short and underclothes!

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Pool and Spa service

This time of year, everyone either has their pool ready to fill or may need repairs done, and my daughter was telling me that her husband had been looking into True-Blue-Pool-And-Spa.com to do the repair work on their built in swimming pool. When they bought their new home, of course they knew that the pool would need some minor repair to get it ready to be filled for summer fun. He owns his own concrete company and was able to get the walkways around the pool finished, but after realizing that he would not be able to repair the pool and then put in the liner himself, he decided to look into the professionals to do this.

The kids have been really patient for the pool to get finished, an it has to be kind of hard on them seeing the pool every day and not being able to swim in it, but they know it will be great once it’s repaired and since there is a heating system for the pool, they also know that this will extend their swimming season a lot longer. True Blue Pool and Spa has a wide array of services available for the pool owner and I personally would want someone to maintain my pool, as no matter how hard I have tried, I have never been able to keep my water clean for extended periods of time. I think it is less expensive for someone who is a professional to do this, and it would save money in the long run.

Summer is my family’s favorite time of year, so we are all swimmers and love the water. I enjoy the fact that we don’t have to pack up all kinds of swimming gear and things to have a cook out at the lakes, unpack it and then pack it all up again. I have a feeling that my daughter is going to really enjoy her pool once it is repaired and filled. Judging from what my son in law told me, it won’t take too long for this to be done. They will all be swimming in no time!