I was sick most of the winter, and then my daughter was. We both have medical issues. I am finally just getting caught up on everything.
I will hopefully be able to post some pictures of the place soon, if I can figure out how. And I have a few projects to tell you about.
Anyway, I never did get the door taken off the cupboard. I need some sort of tool that I do not have on hand. The china is up there, but we cannot see it as of yet.
Shannon
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
By the way, did I tell you all that I am not real handy?
I have had this leak from my tub faucet since we moved in. That was more than a few years ago. I have a couple of buckets that I put (one at a time, of course), under the faucet to collect the water. I get two bucket fulls a day, sometimes three. What do I do with the water?
* Water the vegetables and herbs.
* Water the houseplants.
* Clean, and then rinse, the tub.
I wonder...if I dump some down the toilet, do I have to pay to flush that time? Or, is it a freebie because I had already collected the water from the tub faucet? (I know, that is not really free.)
Shannon
* Water the vegetables and herbs.
* Water the houseplants.
* Clean, and then rinse, the tub.
I wonder...if I dump some down the toilet, do I have to pay to flush that time? Or, is it a freebie because I had already collected the water from the tub faucet? (I know, that is not really free.)
Shannon
Thursday, October 25, 2007
The Cupboards Above the Sink
The cupboards above my sink are hard to get into. This is due to the fact that the sink is kitty-cornered, which makes the cupboards hard to reach.
I have a china cabinet in my little kitchen, which holds the treasures that have been passed down to me. Twice a year, I dust these items. I do not need to get to the often, however.
I have decided to take the doors off the hard to reach cupboards. I will set my treasures up in these cupboards, and then put the every day dishes in the china cabinet, where they will be easier to get to on a daily basis.
At some point, I hope to line the cupboard shelves with lace, and allow it to overhang just a little for a nice effect. I will also see about putting glass doors on those cupboards at some point in the future.
I have a china cabinet in my little kitchen, which holds the treasures that have been passed down to me. Twice a year, I dust these items. I do not need to get to the often, however.
I have decided to take the doors off the hard to reach cupboards. I will set my treasures up in these cupboards, and then put the every day dishes in the china cabinet, where they will be easier to get to on a daily basis.
At some point, I hope to line the cupboard shelves with lace, and allow it to overhang just a little for a nice effect. I will also see about putting glass doors on those cupboards at some point in the future.
Friday, October 19, 2007
A Pantry/Library/Storage Room
My daughter is considering going away to a school where she will likely learn business clerical skills. If this goes through, she will likely leave next month sometime. She will be giving up the bigger bedroom to her sister, who will be delighted.
That leaves me with "the box" to do something with. The shelves and two drawers that my father replaced the little closet with will serve as our pantry, as well as an over the door unit for storing food. I need a pantry, with my small kitchen! I will likely put another shelf in for this purpose as well.
I will also put a couple of shelves in for books, and allow my older daughter to store some boxes of her stuff in there.
There will not be a lot of space in there, just enough to get in and take what we need.
I will still put plastic over the window during the winter. I will also cover the register cover, as the room will not need to be heated. We will keep the door closed as well.
All of this will free up space in my bedroom, the kitchen, the livingroom, the bathroom and the hallway. This is great, as our home is so cramped with stuff.
I will update you about the changes that I make to this room.
Shannon
That leaves me with "the box" to do something with. The shelves and two drawers that my father replaced the little closet with will serve as our pantry, as well as an over the door unit for storing food. I need a pantry, with my small kitchen! I will likely put another shelf in for this purpose as well.
I will also put a couple of shelves in for books, and allow my older daughter to store some boxes of her stuff in there.
There will not be a lot of space in there, just enough to get in and take what we need.
I will still put plastic over the window during the winter. I will also cover the register cover, as the room will not need to be heated. We will keep the door closed as well.
All of this will free up space in my bedroom, the kitchen, the livingroom, the bathroom and the hallway. This is great, as our home is so cramped with stuff.
I will update you about the changes that I make to this room.
Shannon
Friday, October 5, 2007
Preparing for Winter
Right now, we are preparing for winter. We usually do this a little later in the season, however, there have been rumors of an early winter. We also want to do certain things before decorating for autumn. So we have begun the preparations already.
