My Reading Blog

Last summer we enclosed our front porch and made it an "all season" room.  We had eight 5'x3' casement windows installed.  They are pretty good windows, open easily, let in the air when needed, protect from the wind, cold and heat.  But when I tried to clean them, there were a multitude of marks left from the making of these windows.  There were round circles from the suction cups used to move the glass, there were a cascade of runs where whatever liquid they used on the glass was left, there were rectangular marks from who knows what.  Now the only time these marks would show up was when I used the foam cleaning spray to clean them or when there was moisture on the windows.  I checked their website and they said to use mineral spirits sparingly.  I did, still all the markings were there.  I used it NOT so sparingly - still there. We showed our contractor and he said in typical fashion, "no problem, we'll get the window rep out and get it fixed...

Since we've lived  in our house, we have noticed that we have a large amount of raised dirt mounds trailing back and forth in the front yard and between our house and the neighbor's.  We seem to have an over abundance of moles that enjoy what I call "aerating" our soil, but they call creating havoc in the lawns.  Last year Ed & Len used the pistol, but to no avail.  This winter, Len and our neighbor, Ed, have had some down time to investigate. Ed went to the Extension Service to get their recommendations, Hubby searched articles on line to find the best way to get rid of these pests, which traps work the best, how to determine where they are active. etc. Both Ed & Hubby purchased mole traps.  Len got some flags to put out to see which tunnels are being used.  And so, the hunt has begun.  I'm getting the feeling that this might be a competition to see who can get the most moles! Traps have been set.  Ed came ringing the doorbell las...

Earlier this summer, we began our porch renovation Porch Redo .  Then vacation came and no work was done.  When we got home, it was again delayed and finally as of last week, we have "moved" into our new space. I wanted wicker chairs for the porch (until I found out the price).  So I put my son-in-law to work - checking out Craig's List to find just the right chairs and table.  He came up with several options, some of which were quickly grabbed by others.  And then 3 chairs and a small table appeared.  He checked them out and bought them at a bargain. We made a quick trip to IL to stay with the girls while Michelle went to work AND to get our "new" furniture.  We found a rug at IKEA and everything fit perfectly.  Here's some pics of the end result. Needless to say, we are enjoying spending time on the porch. My little corner to read, crochet and talk with God.

Almost two years ago, we moved into our new house.  We have been working at making it "our home" and have added wood to several walls, a new sliding glass door, new wall of cabinets, a fire place insert and now we are having our front enclosed porch converted to an all season room. We have been waiting for the construction crew to begin since the middle of April, but apparently their time frame and ours hasn't always coincided.  But last Thursday the crew of ONE appeared to dismantle the existing frame work of clear vinyl windows and screens.  He looked, removed some screws, scratched his head and said he never seen anything like it.  This didn't give us much confidence, but he persevered and finally got the first piece out.  Hubby and I watched, looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and said a prayer.  Mid afternoon another guy showed up to help.  Demo was completed by the end of day.  They packed up their stuff and said "we'll be bac...

I don't know if it's just the area we live in or if it happens all over.  Since we've moved to the Ozarks, we've had some frustrating situations. After we bought property here and still living in Illinois, we contracted with an excavator who was suppose to clear the property so that we could begin erecting our pole barn.  He said, "No problem.  I'll have it complete by the time you get down here to do the concrete work."  Hubby arrived with a crew to pour the foundation and floor, but the area remained as it was when he had talked with the excavator.  He tried to contact him, but couldn't get a hold of him.  So he found someone else to do the work quickly. When we were building our log home 18 years ago, we ordered many different components for the house.  Namely, we had ordered some lights.  They had to be ordered for somewhere else.  We waited and waited.  No call, no lights.  So we contacted them after six weeks and they said...

