Summer or Fall

When I should be doing things in the gardens and also sprucing up the rest of the yards and patio, for the last four days, I’ve been stuck in the house because of the cold, damp and rain. It’s kind of a bummer.

Of course there are lots of things to do inside. I’m trying to find carpet that I like for the living room, the exact paint color I want also. I just haven’t gotten up the Ommph to do any of this, because it’s so dismal outside. I did however have the furnace cleaned out, since I had to actually turn on the furnace because it reached the low of 52 inside, and that is way too cold for me.

Hopefully we will have a proper summer, but if this weather right now is any indication of what we are actually in for, I’m not going to be a happy camper. I should go back to Florida with my daughter when she has to leave next week.

Months are flying by

It seems like it was December just yesterday and I was shopping for Christmas gifts. Now we are about to welcome in June and my goodness the months seem to be flying by. My youngest daughter will be coming home for her birthday on the 26th and will stay for a month before she has to leave and go back to Florida and work. I’m glad she was able to take the time off and it will be so great seeing her and hugging her, hanging out and just having her around again.

As I welcome in June, I’ve noticed that all the flower seeds and other plants I put in the ground after Mother’s Day are coming up nicely and the annuals I have are in full bloom! Yes, its starting to look like a garden again!

I have a lot of home improvement projects going on also. From flag stone for the patio, to new flooring in the living room and bathroom. Also the job of finishing the living room paint job and buying new curtains and adding some decor that matches the whole thing. It’s been a busy few months but worth it!

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.

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!

Home improvement with young adults

Deciding what colors to paint the living room, has been a challenge for me. The room is only 13’x13″ and I want to make it look bigger using paint color and mirrors and lighting from the windows. My son is trying to help me decide on the colors and other planning, but he is color blind. Yes, he was tested and indeed he is color blind. Some people call it colored blind, so this is the same thing. However, despite of his troubles with certain colors and shades, he is one excellent-judge of them, and then mixing various colors together, that one wouldn’t think would work for wall.

We’re both leaning to a deep terracotta. I call it, baked pumpkin pie…the top, before it is cut into. White trim and ceiling. and a deep blue. The only way I can describe it, is in the old big boxes of crayons that Crayola made. After they changed the original colors and shades, I stopped buying the big pack. The color blue was the original Midnight Blue. Forest Green was another awesome shade.

So tomorrow we’ll be paint or at least some sample cans if there are any available. I love home improving, especially when one of my kids have a creative streak. I welcome their input. I also like the fact that they help me find bargains and who doesn’t like to save money?

 

 

 

 

Thinking about stenceling

Lately, I’ve been looking at my walls and in the past, I would on whims, stencil a bit on my walls. Actually, I have stenciled an archway with ivy vines, fairy’s, butterflies and flowers. Since to me, it looked like  simple…well…stenciled stuff. To me, it looked “flat” on the wall. Not what I go for.

The more I looked at the archway, the more I wanted to change it. One night, everyone was asleep and I was in a really mellow mood. I got out my paints and hand painted connections between leaves and vines and such. Then added definition to the whole thing, buy painting what these subjects really looked like. I’m pleased to say, that the ivy on the wall, now looks like real ivy. The Fae’s are fluttering, and the flowers should have a smell…

I realize that there are patterns out there that an artist has made and the scene is awesome. But if I bought others pattern pieces, it wouldn’t feel like my own art. So, I’m going stick with my gardens on my wall and do this project all myself. Great thing about painting on walls…you can always paint over it, if you don’t like what you painted. That to me, is more home improvement!

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.

Fresh walls and floors

In preparation for Spring cleaning, I’ve decided to get new flooring for the kitchen and also paint for the walls. I’m actually kicking around the idea of painting though. I just painted two years ago, and also put up the boarder it took me months to find. It all matches…except the floor.

My son has volunteered to help with all the cleaning, since I am due for surgery next month and I’m not allowed to do a lot of things, which of course I’m still doing, but am careful about it. My husband has forbidden me to get up on a ladder though. I can see his point, since my doctor told me (in front of my husband) that I am to be very careful not to fall. My husband knows me. Pure and simple I am a klutz. I can trip and fall, just walking across the floor. My son is a godsend as far as I am concerned. He loves to clean and do home improvement things.

We are going shopping for either tile for the kitchen floor tonight. I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty excited about it. I hate what is down now. Even just with new tile it will make it look like a new kitchen.