Month: March 2013

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Preparing for Easter

Not being sure how many family members and friends will be here for Easter is making it rather hard to plan on a meal and what to serve, not to mention how much food I’ll need. I don’t like it when this happens but as of now, even my kids are indecisive about what their plans are and my youngest daughter won’t be here since she moved to Florida.

This is the first time that the whole family won’t be together and also don’t know if they will be around the house on Easter Sunday. The way I figure it, I’m not going to have a sit down dinner like usual this year if I don’t know who will be here and how many.

I’m seriously thinking that tonight I’m going to shop for everything I need, then just make it into a buffet style dinner. I can get a ham that is already cooked and sliced (easy out) and then make side dishes and finger food. Oh yes, and paper plates will be used. The strong ones but disposable plates I can throw away. I cook, why should I do dishes too!? At least that is my take on it, if no one knows what their plans are. Okay, I guess my rant is over. Now to make a shopping list…

Disposable plates

Disposable knives, spoons and forks

Disposable cups

Have a Happy Easter All, and remember what it’s all about.

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Spring cleaning and little repair jobs

While washing down walls the last two days, I have come across some small cracks and little holes in the plaster that need mending. I personally do not even like doing this job at all, but it needs to be done and though it’s just a little project, I know after the repair work is finished I’m going to want to repaint walls that I had just painted last year. And of course I’ll want to paint a fresh new color on the walls. Which means, new color complimenting home decor items.

There are quite a few little home improvement repairs on my “fix it” list this spring. The ceiling fans need new pull chains, and of course I’ll shop for pretty things to put on the end of the chain, which means either going out to stores or shopping online for these.

There are quite a few BIG repairs that need done also, but for them I’m sure I’m going to either scope out DIY books and online tuts for this. One being insulating around my windows and putting up new trim. I know how to do the trim, somewhat. The insulating is another story. For now, I’m sticking to the little jobs I know I can do.

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Golf clubs for my birthday

Not being an avid golfer but being an interested fan, my best friend wants to take me to get new golf clubs. She highly recommends I’ll get good ones and I know she’s serious when she just practices in 101 degree weather! This woman is good and knows her equipment for the game.

Getting a set of clubs to me is a intimidating, but my life long friend told me that where we are going to get even hybrid golf clubs, is going to be fantastic and an adventurer, we can’t go wrong with going where the quality, value and also professionals are. Big plus to me, since I’m a brand new beginner and have no idea what I’m doing, but am willing to learn.

I feel by the end of the summer I may learn about the game and it will be fun plus great exercise. I may like this!

 

 

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Old house and ancient plumbing

While remodeling the spare bathroom, we have found that they no longer sell the bath and shower fixtures that will fit our ancient bathtub. The tub is small and is made out of molded cast iron. It’s also on an outside wall. To replace the tub, we would have to totally knock out the whole wall, somehow cut the tub into pieces and then haul that away, put a new tub and plumbing in and also new walls. This means we’d also have to replace the outside wall and siding. What a job.

What makes things worse, is on the other side of the adjacent wall where all the pipes are, is my son’s bedroom. That wall would also have to be knocked out and it is going to be one heck of a major project. The hot water was leaking and we tried to find the right parts to get it at least semi fixed, until we could go a head and do this improvement but my husband had to rig one up, since the hardware stores don’t carry the part.

I had to laugh when we took the parts in, because the man who was to help us looked at the  part, then at us with the most odd look. Like we were asking for something that was from the moon or whatever. He said he hadn’t seen one of these parts since the 40’s and even then they were nearly obsolete. Great. For now, we’ve decided to hold off on this project as long as we can, as we honestly don’t have the funds right at the minute to do a total remodel job. We have just finished the main bathroom. In the mean time, I am going to pick out tile and flooring, paint and at other items I may want to use once that darn tub is out and the plumbing in there is fixed. I can always look shop and get a idea of various prices.

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Curtains or Blinds

I’m debating about going to using blinds in my house instead of the lace curtains I have used for years with variations depending on the season. The family say to get both the curtains and the blinds, but they don’t have to pay for them I do, and my budget is limited when it comes to window coverings.

