DIY All Around the House

Today is DIY day at ASPTL so I thought I would show you some of our around the house projects, and say if we can do it so can you. We have learned by experience, and well worth it!

First is our tiled kitchen floor, and this was the real learning experience. I won't go into detail. The tile below is our garage room or the big room as we call it. It was our garage that we enclosed.

Hardwood floors that my husband and I put down in our living room, dining room, and hallway.



New bathroom faucet that he installed yesterday. I picked this up off the clearance table at Lowes for 30.00. Had to purchase the drain kit to match for 20.00 but was still a bargain compared to the list price of $128!

The Hollywood lights as I call them are gone, and replace with this Price Pfister light fixture also a Lowes bargain. I can't remember exactly what the list price was, but somewhere around $128 also. They had to take the display down for me, so they reduced the price a little more than previously, a bargain at $26! I know the striped wallpaper has to go, and that is on the DIY list.



I almost forgot this is one of our biggest projects. We enclosed our garage, what is now the big room. My husband and I did all of the work with the exception of the sheet rock finishing. We knew someone that was very reasonable and could finish is in a fraction of the time that it would take these two amateurs. My husband installed two windows, a door , did all of the exterior framing and finish, and hung the sheet rock. I know he is pretty amazing, at least I think so. For more DIY head over to Kimba's.


Now check out yesterdays post to give me your ideas. I want to hear any and all. Have a wonderful day! Be blessed. Jackie

My Kitchen Needs Your Help!!!!!

My kitchen has been feeling a little weary and worn lately, and is asking for your help. My husband has finally said that we need to come up with a comprehensive plan to update . I will give you a few details of what has already been decided along with some questions that I have for you.
Here is a shot the length of the kitchen looking in from the dining room. By now you must be saying YUCK!
Here is what has already been decided:

• The border gone ( or going)
• The counter top will be replaced
• Cabinets updated as budget wise as possible (open for suggestions)
• The tile floor remains, and is in good shape
• Appliances are all stainless and replaced a couple of years ago

Check these lovelies out! My husband is not fond of painting them, because he does not want to change the trim in the entire house(all stained) not my choice, but I have heard many say that their white trim looks too dirty to them. I can live with the stained. How would they look painted if all my trimwork is stained? The beautiful faux butcher block will go, and I can't wait!!!!! I do want to add extra width to this part of the counter for bar stools.
All new hardware for the cabinets too. I like my red kitchen, but am not opposed to another color. I am a very visual person, so sometimes it is hard imagining all that I want to do. I love the cottage look, but my house leans somewhere between traditional and cottage. I am sure I do not want to go with the beach cottage look, because I love color too much! I am not opposed to another color in the kitchen. I love vintage, but too much of that might stand out like a sore thumb. I am just not sure. This is your day to leave a comment if you haven't left one before. My feelings will not be hurt, and I do want your input. So, what do you think? Looking forward to hearing from you. Jackie

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce for a Crowd

It is Tasty Tuesday over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Today I will share my Spaghetti Sauce Recipe that I have been using for quite some time. Someone asked for it a while back so I am finally getting around to it. The original recipe came from Once-A-Month Cooking, but I have changed it to the way my family prefers.

2 lbs lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2, 15 oz cans Tomato Sauce
4, 28 oz cans Crushed Tomatoes
5 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
8 Bay Leaves
3 Tablespoons Sugar
5 teaspoons dried basil
3 teaspoon dried Oregano
5 tablespoon dried Parsley
2 teaspoons salt

• Cook ground beef, rinse and drain.
• Add all ingredients
• Bring to a boil
• Simmer on med/low for at least 2 hours.

There, you have enough sauce for a crowd. I usually freeze quart packages for us, or make lasagna with the sauce. I have also used this to make a type of Spaghetti Casserole. Adding one small can of tomato paste will thicken it up for lasagna. Make adjustments as your family prefers, for instance yesterday I had no oregano, so added only 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Only had about 2 teaspoons of garlic, so that is what went in. You can add more onions, mushrooms, and I have even added zucchini. This sauce does not seem to have the acid taste that the canned and jar sauces seem to have. Hope you enjoy, now I've got to go freeze the remainder of sauce that I made yesterday. Jackie

Road Trip and Random Things

This weekend we headed to North Georgia a 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. What a wonderful testimony, a life of 50 wonderful years together.

