Getting Down to Details

 Last week I had to take my new lawnmower back to HD.  It was no longer returnable, so it had to be repaired.  Luckily, my neighbor mowed my front lawn for me.  I got it back this week.  I mowed my lawn and then I did my neighbors front yard in return.  My whole yard to overgrown.  I don't want to look like I am retired and therefore spend all my time manicuring it, but the overgrowth of the lawn is driving me nuts.  I bought a hand edger a few months ago, but it bent in the first 2 minutes I used it.  I took it right back and decided at some point I was going to have to by something electric or gas run.  This weekend was the time.  It took me about 3 hours to do one side of my sidewalk.  Plus take out the weeds growing between the cracks of the sidewalk.

 In addition, I bought a couple new plants.  Not to be planted in the yard, but to make me feel more at home.  There is something about plants that makes me feel alive.

 Things are finally starting to happen here at the Passey Palace.  I was going to have someone else do my roof, but I decided that the warranty....and fact that they won't run out of business made me choose HD.  They put a sign in my yard, but haven't started work yet.  Every time I see the sign I laugh because I have the world's worst looking roof and they are advertising with it still in place.  Who is going to want a roof that looks like mine?

 My least favorite part about working in the yard it the dirt that gets under my fingernails.  I know there are such things as gloves, but sometimes it is just easier to do without.

This is the glimpse of the one side of my sidewalk.  You can see all of the growth in my sidewalk by the road.  I know that you going to be holding your breath to see when everything will be symmetrical.  I know this isn't the most pressing thing my home needs, but sometimes you just have to take care of the things that drive you the most nuts.

My Poor Old Trees

I think that this poor tree branch is a little more visible than the last one.  I have another big hanging, unattached branch.  Luckily, this one is away from the house, but that doesn't mean that I like it.  Unfortunately, this tree is dropping more branches than the others.  It is an elm tree, which is more prone to disease so it can't be trimmed until the fall when it is dormant.  I finally have people coming to trim up the rest of my tress, take away my personal tree spear, and take out my stump.  I am way excited.  Who knew that someone could be so thrilled with tree maintenance? Oh the little joys in life.

So, I attempted to make a mood board.  I am not really into this sort of stuff very much, but I thought I would share my ideas with you all.  Living by myself and not really having much contact with the human race in person, I thought I would post a sneak peak.
Yes, I know pillows don't belong in the kitchen, but this was to show some of the colors I am thinking of using in the kitchen.  I am purchasing the appliances in the mood board.  I have bought impala black granite counter tops, the faucet featured here, a white double bowl farmhouse sink.  The kitchen cabinet here is not exactly the one that I purchased.  I bought them in "canvas white."  I was originally going to do a real white (dove white), but at the last minute I changed my mind.  The cabinets I purchased are not as ornate.  The handle/knob above are something I am considering.  Can I mix metals in the kitchen or should I use stainless steel?  I thought that something that was darker on the cabinets would be a better contrast on the cabinets.  I also want something that looks a little older.  Should I go with a plainer knob?  Oh, the options.
Lee, sent me a picture of a multi-colored wood floor.  I thought it looked pretty fun, although my wood is so thin.  I have not decided if I am going to try it.  I do like the look in this mood board.  It has more of a used look. 
My cabinets are being dropped off at my house on September 3rd.  I can't wait to be able to actually cook something again.  Not that I have wanted to cook in this weather without A/C, but the whole microwave thing is getting old.  I would like to spend one day and cook some meals to freeze.  I eat better and feel better when I do that.  It is a good thing that I am "semi-patient" and know this is par for the course in home repair, but don't get me wrong there will be huge celebrations in this Passey house when the new appliances are installed.  I am 100% certain it will be heaven and don't try and convince me otherwise....I need something good to look forward too.

Stripping

 I know that most of you were either a little concerned about this blogs title.  Well, I haven't stripped off my clothes or attended a strip club, so the other part of you who were excited about this post you can now calm down.  This is all about stripping my hutch/cabinet.  Caitlyn and I started this during her visit.  It still is not complete.  Cait and I applied stripper about four times and this is how it looked. I was surprised to see the glass under the paint.

There was some substance, which I believe is probably just oil-based paint.  I could not get the paint to sand off.  The paint just turns into balls, which stick to the sandpaper.  Above are some the the chunks of paint which were stripped off.  I have since applied stripper two more times and still have many to go.  I am going to have do a lot of work to get this painted again.

Needing some string?

Caitlyn and I made a last minute trip to the World's Biggest Ball of Twine.  This was another Minnesota Adventure to check of my list of things to do here.  We drove about one hour away from my house to get to this amazing ball.

Caitlyn was so excited that I would drive here two hours round trip for a 5 minute picture taking event.

Look at the roundness of this beauty.  The man who made this ball carefully wrapped the twine to make sure it kept its beautiful shape.

There were some beautiful flowers close by.