Has it really been two months since my last post?

Good gracious. Time flies even when not having fun. HAHA.

Anyhow, with the holidays, the new job and such I just hadn't really found the time to do much blogging nor keep up much on other blogs, though I did go through them once in a while. That has changed temporarily for reasons I desire to not discuss here.

The last few days I have cruised through my usual haunts and I must say, I am glad the holiday season is over. So many Christmas oriented photos and such it became overload so seeing some blogs come back to normal is refreshing.

Oh, finally I did an upgrade to my bedroom:

Before - Sept 2009:


After - Jan 2010:


I happened upon that set for $20 at Ross! Sweet, I thought to myself. But not really investigating the contents until I got home I opened up the package and it was just a duvet cover with pillows and two shams. Whoops. I was so taken with the price I didn't even think to check it.

No matter. I finally had something pretty to cover the bed and buying an inexpensive comforter or preferably a thick quilt for the innerds can wait. I have left the two quilts (both are for twin beds) underneath to keep me warm at night. I pull the duvet cover down at night to keep it nice. The thing is, some might be really disappointed in discovering that their cheap find really wasn't what they thought it was but I now have a bedroom I can walk in and be proud of even if it is lacking a key component.

I think for $20 that's a good deal really. I really did want something that wasn't poofy like a comforter anyway and I had been eyeing a black quilt at Target but it was beyond my frugal nature and of course the budget. Also, this has a bit of the gold tones that are in my regular cotton sheets so it worked out. I did get some black pillow cases (on sale for $7!) and now it looks better. It's a bit matchy-matchy for my tastes right now but I am in no hurry to make it "perfect". It's far better than before so I am not complaining.

One holdover from the holidays are the gold, beaded twigs I got from Michael's craft store for 50% off before Christmas. I decided I liked how they pull out the gold tones in the vase I got for $4 from Ross back in August, they are staying out for now and I moved it to my computer desk:



Close-up for a better color comparison:


I've only added a few other things since November and all have been pretty darn cheap. I added a cord-wrapped vase for $2 on the top of my shelves:



An artsy closeup of the texture:


I also picked up its sister that is taller and not as bottom heavy and a bit more at $4.76 (both from Hobby Lobby deeply discounted):


If you notice the shorter vase, that came as triplets and who doesn't think triplets are cool? One of its siblings can be seen in the photo of my computer desk above, on the monitor stand and you can see the last one here next to the bronze and black vase (which was only $4) Though they were in a package together, they came out to only $1.83 each:



You may remember that yellow vase (with the flowers) I got at Goodwill a while back? I took someone's advice here and got a pack of northern white beans, on sale, from the grocery to fill it up. I dig it! What a great suggestion and it's kinda neat to shop the grocery for your home decor. Hehe.

The little gold votive holders I have also left out (one in the shelves and one on my computer desk) were also 50% off at Michael's before Christmas. Working next door to them can be kind of dangerous on the budget but I've been very careful about that.

Oh, and I have decided that mixing metals gold, bronze, silver and copper through your home is fun. In some cases you don't have much of a choice but if you don't get too anal about it, it's unexpected and doesn't have to look really odd. For example, my weather station has silver in it and I like it placed on my computer desk and then I have the vase with the gold, beaded twigs...I like them both so I am willing to overlook the idea they aren't the same. Given the nature of the weather station, spray painting it to be black, gold or whatever is not going to happen so they stay right where they are.

Enough of my ramblings for now. I hope everyone had a fine holiday season (whatever your beliefs) and that 2010 is a great year for everyone.

Oh, and I have to post a picture of my boys from this morning while they were soaking up the sun even though the temps outside are in the upper teens and lower 20s:



They are fast becoming buddies and as I type this, they are both licking their legs! Haha!

Lazy, lazy afternoon

Just a few pics of my boys this afternoon. The house is clean, the sun was shining in the back patio door so the three of us kind of congregated there to experience some passive solar heat.

Later I ended up falling asleep on the couch with Sonny while watching "Antiques Roadshow". Not much else to do so why not?

Worthwhile Weekend Project

I grew up around the manufacturing of and eventually sold windows and doors and an often neglected or item that people put off is cleaning their windows and doors.


Picture from stock.xchng user = Henriette downloaded 10/25/05

Last night I ran to Target to get the cheap window cleaner they sell ("Compare to Windex®" - $1.12). I prefer to use a professional grade for obvious reasons but these windows and the patio doors have been long neglected and I was not in the mood to use my expensive window and glass cleaner on their (apartment complex's) property. I don't mind using it for the mirror in the bath because I have to use it to see all my imperfections. Well, okay, my perfections as God had in mind. (grin)

Anyhow, I used up about 1/3 of the 32 oz bottle to get the what seems like years of ick off them. I have two 3'0" x 5'9" windows, a 5'0" patio door, a 7'0" patio door and the tiny kitchen window is 2'0" x 3'0". All of which were nasty as can be. I don't desire to attempt the outside of the one in my bedroom room as there is a spiky juniper tree right in front of it but I did get the inside. That's a lot of window cleaner, not to mention I attacked paint and stain drippings and other odd grossness that needed a razor blade to clean them off. For the five windows and doors minus the exterior of the one, it took me about 2 hours to get them decent. There are years of water stains, scratches from people using the wrong tools to clean and such I can't get off but they are so much better now.

While cleaning windows, patio/garden/french doors and lites in your other doors is kind of a pain in the butt, I recommend using this long weekend (for those in the US) to tackle them. It makes a huge difference in how clean your home feels. I'm glad the apt I am renting is on a bottom floor, sure makes it easier for a lot of reasons but also for me to tackle cleaning the windows.

Besides, Jake likes to leave all kinds of nose prints on the glass around here and that drives me batty. Now if only I would get to cleaning my car with the same enthusiasm.

Here's a pic of Jake from last night:
- a dog's life sure is rough, aint it?


EDIT: Oh and while I am at it:

I think this post sort of fits in with these two:




Go to their sites and check out what other people are up to. Much more imaginative than my post but some good stuff to peruse.

If this particular post isn't what you expected, these two might fit better: this post and this post may tickle your fancy.

Well poo

Good ideas sometimes don't work as planned.

I painted the middle (see previous post) one a solid black with Ceramcoat black and it just looks goofy.

I did that one first on purpose first because if I didn't like how it turned out, I can live with that. So, the other two will stay their faux wood for now and oddly enough the color is pretty close to the stain of the nightstand and the wash stand. I did a bit of touch up with the black and brown paint in the places where the faux wood had chipped off. Unless you know where and gave it a close inspection, you can't tell. So, I am kinda bummed because now I have a $2.49 piece of "eeewww".

Screwing in the mirror hanger was super simple so that pleases me. Since they are so lightweight, I will use very small nails to minimize the size of the holes that will need to be filled up when I vacate in the next 3-6 months.

No pictures of the failed paint project since my camera batteries are running very low as I use it a lot.

However, I can't end a post without a picture or two so I give you:

Cat Loaf:


On Alert:


Oh my, I am getting punchy.  Having a nap in the early evening is bad idea no matter how tired one is!

Labs sure shed a lot!

This is a (duh) close up of my dog Jake:


No worries, he's not mad but he is wondering why I am sticking my camera in his face.

Anyhow, you'd think a short hair breed would not shed much but holy heck this guy sheds like mad. I am pretty sure he is not full lab, I adopted him (very long story) when he was 1 year and 3 months and I am his third parent - owner. My dog prior to that was a chow/shepard/lab mix so I expected that with Kodi but never thought a lab that is pretty much lab (he's a bit smaller, his nose is a bit pointier and he doesn't have the typical barrel chest) would shed so darn much.