Right now I have long Irish lace curtains in the living room, which is the room I want to start thinking about for coverings. The windows face the road and on the right east side, face the neighbors. I’m not worried about the neighbors, as there are very large pine bushes that block the window partially and no one can see in. In the front however, I’m glad we know everyone in our small village, because a person can see right into my house, if by chance they are looking.

I guess if I got new summer curtains and also blinds, I could pull the blinds partially down at night, but the other problem besides finances for this improvement since I have six double hung windows, is the fact that I’m terribly claustrophobic. I really like being able to see out, even at night. So now I have something else to mull over and some decisions to make and in the mean time, I still am going to go shopping for new lace curtains for the summer months.

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Get Georgia Hotel Supplies Online

A friend of mine who lives in Georgia now, opened a large bed and breakfast and found that because of the size of her establishment, she would need more supplies than she had thought, so she found a place that she could get Georgia Hotel Supplies Online. Even though she isn’t a big hotel or motel, she does have enough rooms and clients to be considered a medium to large establishment, which is rare for a bed and breakfast. She has 12 rooms that she rents out and with that also comes the breakfasts, and also other services for her clients.

Down stairs in what is a big den type room that also is a library with a bar, she decided because of the volume of clients that she has, she needed Hotel Bar Supplies. It makes sense to me, as by ordering her supplies online she also will be saving the leg work of gong to find, haul home, and set up all of this equipment and accessories, plus she will be saving a considerable amount of money.

The Hotel Supplies are a must even for a bed and breakfast, I was told. I love to hear about her adventures she has since opening her place, and even I have learned about the running of a place such as her’s as well as my friend Lynn’s small hotel, who also uses the same company to get her needful items to make it run smoothly. The ability to order online is a wonderful option I think. My friends do also. They are busy running a booked solid establishment and don’t have the time or help to go shopping for everything they need. Plus the savings are exceptional and everyone can use a price break at this time. equipment

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Spring thoughts

While letting the dogs out this morning, I walked into the back yard and despite the snow and ice we had this past week,  there were dandelions growing next to my old well. There they were…four perfect small yellow flowers poking out through the snow. That is what I call either determination or real hardy plants!

I happen to love dandelions. While the kids were growing up, we called them dandy flowers and to be honest, I still do. They are great for a lot of things and make tasty spirits if made and fermented properly. There is a convent of nuns or used to be, in Ohio that made the best dandy flower wine and used to sell it to help with the convents upkeep. I was too young to try it at the time, but I hear that it had an exceptional bouquet. (pun intended).

The dandelion greens are quite tasty also, if cooked the right way. I’ve never tried this with the family, but I like them. To me, dandelions are not a weed. I know people who battle dandelions every year trying to have a lawn that is dandelion free. The roots, which are good for you also, grow very deep and they are indeed hard to kill. Myself, I figure why try and kill them off. I like how they make the acreage in my back yard look. To me, they are a sure sign of spring.
 

 

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Decisions for new bathroom flooring

Being totally indecisive on what I want to do with the bathroom floor and my own personal deadline looming over my head, I feel like a contractor under pressure. It’s my own pressure I know, but I’d really like to get the whole bathroom completed before the end of this month.

I’ve visited a load of sites and even have ordered catalogs to browse through to get some ideas, yet I’m still waiting for something to “reach out and grab me” so to speak. Maybe I’m being too particular in what I want. Who knows? Even I don’t know or haven’t made a finial decision yet.

I must admit, that the rest of the main bathroom is coming along great. If it wasn’t for the matter of flooring it actually would be finished by now, except for some trim and accessories. I’m giving myself one more week to decide if I want wood or tile. I’m not into full carpet in a bathroom, especially the main bath, so at least that decision is made. If I can’t make up my mind soon, I’m going to be putting it to a vote for the family and hope they pick something easy to maintain and that isn’t too expensive. Every penny counts in this day and age, considering the economy.