As the weather warms up, most of us like to change out our heavy winter curtains and drapes for lighter weight and colored material for our windows. There seems to be nothing that compares to wonderful breezy spring days when you can open the windows and have light weight sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze. It not only cleans the stale winter air out of the house but the sunlight and warm sunshine and breezes are good for the soul.
Now that we are in the thralls of summer and it is much hotter than normal this year, many people are thinking of ways to keep heat out of their homes which means cutting out some of the afternoon sun that enters the windows. Do you put up a different set of drapes an curtains, do you layer the ones you have and hope that you don’t make your house as dark as a dungeon?
I have a solution that I use an you may want to give it a try as well. I actually use double café curtains all year around on some of my windows. During the winter, I use heavier weight material and I line them, whereas in the summer I use very light weight semi-opaque sheer material and do not line them. One advantage to having double café curtains, is that you can open up the top set to let sunlight in and keep the bottom ones closed for privacy.
I also make full length draperies or curtains, which I hang on top of the café curtains on a separate curtain rod. During the day, when it isn’t too hot, I pull them back and drape them loosely and secure them back using a curtain tie-back hook. When it starts getting too warm, I drop these full drapes to also cover the window and give another layer to help keep the heat from penetrating into the rooms. I also like to close them at night, to provide privacy. In the winter, this same method of double layering helps keep the cold out.
In my bedrooms, I have used floral café curtains with the long draperies, using a solid color that is predominate in the floral pattern of the café curtains. Since most people like to have the uniformity of all white or another neutral shade on all their windows from the outside looking in, you might want to line them with either inexpensive white cotton or bleached or unbleached muslin. If you do use the muslin, be sure to wash it first before using, because it is one material that will definitely shrink on you!
Café curtains are so simple to make even a beginner can master them easily. From the time you cut them out to hanging them at your window, should be less than a two hour project. If you do not want to make a placket to run a pressure rod through and gather the curtains on that, you can purchase drapery rings that just clip onto your fabric and then run those through your curtain rod. You can use the same methods for the long over draperies as well. Gathering your curtains on a rod will give you a more country or cottage feel to your draperies. You might like to choose florals or gingham checks, and even embellish them with lace. Whereas the clip-on drapery hooks along with solid color fabric, will provide you with a more sleek modern appearance which many people prefer today. Most café curtains that you purchase in the store will not be lined and are reasonably priced. You could easily make a lining to be attached to them. Using bleached or unbleached, pre-washed muslin fabric or even use old white cotton bed sheets to cut to size and made into linings.
When it comes to making the long solid color curtains, why not use cotton flat sheets? You can use the top hem of the sheet as the top of your curtain to be run through the rod. You might want to run a line of stitching about 1/4th of an inch from the top fold to give a more professional look to your curtains. You will then run your curtain rod thru the remaining large pocket that is left below this top stitched section. Many stores sell sheets singularly rather than in packaged sets. You can hit the bulls eye by getting individual flat sheets in 200-220 thread count from $9.99 to $11.99, brand new, or check out your local thrift stores where you can often find them at just $2.00-$3.00 each.
No matter whether you decide to purchase café curtains, or make your own, I am sure you are going to find them well worth it when you see how much they help in keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
You can purchase books on how to make cafe curtains here.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Holding On Till Things Get Better
With today’s economy and the housing market continuing to swirl downward in a never ending spiral, one has to wonder how long it is going to take for the value of our homes to once again start heading upwards. I read a report the other day on the financial page stating that homes had already dropped 8% of its’ value this year over the previous year and were losing another 1% of its’ value each month and who knows when the market will hit bottom and start turning upwards again.
Several years ago, when I checked on recent homes sold in my neighborhood, $100K to $115K were the going rates and these homes were built back in 1963-1965 and they average approximately 1200-1400 square feet. When I checked this past week, my house is now only worth between $72K and $92K and my heart sank!
I, like many other senior citizens, figured that investing in your own home was like a built-in nest egg, the value would continue to increase. When we felt like we were no longer physically unable to handle the chores and maintenance, or needed the equity out of it to live comfortably, we could sell our home and have enough to help ease our financial worries for quite a few years.
Or we could rent it out and get ourselves a little apartment for less money than we’d be collecting on the rent and have some left over to put into the bank.