Now it's my hair (thin and long) that usually stops a vacuum cleaner because it wraps around the roller brush but his fur fills the cup in no time. Thankfully my friend gave me his old bagless Bissell and only after two uses, it was fuller than it should be. Uh, whoops. I didn't realize it was above the fill line until after I had already finished vacuuming today.

You combine his fur with Sonny's and my *shedding* too and good gracious it makes me fear the carpeting.

My preferred flooring in most of a home is limited carpeting. Since I worked in a tile company briefly I learned quite a bit about proper flooring. If you've ever pulled up 20 year old carpeting or even newer (yeah, it should be replaced much, much sooner) where the home is located in a dry and dusty place, carpeting is simply disgusting.

Carpet has its advantages such as: sound proofing between stories, stays warm in the cold months, non-slip and easily carries color from one room to another and especially good when using a neutral color in that manner.

The problem with carpeting is: stains easily, dirt magnet (especially in the dry climate I live in), requires regular deep cleaning, attracts bad smells, expensive to replace, often people buy in colors that only work for three years with their home decor...

Tile is great but I would never put tile in a kitchen, ever. I love, love the look and having sold it in the past, it has a lot of benefits but if you enjoy cooking tile is very hard on the back (and feet too). Tile also is not as forgiving as hardwood, laminate or vinyl when you drop something breakable.

If it were my decision: hardwood or laminate through the majority of a home using throw rugs for warmth and the look of hardwood never goes out of style. Tile in a bath since it cleans up nicely and perhaps wall-to-wall carpeting in a guest bedroom that doesn't get much use. If you must use tile in a kitchen, get some nice rubber chef mats to cushion your back and feet. Vinyl and other such flooring is great for laundry rooms, mudrooms.

While sweeping is kind of a pain in the butt, I would prefer to not have carpeting. Hardwood or laminate can be very easy to care for and if you know the rules of flooring, you'll have the tools to fix areas that may become damaged.

Tip: When buying flooring, buy at least 10% extra. If a tile breaks, you have matching tile. If you've left on vacation to come back and hardwood or laminate flooring has been soaking in water for whatever reason, you have matching planks. Vinyl is hard to destroy but I have seen it done so that can be patched as well. And your carpeting is the same deal.

Oh and as a side note. I remember we had this cool parquet flooring when I was a just a baby through the beginning of my toddler years (I remember weird stuff) that my parents replaced with orange shag carpeting. I would love to have a room or two in parquet flooring similar to what we had:



Perhaps a different design or bigger squares but I like it.

Blogging about blogging

I've been on this thing called the internet since Feb of 1995. 1995 I say? Yeah. Back when AOL was a paid by the minute (IIRC) service and I even broke a pinky toe once because I need to use the potty! That involved fun chatroom shenanigans, Molson Ice and the fact the bathroom was on the other side of the house.

My internet travels have been pretty extensive and have seen so much on the internet nothing surprises me anymore.

So along comes services like Live Journal, long before "blog" was a mainstream word. I've had some kind of Live Journal since 2000 but didn't start actively using it until after 9-11. Now, Live Journal (and a couple of other similar sites) were pretty ground breaking because of the types of things people would post for the world (or chosen friends) to see. For me, my Live Journal is just like a diary that I share with chosen people and it's a place where I do feel safe and have friends who I feel loyal to though I've only met a handful in person.

Since those early days, journaling and blogging have become a way for people to bring in income. Some are very successful at it too. But what is a blog but words, should it be focused to keep people coming back? This is something I am struggling with since I started this particular blog. I started it as an addition to my Live Journal so I could keep the angst sheltered among trusted company but to document the changes I am currently going through in all facets of my life in a more public arena. But, I am in a very unique group of people so many of my thoughts and words don't appeal to many.

For example, I am not a mom. Many of the blogs I read every morning are moms so I skip on through anything related to children and decorating kids' rooms. I have nothing against kids and in fact I love kids but I know I would be a horrible mom. This was a decision (to not have kids) that I concluded when I was around 16 years old.

