DIY on Hodgepodge
Join the Hodgepodge here
1. What's one fun thing on your April calendar?
I'm looking forward to that Easter week off from leading Bible study! I could use a little downtime before jumping back into our final wrap-up of Revelation. It’s going to be a nice break and I’m excited.
2. It's often said, 'A fool and his money are soon parted.'...what's the last thing you wasted money on?
The last time I went out to eat, the meal unfortunately didn’t quite meet my expectations.
3. April 2nd is National DIY day.
Are you a do-it yourself kind of person or maybe you're married to one?
Yes and Yes!
Both my parents really inspired me to be handy! My dad was a contractor, so I picked up a lot of DIY skills from him, and my mom was always fixing things too. When my husband and I married, he brought so much knowledge from his 20 years in the Navy and Coast Guard, working on six different ships. His job was as an electrical engineer, so he can tackle any electrical repair.
Painting, on the other hand, is my thing. He handles all the prep work, and I just love getting in there with the paintbrush and roller —it’s so relaxing for me! We make a great team, but even great teams get old. We know one day we’ll have to hire out.
This was a painting project last year - At first, I panicked a bit when I applied the paint. Transitioning from white to a neutral tone made me feel like I had chosen something too dark. But eventually, I started to see the beauty in it!
I was really happy with the results
Not bad for a 70-year-old!
We have excellent natural lighting, so my color choice was just right.
What's the last thing you DIY-ed?
Last summer, I painted the living room (above photos) and refinished my end tables and dining room table, which was such a rewarding project! I’ve now got my sights set on refinishing my china cabinet and dining room chairs this summer—I can’t wait to get started! Oh, and I’m planning to paint the hallway, and if everything goes as planned, I want to tackle the master bathroom, too! I’m thinking about painting it and putting down a new floor.
A exciting project to take on at age 71! I can do it - now it may take me longer but it will get done. Life is unpredictable, and we never really know what the future holds. I often think back to those years when I was recovering from rotator cuff surgery and knee replacement. Those times of being idle felt a bit frustrating, and I realize now how much time I felt was lost during recovery. I’m ready to make the most of every moment doing what I enjoy, and that is DIY home improvements. Plus I save money.
After I refinished my parents ' coffee table, I felt pretty good about how it turned out. I really enjoy repurposing things because I believe it’s a great way to minimize waste. It's giving new life to old items!
We are having our garage door replaced, and we have hired a contractor.
Lord willing, we're looking into hiring some teens from Teen Challenge to help us remove that annoying Vinca from our backyard hill.
4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb?
No lamb for me.
5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain.
I’m just me, and honestly, I just don't care.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
If money is at the root of all evil, then why do churches ask for it?
You know, it actually says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, but let's roll with it for now!
At my church, they keep things really casual. Instead of passing around a plate, there’s a little box in the back where you can drop your money envelope as you leave. You also have the option to mail it in or pay online, so there’s no pressure at all!
At my old church in the Bay Area, when we had outdoor services they would pass around a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket for donations—it always made everyone smile! I can still picture the day I took my parents to outdoor services at my church. My mom's reaction to the KFC bucket being passed around was priceless!
That's it for me - I wish you all well and see you next week.
Debby
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:10
the color is perfect and you are gifted at the diy thing. I have not one tiny bit of DIY in me. and wish I did. the coffee table is beautiful as is your entire room. the room is beautiful. I love what sunlight does to a room. way back in the mid 60's I hung gold drapes in my living room and each morning the room glowed with golden light. they were thin synthetic material and really cheap, and I was thrilled at the light they put in the room when open or closed.
ReplyDeleteI bet that was pretty seeing the golden light from the windows in the morning.
DeleteIf money is at the root of all evil, then why do churches ask for it? - That is a good question. Have to think on that.
ReplyDeleteI do like your answers - got to know you better.
You do a lot of DIY projects.
And . . . I don't eat lamb either.
I’m a worker- type person. At least I used to be. As I get older it does get harder but not ready to give up what I enjoy just yet.
DeleteI love your paint color and what you did with the coffee table.
ReplyDeleteAs I type my husband is taping off the front door to paint it. I told him your post said it was DIY day. He laughed and said he's rather someone else do it. But he's doing it! I'm supervising.
Well my husband says the same thing! But we still do it anyway because there is still some satisfaction that we did it ourselves. I know it won’t always be this way.
DeleteYou sure have an eye for colors that work together, Debby. I'm not much of a DIY person, but I do love to write. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are a talented writer Martha!
DeleteI love that we have the same curtains. Your projects are well done. I love the coffee table.
ReplyDeleteI’m still in love with the black and white buffalo checks!
DeleteOh, you are such a DIY person, Debby. You've done so many great projects. I really like the paint color you chose. And I'm glad you repurposed your mom's coffee table. That is a treasured piece you can pass along to someone. I chuckled at the lamb question, cause I'm part Greek, and Greeks love their lamb dishes. I don't care for lamb either, but I had to at least try it growing up. My dad made us try everything, which I appreciate now. And painting! You are a far better painter than I. It's the one thing I don't like to do, getting into those thin lines. I'm not skilled at it, and it's not my thing. I'm glad to hear you love to paint.....and you do it well. I love that last verse - it's so special. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I hate to prep so my husband does that for me for the most part. My mom didn’t like lamb so we didn’t have it. The neighbor in back would make lamb and it smelled funny as the stench would loft over into our yard.
