We moved the "curb find"!

I am exhausted!
Having my cabinet from "the curb" in the dining room was just annoying me! It just did not "fit in" there.
 So today we measured and I decided I would like to see how it would look in the kitchen. I was worried that it would be too "foreboding", (this is where Dave said "too what?"). LOL! First we put it on one side of the refrigerator. Dave said "I think it would be better on the other side". I said "I guess we can try it".
You need to understand that at both places the refrigerator had to be moved and it has a water line hooked to the back of it (umm yea!).
He moved it too the other side and it just didn't "feel" right to me and was very "foreboding". LOL! So my wonderful man ( I helped as best I could) moved the refrigerator , again, and moved the cabinet back to the first spot. After some minor adjustments I found the "right spot" and it also looks great!
( If you are noticing that the cabinet looks different than yesterdays picture, that would be because Dave discovered when we were moving it > that it was upside down! LOL! What a hoot!! LOL.

Now my cookbooks are protected from dust and my appliances are easier for me to get to. It also matches my cabinets ( at least until they get their makeovers).

I am exhausted because, after we pulled out the old bookshelf, another cabinet and the refrigerator I said "oh yuck".

You see we have 3 cats and a dog. Other pet owners probably at this moment are shaking their heads because "they know"! DUST BUNNIES FROM HELL!

So it was time for a good sweeping and mopping. At this point I also discovered the walls could use a washing. So I climbed up there with my rag and bucket and set to work!

 That was the only side of the kitchen I got to today. Tomorrow, if I can get out of bed, lol, I will hopefully get the other side done.

Have a good evening!

Another Curb Find!

If you read my Monday blog you know about the cool handmade bookshelf I found on the curb. Well the next day as we were driving by this same "curb" (lol) I found this:

Also handmade and OMG is it heavy!! They used quality wood. LOL and it too smelled like Pledge (but was not slippery). Although it is quite nice looking it does not fit my decor, so I believe I may be painting it.
I have to put it in the dining room and that is where my dilema is. I want it to store my appliances in, but if I put it in the kitchen it will just be too crowded. I don't really want my guests seeing all my appliances through the glass doors - in the dining room! I have thought of maybe putting a lace curtain on the inside of the doors.

Any thoughts or comments?

I am blog hopping today. I've read a lot of cool new blogs. Just click a button and you can too!

Sunday Again

I wanted to blog more often but it has been less. I just can not find time to do everything I want to do in a day.
                                                             From The Garden
The garden is starting to produce a bit more. I was able to get these few tomatoes and I don't expect to get many more. The rain just keeps coming and the ground is not drying up. I had to throw out some cucmbers that were laying in water and had grown fungus all over them.

The flowers are all doing well too. Those clearance flowers I bought for $1.00 each

Just look at them now!

They just needed some attention.

My favorite flowers are Lilies and more of mine are in bloom and they just smell so good!

We had another storm last week with winds of 80 miles per hour. Luckily we had no damage at our place.

This was taken as it was coming in . The northern part of my city got it worse than we did. Looks like we caught the edge of it.

Trash to Treasure

Dave brought me this old cast iron kettle, the bottom is missing and the top piece (cover) I took off.

It's really old and there is just something about it I like. I found a clay pot fit perfectly in it.

 Notice something different in these two pictures?  The wiring is hooked up to the outlet. Now I can put in my pond! YAY!!  Dave got the outlet finished today. So expect pictures soon ( I hope) -(yet another project). I have all the stuff for the pond I was just needing an outlet .

Savings

I didn't take any pictures but my son and I hit the clearance rack at Kohl's this week and he found a pair of APT Jeans for $6.00 (orig price $60.00)  and a pair of shorts for $2.80 (orig price $14.00) plus I had a coupon for 20% off entire purchase so I paid  $7.53  for all!

No great grocery shopping deals to speak of. Only bought a few things this week. I am trying to use up all we have in freezer and pantry before it goes old.

Have a good evening!

Another Busy Saturday

I was driving out to where Dave works on friday, ( a gravel road along the river where people seem to think it is the garbage dump).  Along the road someone had dumped off a few of these concrete scalloped edgers.

Of course I knew I could put them to some use, LOL. There were only a few (2 are not pictured). I stopped and loaded them into my SUV.

Today I put them to use to help keep the soil from continually washing down, pushing water into a storage room under my steps.

 I will do this on the other side as well. I will also be putting a flower bed on this side next year.

Here is a couple before pics of the new front flower bed

I laid it out then scraped off the top

planted some flowers and seeds.

Here is what it looks like now that I added some mulch today and "children" (lol)

( I didn't realize til now how the pic seems out of focus. I took this at dusk, I  will add a clearer pic tomorrow) You get the idea how it's coming along though.

I have discovered  that going to Menards on Saturday mornings gets me some great deals.

