Two Large Projects on Their Way

I’ve started sanding the cupboards, doors and trim in the kitchen/dining room and stairwell. This is, by far, the most woodwork in the house. The good news is it will be a stunning difference when finished. The hard part is getting there.

Since I’m nearly out of trim paint, we had to pick some up. So while at Menards, I noticed they had some plants and seeds in the garden department. We’re putting a white picket fence up in the flower bed nearest the road. I bought four roses to go in the bed too. Two Grandiflora roses called Waiheke, a hybrid tea, Gold Glow and a climber, Joseph’s Coat. Waiheke is a coral/pink blend. I’ve not seen this rose before but it looked very similar in color to Tropicana from the package. Tropicana’s are my favorite roses, as they were Grandma’s favorite rose. She combined them with Peace roses, but there weren’t any. I settled for a yellow in Gold Glow. Joseph’s Coat is another of my late Grandma’s favorites. It’s a show-stopping climber with cherry red, pink, orange and yellow within the flowers. A truly striking combination. My plan is to plant the climber in front of the fence, with the three others at the end of it. The other end of the (future) fence has a flowering apple tree. Those “bones” will provide stunning color, easily seen from the living room windows, at a distance. I’ll add some perennials and annuals to bring the bed together.

Last, I bought many packs of easy to grow seeds. Cosmos, 4 o’clocks , morning glories, Shasta daisies, black eyed Susan’s and painted daisy’s. These work well as “filler” in large beds. I also bought several packages of herbs for my deck garden. Spearmint, catnip, parsley, lavender, cilantro, oregano, basil, and chives. I truly enjoy my herb garden which I grow in containers beside the deck. Spearmint is luscious smelling, and I often pull a leaf and twist it to sniff as I’m saying good morning to my flowers. I’ve not grown lavender from seed before, so if they don’t germinate I’ll purchase plants. I’ve had success with all the rest without much difficulty.

We may have our tomatoes and peppers in containers this year. We’re filling in the garden area with grass seed. The area where the pool sat will be filled in as well, and seeded. The two stumps will be ground down, the swing set, barn and shed removed. I plan to build a fire pit and seating area where the barn stands, as we have a huge amount of wood from cutting down those two large trees in the back yard last Spring. That way it looks like we had a plan, rather than Scott being constantly frustrated by the sticks, branches and leaves he had to deal with before he could mow the yard. The two Adirondack chairs and small table (on the front porch currently) will be painted and placed near the fire pit. I have scads of patio blocks to build the large pit and cover the area around it. Those, and mulch, will look nice and neat. I’ll add some containers filled with flowers for color.

So we’re on our way with a couple of the larger projects. Since both curb appeal and kitchens are huge selling points, I’m thrilled to have at least started both. I’m currently admiring the painted woodwork in the main bath and hallway. I really like painted so much more than stained and varnished. Our next house will combine both, as Scotts’s preference is stained.

Oh good grief. Let’s not start thinking about all the work we’ll do building that one. Let’s just focus on this one and get it finished. After it sells, we can start thinking about the next one.

Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter

Is really growing on me. Now that might be because the house was so kid destroyed, with hand prints and toy scuffs on every wall, I’m just thrilled with clean, pristine freshly painted walls and trim…Very possible. But I’ve found this particular greige works with both warm and cool colors equally well. That, my friends, is versatility at it’s best. The beauty of white ceilings and trim with Revere Pewter is also impressive. White can look cold and stark, but next to the wall color it’s really lovely. This Benjamin Moore paint is one I highly recommend to create a neutral background to build upon.

My choice for paint is Conco Pro. Not only is this an economical choice, it’s good quality. This is a contractor paint first used in Southern states. It’s now available nationwide and has proven itself to me for ease of use and durability. I had used it several years ago to test it before using it in a customers home. This was prior to the moving in of oldest daughter and grandkids. Conco paint held up surprisingly well given it’s very rough use. For most families, the paint will hold up extremely well. With our Anthony’s autism, our walls received much more abuse than usual. But even after 11 years of that sort of extreme wear, that paint held up remarkably well, all things considered.