We had a wonderful time visiting with relatives that we don't get to see very often. They did a beautiful job of putting the reception together, a time that truly honored this sweet couple.

now imagine putting this girl,

this girl, and one little fellow together, and know what you have? Lots of activity non-stop until they get used to each other. I could not get a picture of the other little fellow because he couldn't be still long enough and I gave up. Stella, Chloe and Bailey all miniature schnauzers, and two of them are still puppies. My girl Stella has almost perfected the art of ignoring them both.

On to more random things. This picture is for Victoria.

This is a Vinca vine that is planted outside our side door, and is a great ground cover. Even better than ivy.

Last week when Susie did her post on drying hydrangeas, mine were perfectly ready, at least the few that I had, so I ran out and cut them to put in the bedroom that I have been working on. As Victoria put it, my yard thrift of the week. It was something I love, and didn't cost me a thing!How much more thrifty than that can you get? For more amazing thrifty finds check it out here.Have a wonderful week! Jackie

Instant Aging for Clothing

I am sharing a combination of things in today's post. Today is DIY day over at ASPTL, so I will be sharing how you can instantly age clothing, or any fabric . If it is new fabric you will first want to wash it. I have several old toddler dresses hanging

in my laundry room, and thought this little dress would make a great addition. The only problem is that it was very crisp and white, and I wanted it to look old and aged like the other little dresses. So here is what I did.

First I cut all of the store tags out.


Next I put it into a measuring cup filled with some coffee and a little salt. I once read that salt will set the coffee color.

Then you put it out to dry in the south Georgia sun,

and you will end up with this.


The old quilt was my thrift store purchase for today. I wanted an old quilt to put in my swing, that I would not worry about messing up. It is pretty worn and tattered, and I need to make some repairs but as I have said before, I often purchase nostalgia, not perfection.


Love the fabric on these two
squares.

This is the back.

You can go here to check out Thrifty Thursday. Have a wonderful evening.
Jackie

Dawn's 500th Post

Go here to check out Dawn's 500th post giveaway! She is super creative, kind, always thinking of others She gives of herself in so many ways. She is one of the first blog sights that I added to my favorites. More than anything she is real. You will know this from reading her posts. Give her a visit, and see what I mean. Jackie

I've been cooking, and sewing and..........

It's Today's Thrifty Treasures over at Southern Hospitality , but we haven't had much in the way of yard sales or thrift store treasures this week. Here's just two little things, and a few pictures of what I have been up to today.

This little burp cloth for .19, I purchased it mainly as a pattern.

Picked up this old bowl for 1.00 a couple of weeks ago. Looks very old and I love it!

Now you will see what I have been up to, today. I will be visiting my son tomorrow, and I like to take a home cooked meal, as well as leave something for my sweet husband who will be working,

I cooked 3chickens, known as beer butt chicken, but we used lemon lime soda. The taste is the same, you just need something fizzy.

some steamed cabbage and stewed squash,

a big pot of roast, carrots and potatoes, and I will probably add some good ole mac & cheese tonight.

Then I have been doing some of this, making a long awaited dust ruffle for my daughter. I just wish I was a better seamstress, and this would be a little easier. Hopefully I will finish this up tonight also. Hope you all have a wonderful week, I will be away until Thursday. Jackie

DIY Chalkboard Tray Makeover

It is DIY day again over at ASPTL, and Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage so here is a little chalboard tray for you to try out. I purchased this old silver tray from a yard sale several weeks ago. It had several rust spots which made it perfect for my chalkboard. I cleaned it, taped off the edges with painters tape, then used and exacto knife to cut out the scalloped border. I used spray chalboard paint, and did about 3 coats. You have to be careful when spraying so your paint doesn't run.

Here is what I ended up with. Perfect for my kitchen counter to post a bible verse for the week, uplifting reminders, or menu plans and whatever. This is so easy so give it a try.

Now head on over to Kimba's and Shabby Chic Cottage for more fun DIY projects and inspiration.

Jackie

Delicious Blueberry Recipes

Today I am joining Tasty Tuesday and offering some recipes that we have enjoyed for years. My sister gave this recipe to me and I have definitely used this recipe often. I would compare it to a blueberry coffee cake.

