stair case

Of all the projects going on in my house I think the Staircase is the one I'm happy to finally be finished with.  This was more work than I bargained for.  Pulling the ugly old carpet was what I dreamed of for about two years...

Then the wood showed it's true colors and needed sanding.  Lots of Sanding.  

There were many gaps between the floor boards and when I sanded the dust fell between the cracks into my downstairs hall closet.  Under the stairs is my store room. You know the kind, that you have to crawl under... What a mess it became.

After sanding as much as possible I  put on a coat of white primer then began cutting the molding be to put between each stair. Piece by piece were nailed and glued. 

Once I had it totally primed and caulked the first coat of Porch Paint went on and it started to look good to me.... I'll tell you, after the first  week  of this I was sorry I started it!

After searching the local stores for some simple stair treads I finally found a set of 12 on line for a reasonable price.... could not find U-tacks in white so I had to spray paint  black ones.

They did the trick. I measured each tread, to be sure they were perfectly in place then tacked away.

  Next step was a new chandelier to replace the small dome light that hung high up above.

This light was so bright it required  dimmer switches.  There are three light switches. One on each level of the stair and after one was changed out, the other two did not work?  I may have to call in an electrician to see what is up with that?

I've taken a step back wondering what to do with the landing.  Do I put a carpet? Do I put some of the wood flooring that went throughout the entire downstairs?  
There was not a throw rug available to match the treads.
I did think of putting another coat of the paint then using 'boat varnish'... it's really thick and will withstand all sorts of wear and tear?  The search is on for an answer.


For now I'll just admire all my work.  Getting started is the hard part of any project like this one but after three weeks now, I'm so happy I did this.  It's nice to walk down the stairs in the dark. No need for a light, it's so bright and cheery.

May sound silly to some but "I do not wear shoes in the house" and now my feet are always clean with the carpet gone!

"Now that is something to smile about"

Join me @ 504 Main

All White Decor

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Shopping in the year 1900

I spent an hour or so reading through the "1900 Sears Roebuck Catalog" the other day and how interesting it was.  The price of each item, the same ones we buy today, really had me wanting more information... I realize the cost of living made the prices and they had no middle man during the process of building, sewing or making each item.. it was simply shipped to each address directly from the point of origin.  It's just how each item is almost exact to today's model.... not much has changed except the style and of course the technology.

The "Kenmore Sewing Machine" is something we still see in Antique Stores.. 
Look at the price of the original.  $14.95
Take a look at this "Stradivarius"... these sell today for hundreds of thousands of dollars!

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Yester-years version of the "Video Camera.  Can't slip this into your purse.

The first "Oven Range" so big and heavy and $26.50

I'm sure there was a lot of time energy, not to mention Steel put into this.

Every Lady needed a new fancy pair of "Genuine Leather Shoes".

Lets not forget her "Drawers"

Isn't this the chair that sits out on the porch at "Cracker Barrel"?

Now this item... I really have no idea what you do with it? "Electric Belt"

From what I read, it's Medical? What is the extra piece, (looks like, well I don't need to say it) on the front of the belt?  The paragraph say's "Tired of Drugs"?

There were so many items for sale in the "Sears Roebuck" catalog. 

This catalog was the only way Americans had to purchase what they needed for every day life, other than the little general store in town.

What is the "Electric Medical Belt for"?  Anyone Know?

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Dahlias and Tornados

W

 April Fools Day came in with high winds and 9 Tornados.

Funny how I worried over my Dahlia bloom....

I did manage to secure the long stem to a stake.  Said a prayer and hoped for the best.  Then the winds started with thunder storms that lasted through out the night.  The rain beat down on this really large bloom and thankfully it  survived... Today I went out and got the photos.
  Large and lovely with three more flowers budding out.

This flower is larger than a tea cup saucer.

Oh how beautiful and delicate. 

If only I could capture this flower in drying dust.  They say to lay the flower in corn meal and cover it for a few weeks... it will also hold the color... maybe I should try?

