Monday, May 25, 2009

No rain

I made plans to do some more yard work today if it didn't rain. I was really counting on rain! My legs and back are sore from all the work I did on Friday. Not only do I need to find a man with a toolbox (and knows how to use it!), I need a yard boy!!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Projects

Yesterday I worked in the yard, in the hot sun, for about 3 hours. When a headache started, I knew I had been out there long enough. Today I will drive over to one of the big box home improvement stores and pick up a couple of bags of top soil and another 3 bags of hardwood mulch. Owning a wheelbarrow would be really helpful at this point but since I don't have a shed yet for that kind of storage (and I am NOT dragging a wheelbarrow up the basement steps!) I transport heavy bags of mulch on a large, flat cardboard box. It isn't pretty but it works.

This morning I wiped off the porch railings and started painting. I just put down the base coat so if it doesn't rain tomorrow I will put on the second coat. I also painted the trim around the back door. Turns out that the jerk that sold me the house didn't paint it. There was only the factory primer coat. I discovered it a couple of weeks ago when I realized that the paint was peeling. So, last night I caulked the nail holes and this morning I sanded, wiped everything down and put on a coat of paint. As with the front porch, I will put on a second coat first thing tomorrow morning depending on the weather.

I have a couple of cans of spray paint waiting for me in the basement. I think I will have a go at painting a couple of things that I will share later.

Hasn't this been just the most interesting post?! Sorry if I bored you with the minutia in my life. Have a wonderful weekend!!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Yard sale goodies

I love yard sales. Seriously. I never look for them in the newspaper classified ads. I just like to cruise neighborhoods and see what I can find. (I think it is the thrill of the hunt!) As I have mentioned before, I especially like community yard sales. Here are some of the purchases I made a couple of weeks ago -

First up are my vintage linens. I love damask tablecloths and napkins. I have way too many already but cannot pass them up. I am not crazy about fabrics from the 40s and 50s but for $2, I could not pass up this blue beauty.
From Little Nest

From Little Nest


These pewter platters were only $3 for the two of them. I think they are really pretty. You cannot tell from the photo but the large one is about 14" long and the small on is roughly 10" long.
From Little Nest


In one neighborhood, it seemed as if everyone was selling the "Colonial" style pretend brass chandeliers. Some wanted as much as $10. I got this one for a dollar. I am going to paint it sort of an antique white and then glaze it with sage green. I think it will look fabulous in my dining room!
From Little Nest


I need lamps and the prices to purchase them new are just more than I want to spend. The tall green one will be painted white for my guest room. The pretty little brass one is in really good shape except for the shade which just isn't my taste. I have some white acrylic craft paint that I am going to use to paint the shade and then I may cover it in fabric. They were each only $2.
From Little Nest
From Little Nest


I found this Rowenta iron (and it doesn't leak!) for $2. I don't know why she was getting rid of it but I am excited to own it. It did have some hard water crystallization that was trapped inside but a good cleaning with vinegar took care of that.
From Little Nest


OK - here it is. My big yard sale purchase. I SWEAR it doesn't look like anyone ever sat in it. The retired couple selling had moved from Vermont and downsized into a townhouse. They had a couch, love seat and this recliner. Their new living room is just too small for all of the furniture. It is made by Thomasville and the colors in the fabric are perfect in my living room - pink, yellow, green and off white.
From Little Nest
Now for the price - $40! Whoo hoo!!

Lots of paint projects, yard projects and sewing projects for this weekend. I think I need a clone!!