Ugly faucet before the face lift...Pay no attention to the rust and ick. I promise it was hiding underneath the cover plate!

I confess to hating my kitchen sink. Stainless can be nice, but I believe my stainless sink is the lowest grade the builder could buy. After we developed a leak around the equally ugly faucet, I began to plan my kitchen re-do. (Of course, that ain’t happenin’.) It just didn’t fit into the budget. But a new faucet did! (Caveat:  Measure the old faucet before buying the new one. When in doubt, just take the old one with you for the purchase.)

Replacing a faucet is a fairly easy DIY project–if you have the right tools or some ingenuity. Here is a quick how to:

Supplies:

• wrenches (try to use a basin wrench. It is designed for this occasion, though we didn’t have success. ***See below.)
• WD40 (maybe)
• pliers (our faucet came with its own tool for tightening the new faucet)
• bucket (just in case)
• old towels

1. The most crucial step is to turn off the water under the sink. Do not forget to do this. Forgetting could ruin your day. While you are down there, empty the contents and clean the cabinet on the inside. This is a great time to invest in a bin to hold items. Then, everything can be easily removed should you ever have need. (I hope you don’t!)
   

   See the valves in the back? These will shut off or turn on your water for the sink. Remember: Righty Tighty (Close); Lefty Loosey (Open)

2. Disconnect the water hoses from the old faucet. Have the bucket handy to catch any residual water in these hoses. If the water flows freely, you have a problem. See MOST CRUCIAL STEP, above.
3. Loosen the nut that connects the old faucet to the sink. ***Try the basin wrench. Try spraying the nut with WD40. Be sure the children are out of ear-shot. Try for two days. When all else fails (here’s the ingenuity part), use your handy, dandy Dremel to cut through the nut. Voila! Easy as pie.
   

   Ugly Faucet Before--Yep. That's it. The dreaded nut, cemented by rust. WAY up between the two basins, in the very back, where you have to contort your body to see--much less to loosen. That easy as pie comment? Sarcasm.

4. Remove old faucet. Gag. Clean sink thoroughly. If it is stainless, try Barkeeper’s Friend. Otherwise, use the recommended cleaner for your type of sink.
   

   Out with the Old...

   

   Pure Ick--Ugly Sink. Time for Barkeeper's Friend.

   

   Final Farewell to Ugly, Sad, Leaky Faucet

5. Prepare new faucet for installation, according to its package directions. Don’t forget the water hoses. Be careful when tightening! Now is not the time to over-do it. Stripped nuts do not go well with plumbing. Or any project, for that matter.
   

   New, Shiny, Non-Leaky Faucet--Still the same old sink, yet somehow, it doesn't bother me as much!

6. Turn back on water at the shut off valves, and check carefully for leaks.
   

   Not-So-Glamorous View of New Faucet

7. Return neatly organized bin of stuff under the sink.
   

   Under Sink Storage Bin

   

   Yes. It is the InSinkErator. Best disposal EVER. Also, kind of pricey. I think around $300, but it was money well spent about three years earlier.

8. Enjoy the new look! It does not change your sink, but it might make it more tolerable until a new one is in the budget.

Isn't it wonderful? My sink feels years younger!

One tip:  Cover the drains with cardboard or tape or something. That way you don’t have to worry about aforementioned ick, nuts, or tools ending up in the drain.

This might seem daunting, but it really is relatively easy to do (OK…My husband did the hard, dismantling part. After the initial encounter with the rusty nut did not go well, he refused to quit until the deed was done…I was perfectly fine with that .)

I love the new faucet. I don’t hate my sink, anymore–at least, not quite as much.

I have had my eyes opened to an amazing world of intelligent, talented, inspiring women. Total strangers who somehow know what I like and what I desire for my home. How do they do that, and (while I’m at it) how do they do all that they do?

