Spring Outdoors Cleanup

We were able to go over to my Mom's last week and help her clean up a little bit around the yard and on her huge deck.  Lots of raking and getting rid of items that were old and rotted.  Always a good time to hang out with the family.

And the kids especially enjoyed that Uncle Bryce was there to help by giving them rides on the trailer and play with them!

September 21, 2015

Insulating the garage. 

Kitchen Faucet - Getting Rid of the Leak!

We took advantage of our local Menards 15% off bag sale (in combo with a gift card received from William's sister for Christmas!) and purchased a new kitchen faucet.


The old one leaked and honestly, everything in our house is builder grade and I really needed to do something small to remind me that I can (and will) turn this home into something that isn't quite so cookie cutter!  It seems that when you buy a newer home these days, unless the initial builder/owner had the money for the upgraded finishes, you get bare bones basic everything.  And this house fits that description!  But it also leaves tons of room for me to put some great ideas I have into play.
   



Our beautiful Moen faucet.  The wall is not green... Not sure what happened with the lighting to make it look that awful green color!

In our last home we purchased our first faucet where the sprayer pulled out of the faucet itself - this one is the same, only a little higher quality.  Even though the sink itself is in pretty bad shape, we will try to shine it up with some wet/dry sandpaper and see if we can make it last until we decide to fully remodel the kitchen (should that ever happen!). 


After a leak in the sink drain (William think he bumped it and that likely caused the leak) he fixed that drain and now it is working well again.  I am so happy to have a new faucet that doesn't leak and is pretty as well!

The New House Saga: Decorating the Outside of our Front Entry



The front entry needs something.





What that is, I am not sure. 

Granted, we are going into winter soon, so I won't have to worry about anything but keeping the sidewalk and stoop clear of snow, but it just feels like it needs something.  Something to make it feel more like a home.

A bright red metal star?  A colorful outdoor rug?  A small metal table and chair - painted a super bright color?  Even a large planter with a few smaller ones around it would help brighten up the space come spring.  The area doesn't get much sun (a bit of early morning) so it would need to be shade tolerant plants.

The space isn't that large, but it is big enough that it does need something in that corner. 

Maybe a straw bale and corn shuck for fall/winter?  That could look nice. 

Any suggestions?

Then, what color should we paint the door?  The house is yellow and has a brown roof.  I want something bright.

The New House Saga: Dishwasher & Sump Pump

When we bought the new house, we knew there were going to be issues that came up due to the cleanliness (more the lack thereof) of how the previous homeowners cared for the house. 


Last night, William ended up taking apart the dishwasher to clean out the bottom of it as he could see a little bit of food remnants in it.

A little bit of remnants was not even half the story. 


There was a small chicken bone in there, I kid you not. 


After pulling out the components and taking them outside and power washing them, he put it back together and we ran a load overnight.  Needless to say, the dishes were all spotless this morning. 


Amazing what a little proper maintenance (and even a slight rinsing of the dishes) can do.  I was just ready to cough up the money for a new dishwasher it was so gross.  William specifically told me NOT to look into the dishwasher until he was done cleaning it.  He told me twice, so I knew he was serious!

The dirty dishwasher.  Yuck.



Then there was the sump pump.  I am not quite sure how it would even be possible, but it appears there was a bag of clumping kitty litter dumped in the hole where the sump pump is located.  It stunk.  Bad. 

But after vacuuming out the hole and cycling water through the sump pump again, it is at least clear of the kitty litter mess. 

Makes me stand firm on my stance that the previous owners realized there was some maintenance needed on the house and since they didn't clean or do any maintenance, it was time to sell the house.

So grateful this morning I have a husband who can fix almost anything and WILL DO IT.