Joann Foley » Home Improvement

Decorating my yard for spring!!!

Joann — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:43:12 +0000

I love to put out all sorts of lawn ornaments and planters each year in the spring. I think it adds character and color to my humble home. I am trying to find something “different” this year. I get tired of the same old thing year after year.

I asked a friend for her suggestions and she suggested that I get some rain chains. I had never heard of or seen a rain chain and asked her what it was. The chains rain water down from the top creating a beautiful effect. They are a nice alternative to the old plain jane rain spouts found on most homes. I looked around at several different websites and found that rain chains come in various sizes and shapes. I think that a rain chain or two or three would make a great addition to my exterior home decor this year, and help me get out of my winter doldrums.

Swimming with friends

Joann — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:41:46 +0000

I know this is the middle of Summer but, it is so HOT!!! I got an invite to my girlfriend Kathy’s house the other evening after work. She said she had a surprise for me.

I finished a particularly challenging day at the office and stopped by home and let out the dog and did the few things I have to do at the end of every day, and proceeded to drive the approximately 10 miles to her house. Well, when I got there, Kathy took me out back and much to my surprise, she had bought a new swimming pool!!! She even had a bathing suit waiting for me to slip into!!!

As we relaxed on the floats, she made the comment that there were no places nearby where she could get supplies and chemicals for her pool. She asked if I knew where she might go. I told her about another friend of mine who had the same dilemma who buys her pool supplies online and has them shipped right to her house. She says they have reasonable prices and they even have a toll-free number for questions.

We ended up staying in the pool until the sun went down, it was great!! Now she is talking about putting lights in for night swims and parties. What a great way to finish up a hot day by taking a nice leisurely swim. I want to go back every night and visit now!!

Tape

Joann — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:08:32 +0000

There are two kinds of tape that I keep on hand and never run out: scotch tape for mending papers and taping wrapping paper, and duck tape for household use. Of course, there are other tapes that I have sometimes. I bought a roll of adhesive tape for my first aid supplies – it helps keep bandages on. And I used to have some masking tape to help when I was painting the living room. Now I find that I need some double faced tape to stick the background sheeting onto the glass aquarium wall. That’s a lot of different tapes!

Pretty Flowers

Joann — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:06:56 +0000

The landlord said it would be OK if we wanted to plant some flowers in the yard. I wanted to get something colorful, like pansies or violas, and plant them by the mailbox. might get a hanging basket with something bright, too, and put it by the door. I have always loved geraniums, so If I can find a hanging basket with bright red geraniums, I’m bringing it home this weekend!

Paint or Paper?

Joann — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:02:48 +0000

The wallpaper in my bathroom is getting really shabby. There are tears and patches missing, and stains that won’t wash off. It is probably the original wallpaper that came with the house when it was built in 1980. So I guess it is time to pull that off and do something else with the walls.

I’m not really a big fan of wallpaper, but it seems like everyone always puts wallpaper in their bathrooms. I would rather just paint the walls, but I want it to look nice. I think the patterns and decoration part can come from the towels and shower curtain.

What do you think?

OMG – A Snake!

Joann — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:04:21 +0000

Went out to my car to go to work. Noticed sometime odd near the front tire. Stopped to look and it moved! OMG! It was a snake!

Just a little black snake. Don’t think it was dangerous. But OMG! I’ve never walked up to a live snake before except at the zoo! It went across the grass to my neighbors yard. Hope it stays there!!!!!

New Cushion

Joann — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:01:09 +0000

The outdoor swing that I bought last year has a cushion that is not only incredibly dirty from being outside in the weather and elements all year, but now it has little specks of mildew all over it. It is too big to fit into my washing machine and the cover does not come off – there is no zipper anywhere. So I guess I am supposed to just toss it out and replace it. Except I cannot find any replacement cushions anywhere for a three person swing. At this point I don’t even care what color or pattern is on the fabric. I just need a cushion that fit my swing so I can sit on it and watch the cars drive by.

Welcome Back, Walter

Joann — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:15:28 +0000

For a couple of years I was reading the weekly free newspaper because they ran a somewhat regular column by a local home inspector named Walter Jowers. I really like his writing style and his storytelling skill, and he makes good points about home construction, maintenance and repairs. But then he disappeared from that paper.

Well, by chance I was looking at a different alternative paper and found that his weekly column has found a new home. He will be writing for the City Paper every Thursday, which is extra cool because I can read that online and don’t have to go pick up the actual printed newspaper to read Walter’s columns.

Where is “Joe the Plumber” when you need him?

Joann — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:22:14 +0000

The lavatory in my main bathroom has been giving me some troubles lately, now it is leaking from the handle, how weird is that? I’ve never seen water leak from the handle before, but have placed a bowl directly under it, in order to prevent a huge mess from occurring and damage done to the floor and cabinet right beside of it.

The house animals are loving it, they now have another source of water that they can enjoy around the house. Guess I need to find a plumber, I don’t think that I know anyone that does plumbing work that I can turn to, bummer. Right now is not a good time for a plumbing bill to arrive.