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I am still not completely done with my enclosed porch, but I thought I should post what is done so far because I might not get to the rest until spring now. It's too cold out there for me!
I still have plans for simple valances (easy wash) and cushions for my chairs and chest. I also need to paint the table between the wicker chairs. I also have plans for the bare red wall on the left side of the window..just a simple touch. Oh, and I'm going to try my hand at making a stained glass framed picture to hang on the window on the red wall...in place of a valance. I don't want to overdo it so I think I will stop there.
Now I won't be embarrassed when people come to visit!
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I feel so helpless today. I have a very dear friend and a family member going through rough marriages. I wish there was something we could do, but we've done all we can. We pray for them, listen to them, and even give advice when asked, but only when asked and even then we are very careful what we say.
My husband and I have an excellent marriage...wouldn't trade it for any other! My dh is sooooo good to me and I to him. So when these two couples asked us how we have such a good marriage, we tried to tell them, but the main ingredient in our marriage doesn't exist in theirs and they aren't willing to insert that ingredient into theirs.....the ingredient is selflessness. I put my husbands needs above my own and he does the same for me. And since we each want what is best for our spouse it all runs pretty smoothly. I feel absolutely adored and so does he (or so he says LOL). Now I'll add the disclaimer....we do have our problems.....but we are determined to work them out and we do. We give each other the benefit of the doubt and remember that it isn't about ME, it's about US, but ultimately it is about God.
I'm not a professional...and feel ill equipped to help them work out their problems. They don't want honesty...they want someone to agree with them, thus the real reason for their marriage problems in the first place.....none of them want to accept that they could be wrong.
So today I am feeling helpless, frustrated, even angry that there is nothing I can do. So please, God, take over and help out our loved ones. |
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When you're finished reading my lame attempt at a "Works for Me" entry you can head over to Shannon's blog for some much more interesting entries. LOL
I love containers....I'm a container junkie. I don't like to pay full price however so I buy most of my containers (baskets, tins, plastics, etc.) at garage sales. I might not know exactly where I will use a particular container at the time, but I stash it in my "container area" in my basement. When I need a container I go "shopping" in my basement and I'm all set. Works for me! |
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More Mileage out of my Jeans I like dark jeans...Ive never really gotten into the stonewashed or acid washed jeans. Years ago when my jeans would start to fade and look worn it was time for them to go to the rag bag and buy new ones. Now with a family to think of I am more frugal, and its so hard to find just the right jeans to fit, I dont really want to part with them. My solution.....dye. I used navy dye and dye a whole load at once. Ive never tried the "denim" dye, because the navy works so well for me. I get to wear my jeans for months and months longer before they are ready for the rag bag. Be sure and go by the directions on the dye box/bottle for long lasting results! Works for me! Now you can check out more tips at Shannon's Work's for me Wednesday! |
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This morning we were planning a quick session of painting. After all the front, enclosed porch isn't very big....8' x 16' but 3 walls are mostly windows and the 4th wall has a window (into the house) and a door. I hadn't really decided if I wanted to paint the wall part way up with a white chair rail and then the upper portion white or paint the whole wall the "Michigan Dunes" (a golden tan) I had picked out. I asked Randy (my husband) if he would paint the bottom portion and then let me decide.
The reason I was having such a difficult time deciding was because the 4th wall is visible from outside and our siding is gray...I thought they would clash. After he painted the 3 walls with windows and was starting on the 4th wall I had a vision....of a red wall! Of course, I blurted it out and he stopped in his tracks. He said if that was what I wanted I needed to find the paint palette selector (my hubby paints as his part-time job) and pick a red and then get myself to the paint store. He was kind of in a hurry by this time because he had to go to work this afternoon. So I quickly picked out a red, said a little prayer because reds are difficult colors to pick from a 2 inch square, a headed off to the paint store.
Once I got to the paint store they had larger paint chips and I felt pretty certain I had picked the right one....but it always looks different on the wall and the paint person said she had painted her red wall three different shades of red before she got it right!
It's a very bold color, but it looks awesome from the outside against the gray siding.
Here are some before pics. After we get a second coat of red on I'll post some more pictures.
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So I was nervous. I hurried home with the paint and he painted the wall...it will need at least one more coat, but I think I got it right! Yeah!
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I just love decorating. I like to make people comfortable, use creative storage, and have surrounding that are pleasing to the eye. And I always have to decorate on a very, very tight budget. I really don't mind that because it makes me use my creativity which in turn makes me feel like I've accomplished something.
