For the record, I'm about 99% sure my kids don't pee in the pool... the bushes by the pool, well, I make no such guarantee. The thought of swimming around in, you know, makes me cringe. When I was a kid I remember seeing a sign like this at our neighborhood pool. Well, it's high time it is resurrected. If you have a pool, even if it's a small plastic one *no, especially if it's a small plastic one* you might just need to print these (just click then print or save as a jpeg), laminate, and post … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2013
Train Stand
Thank you for all the comments and kudos on the last post about pretty much the coolest thing I own (only I don't own it, I just get to have it for a while!) My cousin Paul, my closest to age cousin, loved and cared for the train for years. He built the base to support the massive weight and size. Here's what he had to say about it: "I built the stand out of oak that I salvaged from the first remodel I helped my Dad do on the dining room of his first Wendy's. I used to go to the store in the … [Read more...]
Unique, Personal Entryways. Our train treasure.
I never knew my great grandfather. Born in 1891 Martin Luther Rhodes was a burly, rough and tumble cigar smokin’ railroad machinist and WWI vet that always tipped his hat to women, loved little children, and had a heart of gold. He worked on the railroad his whole life and was extremely talented. As a hobby he would dumpster dive (my word not his) old scrap metal and in his spare time built a to-scale steam locomotive. This baby weighs 300 pounds, measures 6.5 feet long and still works. My dad … [Read more...]
Install a Water Drip Line Tutorial
Okay girls, installing a water drip line is easy peasy! You can do this! Drip lines are great for water conservation and if you need to water more than once a day it saves a ton of time. When we moved into a home with no backyard a few years ago I decided I wanted grass (and trees and bushes and...). I thought, "sprinkler system, how hard can it be? like big legos right!?" Well, kinda. But I sure learned a lot installing that backyard with a baby in a bjorn and two little boys in tow. It … [Read more...]
Making a Money Gift Pretty
Today was one of those. I forgot about a birthday party, which also means I forgot to buy a present. My son didn't like any of the gifts I keep in a big bucket that I stock up on every Black Friday (I so love Black Friday) for this very purpose. I mean come on, what six year old doesn't want Scrabble? So, with no time left to run to the store the only option I had was money. Only all my dollar bills were crumply and ugly, I wanted those really crisp pretty bills that you can get at a bank. I did … [Read more...]
Refinishing Oak Table
UPDATE 2.19.2014 I recently refinished this oak table again, HERE. I still use this stain on other projects like this frame and this stand, but it did not work for my high-traffic-used-and-abused kitchen table!!! Buy it, use it, wear it out, make it do or do without! My aunt gave me an oak table years ago and although it is not my style, what mother of three boys can resist free solid oak? When we moved into this current house, however, I didn't even bring it inside. If you are looking at the … [Read more...]
Summertime. Lazy Me.
Oh my. It finally bit me. Summertime. Beautiful blue sky, glorious hot air, clean swimming pool summertime. I woke up this morning lazy as a slug and have had a hard time getting anything done. I talked to a sister-in-law forever this morning while lackadaisically folding laundry that I washed on Monday. No biggie. I loaded the dishwasher but couldn't bring myself to sweep up the fallen Reese's Puffs off the floor from a breakfast of champions my kids ate around 10:30. And now I am trying to get … [Read more...]
Ugly frame to Magnet Board Upcycling
I love to repurpose and upcycle furniture, décor. It’s the best bang for any buck and it’s crazy fun. My dad remodeled his office last summer and called three siblings and me that lived in town to say all the old décor was up for grabs… music to my thrifty ears. By the time I had children napped and fed I was off but by the time I got there one sister already had a small haul and laughed as I pulled up and shouted, “sorry, sucka!” Ah, crudola. I did still make out with a small score, despite the … [Read more...]
Indoor Play Tree House
Every kid seems to have two wishes: a tree house and a secret passage way. Or is it just my kids? Turns out we live in the desert and trees are hard to come by. Our solution? Build a tree house in the house. Why not!? This is one of those projects that has simmered and simmered in my mind trying to think of the perfect way to build the thing until one day I'm driving around and I see this work of art: And I realized, a perfect tree house would defeat the purpose of a tree house. The … [Read more...]