Here are the preparations that were made this week:
* All bedding was washed and hung out to dry, including heavy comforters and bed skirts. They need to be freshened before winter.
* Washed inside and out of windows.
* Picked all garden produce, cleaned out the gardens and turned the soil.
* Set the fence in place, to be permanently done in the spring.
* Turned on the heat tape under the trailer. If you don't do this, you may want to consider it.
* Banked the trailer.
* Rinsed furnace area and screen.
* Vacuumed registers.
* Washed register covers.
* Trimmed lower branches.
What we have left to do:
* Wash the pillows and allow to air dry.
* Trim upper branches so they do not hit the trailer this winter.
* Replace screen.
* Vacuum throw rugs and allow to air outside.
* Put plastic in the windows.
* Take care of outdoor furniture, etc.
* Do a last mowing and trimming.
* Febreeze the livingroom furniture, allowing the cushions to air outside.
* Crackle the rocking chair.
* Rearrange the livingroom to hold the tree.
There may be more things to do, but we are getting there.
Here are the preparations that were made this week:
* All bedding was washed and hung out to dry, including heavy comforters and bed skirts. They need to be freshened before winter.
* Washed inside and out of windows.
* Picked all garden produce, cleaned out the gardens and turned the soil.
* Set the fence in place, to be permanently done in the spring.
* Turned on the heat tape under the trailer. If you don't do this, you may want to consider it.
* Banked the trailer.
* Rinsed furnace area and screen.
* Vacuumed registers.
* Washed register covers.
* Trimmed lower branches.
What we have left to do:
* Wash the pillows and allow to air dry.
* Trim upper branches so they do not hit the trailer this winter.
* Replace screen.
* Vacuum throw rugs and allow to air outside.
* Put plastic in the windows.
* Take care of outdoor furniture, etc.
* Do a last mowing and trimming.
* Febreeze the livingroom furniture, allowing the cushions to air outside.
* Crackle the rocking chair.
* Rearrange the livingroom to hold the tree.
There may be more things to do, but we are getting there.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
The Bathroom
The bathroom needs a new floor and new plumbing for the tub/shower. It actually needs a new shower stall but, until I can find one, I am fine with the current one. It needs a new frame around the skylight, and a new screen for the window. The window also needs a new hand crank for opening and closing.
When I am able to replace the plumbing/tub unit, I would like to get a low-flow shower head. I would love a bear claw tub, but I do not believe that there is enough room. My bathroom is a little small. If I can get a bit smaller version, I may try for it - that is if I can get a new tub into my home, and then into my bathroom. The back door is right across the hall from the bathroom door, so there is hope. No matter what, I have to get a new shower stall unit. I would like a setup where the shower curtain bar goes all around the tub.
Of course, if I want to, I can add some room to the bathroom when my daughters move out. I can extend the bathroom into "the box" just enough to do this. (The rest of the room could be used as a pantry off the kitchen.) I will talk to Lloyd about this idea.
The existing tub/shower area has an organizer hanging from the shower head for my stuff, another hanging in the corner for Skye's stuff, and Zowie gets the shelves that are built into the shower stall. We did purchase a fabric shower liner, so we do not end up with holes in it every time we try to wash it.
I will likely have to make a new frame for the skylight, as I do not have it all to replace. I will also be making a new screen frame for the little window.
I will eventually be laying tiles for the floor. I can do most of this myself. My stepfather will lay the first tile, and I will lay the rest. He will have to cut any tiles that need to be cut. This is likely the only floor with the proper sub floor.
I also water a more water efficient toilet. I have the original toilet to the trailer, I think. I have had to replace the toilet seat/cover twice, and I need to do it again. I did learn how to do myself. I also learned to stop a toilet from "running". However, I think the black thing that closes over the whole needs to be replaced, because it does not close all the way on its own any more.
I would like a new sink unit and medicine cabinet. I like having just the one sink, but would like more cabinet/drawer space. Right now I have the sink with a cupboard below. A big mirror, with a mirrored cubby area serves as my medicine cabinet. And my stepfather built me shelving unit that goes almost to the ceiling from the old paneling and shelves from before he renovated his bathroom. This has 4 good size shelves, and I can store things on top. This, however, is open. A cupboard unit would be closed.
I like that there are three shelves built into the wall above and behind the toilet. The top two shelves hold some my collection of wizards, castles, dragons and nights, as do the top of the two hanging shelves. The bottom shelf holds stock up personal care items for the bathroom.
One of the two hanging shelves belongs to me, the other to Skye. We use them for our personal items. Zowie has the top shelf of the unit Lloyd purchased for me.
The walls will have to be painted or wall-papered, we have two organizer for toilet paper.
This room will need a lot of work, and I am not sure how much I will be able to save here. I will have to look into things.
Shannon
When I am able to replace the plumbing/tub unit, I would like to get a low-flow shower head. I would love a bear claw tub, but I do not believe that there is enough room. My bathroom is a little small. If I can get a bit smaller version, I may try for it - that is if I can get a new tub into my home, and then into my bathroom. The back door is right across the hall from the bathroom door, so there is hope. No matter what, I have to get a new shower stall unit. I would like a setup where the shower curtain bar goes all around the tub.
Of course, if I want to, I can add some room to the bathroom when my daughters move out. I can extend the bathroom into "the box" just enough to do this. (The rest of the room could be used as a pantry off the kitchen.) I will talk to Lloyd about this idea.
The existing tub/shower area has an organizer hanging from the shower head for my stuff, another hanging in the corner for Skye's stuff, and Zowie gets the shelves that are built into the shower stall. We did purchase a fabric shower liner, so we do not end up with holes in it every time we try to wash it.
I will likely have to make a new frame for the skylight, as I do not have it all to replace. I will also be making a new screen frame for the little window.
I will eventually be laying tiles for the floor. I can do most of this myself. My stepfather will lay the first tile, and I will lay the rest. He will have to cut any tiles that need to be cut. This is likely the only floor with the proper sub floor.
I also water a more water efficient toilet. I have the original toilet to the trailer, I think. I have had to replace the toilet seat/cover twice, and I need to do it again. I did learn how to do myself. I also learned to stop a toilet from "running". However, I think the black thing that closes over the whole needs to be replaced, because it does not close all the way on its own any more.
I would like a new sink unit and medicine cabinet. I like having just the one sink, but would like more cabinet/drawer space. Right now I have the sink with a cupboard below. A big mirror, with a mirrored cubby area serves as my medicine cabinet. And my stepfather built me shelving unit that goes almost to the ceiling from the old paneling and shelves from before he renovated his bathroom. This has 4 good size shelves, and I can store things on top. This, however, is open. A cupboard unit would be closed.
I like that there are three shelves built into the wall above and behind the toilet. The top two shelves hold some my collection of wizards, castles, dragons and nights, as do the top of the two hanging shelves. The bottom shelf holds stock up personal care items for the bathroom.
One of the two hanging shelves belongs to me, the other to Skye. We use them for our personal items. Zowie has the top shelf of the unit Lloyd purchased for me.
The walls will have to be painted or wall-papered, we have two organizer for toilet paper.
This room will need a lot of work, and I am not sure how much I will be able to save here. I will have to look into things.
Shannon
Friday, September 7, 2007
A Girl's Dream Room
My stepfather and Mom helped my older daughter redo her room. My daughter and mother painted the room, then my daughter painted her ceiling. The colors in the room right now are blue and white, with clouds painted onto the ceiling. The dresser and shelves were painted as well.
My stepfather put a sub floor and tiles, as well as some molding that he made. He also took out the dimmer switch and put in a regular one. Later on, he took the "bathroom" out of her room. When I purchased the place, I was told that I could hook everything back up in there. However, when we decided to do that, we found that the previous owners had messed with the plumbing under the trailer. We could not hook the sink and toilet up again. They had also left the pipe to sewer uncovered, so we had to cut that down and cover it. He tore out the walls to enlarge my daughters room.
There are new globes for the lights, and they took the door off the closet. She hung beads where the door once was. She also made a cushion for her hope chest, a blind for her window, and a couple of throw pillows for her bed using a very nice horse print fabric.