Part of our property is on a natural spring.  One area of our front yard is like a bog - spongy and soggy the majority of the year depending on the amount of rain we have.  It cannot be mowed, we have to weed wack it with knee high boots on. Once upon a time, many years ago, some drainage pipes were placed in the ground to help steer the water to the ditch leading to the pond.  But as the years have passed, the drains have ceased to function, therefore our bog. We have been searching for a guy who could give us some direction.  We had one come out and he told us what he would do, but it would be costly for him to do it as he would have to bring his equipment over 50 miles.  So we looked for someone closer.  We contacted a neighbor who has a lawn care service and he said it was out of his expertise, but he did know of a guy who could help.  The guy came, looked at it, gave us a quote and said he would do it when it dries up.  Hubby laughed and ...

As we continue remodeling our latest home, I have been thinking about all the houses we've lived in and how we've made each of them our home. The first house I remember was the one where I was born and raised for the first 11 years of my life.  I reminised about it in a slice in 2014  First Home .  Many happy times spent in that home with my parents and brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My Dad quit farming and worked full time in home construction and he built a house in town in 1959. This is where I lived until I got out on my own and rented an apartment in 1968 with my future sister-in-law. When Len & I got married, we moved to a mobile home in Dover, Delaware, where he was stationed at Dover Air Force Base.  We lived there for about 8 months until he finished his four years of active duty.  We then moved to Pontiac, IL where we purchased a home (no pictures - guess they are well buried).  We lived there for about a year...

Two weeks ago I wrote about several things that I was anticipating.  Both are completed, but I'll only share one today and leave the other for later. When we moved into our home a year and half ago, we always fought the door entering the kitchen from the garage.  The refrigerator is huge and stuck out quite far.  The door swings inwards and missed the refrigerator by inches.  After much thought and talk with our handyman, we decided to remove a cabinet and move the refrigerator about 36 inches and then install two floor to ceiling pantry cabinets.  Our handyman told us that he works with a cabinet maker who would make the cabinets look like they always been there and match our existing cabinets. The space was measured, the cabinets designed, the stain and profile matched.  It was a go at the end of December.  Two to three weeks, we were told.  Patience is the name of the game.  We wanted them finished before we went on vacation la...

It's been a year!  One whole year! We sold the log home Bought another Packed Moved During that "short" year, we've unpacked settled in put in new carpeting and flooring redid the master bathroom  added wood to several walls created this house to be OUR HOME We've made new friends Bask in the peaceful atmosphere Enjoy the serenity  of the pond,  the sounds of the cows and chickens, Enjoy the antics of the rabbits Miss our herd of deer. It's been a year! One Whole Year!

Earlier this spring we began our wood wall project in the dining area.  That was completed, but now we've added cabinets and some wall decorations.  Yesterday we got the final piece - the granite counter top finished it off. There will probably be some additions to the wall hangings.  I need to get a feel for what it needs, but for now I'm enjoying it. The final change was made yesterday to our French door going out to the patio.  With the door swinging inward, it was always in the way and there was no screen on it.  So, we replaced it with a sliding glass door.  What a difference it has made.  The French door didn't let in much light, but now it seems like the whole backyard is an extension of the house. I think (at least as of now) this will be our last large project on our home.  We've been here almost a year and feel completed at home and enjoying every moment of it.

When we moved into our new home last July, most of the spring flowers had bloomed and faded away.  So this spring, we were truly amazed at all the beauty that was presented to us.  Today, I thought I'd share some pictures of what I've been enjoying each day. Now the question is, do I know the names of each of these?  Well, there are Asiatic lilies, and Astors, pink and red knock out roses, hostas and a member of the honeysuckle family, along with a ground cover called Liriope Muscari.  Later to bloom will be the Crepe Myrtle and Butterfly bushes and finally the Pampas Grass.  Ahh, the beauty of it all.

Earlier in March, I wrote about a new project that we started starting-new-project. Well,  WE COMPLETED IT!  We had a slight delay since we were away for ten days, but last week we (Hubby) got back at it. We had the wood on the walls, and the hanger for the door was in place, but the door needed another coat of sealer.  And, I think, there was a little apprehension on Hubby's part that it would hang properly. But, HE DID IT!  And, it looks absolutely great.  The blank wall and test board Hubby making progress The wall is finished Barn door into the bathroom It works! Now that we are finished with this wall, we have started on another wall.  This time in the dining room.  It is a long blank wall and is calling for some wood.  We put sealer on the pieces of pine yesterday and today we will start to stain them.  This wall should go together quickly as there is nothing that needs to be cut around.

