My Turn at the Chalkboard

Last night I had a turn at the chalkboard after being inspired by this pillow from Etsy.

I intend, one day, to purchase the inspiration pillow...


but until then, this copy will do.


The French Psalm is translated:

"Oh Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells."
Psalm 26:8

Amen.

Read More

Small Pleasures

Sometimes it's the little things that make my day. Especially when fragrance is involved. I don't know if I just have an extra sensitive sniffer or what, but scents really have an impact on me (both bad and good).


The other week while at Target, I came upon a Caldrea product display. It's not in the normal cleaning aisle, but rather near the kitchenware department. They have three fragrances in this lower budget line. Herbs of Provence, Citron Ginger, and Olive Oil. I like them all, but the favorite for me is Olive Oil. Thankfully, it smells nothing like olive oil. It's more of an herby/spa/fresh type scent. So far, I've gotten the candle and hand lotion. I would like to try the stainless steel spray and counter spray next.

Another new little find is an inexpensive dish detergent. It's made by Costco's brand, Kirkland. It has the most refreshing citrus scent and NOT a lemon-cleaner citrus like some other ones I've tried. It's so fresh and clean and eco-friendly to boot. And the color of the soap is perfect for displaying. I like it better than the more expensive brand I had been using. If you belong to Costco, I encourage you to peruse their dish soap aisle and take a whiff.

Cleaning never smelled so good. Mmmm.

Read More

First steps to a healthier shop

This weekend I took one of the first steps to a healthier shop.  I found a shop air purifier on Craigslist for $20. I have been looking at them on and off for a while and they can range from $100 to $300 or more so it’s been one of those things that I put on my get to list.  Well for $20 if it works half way decently it’s worth the money.  Now I just need to get it mounted to the ceiling so that it can do it’s job.  Maybe tomorrow night.  Tonight I spent the majority of the evening cleaning the shop and it’s still looks horrible.  I am going to spend the next several days trying to get things cleaned up and reorganized.  I have really let the shop go over the last month or so and it was getting difficult to walk around and there is no way I could paint the Jelly cupboard with the amount of sawdust that was in there and would be kicking around.  I still have a lot of dust to clear out and a bunch of reorganization.  I have said on this blog that a clean shop is a safe shop and a safe shop leads to a healthy shop and a healthy woodworker.  I finally listened to my own advice again and couldn’t take it any more it was time to clean.  So hopefully during this week I can get the shop organized cleared up finish the couple things on the Jelly Cupboard get it in some paint and out of the shop and move on to our WIWW nightstand.  I wish I could do this full time and crank out plans and designs and tutorials for you but alas this is a hobby and unfortunately they sometimes have to take a back seat to life.  Plus it is REALLY tough to tell Grover Jr. that I am going out to the shop and not let him come out there because I am going to be using the table saw.  Tonight was great because he Loves to play use the shop vac.  He isn’t playing he is helping Daddy.  Actually he really does a good job.  He gets a lot of the saw dust where it should be. 

Speaking of G.JR.  I can’t tell you as a parent how awesome it makes me feel that he has an interest in woodworking.  We bought a small little project for he and I to do and he is begging to put it together so we will be working on that this week as well.  I love my time with him I only hope that as he grows and becomes a teenager that he will keep the interest in woodworking and it will be something that he and I can share for the rest of our lives. 

Okay ladies…  I’m calling on you.  Once we have this WIWW Nightstand build complete what can I help you learn?  Are there other types of woodworking that you are interested in other than building furniture.  Turning or Scroll Saw.  There are all kinds of things that are out there.  In addition to building furniture I also do Pen turning and scroll saw work, both are a ton of fun and require much different skills but both require lots of concentration, both of these allow me to kind of go into my own little woodworking world and relax.  They are much more artistic in nature than just building a cabinet or a table, not that you can’t get artistic with a table.  Anyway post some comments on things that you want to learn and I will do my best to help you in your journey whether its me showing you or even pointing you to online/offline resources on the particular subject.  Okay enough for tonight.  I got a little long winded tonight. 

Have a Great Day!

 

Technorati Tags: woodworking,safety,shop,family,health

Read More

Goodbye for Me but Hello for You

I know it's more usual to introduce readers to blogs that are just starting, or ones just discovered. But today I'm posting about one that is closing it's doors (but not its archives!)


image courtesy: Pleasant View Schoolhouse

Anna, from my favorite blog, Pleasant View Schoolhouse, is saying goodbye. I can't tell you the inspiration I've drawn from her blog over the last few years. It's not an interior design blog per say, although it does include some of that. It's a blog filled with inspiration from cooking to sewing to exercise to family to gardening to photography, etc. etc.