The overall effect is very nice, and fits her well.
Other than the fabric, this room was almost free for us. My daughter had spent a lot of time staying with my grandmother while my parents were out of town. She was very helpful and earned a new room.
My stepfather put a sub floor and tiles, as well as some molding that he made. He also took out the dimmer switch and put in a regular one. Later on, he took the "bathroom" out of her room. When I purchased the place, I was told that I could hook everything back up in there. However, when we decided to do that, we found that the previous owners had messed with the plumbing under the trailer. We could not hook the sink and toilet up again. They had also left the pipe to sewer uncovered, so we had to cut that down and cover it. He tore out the walls to enlarge my daughters room.
There are new globes for the lights, and they took the door off the closet. She hung beads where the door once was. She also made a cushion for her hope chest, a blind for her window, and a couple of throw pillows for her bed using a very nice horse print fabric.
The overall effect is very nice, and fits her well.
Other than the fabric, this room was almost free for us. My daughter had spent a lot of time staying with my grandmother while my parents were out of town. She was very helpful and earned a new room.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Fixin' 'Er Up
Well, we started unpacking and organizing our new home. We had things that needed to get done.
My stepfather, Lloyd, had already built and installed the steps for the back entry. I had to tie the back storm door closed so as it wouldn't blow open and closed in the wind. (We now have the chain to it pulled in and draped over the inside door.) The steps were free from stuff he already had on hand.
Lloyd also installed the washing machine. My first one!!! ($99 plus tax, and still running fine) Another bout of excitement. He then put in new windows, replacing the broken ones, and we no longer have a water problem in "the box". We will have to replace that floorboard under the window, however. The windows, by the way, were free from Mom and Lloyd. They had replaced there own windows, and had saved the old ones for some reason.
He wrapped the heating tape under the trailer as well. I plug this in before I bank the trailer, and I un-plug it when the banking comes off in the spring.
We made a note that we needed cranks for the bathroom windows but, even today, we use a screwdriver.
I spent a few very long days cleaning trash up from the yard. I also cleaned stuff out from under the trailer and the shed that the previous owners had neglected to get rid of. It all went out to the road for trash pick-up. I had purchased a rake and tall lawn bags for this purpose, and they worked nicely.
I also painted the shed and the front porch that spring and summer. Lloyd went around filling in cracks in the trailer with caulking, and at some point he even put a sheet of paneling in the bathroom to cover the pipes from the tower and shelf. He also came over and hung shelves for me. I paid full price for the paints.
Lloyd also gave me their old picnic table at one point, which I also painted. It lasted about 5 years before it started rotting out. (I put it out by the road with a big free sign this past fall, and the neighbor took it. I can't imagine why, because she has such small children. I had gotten rid of it only because there were so many boards that were rotted and it was dangerous for the day-care children.)
I also cleaned out the shed and put my stuff into it. It came with a work table and chair, a peg board (not hung, even today) and a gardeners desk. I swept it all out and got the hornets nest out.
I purchased a (wo)man powered lawn mower at a discount because I took the floor model. And a few trash cans to keep outside - with lids. I also purchased an umbrella clothes line. Sheila and I installed it.
This stuff all took a while, but it was well worth it. During the fall months, my stepfather showed us how to bank the trailer using slats, plastic and nails. I'm not really sure what the slats are called. We were set for winter.
My stepfather, Lloyd, had already built and installed the steps for the back entry. I had to tie the back storm door closed so as it wouldn't blow open and closed in the wind. (We now have the chain to it pulled in and draped over the inside door.) The steps were free from stuff he already had on hand.
Lloyd also installed the washing machine. My first one!!! ($99 plus tax, and still running fine) Another bout of excitement. He then put in new windows, replacing the broken ones, and we no longer have a water problem in "the box". We will have to replace that floorboard under the window, however. The windows, by the way, were free from Mom and Lloyd. They had replaced there own windows, and had saved the old ones for some reason.
He wrapped the heating tape under the trailer as well. I plug this in before I bank the trailer, and I un-plug it when the banking comes off in the spring.
We made a note that we needed cranks for the bathroom windows but, even today, we use a screwdriver.
