Category Archives: My Home

Room by room pictures of my home

Repurposing Old Hollywood Light Strip

In my “Before” picture of the bathroom, you’ll see the old Hollywood light strip. We removed it and updated it with something I like much better.

Before…

Little Bathroom Project 2

And After…

Bathroom Picture 1

And that left us with one old Hollywood light strip that no one wanted. I thought it would eventually end up in the landfill, but Mike saw it differently.

After his very low score on moving the bathroom along (see that post here), I believe he has redeemed himself. I’d give him a definite +1 for this idea.

Candles Burning Inside 1

Candles Burning Inside 2

Here’s the base looking more “mirror like” than “candle-base like”. He put pads on to keep it from scratching the table.

Old Mirror Base Back Side

Here it is with a quick pass of spray paint…waiting on tea candles. Those chairs in the yard are what I’m currently working on…cleaning the porch and working in the shrubbery. There is always something to do at this place.

Old Mirror Base Top Side

I thought this was one “Smokin’ Hot” idea!

Smoking Candles

As mentioned above, we’re starting to get the house ready for fall and winter. I worked in the yard yesterday for several hours, and next I’ll be cleaning windows. I searched on the internet for the easiest way to clean my outside windows. I’ll let you know how this works out in a day or two!

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Little Bathroom Project PROGRESS!

If you read my last post, you know that our Little Bathroom Project had turned into an evil, twisted ordeal! Everything went awry! I sat on the couch laughing while I was writing it, and Mike went into a deep sulk. If you didn’t read it, here it is. We’ve turned this all around. It’s not done, but progress has been made.

Here’s the bathroom when we started…this was when I was taking the mirror down and had it all taped. We decided not to take the mirror down so I later removed the tape. Yes.No.Yes.No…finally it really was no. This room was like a little dark cave.

Little Bathroom Project 1

The Benjamin Moore “Eternity” paint really opened the room up, and the paint covers so well. The gallon of paint was $62 and I only used one quart. Expensive, and now I have this pretty paint that I do not know what to do with. The room is small so it’s hard to get a “whole” picture, but in this picture which has the black wood surround on the mirror gives you some idea..

Bathroom Mirror Before It Came Down

We swapped out the dated “Hollywood” lights that I liked about 20 years ago. I like these so much better..

Bathroom Mirror Lights

We’re changing out the plumbing fixtures in this room. Those that you can see in this picture are now gone, but we haven’t installed the new ones. Everything will be a brushed stainless steel. Very clean and subtle. Here’s Mike on the floor working tonight on the swap.

Plumbing Starts

We’re close to having this complete.

While Mike was working on this, I was cleaning the den which has a pantry in it. It’s a pantry that I organized last year that I still enjoy. If things are organized, it’s easier to put things away. Here it is this year…and it’s perfect for me to store our onions. We’ve eaten most of the onions, so I need to remember to put out lots more next year. These used to hang on the back porch but we have to move them before winter, so when Mike washed the porch recently, I went ahead and put them in the pantry. I like the way they look hanging up like this.

Pantry With Onions

We have had the best day. Mike felt better because he made progress on the bathroom. I felt good because I “deep cleaned” our den, completed treating the bees for “nosema apis”, and washed a few windows. This was all followed by an amazing BLT at the Rally Mart in Hiltons and a long nap this afternoon. A perfect day.

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Hot Plates!

Happy Labor Day Weekend! It’s Friday night, and I’ve managed to turn cleaning the house into an all-day affair that will not get finished until tomorrow.

And now, I’m blogging and listening to Gate City on the road at Richlands by streaming the broadcast. Technology rocks. I’m also tuned into John Battle at Abingdon. And I’n pulling for the North Stafford Wolverines where my nephew coaches!

First, here’s a bathroom update. I’m going to tape some tonight to paint the trim and Mike will eventually get the lights, plumbing, etc. installed. We’re not very fast. Mike’s son, Marc, and his family as well as Mike’s other son, Aaron, will be in for Rhythm & Roots so that’s our goal to have this done. Meanwhile, I’ve got to clean in there. Either the cat has peed in that little room or something is just stinking. I thought it might be the commode which remains wrapped in Saran Wrap, so I gave it a flush. Didn’t seem to help, so I’ll be visiting with vinegar and/or bleach in a few minutes. Yuck.

