Kindergarten Graduation

Any time children move from one phase to the next there is a milestone.  This year was one for our eldest grandson, Harris.  He finished up Kindergarten and is moving on to 'real' school.  With the closing of schools due to Covid-19, the scheduling situation kind of went out the window.  So, when I got a message that his school was going to hold an outdoor graduation, I cleared my calendar and made plans for a jaunt.  

Another good thing sort of worked out for me, since I was driving a couple of hours over to see the promotion.  The last day of swimming lessons for him and baby sister, Linley, was taking place right before the evening ceremony.  So, I got two special visits for the price of one trip.  I'll post about swimming lessons on another day.

We arrived at the space across from Harris's school in plenty of time for him to don his gown and hat and gather with his classmates and teacher for their formal processional.  We found a central location and set up our folding chairs in ready to take it in.

We posed with the Kindergarten graduate and snapped photos so that we could commemorate the milestone.  Then, he went to join his teacher for the formal certification.

Each child's name was called and he came forward through the curtains to accept a certificate from his teacher.  Then, moved on off to the side to wait for the remainder of his classmates.

Like most graduation ceremonies, it was a hot one for the graduates and the spectators as well.  Somehow we made it through, however.

Staying hydrated helped some of us to keep going through the heat!

Following the ceremony, the graduates turned in their official cap and gown and took turns jumping and bouncing on the blow ups that were assembled.

Then, most of us took a quick stop at the local Dairy Bar to cap off the special event.  We are so proud of our graduate and look forward to the next milestone for celebrating!

Congratulations, Harris! And best wishes for your future!

Summer Project #4

Mike tells me that I need to go back to work.  He says I'm finding too many projects!

The other day I ordered a filter for the fridge.  The sensor on the door indicated that a new one was needed.  I thought I had one here and dug around in the pantry looking for it to no avail.  So, I ordered the one I thought we needed.  I took a picture of the tag inside the door and saw that it said Whirlpool.  So, I ordered the one I thought would fit.  My memory told me that the filter required only had one thing poking up and I looked at what was listed under a search for Whirlpool water filters and ordered.  

When the filters were delivered, I thought they didn't look like what we had used before but I also know that my recall ability is not as good as it once was.  So, I went to the fridge and took the filter out.  Sadness abounds.  It was a different filter.  

I went back to the pantry and started pulling things on the junky bottom shelf out only to discover a bigger mess and no filter on hand.  So, I created another project for myself.  However, that is another story for another day.  Today I needed a filter because experience told me that if the old filter was returned to the fridge, the water would be black and we would have to run loads of water through it and throw out several batches of ice.  

I went back to the fridge to get the info again and noticed that the tag on the door says Maytag.  I looked back at the tag inside to find the serial and model numbers and sure enough, it does say Whirlpool. So, I wasn't quite as crazy as I feared.  

I looked online at places like The Home Depot and Lowe's to see if there was a local store which had a filter.  Then, I remembered that we now have a local Ace Hardware store only about five miles down the road.  So, I picked up the phone and called and voila! They had one of the filters I needed and would hold it at the counter for me. Oh happy day!!!

I masked up and entered the store and there were a couple of people at the counter checking out so I did a little browsing at the paint counter to social distance.  Remembering that I'd never painted the laundry room entry door that was installed two summers ago, I picked out a paint color that I thought would look good for our back doors and asked a woman to mix me a quart of paint.

I came home and installed the filter and knew what my plan was for the following day - painting!

I love a small painting project.  It is so fulfilling because there is instant gratification of immediate change - and usually for the better.

I got up early and did my morning puttering.  Then, got a tub of soapy water and washed down the French doors and the laundry room door.  I let them dry and gave them an inspection.  There was still some grungy looking mold or mildew or something clinging to the window trim on the French doors.  I hadn't planned to paint that part because I wanted it to stay white.  

You see, the new door has what looks like window pane muntins between the panes of glass and they are white.  So, I decided that the vinyl around the window and the muntins on the French doors needed to stay white.  I decided that I would try a bit of bleach in water to see if that would clean up the 'woodwork' around the windows.  When I came inside to mix that up, I saw that I had some Clorox cleaner and decided to just spray that on to see how it would turn out.

That is one of the greatest products ever!  I sprayed some at the top of the first window casing and it started to drip down and left a clean path in its wake!  No scrubbing was required.  So, I sprayed all the vinyl really well and came back inside to get another spray bottle of plain water for rinsing.  By the time I got back outside, both doors were shining like new!  I rinsed and left them to dry.

