Fern Bliss

One of the best parts of spring, summer, and fall is the ability to add ferns to my home. I have them everywhere.

On the screened in porch is this view in early spring:

The "Mystery" Wall

We always wondered. Why the builder used a really, teeny, tiny linen closet area in the bathroom?

Sure, it is adjacent to the main bathroom's bathtub and would share pipes but really--does it need that much space?

When we decided to have our teeny, tiny shower removed and the teeny, tiny linen area removed to make room for a normal sized shower we first had the contractor look at the issue. He called in his plumber. They both decided it was probably "dead space" but we wouldn't really know until demolition day.

It arrived. And...

Do you see any major plumbing pipes--gigantic pipes--humongous in nature that would have deterred a regular linen closet? One that would have gone from floor to ceiling? No. The only thing that was found was:

Two empty soft drink cans from 1979. I don't think they are the culprit. 

But...on to demolition. We are now waiting for the plumber to move the pipes and drain so that the tile can begin.

This is my choices in tile:  (Excuse my feet). The long skinny rectangle is only a small version of the 12 x 12 tile that will be the shower walls. The bling will be the mosaic tiles --cut in 4 inch strips. And of course, the small squares are the floor. 

Waiting is tough! Come on, plumber!

A Little Light of Mine

Sometimes things just pop in front of me. Not that I was looking for this particular light. While walking through Lowe's I usually look at the discounted areas. You never know what you might see.

I disliked the florescent light that was over the sink in the kitchen. Plain Jane. And it always seemed to be shouting "here I am". No hiding it.

What an inexpensive update. $16. Can't beat that!

Mr. Spouse did shorten the bar so that it was the length that worked best. I added a florescent type of bulb that stays cool. 

The valance was another fun find. I had this fabric left from making pillows. It ended up being just the width and length I wanted. And Mr. Spouse actually noticed it the very day I hung it! That must mean it is a "keeper".

Painting Pine

I thought I needed to update my living room tables. They are pine and I've had them for quite a while.

My inspiration came from a friend who happened to have the very same tables. She casually mentioned she had painted her and I asked her to email me a couple of pictures since she's moved away.

I bugged her repeatedly asked her several times and many questions about how she did it. I went to Lowe's and Home Depot several times--buying and returning. Last week I began.
First I cleaned, sanded, and painted two coats of paint. (Coffee Bean mixed at Lowe's).

Next step was to add black to glaze and highlight --this is where I steered away and ended up going over the entire piece. I regret that decision!

It was looking alright until I added the satin poly top coat. Then...doom! It just doesn't look right. I've tried sanding it to get some of the high gloss. 

Check out some other paint projects on Beneath My Heart's Linky party. 

I may just have to start all over again...someday...

Lazy or Easy?

I am all for anything that is going to make a dreaded job easier. Aren't we all liking this? Lazy? Smart? Yes.

Our deck and screened porch is on the shady side of the house. Needless to say mold and algae must like shady sides of houses because I have a green thumb for growing these.

In order to keep things clean Mr. Spouse has used the pressure washer. It will remove the mold. It will remove the algae. But it also removes the paint. Now I'm not wanting to keep adding paint to the deck and the spindles and the steps because that is a dreaded job.

Also the vinyl siding had the same growth features. It is supposed to be almond--not green or black speckled.

I was walking through Lowes and saw this product:

It comes with the attachment so that all is needed to use is to attach it to a water hose. Now that is my kind of work: attach, turn on water, spray. Rest for ten minutes. Spray with just water. (See the E-Z on the label?) So I bought a couple. They were really cheap--as in $8 each. And I tried it. AND it worked! It removed all those plant specimens. 

I first tried it on the siding. Mr. Spouse was elated (as in I had done it for him! type of happy). We raced back to Lowes--well actually on our next trip to Lowes I searched for the bottles. Gulp. They had moved them but being the diligent teacher that I am--they couldn't hide them from me. 

Saturday I decided to tackle the deck. We had out glass table on the outside deck and I was inspired by Rhoda after seeing her porch. If I could move the table inside to the screened in porch we could eat out there! I sprayed the deck and took a $1 rag mop from Dollar Tree and rubbed the decking. I sprayed again and rubbed a little more. Then I hosed it all off! 

Our table is now sitting on the screened in portion.

 My cleaned decking with two of the chairs.

Some of my beautiful geraniums and ferns.

And I also put some of my plates on display. These are plastic ones I got a couple years ago at Wal-Mart. I love the design in them.

Here's to the rest of summer and an easy job completed!

I was not compensated for this advertisement--just wanted to share a great product!

General and I

I looked at my nice china cabinet and no-longer honey pine table through the holidays. I really didn't think I wanted to tackle the chairs. After all--they were oak and had been stained and finished by Mr. Spouse.

Excuse the drop cloth rug! But after staring and it and my mom asking "when are you going to do those chairs?" I thought they probably needed me...yes to tackle the chairs.

So I ventured off to purchase another quart. And, yes, it sat for a while (maybe a month!). I am a when I get an idea in my mind I will do it right then. With a few extra hours because of snow days off from school and delayed starts to school. I began. Three at a time so that we could still have meals. And yes, I worked right in the dining room since it is winter after all. The garage is cold!

I use the sock method to apply the gel stain. I did learn from the project that it is important to let the stain dry for 24 hours between coats. Otherwise you are just pulling off the stain in places.

These chairs have lots of grooves but I like the fact that it will resemble years of use when there are spots that are a slightly different color.

I am happy, happy, happy! Excuse the pictures taken with my iphone.

Now...what can I do next?

New Plans

We want need to update our master shower. It is so, so tiny. With a linen closet adjacent to the shower I am beginning to get ideas. 

Traditional Bathroom by Manassas Bedding & Bath Bathroom Tile Shower Shelves

Lowe's sells a 48 inch shower base which would basically double the size of our current one! (You did read that right--double the size!).

I like the idea of a blending of more than one tile.

   

The contractor is coming to give us an estimate!!!!

What do you think???