Family – Page 2 – Love My DIY Home

Wicker File Cabinet Re-purposed to a Paint Cart

Here is a quick example of how you can re-purpose those garage sale finds inexpensively and easily. No muss. No fuss. Just a can of spray paint, black glaze and a sponge paint brush turned this wicker file cabinet into something useful. Wicker isn’t very popular any more and you will find wicker everything out in garage sales for just a dollar or two. I bought this one at a garage sale for $2 this summer. STEP #1 Spray with Rustoleum Painters Touch spray paint. Pick a color, any color. STEP #2 Dab, wipe or brush on glaze – all over, including the metal bars. I used Wise Owl black glaze using a sponge brush. You can use a regular sponge, brush or even a paper towel. Just use what you have on hand. No need to be particular, just have at it! I took about 30 seconds to brush … Read more

DIY Pot Rack – Pendant Lights or Industrial Wood?

Caution: This is a really looonnng post – first the background story of a win/loss/win, 2 sets of before and afters and a detailed description of the final DIY project! It all started with a giveaway… I Won a Pendant Light! Back in January C.D. Loken at CD’s Country Living had a giveaway and I won: “In honor of CD’s Country Living’s blogging anniversary, Parrot Uncle generously agreed to send one lucky winner this LARGE (18.11 x 9.06) Retro-Industrial Light with Pot cover shade ($45 value)!” Best Laid Plans Today I can finally tell you about it. It was a long time in coming… Parrot Uncle asked me if I’d like to have a second pendant light for my kitchen to go along with the one I won in CD’s giveaway. After a few back and forth emails, we settled on the pair of lights that were just like C.D.s … Read more

Direct Composting – Improving Garden Soil

No Bin No Way We considered buying a rotating compost bin for our garden to use scraps from the kitchen to improve our garden soil, but they were all pricey and I didn’t like the idea of having to dump our scraps into a stinky bin and having to turn it to keep it aerated. You may call it lazy, but I call it efficient. My schedule is so tight, I’m all about quick and easy with few steps in between. Plus, we have a lot of winter here in Wisconsin and I don’t like tromping through the snow! I did a search (naturally!) and came up with the term “direct composting,” or “trench composting.” Basically you just dig a trench in your garden and dump in your scraps and bury them. Easy peasey! We tried it last year and it WAS easy and this year when we dug the … Read more

Keep Your Lettuce Sweet – It’s all in the timing

Keep It Sweet – Lettuce Last year’s lettuce was fabulous. My mom had told me a couple of years ago that I shouldn’t plant my own lettuce because it becomes bitter. Her experience left a bitter taste in her mouth (pun intended) So, as always, I wanted to find out why and did a little research and experimenting. This is what I discovered: If you are having problems with your lettuce tasting bitter, pick it in the morning, wash and dry it and put it in the fridge for a day. It should sweeten up. The hot sun of the day can dry it out and make it bitter. It usually recoups over night in the dew. Be sure to water the lettuce in the morning – the water helps the lettuce survive the hot sun later in the day that can strip it of its sweetness. We also added … Read more

Hoarder's Renovated Home {Love My DIY Home}

Before and After House Flip – A Look at the Hoarding Disorder

A House Flip You Never Know What is on the Inside Looking at a home from the outside can be very deceiving – just like the outside of a person often doesn’t reveal what is inside of their heart. The flaws will remain anonymous. Join me for a look at a hoarder disorder as seen through the eyes of their family. Definition of Hoarding from Mayo Clinic: “Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. Excessive accumulation of items, regardless of actual value, occurs. Hoarding often creates such cramped living conditions that homes may be filled to capacity, with only narrow pathways winding through stacks of clutter. Some people also collect animals, keeping dozens or hundreds of pets in unsanitary conditions because … Read more

Aiding Refugees in Lesvos {Love My DIY Home}

Helping Refugees – My Son’s Mission

To My DIY Tribe: As you look around you and see all that God has allowed you to have – a safe, clean home, warmth, family, friends, freedom of worship, medical support, possessions, warm clothing, jobs, money, entertainment, hobbies… Please pray for my son, Andrew, volunteering on the island of Lesvos helping the refugees who are escaping from Turkey. He is considering a dangerous move to help diminish the lives lost while escaping by boat. He is considering going to Turkey as a scout. He could end up in a Turkish jail if arrested for aiding the refugees. Here is his journal if you want to read his first hand accounts: AndrewFrania.com This is the ultimate DIY – risking your own life to save people you have never met. He is supporting himself with the unemployment from his seasonal job. Please support him, … Read more

Merry Christmas from Love My DIY Home

9/11

"To Islamic Extremists: I know you're watching, so pay attention. You hate my freedom, my religion, and my country… Don't ever confuse me for my politicians or my media. I am an American, free born and free bred.. My freedom is more powerful than anything you can possibly do. I will say what I think, worship according to my beliefs, and raise my children how I see fit. And I defend it all with the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I cower to no one." Marcus Luttrell – NAVY SEAL (Retired)

4 Alzheimer Friendly Home Modifications {Love My DIY Home}

4 DIY Alzheimer’s Friendly Home Modifications – Guest Post by Mike Good

As we grow older, we start to discover that our homes no longer meet our physical needs as smoothly as when we were younger. Climbing stairs becomes more challenging, we might trip on transitions that never impeded us before, or the lighting may seem dull, making it harder to read. This is where thoughtful home improvements, like the installation of Stair kits, can make a significant difference in enhancing both accessibility and safety. Stairs take on an elegant and inviting quality when adorned with stylish stair runners, adding both beauty and functionality to the home. Get inspired to do a new stair project by consulting experts. It becomes important to keep our changing needs in mind anytime we do a home modification. Also, many of us will find the need to move an older loved one into our home, some of whom may have Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The unique … Read more

Grief Makes One Hour Ten FREE Word Art {Love My DIY Home}

How Long Should Grief Last?

It’s been 243 days. That’s 5829 hours… exactly 349,768 minutes. How long should grief last? Should I be moving on by now? Is the past in the past? For those of you who will be experiencing grief in the future, or those of you in the throes of grief let me encourage you. Don’t put it off. Don’t avoid it. Don’t wish it away. It’s part of life. Does it hurt? Yes. Does it go away? Yes. Eventually. Sort of. If you allow yourself, you will eventually only focus on the good moments and let the painful ones fade. Just don’t dwell. If you dwell, you will get depressed and it will mess up your day. Think about it for a bit and then put it aside. Grief may not be a friend, but it doesn’t have to be an enemy either. Don’t feel guilty if you choose to … Read more