I keep a blog roll that I update from time to time, but I would like to occasionally spotlight one or two blogs or websites. (Not much difference in blog and website…I gather that a blog has continuous new material…Plus, it seems a little friendlier than “website”. )

First, check out A Charmed Wife. This blog belongs to a twenty-something, self-professed housewife. She makes me proud of my domestic side! Did I mention I won a leather travel clutch from a drawing she hosted? Yeah, sounds shady, I know, but I got addicted to her blog even before winning. I promise. Great ideas. Great writing. Lots of quality information.

Second, go explore Miss Mustard Seed’s Creative Blog. She is a decorative painter (according to her blog) who generously shares the how tos as well as lots of inspiring photos and ideas about home decorating. Again, an amazing amount of quality information.

Have fun surfing these two blogs! Hope you find some decorating inspiration today.

Mmmm...French Toast makes me feel like a real cook!

Perhaps you are a real cook. If so, good for you. (And I admit to being a wee bit jealous.) Someday, I might be a real cook–if any of my mother’s gift finds its way, finally, into my DNA. (A retroactive cooking gene? I can only hope.)

In the mean time, I do what I can.

I decided to take a risk and share a [gasp] recipe with you. If you are a real cook, stop reading now. I would hate for you to choke on your coffee, laughing. If you are a cooking-gene-deficient busy woman, maybe you have forgotten this simple, nutritious breakfast. Or maybe you think it sounds fancy, and, therefore, complicated. Let me assure you…It isn’t.

I make a lot–because I have one BIG-breakfast-eating 16-year-old son (and a 15-year-daughter who isn’t a big breakfast eater but will usually eat two pieces of this!) who loves any hot breakfast. It’s his favorite meal! (Throw in some sausage or bacon, and he’ll do almost anything without complaining…I have a wicked streak, and I am not above bribery.)

Ingredients:

• Bread, 10-12 slices (I just use regular sandwich bread but fancier is good, too)
• 5 eggs
• 1/2-3/4 cup milk (or til it looks right!)
• shallow bowl (pie plate works well)

Egg and Milk Mixture--These eggs probably could have used a little more beating...oh, well. It tasted just fine.

Warm skillet or griddle to about 375 degrees. (You can get an electric griddle for about $20. It’s a wonderful investment!) Beat eggs thoroughly. Add milk and mix together well. Pour into shallow bowl. Spray griddle with cooking spray (if you are feeling decadent, use butter). Place a piece of bread in the mixture, flipping to coat both sides. Put immediately onto griddle. (Too much soaking=bread that falls apart. Just be sure to cover the surface of the bread.) Fill the griddle with 6-8 pieces. Watch carefully. Peek in a couple of minutes. When the bottom side is a beautiful golden brown, flip. The second side seems to cook faster–just like pancakes.

If you really want to impress, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with syrup. Yum! Also, it seems to keep for a night in the fridge. Just toast the second day in a hot oven.

Prepare for the showering of praises and hugs!

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend!

]]> http://cozyyourhome.com/2010/02/19/french-toast-friday/feed/ 21 http://cozyyourhome.com/2010/02/17/wheres-my-soapbox-shhh-just-listen-sometimes/ http://cozyyourhome.com/2010/02/17/wheres-my-soapbox-shhh-just-listen-sometimes/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:11:54 +0000 jamie http://cozyyourhome.com/?p=549 This is something I wrote last year…It is something I struggle with. Don’t all parents? Finding the delicate balance between talking and listening to our children is an art–one that I have yet to master, but I am working on it!

From the start, we listen for a cry or whimper. We love the first belly laugh. When the words start coming, we grab the video camera. We can’t wait to hear what they will say next.

But the newness wears off, or the sassiness starts–not sure which–and we start listening less. As the child grows and starts to have a life outside of us, we seem to get so fearful of losing our place in the sun that we spend much of our “together time” yammering away with the wisdom we so desperately need to impart. Our intentions are good, and of course, talking, teaching, and telling with words is a vital part of parenting.