Several times for the past couple of weeks, I've been asked the same question: "Do you miss your old home?" We moved last summer and have settled into our new house and made it our home, but to answer the question... Yes, there are things I miss, but .... I miss the logs and coziness they created,       but, I don't miss keeping them dust free            but, we're adding some wood to several walls in our new house. I miss the fireplace and enjoying a fire,      but, I don't miss waking up in the middle of the night to keep the fire burning, or cleaning out the      ashes every day           but, I now enjoy a gas fireplace that creates the ambiance of a real fire without the mess. I miss my kitchen layout and the Hickory cabinets,           but, I now have a beautiful ...

Planting a tree in Arkansas soil is NOT the easiest thing to do, but we were gifted a Redbud tree and so a hole we must dig. First to decide where we wanted this tree to grow.  The perfect spot was picked.  The spade was pushed into the ground.  Fortunately, we have had an abundance of rain, so the ground was soft and not a solid rock.  Oh, did I mention, in Arkansas, our ground grows rocks?  So the digging began, one shovel full at a time.  Black dirt!  Amazing, as most of the soil in Arkansas is red clay.  Only a few rocks until we got down about 18" and then we hit the clay and then the water started pouring into the hole.  You see, our property is located on a spring and with all the rain, it started to fill in the hole. Hopefully, the tree will sprout its roots and will flourish in this Arkansas soil.  And next year we will have a delightful purple flowered tree to adorn our yard.  

After living in a log home for 16 years and then moving into a home that had no wood, we decided that it was time to add some accent to a wall in the master bedroom and in the dining room.  These two walls are just calling out to have some wood put on them. And so, today the project begins.  Last week we went to Home Depot & Lowes and then to a local lumber yard to find just the right kind of wood for these walls.  We decided to put up "box car siding".  We had this on the ceiling of our log home and loved it.  This is just what these walls need. The sanding and primer was put on yesterday and today we started staining the boards.  We mixed Driftwood and Early American stains together to get just the right color.  Now we wait for it to dry and then put on a coat of sealer.  And then we are ready to begin the transformation in our bedroom.

One major change is happening in our newly purchased home.  We are not tub people.  We like our shower.  Getting older means that stepping up and over the tub is not easy.  So.... We decided to take out the tub in the master bathroom and replace it with a shower.  We got quotes.  Gulped a couple of times.  Researched alternatives.  Got another quote.  Decided to do marble instead of individual tiles.  No grout to discolor, easy to clean.  Sharp looking.  And less expensive than tile. Today the demolition started.  The tub enclosure came out easy enough.  But as with any older home, nothing is square and there was a 2 x 6 where a 2 x 4 should have been.  Nothing major, just bumps in the way (or so I was told by the contractor).  The plumber gave us an estimate, but said that he would not dig out the concrete (we're on a slab), so hubby says "no problem" (his go to phrase).  He'll take care of it....

Earlier this month I wrote a slice about not having delivery of all of our bedroom furniture Disappointment .  Well, last week I got THE CALL.  The headboard, footboard and frame had arrived.  When could they deliver it?  Immediately, I asked?  Well, how about the next day?  No problem. We scheduled it for after 2:00 p.m.  I was at my volunteer job and Hubby was getting ready to go to the gun club for his afternoon shoot.  It was a little after 1:00.  The doorbell rang, the phone rang, Hubby in the shower.  He quickly got out of the shower, ran to the front door as the delivery guys were closing up the truck. They were early - imagine that. They quickly moved the mattress and box, set up the headboard and frame.  A total completion to the bedroom furniture.  Hubby had the bed all made except for the quilt, which we quickly added and Voila .  Smiles abounded our faces and we are so enjoying it.