Month: September 2012

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Fall is in the air

The leaves haven’t started to turn yet, but the smell of fall is indeed in the air. There is a crisp feeling outside that this season brings, and at night it’s been getting down right chilly. No frost yet, but it’s to come sooner than normal, I have a feeling.

Though I love colors of fall, I don’t like the fact that it means summer is over and that winter is just around the corner. It seems like we didn’t have much of a summer, despite of the drought.

We’ve been doing some home improvement around the house and outside in the yards. There were some walkways that needed tending to, as the stone was starting to get loose in places, so I hauled in some extra that I had saved, and made it fit where the loose ones were. I should say they aren’t really stone like most would think. These are actually flat rocks that the walkway is made of, and I’m glad I had the foresight to keep some back for just the purpose I needed them for.

All of the storm windows are now up and the glass windows are washed, the covered with padding and put away safely. Gutters will continue to be cleaned as the leaves come down and nearly all of my flower beds have been put to sleep for the winter. It sort of makes me sad, but it is what it is.

There of course is a lot more to do in order to make the house winterized and toasty for the winter, but I’m getting to it slowly but surely. Winter is not a good season for me, since I really hate snow and the cold, but if I have to live where we do indeed have lots and lots of snow and the temps get down below zero, I at least want a home that is warm and the next step is to start my winter survival shopping.

 

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Is it taste or just a coffee habit

My husband drinks coffee by the gallon. To me, this is caffeine to the extreme, and since all of a sudden it’s found he has high blood pressure, I decided to make some changes that I’ll admit, isn’t that honest, but I haven’t been asked about it, so I don’t need to volunteer the information just yet. Okay, pure and simple it’s not being totally honest because I care.

I bought an off brand that has only half the caffeine and put it in the canister his normal brand comes in, which was a blend loaded with extra caffeine. Mind you, this I figure is for his own good. At least in my way of thinking.

So far, so good. he’s not noticed and even said he had made an “exceptionally good pot of coffee” the morning after I did the switch. Next is the sugar intake. I’m sure I can find something as a look alike substitute. I’ve never seen or even heard of anyone who puts more sugar in a cup of coffee. It’s expensive and once again, worrisome to me. Of course if I’m asked, indeed I will tell him about the switch in the coffee. But if he likes it now and I’m saving a great deal of money, we’ll just keep it a secret for now.

 

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Getting home repair grants

Everyone could use help with home repair grants and it’s relatively easy to find them if you look in the right place. A friend of mine just moved to New Jersey and bought one of those kinds of homes that is in need of some big time TLC. When she called me the first night she stayed in her new home, she had a slew of things on a list that needed to be done before she could even begin to move fully, let alone get the house prepared for the winter months.

After doing some asking around, looking on the internet and then talking to the people in the neighborhood, she found that there is assistance with home repairs there and she is going to indeed find out more about this, so she can do the big repairs that have to be definitely done before winter hits. My friend is working a steady job, but it took quite a bit of her savings to not only buy the house, but the move there was  pricey also.

I asked her if she could get insulation assistance in NJ, not only warmth for the winter, but also it helps the house stay cooler in the summer as well. I found that my friend, Sandy was right on the ball so to speak, about getting the information and the help she will need with improvements. I’m very happy for her and can’t wait to visit her in her new house, once she is ready to have guest.

 

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A bit of mural painting

I have a spare bedroom that I have been using as place to go to when I want to just get away from the family. Yes folks, Mom’s do that every so often to regain sanity. I usually shut the door, read and listen to the music I want to listen to, since this relaxes me and my family respect my privacy there.

I was looking at the room as a whole and all but one wall has a window. It is a perfect wall to use as a canvas, and I’ve decided to either paint a mural on the wall. I thought about stenciling it, but I can indeed paint when the mood strikes me…not just general wall painting, but the artistic kind,  so I’ve begun making sketches of what I would like to have on this “wall canvas” then I’m going to go for it.

This will be one of my winter time projects and after I paint it, I’ll continue on with decor and then perhaps turn it into a guest bedroom. I really like remodeling rooms as a sort of hobby, plus it is improving the look of the home, so this is going to be my kind of relaxation and fun.

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Laminate counters from Kitchen Magic

Since I am in the process of starting some home improvement projects for the winter months, I took a good hard look at my kitchen counters and then started looking on the internet where I found Kitchen Magic. I am quite impressed with what this company has to offer. I love the durability of laminate counters and it seems while everyone else is choosing wood, or stone at exorbitant prices, I wanted to go for not only beauty, but something that would handle the wear and tear of a regular household and be affordable.

With laminate counters, there is no dangerous fumes that a sealant could be released, nor is there any worry about radon that can also be released into the air. I don’t think people think of these things while buying counter tops. To me this would be very much of a concern, since food is of course prepared on counter tops and one can never be too cautious about these things.

With Kitchen Magic counter tops, I found that I could get counters that look like real stone or wood, without any worry about ruining the surface if they were accidentally cut or something hot was put on them. I’m leaning to getting these counter tops for my kitchen and I really can’t wait to get started on my next projects!

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Fall projects

Now that fall is nearly up on us, it’s time for me to start making my list on what I’m going to do not only has home improvement, but also a project for me around the house. Paint, new carpet and new furniture.

A lot of people don’t paint in the winter because of ventilation, but I do and I want to paint my office/den, even though I’m not really quite sure what color I want yet. I have been actually leaning toward paneling, but I’m just not sure if I want to go through that hassle.

Looking at the carpet in this room, makes me want new carpet also. I figure if I’m going to change this room’s appearance, I may as well go all the way with it and the project will keep me busy until I go on to another room!

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Yard cleanup and missing summer

Every year when I clean up my yard and put all the summer things away, I get a dreadful feeling about winter weather. I love summer and since I despise winters here, I know I’m living in a place where I feel totally misplaced.

Already I’ve raked leaves in the front yard. Granted, not to many but they are falling off the big tree. I also have been collecting seeds, and pulling up dead annuals.

Closing the pool isn’t happening just yet, as my kids swim even if it is chilly out. The water has stayed semi warm but the air still has a chill to it that is obvious when they get out of the pool and have goose bumps all over their bodies. I’m going to miss summer so darn much I’m thinking about buying a heater for the pool

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School day count down

Getting ready for my youngest son to go to school has been a bit bittersweet. He is my last child in school now and it seems like yesterday when all three of my kids were getting on the bus at the same time and going to school together.

We’ve brought most of his school clothes and supplies, which actually weren’t a whole lot because since he is in high school, he doesn’t want a whole bunch of new clothes. Why, I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll be buying the kind of shirts he likes when I see them in passing or if I see them online.

He did pick out some really well made and nice looking shoes online at his favorite shoe place, at a reasonable price. They should last him awhile if he doesn’t do his favorite past times, like skate boarding and BMX bike riding in them. I’ve never seen such sports that tear shoes apart like that does.