This Ol House Is Lookin' Better

 Last Saturday Hubs and I went to a an estate sale of items belonging to a dear friend's mother.  We went to say "Hi" NOT to buy.  Oh, well, we got some good items!  One was this table saw.  Hubs had been wanting one and $40 was in our price range (cheap) and he used it several times in our repair work this week. Score!

 OH, he also bought this awesome Silverado truck from another friend who was downsizing in the vehicle department.  This friend is Mr. Clean so the truck is pristine.  We had actually borrowed it last year when we needed a truck to pick up our hand crafted table from Charleston.  We frequently borrow another neighbor's  truck and decided it was time to buy our own.  We sold Hub's car, Chigger, within the first hour after we put it out on the lawn Saturday.  Score!

 In the midst of all our "house work" we took a hot dog/picnic break for lunch.  Hubs loves him some Hot Dogs....especially with his custom made chili.

 I scraped and painted the rail by the back door.  The salt ware crock broke when I drug it out so I could paint so we also re glued the crock.  I love the little goat planter Sallie gave me.....she looks very festive with the violas in her "hair".

 The we installed a rail to the right of our steps.  I had been wanting one ever since I noticed elderly visitors needing assistance coming up and going down our stairs.  Being cheap caused me to notice the one at our breakfast room stairs which is never used.  Hubs took that sucker down, I scaped and painted and we installed it in front. Score!

 This building was our daughter's over the top playhouse (which I think her mother wanted since daughter never played in it over two times).  We started using it as a "flower house" to keep all our yard tools in about thirty years ago.  When Hubs wanted a shed for his John Deere lawn tractor, ol cheapskate said, "re do the playhouse!"  He is painting the green trim and putting the finishing touches on it here.  (He took out the back window and wall and made two doors so that he could drive Mr. Deere in and out.)  Score!

We bought this lovely wrought iron yard ornament at the Estate sale.  It is the back drop to our new row of knock out roses and day lilies we put in this year.  I sanded and painted this baby.  It looked huge up at the house but our large English garden dwarfs it a bit; still I think it is a nice permanent addition to the garden. Score!

We also bought a farm bell at the sale.  I always wanted one but the two from Curtis grandparents farms went to other family members.  Curtis is adjusting it so I didn't get a picture; once again it was a very good buy.  I plan to use it to call Hubs in from the yard; "sometimes" he doesn't hear me call.  No excuses now. Score!

Its been a fun and hard week and we are pooped!  But we are off to pick up pecans for his mother who is under the weather.

Have you been doing any "house work"?  Do you need to?

Another Great Home Product to Try

When we were in TEXAS our house sitting hostess had a mop similar to this. Every week when the maids came they mopped all the floors and put the mop head in the washer with the rags they had used and washed them. This inspired me.

Truthfully, my husband has done all the mopping in our home. I may have gotten out the little sponge mop a time or two. Hubs has always liked a great big string mop and has the accompanying mop bucket you can step on to TRY to get the water out. When done he hangs it in the storage room to dry.....no washing needed?????

So when I saw the Texas mop I decided we needed a mop that could be washed between moppings. I looked in Texas and here and could not find the one they had but something similar. It is a Rubbermaid mop and the mop head can and has been washed in the washing machine after each mopping. So far I have mopped the kitchen area twice since we have been home. Hubs is thrilled. Me, too!

PS the mop she had is the Libman Big Tornado Twist Mop. I tried to cut and paste a picture here to no avail. Google Libman to see all their housecleaning products including The Big Tornado Mop.

This is the way we clean our house, clean our house

clean our house, once every forty years....hubs and I are trying to remove some of the offending allergens and crud that has accumulated in our forty year old house. True, I am known as Nancy Neat, but I am always quick to point out I am NOT Cathy Clean. So a lot has gone undone in the name of travel, babysitting grand kids, volunteering, reading and just plain goofing off.

Oh my goodness....do you realize how long it takes to clean thirteen paneled doors with a wet rag? How about five bathrooms and six commodes....I mean down on my knees reaching all around the back....now I know why European toilets go back in the wall instead of down to the floor where little boys (and I think a few bigger boys) can whiz on the them.

Well, we are committed to getting this job done by Thanksgiving when we can truly give thanks we've got another 40 years to let it accumulate :)