I spent a few very long days cleaning trash up from the yard. I also cleaned stuff out from under the trailer and the shed that the previous owners had neglected to get rid of. It all went out to the road for trash pick-up. I had purchased a rake and tall lawn bags for this purpose, and they worked nicely.
I also painted the shed and the front porch that spring and summer. Lloyd went around filling in cracks in the trailer with caulking, and at some point he even put a sheet of paneling in the bathroom to cover the pipes from the tower and shelf. He also came over and hung shelves for me. I paid full price for the paints.
Lloyd also gave me their old picnic table at one point, which I also painted. It lasted about 5 years before it started rotting out. (I put it out by the road with a big free sign this past fall, and the neighbor took it. I can't imagine why, because she has such small children. I had gotten rid of it only because there were so many boards that were rotted and it was dangerous for the day-care children.)
I also cleaned out the shed and put my stuff into it. It came with a work table and chair, a peg board (not hung, even today) and a gardeners desk. I swept it all out and got the hornets nest out.
I purchased a (wo)man powered lawn mower at a discount because I took the floor model. And a few trash cans to keep outside - with lids. I also purchased an umbrella clothes line. Sheila and I installed it.
This stuff all took a while, but it was well worth it. During the fall months, my stepfather showed us how to bank the trailer using slats, plastic and nails. I'm not really sure what the slats are called. We were set for winter.
Moving In
We were able to move in on May 9th. How exciting! We were all packed and ready to go. I had gotten rid of about 1/3 of our belongings, but still was not able to fit everything into our new home. But that was okay.
Mom, the girls and I had come over and cleaned before we moved in, and made sure that the phone and electricity were hooked up. We did not have to worry about these things. I had already talked to the landlord as well.
We had a lot of help. Mom and Lloyd each used a truck, and Lloyd had a trailer. Missy had also come over to help, as did Sheila. Chuck spent a night or two to help with heavy things, like the washing machine I had purchased.
All went well with the move. I did not sleep well the first few nights, as I do not care much for change, but I adjusted.
I gave Skye the front room, as she is the oldest, and I got the room at the other end. Zowie has the box but, when Skye moves, Zowie will get her room. Then we will turn "the box" into a pantry. The other room will be a den/craft room when Zowie leaves.
Mom, the girls and I had come over and cleaned before we moved in, and made sure that the phone and electricity were hooked up. We did not have to worry about these things. I had already talked to the landlord as well.
We had a lot of help. Mom and Lloyd each used a truck, and Lloyd had a trailer. Missy had also come over to help, as did Sheila. Chuck spent a night or two to help with heavy things, like the washing machine I had purchased.
All went well with the move. I did not sleep well the first few nights, as I do not care much for change, but I adjusted.
I gave Skye the front room, as she is the oldest, and I got the room at the other end. Zowie has the box but, when Skye moves, Zowie will get her room. Then we will turn "the box" into a pantry. The other room will be a den/craft room when Zowie leaves.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
The Purchase
When we went to purchase the trailer, the previous owner told me that the small bedroom (a.k.a. 'the box') had a problem with water leaking in. Not a problem, I decided. The window would be replaced anyway.
The woman forgot the keys, so we had to wait for her husband to bring them. They agreed to pay the taxes for that period, fill the oil tank, and have the carpets done.
It felt so good to be able to say that I owned something. I cannot express how exciting this was for me. It was mine, all mine! Of course, I would be sharing it with my daughters, but we finally had something that we could call our own.
We immediately went to an insurance agent. I had called ahead of time, and they had gone to the property and taken pictures. We needed a back step, which my stepfather built and installed in little time. Then I had insurance. We were to move in on May 9th, 2002.
The woman forgot the keys, so we had to wait for her husband to bring them. They agreed to pay the taxes for that period, fill the oil tank, and have the carpets done.
It felt so good to be able to say that I owned something. I cannot express how exciting this was for me. It was mine, all mine! Of course, I would be sharing it with my daughters, but we finally had something that we could call our own.
We immediately went to an insurance agent. I had called ahead of time, and they had gone to the property and taken pictures. We needed a back step, which my stepfather built and installed in little time. Then I had insurance. We were to move in on May 9th, 2002.
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