Wish so many people losing their homes to foreclosure and not able to purchase another home because of their poor credit now, the rental properties are at a premium and much higher than they were a year or more ago. This indeed leaves us seniors in a quandary as to what to do. Believe me, there have been many sleepless nights lately as I toss and turn, mulling over different options in my mind. At this point in time, I have decided all I can do is continue to play the waiting game, do what I can and hold on tight.
I have lived through some hard times in my life, but never have I been through anything as tough as this! Perhaps it is just my age finally catching up with me to where I know that I am not able to do all the things I once could and had all the options that I used to have. You used to be able to back me into a corner and I’d come out fighting but lately that hasn’t been the case.
Several years ago, when I checked on recent homes sold in my neighborhood, $100K to $115K were the going rates and these homes were built back in 1963-1965 and they average approximately 1200-1400 square feet. When I checked this past week, my house is now only worth between $72K and $92K and my heart sank!
I, like many other senior citizens, figured that investing in your own home was like a built-in nest egg, the value would continue to increase. When we felt like we were no longer physically unable to handle the chores and maintenance, or needed the equity out of it to live comfortably, we could sell our home and have enough to help ease our financial worries for quite a few years.
Or we could rent it out and get ourselves a little apartment for less money than we’d be collecting on the rent and have some left over to put into the bank.
Wish so many people losing their homes to foreclosure and not able to purchase another home because of their poor credit now, the rental properties are at a premium and much higher than they were a year or more ago. This indeed leaves us seniors in a quandary as to what to do. Believe me, there have been many sleepless nights lately as I toss and turn, mulling over different options in my mind. At this point in time, I have decided all I can do is continue to play the waiting game, do what I can and hold on tight.
I have lived through some hard times in my life, but never have I been through anything as tough as this! Perhaps it is just my age finally catching up with me to where I know that I am not able to do all the things I once could and had all the options that I used to have. You used to be able to back me into a corner and I’d come out fighting but lately that hasn’t been the case.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Kit Kat Antics
At my house there are four critters, three are cats of various ages and a parrot. There are days when I wonder who owns whom! They seem to take turns at who can be the most vocal, demanding of attention or obnoxious behavior.
Of my three cats Little Bit is the youngest and sometimes the most demanding of the three. She is the one who always wants to be loved on but only when SHE wants to be loved on. I swear I chased back and forth with her for over an hour trying to hold her down to cut some mats of hair on the side of her face. She is the only longhaired cat of the three. Now forget trying to use a brush on her because all you have to do is pull out a hairbrush to even brush your own hair and she runs and hides!
Last night I got so tickled at her. ABC news had spoken about the Bald Eagle live webcam set up in Decorah Iowa and gave a link for you to watch if you wanted to,. There are two chicks in the nest and one egg still needing to hatch. I figured I would go look at it. Therefore, I opened it up, http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles, and started watching. My cats will often come in here and sit on the hassock, my lap or the back of my chair or even curl up on the edge of my desk. The next thing I know here is Little Bit, on my desk watching the monitor! I thought surely she is not watching that eagle but low and behold, she was! The bird would move, or make a noise, and you could watch her eyes and her head turn to follow the movement of the bird. She sat there, watched that for about thirty minutes before the eagle finally settled down in the nest, and went to sleep. Then Little Bit decided the show was over and left.
Kitty is my old lady of the group. She must be close to fifteen years old. She is a black and white and medium length haired cat. She is getting old and frail and likes to cuddle up and keep warm, so of course her favorite spot is on my lap or on the hassock. I will often throw a lap blanket over me at night and she will come up onto the hassock and want under the blanket. I hold it up for her and does she go under headfirst and turn around as most cats would? Oh no, she backs in as if you would do if you were backing up a car. She gets all the way under as far as to her ears and then lays down, tucking her front paws under her so prim and proper. She is my sweetie pie and loves to be petted and her ears rubbed.
Misty is technically my son’s cat, she is Siamese. I say technically because I’ve been her “guardian” and mother for several years now. He used to travel a lot on his job and there was never any one at home to care for her and Bradley, his parrot, so he brought them to me to care for. At first, I had just Bradley because he would go on short trips for just a few days at a time or else his neighbor would care for Misty.
Misty is a real love and enjoys being cuddled and loved on. She is also a lap cat but if this space is occupied, she will get up on the back of my chair, leaning more into and on me than on the back of the chair itself. She is also the tattletale of the group. If the food dishes gets down to just nibbles and bits instead of full morsels of food, she comes to me and paws on my leg until I get up and follow her. She will start out towards the kitchen, turn to see if I am following her. If I am moving too slow to please her, she will meow in her little Siamese voice as if to say, “Get a move on it woman!”
I’ve always been an animal lover, be they big or small. From my first loves which were dogs to horses, cats, ducks, birds you name it, I love them all.. I have always been a “rescuer” of critters from the time I was little.
Fortunately, everyone gets along well with each other. Of course, if they were out in the same room at the same time Bradley is out of his cage it might be another story!
Of my three cats Little Bit is the youngest and sometimes the most demanding of the three. She is the one who always wants to be loved on but only when SHE wants to be loved on. I swear I chased back and forth with her for over an hour trying to hold her down to cut some mats of hair on the side of her face. She is the only longhaired cat of the three. Now forget trying to use a brush on her because all you have to do is pull out a hairbrush to even brush your own hair and she runs and hides!
Last night I got so tickled at her. ABC news had spoken about the Bald Eagle live webcam set up in Decorah Iowa and gave a link for you to watch if you wanted to,. There are two chicks in the nest and one egg still needing to hatch. I figured I would go look at it. Therefore, I opened it up, http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles, and started watching. My cats will often come in here and sit on the hassock, my lap or the back of my chair or even curl up on the edge of my desk. The next thing I know here is Little Bit, on my desk watching the monitor! I thought surely she is not watching that eagle but low and behold, she was! The bird would move, or make a noise, and you could watch her eyes and her head turn to follow the movement of the bird. She sat there, watched that for about thirty minutes before the eagle finally settled down in the nest, and went to sleep. Then Little Bit decided the show was over and left.
Kitty is my old lady of the group. She must be close to fifteen years old. She is a black and white and medium length haired cat. She is getting old and frail and likes to cuddle up and keep warm, so of course her favorite spot is on my lap or on the hassock. I will often throw a lap blanket over me at night and she will come up onto the hassock and want under the blanket. I hold it up for her and does she go under headfirst and turn around as most cats would? Oh no, she backs in as if you would do if you were backing up a car. She gets all the way under as far as to her ears and then lays down, tucking her front paws under her so prim and proper. She is my sweetie pie and loves to be petted and her ears rubbed.
Misty is technically my son’s cat, she is Siamese. I say technically because I’ve been her “guardian” and mother for several years now. He used to travel a lot on his job and there was never any one at home to care for her and Bradley, his parrot, so he brought them to me to care for. At first, I had just Bradley because he would go on short trips for just a few days at a time or else his neighbor would care for Misty.
Misty is a real love and enjoys being cuddled and loved on. She is also a lap cat but if this space is occupied, she will get up on the back of my chair, leaning more into and on me than on the back of the chair itself. She is also the tattletale of the group. If the food dishes gets down to just nibbles and bits instead of full morsels of food, she comes to me and paws on my leg until I get up and follow her. She will start out towards the kitchen, turn to see if I am following her. If I am moving too slow to please her, she will meow in her little Siamese voice as if to say, “Get a move on it woman!”
I’ve always been an animal lover, be they big or small. From my first loves which were dogs to horses, cats, ducks, birds you name it, I love them all.. I have always been a “rescuer” of critters from the time I was little.
Fortunately, everyone gets along well with each other. Of course, if they were out in the same room at the same time Bradley is out of his cage it might be another story!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Waste Not Want Not
After my horrible ordeal with the Sour Dough Bread being a miserable flop again, I broke the loaf up into large hunks and tossed it out into the yard for the birds. I figured either they would eat it or if not the squirrels would surely enjoy it. If neither of them wanted to partake of this bounty, I'd give it to the dog next door! Since she is part shepherd and part wolf, I figured she would love it! A far cry from the dog food that she normally gets.
I checked yesterday evening and the backyard was filled with birds, swooping in and pecking away at the bread. This morning not one morsel is left out there!
I did make another loaf of regular white bread in my bread machine last night. I could hardly wait for it to come out of the machine. I love the smell and taste of warm bread!
I checked yesterday evening and the backyard was filled with birds, swooping in and pecking away at the bread. This morning not one morsel is left out there!
I did make another loaf of regular white bread in my bread machine last night. I could hardly wait for it to come out of the machine. I love the smell and taste of warm bread!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
That's It, I've Had It!
