My $2 Clock, a Butter Churn and a Winner!

 

 

 

 

 Last weekend there weren't a ton of garage sales.  I was heading to the grocery store and saw a sign for a sale at a warehouse.  Ok, I'll go in...  I was pleasantly surprised to see this clock on the wall for $2.  It wasn't running, but I was assured that it worked fine.  Yep, all it needed was a new battery.  I'm loving it in my dining room.

 

 

Several months ago I saw a post by one of my favorite sellers/shop owners--Barb from Treasures from the Heart.  When my son went to the University of Oregon, I was able to shop with my friend Heather at Barb's store in Eugene, Oregon.  I have so many great pieces from Barb--a huge Toledo scale, kitchen items, rusty items and everything in between.  Well, Barb showed a portion of an antique butter churn in one picture of a Facebook post.  I was sold!  Well, then I had to ask dear Heather to go pick it up for me and ship it to me.  (yes, Heather is a great friend!)  The Butter Churn is one of my favorite pieces now!   (I am thankful that my son has graduated, but I sure miss my couple times a year trips to Eugene to shop!)  

 

 

 

Thank you to everyone who entered my Giveaway of an Easy Canvas Print.  Ellen from Ask Away is the winner!  Congratulations Ellen! 

 

 

Thank you for your visit!

I hope you have a fun and safe holiday weekend.

 

Pam

My New Camera and a Giveaway!

For the past year or so, I've worked a ton of hours at work.  (You can probably tell since my blog posts are not as frequent anymore!)  Recently, I had to either use or lose vacation hours.  My company has an option to sell vacation time.  I sold a week, and instead of that money just going in the general fund of 'what did we spend that on?', I bought a nice camera.  I'd been thinking about getting one for quite some time, but was a little afraid of being a beginner with a big camera that I didn't know how to operate.  I ended up with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i.  It came with a couple of lenses, some accessories and a great manual.  I read through it and got started.  OMG!  Now I know what I'd been missing all those years!  Such clarity in my pictures that I'd never had before. 

 

A beautiful hummingbird coming to eat.

 

 

This pesky wasp was really annoying the hummingbird!

 

I think it's almost time for this baby to learn to fly!

 

Right outside my front door one night.  We have the most incredible sunsets here!

 

 

 

I love taking pictures of my flowers too!

 

 

Now onto the GIVEAWAY!

 

The folks at Easy Canvas Prints gave me a 16x20 Canvas Print to create and review.  And they're giving one lucky reader a free 16x20 Canvas too!

 

Here's the picture I started with.  I went to their website, downloaded my picture, went through the options and I was done!  I received an email as soon as my print was on the way.  All of it was so easy! 

 

 

 

 

I originally put it in this frame and hung it.  I loved it!!  (until....)

 

 

 

Until I had it made into a Canvas Print!  It is stunning!

 

 I love that you have the option to get the print to continue on the sides. 

 

 

 

 

How can you win an Easy Canvas Print?

 

 

• You must be a follower of my blog
• Leave a comment telling me what type of picture you'd make into an Easy Canvas Print  (one entry per person please)
• And that's it!  I'll be picking a winner on Friday, August 29, 2014 using Random Number Generator 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!  And Good Luck in the Giveaway!

 

Pam

  

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

 

 

 

 

This Way to My Garden

Last weekend I went to one of my favorite Antique Shows--Fleattitude Vintage Market.  It's a bit of a drive, but well worth it in my book.  (I did find out that in November, they'll be moving the show about 30 miles closer to me)  Woohoo!

 

I found some great things!  And, the usual happened--I found and found and found until I ran out of the money I came with, so it was time to go home.

 

My favorite find of all is this garden sign. 

 I originally tried it in another spot, but my son suggested that it really should point to my garden.  I love it here as it's right near the kitchen too, so I get to see it even more!

 

 

Well, I guess we should take a tour of the garden!

 

Here's my view from my kitchen window.  Five years of work and things are just how I want them!

 

We built our pond four years ago. 

 

 



We get several families a year in the big birdhouse.



 

 

 

These wave petunias and salvia love the sun on the front porch.

 





Here's the front yard.  Lavender, Butterfly Bush, Coneflowers and Daylilies.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your visit!  

 

What new things have you found lately?

 

Pam

 

 

 



I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

 

 

Top Tips for Steam Cleaning Your Carpets-- Guest Post

Today I am welcoming Jessie Allen with a Guest Post on Carpet Cleaning.  Thank you Jessie!

 

 

 

Top Tips for Steam Cleaning Your Carpet

Homeowners and commercial property owners frequently rely upon commercial carpet cleaning

companies to maintain the appearance and extend the life of carpeting in their properties through

periodic steam cleaning. Carpet cleaning machines can be rented or purchased for carpet owners

who prefer to do the job themselves.

There are several methods for cleaning carpets, and people can be confused into believing that

their carpets are being steam cleaned when, in fact, a different process is being used. If you want

your carpet to be steam cleaned, then you should know the different cleaning methods that are

currently in use.

 

 

 

Hot Water Extraction Method

Unfortunately, most commercial carpet cleaning services and do­it­yourself machines do not use

steam to do the cleaning. Wet extraction is a commonly used cleaning method in which water is

mixed with cleaning chemicals and heated within the machine. Once it is hot enough, the water is

sprayed under pressure deep into the carpet fibers. The cleaning phase occurs when the same

machine extracts the dirty water containing the loosened dirt particles from the carpet.

Suctioning power is the key component in a wet extraction cleaning process. Truck­mounted

carpet cleaning systems offer superior suctioning power over portable units. Unless you want a wet

carpet that could take days to dry and could encourage mold growth, a truck­mounted system that

can suction up to 95 percent of the water from deep within the carpet is the best option.

 

 

 

Vapor Steam Cleaners

Vapor steam cleaners are often referred to as "green cleaners" because they do not require the use

of chemical cleaning agents in order to do their job. These types of machines rely upon steam

vapor to remove dirt while also killing germs and eliminating dust mites that are frequently found

in carpets and upholstery.

Unlike the hot water extraction method that soaks the carpet fibers in order to clean them, a vapor

steam cleaner heats water in an internal boiler until steam is formed. The hot steam vapor loosens

dirt while it also sanitizes the carpet surface and kills mold and mold spores during the process.

 

 

Water, Water Everywhere

Even the best water extraction system cannot remove 100 percent of the water and cleaning agents

used in the cleaning process from the carpet. The drying time will depend upon how much

moisture remains after extraction. Vapor steam cleaning systems work without cleaning agents

and expose the carpet surface to less moisture than other methods.

 

 

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Pam

Do You Ever Give Any Thought to What's Under Your Rug?

 

 

I have a big rug under the coffee table in our family room.  When we had our walnut floors refinished two years ago, I didn't think much about the rug pad underneath the rug.  It was a rubbery thing that occasionally bunched up and sometimes peaked through the edges of the carpet.  Ok, and another thing I did not like about it was that if I had to move the rug at all, that rug pad would stick like glue to the wood floor and would not move an inch.  (grrrrr)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I put a new rug pad down.  It's a Premium Lock Pad from Rug Pad USA.  I told them the dimensions of my rug and was sent this pad.  I was pleasantly surprised that I did not have to do any sizing of it. It fit perfectly.  It's thick enough to give a nice feel to the rug, but not too thick where we would trip over the edges.  What I really like about it is that I could reposition the rug and the pad came with it! 

 

 

This pad is perfect for my walnut floors.  It is not sticky, but it stays where I want it.  It feels nice and soft.  And there will be no residue on my floor if I get a different size rug in the future. 

 

 

 

Here's what I learned about this pad:

A high performance recycled felt + rubber rug pad that can be used on all types of floors.

• −Genuine USA natural rubber backing won't break apart or lose grip over time
• −Helps add comfort, insulation – reduces noise and sound
• −Eco-Friendly - Natural latex & recycled felt - low voc's 
• −20 Year Warranty 
• –Made in the USA

Use With:  Hardwood Floors, Laminate Floors, Polyurethane Finishes(water AND oil based), Hot and Humid Climates, Tile(all types), Marble, Heated, Stone and Concrete

Rug Pad USA has graciously offered my readers a discount on their site.  Please enter pr15off to get 15% off your order.
 

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

Pam



 

 

 

I was given a Premium Lock Pad for a review, good or bad.  All opinions on this pad are my own. 

 

A post about the Birds and the Bees--G Rated!

 

 

This post is about flying creatures, not any anatomy lessons!  :)

 

It's summertime and we have an abundance of birds and bees.  Of course, I love bees, but I am not a fan of wasps, which are out and about now too.

 

I added a few hummingbird feeders to the backyard.  We are getting a lot of beautiful little birds.  And boy are they LITTLE! 

It's funny, that with the naked eye, this guy looked like he had a white stripe across its neck.  When I looked at my pictures, there was a bright purple stripe around there too!  

He would go back and forth between both feeders, stopping in the tree or on the shepherd's hook to rest.

 

The other night one of the little hummingbirds was very, very annoyed by the wasp that kept bothering him while he feasted on the sugar water.  (can you see the wasp to the left of the bird?) I love this picture of them!

 

 

It's fun to see them sit up in the tree waiting to head back down to the feeders.

 

 

We also have yet another family of finches in the birdhouse in the front yard.  There must be several babies, as they are sure loud!  I love being able to provide a safe home for them.

It looks like Mama's got a grasshopper for her babies!

Dinner is served!

 

This bee kept coming back to this nasty looking coneflower.  Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

 

 

 

Thank you for your visit!  I hope you're enjoying the beauty of summer too!

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 

 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

 

 

Timber Cladding for Walls--Guest Post

Today, I'm sharing an informative article contributed by Cherry Soriano.  Thank you Cherry!   

Timber Cladding Is Ideal For Walls

Timber cladding offers a natural beauty. Australia’s solid timber cladding is becoming increasingly popular for use on wall exteriors not only because of its aesthetic properties but the material offers a practicality and can be added to the exterior of a building for a functional, decorative finish.

 

Using Timber Cladding Has Its Advantages

 
Timber cladding is usually available in long narrow boards, which are placed to overlap one another. Cladding can also come in panel or shingle forms and can be installed vertically or horizontally or even diagonally, depending on the finish you desire. Horizontal installation, though, seems to be the most popular.

 Australia’s solid timber cladding really offers designers a unique combination of environmental, aesthetic and practical advantages, including:

 

• Timber cladding is light weight so it offers both protective and decorative appeal.
• Since a dry installation is all that’s required, the external envelope can be installed quickly.
• By eliminating heavy masonry outer walls, both cost and size of foundations can be reduced.
• Solid timber cladding can be pre-fabricated at the factory with breather membrane and insulation.
• The performance of cladding can be enhanced easily with wood modification, preservative treatments, surface coating, and flame retardants.
• The grains and colours available are highly attractive.
• The sound insulation and thermal properties are top notch
• Solid timber cladding is suitable for renovation and new build projects
• Cladding is really easy to repair.
• Timber is a warm, comforting natural material.
• Easy to redecorate or rejuvenate.
• Timber is a renewable resource.
• Low carbon footprint since the material requires less energy to produce than other construction materials.
• Source certification schemes ensure timber’s sustainability.
• The material can be reused or recycled at the end of its life.
• Growing trees removes CO2 from the atmosphere, so using wood stimulates the expansion of forests. This helps with absorbing global warming gas.

Timber Cladding Is Perfect For Contemporary Homes

 
Timber cladding is perfect for both traditional and contemporary styled houses. Australia’s solid timber cladding comes in a range of different finishes so you can choose the perfect one for your home. You could also leave the natural look on the material, which will fade to a silvery grey shade in time. Alternatively you apply stains, paints or oils on the timber to get the finish you really want on your walls.

As for design, timber cladding is extremely flexible. For example, you may want to have the entire exterior of your house clad with solid timber cladding or you may prefer to combine the cladding with other materials for a timber clad feature wall effect.

Timber Cladded Walls Can Also Increase The Value Of Your Property

 One of the greatest advantages is that timber cladding is environmentally friendly. The timber is typically taken from sustainable sources, and a lot less fossil fuels are required to manufacture the timber compared to any other type of cladding.

 Here’s another environmental advantage: Australia’s solid timber cladding is easy to recycle once it’s reached the end of its practical life. What’s more, the timber is a great natural insulator. This means you don’t need massively thick foundation walls. By having various types of insulation as well as timber cladding, your home will be far more energy efficient and that in turn can significantly reduce your monthly electricity bills.

 Timber is also fantastic for absorbing sounds on houses, which is really handy if you have noisy neighbors!

 Although Australia’s solid timber cladding is really light, it is an extremely strong material that can be treated prior to being installed. There really are a multitude of advantages to using this material on your walls.

  

Thank you for your visit!

 

 

Pam