Since beginning the updating of our home, I’ve found some things worth spending more on and some things are alright as cheap as possible. Primer and paint isn’t where you want to scrimp. Purchase Kilz general purpose primer for most jobs. Use Stain Blocking Formula if you have darker wood or paint, stains or wild patterns to cover. Even if you need two or three coats of primer to cover sufficiently, it’s still cheaper than latex paint. Conco paint is a less costly paint which works as well as many other brands I’ve used. It works better than several well known brands which are far more expensive. This is one product where cheaper is actually as good as, or better than, more costly alternatives.

Oh, on a side note: due to the advances in latex paint formulations, latex paint wears and lasts better than oil based paint. For both interior and exterior applications. Once you’ve primed with Kilz, you can then paint latex paint over top. Which means any oil based paint, interior or exterior, can be primed with Kilz and then painted with latex. This is less costly, less dangerous as you only need soap and water to clean up rather than chemicals, doesn’t require a filtering mask to use unless you’re spraying paint. Then always use a mask with filters. You don’t want to breathe in anything which will harm your lungs.

Wear a mask when sanding, varnishing, staining, use of any toxic cleaning (or building) solvent during demolition, and around any dirty/moldy stuff you’re cleaning up. If you have a mold problem which is significant, hire a professional to come deal with it. Black mold can, and does, kill people. I’ve cleaned enough in homes and businesses to last me a lifetime and then some. This is a serious health hazard and not one you want to deal with. Also, remove yourself and your family completely from the vicinity until it’s fully cleaned of mold, and then cleaned of any other dust, dirt, old building materials, etc. following the mold remediation. By that I mean stay in a hotel, with parents, in a rental or a camper off premises. Do not return until the furnace vents have been cleaned out, as well as everything else. The particles of black mold become airborne and will take root within your lungs. Don’t take chances with your life or the lives of your family. End of my PSA.

Unfortunately today is a lousy health day for me. I won’t be getting anything at all done today. Hopefully tomorrow will be greatly improved. In any case, may you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy during this pandemic. Remaining home is a small price to pay to protect the lives of those around us- within our families and communities, which then protects our country. God bless you all.

I Consistently Overestimate My Endurance

Big plans, limited energy. Story of my life. I’m exhausted and sore. My shoulder dislocated again, which it does all the time, and Scott popped it back in. But this time it hurt. Which is unusual. The hallway, closets and main bathroom ceiling is painted.

Next up, the rest of the main bathroom and the laundry room. There’s only a small bit left to finish in the bathroom. Scott built the access door to the…I have no idea what it’s accessing. He removed the plate rail, which we’re repurposing as the top of the half walls at the top and bottom of the stairs. He’s also been ripping the plywood to make our “ship lap”. This is going in both bedrooms, the mud room, kitchen, main bath and stairwell.

The question is what color to paint it? I have the Revere Pewter, but I was thinking all white in the kitchen, with Carrara Marble countertops. Laminate, not stone, with beadboard backsplash in gray. Neutral, but clean and bright. This would also coordinate with the color of the porch floor. This matters, as from the door you see through the mud room into the kitchen.

My hope is to paint the living room and the laundry room tomorrow. Scott tiled the laundry room floor today, so I should be able to paint it tomorrow. And the cabinets in there. The living room has limited trim-windows, crown molding and baseboard. So that shouldn’t take long to do. Of course the ceilings need painting too. But we’ll remove the carpet before I paint. That, alone, will greatly improve my mood. In fact, it will give me just the boost I need to keep plugging along.

And I will, until we run out of paint. Nearly half my 5 gallon bucket of Revere Pewter is gone. That covered the hall and three closets. I used a bit more than a gallon of white trim paint in the hallway. I only bought 2 gallons, which clearly won’t be enough. I think at the time we bought it, we were just planning on the kitchen cupboards. Although at this point it’s hard to remember that long ago. I’m thinking of grabbing a 5 gallon bucket of trim paint next time we’re in town.

Side note: Does it feel like the world tilted and everything is separated into before the pandemic or now, during it? Just like 9-11. There was the world before the planes struck and everything after it…A huge altering of the American way of life. We, both as a country and the entire world community, will never be the same after this. My hope is we put aside all the stuff that is dividing us and come together as one people. United. Stronger having endured the unthinkable. Uplifting those who are weakest, grateful to those serving selflessly to keep our country healthy, stocked, and safe.

