My Memorial Day with Concrete

We stayed the entire weekend on a yacht surrounded by scrumptious food, delectable drinks and servants that waited on us hand and foot.
And, it was all free! Can you believe that?

Nope. Neither can I, but I like to dream.
Below is what we really did on Memorial Day while others were out basking in the lake’s glory…

Ladies and Gentleman, may I introduce to you my neighbor’s front porch.
It was a nice front porch, but much too small. Hubby and I are making that sucker huge for her.
This is the beginning of the concrete forms. We’ve already cut out the side forms and have reinforced the sides with rebar.

Here is a disgusting and sweaty version of me at this point in the day, cutting more sections of rebar for the top step.

As you cut rebar, a scent infiltrates your nose. It smells of fireworks and burning flesh all at once.
Oh wait…that was my flesh burning.
A bad word might have escaped my lips. Please God, forgive me.

After Hubby drilled holes into the top step of the old concrete, I pounded all of the rebar in about three inches.

This here was pretty much the highlight of my day. This and when I went to Lowe’s for the bazillionith time. I love going to Lowe’s when I stink like a pig farm.
I suppose I fit in, however.

We cut pieces of 6” welded wire mesh, tying it to each piece of the rebar. This further reinforces our step and will survive a nuclear attack.
Then, we added three 2” x 8” boards which will make the steps.
I tripped over these stupid boards countless times. My legs are all scratched up and splintery. I might just take some pictures to prove it.
Tomorrow, we pour the lovely concrete. Pray that it goes well, folks.

‘How to do it like a Woman’-Finishing Your Hardwood Floors-Part Deux

I bet you’re a little sore today after Part Uno.
Don’t fret, today is an easy day. A fun day. You are going to make those dusty floors look brand spanking shiny and new!
HURRAH!

From our list in ‘Part Uno’, this is what you will need today:
Shop Vac
Rubber Gloves
Polyurethane
Stain (if desired, I did not desire)
Paint Tray & liners
Foamy Brush
Lambs Wool Applicator
Pole Sander & 220 Grit Pole Sander Pads
Mineral Spirits/Paint Thinner and rags
A good attitude

First things first; using your shop vac, suck up all of the dust particles from every square inch of your newly sanded floors.
This step sucks! heh heh.
I recommend dust mopping the walls and vacuuming off ledges and shelves, as well.

Spread a generous amount of the paint thinner/mineral spirits onto your rag and take a big wiff of it. Now that you are dizzy, wipe the entire floor with your smelly rag. This removes the fine particles left behind by the vacuum.

Guess what?! If you want to apply a stain, this is the time to do it. Use a lintless rag to apply your stain evenly to the floor.
If you are like me and aren’t applying a stain, it’s time for Round 1 of polyurethane! Grab your rubber gloves, make a bird out of them (shown above) and get pumped.
You can skip the ‘bird’ step if you like.

Gently stir your poly in a clockwise rotation with a clean stir stick.
Don’t pull up from the bottom or stir quickly. This will create air pockets in your poly. And that is not good…
You will want to stir your poly (both in the can and in the paint tray) from time to time throughout the application process.

Pour your poly very gently into your paint tray. I recommend using a liner in your paint tray or you will have a sticky mess on your hands and everywhere else.
Dip the Lamb’s Wool Applicator gently into the poly, pulling back until the applicator is full.

Start in the furthest corner of the room and plan how you are going to get out of the room. (Don’t poly yourself into the corner. That’s just embarrassing.)
Using even strokes, gently pull the lamb’s wool applicator towards you, following the direction of the wood. Repeat this until the floor is coated with polyurethane.
It’s easy to miss spots or leave puddles. Review your work as you go, using different viewing angles.

Let the first coat of poly dry. Follow the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.
Every poly is a little different. I’ve always said that.

After the floor has had enough time to dry, use your pole sander and your 220 grit sand paper to smooth out any bubbles or high spots from pooling poly (can you say that 10 times fast?) following the direction of the wood.
You can also rent a buffing machine, but I like to get a shoulder workout. And, I’m cheap.
Vacuum the floor thoroughly after you are done sanding.

Now, it’s time for Round 2 of polyurethane!
(Follow the same instructions from Round 1 for applying the poly).

Let ‘er dry. YEAH!!!!
You are finished. Look at that floor! And you did it all by yourself. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions on dry time. Usually you can walk on the floors 2 days or so afterwards.
You did a great job.
And THAT’S how a woman does it.

‘How to do it Like a Woman’-Sanding Hardwood Floors-Part Uno

GO here to see Part Deux!
There are so many projects to be done around the home, had I waited on Hubby to do it all by himself, would never have been done. You may be apprehensive about tackling something as ominous as hardwood floors. I am not apprehensive about almost anything, so let me be your guinea pig on things such as this.
You can sit back, sip some tea and learn from my mistakes.

