Random Musings of a Curious Mind

Great Cookie Jar Ideas

I get emails from the Folgers Wakin' Up Club periodically. It's my favorite coffee, though I'll drink anything strong and coffee-like. ;-)

If you buy Folgers, you know that the resealable lid is the best - easy to open and close, and great seal. Now, what more could you ask for in a cookie jar? Okay, something that doesn't say Folgers on the side? Problem solved!

Check out these great design ideas: Snowmen, Ornaments, Sledding, Holiday Icons, Banners, or Bows. Not happy with any of those? Download a blank template and create your own design!

I already use my Folgers canisters for flour, sugar, and corn meal. Now I can put great stuff on the outside, too. Cool, huh?


Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
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You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
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God Bless!

Jules

Scrapbooking

Are you into scrapbooking?

It's something I keep threatening to start, in between everything else I've got going at any given moment. But, I'm lacking in inspiration - or I was.

Years ago, I had an idea for putting together all of the boys' stuff from school - menus from culinary trips, Valentine's Day cards, report cards, awards. You get the idea. But I didn't know where or how to start. I would imagine that's a common problem for beginners.

I'd also like to do something for Mark with all of the pictures from the hospital, before and after his transplant. We go through the pictures a lot, but it would be nice to have a book with notes and remembrances that he could pull out or show to friends.

Happily, I found a place with tons of supplies and, luckily for me, some great ideas. Who knows? I may get those books done one day, after all.


Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Bathroom Faucet

I cannot believe that I forgot to post this! We have a new bathroom faucet! And it's beautiful! (to paraphrase Stephen Sondheim)

The manager came through a few weeks ago - inspecting the condition of the apartment - and I mentioned that we were thinking of getting a new bathroom faucet; would that be a problem?

If I'd known what was about to ensue, I'd have kept my big mouth shut.

She ensured us that they could replace it, though it was a low priority. Honestly, it probably wouldn't have happened at all, except . . . we developed a leak under the kitchen sink and, while they were messing with that, it was a good time to replace the bathroom faucet . . . except it wasn't.

Apparently, the building and it's fixtures are older than Methuseleh. (We weren't surprised.) When maintenance attempted to turn the water off under the kitchen sink, they found other problems.

No big deal - they'd just replace the bathroom sink faucet and the shower handle, and come back in a couple of days - after they alerted the complex that the water would have to be turned off for an hour or so. Nope - not gonna happen!

Amazingly, the same plumbing problem with the kitchen sink existed under the bathroom sink -- and in the shower!

To make a long story shorter, all of the plumbing problems were resolved; we got our new bathroom faucet and shower handle! All is right with the . . .

Oh, crap! The kitchen sink is still leaking!

Maintenance (and Mark, in whom I have much more trust) are quite sure it's the kitchen faucet. An order is placed; in a few days the faucet will be replaced.

Ummmm. We're still waiting.

Perhaps - when our kitchen falls into the kitchen below us - they'll remember us. Who knows?



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Office Furniture

If you'll recall from my last post, I mentioned that we are short on floor space. What I didn't explain is that we are overrun by computer desk. This thing is huge!

A couple of nights ago, Mark crossed his legs and snapped the keyboard shelf out. He's got it fixed, but it tends to pop out rather easily now. So - you know me - I went shopping. (After all, we need to come up with a Christmas gift for the house, don't we?)

Personally, I love shopping for office furniture! There are so many great things in a wide range of styles and prices.

I'm thinking that a smallish desk, plus filing cabinet and wall-hung storage unit would give us the same size work area, but with a much smaller footprint. Just what we need. Not to mention, it would be wonderful to have a desk that the boys haven't torn apart.

Realistically . . . I'll probably just replace the keyboard tray. For now.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween! As long as I can paint my face and not be me.

    

And get lots of candy!!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Backyard Fire Pit

Well, since I'm house-hunting again, I might as well do a little decorating, too. The lighting hunt isn't going too well, so I think I'll do some outdoor shopping.

With an above-ground pool and 1.2 acres, the home near Wilmington just cries for some landscaping. And, of course, one of the first things I decided to look for were fire pits. You know - the citified version of a bonfire in the backyard?

It didn't take me long to find the perfect item, either. Almost 4' in diameter, accented with mosaic tile and wrought-iron legs - I can already imagine roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, after a day at the pool.

Eventually, I'll need to add a lawn and walkway (nobody loves a muddy yard), but not today!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

The Hunt for Lighting

For those of you who have been following my lighting battle - all I can say is . . . I'm still looking.

You would think that I could find something I like, given all of the online stores. But there are so many things to take into consideration.

The torchieres have to be sturdy - as well as attractive - because Paka-the-speed-demon loves to do laps through the living room. Even though he's feline, he's not all that graceful and has been known to run into / bounce off of the furniture. (Heck, he's even fallen off the shelf in front of the window. But that's a whole 'nother post.)

Oddly enough, it's not the living room lamps that are giving me the most trouble. That distinction goes to the bathroom fixture, over the sink. Either I am incredibly picky or my taste is so horribly outdated that there hasn't been anything I'd like on the market in 25 years.

Either way . . . I'm still looking.



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Home Theater Sconces

We've been thinking about rearranging the furniture. My wireless card doesn't seem to work as well from my recliner as it does from the table next to the chair. Since I don't actually bend that way anymore, something's gotta give.

Since we're planning to move the TV to a different wall, it seemed like a good time to do a little redecorating. Among other things, I fell in love with some home theater sconces. These are absolutely great!

The styles include an "Admit One" movie ticket, "Take One" clapboard, stars, popcorn, movie camera, and comedy and tragedy masks. Or create a custom design just for your family's home theater. They're wall mounted and can even be connected to a dimmer.

I may have to get the restroom sconce to hang over my bathroom door. It's just too fun to ignore!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Indoor Lighting

Yes, I'm shopping for lighting again. Specifically - bathroom lighting - because I'm tired of spending 20 minutes on my makeup and, when I walk out of the apartment, looking like a clown. Actually, a really scary clown.

I have had a tough time finding indoor lighting that I like, that I can afford, and that effectively lights up the area where it's installed. Today, I found a couple of really nice options.

The one I liked the best is shaped like an elongated capsule, and takes a bulb in each end. But the whole length is frosted glass, to spread the light for the full 18 1/2".

Maybe I can find what I want!



Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Faucet

I have got to find out where our apartment complex buys their fixtures. We have had, at least, 4 different shower handles installed in the 4 years that we've lived in our unit. For a couple of reasons, they have to be buying really, really cheap.

First, the average price of a quality bathroom faucet would almost prohibit them from affording so many frequent replacements. Second, if they were buying quality, they wouldn't be doing so many replacements. Mike is tough on shower handles, but come on!




Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle

We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.

Be sure to Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers

We look forward to seeing you online.

God Bless!

Jules

Don't forget to visit JMark Afghans and My Gallery at Zazzle
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules