Christmas Mantel #1

I am slowly getting Christmas out. The mantel's are always first here at our house.
So here is mantel #1.
Do you Believe? I got this at Tia Pan two years ago. I don't know why but I love it.

Now ask me why my stockings are not hung in the middle of the mantel, go ahead ask me...well, because we use this fireplace alot, and my husband thinks it is a fire hazard. It is a gas fireplace...I don't know, I just do what I am told. He is usually right about these things.

The santa was given to us by some friends and the berries are some I already had. No, nothing new this year.
These three little bears sit on the hearth, had them forever too.
So there she is, mantel #1. I'll be working on mantel #2 today. Can't wait to see everyone's Christmas mantel's.

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Thankful!

Just had to share my thoughts tonight. I am feeling very thankful. We have been having some serious winter weather here lately. Yesturday, I started out at 9:00 in the morning to the city for some groceries and a little Christmas shopping. I only made it about 5 miles and decided to turn around it was too dangerous. The roads were very icy and snow covered. I came home to my very nice cozy house and cleaned the rest of the day until the kids got home from school.

We had to try it again for an orthodontic appointment in a town 15 miles away. It was okay going down but on the way home we hit a very icy spot and slid off the road about 30 feet into some very deep snow, barely missing a freeway sign and came to a stop. Of course, we were stuck. Before I could get my husband called, a man from our community was going down the other side of the freeway, turned around and came back to help us. He didn't know it was us until he got there. He was just coming to help whomever it was. I was so thankful that there are great people out there who will stop to help a stanger in need. He is in his 70's and could have used a million excuses not to stop. He and my husband were able to get us out. No injuries, not even the car. So thankful. Again, I was able to continue home to my warm cozy home.

Today, as the storm of the year is hitting us. Schools were let out early and were canceled for tomorrow because of this storm. Winds and snow like I haven't seen in a long time. I think how thankful I am to have a warm home for my family.
I was able to add a few leaves to our thankful garland.
"Home, kind people, warm fire, and family."
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What are you thankful for?

Progress on the laundry

Still working on the laundry. I bought new handles for the cabinets. This is what I had...

These little darlings are what I got...
I have decided to not paint the laminate cabinets because I am afraid of how they will turn out. They are very easy to wipe off and they don't look as bad with the new wall color and their new handles. I have been working on the tops of the cabinets too. Here is what I have come up with so far...
That is an old wash board that was my grandma's, love it. My old soap container that I won't be using anymore and a welcome sign I already had.
I used one of the baskets I got from JoAnn's great sale and a pitcher I already had.

I am still looking for fabric to cover the bench and we are installing a sink in here also and tiling the counter top. Just a few more projects to get done.
Don't you just love progress?

Shelf in the laundry room

First I have to say "I AM IN LOVE"....with my new washer and dryer. You know after using the same one for 23 years, you just don't realize what you're missing.
I got busy on the shelf over the pegs in laundry/mudroom. I bought a 1x8x6 board at Lowe's.
The shelf will need to make a 90 degree turn, so I cut the pieces to fit.
On each end I cut off the corners so there wouldn't be a sharp edge sticking out.
These triangle pieces turned out to be perfect for the shelf brackets. I drew out the design of the shelf bracket.
Cut it out with the scroll saw.
I needed three so I found another scrap piece to cut the last one out of. I drilled holes in them to fit the screw into.
Here are the brackets in place.
I put the wood plugs in the holes and painted them white. Here they are finished.

I think I better run back to JoAnn's and see if they still have those cute baskets. I need one more, don't you think?

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Laundry room makeover part 1

They arrived! The replacements, that is.

I have yet to use them. We are having trouble with the dryer set up. Not with the dryer itself but with the venting outside. Maybe tonight I will get to try them out. I sure hope so, 4 days without doing laundry, well you know what I mean.
So far I painted over the green paint with Behr Harvest Brown. I love that color. If you need a great neutral tan, that is it.
Today I will work on building a shelf above the coat hangers here.
I found these baskets and JoAnn's over the weekend for $8 for the set.
I got two sets so I could use the smaller ones on the shelf I am building. The others will be put to use somewhere else in the room.
Well, I better get going on the shelf or this room will never be done.
Have a great day!

Retirement

Yes, this old couple is retiring.
Yay! You know what this means right? Laundry room makeover!

I feel a little bad, this couple has served me well for 23 years, yes 23 years! I got the washer for my wedding. They moved with us 6 times. They are a part of the family. But they are very tired and ...I want new ones!

Waiting for a delivery this morning. I painted yesturday. Kinda glad to get rid of the green in there. I am neutralizing. Still wondering what to do with famica cabinets??? Can't decide.

Oh, I think I can here a big truck outside, better go.

The "Letter" band wagon

I jumped on! The "letter" band wagon. I love how everyone is using letters and numbers. I have been slow to use them in my house until now.

I have been looking for an "S" that would stand up on its own. I found this one and liked that it is big and chunky. It measures 12".

I spray painted it black and put in here.

I have already moved it about a dozen times, and it looks great everywhere I put it. Maybe I need some more SSSSSS's.

Table to bench

I really hate this table.


It's a nice table. It was a hand-me-down from my mom years and years ago. It is solid oak. I mean solid. It is very heavy and well made. I just didn't like the style. I got this great idea one day when I was complaining about not having enough seating around my table....I'll cut that baby down and make a bench. So I did.
I used a jigsaw.
I measured my dining chairs and they were 18" high so that is what I cut the bench to. I took the brace off between the table legs...
and put it back on the bench with my handy dandy brad nailer.
Sanded.
Painted, two coats. Left over black from the murphy bed. Behr paint and primer in one from Home depot.
Sanded the edges for a distressed look.
Then I put Minwax Early American stain over the whole thing. Let it dry for a long time. Then I got to bring it in... the best part.
It sets right by my dining table.
And the best part, when I need it, it pulls up and I can sit two more adult behinds or 3 kid behinds.
Luuuuve it! Just in time for Thanksgiving! Now who's coming?
By the way, I'm thinking of painting my dining chairs black too, what do you think?


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