Huckle Buckle Blueberry

1/4 C Soft Butter/Margarine 1/2 C milk

1 C Sugar divided 1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Egg 2 1/2 C Blueberries

1 2/3 C All Purpose Flour Divided 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 Tsp Baking Powder 1/4 C Butter/ Margarine

1/4 Tsp Salt

Cream butter; gradually add 1/2 c. sugar, beating well. Add egg; beat. Combine 1 1/3 C Flour, baking powder and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into a greased 8 inch pan. Top w/ blueberries. Combine remaining 1/2 c sugar, remaining 1/3 C flour and cinnamon. Cut 1/4 butter into cinnamon mixture until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle over berries. Bake 375 degrees 45-50 minutes. Serves 6

Blueberry Bread Downtown Savannah Style

2 C Sifted Flour 2 Eggs

1 Tbs Baking Powder 3/4 C Milk

1/2 tsp Salt 1 C Blueberries

1/2 C Soft Butter 2 Tbs Light Brown Sugar

1/2 C Sugar 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

• Sift flour, baking powder & salt together
• Beat butter, sugar, eggs in bowl until light & fluffy
• Add dry ingredients alt w/milk-beat @ low speed after each addition until blended.
• Fold in blueberries
• Spoon into greased 8x8 inch pan
• Sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon
• Bake @ 375 for 35 minutes

Hope you enjoy! Jackie

DIY

I just returned home from visiting my daughter, and almost forgot that Thursday is DIY day over at ASPTL. I had told my daughter before our visit, to choose one project that I could help her with while we were there, so here it is!

BEFORE

I snapped the before pic, before we forgot, and the after pic on the way out the door this AM so it is a little blurry. She and her husband were given this table and chairs when they helped clean out a house. Since they had no dining room table or chairs, it was the perfect project for an economical solution.

I found the fabric for $6.00 a yard and they threw in a yard that had been precut w/ a slight water stain on the bottom, that was not even noticeable. We were not even sure that we had enough fabric, especially since we wanted to try to have the pattern match somewhat on the seats. Amazingly enough, the match ended up being almost the depth of the seat, so we had no waste when it came to matching.

We chose not to use spray paint because there were 6 chairs and that would have ended up costing way too much. We worked and sweated, and worked and sweated, but she is loving the end results. She still has to put a clear coat on the table top, and a few touch ups, but the project is almost complete, and will be a great addition to their dining room.

Next time I visit, hopefully I will have pictures of the complete set. It was hard work, but well worth it, and a fun time together. Jackie

A Rescued Find

Late sharing with others over at Rhodas thrifty finds for Monday, but I thought I had better share this before it leaves to find its new home with my daughter. You ask why it is a rescued find? Well my friend K was having a yard sale, and this did not sell , so she was going to take it to the Goodwill. It belonged to her mother and I simply couldn't let that happen. She sold it to me for $30.00.

Then she threw in this little table, a small lamp, picture frame, and some other odds and ends.
See I had already purchased the bed and dresser that you saw in my bedroom re-do. The mattress went to my daughters also, so it all was definitely a good buy. We will be headed to Florida tomorrow to visit my daughter, and taking the chair with us.

It's A Flag Project for the 4th !

Stella and I hope everyone has had an absolutely wonderful 4th!

My sweet husband is on night shift tonight, but took time out to help me finish this little project. I had seen Jen's flag here, and she was so kind to send me the dimensions last year. I was determined that even if this was my entertainment for today I would complete it, today, and here it is!

And yes, I know the stars are not completely straight. Being a little obsessive it bothered me for a little while, but I am happy with my completed project. And yes, I did get all 50 stars on there!

It is made out of yardsticks, and one square of wood for the stars. I was planning on distressing it with some stain, but when I used the sander, that was all it needed. I used a red primer on the yardsticks which gave it the distressed look that I was going for. Now I have a wonderful piece of decor for the 4th, or Memorial Day. I will probably leave mine up through August, so I can continue to enjoy it. Again hope you had a safe and Happy 4th!

Jackie

Suitcase Side Table

Remember the bedroom that I am working on? Slowly but surely it is coming together. I am wanting it to be a little bit out of the ordinary, so here is what I used for the table next to the bed. This is a set of old suitcases that a friend was getting rid of. They are wonderful because they serve a dual purpose. One holds trims, ribbon, fringe etc. The next is filled with scrap booking paper, stamps, and scissors, and the large bottom one is filled with an assortment of fabric.

When we started out they looked sort of like a leaning tower. I knew my smart husband would be able to come up with the remedy.

So, here is what he came up with............................

He cut some small pieces of wood at an angle to level the stack,

So they would look like this!

This is a king size duvet cover that I bought on sale a few months ago, thinking it would work with what I am would like to do in the room. I will be leaving the trim and buttons as they are to make the window treatment, and probably a pillow or two for the bed. I am thinking a simple valance with a sheered curtain covering half of the window if that make sense to you. I would love to hear what you would do with this fabric for a window treatment.

I am participating in Holly's last Thrift Store Thursday, so go on over and check out the other thrifty finds. Jackie