I was there to get more mulch and they were marking things down. I got a real tall "Shephards Hook" for $5.88  (reg $16.98) and as I was leaving I found these cute little "Scented Windowsill Garden" kits.  for $1.00 (reg $6.98)

They are copper colored tin pots with a tray, growing medium and seeds. I bought 2 and both are different seedwise. One has Silver Thyme, Lemon Balm and Mint, the other has Spearmint, Peppermint and Mint.

They will look great on my windowsills! Can't beat them for a buck!

Got a great deal on corn-on-the-cob at No Frills today 12 ears for $2.99!! WOW!

  (It is usually $3.99 for 6 ears).

It will go over well at the picnic tomorrow.

I got all the rest of my perennials planted today, except one. Still trying to decide where I want to put the other "Butterfly Bush", sis bought me.

We put up "another" trellis for the climbing green beans and some fencing around the pumpkins to get try and keep them off the ground.

I picked a handful of green beans off the row today! 

I happened to have my camera by me at just the right time today and got 3 of my "family" in the pic.

Here are top L-R "Blacken", " Boot-Z" and "Damon" (aka "itty-bit") bottom.

Enjoy your evening. Thanks for stopping in to read my blog!

Menards Tips & My Makeovers

We shop at Menards quite frequently-(I really do mean quite frequently). That is mainly because we are do-it-yourselfers.
 There are many blogs out there that keep you up to date on the "free after rebates" that Menards have frequently and tell you how to "work out" the deals. Menards rebates are in the form of "gift checks" that you can only use at Menards. With your first initial investment in a "free after rebate" product, you then use your "gift checks" to purchase future products that are "free after rebate" and you can continuously recieve actual "free stuff".
I want to add another tip. I have a Menards credit card. I pay it off every month. (Simply deduct your purchase from your checking account and when the bill comes pay it off). Here is the "cool thing" about the card. For every purchase you will get 2% back at the end of the year in the form of a "gift check". ( Last year my gift check was over $50.00). PLUS- every month when you get your bill they send you coupons for big discounts off of products and/or free products. Since you are going to spend your money there anyway this is a great way to get stuff and make a profit too.
When I went to buy the paint for my son's room I used a coupon they sent with my bill for a free duster (reg $2.98).  I am also getting a $4.00 rebate check back from the gallon of paint too!

Listen, free is free! If you can't use it someone can, or gift it. I will use this, but if I didn't want it, an idea would be to give it as a shower gift or housewarming gift, along with some other household cleaning products. Or even stick it on the yard sale for 50-75¢ . It came in a package with the price tag on it so someone would think it's a good deal!

Some of my makeover projects are done!
Back on my Feb 13, 2010 blog I showed you the "ugly" bathroom light fixture:

Ugh how I hated it!

Then I found one that I saw potential in for $7.00 at the Habitat For Humanity Restore

I am not one that likes brass, so it needed madeover.

Well here it is!

I am loving it!! I think it looks quite sharp!

Last summer a neighbor moved out down the block and she gave me some plastic terra cotta colored pots. There were two matching ones that are bigger (about 20in tall). I stuck them in the garage until I got some time to decide what to use them for.

I was out to Menards one day and they had the most beautiful creamic blue flower pots. They were painted to look like the paint ran on them as the were fired. I just loved them, but not for $25.00 each.

I decided to try my hand at copying them as best I could.

I forgot to take a before pic but you all know what a terra cotta plastic pot looks like.

First I painted them with primer:

I think they have turned out really pretty and from the street I doubt anyone will be able to tell they are just plastic pots!

I have been too busy to get them planted, but when I do I will post a pic. I think a bright yellow flower might be sharp or maybe some white petunias. Let me know if you all have any ideas.

My son has just been thrilled with his bedroom makeover! I open the door and I am proud of the way it turned out. He chose the color and when I first saw it on the sample I thought "hmm", I was not sure it would be good. I also was worried it would make his already small room feel smaller. The name also was a bit "off putting" >  Swamp Green.  I went with a semi gloss and I think that helps to brighten it a bit. The room does not really feel smaller. I think using the bright white on the ceiling also helped to not make it feel like a box.

 

Well it's my bed time and it's back to work in the morning. Thanks for stopping by. Have a good evening!

A Day Late

I didn't do my weekly shopping yesterday. I didn't have to much to get so I went today! It worked out well too, it was not busy at all.
I think my big savings was on French's 20 oz mustards. Walmart had the brown & spicy and the regulars for $1.37 each and I had six 50¢ coupons ( making them 87¢ each,  reg $2.36 each). We are well stocked on mustard now. LOL. We do use mustard a lot so this is not overkill. LOL. They also had Hunts Ketchup for $1.00 each, last week there were some 20¢ coupons in paper. I bought a couple, this too we use a lot of.
I "ad matched" the Hy-Vee ad at No Frills and got 4 packs of Oscar Meyer Weiners for 99¢ each and then used my $1.00 off 2 packs making them 49¢ each (their regular price is $3.26 each). I also "ad matched" the Fareway ad for Gracias Nacho Cheese 2 -$3.00 (reg is $2.99 each) I got myself 4 at that unbelievable price!