DeleteThanks for dropping by!
I actually love to paint too. It is getting harder to do that type of thing now..my body says what are you doing to me...more and more.
ReplyDeleteI used to refinish furniture too ad found it so satisfying.
I guess at this point our DIY project is getting the overgrown backyard weeding done.. Its haunting me.
At our former home we and our next door neighbors (Lynne and her husband..the one I did my eldercare for) would hire Teen Challenge guys to do odd jobs for us. It was a real blessing for all of us.
That's really funny about the KFC bucket.
The church we go to now does the same thing as yours. Box on the wall, on line,and mail. No pressure that way and I agree that its The LOVE of money that's the problem.
Sue
We just do automatic tithing out of our bank account. Convenient!
DeleteI was thinking, maybe you could enlist the help from Teen Challenge or a ministry to help you with your weeds. Just a thought.
Enjoy your break from Bible study. Sorry about the meal you had. Way to go on being a do-it-yourself person. You did a great job. Way to go on the other projects too. You are really good at it. Enjoyed reading your answers.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby.
DeleteMy living room walls are the same color as yours!!! You have such a pretty living room. I wish I was as handy with things as you are!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I’ve been very pleased with the color.
Deletethe color you chose looks great and your entire room is beautiful. I truthfully an not very good at DIY projects when they require a good amount of time. Many times I have started a painting project such as a room, and ended up hiring someone to come finish it up. You are so right about money being the root of all evil...And I really do not understand many of the things that goes on with some church funding...Especially when a pastor lives like a multi-millionaire.. sorry for this little rant. Our church does the same.. there is a box at the back of the church, or you can give online. My brother attended a church where one week out of a month, it there were needs within the people of the congregation, they could ask for say gro money or utility help..of course, it was done within reason... I am not a lamb fan either...
ReplyDeleteOh I’m in agreement with you on some churches. We have a mega church here in Redding and the pastor drives around in a Lamborghini.
DeleteWe are big DYI'ers too. We've done it all.
ReplyDeleteI like lamb but don't make it because Ken doesn't like it.
We’ll do it till we no longer can.
DeleteThat is funny about the KFC bucket. They couldn't have used something, more, I don't know stately as a money receptacle? We started attending a new church as Covid was winding down and they never passed anything for offerings- they had places in the back and you can donate online as well. Our new church (yes our second in about five years) handles giving the same way. That's great that you do painting yourself and like to stay busy.
ReplyDeleteThey used the KFC bucket because it was an outside service - casual with a picnic afterwards. It fit the theme. lol.
DeleteToo funny about the KFC bucket! I can just imagine my own mother's reaction. I like the idea of the little box at the back; even tho' I give on-line, sometimes it's awkward when the usher walks by and I'm studiously trying to avoid making eye contact. (lol)
ReplyDeleteLove the paint scheme -- both on the wall and your refinishing the table!
We just have it taken out of our account. I like that so much better.
DeleteSo funny about the KFC bucket, but how very relaxing that would be. My church has automatic donating from your chequing account, but Harvey says it makes him feel cheap. LOL. I, on the other hand, would prefer this.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
That’s what we do as well. I can go into the Tithe.ly account and make changes etc so I have complete control but I enjoy the monthly automatic convenience.
DeleteYou are really talented, and it all looks great! I painted most of our house when we moved in. There is so much I want to do, and I can't. We used to do the collection plate until Covid. Now we have the boxes where people can drop it off when they come or go. We have automatic deduction for our tithes that come out of the checking account. Churches can run without the tithes. A KFC box sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteYep, Covid changed a lot of the way churches handle communion and tithing.
DeleteYour DIY projects all turned out to great. I leave the DIY to my hubby. I removed lots of vinca here when I first moved it. It was everywhere. Did that myself. I do like lamb and we had lamb stew the other evening. Janice
ReplyDeleteMy husband would probably love to have some Lamb but not enough to order it in a restaurant.
DeleteYour Easter break sounds wonderful, enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteIt's rotten when you go out to eat and the food doesn't meet your expectations. It does feel like such a waste of money.
We could have done with an electrical engineer this week to fix our shower. hehehe My youngest is at college training to be one. I love painting too. I do all the decorating in this house. Good job with the paint job, the colour really does go well with the lighting.
It's hard to pick out paint color when you already have furniture and curtains, etc., and make it all work.
DeleteOh my, I think that color on the walls is perfect! And , yes, not bad at all!:) I sooo wish I loved to paint. Then again, I would probably be changing the walls (and everything else) way too often! I have to agree with you - too often I feel I wasted money after I have eaten out. So disappointing!
ReplyDeleteI love to paint but it is getting hard on the old body - the up and down and the ladder and the up and down from the roller and the brush. Oh how I wish I didn't have pain in my body while I am painting. I'd paint more.
DeleteHats off to you and hubby for all your DIYing! That was a great color choice for your room. You have some great plans going forward. Since my husband's stroke and his left hand not working well we've laid off of big DIY projects here. Since Covid our church doesn't pass an offering plate anymore or communion cup holders, either. Happy Spring to you!
ReplyDeleteGreat plans for sure - now hopefully we won't get sidetracked!
DeleteI used to be more prepared to take on decorating but now we just get someone in. Your projects look great.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm sure the next time we paint the exterior we'll hire out but that's not for another 10 years at least
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