By the time everything had dried well, it was almost lunch time.  I was finishing up the first coat of paint on the French doors when Mike came in for lunch.  He didn't seem too enthused with the color I had chosen but I was enthralled by how beautiful it was looking already and kept mentioning how much I loved the color.  He finally started laughing at me every time I said how much I liked the color.

By the time I had finished the first coat on the second door, the first door was dry.  So, I just went right on painting and added a second coat, exclaiming how much I liked the color every few minutes.

I took a break to eat a bite of lunch and then painted the laundry entry door.  By this time the temperature on the back porch was in the ninety-degree range.  I sat down and had a cool glass of water and by that time the first coat was dry and I painted the second.

I love how sometimes the light will make the color look sort of blue and sometimes it looks sort of green.  The three doors in a row really look fabulous and stand out across all the white on the back of our house.

My project turned out to take longer than I'd anticipated and was far hotter than I wanted.  However, in just a few hours the entire back of our house was transformed.  I just love the color!  (Mike admitted the next day that he really likes the look of it, too!)

By the way, the color is Wythe Blue by Benjamin Moore and did I mention that I just love it?!

Summer Project #2

While Luci was here for her Days, I decided that we needed a project to do that would keep her busy.  We usually do some baking or cooking together and after we had done that, I got her to help me with a cleaning and organizing project.  One of my cabinets had just become a place for all sorts of junk.  So, I decided we would do a bit of organizing of that space.

I really hate that I didn't get a before or even a photo of her pulling all that junk out of the cabinet.  I'm telling you it was a jumbled up mess!  We threw out lots and made a box for donations.  Then, I filled a bowl with soapy water and Luci took a cloth and scrubbed the shelf and cabinet really well!

She was such a good helper!  Then, I handed her a bin and asked her to test it out on the shelf and she was so proud that it was a perfect fit!  So, we put some empty jars into one and vases into another and she tested to see what would fit and what would not.  Then, I handed her things and she found the perfect place for them and we called it a job well done!

The cabinet holds odd jars, extra spice jars, antique bottles that I sometimes use for vases, canning jars, vases, the vintage juicer (that big metal thing behind the large bottle on the left), a bottle of champagne somebody gave us, and liquor that I use to make marinades.

When we finished, Luci asked if we were going to do tackle another cabinet.  So, I decided that while she was willing, we would clean the island shelves.  She got down on the floor and handed me all the cookbooks and pottery.  Then, she got to Mike's side and started fussing about "all his trash!"  He had a stash of plastic bags, some empty soft drink bottles, an old farmer's magazine, and his medications poked into a basket and a bowl.  

She sounded just like a little old lady fussing about his "mess" as she took things off the shelf.

Again, I fixed a bowl of soapy water and she took a cloth and scrubbed the shelves well!

We let them air dry and added the things back onto the shelves - minus the trash that she fussed about in Mike's little corner!  

One of the things we didn't put back into the cabinet was a stack of cups she found.  She told me that she had a good idea of what she could do with them.  So, she took them to the bedroom and closed the door.  After a few minutes, she called me in to see her creation:

After Luci returned home, the house sure did seem quiet without her.  Plus, I certainly did have a good helper while she was here!

Summer Project #1

Summer has traditionally been the time when I work on projects and get things done. Most of them are home-improvement-type endeavors where I'm organizing or repairing or updating or simply making something work better around the house.  My first project was out of necessity.  The drain hose for the dishwasher cracked and was leaking.  So, one day there was a puddle in the kitchen floor.  I mopped up and did some investigating under the kitchen sink only to find water standing under there as well.  First, I cleared everything out from under the kitchen sink and mopped up all the water.  I left it to dry overnight and called a plumber.  

In the meantime I went online and ordered some clear plastic bins that would organize the cleaners, jars, etc. that I store down there.  I was inspired by Ann at On Sutton Place.  She talked about how the handle made it easier to pull out the items that were in the back.  So, I found these nice see-through bins and ordered these as well.  After weeding out the junk and throwing some things out, this is how my tidy under-the-sink cabinet looks:

• The left-hand cabinet has a trash can and a container that holds dishwasher pods. (You can see the pod container there on the left with the green label.)  
• That is one of my scrubbing brushes sitting on a clear plastic coaster right in front.  
• The clear bin right behind it is 14.5" long and just fits in that space with only about a hand's width to spare.  In the front, it has a tub that contains silver polish, brass polish, tooth paste for cleaning spots on silver, and that sort of thing.  In the back of that bin are oils for my butcher block counter top and cutting boards and front porch rockers.  
• On the right, I have two of the bins with handles.  The one in the back holds some empty jars and a couple of empty cans that can be used to discard something like bacon grease when I need something of that sort.  The front bin holds extras of dish soap and hand soap to refill the containers on the counter by the sink as well as window cleaner and the gloves I use for hand-washing pots and pans.  I also have an empty spray bottle in it for when I mix dish soap and vinegar to clean things.

