Tuesday, September 5, 2017

This & That

It's hard to believe the summer has come and gone, isn't it? 

For many, that means the kiddos are heading back to school. 

I kind of miss those days.

The trees are starting to change in my neck of the woods, and the leaves starting to fall. 

The light is changing - have you noticed?


I tried to capture it this morning, but I'm afraid my camera just didn't do it justice. 

The cooler days have prompted me to tackle a couple of projects around the house, before the winter settles upon us. 


The weather was absolutely perfect yesterday to tackle this mess, which I've been putting off since the spring. 

This was the damage that was left behind from the snow shovels this past winter. We had a heck of a winter, and the ice would build up right outside the kitchen door. We had to break it apart with an ice shovel, and then scrape it off the deck. 

What a mess it left behind!

I scooted around on my little mechanic's stool, which is on wheels and close to the ground, and touched up all the spots that needed some TLC on the deck. 


So much better, don't you think?

The Monkey couldn't understand why I wouldn't let her outside with me while I was painting. 

Silly little Monkey. 

Speaking of the Monkey, this is the nightly routine in my house. 


Monkey goes over to the toy box and barks at it, until we take every single toy out to find out which one she's obsessing over at this particular second. 

And Tubs just sits there looking at her, as if to ask us why the Monkey is so weird. 

Yup, that's life in our house. 

Monkey rules the roost. 


We had the family over for dinner yesterday, which was wonderful. Sweetie provided the flowers for the table, out of his garden. Black Eyed Susans, Knockout Roses, and Sedum Autumn Joy. 

A bouquet of happiness and love!


Speaking of happiness, a few more sunflowers have bloomed on the deck, all planted by the critters. 

Thanks, critters!


I just love sunflowers, don't you?


I also love the flowers and the leaves on the Castor Bean plant. This is my first time growing Castor Beans, but it won't be my last! There are no edible beans on this plant, as a matter of fact the plant is toxic, but the plant is worth growing just for the foliage alone. 


I just love how cozy my little house looks in the evenings. 

Now that we are spending more time indoors, I tackled another small project that I've been meaning to do. 

I swapped out nearly every single light bulb in my house with LED bulbs. That's no easy task, as I am a huge fan of ambient lighting, and I have many, many lamps throughout my house. The only ones I haven't swapped yet are the 5 high hats in my master bath and closet. I need to find bulbs that are large enough for those spots. 

Other than that, every single light in my house now has a new LED bulb. Do you know how much money that will save on my electric bill? Not to mention, the bulbs are supposed to last anywhere from 13 - 22 years - that's terrific!

Philips LED Bulb 16 Pack on Amazon
I originally ordered a bunch of LED bulbs through our local electric company, with rebates they were offering for a limited time. When I ran out of those, I went on Amazon to see what they had, and ordered this 16 pack of Philips LED bulbs for just $25.69 - that's a fantastic price, only $1.60 per bulb! Amazing considering how much they will save me!

Oh, I did forget one other bulb....the one in the ceiling fixture on the staircase leading down to the lower level. But, there's no way I'm getting on a ladder ON THE STAIRS to get to that one, so I guess it's staying as is for now. 

You do remember how terrified I am of ladders, don't you? 

Yeah, that's not happening. 

Any volunteers?

38 comments:

  1. You've been a busy bee! And you work full time! I scoot around inside on my garden stool on wheels. Love your pupsters. Don't they do the funniest things?
    Brenda

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    1. That little Monkey is just a complete goofball, Brenda! She's like your Abi!

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  2. The porch looks great and the led bulbs really do save. Great job.

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    1. I've been swapping them out as the other bulbs died, but this time I just decided I wanted to swap them all out now and start SAVING! I'll probably give all the other bulbs to my daughter for her new place, Marty.

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  3. It is hard to capture the light but I think you did a very good job in that first picture.

    Yes, LED bulbs in most of ours, must get the others done too.

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    1. Thanks, Dewena - if I knew more about photography I could probably capture it, but oh well!

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  4. YOu deck looks so good after your touch up! I too love sunflowers. My grandboys and I were watching a tiny finch eat some of the seeds right off the flowers today. I have been blessed with an abundance of sunflowers right outside of my livingroom window this year so between their beauty and watching the birds enjoy them, it has provided all kinds of entertainment for me and the cats. :)

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    1. That's so nice, Debbie! I haven't seen any seeds on any of these yet, they aren't the great big super sunflowers but they still make me smile!

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  5. HI Debbie! Oh, what a cute little monkey you have! Everything always looks so pretty at your house. I love what you did to your porch - looks so lovely and I love the nighttime shot! That's smart changing out all of your light bulbs. We've changed some and need do do the rest. Thanks always for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. I can never quite capture those nighttime shots the way I want to, Shelia, but that sure doesn't stop me from trying!

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  6. Your home does look cozy in the evening light. DH was out doing some work on our veranda floor boards too last week. It is pouring rain this morning, and I need to get out to the volunteer day at the book sale.

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    1. Try not to come home with too many books, Carole! I'd probably buy more than I'd sell!!

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  7. I've been working on little projects around the house too, although we did a big project this weekend...cleaning out the garage! Now if only we'd get the motivation to truly tackle the basement, we'd be all set.

