We are in Austin, and loving it! The time here is much to short and we wish that it could be much longer but life is calling and we will be flying home tomorrow night.
We have stayed busy here and gotten TONS of hugs and kisses which are the best part of the trip!
My Daughter in law and I were walking this morning with their miniature beagle in tow and much to our surprise a large pit bull came running up behind us, having escaped from under the fence that was retaining it....or supposed to be. I screamed, grabbed Jen and tried to "pull her to safety" but she stood her ground to protect their beagle, which didn't even bark at the other dog (really!!??!!) and the pit bull sniffed, and went back to it's yard. We were such heroes!!!
Our son was taking a couple of minutes to do a tune up on his bike, which just came back from the body shop due to an accident 2 months ago (yes, my heart stopped when I got the call!) and of course I took the moment to snap a couple of pics.
Have an amazing week, I will update you on all else when we safely return to IL.
This is it, off we go to Austin Texas! House sitter and dog sitter in place, we are ready to fly!
Before we left, I wanted to finish a project that would give our house sitter some privacy in the kitchen.
I had bought some killer material to make some shades for the kitchen windows. I had no instructions, only a shade that had been bought like 10 years ago.
I came up with this: instructions (kind of) for everyone else to use. Of course, you have to understand my ways, I wish you much luck!
I bought one yard of the most lovely material. It was 60% off of the 15.99 per yard on sale. Yippy!!
I cut the material in half lengthwise after measuring the windows. For me, this was the ideal size, but of course you will have to judge the amount of material that you will need after you accurately measure your own windows.
I came up with measurements by measuring the INSIDE of the window frame as I am using pressure suspended rods.
Next, I ironed the seam hems on all 4 sides, which were 1/2 inch seam allowances.
Take the material to the sewing machine and seam all four sides.
Next you will need a rod pocket, which for me was a 2 inch fold that I again ironed. Be careful to NOT seam the ends, as that is where the rod needs to enter and exit.
After sewing the rod pocket, I needed to mark for the grommets (yes I said grommets) these are used to raise and lower the finished shade. I used silver grommets which my husband picked up at our local Menards.
I set them every 10 inches starting to measure from the bottom of the rod pocket (don't miss this) and marked for 5 grommets on each side. (inset the length of the box, I know, soooooo technical!) I am not sure that it is necessary to have an odd number or an even number when finished I just chose an odd amount.
Next, on the back of the shade, in line with the grommet markings, I sewed in a 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch strand of twill tape. The wider needs to be laying against the shade as it is reinforcement for the grommets. The thin strand is used to thread thru the grommets and it raises the shade.
I am not going to show you how to place grommets, as the box of grommets has superb instructions for you! But know that when you put the grommets on, you go thru the material AND the wide twill tape!!! This is important.
Here you can see the finished shades. You can see the twill tape threaded in and out of the grommets.
Lift the shade by simply holding the bottom of the thin twill tape and pushing up the material. Tie it off behind the shade and voile!
The shade that I used as my "vision" was priced at $16 for a single shade and that was 10 years ago. My shades came in at a cost of $13 total (including the cost of material, grommets and twill tape) for the pair!
And I love that they add pattern to the room and a bit of drama.
Of course, the color that you can add to a room is limitless with these type of shades and completely custom to your own taste!
My Dad was a veteran of WW2.
He learned his life long trade in the war in a horrendous way.
He did not talk about it much, some things are better left in the past.
My Dad passed 23 years ago. He left this world knowing that he was appreciated for all he had done for our country.
I wish for all our veteran's of this country, whether servicing now or in the past to know that I greatly appreciate all that they have done for us.
Thank you Dad and thank you to all who serve.
When? On the 13th of this month!
Where?
Here!!!!
My husband and I scored cheap tickets (Need to get away? Why yes! Yes we do!)
And we are on our way for a week of family, fun, food and FUN!
I saw a light the other day that was a bright yellow cage light. Pendant. Sooooo very pretty.
I knew I could make something just as fun, but really did not need one nor did I want the yellow color.
Well, my youngest daughter just got this funky orange polka dot area rug for their living room (completely out of their comfort zone, amazing what a Mom can talk her daughter into buying!) and I knew that I had funky orange spray paint in my basement arsenal.
So, I found this: a $5 metal plant basket.
I had this in my closet: a $4 light cord from Ikea
Oh yes!
No, wait...the light kit does not fit the basket. Boo.
I will make way.....think, think, think.
Canning seal!!!
Oh yes I did!
I cut the hole in the middle and attached it to the basket with metal glue aka welding epoxy.
Yes, there IS such a thing, who knew? My husband I guess since when I was looking for something to use on the basket, I ran across this above his tool bench! Yippy!!!
I let it sit for 24 hours to dry and then took it to the garage to paint.
Isn't it a fun color!!!
I brought it into the house to sit for 24 hours to allow the paint to cure
and then inserted the light kit.
Here it is! Fun, funky and if my youngest daughter still reads my blog all the way to the end, and leaves a comment, it is all hers, to put in the corner of her living room to look so super amazing with that fun new rug!!
And here you can see that our male dog, Ernie, is beyond hyper over the new light!
Well, if the light tasted like a hamburger, I am sure he would be hyper....maybe.