No more attempts at making Sour Dough Bread using a natural starter without any yeast! In fact, I am going back to anything but Sour Dough from now on! I have tried and tried repeatedly and the loaf before this one came out hard as a rock or a brick, whichever you want to compare it to! Reminded me of the very first attempt I made at baking just plain regular old bread when I first got married! Poor new husband, didn't know he married a woman who could barely boil water without burning it! I do think that the first "french fried eggs" I made for him sorta gave that fact away though! Anyway, back to the bread, I didn't start that project until late in the evening, and when it said to punch it down, put it into the bread pans and let it rise again, I didn't do that. I figured it could rise as it cooked! Needless to say, I had two wonderful bricks in about an hour!
That is how I am feeling about this Sour Dough Bread at the moment. Now mind you, I've tried several different recipes from several different cookbooks and I really do know how to read instructions. So much for trying to be economical and make bread without having to use yeast all the time. I made an Artisan Loaf tonight, the outer crust was so hard I almost broke the bread knife trying to slice into it. Once I got it cut, the inside is gummy and gooey and it cooked for 45 minutes like the instructions said! Oh well, back to the bread maker in the morning!
I hope the birds will eat it!
That is how I am feeling about this Sour Dough Bread at the moment. Now mind you, I've tried several different recipes from several different cookbooks and I really do know how to read instructions. So much for trying to be economical and make bread without having to use yeast all the time. I made an Artisan Loaf tonight, the outer crust was so hard I almost broke the bread knife trying to slice into it. Once I got it cut, the inside is gummy and gooey and it cooked for 45 minutes like the instructions said! Oh well, back to the bread maker in the morning!
I hope the birds will eat it!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Life's Little Pleasures
Spring has sprung! The sun is shining, spreading its warmth all over my little city. It is about 72 degrees outside and the air smells fresh and clean.I can hardly hear the noise of the traffic on the busy street which is four blocks away and I am truly enjoying the serenity and almost silence of the day. I decided to walk up to the store, just a couple of blocks away, to get a few things for dinner and to enjoy the feel of concrete under my feet instead of the ice and snow of several weeks ago.
On the way back, my neighbor was out sitting on her porch enjoying the sunshine so I stopped to say hello and visit for awhile. It was good to see her home since she'd been in the hospital for about a week in ICU with double pneumonia. Pretty scary stuff for such a young woman of only 34! Even though she is still not 100%, some congestion still in one lung, she is on antibiotics and feeling much better. It was good to see her smiling and on the mend.
As I came around to the corner of my yard, I noticed a profusion of yellow flowers in the flower beds. There are multitudes of Jonquils/Daffodils growing. Many are in full bloom and others are still buds, waiting for another day before they spring forth into bloom. I was able to gather enough flowers, a good sized hand full, put them in a vase and set them here on the desk in my office. What a beautiful reminder that spring is here at last!
I love fresh flowers from the garden and from my own garden makes them all the more special. As many of you know from reading previous posts on my blog, I am not the world's best gardener. The things that I don't have to mess with seem to survive the best. The things that require watering I think I "over love" because my vegetable garden last year, I tended to and it died.
Now I am going to grab a fresh cup of coffee, go out and sit on the bench on my front porch and soak up some of this gorgeous sunshine. Live is good!
On the way back, my neighbor was out sitting on her porch enjoying the sunshine so I stopped to say hello and visit for awhile. It was good to see her home since she'd been in the hospital for about a week in ICU with double pneumonia. Pretty scary stuff for such a young woman of only 34! Even though she is still not 100%, some congestion still in one lung, she is on antibiotics and feeling much better. It was good to see her smiling and on the mend.
As I came around to the corner of my yard, I noticed a profusion of yellow flowers in the flower beds. There are multitudes of Jonquils/Daffodils growing. Many are in full bloom and others are still buds, waiting for another day before they spring forth into bloom. I was able to gather enough flowers, a good sized hand full, put them in a vase and set them here on the desk in my office. What a beautiful reminder that spring is here at last!
I love fresh flowers from the garden and from my own garden makes them all the more special. As many of you know from reading previous posts on my blog, I am not the world's best gardener. The things that I don't have to mess with seem to survive the best. The things that require watering I think I "over love" because my vegetable garden last year, I tended to and it died.
Now I am going to grab a fresh cup of coffee, go out and sit on the bench on my front porch and soak up some of this gorgeous sunshine. Live is good!
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