God bless those serving in the battle against this virus. From the dedicated healthcare professionals, rescue workers and police to the truck drivers hauling needed supplies. The store workers tirelessly stocking and restocking shelves. The volunteers caring for elderly or at risk neighbors. The caregivers in nursing homes. Each risking their own health by doing what they do. We are praying for each of you. And thank you so much for your service to our country.

Hallway

Another busy painting day. Ceilings, trim, doors and linen closet all have primer. Doors, linen closet and trim have the first coat of white paint. Tomorrow, walls!

And the laundry room. And the interiors of the closets. Everywhere I’m working, I’m purging. And I’m starting to pack up personal items. Photos, kids artwork, etc. Because I read if your home is organized, buyers will subconsciously think theirs will be too if they buy the house. Both Scott and I are heartily sick of thinking about “what buyers want”. Nevertheless, we will until the house sells.

We’ve decided to repaint the master bedroom and the woodwork. Might as well do everything, right? With three more weeks of sheltering in place, my hope is to have the entire upstairs painted and ready for floors. That’s my goal anyway.

Then onto the basement. Which means packing up my workroom. I am truly dreading that.

Open Letter to Congress

Attention Elected Officials:

The American people are sickened and disgusted by your partisan politics. Remove everything from the plan which does not have anything to do with this current crisis. Increase the amount to actually provide significant help to people right now. Are you telling us you’re willing to offer financial assistance to every country on earth, but our people aren’t worth it? Now is not the time to play your usual games, which is all about more power and more money-for you.

You people are so desperately out of touch with reality, you think you can screw around with this. You CANNOT. The people of this country deserve better than all of you. What is going on here is absolute bullshit. You think this won’t be remembered by the voters? I can assure, it will. I can promise you all today: get it together or the American people will vote your sorry ass out.

In fact, voting all of you out would send a positive message. You work for us. Don’t do your job-and we fire you. I have rarely been so repulsed by Congress as I am today. This isn’t a Democrat or Republican issue. This is an American issue. The people of this country need help NOW. Shut up and get this done today.

Sincerely,

Ginger Boerman

Sheltering in Place. Three More Weeks

Our governor has issued an order we’re all to shelter in place for the next three weeks. Only essential jobs, services and travel. So before this begins at midnight, Scott and I went to several stores for necessities for our parents, grandchildren and to restock our own staples. Which was quite an experience. There is no toilet paper, eggs, very little milk, meat, few canned and frozen veggies, noodles, rice, and over-the-counter medications. Nevertheless we were able to get nearly everything on everybody’s list.

But this offers even more opportunity to get the house finished. After an annoying set back today, tomorrow looks to be better. I’m actually looking forward to seeing the woodwork painted. Scott will take the doors off tomorrow and I’ll start in the kitchen. I’m purging and packing as I go through each area. We haven’t decided if we need to rent a Pod, or a storage unit. That’s a decision we need to make fairly soon.

After we complete the interior, we head outside to finish those projects. This will require a dumpster. But with each step forward, we’re encouraged by our progress. Oh, we decided to paint the doors and trim in the master bedroom and bath as well. Might as well do it all while we have the house ripped apart…

Budget Ways to Make Your Home Look Expensive, Part 2

In part 1 we covered ideas which make a home look high end. This time we’ll cover how to do this on a budget.

1. Normally I begin with my luxurious fabric. I pull my colors from that. I build the whole space around the fabric I’m using. Finding fabric cheap is pretty easy. The clearance section in any fabric store, secondhand stores, garage sales. Make sure it’s a fabric you love. If you’re basing all your decisions on the colors, and even the style of your home, found in the fabric you need to love it. Take your time and find the perfect one. It might take awhile to find fabric at a price you’re able to pay. But it can be done with patience and perseverance. Once you find your dream fabric, buy enough of it to use. You may want window treatments, throw pillows, a covered ottoman, slip covers, who knows. Buy enough so you have options. Pick one or two colors from the fabric as accent colors you’ll use throughout the space.
2. Before painting, fix or change things. For example, if you dislike your trim now’s the time to change it. Paint or stain and varnish before you put it up.
3. Neutral Color Palette: paint isn’t cheap. But it remains one of the least costly options for making a dramatic difference in the look of your space. Check out your local Habitat for Humanity. Ours has shelves filled with paint, all for 5 bucks a gallon. If you’re painting your whole house one color, do this: Pick up 5 cans of paint in your chosen color family. (Greige is a good, neutral color). They should be close to the same color, but exact matches is unnecessary. Pay attention to the finish. I prefer eggshell for homes with kids. Satin works for homes where walls won’t get as much wear and tear. Grab a 5 gallon bucket and pour all (well mixed) paint into it. You can have some satin and some eggshell if you can’t find all the same. It won’t matter. Stir well. You’ve created your own color by mixing the gallons into one. Now you have your wall color.
4. Trim, doors and cupboards need a good paint. There are brands which carry paints specifically for kitchen and baths. I haven’t seen trim paint at Habitat, but yours may have some. Again, if you have more than one gallon of paint, mix them together. This way there’s no difference in color. Even white can look different between brands, paint age, and finish.
5. Remember, you need good primer. If you’re painting your whole house, get a 5 gallon bucket of kilz. Prime and paint your home.
6. When putting a room back together after painting, take the opportunity to try a different furniture placement.
7. Slip covers can make a huge difference in the room. Again, neutrals work well. Canvas drop cloths make great slip covers.
8. Painting wood furniture can change the look of your space significantly. If you dislike what you have, but can’t afford to replace-paint can help. Black can add just the right punch. And, as always, check secondhand stores for stuff you do like.

These are some tips for creating a high end looking space on a very limited budget. More to come.

Today’s Project: Painting Woodwork

Our hallway has seven (6 panel) doors, two bi-folds, and one large cupboard with three drawers. Other than the kitchen-which is huge-this is the area with the most wood which needs painting. Here’s how:

1. The most important part of painting is the prep you do before hand. Remove hardware. I keep it in ziplock bags within the closet/room it goes to.
2. Wash everything with TSP. You must have a clean surface to begin with. This is the first step for painting walls too. If there is dirt or grease on the surface you’re painting, the paint won’t adhere.
3. Fill any damage to woodwork (or walls). Let dry completely.
4. For woodwork which is stained and varnished, or has a gloss finish, sand the surface to rough it up. Again, this is to give your paint a way to “grab onto” the surface you’re painting.
5. Use a tack cloth to remove any dust from your sanded surface.
6. I am painting my woodwork with a brush and foam roller. (Yes, you can spray your woodwork. And I’ve done that, primarily in new construction. Realistically that requires space to lay out your doors or covering everything else with plastic sheeting to protect from overspray. It is also a skill which requires some practice to do well. For the average homeowner, it’s not something I’d recommend.)
7. No matter what people say, you need to prime your surfaces. ***My opinion: The paint which is both paint and primer combined is lousy. It gives you neither good paint nor good primer. It also is more difficult to use. Again, I’m used to regular paint and separate primer which may make a difference. But good quality primer is essential to a good paint job. My preference is Kilz.
8. Use your brush to prime the edges of the panels in a panel door. Use the foam roller on the flat parts of the doors. Always remember, a couple thin coats are better than one thick coat. Let dry between coats.
9. Now begin with your paint. If your paint comes in a metal can, open it and punch 5 holes in the track the lid sits in. I use a nail. This lets the paint run back into the can, rather than collecting in the track you put the lid into. This will allow your can to shut tight, which is essential to keep your paint good.
10. Begin by brushing your paint into the spaces around each panel, as you did with the primer. Roll the paint onto the flat parts with a foam roller. Let dry completely.
11. Lightly rough up surface with fine grit sandpaper. Tack off.
12. Repeat the above steps for the second coat.
13. Let dry. I normally wait 5 to 7 days before I reattach the hardware.

Remember, acrylic paint takes 30 days to dry completely. Do not scratch, scrub or roughly use your newly painted surfaces until it’s fully cured. This is how to paint your interior doors and trim.

Budget Ways to Make Your Home Look Expensive, Part 1

Here are a few ways to make your home look expensive on a budget:

Begin with a neutral color palette. Beige, gray, greige, and white are all neutrals which work well. Greige, in particular, will give you vast options because it can work with either warm or cool colors. Monochromatic doesn’t have to mean the use of only one color. Nor does it mean boring. Use texture and different materials to give the space depth. Vary tonal values. Layers are another way to add interest. And once you have a neutral base to start with, you can add pops of accent color

Hide Electronics. If you can’t hide them, make them as unobtrusive as possible.

Less is More. Don’t overfill your rooms with furniture. Keep your pieces proportional to the size of the room. Simple, classic styles are best. Not only do they look expensive, they never go out of style. Choose upholstery which feels good. Nothing scratchy or uncomfortable. Again, stick with neutrals in either a solid or a very subtle, classic pattern. Clean, simple lines are both elegant and high end.

Luxurious fabrics. This doesn’t mean you need a lot. Use expensive fabrics judiciously. Say one side of a throw pillow, with the other side a coordinating, less expensive fabric. As an accent in curtains. Perhaps a wide stripe at the top, with less costly fabric beneath. Maybe use as a trim either on curtains or accent pillows. Use as art. Frame and hang on the wall. Add to lampshades. Add your accent color(s) to your space with fabrics.

Wide Trim. Around doors, windows, as baseboards and crown molding…if you have no architectural details, create your own. There are many styles to choose from, though I recommend something classic. This type will not go out of style and is easier to paint.

Window Treatments. If your room is dark or your windows small, move the curtain panels to hang beside the window, covering the wall and only covering the edge of the window (the frame). This makes the window feel larger than it is. Bringing curtains to ceiling height is also a good idea. Using texture in your fabric will add to their interest. Again, keep your window treatments simple.

Reduce sit-‘em-arounds. Again, to many knick-knacks isn’t high end, it’s clutter. The luxurious interiors have tasteful items, but not a lot of them. If you have several things you love, rotate them. Here is where bringing in your accent color(s) works well.

Mat and Frame art. Use the same color, if not the same style, frames for art in groupings. Black frames are classic and lets the art be the focus. Adding larger mats and heftier frames will give a small art piece more presence. If you don’t have any, children’s art work looks beautiful framed and matted.

In theatre we said, “God is in the details.” This is true when creating your living space as well. Make sure everything is spotlessly clean. Purge unnecessary, unloved, unused items. If you’re buying things like dishes, choose classic styles in neutral colors. White is versatile. It’s usable for holidays and special occasions, as well as everyday. Purchase the best quality linens and towels you can afford, in neutrals. These things add to the enjoyment you get from your home. Finish all projects. Make an effort to fix those small annoyances. That door sticks, this drawer squeals, the faucet drips…Spend time going through your home, tightening, oiling and fixing the little things. You’ll be much happier with your space.

Coronavirus and Faith

Post about faith! Don’t read if you don’t want to know!

My faith is based upon the Bible’s teachings. This is not a slam or disrespectful of any other faith at all. I deeply respect the beliefs of others. This is merely my perspective from my own personal beliefs.

The Bible has many prophetic books. The one many are currently discussing is the book of Revelation. This book was written by John, a disciple of Christ Jesus. In it are prophesies about the end times. The end times are the things that will happen prior to Christ’s second coming. And it’s a scary look into the world’s future.

Quick explanation for those unfamiliar with the beliefs of followers of Christ: Christ is God’s Son, born of Mary. He came to earth to save humanity from the price of sin, which is eternal damnation (the separation from God). He was not only God’s Son but our (humanities) savior. Christ was tortured, hung on the cross, and died. He descended into hell. Three days later Christ rose from the dead (paid our price and overcame it for our salvation) and lived, again, on earth for a short period of time before He was taken up to heaven to await the time He will come again to earth. This is referred to as the Second Coming of Christ. Again, this is what I believe.

Now back to the concern this pandemic is a sign of the end times. It’s my belief that it is all part of the journey the world and humanity will take until Christ returns. There will be catastrophic disease, famine, natural disasters, horrors meant to turn people from sin and to Christ. So in that way, yes, it’s a sign of the end times.

Is it the end? No. Absolutely not. There are many things which must happen before Christ comes again. They haven’t. This is just a small taste of things to come. It’s a direct result of sin in our world. God has allowed this to happen for a reason.