The next project turned out to be sort of a consolation prize.  I had hoped to redo and update our kitchen this summer but we decided that our budget just wasn't ready for that, yet.  Plus, there is the Coronavirus and we just didn't feel good about having folks coming in and out of our house.  So, I decided that I would just make the things we had work better for us!

I had gotten frustrated with spices and things falling out of the cabinet every time I tried to get something out for cooking.  It seemed that every time I reached for one thing, another couple of things fell out as well.  So, again, I decided it was time to organize and followed Ann's advice! I ordered more of the clear bins with handles that stick out, a couple of these turntables, and large jars and small jars.  I hate I didn't take a before picture but these two will give you an idea of some of the jumbled up conglomeration that I had up there:

I threw out things that were out-of-date or simply looked yucky.  I combined a couple of containers into one jar when I had more than one opened.  It was really quite rewarding to get this spiffed up! I wiped down the cabinet and shelves and placed the turntables inside and filled them up!

• The bottom shelf has spices that we tend to use most on the turntable.  The jars behind the black pepper container are baking soda, baking powder, and corn starch.  There are a couple of bottles of flavored oils and a bottle of vegetable oil along with salt for refilling the shaker and some vegetable spray.  All tidy and within quick reach when cooking.
• On the middle shelf, the turntable holds spices that we use less frequently.  On the right are jars with tea bags, cocoa mix, lemonade mix, and bottles of different extracts and flavorings such as vanilla, almond, maple, etc. 
• I followed the advice that I read online in several places and put the items on the top shelf in clear bins with handles to make them easier to take down.  One bin holds bar-b-que rubs and it is in the middle because it is most frequently used by Mike as well as me. 
  
  The one on the right holds sprinkles and sugars for baking with/for the Grands.
  

The one on the left holds extras for refilling the jars.

I smile every time I open this cabinet now!  Everything is easy to find, easy to access, and easy to return to it's rightful place.  

I still hope to update and revamp my kitchen someday and when we do I will still be able to use these bins and turntables and jars.  For now, making our kitchen work efficiently for us and tidying it up are good enough.

Bunnies Hopping Up Here And There

I guess it is just that time of year but around here, bunnies seem to be hopping up here and there.  This well-dressed young lady perched on the side of a tulip pitcher recently appeared in the front bedroom right beside the child's tea sets.

This little guy is peeking out from some hand towels in the guest bathroom.

This smiling pair with waggling friends have perched on the hearth.

The crackled little grandma reading to her grand is on the table at the end of the couch.

This sweet sleepy pair are on the buffet in the den.

This friend is cheering up the china cupboard in the kitchen.

This cheerful fellow greets you at the front door!

Spring and bunnies are hopping up all over the place around here!

Adding a Little Fall (Part 2)

When I went back to add the post for today and looked at the  previous post, I realized that my title was broad but my focus was a bit narrow.  (typical writer's problem!)  The focus was adding a little fall - to the den.  The post seemed a bit long since I was sharing changing and shuffling that has been taking place.  So, today I will continue with where I left off at adding a little fall and sharing the changes and shuffles.

I started with my view when I'm lounging on the couch.  Then, I swept toward the right to the pumpkin, checkerboard, and giant pinecone.

Here is a better look at that area.  The pillow in front is one that my mother made using pieces of my Dad's shirts.  The garden stool is one I was thrilled to get at $25 more than twenty years ago when Hobby Lobby had a half-price sale.  It is topped by a little Longaberger basket that holds chocolates for the grandchildren when they come.  Behind there is a print of a house in a meadow that Mike's mother gave him, a small china cupboard that was one of the few pieces Mike had when we married, a globe I found a few years ago in the storage room in our basement that Mike had no idea he even owned.  The print on the opposite side of the china cupboard is one Mike had that I did a frame makeover on several years ago.

