Above Ground Pool

Yes, Bo and I got an above ground pool. Bo studying the directions.

Our biggest problem is our ground isn't level. We didn't realize how uneven our ground was until we started to fill the pool with water. Needless to say it just didn't work.

So now we have to dig out about 18 inches of our yard to level out our swimming pool. At the rate we are going we will be able to swim by the end of summer. Thankfully both Bo and I love to swim.

Keep The Inside Cool

When I first meet Bo he already had the house we live in now. And from the first time I stepped foot in it I had ideas on how I wanted to change it. He actually let me paint the dinning room and kitchen before we were even engaged. This was the start of a lot of improvements we have done since then.

I need say that I have gotten many of my ideas from my dad. Because he has always looked for ways to lower the cooling cost at my parents house. My first idea was to put darker screens on our windows. This is something my parents did at there house. Well the screens on the windows at our house do not cover the entire window so it would not block the sun coming.

So I had to come up with a plan to help block the sun from heating our bricks. My idea was azaleas. They are some of my favorite flowers especially when they grow large. This year is the third we have had them. They are beautiful and functional.

I can't wait until they fill in and grow taller. This wall gets a ton of the hot afternoon sun, and I would love for them to help block some of this from heating this wall.

As I drove out of my neighborhood today I noticed that very few houses had anything planted on the side of their house that gets tons of sun. Just think of the amount of energy used to cool all of those houses.

Pillows

Today, I took advantage of my day off by making some pillows for my living room. They look much better than this picture. I have had these cut out and sitting around waiting on me to sew them. This fabric is usually much more than I would have paid for fabric, but we have a local designer fabric store and they have a bargain basement that has a bind of sample for a $1.00 a sample. So total I have $8.00 in the fabric of these pillows. The ladies always look at me funny when I leave with an armful of fabric. One asked me one day what I was going to do with it and I told her I was going to make pillows out of it. She said I guess that is a good idea. I guess I got high end fabric for very little it must be a great idea.

Long Weekend Again!

Happy Birthday Jefferson Davis! Actually, his isn't his birthday until June 3rd, but the State of Alabama celebrates the first Monday in June and I get the day off work. So again I say, Happy Birthday Jeff Davis, and thanks for the long weekend.

I had numerous projects planned for this weekend. Sad to say none had anything to do with sewing. The first project I tackled was our patio furniture. This was my Maw's patio furniture. It sat on her breezeway and then her screened in porch for many years. It had been well loved. When Maw moved it end up on my brother's back porch for 3 years without anyone even sitting in it. I got it when my brother decided to get rid of this set. Needless to say they had rust on them and not the best shape. Bo and I took them apart , sanded them down and repainted them.
This is how they look today. I LOVE the color, and these two rockers are super comfortable.

My mom bought me an umbrella, but I won't be able to use it in the table because there is no umbrella hole in the table. I'm going to try an umbrella stand beside the table and see if that works.

Now that I have it all finished it is way to hot to go outside. It was 91 today. I'll show you the rest of my projects later in the week.

Finished Sewing Room

I don't know why these pictures are so small, but this should give you some idea of what my new sewing room looks like.

This wall of shelves have come in handy. The only thing is I have way to much weight on the bottom shelf and it is leaning forward some.
I have set up this little corner for painting.

This is the window area in the room. I actually have my iron set up in this area.

More shelves and fabric on this wall.

Hurricane Faye!

We have received a steady amount of rain enough that now our roof decided to start leaking!!! It isn't that old of a roof because Bo had it replaced after Hurricane Ivan. We will see how it works out.

Call Me Vera

My great aunt Vera makes everything! She was Martha Stewart before Martha was born.

So when I saw I Have To Say link to how to make your own laundry detergent on July 16Th, I thought for sure it would be something my Aunt Vera would try. Therefor I should try it too.

This is a shredded bar of soap. I didn't have a cheese grater so I used a serrated knife.

Me stirring the pot to make sure the soap melted completely.

Completely melted soap and water. I lost Bo at this point because Ice Road Truckers came on.

This is my finished project. Just waiting to be used.

Is it already Sunday?

I can't believe the week is already over. Bo and I both took off work on Friday to paint our living room. We had to prime the walls along with putting on two coats of paint. We did finish, but not until 1 am.
We still need to paint the trim, but I did put the first coat of paint on the mantel. I wanted to paint the brass around the fireplace, but I haven't found an option that I liked. I guess I will have to live with the brass.
Saturday I finished my bishop dress. Sorry for the horrible picture, but we were leaving and for the baby shower I was going to was two hours away and I still had to finish the button holes. Luckily, I had time to do those in the car. The future mother is a friend of my from high school and she seems to really appreciate it. She actually received many hand made gifts which I was glad to see.
I also got to eat dinner with my nephew. Boy is he growing so much and his hair is so blond and tan. He is full of spunk and determination.
I have off work tomorrow for a holiday. I know what you are thinking... what holiday is on June 2? Well the state of Alabama celebrates Jefferson Davis' Birthday. I'll take the day. I don't care what they call it. I hope to use the day to get more things done around the house and maybe work in some time to sew.

My Husband A Handy Man?

Not only did we install new floors this weekend, we also installed a new kitchen faucet. Bo is not the handiest man I know. But when the plumber said it would be $90.00 to install the faucet, he decided he could do it himself. I am really proud of him tackling these home improvements. I will just have to see what I can add to my “Honey Do List”.

Reading the Directions

Working Under the sink.

It Works! Like I ever doubted that.

Old Carpet = New Floors

Remove old carpet. ( This is not the best picture of me. )

Take up foam padding.

Pry up tack strips.

All of this work equals one empty dining room.

Tomorrow the fun starts!

We are laying hardwood floors in the dinning room and hallway. Needless to say there will little or no sewing that takes place this weekend.

New Floors?

This is our guest room, and I promise there is a bed in there. Not that I think that anyone would want to sleep in it. In the next couple of weeks we plan to lay the 91 boxes of wood flooring and the seventeen boxes of tile. It will be a job, but we luckly have help.

This is the color of our new flooring.

I can't wait to get rid of our old carpet. I will post more pictures on our progress.