First, it’s important to remember the reason bad things happen is because of sin. The evil one was given the world as his playground and people are his toys. Every single bad thing that happens is all on the evil one and his minions. The evil one is responsible for sin. Every body’s. And sometimes, as a loving parent should, God allows us to experience the consequences for our choices to sin. (Even those who are doing their best to do things His way will experience the consequences for humanities sin.)

Here’s an example. My daughter, a gifted child who would immediately become bored when she understood what was being taught and read whichever book she was into at the time, couldn’t understand why she had to do homework. She knew the material, the teachers knew she knew it and, therefore, homework was just busy work and gigantic waste of her time. Why bother with it (because it was painfully simple stuff for her) when there were so many other interesting, and far advanced, things she could be learning about.

After explaining, repeatedly, the teachers did know she knew the stuff but they needed her work to prove she knew it. They couldn’t grade her on just watching her in class, they needed something to grade her on. And if she didn’t turn in the work, no matter how pointless and boring it was for her, they couldn’t do that. This made no difference to her. She was bored out of her mind in school, found her teachers irritating in the extreme and really just wanted to read and write her own books of fiction. This all came to a head in fifth grade. Her refusal to participate began to have consequences which started to matter to her. She struggled with this reality, yet didn’t connect it to her choice not to do the required work. By the time she did, it was to late for her to get what she truly wanted, and needed, which was advanced placement. Did watching this happen to my beloved daughter break my heart? Yes, it did. Would I step in and shield her from her bad choices? No, I would not.

This is exactly what God is doing here. He’s saying, “hey kids, the stuff you’re doing is dangerous and not in your best interest. Turn away from that and listen to Me. I want only the very best for you.” Seriously, guys. This is the reason and lesson He’s trying to share here. The more we do things we should not, the more painful our consequences. Because we are stubborn children and we want to do whatever we want. But He sees the big picture and knows the consequences for those choices. He wants us to understand how much we are loved and only wants the very best for each of us. His heart is breaking for our suffering, but His hope is we will realize we’re making bad choices and turn from them to what is best for us. Him. Again, my belief.

I’m not trying to minimize the severity of this situation. It is horrific, world wide. But based upon the prophesy in Revelation, this is just a minor bump on the road humanity will travel. Many times in the Bible, people were given a warning and turned from sin to God. This turned the natural consequences away from them. My prayer is this is the case for us. It’s a wake up call.

Many will disagree this is God loving us. They will say that kind of God isn’t one I want to follow. I completely understand that. It’s taken me prayer, serious study and a lot of time to reconcile God is love, and still allows bad things to happen. It wasn’t until I became a parent myself that I understood the sacrificial love of Christ and God’s allowing natural consequences. Because I love my kids and grandkids. I want only the very best for them. I had to make them unhappy, even angry, at times by denying them things not good for them or safe. I made them do things they didn’t like, like cleaning their rooms and (for all but one) doing their homework. But my children always knew, absolutely, I love them utterly and completely. They know I would do anything for them, protect them and sacrifice everything for them. My own life means nothing to me compared to theirs. And I’d give it up without thought or hesitation for any of them. God feels that way, only even more, for each one of us. Which is why He sacrificed His only Son to die in our place. Christ paid the price for our sin so we wouldn’t have to for eternity.

Faith, the calm assurance I have that God is in control of what’s going on here, doesn’t mean I won’t experience the effects of this. My loved ones could die from this. (I could too, but that’s of no concern to me at all.) I believe our economy will recover. In fact I think once this situation settles, it will explode with robust strength. Because our economy was very strong before the virus, and will rebound quickly. My concern is for those suffering the effects of their loss of income today. We, as individuals and communities, need to step up to help those who need it right now. The government has plans, but I find government assistance to be slow coming and not necessarily all that helpful. We’ve seen this before with Katrina, for example.

There are many wonderful examples of selfless individuals stepping up to help the most vulnerable in our nation. It is truly a beautiful thing to witness. The love and care shown during crisis would be such a blessing to our country if it were an everyday thing. Because we are at our best when we pull together for the common good. Perhaps this pandemic will break through the ridiculous (and poisonous) anger toward those of a different race, faith, political leaning, education, economic standing, or any of the other stupid labels which divide us. Because the more we are divided, the less effective we are. Turn from division and step forward in unity as one country. And may God be with you and your loved ones during this challenging time.