How to add $1000 value to your house for only $12

Where have I been?  What have I been doing?

Don't worry, I have NOT forgotten about you out there in blog world!  I have been a little distracted...with sumer...but I do have a few projects to share.  I didn't sit around sunbathing ALL summer!  lol 

One project I finished was the painting of my exterior doors...finally!   I paid $12 for 1 quart of Rustoleum Satin Black paint, and finished several coats to 3 doors in 3 days. 

I think the classic black added so much to the house!

Here are the before pictures.  I painted the doors a few years ago, they were supposed to be dark espresso brown, but were a reddish brown chocolate.  Hated them right from the start, but had to live with them for a while. 

Sorry about the snow picture - I had to find old ones because I forgot to take a before picture. 

Here is the after:

NEXT - QUESTION - I am thinking about changing the color of the siding on the front porch when we put the new windows in.  What color should it be?  Remember...it is a 100 year old house. 

Rustic Country Island

My friend "Miss M.", and her hubby "J" created an awesome country cottage kitchen a couple of years ago.  Painted beadboard, open shelving.  Delightful.  "J" is pretty handy, and made SUPER FANTASTIC maple butcher-block countertops! 

Here is the "old" kitchen:

They are always working on one project or another.  Imagine my suprise when they told me they were re-doing their kitchen......again!  I know!  I know!  There is nothing wrong with it!  Yikes!  This time they splurged for beautiful new shaker cupboards, and created a new island, as well as removing a wall in between the kitchen and diningroom/livingroom.  The beadboard stayed, but where are those maple counters????  I wonder if they will curb them?...I think I should keep an eye out for them.

Here is the new NEW kitchen:

and:  THE ISLAND! 

Includes:  Barnboard, a tree for the footrest,

and look at that chunk of wood for the bartop! 

Lets not forget, NO farmhouse country kitchen is complete without the farmhouse table & chairs:

"J" made the table top too!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

This detergent has many good qualities: It is all natural, environmentally friendly, non-perfume, and economical.  Homemade laundry detergent is easier to make than you would think.  It only takes me 10 minutes to make!  I make a batch about every 2 months, for a family of 4.    It is a liquid gel, so it dissolves well in my wash. I found all of the ingredients at WalMart.  Total cost $14!

 (which includes a multipack of ivory soap)  These ingredients will last the average family a year! 

This recipe can be adjusted to suit your needs.

You will need the following:

(or Naptha or Sunlight Bar soap)

Borax:  1/2 cup

Basic Laundry Detergent

Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

■Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

■Fill a 5 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved.

Top the pail up with more hot water.

Let cool overnight (to gel), stir well and transfer to old laundry detergent bottles.

■Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel). (I just use the lid of the detergent bottle, full - it is usually close to 1/2 cup)

Optional:

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

Powdered Laundry Detergent

2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top)

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

■Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.

■Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Altered Pantry

This is a melamine pantry unit...you know the white $60 portable kind?  It was painted brown, and scratched.  I wanted it in a "nook" in our bedroom to hold sweaters & stuff, but I didn't want it to look like a pantry.  I am not sure if I love it, but it is a big improvement from the previous brown.

BEFORE

We use it for clothes

DURING - but I must take it 1 step over the top!

And the after!  I am not sure if Black Glazing was the perfect choice, but it is growing on me.  (And it is still much better than the before pictures!

Welcome To The Farm

It's been a while since I posted. Tangled up in life with the end of the school year, summer fun, and work. I havn't been doing much restoring, but we bought a camper, and spent a weekend away recently. We went to my parents home, and I was up before daylight taking pictures of my parents fabulous yard. We have always referred to the place as "The Farm". It was my great Grandparents, then my Grandparents, and now my parents. They built a beautiful home, with lumber my Father cut from "The Farm".

Enjoy the photos, and a poem I wrote about the place in 2005.

Welcome to "The Farm"

The Jeffery home, you see

On the hill, and full of charm

In beautiful Cloudslee.

We have no livestock here,

Or vegetables for sale,

But if you watch, you'll see the deer,

And a neighbour mowing hay, to bale.

A W-4 putts around,

And a John Deere dozer too,

A riding lawn mower keeps the grounds,

& there is a little gardening to do.

Twice a day, precisely at 2 & 11,

Everything comes to a halt!

Like a thunder coming from heaven,

It's the train that is at fault!

As a kid I sat on the fence post,

Counting cars, and a vigorous wave,

"I counted 61" I would proudly boast,

"I saw 63" my brother would rave.

So, "Welcome to The Farm"

You don't need an invitation,

The friends and tea are warm,

And never, a lack of conversation!

Darlene Armstrong, 2005

Our Door is Always Open

This is the entrance to our basement on the side of the house.

It was hideous green, and I forgot to take a before picture.

We have a hundred year old house, and 3 doors. We only use this door for accessing the basement, to get our bikes out, etc. It is a good thing too because it is short. To replace it means big buck$, because it is a special order. So, refinishing it is the only option. It has some really nice details in the carvings. You couldn't see these when it was painted.


After:

Look at the doorbell!!

and the doorknob: