Oh no!!

I cannot find my receipt for the air conditioner....anywhere! I used my VISA check card when I picked it up. I know I can get a copy of the transaction off my bank statement but will they take that? I could just scream. I am so good about keeping things like that. I especially kept that receipt since I wasn't installing the unit right away and because it has an Energy Star rating and I know I will be able to take the credit on my income tax for 2009. I have turned this little house upside down. I have looked in all the logical places and some of the weird ones, too...just in case. The only thing I can think of that might explain the receipt going missing is that I cleaned out my desk drawer a couple of weeks ago. You know how you sort papers (trash, file)? Could I have mistakenly put the receipt in the trash file?

Mercy. I could live with the heat myself but I have more company coming and they are used to air conditioning. Not to mention the fact that I have a new air conditioner that doesn't work.

Seems like all I do is whine and complain lately. Sorry for that. I usually have a pretty upbeat attitude. Maybe it's because I am hot...all the time. As if the humidity wasn't enough, the hot flashes are about to kill me. It is only a matter of time until they just find a pile of ashes in my shoes...

When it rains...

I just need a little something to go right. Seriously. I bought the big air conditioner for my downstairs in May. I finally had it put in the window about 3 weeks ago. It has been unseasonably cool here so I did not need to turn it on until July 25th. Ran fine. I had my parents over for dinner on the 26th. Ran fine. It was hot and humid on Monday, July 27, so I turned it on late in the day. I wandered back outside to the garden. When I re-entered the house, I thought it strange that it didn't feel much cooler so I went over to check the air coming out of the unit. Not refrigerated. As I stood there, the compressor kicked on. Or should I say, it attempted to kick on. It just made a grinding, thumping noise and stopped. So I reset the unit, took the temp up to closer the temperature in the house (thinking it wouldn't have to work so hard) and still the grinding, thumping and cut off continued. I just turned if off. Yesterday I tried again to no avail. My brand new, Frigidaire air conditioner is broken after 2 uses. Thankfully, my son is coming this weekend and he can pull it out of the window for me so we can haul it back to Lowes. If they won't replace it (I realize I bought it 3 months ago!) there will be a foot stomping, blood pressure raising brouhaha going down!

Did I mention I still haven't found a plumber to come by the house to fix my kitchen faucet? I hope my boy can fix it for me!

Another joy of homeownership

A couple of days ago I noticed that the kitchen faucet base was doing some shifting when I moved the handle from cold to hot. Tonight the faucet is completely detached from the base. It is a single hole, center mount. I found a plate of some sort and part of a severed washer under the sink. I know the plate anchors the unit but I can't figure out how so I guess I will have to enlist the skills of a plumber. Someone will have to remind me exactly WHY I thought owning my own home would be a good idea. I miss having a landlord!!

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!!

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!!

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!!

Back to Garden Spot Furniture

I was so excited to finally be picking up the buffet I purchased a couple of weeks ago. I just needed a pick up truck and a willing helper! My kitchen doesn't have nearly the amount of storage that I need and this was a heck of a lot cheaper than adding another full bank of cabinets and a countertop. This has a French or Italian feel. All I know is that it is mahogany and made by Drexel. (I know it looks like maple or some kind of fruitwood but it really isn't.) Although I am going to paint it, the finish is in very good shape and looks great with the cabinets in my kitchen. I am going to use it as a baking station. My enormous Kitchenaid mixer fits in the right hand cabinet. I am using one of the drawers for baking supplies and another for baking pans (cake, loaf, muffin, whatever).

From Little Nest

I love the brasses on this

From Little Nest

While I was there I spotted this spool chair. It needs to be recovered but that is a quick and eazy job as soon as I find some time. For $20 I think I got a great deal!

From Little Nest

By the way, this photo was taken in the furniture shop, not my house!

There is a 3 panel wooden folding screen that I have my eye on. It probably won't be there the next time I go but if it is, that baby is coming home with me!