When I first heard of this task, I ran the other way and hid in a dark corner for several hours. There was whimpering involved.

I mean, we’re talking scary, noisy machines that could inflict pain.
I could permanently damage the wood by sanding too deep.
I could pick the wrong stain and have to live with it that way FOREVER!
And, then I realized….these are just floors. Boo-hoo if I screw it up.

What you’ll need (get a pencil out):
Knee pads & dust mask for your own comfort
Polyurethane
Stain (if desired-I didn’t desire)
Pole Sander & 220 Grit pole sander pads
Lamb’s Wool Applicator (bahhh…)
Palm Sander and 110 Grit Sand paper
Mineral Spirits/Paint Thinner and rags

This is a belt sander. I recommend testing this 500 pound machine out before you leave the rental joint, haphazardly load it up into your truck, drive 45 minutes to your destination, haphazardly unload it and somehow get it inside, attach a new piece of sandpaper and realize it doesn’t work right…

You’ll need to rent a belt sander and an edger.
You will need to also buy three grits of sandpaper at the rental place. Usually they’ll start you at 100 grit, then 80 and finally 36.
For new wood you can start at 80 like we did and then move on to 36.
You’ll also want:
Paint trays and liners for the poly
Rubber gloves to apply the poly
Foamy brush to get the poly in small places
Wood fill & applicators for wood fill
Sheets of Plastic & Blue Tape

Let’s Get STARTED!!!!

Tape off all doorways, cabinets and anything else you don’t want completely covered in a thick, fine layer of icky brown dust.
I would recommend blue painter’s tape-however, when you run out, you may use masking tape as I did…

With the belt sander UNPLUGGED, insert your first piece of sandpaper. Since there are so many different kinds of sanders, ask the rental company how to put the sand paper in. Or, you can email me and I can show you how with this particular model.

Always sand in the direction of the wood grain with the largest grit sandpaper first. Because this wood was new, I started with an 80 grit.
Gently make contact with the floor while the machine is in the ‘ON’ position and you are moving forward. Walk slowly towards the other side of the room.
When you are a foot or so away from the wall (or another end point), lift gently up on the machine while still moving forward. Turn yourself & the lifted up machine around like you are mowing a lawn. Head back, baby, in the other direction. Do this until all of the floor is sanded.
Transitioning gently onto the floor with the belt sander will prevent large dips/ruts from being taken out of the wood.

Now, that your floors have been sanded all the way through….time for the edger! Strap on your knee pads and get ready to bulk up on your forearm muscles.
You will use the edger to get right up against your walls and inside of your closets. This thing is a little tricky, but with the right positioning, it won’t get away from you.

Use your palm sander to get into those tiny places even the edge can’t get into.
Don’t I look lovely? I had brown boogers. Gross.

Because we were sanding new floors, after the first sand at 80 grit, we were able to wood fill all of the nail holes and knots in the floor next.
If you are sanding old wood floors, you will do wood fill after you have sanded/edged twice: once with the 100 and then the 80 grit.
After the wood fill has dried (read directions on the packaging), sand and edge the floors again, removing all of the wood fill with your last grit of sand paper.

This is how you will look after all of the sanding is completed. Now, go to bed and get some rest.
Blow out the brown boogers as much as possible.
Tomorrow is a big day-we’re going to finish this project and make your floors so shiny and new!
GO here to see Part Deux!

The Difference Between Man & Wife and Windows

Biceps and I are organizers. The clothes in our closets are color coordinated. We face the labels out on our canned goods. We completely rinse every last crumb off of our dishes before putting them
in the dishwasher.
I would absolutely drive any other man crazy.

However, with all of that in common, we still have or freakish differences.
He loves the stage. I get sweaty palms, heart palpitations and loose all control of my appendages if I go near a stage.
I can also be quite careless from time to time.
I’ll fling my seatbelt behind me as I vacate the car, hopping out without looking below and usually step right into a puddle.
He situates things for five minutes before leaving the car. Mostly, he’s untangling my seatbelt. And not stepping into a puddle.
Biceps is careful, thoughtful and patient.
I am working on these attributes. Quickly.

Because of the reasons stated above, today became a landmark day for me. And for our marriage.
We have been scraping, glazing, caulking, and repairing our windows for the last several days.
Today, we started painting them. This is where it gets good.

Guess who’s window this is.

Now guess who’s this one was.

Window #1 again-this time a close up for some down and dirty comparison.

And Window #2 again-a close up for your scrutiny.
Who do think did what window?