I'm not a wife. I was going to be one at a very young age (at 18) and for some reason since that time, I just have never felt a connection but one other man in those many years. He didn't feel the same way.

I'm going to be 41 next month (oh, that hurts to write, 41?) so I don't have the wonders of my younger adulthood to write about. Had I had a blog back then, oh the interesting things I could have posted. I'm not saying my life is over, it's just different, tame might be a good word.

I'm severely under employed as a self-employed person and when I do find a part-time job, it's not going to be anything (I am sure) that a wide audience would enjoy unless unless I am able to get a job dealing with home improvement, construction or the like because I love that stuff.

So what is this blog about? I don't know. I don't know about you but I don't know any other 40somethings, never married, no kids and seriously under-employed. I mean, how can that be remotely interesting?

I lost a lot of self during the years I spent drinking my troubles and boredom away. I'd always been the type of person that could be alone (since I was a little kid) but the isolation through drinking really stunted me as a person that sought things other than alcohol to make my life interesting. I still have those interests (photography is a major one - mostly buildings and scenery) but I also feel stunted because of my low income levels.

Well okay then. I've deduced that I am a small fraction of one percent of the people in the world like me. In older times I would be considered a "spinster", which incidentally, is born from yarn, which I enjoy. I'm unique, that's for sure. Not sure how this blog will evolve, how it will appeal to others or if it will ever have focus; I am ADD after all and in the world of an ADDult focus is hard.

Other than that, it's Friday morning, cat woke me up too early and I should have a plan for the day figured out soon.

I will end this post with a pic of my Jake chewing on a "chewy":


Good morning!

EDIT: PS For some reason this blog's time stamping is way off. I post Mountain time, have an atomic clock and it's about 50 minutes behind the actual time I post. Settings are correct on my end and it bugs me.

Working with what you have

Hehe, per the advice of a friend on Facebook, I gulped and went to get some lithium batteries for my digital camera. Ouch. Rice and beans for a few meals for me!

Anyhow, here's how the bedroom looks (not much different like I said before) right now:






I have pulled some things here and there from my storage unit to try to make my shorter stay here a bit more home-like instead of living like it's just temporary quarters (which it is). With that comes mixing and matching things that normally didn't go together.

The lamp above was in my living room years ago and was replaced because its twin bit the big one after a cat-gone-crazy incident. It sat in the garage for years. Had to buy a new lampshade and since my budget is so dang tight, I went with the black one as the only off white/beige they had that was big enough was about $5 more. It looks bad but nothing a can of spray paint can't fix and a glue gun to recreate the wrap it has currently with some jute...it almost went to Goodwill when I moved so I am not out much. (Target lamp circa 1995, Target shade 2009.)

I'm not thrilled with how the black paint ended up with the picture. It really needs new matting or a completely new look to it but I love that picture as it combines flowers and architecture. Two of my favorite things.

Some things are going to remain a bit barren and/or crudely done because that's just how it is right now. Take my window treatment for example:



The miniblinds are provided by the complex. I desired to have that window be dark in the early mornings (not a morning person) so I took one of the forest green tab top panels I have had for years and tacked it up with push pins instead of installing one of the rods. Since the rod requires the use of a drill, I am not inclined to do that at this time.

Tiny apartment entryways are a huge challenge. Using what I have with a couple of dollar store items, I came up with this:



Another challenge is to coax your graciously given hand-me-down point and shoot camera to see what you see. My desire is to have a full on Canon but that's a different entry on its own. The mirror had an almost identical frame as the big picture in the bedroom which I used as a test to paint before the big frame. It isn't as high up as it appears in the pic. The two little pictures are dollar store frames with scrapbook paper inside. The candle holder also came from the dollar store with a cut-out of a cat so that goes with the dog paw print in the one frame as I have both a cat and a dog.

So, I am working with what I have and working on short time here soooo to end this, here's a pic of my dog Jake I took when I was getting some shots of the bedroom:



A pic of my goofy cat will come at a later time.