Boys and Dollar Store Curtain Rods...

Don't mix.

Flimsy white-painted metal is no match for 4 energy monkeys

The rod had been twisted for some time, but I knew once taking it down to wash the curtains, that it wasn't going back up.  After trying to bend the rod back into place and realizing that is was pretty much done (as in one more move and snap), I had an idea!

The top of the blinds I kept...for JUST this kind of thing;-)

We never did take down the hanging hardware from our old roller blinds. Since I kept the top of them for some bizarre reason (the blinds themselves long torn to shreds), I figured I would try this out for awhile...at least until I get to the store to buy a new rod.

I made the curtains myself..check it:)  They hang a little lower this way, but totally acceptable.

So today's work produced clean windows, clean curtains, and one slightly skeptical mama that I will be able to make it through the entire list.

I've linked up this post at This Good Steward for WOW (World of Work Wednesday). Pop on over and share your work!

Fall Clean Kick-Off

I'm documenting my fall cleaning this year just for accountability fun.



I admitted in an earlier post that my housekeeping had become pretty lax over the last several years and I was ready to stop the madness.




Last year we took one week off, and I was very excited to get my big ol' list done. What was left of me at the end of the "break" wasn't very rested, so I have been setting more realistic goals.  The section of the house for fall is the living room/dining room area, and since I've added an extra week, I'm going to try to get to the kids' rooms too.


Over the next two weeks I my goals are to:

• Wash all living room/ dining room/ kids' room curtains
• Ditto on the windows
• Clean all living room and dining room upholstery
• Wash down all furniture
• Dust (or wash if needed) the walls and baseboards in these areas
• Mop all area floors
• Organize the linen closet
• De clutter, give or throw stuff away.
• Get fall/winter clothes ready to go for the kids.

So yesterday, day one, I was really easy on myself. I mapped out my goals and then tackled the linen closet. Done and done.

I'll spare you the before picture (since there isn't one.)   Hey guess what else? I finally remembered that my camera has a flash...duh! So enjoy a well-lit pic;)

I removed about half of what was in there that we will no longer be needing (crib sheets..sniff) and full sheets since the girls are now in bunk beds. They will be finding a good home, I hope!

No Complaining Fail

We had a really blessed but busy weekend. Some awesome people from our church took us out for a ballgame and lunch on Saturday.




Sunday, I had some extremely tired and coughing kids that had to stay home from church while one of them and I went it alone. The Mr. was on cough patrol.




Then it was off to Grandma's house for the day (she doesn't care if the kids are sick). A nice time was had by all; dinner, family, and such.



By the time we got home last night I was toast. And then it happened...resentment started rearing it's ugly head. (How's come I gotta do all this stuff while the kids and the Mr. get to just relax?) I mean, I have lunch to pack, laundry that has been neglected for the better part of the weekend, dishes to do, and tomatoes that need to be dealt with.

Deal with us!

Yeah, where've you been?

I didn't ask anyone for help, but just got huffy. FAIL

The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.

New every morning, abundant [is] thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23



We are taking a fall break from school this week so I can do some fall cleaning (and catch up on your blogs out there!)

Friday Fun

ht- Watcher Meetup;)

Pesto!

Today I'm linking up with Petra's Wednesday's World of Work at This Good Steward.

Basil from our garden...check!

Walnuts I bought from the Farmer's market that no one wanted to fight with...check!

Fancy food processor....no check.

There's no way I'm going to do all of that...Mr. Blender says.

My lofty goal was to pesto up all that basil, but after finding out my blender wasn't up for the task, and neither was I doing it by hand, I did a little pesto and the rest of my basil is being frozen and dried.

No one but me eats it anyway.

Mmmmm: frozen pesto cubes:)