Friday, July 7, 2017

A Thrifty Weekend... The Blessings of Home Improvements

Dear Reader,

We've lived in our house now for over seven years. We moved in for six months as a temporary measure, then life got busy, and we stayed. Grandpa, dad, and sons got busy this past week and made some home improvements. It was thrifty, because they did the work themselves!



The wind had hit our glass door pretty hard and busted the hinges.


My husband and I like old-fashioned wooden screen doors, so he and my elder son installed one for us on the front porch. Notice he painted the trim, too. The front of the house needs painting, too, but he ran out of time. 


The view from inside. 


Grandpa and grandson installed a new ceiling fan in the dining room. Michael is standing on the floor. Just saying... I bought beans from Jack's mother. I thought they were pintos. I made burritos. Michael likes burritos. 
Need I say more?


We have only window air conditioning, so this new ceiling fan is a great help in keeping us cool. It is a high end model that makes a terrific breeze. It was a gift from grandpa. Thank you!


New lamps for my bedroom.
Simple but functional.


The back hallway has been dark since we moved in. 
There was no light switch for the light, so they put in
a pull chain light. No troubles. It's amazing to be able see back there!  

Isn't it funny how work piles up and waits for us, then suddenly we get a lot done all at once?

Where were the girls?
We were at my daughter Emily's Mary Kay Debut.


I had my chemo treatment on Monday, and didn't do much that was productive this week. I should be back next week with a Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage. 

Be blessed!
Laura

30 comments:

  1. It is truly the little things that make the biggest difference! My father-in-law is so handy and loves doing projects and staying busy, so he asks me to make a list of things that need to be done when he comes. He can do what would take us several days in just a few hours!

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  2. Laura, sometimes those little fixes are the best ones of all because they affect your daily quality of life! And a house is a never-ending project list. I keep a running list by room in my husband's desk slot. Whenever he has time, he glances over it and tries to do something. It might be simple, like dusting the ceiling fan blades (he's 6'9"), which he always manages to do after I've dusted lol. And sometimes it's more complicated and he'll make a plan to do it...like the stupid dips our floor has developed.

    Enjoy it all!! Ceiling fans are the best in summertime.

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    1. You're right Debby. Ceiling fans are great. This one has made the house much cooler. My son's only 6'4". He gets all the ceiling fan cleanings, too. I wouldn't have any idea how to fix dips in a floor. It seems like something's always needing fixed. We have some big projects that need to be done, too, but it's hard to save up enough money.

      Be blessed and enjoy this summer!
      Laura

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  3. Dear Laura, I love all your new lighting fixtures! I especially love the new screen door, I love the simplicity of it.

    I hope you are having a good day.

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    1. Simple is sometimes best, Laurie.

      Today is pretty good.

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  4. I have noticed we will live with a certain number of little things that need fixing for quite a while and then it one weekend neither of us can stand it any longer and everything get repaired at once. I wish we were more proactive, but life gets in the way sometimes.
    Hoping this week will be easier for you physically.

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    1. Isn't it strange, Anne, how some things only take minutes to fix, and yet we do, indeed, just live with them?

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  5. Looks great! Love your sense of humor about the beans! :)

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  6. Aww...it all looks so pretty! It is amazing how much difference a small change can make. So thankful you have that ceiling fan. They are such a blessing and seem to take very little electricity. God bless you....praying much for you!

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    1. Hi Cheryl,
      Oh praise God! So excited about Kristen and Eli!

      I'm praying for you, too.
      Laura

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  7. Dearest Laura,
    I have a saying about houses...There is always something to be done!
    Looks as if you all are taking care of things around there!!!
    Prayers for your comfort. And a big hug!

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    1. Thank you so much Billie Jo. I don't think we'll ever get everything fixed that needs it around here. But every little bit helps. I don't have much energy to do things this week, but maybe next week.
      Hugs,
      Laura

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  8. Every bit of progress is rewarding! I wish I had a screen door. You are going to love keeping the door open with that new ceiling fan turning. Enjoy!!

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    1. It's been unseasonably mild here. Nearly twenty degrees below normal for this time of year. Although I keep the ac on in the bedroom, we often have the rest of the house open. I have to have a room to go to in case I feel overheated. ~smile~

      Hope your weekend is wonderful!
      Laura

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  9. Hi Laura, I'm so happy for you getting some lovely additions to your home that will not only make it pleasant but be really practical as well. You're menfolk have done so well.
    My husband is painting the inside of our home at the moment. He started before Christmas and we only have a small cottage, but he is making a huge difference. I appreciate it all so much. It has inspired me to go through all the cupboards and freshen up each room as well. He only has one room left to go! I'm so proud of him. Praying for you Laura. I know that the Lord is continuing to bless you and his presence is such a comfort to you all at this time. Blessings, Helen

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    1. You're right, Helen, God has comforted me greatly. I believe He is healing me completely.

