Day 7 of 2026

This zipper pull had come off the track and 

I was asked if I could fix it. 

The process involved unstitching, 

replacing the pull, adding a fabric pull stop, 

stitching the main fabric back to the zipper tape, 

stitching the lining back to the zipper tape 

and redoing all the topstitching. 

Because the spaces were awkward, bulky and not at all flat, 

all stitching was done by hand.

Whew.

I have to say though, I am pretty happy with the result.

 

Day 346 of 2025

The new dining room is really coming together.

 There are just a few more things to complete here including

 setting up a Christmas tree. 

I'll take a break from pictures of this room until then.

 

Day 342 of 2025

An eye appointment and treatment and some stubborn screws

 for which I needed Fireball's help slowed my progress, 

but I have finished the final step to sideboard assembly.

 

Day 341 of 2025

There's not much new to see in the dining room 

because I'm building furniture which is not done yet.

I definitely need to have this room sorted this week

 so that will be my focus.

 

Day 339 of 2025

One of the first things to go back into the new dining room

 is the quilt cabinet.

 

Day 333 of 2025

Our dining room transformation

 will be taking the next big step this week. 

Painting will begin and it will no longer be the red room. 

I was thinking it has been this color for about 25 years,

 but Fireball estimates that it might be closer to 30

 based on his travel schedule

 with his employer at the time.

 

Day 330 of 2025

The new light has been successfully installed. 

It feels kind of magical.

 

Day 329 of 2025

Fireball and I are replacing the light in our kitchen 

which will no longer include the formal dining room. 

As is common with this type of project, 

we ran into a snag and had to wait another day to get it finished. 

I can't tell you how many times

 I tried to turn this (nonexistent) light on today.

 

Day 219 of 2025

I know it's hard to see what's going on here so I will explain. 

I wanted to make a pair of pajama pants. 

I went to my fabric stash to look for three yards of fabric. 

Before I was even able to really look 

I found this pair of Vera Bradley pajama pants 

that I bought at Goodwill years ago to cut up 

and use as borders on a quilt. 

I had even picked out coordinating fabric 

which I found rolled together with the pants. 

It appeared that they might fit me so I took a closer look. 

The elastic in the back waist was rotten so I replaced the elastic. 

My favorite thing though is that I was able to add inseam pockets. 

I love inseam pockets and intend to add them to most anything I can. 

I can't wait to wear these.

 

Day 59 of 2025

... Hello, new shower.

…

 

Day 58 of 2025

Goodbye, old shower...

 

Day 351 of 2024

I'm prepping these walls for painting by filling holes 

and sanding the edges off the painted stars and stripes. 

I spy a mistake I made when I originally painted. 

Can you see it too?

 

Day 207 of 2024

I've pinned paper triangles over my low temperatures 

for most of February and March to see how a couple options might look. 

I may try a couple other options too.

I'll live with these for a while before making a decision.

 

Day 165 of 2024

This is not how we planned to spend part of our day today. 

The quick version goes like this: 

About three weeks ago, we had the flooring replaced in this area of the house. 

When the flooring was done the installer hooked the water back up

 but did not turn it back on. 

I discovered this the first time I tried to start laundry after he was gone. 

Fireball turned the water on. 

Fast forward to today. 

I started a load of laundry on cool water setting. 

I opened the washer to add one thing I forgot 

and almost burned my hand in the very hot water. 

I mentioned this weirdness to Fireball. 

I grabbed the two water supply lines and found the hot was very cold

 and the cold was very hot. 

The installer failed to check to see 

if he was hooking the water supply lines

 to the correct spots.

Fireball and I got ready to fix the problem. 

The turn offs are very hard to turn. 

It felt like they were off, but water kept spewing everywhere. 

The laundry room began to flood with water

 as Fireball and I each tried to turn the water off. 

In the end, we got the water to stop, switched the supply lines, 

turned the water back on

 and I was able to finish my laundry with the cool water that I desired. 

I ended up doing an extra load to wash all the towels 

we had to use to mop up all the water. 

I guess the quick version didn't turn out so quick. 

Congrats if you actually got to the end.

 

Day 64 of 2024

Fireball and I have the task of choosing new flooring

 for one of our bathrooms. 

These are just some of the samples we are looking at.

Decisions are hard for me. 

Please wish us luck.

 

Day 356 of 2023

Today we are replacing the old door with a new door, 

but in the middle you have to have no door.

 

Day 355 of 2023

I bought this dress (tunic for me) second hand in the fall. 

It has a couple issues so I have not worn it yet. 

The lining was too long and peeked out at the bottom of the dress. 

I have done two of the three steps to fix that. 

The button closure at the back is missing its loop. 

I was about to attach a new one when it occurred to me 

that this was the perfect time to make an improvement. 

I struggle with the button closures

 because my hair always gets tangled up in it. 

I prefer a zipper so that's what I'm going to add. 

The zipper I have on hand isn't long enough

 so I will remove the button and add a hook and eye at the top. 

I hope to finish this fix tomorrow

 and be wearing my "new" dress by the weekend.

 

Day 317 of 2023

There is something you need to know about Great Grandpa H. 

He loved to shop at Goodwill or better yet, at garage sales. 

This picture shows his signature "fix" 

for anything that had a logo, name or monogram on it. 

This one is an iron-on patch meant for little kids' pants with ripped knees,

 but he would also use some kind of plastic-y paint to cover the offending words. 

And he did not limit himself to sweatshirts. 

He also "fixed" t-shirts, tote bags and containers - really anything. 

I kept these two sweatshirts to make a muslin of a new pattern

 to check the fit I have before I cut into my fancy fabric. 

When I pulled them out of a box yesterday, I had to smile.

 

Day 236 of 2023

My one job for the day - disassemble this daybed. 

Done.

 

Day 218 of 2023

We have an outdoor table which lost its glass in a storm several years ago. 

I have off and on had a plan to make a replacement top for it. 

Because the frame is and the glass was curved, 

the replacement comes with challenges. 

We probably should have put the table frame out by the street a long time ago, 

but I have been reluctant to do it 

because I am convinced I can make something work out. 

I measured the table frame again today and have a plan in mind. 

Look for progress pictures soon. 

My goal is to have it done by the end of the month.