Getting Back On "Track"...

Another home repair project completed!

This one has been a problem for years, which I should have addressed long before now.  It's been a pain in the rump with the doors not closing properly and often popping open.

The washer and dryer closet track system for my bi-fold doors has been damaged to the point that it could no longer be adjusted properly.  This would cause the hardware to come loose at times, doors not hang vertical and flop open.

Well, no more!  I bought all new track and hardware and in less than an hour replaced it all AND what a difference!

Before - old rusted, base door bracket -

After - shinny new hardware -

New top track and door rollers AND you can see the perfect vertical spacing of the two abutting doors, which now stay closed without needing to lean on each other -

MMHGA - Make My House Great Again!

#Blessed

Smooth As A Babies Bottom

Last weekend I finished touching up the paint in the master bathroom.  In anticipation of opening the paint can and dirtying the brush, I thought I'd kill two birds and tackle the below pine shelf unit as well before placing back in the bathroom.

It needed a good, deep sanding and to have the drab yellow color removed.

Success!

Before - and after I sanded -

After - with a new coat (two coats actually) of paint to match the master bathroom color -

It looks SO much better!

Gone Country!

Just like Alan Jackson's song...

I've made some aesthetics updates to my upstairs bathroom, with the goal being a more farmhouse look.

I'm please with my upgrades to date!

It's hard to tell but the stripes on the shower curtain are green, which matches the counter top.

I'm tackling the master bathroom next and will be starting with a fresh coat, and new color, of paint. I NEVER cared for the existing color, a lilac, so it's time for it to go!

Toasty Warm And Wrapped

I picked up some 3/4" foam pipe insulation and wrapped the hot water pipes up nicely on my new boiler.  There is are a few more pipes that need to be covered but I need to make another trip to purchase more insulation wraps.  They come in packages of four, so one more package should suffice.

Hoping this makes a difference with the delivery of the hot water.

Believe I got my fixation on winterization from my dad but thankfully the "red-neck" aspects skipped me.  For example, I'm not using pieces of shag carpet to line my basement doors to keep drafts out, HAHA!

My OCD, well, I have no idea where that came from, alas.

Come. Sit. Let's Reminisce!

Who remembers this bench?

This was my mothers bench that resided in the kitchen beneath the wall mounted telephone.

I don't recall where she got it or when she got it, just seems to have always been there.

She painted it a couple times over the years.

Well, I've had this bench in my basement for quite some time now. It's been somewhat buried holding stacks of boxes full of family pictures.

It was time to pull this jewel out, revitalize and give her a new purpose.

I had a location in mind, which helped in deciding on the colors and decorations.

First step was sanding, however, the vibrating sanders of which I have a bunch, only worked so well.  As you can see below, this was the best I could get.  I had been hoping to remove all the purple paint, even tried a chemical stripper, but that didn't work too well either -

So, I gave up on trying to strip it completely and moved to the painting.  I chose tan (looks more white in the pics but it's more brownish in person), which is the same color that my kitchen, living room and hallways are all painted in. I already had the paint too. I needed to apply (3) coats to completely hide the purple from bleeding through -

The second color I chose was a forest green, which is the color of my master bedroom where this bench has been earmarked for.  I struggled with how to add this second color and went with painting several of the spindles and adding some stripping -

I found some flowery stickers to accent with and that also matched the color scheme too, so I incorporated some of them -

The finished product accented with a green pillow and my grandmothers knitted throw blanket with her initials EVF -

All in all I'm pleased with the end results and super happy to have finally brought this bench back to life and placed it where I can see it every day.  It reminds me of my mom and brings back some wonderful memories ♥

#Blessed

Energy Saving Upgrade

Sticking with the curtain theme, and with the cold weather upon us and winter fast approaching, I bought a new set of thermal insulated patio door curtains for the kitchen.

I never cared much for the dark brown of the previous curtains, too dark, so I opted for a lighter color, which brightens that corner up a bit.

I didn't iron these, too lazy if I'm being honest but did toss them in the dryer with a wet towel, which did a remarkable job in removing most of the wrinkles and creases.  Hoping they'll stretch a little from hanging to close the tiny space on the bottoms.

After with new curtains installed -

Before -

Unfortunately, I took down the old curtains and forgot to take a before pic, alas.  However, I found this below pic in my picture archives, so it'll have to do.

** Please pay no attention to my linoleum floor, it is a flipp'n mess and on my "to do" list! **

My Home Office Décor Upgrade

I spent the better part of yesterday morning cleaning and making some subtle changes to the room that I use as an office, and which doubles as my TV room.

Although, a subtle change, it was one I'd been thinking about for a while, so I pulled the trigger, placed an order and got her done - I installed brandy new farmhouse style valances to each of the three windows.

I then opened the 3-windows and removed most of the furniture and items from the room.  Wiped down the walls and baseboards, cleaned the windows and vacuumed the carpet. Polished the furniture and wiped down each item as I moved them back into place. Also, swapped some wall hung pictures from another room, which match the room colors and theme better.

Before -

After -

Before -

After -

The valances were needed and make a big difference!  I am very pleased with the outcome.

Note: I need to spot paint the wall hole patches; it's on the list.  Unfortunately, I do not have any more of this color paint available.  I'm not sure if the paint store can match the same color from a photo, as I don't have any other way of bringing a sample in.  We'll see.

Ye Ole Farm Gate

I went from this - 

to this -

in just a couple of hours!

I sanded all the rust areas, then sprayed with a black Rust-Oleum.  It now matches the pool fence and the other fence posts around the yard.  It gave it new life and should protect it for years to come.  It pops nice now too!

Let There Be (LED) Lights!

Another DIY project completed.

I replaced the kitchen ceiling fan and light with a new LED dimmable light fixture. This light matches the one I replaced on the other side of the kitchen a couple months ago.  Some fresh paint and it looks terrific and SO much brighter too!

I can now see what I've been eating and it seems I need to do a better job eating my vegetables!

Bathroom Remodel

So this happened, a little bathroom DIY project!

It was time, maybe even overdue for an update.

I never cared for the color, so that motivated me to repaint the whole room, two coats, which in turn rolled into the additional updates.

Installed a new vanity over the commode, a new mirror over the sink, a pair of floating shelves and hung a new picture.

I am very pleased with the updates and how it all came out.

Phase II will be to repaint the ceiling with a fresh coat of white paint and install a pedestal sink, with a new floor coming soon too!

Welcome To The Newly Painted Ole Homestead!

Our large project for 2020 was to paint the house!  However, before that could happen we had to address the dried out, curled, cracked and rotted clapboard around the house.  The south side and rear of the house was in the toughest shape, as they get the brunt of sun and elements.  The front and north side wasn't too bad.

I had it in my head that I needed to replace ALL the clapboard on the south side and rear of the house.  I had a couple contractors stop by to take a look and give me some estimates - replace with like cedar clapboard or use a newer much more expensive composite like hardyboard or vinyl side the entire house.  All quotes were very expensive and just didn't sit right.  When I told the last contractor who stopped by and who I called at the last minute, what I was thinking about he said, "why replace everything?". His recommendation was to replace only the clapboards that were damaged and that most of what he was looking at wasn't in bad condition.  What an idea!!  Hit me like a ton of bricks to which I asked when he could start.  The rest his history.  One interesting item this contractor mentioned which turned out to be spot on, was that the incorrect nails were used when the clapboard was originally installed, nails that were not ribbed.  So, when the board dried and began to curl they were simply pulling the nails out too.  Not only did they replaced clapboards but they also re-nailed most of what stayed on the south side and rear of the house to prevent that issue from reoccurring. Brilliant!

About the same time as finding this contractor, Crawford Construction, I began my search for a house painter.  I turned to a local Franklin Facebook page, same page I found the contractor on, and there I was fortunate to find another local and fantastic company.  Ironically, this painter lives behind our house; his property corner touches ours. 

Sennott Superior Painting turned out to be top notch.  I've not met a more hardworking young man in quite some time.  The work and time he put in was impressive.  Not only that but much of the time he spent on ladders at our place it was scorching hot with humidity in the upper 60's, god awful but he kept plugging away.

Lo and behold the work is finally complete!  New base color - Sage Green, new trim color - Creamy White and new door color - Coral Gables.  We couldn't be happier with the outcome!

Finished product, front -

Finished product, south side -

Finished product, rear -

Finished product, garage side -

Finished product, pool shed -

Primed first coat, front -

Primed first coat, south side - 

Primed first coat, rear -

Power-washed, scrapped & sanded, south side -

Power-washed, scrapped & sanded, front -

Power-washed, scrapped & sanded, rear -

Clapboard replacement & new windows, south side - 

Clapboard replacement, rear -

Clapboard replacement, front & side -

Original south side -

Just need to book some time with a therapist to help overcome the anxiety of having two construction teams working in and out of my flower beds, gardens and yard.  Those of you who know me understand, so as you can just imagine there was a whole lot of "Goosfraba" chanting taking place around here these last couple of months.  It's gonna take some time but I'll be fine...

I'm Thinking Of A Number...

Thanks Brotaterchip for making this house sign for us, see Geico gym commercial!

Took a while, a long while, to paint and glue the pieces and parts together but I finally finished it AND got it hung up this past weekend too!!

Family consensus was to nix the last name -

Here she is mounted and beaming proud as a peacock -

Still requesting that the 6' social distancing rule be followed when visiting!

No More Dumping Allowed!

My new property line rock wall is almost complete.  The bigger, heaver rocks have already been moved and placed at the far end.  I don't have too many more bigger rock available, or ones that I want to dedicate to this project anyway.  I do still have plenty of basketball sized stones available and will use those to complete the last 6-8 remaining feet.

I've also edged and transplanted a number of plants too.  All are doing just fine and looking very nice.

My compost piles have also been emptied and relocated to the opposite corner of the property.

One project after another...

Took A Little Off The Bottom

Banged out another winter chore today. This one has been on my list for quite some time now.  Since it really wasn't bothering anyone but me, and it wasn't a break-fix kinda thing, it's lingered.

The fix is not the unevenness of the before picture.  Although, in hindsight I should have fixed that before taking the picture.  Anyway, ever since these blinds were installed, like most, they've been too long for the window.  The extra slats all bunched up on the bottom looking unsightly.

These wooden blinds are installed in three windows; two in the dining room and one in the bathroom.  So, today I removed (8) slates from each, shortening the blinds by approximately 8".

Not a difficult project at all, just takes time and some patients.

Before -

After -