Really, it's all about home, and the beauty that springs from it. It's called Pleasant View Schoolhouse because they live in an old schoolhouse. How awesome is that?

Please visit Anna and read the archives. I promise you'll be inspired just as much as I have been. Anna, you'll be missed by so many!!!

Read More

Our Guest Room Re-Do

 

I have been busy organizing and having our garage sale  but I wanted to show you my first room “re-do”.  I think that it turned out great.

I showed you here how I decorated this room for only $99 but since I got new furniture and decor from my Mother-in-Law,  I changed up a few things.

First, I have to show you a  befores

First……

Then……

Now…….

 

The biggest thing that I changed is the bed frame and bedding.  (Both were from my Mother-in-Law for FREE)

I love the bedding!!

My favorite part is the PILLOWS!!!!

I feel like they make the room.

I also changed the night stands.

From this….

To this…..(this night stand was from my Mother-in-Law and the lamp was mine)

From this….

To this….(There wasn’t room now for another nightstand and I already had this matching standing lamp)

Another Before

Another After

Final After

I added this chair from…..my Mother-in-Law.  Didn’t she just have the best stuff?

                    

Here is one last look!

So, here is the first room change.  What do you think???

Next, I will show you my “new” dining room!

Bonnie:)

Please visit my online Shaklee site.

Linking to these par-tays!!!

Read More

Jelly Cupboard Update 2

I had a little more time to work on the Jelly Cupboard and was able to get the door hung.

I need to put some cross braces on and get the punch tin done.  Throw on some Milk paint and I am done.  I am looking forward to completing this.  It’s probably one of the more complex projects I have taken on so far.  Then we will be on to the WIWW build.  Hoping to go get the wood for that tomorrow.  Once that’s complete I will be focusing on the guitar build for a little while.

Should be interesting.  I am thinking I am going to do a little video of that as well.  Who knows, with this being my first one and not being sure of my ability.  I honestly feel a little crazy taking on such a project at this point in my woodworking journey, but I have come to the realization lately that there are sometimes you have to stop trying to learn and spend time doing.  I also find that in that doing I tend to learn significantly more than I would have just reading about it and really if you don’t start the project you can never know if you can accomplish it and learn and become better.  My only worry is that it will play like crap.  I care what it looks like but I would rather have a good/great playing guitar out of my first one than one that plays like crap and looks great.  If it looks like crap I can fix that.  If it plays like crap I can fix that to I will just be a little more disappointed in my abilities.

I guess my take away from this for you is that if you want to do something and supposed “Talent”, “Skill” or worry that you are getting ready to screw up some beautiful Mahogany and Maple are standing in your way.  Kick them over, bust up in that joint like you own the place and get to work.  A master craftsman didn’t become a master craftsman by sitting and looking at books, videos or the internet all day, he became a master craftsman by doing it.  It doesn’t matter if that Craftsman taught himself, went to school or learned it from a friend or family member he/she ultimately had to put tool to wood and make something.  So lets get out there and build something. 

Have a Great Day!

Technorati Tags: woodworking,jelly cupboard,philosophy,guitars

Read More

Black Bean and Corn Salad/Salsa

This week, I took the kids to my cousin’s house for a playdate.  When we kids were busy playing, we got to talking about one of our favorite topics……FOOD!

Then I copied down some of her recipes.

I already made this one and LOVED it!!!!

I wanted to share it with you incase anyone was looking for a great Mexican Salad or Salsa. 

This recipe is so fresh tasting and would be great for any summer party.

 

Black Bean & Corn Salad/Salsa

ingredients

1 can black beans (rinse and drain)

1 can corn (drained)

1 bunch cilantro

1 onion (finely chopped)

1 large tomato (diced)

2-3 T fresh or canned chilies

Dressing

1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil

2 T red wine vinegar

3 cloves garlic (minced)

1 small lime (2 T juice )

1/8 t honey

1 pinch cumin

1 pinch crushed red pepper

salt and pepper (to taste)

Just mix everything together in a bowl.

Enjoy as a side salad or with chips as a salsa!

Happy Saturday!!!

Bonnie :)

Please visit my online Shaklee site.

Linking to these parties!

Read More