My next project is my front, enclosed porch. Right now it is a mess and I plan to take before pictures to post here before we get started on the "after". It wasn't when we moved in 4 years ago....or at least it didn't look a mess. It had been sugarcoated by the former owner to look nice, but what lay underneath was almost horrifying! There was carpet on the floor....beige carpet....even at the door of the porch and then a small vinyl area just inside the front door?
Anyway, I'll continue to post about our progress....so stay tuned for more updates and pics! |
Of course, the beige carpet didn't remain beige for very long. Last summer I stripped the carpet off planning to paint the concrete floor underneath....guess what I found! Another layer of carpet...only this was carpet tiles that were stuck to the concrete. When I pulled them up they left icky black adhesive all over the floor. I've tried everything but the harshest chemicals to remove the adhesive and it won't budge. I've tried every tip on the internet. So we've decided to put down underlayment and vinyl tiles. The porch gets a lot of use by children and adults. So I wanted something that will wear for a long time and be easy care. So vinyl tile it is! I picked out a nice one that looks like stone. I'm not expecting it to look exactly like stone....I mostly liked the color.|
Just go to Shannon's (http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/) for more exciting tips! Now what was that username and password? Do you have different usernames and passwords for many different websites? I do! I cant remember them all and sometimes my computer doesnt save them for me. Im always afraid of a computer crash so I wanted a hard copy of them. I use index cards and a cardfile box. I write the name of the website, the website address, username, password, and whatever else might be important on the card and file it alphabetically. I even have my bank and credit card info in the box for online shopping! I keep it by my computer. Works for me!
PS I sent this tip in to Get Organized Now and it was published in their recent online newsletter!
Peggy |
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I get lotion and potion gift sets for practically every occasion. You know the kind....with lotion, body spray, shower gel, etc. I always use the body spray and shower gel long before the lotion is used up. The perfumed lotions are not usually very moisturizing. They are mostly for scent. I have started mixing that unused portion of the lotion with my good moisturizing lotion that I use daily for hands and body. Now I get a quality moisturizer with a beautiful scent and it doesnt go to waste! Works for me! |
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Nothing really profound to share, but what a day this has been! I got up early this morning, my back had a niggling pain, expecting a visitor (I'd call it babysitting, but he's getting too old for that...so he is a "visitor"). He came right on time. I then handed over the responsibility to my hubby, Randy as I headed off to Curves. As I returned, expecting to see Randy starting the staining of the deck, and expecting to see Jacob (11yos) running out to jump in the van for a ride to VBS, I instead was greeted with, "Hey, we got a call from Julie, and she asked if you could pick up Megan and watch her today." Of course, I will...after all she is my favorite young lady (just turned 12 yesterday) in the world!
So I dropped Jacob at VBS, gassed up the van (where I dropped my debit card in the van and it hid from me for awhile), and headed out for the 20 mile round trip to pick up Megan. It turns out she wasn't feeling so brave today, and didn't want to stay home alone for the 3 hours before her afternoon program. It also turns out she doesn't want to go to the program for the rest of the summer...she wants to come to our house. That is okay, her dad will bring her from now on....so no more flying trips. LOL
Finally I was able to start helping Randy with the deck. He had quite a bit done by then. We finished up the first coat and then had lunch with all our kiddos. After Randy left for work, Aaron (19 yos) helped me get a second coat on the deck. Now my back is killing me! I really need to get my house cleaning done...missed todays because of all the activity...but instead, I think I am going to take some ibuprofen and go to bed so I can start it all over tomorrow. |
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I guess my first entry should be an introduction. I'll first tell you my name...Peggy. I'm married to Randy and we have 2 sons, Aaron and Jacob. We have a dog....a Boston Terror...I mean, Boston Terrier...a Freudian slip there...named Oreo Doublestuff and we call him Oreo. We have 2 beta fish named Caution and Cobra....I know Caution was named for his color...yellow and black, but I have no idea where Cobra comes in.
We are a homeschooling family. We've homeschooled for 12 years. We've graduated our oldest and he has gotten his feet wet in community college and will be full time in the fall. Our younger son will be in 6th grade. I can't believe it's been 12 years...I still feel like a newbie.
We live in central IL....in a town, but a small town surrounded by corn and bean fields. We love it here, but I would rather have warmer winters. I am from southeast MO and my husband is from 12 miles from where we live now.
We are working on our small, modest home little by little to make it the haven we crave.
We attend an American Baptist Church where we serve our God faithfully. Our whole family works in the church food pantry and my husband, our oldest son, and I lead children's worship along with others on a rotating basis. At the moment we are in the midst of putting together Vacation Bible School for the end of July. I've agreed to be on the committee and I'm the recruiter for the volunteer staff.
I hope in sharing my thoughts I will get to know myself better and continue to grow into the person God wants me to be.
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