Save my rugs – Thrifty and a DIY job -tutorial

Recently we put in new laminate floors in our remodeled kitchen. Laminate floors DO NOT like  water – so rugs are necessary.  I hemmed and hawed until I found the right rugs – one for the back door and two long runners for the sink and stove area. While cooking bacon in the microwave , some of the drippings fell to the rug – I thought that I would throw the rug into the washer after feeding the hubby but, I forgot and ran off to work…..when I came home from work I saw that my pups – smelled the bacon and gave that rug a good lickin !     I searched - You Tube and Google for a solution. The rugs cost about twenty five dollars a piece and I didn’t want to replace them – I loved them and the store was out of them already. I first tried my sewing machine with the feed dogs down – no luck because of the rubber backing. I then got out my needle and thread…..I used a wool appliqué needle with a large eye. I double threaded the needle with coordinating color - black. I just smooshed the yarn over the holes and darned away – see the pictures of before, during and after. I am so very happy I did this.

 

 

 

Rug # 2 – another new rug – I think the pups just hooked a nail on this  one…..

 

I am linking to the following parties:

 http://www.lbratina.blogspot.com/ Hostess Leigh –Tales from Bloggeritaville

 

Hugs ~ Kammy

Small Home in the Country locked down after local PRISON BREAK !!!!

Small Home in the Country locked down after local PRISON BREAK !!!

**** Warning – pictures may be graphic – ****

 

This news report is part of Outdoor Wednesday with your hostess- Susan at

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

A  prison escape happened just before sunset Tuesday September 29,2009.  It happened at the Owl Canyon Penit-HEN-tuary. The escaped convicts should not be approached as they could be armed and dangerous. Some may call them “ JAIL BIRDS “ but, we don’t want to give them a label….you decide. This is the picture that was captured at the local watering hole…..

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The JAIL BIRDS are known as :

Left Fingered OSCAR

Mack – AKA The Godfather

Two Timing Peggy

How did they escape out of the high security prison you may be asking yourself.  This next image was captured on film – judge for yourself *** Warning the next image may be graphic ***

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This prisoner happens to be “ON DEATH ROW” , yes, he is counting his days and seems to be making the best of them.  He wears a bright red coat and lately his name has been Satin.  If you follow this blog you may have seen this same criminal breaking out of jail in the spring and making a ruckus.  Officials aren’t sure yet how Satin broke down the high security fences (and gate) to break out the JAIL BIRDS –it is under investigation.

Meanwhile, Prison Guard Officer Grady Tucker is gathering up the JAIL BIRDS……

Wait, we seem to catch Officer Grady Tucker off guard….

Much better –

Get a load of the unruly hair style on Left Fingered Oscar. Remember what prison does to these people.

Meanwhile back at the Penit-HEN-tuary – his days are numbered and he isn’t budging…. Here stands Satin – as if nothing happened…… We are checking the freezer space at this moment…..

DISCLOSURE – THIS IS NOT A POST FOR THE FAINT OF HEART OR FOR VEGGANS.

 

The following prisoners DID NOT ESCAPE….

Gunner

Vader    ( side note and an Advertisement – Vader is sporting a collar made by Suzanne with Crazy for Collars – at 

http://spt2.blogspot.com/

this is not a paid announcement and no money exchanged hands) End of commercial.

Until the prison is built again – the JAIL BIRDS will have to live in the large compound aka the barn.

We leave you with these images…

 

Sorry – I got allot of imagination.

Hugs ~ Kammy

Kitchen remodel decorated for fall

It is time to show everyone my kitchen remodel. This kitchen began it’s life in 1988. We began the remodel in 2007 It is about 95 % complete….I still need to buy a fridge (black) I know , I know….why can’t Kammy just spray paint the one she has….I would but, it is just not big enough…LOL.  I was all prepared to purchase a new fridge this fall but, had to replace my new dishwasher already….errrrrrr. Yes, I have learned my lesson about warranties (I should always buy them for expensive products) and research –not just the consumer reports. My hubby and I did the complete remodel ourselves except for hanging the cabinets, putting up the backsplash in tile and a friend helped with the taping and mudding of the drywall. Yes , this was a down to the studs complete re-model. We have done all of it on a budget all for about $12,000 and without a 2nd mortgage.