I’ll wear gloves so it doesn’t mess my manicure. Did you see the post last night with Anjelah Johnson? A hoot. If you did not see it, go here! She’s a great comedian. Must.see.

Here’s the sad state of the bathroom..there’s no light in there so it’s not very good. I’ll have to hang a light on the ladder when I start working on that in a few minutes, hours, maybe tomorrow…oh who cares… in a bit

Bathroom Stage 3

I’m sidetracked on the bathroom today, because I started fooling around with plates. I love dishes. On the wall, on the table, in the closet…it doesn’t matter to me. Here’s some marjolica plates I bought in Middlesburg, Virginia about a gazillion years ago…nice…but where’s the creativity?

Three Plates on the Wall

Oh…maybe it’s here…or is this just a diversion to keep from mopping the floor? Hmmm…

Plates on the Wall Again

But I do like it. It’s more cheerful, and that’s my decorating style.

Plates on The Wall

But…in looking at the picture, I realize I need to shift my yellow and green plates so that the green plate is on the opposite side. I’ll do that tomorrow and take a really, really good picture!

Meanwhile…Gate City is behind. I have to go lean into the iPad and give my support. I heard the word “Gardner got hit.” That’s Neth. He’s the one that helps us so much here at RiverCliff Cottage. We’re crazy about him. I’m totally distracted!

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Sticks and Stuff

I got the new Pottery Barn catalog. I love to look at their accessories. Here’s my favorite thing in this month’s catalog:

Vases from Pottery Barn

I looked around for what I had and found a small vase, and I added…well…sticks! They are all I had. It needs some other things in it to make it look fuller, but it’s a start.

Sticks in Pot 2

Here it is again…okay…it looks a little skeletal. When I’m at Hobby Lobby, I’ll get something to fill it out.

Sticks in Pot

And then from a distance. It’s on the mantle. I wish it were bigger. Maybe it’ll grow!! Or grow on me!

Living Room From Distance

Here’s another vase on the sofa table…

Sticks in Vase

And some late summer flowers in the kitchen….

Kitchen Vase

I actually cleaned the house today…just so my vases and sticks will look their best.

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Destination Mendota, Virginia

When my cousin called from South Carolina and said they were coming up…I thought “what are they going to do?  It’s raining nonstop here,  and it could be so boring.”      “Boring is good,” Alisa said.    And then, they arrived, and to keep everyone on their toes, I called Alisa (correct name) “Alisha” (incorrect name) and mixed up Caroline and Rebecca all weekend long.   They were so gracious not to say anything. Oh…and I never bothered to clean the house and didn’t get groceries this week, but it all worked out!! Hey…they’re family!! Here they are…oh…and that is Andy.  My grandmother, Eva Sproles, is his great grandmother–that is how we are all related. We are “first cousins, once removed.”

The Lambs

I should not have worried about being bored. Andy was easy to entertain. He likes to hunt and fish, and we live on the river. Plus — we gave him and Oth (my sweet nephew in-a-way) an assignment — rid us of the skunks that are entering the bee enclosures. Twenty-four hours later we are down four skunks. You are looking at the Skunk Dynasty. “Stinky, Stinky,Stinky.”

Andy and Oth

And what did the girls and I do? We payed our tribute to A. P. Carter and the Carter Family by taking pictures of the store (now a museum) and the Carter cabin. Here’s a couple of the pictures..

Carter Fold

Carter Cabin

Carter Family Music Center

And since these three are serious quilters, we visited Tennessee Quilts in Jonesboro and Short Sheets in Bristol. I’m inserting about ten pictures that are a feast for your eyes. These ladies and these pictures have made me zealous in my desire not just to learn to quilt but to have one done by Christmas. Think I can do it? Yes!

Tennessee Quilts 1

Tennessee Quilts 2

Tennessee Quilts 3 Polka Dots

Tennessee Quilts 4

Tennessee Quilts 5

Tennesse Quilts 4

Are you loving it? Who cares about the upcoming Bristol Race? It’s not “Gentlemen…start your engines.” It’s “Ladies…grab your scissors (actually rotary cutters). Here’s my “Fat Quarters.”

My Quilt Stack

Learning all kinds of new quilt slang…these are “jellyrolls”!!

Jelly Rolls

And the Carter Family tribute that we started on Saturday morning as we took pictures? Serendipity stepped in and we continued on Sunday morning at Mt. Vernon Church. Oscar Harris, Dale Jett, Laura Cash and Daryl Jayne gave us great music — Carter Family style! We shoved pushed jumped stepped in and had our picture taken…Daryl is missing as he’s behind the camera!!

The Gang 2

PS! Alisa and I have something in common! She is a blogger, too! I would appreciate it you’d visit her site some day and say hello. She’s a teacher, and she’s the kind that everyone wants their third grader to have as their teacher. Here’s the link:

http://alisalamb.blogspot.com/

Hope you have a great week. Please be sure and visit again during the week. Hometalk has been nice enough to feature one of my “Clipboards.”

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And We Keep Changing

Gourds 3

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I was reading “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. The author enjoys pulling readers into the relationships in the book…to allow us (the readers) to see things from other folks’ perspectives. However, the final pages are the ones that have lingered with me. In this book, which I hope I don’t spoil for anyone, the monarch butterflies…the King Billies...are wintering in East Tennessee vs. Mexico. There are many factors as to why…the changing climate, availability of milkweed, etc., but it’s not a good thing. It seems to be an impossible situation.

However, there is an inkling of hope as a few of the monarchs survive the winter in spite of all of the perils. We don’t know their final outcome, but we are given hope that they may be evolving and adapting to the new “now.”

And even though it’s not “time” to put out fall decor if you’re a person who follows that type of thing (I am), these guys are tired of lying around on the ground. They are “done” and I’m adapting.

Gourd 1

Not just one…but a bunch! A “gang” or a “gaggle”!

Gourd 2

If you follow Pinterest, Southern Living and all the other places that feature pretty autumn pictures NEXT month, you know that I’m early in placing these pretty gourds in my foyer. What else is there to do???

Gourds IN Foyer

This continues to be a year of change for us…our family is changing, my transition to not working is occurring, and our “dear girls” Gracie and Luckie are getting so old that they will not be with us much longer. Not all these changes are welcome or wanted, but we’re like the King Billies, we’ll adapt.

Thank you for reading RiverCliff Cottage. I hope all your changes are good ones!!

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Cleaning Out!

What are you doing tomorrow? I am going to spend tomorrow and Saturday in Mike’s shop baking and selling stuff for our yardsale. You know what they say…“one man’s junk…another man’s treasure.” Please come carry this treasure off.

It’s not all junk…it was actually fun digging around in boxes. You see, about 12 years ago we combined two houses into one. We got rid of a lot of things, but for lack of time or desire, we kept too much. And then we added to it.

Sometimes during this yard sale journey, I opened a box and was JOLTED back in time. I bought this in Key West, Florida, when I thought I’d have a baby of my own. That baby never happened, but when I look at this scary mogul I was buying for a crib…well, yikes.

Clown Mogul from Key West

I must have had a complete clown fancy because here’s another one. I bought it in Cary.

Clown Marionette

And then there is this lamp. This lamp is nice, but it is not me. What was I thinking?

Pole Lamp

And then there is this doll pictured below. Mother and I were out one day, and she thought this was cute/funny. I bought it, and we laughed all the way home about how funny this doll was. Mother died in 2005, and this poor dear has been staring at a corner in my attic since that time.

Little Girl

The yard sale will be over in two days. It seems like August is a transition month for me so getting rid of this stuff so close to August is a good thing. I’m transitioning again. Like a caterpillar/butterfly/caterpillar thing. Always changing.

Last year, I left AGC in August and began working with a friend. I’ve had such a nice experience, but now I’m going to not work for a while…maybe forever! I’m looking forward to cleaning the attic, going back to work on making my house exactly the way I want it, and maybe even traveling with Mike a bit.

Lots to look forward to. How about you?

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Pantry Organization With Sam’s Club Boxes

One day, I don’t know when…I will have the much-talked about Yard Sale. I’m still finding the things that will go in this sale. There were a few things above the refrigerator that I never use, so I got up on a chair and peeked in. Here’s what I saw…YIKES!!!

Before Picture

Since this cabinet is taller than me, I have been..tossing the wax, plastic and foil wraps up there. Shame. I decided to fix this mess following the basic principle of my home organization process…”what do I already have that will make this better?” I explained what I needed to Mike…”a way to keep the wraps so that I know where they are and they are all kept together.” He said “well, what would Sam’s Club do?” Sam’s Club makes sure their boxes work for both neat display and easy identification. Me and Sam’s Club! We have the same goals!! From now on, when it comes to organization, it’s WWSCD!!

So off to Sam’s Club, and we found the perfect box. We casually walked the aisles with a cart picking out the best box. We even used a tape measure. So bold! (There were a lot of boxes that we brought home for other projects..more about that later.) Here she is…a beauty! She has a front for me to label and nice sloping sides to keep my wraps neatly arranged.

Sam's Club Sensa Box

We celebrated our successful hunt with a fine meal…Sam’s Club pizza and a soda!

Sam's Club Drink

Back home at the real RiverCliff Cottage, the box had to have a little of the chalkboard spray paint on it…

Sprayed Box

I made labels so I’d know exactly where my wraps can be found…

Labels

Put them on the box….

Box With Labels

And then I slipped the wax paper, plastic wrap and foil into the box. It’s ready to go back in the cabinet which will now be organized! I’m so happy with this!

Organized Box

And Chrissy had some other recommendations for the wonderful Sam’s Club boxes.

Other Uses

I have a whole stack of boxes out in the garage. The possibilities! What would Sam’s Club do?

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Burlap and Red Trimmed Basket

I’m working on “refreshing” our guest bath. If I can ever get a decent picture, I’ll post it. The bathroom is small–tub, sink, potty and small linen closet and small window. There’s not room for a lot of decorative items, so anything in there is going to have to be decorative AND useful.

I thought this little Target basket would look nice holding wash cloths.

Little Black Basket

I’m using red in this room so I’m adding burlap ribbon trimmed in red-checked buttons to the basket. I like this ribbon as it already had the buttons on it.

Basket and Burlap

I hot glued it on…it looks askew in this picture and that is because the basket is not symmetrical. I’m okay with that. I realized…after looking at this picture…that this looks more like a little man’s upside down hat with a bunch of washcloths in it!

Black Basket With Ribbon Glued On

Oh well! I still like it!!

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Garage Cleaning and Organization – Finished!

We just finished with our Garage Reorganization Project. I so happy it is complete. Here’s our journey which started more than a week ago…

Unorganized Garage 1

I used a system I learned at AGC (where I used to work) called “5S”. It includes Sorting, Straightening, Shining, Standardizing and Sustaining.

Starting with Sorting… I sorted in three piles…Keep, Throw Away, Sell in Garage Sale.

Garage Organization First Step

Straightening and Shining….Before putting things back (straightening), I cleaned windows, swept spider webs and cleaned the refrigerator inside and out. Lots of elbow grease and sweat (shining).

Clean Frig

Standardizing. I made a place for everything. This involved a trip to Sam’s Club where I got all sorts of cool boxes, sprayed them with chalkboard paint and then marked them.

Boxes are Marked

Labeled all the canning jar boxes…

Jars Labeled

Here’s the shelves on the first phase of the project…

Garage Reorg Day 2

There were some things (picture below) that didn’t belong on shelves…those misfits are propped up beside the shelves. In a garage, anything that is on the floor is twice as dirty as anything that is off the ground. Yuck.

Stuff in Corner

Mike had to help me, and I really appreciate everything he did. He installed a unit to hold the mop, broom, etc. Then, he made me two pegboard stations to hang things on. Here he is and I know his knee is bothering him, so I really appreciate his help. Thanks buddy!!

Mike Helping

Here’s one of the pegboards in its “virgin” state..before I put anything on it.

Pegboard empty with broom hanger

And here it is again. Everything now has a place. That is the sustaining part.

Peg Board 1

Here’s the other pegboard. I’m going to focus on recycling on this side of the garage and will post about that in the future. Mike's side of garage

Last, I love the chalkboard Mike and I made which I’ve already posted about. When he leaves, I always remind him about things and now the garage chalkboard will be a visual reminder, too!! Nagging!! I’ll be adding some more useful things on it. I think I started the garage reorganization project just so I could have this chalkboard!!

Yardstock and Chalkboard 2

And I like the yardsticks that surround the chalkboard. See what they say..”Clean Up.” And that’s what we did!!

Yardstock CloseUp

Thank you for reading RiverCliff Cottage.

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