It has been the month of lighting lately. We have kind of put off the more expensive projects and now they are catching up with us. This week we replaced the god awful, ugly as sin lighting for the back patio. Our old lights were all tarnished and worn away brass that just looked awful. Now we have nice white, directional lights that can light up most of the yard and offer great options for when we are entertaining.
This week Tyler set out to secure our home a bit more than it is. On the side of the house is a dark area that happens to have a door to the garage. It is most likely the most vulnerable place on our house. We went out to Home Depot and found a security motion-sensor light that comes on as soon as someone steps around the house. It's really nice because the lights can be pointed in different ways and we won't disturb our neighbors with any movement at our house.
This is our new Living Room fan. We had a very modern, blah looking white fan with brass from the previous owners and it was so not fitting of our room. The fan above really warms up the room now. It brings everything together and we have a great Tuscan feel to the Great Area. Tyler installed the fan last night and we were enjoying it by nights end. He is so good :) I think the only real thing left for the Living Room is a valance now. Getting closer.....
With a not so sad heart, we made our way to Home Depot this week for a new garbage disposal. This past week, I hit the switch on the old one and it started, stopped and then nothing. No noise. Not a good sign. Apparently the fuse was blown and it was just never the same afterwards. We made our way to the store and picked out a 2-grinder system that is seriously the quietest disposal you could imagine. I can't even tell when it is grinding food. Fantastic!
Our house is coming up on 10 years old. There are many things we are finding that hit a 10 year expiration date. Let's just say that washing your house is not one of them. It has about a 2 year time period. I don't believe the exterior of the house had been scrubbed for 10 years. It is (was) that gross. Mold was growing on the North side. Watermarks and mildew were found a plenty and this week we took care of that. Tyler got a powerwasher for Christmas this year. They are in one word: fun. You never knew things were so dirty until you take a powerwasher to it. Siding, driveways, sidewalks, you name it and it will look 1000 times better after a good powerwash. I think this picture says it all. So glad we decided to do this challenge!
When we first moved in, we knew something wasn't quite right with the wiring on the house. Everytime I plugged in my hair straightener or my blow-dryer and turned it on, the lights would shut off in the bathroom and walk-in closet and the device I was holding would still be doing its thing. For those of you new to GFCI outlets, this is exactly the opposite of what is supposed to happen. The device is supposed to shut off immediately and not effect the lights.
Much better! I couldn't get a good view of how it truly looks, but lets just say it is much better in both rooms.
As you can see, it was not a functional space. So we needed to make it better. I had seen these in a mail-order catalog and then happened upon them at Home Depot later on. I think I paid about $6.50 for it, saving at least $3 from what the catalog was charging. I think it turned out great and no more bumps have taken place.... yet :)
2008 is gone and I have to say that I am so happy to kick it to the curb. I have blogged more this year than ever and though it might not seem like it from this blog, I have been actively writing. My writing has been mostly about a condition I have been fighting for more than 22 months now... Infertility.