Me & Grandma

This picture sums up my Grandma and me.  We were always close.  I still miss her so much.

I was one and we were visiting.  The pictures still have a good ways to go, but I am making such progress.  I am still sick though and I think maybe I'm trying to do a little too much, so I'm trying to be better at being good.  (Does that make sense?)

Stew is supper tonight since it won't take too much fussing with.  Hope everyone is OK!

I'm really sick with what I am not sure if is the flu or a cold.  So I'm being useful and organizes some old photos.

This is is my Grandma, Elsie...and the watering can.  It was probably Mommy with the camera.  Gotta love it!

Today I used "The Concoction" on the bathroom baseboards and cleaned the lino on my hands and knees.  The bathroom is fairly small so it's not as monumental an undertaking as it sounds, still it's a lot of work.  Now the floor is nice and clean and so are the baseboards.

Tomorrow, I'm going to try "The Concoction" on the walls of the bathroom as I'm trying to removed the old wall paper paste that is the pure devil to get off.  I don't know if it's because it's so old or what.  This is my first time stripping wall paper, so I'm learning as I'm going.  I've tried the store bought chemicals that are made for this...underwhelming and ghastly smelling...  I've used the fabric softener method...at least it smells delightful but unfortunately it doesn't work any better than the chemical stuff.  But, because it smells better, that's what I've been using.  I'm hoping this works.

Any and all wall paper paste removal suggestions are appreciated!  This bathroom project is taking way too long and I want the room painted...SOON!

Hugs

Today has been a very productive day.  A while back we purchased an old set of iron and plexiglass corner shelves to use in the kitchen.  They were $2 and would fit perfectly where we wanted to put them.  Problem was, they were beat up a bit and needed some TLC.  So in keeping with the WWII "Make Do and Mend" mentality, I decided to bring them back to life.

First, I washed them down really well, then I took them apart.  Then I spray painted the scratched up decorative tips a gold color that I thought would have been pretty close to the original.  After they had dried for 24 hours, I put painters tape over the brass colored tips.  Then I sprayed the rest of the shelves black.  After they had dried to touch, I sprayed them with a couple of coats of shiny clear coat.  Again I let them dry 24 hours.  Today I brought them in to the kitchen and this is the result!

Now I'm not saying I'll end up in "Better Homes and Gardens" or anything, but I am pleased with them.  I am planning on redoing my wallpaper there, too.  Still work to be done, but an improvement.

I also wanted to share with you all the cleaning "concoction" that I have used for years and I thought I'd share.  It works so much better, in my opinion, than a lot of the commercial cleaners I have used before.  It came from Grandma, and it was something that she used from before she got married in 1926.  If you use it to mop the floor, you'll probably have to rinse because of the baking soda if you have the kind of floor that you can see streaks.  I also suggest using a large bucket or halving the recipe because it DOES foam up substantially.  You can clean walls, floors, and use it on appliances.  And best yet, it comes from what's already in your cupboard.

2 gallons very warm/hot water
1 cup of baking soda
1Tablespoon soap (I use castile or dish soap, whatever is available)
1 Cup white vinegar
A few drops lavender or rosemary essential oil (That's optional)

Mix the first three ingredients together in the bucket, using your hand if the water isn't too hot and rinsing off the measuring spoon really well.  (You don't want to waste your soap, right?)  After you feel the baking soda, water, and soap are mixed well and the baking soda just isn't sitting on the bottom, add the vinegar.  And here is where it starts getting fun.  With the addition of the vinegar, the mixture starts to foam away!  (That's why you need a big bucket or a half batch...otherwise you'll be cleaning up wasted suds and cleaning mixture!)  Then add the essential oil if you want.  This was my addition, not Grandma's.  LOL!

I used it today to wash my floors since I was going to put in my new shelves.  I also used it to clean all my baseboards in the kitchen.  (Tomorrow, the hallway and bathroom!)  They really needed washing with the three larger dogs and the humans that live here, and I had been dreading it a bit because I was afraid I'd have to do a great deal of heavy scrubbing.  I had forgotten how well this works.  Now my kitchen baseboards gleam, and the only thing I see isn't dirt but the need to repaint!  LOL!

What projects is everyone else working on?

Thank goodness life is getting back to normal!  I got very, very busy with work there for a while and all I did was come home and put my feet up.  The only thing I got done was what I accomplished before I went to work!

I am still following the rationing rules for food and gasoline that were in place for 1943.  My friend Donna over at gdonna.com is doing this also, and she is so very good about posting how they are cutting back, pasting in their coupons, etc.

I'm doing it, but I'm just crossing off the coupons as I use them.  I do the same with the gas allotment we use for the week.  In order to stretch the gas allowance, I take the bus to work.  I am very lucky here in the area close to Salt Lake City.  We have an excellent public transit system.  (In fact, I being so close to the main bus line for our area was another selling point when I bought this house in 2001.)  I am two doors down from the bus stop.  When I get in to town, I have to walk five blocks to work.  Then, I'm usually lucky and get a ride from a coworker to the bus stop to go home.  Or I take this

on the bus with me and ride it from the bus stop to work and back.   I am allowed to take my scooter on the bus since it's electric.  I've had a couple of drivers question me about it, but since I'm considered disabled, I explain I'm allowed to use this for my mobility device.  It actually takes less room than a regular mobility scooter.  (I don't take it every time if I have to go on the bus, usually if I have a lot of walking to do or if I'm really tired and want to save my energy for work.) 

I also use my little scooter to get around my local area to the library or the grocery store and local mall.  I don't shop much at the mall, where this photo is taken, but I love the atmosphere.  There is a wonderful outdoor space to sit and read, fountains, and a little playground for the children.  There is usually a concert during the week and if I'm off work sometimes I ride my little scooter down there.

Once a week or so I try to do the main shopping and we try to get everything done all at once.  If the gas has is running low, sometimes I take the bus in to the grocery store and my son picks me up on his way home either during lunch or after work.  He lives with me at the moment and I'm sure that back in the 1940's people shared rides whenever possible.

Today I've spent getting caught up on house work that I've gotten behind in from working.  I've still got a ways to go to get caught up to where I want to be, but I'm getting there.