      How exciting to have your home so close to finished! My husband needs to put another coat of paint in the bathroom. Then we have to decide what to do next. I know that I need to declutter some books now that I can see in the back hallway!

      Be blessed!
      Laura

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  10. Hello my friend. That sure is a pretty fan and I love your bedroom lights. Now you can see in that hallway! Hooray! That screen door is what i have always liked. That will be nice! prayers and huggles.

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    1. ​Thank you Michelle. I remember my grandma's door was painted black. It had a very distinctive sound when it slammed shut. This one's quiet. I don't know if Lowell is going to paint it or just put a sealant on it. I'm just glad to be able to let some breeze in when it's cooler at night.

      Be blessed!
      Laura​

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  11. You will enjoy the door, we had one here when we moved in decades ago. Sometimes I think about getting another, but so far have not. My ceiling fan in my room, the switch has broken. I turn on the light, but no fan for awhile now. I need to replace it. I have been using a fan on the dresser for now. I do have ceiling fans all over the house. I have two going now in different rooms. I think they are very refreshing to me. You will love yours!
    How nice to get your lights changed to. We have a few of those pull chains too, in the basement, and on one porch. I need light! So glad you can see here now. I think these kinds of lights work well in closets too!

    Mostly just savings from the garden this week, more zuchinni! Of course!
    The cukes blew up with the heavy rains the last couple of days, the flavor was not good, hoping for better to come. I have some beans to try and pull tomorrow, more rain expected, so it may have to be on Sunday before it is dry enough.
    I dislike things like that on Sunday.! Going to try tomorrow for sure!
    Thankfully,it would just be enough for a small mess. I do not have many planted.
    The corn has begun to tassel.

    I bought marked down fruit again. And ate leftovers from the forth a couple of meals. I also got two samples to try in the mail.
    That's about it!
    Hugs and prayers, still, every day!

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    1. You did well, Annie. Hubby only planted a few things in 5 gallon buckets this year, but it's one of his best gardens ever.
      No zucchini. Keep hoping a friend will share.

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  12. You had me laughing so hard with the "beans" story. :D I love your new screen door. I'm a huge fan of old fashioned screen doors too. Your light fixtures and the fan are so nice. I do love me a good fan!

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    1. Hugs to you Debbie.
      Fans are requirements in hot weather.

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  13. So proud that Grandpa, Daddy & son got a lot of the home improvements done. Love the screen door & the wall sconces in your room! Praise God.
    Sounds like you had an easier week with chemo. I pray that continues for the duration!
    Know you & your family are continually in my prayers. It's an unending mantra that I'm just repeating in my head & heart.
    Find some peace my friend, Laurie

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    1. Thank you, Laurie. It's the prayers of the saints that carry us through when we are weak.

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  14. Hello Laura. I saw your comment on my blog post and wanted to stop over and visit with you on your blog. First I want to say I like the home improvements on your home. I love your new screen door and the ceiling fan and new bedroom lights and the hallway light too. All wonderful things to have done. Second I noticed the word chemo and looked further into your blog and found that you had been diagnosed with Cancer. I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 1st, 2013. I had a lumpectomy, radiation and I have been on a long term pill. I feel blessed that the cancer was found soon enough and was small enough for me not to have the chemo. Next April, 2018 ~ I will have had my five years of continuous check-ups and should be able to stop taking the medication. Life has never been the same since the day the doctor told me I had Cancer. My mother and her older sister (my Aunt) also had Cancer and I knew it was something in our family. I praise God for blessing me with the end result being that I am a survivor. I will say a prayer for you that you can get through the chemo and all the other treatments with all the strength you need.Take care and I will check in with you on your blog again. ~ Sandra ~

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I love it when I hear the success stories. I lost an auntie and my mama to cancer. I was thrilled to find out it is not genetic, but obviously there must have been lifestyle similarities that brought it about. I plan to be a survivor, too! It's the most common kind of breast cancer, according to the doctor. After three treatments, and lots of prayer, the lumps have definitely shrunk.

      Be blessed dearie! I hope we become friends!
      Laura
      Harvest Lane Cottage

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  15. Laura, it's so nice to have handy men to do things like this. It really helps on the budget for sure! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor