Sunday, March 28, 2010

My Kingdom For a Thimble!

I'm currently employing one of my favorite tactics to fix something... do something else and hope it fixes itself.  Since I don't expect that will work, I'll tell you what it is near the end of this post.

The weather has been cold this weekend, so I've been trying to finish inside projects preparing for next weekend when I'll start some outside projects.  I'm going to have 5 yards of dirt delivered during the week - the weather will be great next weekend, and I'll have the perfect chance to fill the raised beds.  I'm looking forward to it already.  Really.

But first, finishing inside projects.  I finished recovering the two brown pillows you see here, which were originally Salvation Army pillows whose covers disintegrated on me.  I made the two backing pillows for the porch loveseat.  As promised a few weeks ago, I used red embroidery thread to pull in the two sides of the three loveseat pillows, and started to do the final closure by hand sewing (they're held closed with safety pins now).  Ouch!  My fingers aren't tough enough to push the needle through multiple layers of canvas and other material.  Wouldnt'ja know, after taking apart my whole sewing box and giving it a spring cleaning - I don't have a thimble!  Finishing this project is just going to have to wait until I get a thimble. But I did put the sewing machine away!

Then I installed the innards of a $9.72 fluorescent light fixture from Lowe's into the second old metal thing, and now I have two working grow lights.  I put the tools away like any neat person would, and took a picture to prove that it looks better now than the other day.

I started to wash the butter churn to get ready for another try at making butter and ... realized that the kitchen sink is stopped up.  I tried Drano.  I tried my little drain cleaner snake thingy.  Neither worked.  I think I'm going to have to get down there, disassemble some things and try the real peoples' snake.  It's gonna be dirty and not-fun.  Which is why I'm sitting here writing a blog post and hoping it fixes itself!

I have a project planned for April/May timeframe, to replace the kitchen sink, counter, stove, cabinets and shelves, pretty much everything except the floor.  I'll get a chance to get back to the walls, fill mouse holes and put up some insulation, as well as make storage areas that are actually usable.  I expect to be without a functioning kitchen sink then, for up to a few weeks.  Looks like I can practice living without a sink early!  If I don't get the drain cleaned out, that is.

Edit:  Wishin' and hopin' worked!  The sink is usable without snaking - for now.

3 comments:

  1. Holy Big Project for April/May! But sounds like you'll end up with a totally new kitchen. That's what I'm hoping for with our remodeling this summer, too. I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of us!

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  2. Spring is a great time for projects, but you amaze me with your speed for finding new things to do!

    There's a company in my city that has a solid reputation for a variety of things: masonry, roofing, windows,etc. I got an estimate, from the company owner, and he pointed out other things he saw that needed attention, and I used his list and mine to come up with this year's work. (P.S. I have NEVER, in 18 years of home ownership, gone about things this way,just one thing here or there.) He asked yesterday when they can start, and I said as soon as you can. So, they start tomorrow!

    New cellar windows (and raised a few inches); parging the foundation -- all four sides; repairing the apron on the garage (never knew it was called an apron); fixing 2 roof leaks; and fixing the front steps.

    Don't know how it happened, but now I can see the end of the road: just stain the house, take down a tree that got way too big, and re-pave the driveway --- and my 90 year old city house is caught up!

    I didn't get any grow lamps for my tomatoes, so we'll see how it goes. I usually buy tomato plants or get extras from a brother..... so this was just for fun to see how it goes!

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  3. Mama Pea - you'll have to give us the scoop on *your* big project!

    Kate - this project has been percolating for a while - I just haven't written about it. I didn't think I could do it until I saw someone else who has exactly what I want about a month ago. Is your city close to my city? If you like these guys, I'd love to know who they are. I want to get a quote on having windows replaced.

    I had to look up what parging is!

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