I can’t believe I am posting these UGLY pictures. Now keep in mind we were starting to empty cupboards so everything is a MESS. Everything got demolished. We built archways to define the rooms –notice in this picture the straight entryway. This entryway used to have my washer and dryer – a horrible place. We added on my “studio” (a.k.a. my creative place)and put in a closet for the washer and dryer.   This is a close up of the cabinets – pretty yucky ,huh ? Fake wood baby..

New window and sliding door. Appliances and sink moved to better locations. Extra studs in the walls added. Electrical re-wired. Propane stove switched over to electric – propane is super expensive and I wanted the ease of cleaning a flat top stove.

This is the only picture of me , that I took myself. We worked hours upon hours for months. Would I do it again…probably not. Notice things like the lovely florescent lights ? The ceiling was not deep enough for canned lighting, so we went with track lighting.

  I apologize for the Elk head – We live in Colorado and my hubby hunts…. Below is a picture of the arch my hubby added to the short hall. The door to the left if the main bathroom. We added a linen closet also. The other door at the end is a small bedroom and the door to the left is another bedroom. Remember I live in a small home. My square footage is not quite 1500.

See my lovely light fixture – NOT. My hubby added the arch to the short hallway and also the large arch separating the living room from the dining room.  The living room is next to be stripped down to studs and flipped.  The kitchen cabinets are Kemper – this is the same company who makes Thomasville cabinets. They are solid oak and I got the dove tail drawers. I also upgraded the drawer fronts to match the door which cost me an extra $750 which I thought was worth it. The cabinets were the most expensive part of the remodel costing $9000.00 – that was with a 10% off sale.  I have a cookie sheet cabinet and the drawers left of the stove pull out for pots and pans. I have looked at model homes for fun from time to time and I am now a Cabinet Snob – I always have to pull out the drawers and open the doors to see how they are made. It surprises me that homes selling for $600,000.00 range , sometimes have very cheap cabinets. Yes, I am a Cabinet Snob…..  The cabinet man tried to talk me out of the corner kitchen appliance – he said they take up too my space. I wanted one and love it. I learned that if I like it and want it , I will be happy. I store my food processer and other items in it. I got probably 7 estimates on my cabinets. I am happy I did get many estimates because I got several ideas on what I wanted. The large corner area is called “City Scape” because of the staggered heights. I designed the layout. Appliances in and before the backsplash was done. We did not do granite – as it would have been 1/2 our budget. We got a laminate (free with the purchase of the cabinets – I really shopped the deals) and we can update the counter tops at a later time. I do love the color of the counter. I would have loved a farmhouse apron sink –but they at least a grand. I bought a swanstone sink a super big one – at least as big as a farmhouse apron sink and a 1/4 of the price. I love it because I can fit whole cookie sheets in it. I never used the double sink much before. I have had lots of compliments on my sink – especially from men – LOL ! If I hand wash dishes, I just put a big pan on one side to do the rinsing – easy peasey. I also got a button on the sink for the garbage disposal. This is the first garbage disposal I have ever had – I love it. The floors of course were not level – we had to lay a concrete type leveling compound through out the kitchen. This was a 3 day job –and I might add a major pain in the behind.

My new Kitchen Aid dishwasher if in….Short story I purchased LG appliances and have had MAJOR problems with all 3 – all of course after the warranty ended. I will not buy LG appliances again – EVER.

The kitchen island is a Martha Stewart from K-mart. I bought it a couple of years ago – painted it black of course. I had it in my studio but, decided to add it to my kitchen. I have new “used” furniture for my studio and they are awaiting their makeovers ! I know I should take pictures of a “neutral” season – maybe after the first of the year – maybe after I finally get that French door BLACK fridge…maybe someday.

Hugs ~ Kammy

I am linking to the following parties this week;

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ with Susan for Met. Monday

and

http://southernhospitalityblog.com with Rhoda – note this is the last Thrifty Treasures for 2009