As for the Tornado's, we did have a lot of damage throughout the area but thankfully no human was hurt.   Many trees fell,  many roof's were damaged and a few small airplanes flipped.  All quite fixable.
I look at our bad weather this way, Compared to Japans disaster, our tornado's were about as significant as a broken finger nail.....

The clean-up is on today.

My Dahlia survived!

I'll be joining a few Garden Blogs



Tuesdays Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Whow Us Wednesday 

Fertilizer Friday 

Blooming Friday 


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Cybercriminals

This past week my "Facebook" page was  snatched by Cybercriminals.

The FB Team, bless their hearts, hijacked my page and closed it down.

What I went through, to prove to them through numerous messages and e'mails 
"I was me and I am who I said I am" was not easy. I had to answer many questions just to prove to them "It's me".


One thing, the FB Team is very cautious while investigating the spammers.


It all started while I was on  the phone talking to my daughter.. She said during our conversation, "Mom, why are you saying hi to me on the FB chat"?  (she knows I have never used that chat)
No, I said, I'm not on the computer or in facebook.... "Yes you are", right now your chat popped up and said "Hi there".... then I told her to answer them.  She did and they said to her, "I'm in Trouble, I'm in London and was robbed at gunpoint last night"....
What?  She said to me on the phone?  "Who is this"??
Well, she got out of there fast!
Then about 10 minutes later my niece called to say "Her husband also got the same chat on his FB page", from me....  "Aunt Sandy is not in London, is she"?

Without my contacting the Facebook Team, they must have been monitoring my page because they "Shut it down" and sent me an e'mail telling me "I have been spammed by Cybercriminals in a money scheme"


As I said before, numerous e'mails back and forth with the FB Team, my page was finally released back to me today!   It took 5 days to investigate!

For all of you with a Facebook page be careful with who you Friend... I left my page partially open as most bloggers do wanting to get more traffic but now, I have it totally on "Private"... it's just not worth the trouble.  My page is now just for family as I have many around the world and I need to be in contact with them.
I've changed all my passwords on all pages I log into.

Here is a bit of the e'mail from the Facebook Team to me, I'm posting it to help you keep your page safe....

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Our systems indicate that your Facebook account has been compromised by cybercriminals attempting to impersonate you. These criminals often will try to trick your friends into sending them money by claiming that you are stuck in a far away location and in need of assistance. It is possible that your email account was compromised as well, as obtaining access to a victim’s email is one of the primary ways these cybercriminals have been operating. Please take the following steps to ensure the security of your Facebook account going forward:

1. Select a new, unique password for any email address associated with your account, making sure to avoid using the same password for any account.

2. Verify that you control all of the email addresses associated with your account on the Contact Email section at:

https://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php

3. If you have not done so already, please add a security question to your account from the Account Settings page.

4. Visit the following page for more information about Facebook security and how to report suspicious material:

http://www.facebook.com/security

Finally, if you think you have been victimized by fraud, you can report this to Western Union's fraud hotline by calling 1-800-448-1492.

Thanks,
The Facebook Team



I can't tell you how much my Facebook page has become important to me... It's the only way I can keep track of my family... It's good to be back up and running!

Thank you to the "Facebook Team" for all your help!

New update..... turns out this all started because someone hijacked my yahoo e'mail password and went from there... they got into many of my web sites, the ones I had passwords to... 99% of those sites all had different passwords that I made up.
They even tried to buy something on one of my retail sites..
As for online banking, mine assured me their site is secure, but I changed that password also.
Thieves are everywhere. Be Careful!
Is anything sacred anymore?
Today I changed passwords in 6 of my important sites . 

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Wordless Wednesday

No words needed.

except

"I had to save them from the heavy rain we had today"

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Outdoor Wednesday 

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Springs Nesting

My home sits on a very large piece of property with many trees and wonderful spots for a bird to build her nest but look where "Mr and Mrs Finch" chose to put there's.

This space is on the deck, by my back door.

It is a small old rusty bakers rack that holds a variety of things through out the day. I call it my 
"Catch all rack".

I do usually get most of the items put away but a few days ago I noticed Mom and Dad Finch,  starting a nest.  Mrs Finch can be seen sitting on the rack, just in front of the window washer liquid.

I went out to check on the nest this morning and there is one (1) egg in there but no
momma?  Hmmm wonder where she went?   I have been so careful to not bother the birds or the nest.  Oh, "I hope we did not scare her and she flew away"
This makes me so happy.   I don't want it disturbed, so there is now a sign for all to see...

"Bird Nest In Progress"

"Do Not Enter"

Here comes Momma with leaves from the yard.  This bird uses all leaves and carves a nest that looks like the size of a foot ball and it has an hole for the entry way.  I'm going to do my best to get a photo of the finished nest.  (if mom and dad will let me near)

I grabbed my camera.. well my iphone really,  then waited to catch Mr or Mrs. Finch as they carried one leaf at a time.  They chose to build their nest just behind a can of primer and the dust pan....

Well, I guess painting is over until they babies fly from the nest. 

That will take weeks!

Here is Momma waiting for me to leave. 

Sitting on the potted plant looking at all my junk.  (you would think she would have waited for me to put it all away, but then she likes the junk, it provides safety for her nest).

Now I know for sure

"Spring has finally arrived"

Guess my finishing the paint on the staircase is officially over for a few weeks.  I was wanting to get it finished in the next few days.  I'm praying my kids get out of Guam soon... they have been having so much trouble with the MAC flights... they were booted from three flights this past few days.  The flights were canceled an hour before they left the gate..  They go back to Japan for more evacuees.  With any luck, when that plane gets back to Guam this time they will get the flight to Andrews AFB?  
Our TV news this morning said, "Radiation detected in the Bay Area"... that's us!
So you know it has to be in "Guam"!  (ug!)


I want the birds nest to be here for my grandsons,, they will love seeing the little eggs and then the baby bids....

Spring is here for sure!

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"Y" is for Yummmmmmm

I found myself going to a Neighborhood Garage Sale this morning and can you believe "I came home with nothing".. that is a first for me!
Then I did a bit of grocery shopping and found Florida Strawberries at $1.49 a qt... so I bought lots!  I love to make Strawberry Jam and got to work.

Yummmmm is much to small a word, (if this is a word but we do say it a lot) for how good this is!

First, I picked through and cleaned the berries, then put them in the pot to cook....
While that was coming to a boil I put together a new "Cheese Cake" recipe and it turned out so good...

"Cheese Cake with Macaroon Crust"

The recipe was a simple cheese cake but use lime juice in place of the lemon juice. 
The crust was the best part...

2 cups flaked coconut
2 egg whites
1tbl sugar
Fluf the egg whites with the sugar, then add the coconut.  That is it!
Line your pan with this mixture and bake at 375' for about 25 minutes or until browned.

While the crust was browning I made my favorite cheese cake recipe but added zest and juice from one lime instead of the usual lemon juice.

I put the cheese mixture in the crust lined pan then into the oven at 325' for about 50 minutes or until the knife comes out clean.


Then on to the Strawberry Jam.

I found there were some fresh blueberry's  in the freezer that I had stored so I added them to half the batch of strawberries. Made the jam in the usual way, then put in jars.
But first I had to try the jam on the cooled cheese cake... yummmm!

The cheese cake recipe said "Let cool 4 hours"... haha

I had to taste it after only one hour.. but first I added a bit of the "Jam" and a sprig of fresh mint that I have  growing out in my garden.....

Know what,, the "Macaroon Crust and the Lime Zest" really did make a change in the taste, "For the better"... I may just continue to use lime instead of lemon in all my future cheese cakes... and forgo the usual graham cracker crust, for the macaroon.
Give it a try next time your in the mood for Cheese Cake.

Yummmmm!

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 I'll be joining Jenny Matlock @ Alaphabet Thursday

 

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