Dave had another "find" for me. Just what I was in need of too.

I didn't measure it but it is 7 or 8 feet tall (it only clears the basement ceiling by an inch or 2) and has deep shelves perfect for storing . It is all metal and has adjustable shelves. There is nothing wrong with it and no rust. I can just imagine how much this would have cost new!

I am almost done with two of my "makeover projects" and can't wait to get them on here for you to see. Both appear to be turning out really good.

My peonies bloomed early this year and I had to really search for some blooms fitting for the graves.

Here are some pictures of them when they were at their peak last week. They smell so fabulous!

They line both sides of my drive and are a magnificent view when in bloom.

Here is a previous planter "redo". When we moved here there were 3 of these very large planters. This was my first ever re-creation (I only did the one).

before

after

Thanks for stopping by. Please stop again. Have a good evening!

                                     

                                                                            

Saturday Finds

Not many yard sales today due to the holiday weekend. I did manage to find a few good deals though.

A dozen quart canning jars with the rings - $4.00

This new drainer, looks like it was not a cheapy to begin with, $1.50 ain't bad though. I needed it. The dishwasher has been broken since Thanksgiving. I really don't miss it though and I have noticed that the electic bill has dropped too.

 This has to be my favorite find of the day! These vintage Christmas glasses, the unopened box was $1.00!! I would say they are over 30 years old at least!

I have been working in the yard all day, planting and planting. I had to get all those perennials I bought into the ground.

My neighbor is always giving us stuff. Last summer she cleaned out her garage and I got a lot of "odd" things. This Pepsi thing was amongst it.

I put it aside with the stuff  "I don't want to throw away, but don't know what to do with" (LOL). If I don't figure something out after so long then I usually put it on "freecycle" .

Today I put it to use. I needed to take a bunch of gardening things from the backyard to the front yard and didn't want to make too many trips since it is quite a ways.

 Voila I had an idea!

It worked great! It has handles and drainage. I can rinse it off easily. It can be left outside and won't fill up with rain water.

I may just have to find some more uses for it.

The pool is filling and will be for the next two days, but it will be ready by Memorial Day! My son can't wait to get into it. Me - not so much. I am just not a water person.

Yard Sale Saturday

There were not to many today, again, it was probably because they forcasted all week it was going to rain today. Once again it was a beautiful day in the 70's.  I managed to find a couple of things though, but, not much.
Umm. Yes, I think I have a cookie cutter addiction, lol. No. No. I don't think an intervention is needed - (yet). LOL. The whole bag was 50¢ and I wanted the bat. There are a few other ones I plan to keep too.

These cooling racks were 25¢

I picked up these 8 Kerr quart canning jars for 25¢ each, definitely a deal! Since I started canning again last year ( I had not canned in over 20 years until last summer) I cannot believe the outrageous price for jars.

These "old" Jello molds, this Lennox vase and another small vase (not pictured) for $1.00

 Then there was this cute little plant stand which I just love for only $3.00

Someone put a board on it which was easily removed. I was going to put it on my front stoop but then it really looks good in my kitchen soooo we will see where it ends up and then I will have an updated picture of it.

I have been so busy the past two days working on some "projects" I have been wanting to do for a long time.

First I finished that flower pot I got last week that needed a redo.

When I got it, as you can see, the paint was chipping off of it. Since it is plastic I primered it.

and painted it

When I saw these flowers I just new they would set it off and they sure do!

My daughter gave me this beautiful Jasmine plant for Mother's Day. It smells AMAZING!!

This was the perfect reason to get started on the new flower bed in the front yard. Today we started. We laid out a design with a rope, then I cut along the rope. The rope outlines the shape I want for the bed. Dave then took the tiller and cut the top layer off . That is as far as we got today and I am "pooped"!

This was in the yard when we moved here. I like it but the design "thingie:" really hasn't worked for me. As you can see I haven't even weeded it yet this year. It seems that is all I even do to it - constantly.

Well it will be coming out. The umbrella will be moved to the new flower bed and that Jasmine plant will use it to climb up. (I will be painting it before it is put back in the ground).

I don't know if I have ever mentioned that my "man", Dave , works in the "scrap metal" business (aka: junk yard). You just won't believe some of his "finds".  Maybe I should start a page just for him (lol), or at least a segment.

Anyway he found these this week.Yep those are Wilton cake pans. Nothing wrong with them. Someone brought them in with their load of scrap metal. (OMG!)

Bathroom update:

Friday I did get the cupboard doors sanded and painted. We picked up new hinges and the doors should be ready to hang tomorrow.

The light fixture has been primered and Dave says he will spray paint it tomorrow for me ( I am only good with a brush , lol). I will do some painting touch ups in there tomorrow also. I have not yet come up with a glazing technique for the walls yet (to take away some of the "blue". That is another chore for tomorrow too.

I am so sore from all this "manal labor" LOL. 

Thanks for stopping. Have a good evening!