#StayAtHome - Real Retired Housewife of Florida Style

The #StayAtHome lifestyle isn't all that different from my REAL RETIRED HOUSEWIFE OF FLORIDA lifestyle.   I am missing my spa visits...hair, mani/pedi, massage.  I miss travelling in our camper.  Otherwise, I have adapted.  My biggest accomplishment have been in the craft area.

My first project was Wall Hangings for the guest room.  I love the idea of homemade art and this project appealed to me because

• I liked the look
• It was easy
• I had all the supplies at home

 

I already had the frames hanging on the wall with artwork that needed updated.  I have a hoard of glue guns and sticks.  My hoard is a combination of my own and what I inherited from my Mom.  I painted muslin fabric for the background.  I originally thought I wanted the circles to be black, but gold worked better. 

I am happy with the end results.  If you want detailed instructions on this project check out Tresha's YouTube video, How to Make Beautiful Abstract Wall Art Using This Common Tool.

My next project was Personalized Doormats for my family. 

I had bought the doormats a while ago, but just set them aside.  Now I had plenty of time and no excuses.  I designed and cut the stencils using my Silhouette cutter.  

The first doormat took me 3 days to finish.  Looking, back I don't know what my problems were.  I got the second mat completed in one day.  I was able to design, cut and paint the last two in ONE DAY!  I had a little bit of a learning curve.

I was happy to get done with them!  I painted them at my kitchen bar...what a mess.  It was the same time Brian was working on perfecting his pizza skills.  That added to the mess, but boy was the pizza good.

For the next project I moved out of the kitchen and into my small workspace in the garage.  It was time to make some Mosaic Pots.  I have been doing shard art mosaic projects for a long time.  The pots are my signature piece.

Before I started this project I cleaned out my 4' x 8' workspace in the garage.  I couldn't believe how much I had stored (shoved) into that space.  This is my space AFTER I took out all my supplies.

  

This is what it normally looks like...

Here are the mosaic supplies I had stored (shoved) into that small space.

I like making the pots because there are many different steps to them...glazing the rims and trays, buying the dishes and tiles, picking the colors, breaking the pieces, creating the design, gluing and grouting.  Breaking the dishes is very physical.  The gluing and grouting is very messy.  I love it.  I am taking the finished pieces to Ohio to share with family and friends.

My latest project was Wood Cornice Boxes for my bedroom windows.

I want cornice boxes over most of the windows in my home to compliment the ceiling crown molding.  I have spent lots of time researching and watching YouTube videos.  I started with the bedroom windows because they are the smallest.  My son-in-law, Mike, helped me with the design and recommended a good deal on a nailer set from Home Depot.  The idea of using power tools was exciting...and scary.

I set up a work area in the garage.  Let me tell you, if there was a mistake, I made it.  Wrong design, wrong cut, wrong size, wrong direction.  The first cornice box took three whole days...one day to build and two days to caulk!  At the end of the first day and I didn't think it was salvageable.  I went to sleep resigned that I would probably have to have someone else make them.  After a beer (or two) and a good nights sleep, I was hopeful.  Half a tube of calk and the piece was okay.  It won't win a prize.

I figured I had made ALL the possible mistakes on the first box...what could go wrong with the second?  Another batch of problems and mistakes.  But at least this one didn't take as long or need as much caulk.  It was another example of my learning curve.  I plan to make more.  I like this project because of all the power tools...chop saw, air nailer, cordless drill...a big Tim Taylor HAR HAR HAR.

Projects are done, the mess is cleaned up and the pizza has been eaten.  Now back to the regular @StayAtHome life...jigsaw puzzles and kayaking.

2020 Sweeper Challenge

When it comes time to sweep, I have a variety of choices.  I have a lightweight Riccar Upright , an old-fashioned broom and dustpan, a microfiber mop and a Kenmore cordless stick vacuum.  You would think with all these toys, that a spotless floor is an obsession of mine.  Quite the contrary.  I am always looking for an easier, quicker solution.

When the carpet in our home started to show wear, I decided to go with laminate.  The carpet had a nice feel.  But Brian and I aren't the type to take our shoes off in the house.  We also had an elderly cat that created challenges.  When the time came to replace some of the carpet, I went big and replaced all the carpet.  Now the whole house has hard surfaces (tile and laminate), except for a couple rugs.  After nearly 2 years, I stand by my choice.

From Carpet:

To Laminate:

I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning all these hard surfaces.  I love how easy it is to sweep.  But the area is pretty big.  I have a habit of sweeping dirt into a pile against the wall as I move from area to area.  The challenge is to remember where all the little dirt piles are.  Of course, I miss one or two...to find another day.

Back to my sweeper collection.  Recently I wondered which is the most effective tool in my arsenal.

• My practical side thinks the old-fashioned broom is good enough.

• My adventurous side thinks the cordless stick vacuum is right for the job.

• My mechanical side says the Riccar has the most power (Tim Taylor...Argh Argh).

• My scientific side says the microfiber mop with the latest fiber technology will be the best.

So I came up with a test to find the BEST SWEEPER.  I created a test area of four collections of flour.  Which sweeper do YOU think did the best?

CONTESTANT #1

Broom and Dustpan.  It took 2 sweeps to gather up all the flour.  And there were small strips left where I put the broom down.  I couldn't get up all the flour into the dustpan...no matter how many times I tried.   Conclusion:  There was film of flour on the floor as well as stripes from the dustpan.

CONTESTANT #2

Microfiber Mop.  The flour swept up with one swipe.  But flour stayed in the small cracks.  Like, the broom, it was difficult to sweep up the flour into a dustpan.  Conclusion:  Flour left in cracks, problems with using the dustpan.

CONTESTANT #3

Riccar Upright Vacuum.  I was SHOCKED that it took 3 swipes with the Riccar vacuum to get up all the flour.  One the positive side, there were no issues with a dust pan.  I realize that the Riccar is made for carpet not a hard surface.  Conclusion:  With a large area, having to cover the area 3 times takes a lot of time.

CONTESTANT #4

Kenmore Cordless Stick Vacuum.  I have the model designed for hard surfaces.  It was no surprise that it picked up ALL the flour in ONE swipe.  Nothing left in the cracks or on the surface.  Conclusion:  It is the BIG WINNER.

I still like all four tools.  They each have a specialized use.  The broom is handy for quick jobs.  The microfiber mop is best for using with a spray on tough spots.  The Riccar is great for my area rugs.  But I can't stop singing the praises of my latest toy...Kenmore Cordless Stick vacuum.  It hangs conveniently in my office, no pesky cords to deal with and it is easy to dump.