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    1. You'll get to it, Melanie - I see on IG you've been purging like mad! I have to do a ton of work in the lower level now that my older daughter moved out, also....there just aren't enough hours in the day!

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  8. Porch work looks terrific! I like that castor bean plant, and your bouquet is gorgeous. I switched out all the lightbulbs in the kitchen and bath when we remodeled, and am whittling down my stock of CFLs (should do it all at once, I know, I know). I had to label all of mine, as some are dimmables, and some are not. I learned NOT to mix them, as you soon see you get poor functionality (constant flickering). It took me a few tries to get the correct type of lighting for the kitchen, too, ultimately settling on soft white. Need to do the same for landscape lighting too......ugh, note to self.....

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    1. I got all bright white from the electric company and the only place I couldn't stand them was in the dining room chandelier - I had to look for softer white candelabra bulbs, which I found so now I'm happy. The brighter white are fine in the bathroom where I need the extra light to see my wrinkly old face! :) I had mostly CFL's before, which I'm sure my daughter would be happy to have in her place.

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  9. Ah the light is changing. It is darker here much earlier now and dusk falls around dinner time. Pretty soon it will be dark when the kids roll in from school. I am holding on to summer for as long as I can...Pretty flowers at your back door. That castor plant is a wow!

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    1. For sure, Kim - last night it was getting dark at 6:30, I couldn't believe it! I know you are such a summer girl, well I guess that's why you have a pool and live by the beach!

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  10. Your volunteer sunflowers are beautiful... so cheerful! The deck looks great! You have been very busy. We also plan to use LED bulbs in our home. Being off-grid living on solar panels, the energy savings will be enormous!
    We were allowed back after our evacuation. Thank you for your prayers, they worked!

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    1. I've been thinking of you, Vickie - so glad you are back at your homestead again! I hope the fire didn't do too much damage?

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  11. Such a nice deck and I love sunflowers too. I have been switching over to the LED bulbs too. Love seeing your sweet pups in this post. They are the cutest little things. Happy Mid Week. Have a great rest of the week.
    xoxo
    Kris

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    1. My pups are so cute and I love them to bits, Kris - did you get your new sweet girl yet? I must pop over and visit you, see what you've been up to!

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  12. I have a scraped up porch floor too from the winter! Not sure mine will get done though. Yours looks great! We have two cats that keep us entertained in the evening, when they are not sleeping! I bought a couple little sunflower plants late in the season for a $1 each and they are blooming like crazy. There are four flowers on one of them. I have noticed the change in the light but I am just not ready for Fall yet!

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    1. I really should have tackled the deck much earlier in the season, AnnMarie, but I would rather be in the garden!! I wonder if it's as chilly in your neck of NY as it is up here on the mountain top these days? I have a sweater and boots on today....and I had to wear a fall jacket to work!

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  13. Your touched up deck looks really nice. I wonder what kind of winter awaits us this year. I have seen a few trees changing color here also. That is so funny about Monkey wanting a particular toy! Nancy

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    1. She's a nut job, Nancy! She gets obsessed with a certain toy for a while and heaven forbid you can't figure out which one!! The leaves are changing like mad here already, it seems so early! I have a feeling it's going to be a fantastic foliage season!

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  14. Love that little Monkey! I noticed yesterday on our evening walk with Rudi that I could have used a sweater and the leaves have begun to fall from our 16 oak trees. Let the raking begin! Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Oooooh I hate raking, Laura! But it's a necessary evil, for sure. The leaves are starting to fall here also, and I do have a sweater on today....and boots!!

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  15. We use the LED bulbs too.They last forever but mine will buzz just a bit. Only I notice it. ha.
    Monkey is funny. Its like having to kids in the house. If only they could talk huh.
    Lisa

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    1. I don't notice any buzzing with the LED bulbs, Lisa - at least I don't think so but now I'm going to have to listen tonight when I turn them on! They sure are bright, though - I changed out the bulbs in the ceiling fan in the guest room and it's like I'm turning on the sun when I hit the switch in there!! :)

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  16. Wow! You did a great job on the spruce-up - I could use you around here for a few days! We've changed nearly all our bulbs to LED and love them. I think the CFLs were giving me headaches, with their flickering that is not noticeable to most people.

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    1. I don't think I ever really noticed the flickering, but I know the LED bulbs are going to last a lot longer and save a ton more energy, so that makes me very happy, Jean!

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  17. Nice work on the deck! :)

    This is the coolest end of summer that I can recall for ages ( southwestern PA here / it was 41 degrees this morning ) Turning on the furnace yet when the calendar still says summer? Hell no, lol.

    Little Monkey is adorable as ever :)

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    1. Isn't it bizarre, Deb? August was cool, and now September has been hot and muggy - go figure!

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  18. I had no idea that the castor bean plant had such beautiful flowers! I'll have to put my dad onto this one because it is supposed to be a good one for keeping moles at bay.

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  19. Monkey is the perfect name for him, as he certainly lives up to it :).

    I have a love/hate relationship with LED bulbs. Some of them can't be dimmed and I don't like that.

    The light in the deck photo is lovely. Certainly looks like autumn to me!

    xxx

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    1. Looks like Autumn but feels like summer these days, Doreen! The leaves are glorious, but it's hot and muggy!

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