On the opposite side of the fireplace is the matching chair and ottoman.  Beside it is an old Purity Dairies milk can that Mikes mother gave us.  She had it sitting outside her garage doors but I cleaned it up and it makes an ideal place to set a book or a drink  when the TV program gets boring.  Behind this chair is the buffet that has been there for years but above it is the aerial photo of the farm where I grew up.  Sentimental feelings wouldn't let me say no when Mom offered it to me but I had no idea where on earth I would hang it.  My bonus son came in one afternoon when I was shuffling and moving things around to make room for the heirloom gifts and marveled over it.  He went on and on about how it was really neat.  So, I asked him, "Where am I going to hang that?"  He scanned the den and noticed a painting on the wall of a house nestled amongst some trees and suggested, "You could get rid of that picture because we don't know where that place is but we do know about this one."  So, I knew I needed to hang it somewhere and began pondering where in the den.  The prints that came from my Granny that I did a different frame update on, got moved to make space for the aerial farm photo.  That pretty much covers the west side of the den.

Moving to the south wall, I gave away a sofa table that I had picked up at a yard sale and painted to make space for this piece of furniture.  It was used to hold bulk flour and cornmeal in the store that Mike's grandparents ran.  It is a beautiful, simple, old piece that both of us love and appreciate.  I put the cow lamp that was my Daddy's on top of it, added a few books, a piece of blue and white, photos of Mike and me and a basket with a few treasures.

I usually have fresh  flowers in the cobalt glass basket that was a gift to me from my niece, Rebecca's mother-in-law,  (I hosted her bride's maids luncheon and will always treasure the sweet gesture from Mrs. Taylor.) but right now everything has just cooked and I have nothing blooming.   I plopped a small ceramic pumpkin atop the blue and white candle holder and left the wood candle holder, blue and white ginger jar and box and called this area decorated for fall.

On the east side of the den is the sofa where I lounge crash each evening after dinner.  Here is where the prints from my Granny's moved.  They are now flanking the antique painting that was given to Mike by his mother.  It came from relatives on the paternal side of his family and the frame is a beautiful one that I recently did a bit of a touch-up on. The cross-stitch piece is one my Mom did and gave to us.  It may be getting a frame touch up sometime in the future so that the frame fits better with the others on that wall.

To add a touch of fall, I changed out the pillow covers.  A couple of them are a leopard print, a couple have a cream background with a golden brown toile-like print with pheasants.  In the center is one I made from a tapestry piece I got that has a Holstein steer surrounded by pumpkins.  The blue and white quilt/coverlet is one Mom made using pieces from Daddy's blue Oxford-cloth shirts that he favored as dress shirts.  Wrapped in it sort of feels like a big hug from my Daddy.

I love how the fall colors play off and sort of highlight the pretty blues in the artwork.  This room is difficult to photograph because the porch shades it and the natural sunlight that comes in during the morning hours tends to only cause a glare.  It usually feels cozy and comfortable in here no matter the time of day, though.  Just to the right of the couch is another addition to the den. 

This little table is one my Mom gave us.  It was made by my Daddy and Mike has already fallen in love with it.  The funny thing is that I think Daddy would love how he uses it.  Inside is a shelf and it houses Mike's TV snacks - cans of peanuts, chips, etc.  There is often a plethora of snack cake wrappers and such littering the top alongside his TV remote.

On the other end of the couch is another gift from Mike's mother.  This rocker is one that she said Mike's dad used to sit in and wait for the bus.  She said Pop and his brother would get ready for school and then they might start wrestling or messing around and so their mother set up a rule that they had to sit in one of the rockers after they ate breakfast to prevent them from messing up their school clothes.  Aptly, the pillow propped in it is one that is made from a pair of Pop's jeans.  The cane adds a bit of texture to the den and I added a little stool that I wove the cane top on twenty-five years ago or more.  It is a comfy old rocker and the story behind it really makes it a special addition.

There are a few things I'd like to do to this room yet.  While I love my big old couch and it is a great one for napping.  However, it is large and I'd like something a little smaller and I would like to have a sofa table with a lamp on it behind the sofa to make reading easier and the room lighter.  The ottoman/coffee table could use a refresh as the upholstery is starting to look a bit tired and the walls could use a refreshing paint job as well.  For now, adding a bit of fall has made it feel cozier and the additions made causing changes and shuffles have updated it to make it seem fresh.  So, I'm satisfied - for now.  Is a room ever really finished?