SunRail to Winter Park Adventure

Part of being a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA is last minute adventures.  Recently, Brian and I combined two adventures into one...riding the Florida SunRail train and walking around Park Avenue in Winter Park.

SUNRAIL

We purchased our tickets from a kiosk.  Each ticket cost $5.50 round trip from Sanford to Winter Park.  It is best to use a credit/debit card.  Only a few kiosks accept cash and on that day the Sanford kiosk wasn't accepting cash (as a couple passengers found out).

The tracks in Sanford are shared with Amtrak and an Amtrak AutoTrain passed by.  I noticed this sign on the vehicle cars.

Other than the obvious, I couldn't think of what it meant.  I Googled it and found this explanation:

Hump Yard:  A yard where gravity and powered switches sort incoming trains onto correct tracks.  DO NOT HUMP signs are placed on cars that must not use a hump yard because of cargo restrictions or car age.

Okay.  If you say so.

Just like the stations, the trains are new, clean and very comfortable.  Brian and I choose to sit on the top, for a better view.  The only problem with that is there is no view.  One side is industrial and the other side is residential.  Still the  ride was fun!  Our one-way trip was about 30 minutes.

WINTER PARK

The SunRail Winter Park station is conveniently located just a block from Park Avenue and Central Park.  Is this New York or Florida?

Park Avenue is a great place for a relaxing stroll through a variety of shops and restaurants.  We started with a cup of coffee, checked out some flavored olive oils and vinegars, bought some paprika at a spice shop, did some window shopping and ended with a light lunch.

I looked beyond the retail displays and found some beautiful urban landscaping and my first electric car charging station...a glimpse into the future.

While waiting for the SunRail train ride back, I strolled around Central Park.  It is beautifully landscaped with fountains, walking paths and a rose gard.

There are lots more to do in Winter Park (museums, gardens, Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, Rollins College), but we had a 2:11 train to catch...Another day.

Paint Within The Lines

I am not talking Paint-By-Numbers...I am talking Kitchen Floor Grout.  I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with the tile floor in the kitchen.

LOVE the look of the tile

LOVE how easy it is to mop clean

HATE how difficult it is to clean the grout

HATE the uneven grout color

I know the dark grout is from DIRT.  I won't mind the dirtier darker color, but it discolors unevenly and stands out like BIG RED CORRECTIONS on a school paper.

When my daughter and son-in-law put tile in their kitchen, they went the extra mile and used an Epoxy grout that is stain resistant and easy to clean.  I needed a solution that didn't involve removing the grout (i.e., hard labor).  So I went with a grout paint from Lowe's called Grout Refresh.

The product comes in 30 colors, but in-store, Lowe's only carries about 6.  I was fortunate that I found a color that worked with my tile.  I used 2 bottles for a small bathroom (my testing area) and a large kitchen (26' x 11').

First I mopped the floor and let it dry.  Then I put a line of Grout Refresh on the grout and used a toothbrush to fill in.  It is more important to work the paint into the grout than it is to keep the paint off the tile.  Then I let the paint dry for about an hour.

After it was dry, I sprayed the area lightly with water and scrubbed the paint off the tile with a scrub pad, rags...whatever worked.  This was the longest part of the process.  The paint came off the tile, but it took patience and a little work.  I wiped off the completed area with clean water and let dry.  Once completely dry, I mopped the floor with water and vinegar to clear off the light film.  The whole process took a couple hours.

I broke the project into small areas and did one or two areas a day.  It took me 3 days for the kitchen.  Keep in mind I am not a home repair expert (nor do I play one on TV).  I am a REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA.

I am very happy with the outcome.  I just wish there was a product that kept the floors permanently clean!