The thing about talking, though, is that it only shows what the speaker is. Our talking doesn’t tell us one thing about the kid behind the ears. In order to know that kid, we eventually have to be quiet and give him or her a chance to get a word in edgewise.

Once the door has been opened, parents have to remember to actually hear what the child has to say. Give me a little credit here…I’m not talking about a kid having carte blanche to say anything, no matter how rude or disrespectful. I’m talking about listening to her when she says she doesn’t like Mrs. Distant, the art teacher. Letting her express her feelings and reasons–especially at the kitchen table–and not telling her she shouldn’t feel that way. A few thoughtful questions might not be a bad idea. Just take care not to drive the conversation always in the direction you want to go.

Sometimes I hear things from my children that just make me cringe. Sometimes I can’t hold my tongue. But I have found that the more I listen, the more they talk. This wasn’t such an issue at four and five, but it becomes more so as they grow older. If you want your kids to talk to you when they are teenagers, start listening to them today. Find out who they are and how they think. Show them, by listening, that you love them unconditionally and will always be interested in who they are and who they become.

Daughter's Method--The Wadded-up Throw

My family is a mixture. I am a folder-draper (not a neat stack, but rather, folded then draped longways over the end of the couch.) The son is a definite folder (when he has “time”!) The daughter is the notorious wadder-upper. (She apparently never has time!) My husband just would like for the throws to be clean (perhaps the most important attribute). He really doesn’t ask for much.

Son's Style--The Folded Throw

There is even the faction out there that actually throws the throw. But that is a little too literal for me.

We have a few different types of throws in this house. Fleece, cotton store-bought, chenille, and raggy flannel (my favorite!)

My Style--Folded/Draped Raggy Flannel Throw

I leave most of them out year-round. (I get cold even in the summer–thanks to a family who has much thicker blood than I.)

No matter what kind of throw you have, keep it clean. Wash often, and it will be much more enjoyable to snuggle under! That distasteful what-is-that-smell smell that comes with kids and animals (and adults, if we are being honest) can taint a perfect cozy evening at home…Yes. I speak from experience.

Tide plus febreze--Great Product!

Fiesta Cup and Saucer

Then, when my husband and I got married, his boss gave us this:

Blue Bow by Royal Worcester

I just loved it! Still do.

These dishes (Pfaltzgraff–Heritage) were given to us for a wedding gift from friends at the school where I taught in Indiana. Eight full place settings plus canisters and serving pieces! I continue to use them and think fondly of the folks who helped us start married life with a classic everyday china, instead of what we both were using.

Pfaltzgraff Heritage

Several years later, I fell victim to Gerald Henn. I do not have many of these. (They were a bit pricey, and I began to feel guilty choosing between food for my children and a new plate. ) Recently, I have discovered these on eBay, however, and might just add some blue spongeware mugs and plates to my set. 

Gerald Henn blue spongeware pitcher

Gerald Henn cranberry spongeware plates

FYI:  This is the very best coffee mug around!

Gerald Henn cranberry spongeware mug

[Gulp.] I just realized that this combines my two biggest vices and only two addictions…I suppose it could be worse.

And now, I know:  I have a problem, but I just can’t seem to stop. Twelve place settings later…

Fiesta Dishes by Homer Laughlin

(I am pretty sure that I need just a couple more!)

Fiesta Gusto Bowls

Fiesta cups and bowls

Happy Friday! If you are joining in the coffee at Home Sanctuary, I hope your coffee is hot and your mug is a perfect fit for you.

Long title. Charming book. The authors, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (aunt and niece), tell the story of  writer who travels to Guernsey, an English Channel island, immediately after its German occupation in WWII ends.

While there to research for an article, she falls in love with some quirky lovable characters, and they, with her. The authors tell the story through the use of letters, all written by different characters. Some are amusing, some brutally honest, but all are entirely real in giving us glimpses into people and what makes them tick.

Juliet, the main character and writer, is a delight. She has intelligence and wit that draw the reader in and just will not let go. I’ve never been enthralled with the 40s, but after reading TGLAPPPS, I find that I would love to have lived in those simpler, yet modern, times–for a few days, at least.

Mary Ann Shaffer wrote the book’s first draft but then became ill and could not do the important rewrites. She asked her niece, fellow author Annie Barrows, to complete the work. Sadly, Shaffer did not live to see the final, published book–and its #1 status.

An insightful, quick read! Hope you enjoy.

Good morning! I have a riveting post about caulk but my award-winning (I need the new sarcasm mark) photos were too bad to post…Hope your Friday is fabulous and your coffee robust! (www.homesanctuary.typepad.com)

Coffee Mug

Who cares about caulk? you ask. Everyone should care about caulk. We should more than care. Without caulk, our windows would be even draftier, our back splashes would have unsightly gaps, and we would constantly be yelling at our teenagers to get out of the shower because the water is pouring into the family room. Epiphany:  Caulk is ultimately responsible for family harmony.

Caulk can also protect you from the evil mold, born when moisture seeps into places where it ought not to go.

I have tried many different kinds of caulk, usually from a squeeze tube. I thought a tube would be easier. It isn’t. This go-round, I used a two dollar caulk gun. It is not complicated, and there is no clean-up. Go for the gun. Also, I used a caulk recommended by Gary Sullivan, home improvement guru. Polyseamseal. It is awesome. Easy to use and looks great!

Caulking is not difficult, but it does take a bit of time and patience. Here’s how:

1. Remove old caulk. I used a putty knife and plastic tool that looks like a citrus peeler. Since the old caulk had crumbled and was pulling away from the tub anyway, it was fairly easy to remove.
2. Clean area thoroughly. I used a mildew removing spray. A bleach and water mix would also work. Be sure there is no mold or mildew in the crevice you will be caulking. And be careful with the fumes. All of the mildew removers seem to be pretty nasty stuff.
3. Let area dry thoroughly.
4. Cut off the tip of the caulk. Start small; you can always cut more off, but you cannot put more back on. (Profound…I know.) My $2 gun came with a secret cutter in the handle. What will they think of next?
5. Practice squeezing the trigger, pushing caulk onto a paper towel. Make opening larger, if needed.
6. Apply caulk to the gap between tub and tile walls (in my case). Use even trigger pressure, holding the gun at about a 45 degree angle.
7. Most tubs will have three sides that require caulking. Do a short side first, applying caulk end to end. Release caulk pressure so caulk doesn’t continue to ooze out while you lay the gun down (on paper towels, please!)
8. Get a couple of wet, but not dripping, paper towels. Using a damp finger (long pretty nails are a bad thing–:) ), run your finger along the bead of caulk. This forces it into the gap and gives a smooth, finished look. Carefully, clean up any leftover caulk from the tub or tile with a damp paper towel. It must be cleaned off immediately.
9. Continue the same steps for the other two sides.
10. Read the directions on the caulk you chose about how many hours or days should pass before showering. Follow those directions. I speak from experience…This isn’t the first time I’ve caulked this tub.

***TIP: Start in a corner. I am not sure why, but it is easier. Somewhere I read to fill the tub about 1/2 full of water, to weigh it down…I tried this once and found it to be a pain. And a mess. And I hurt my back since I wasn’t able to be inside the tub while I caulked. Please excuse my whining.

***Another TIP:  When you are finished, put a heavy duty nail in the end of the caulk (if it didn’t come with a cap), kind of like a bottle stopper.

***Last TIP (I promise):  After you wash your hands, be sure to put on a good quality lotion…Why is it that home repair products are so hard on your skin? I have it! Caulk with Moisturizing Lotion! I am sure it would sell.

Distracted Dining--What are we doing? *photo from flickr.com/photos/artotemsco

There has been a lot in the news lately about distracted driving–particularly the kind involving cell phone use. Statistics show that a driver on a cell phone is four times more likely to be involved in an accident; new studies indicate that laws are not making much of a difference.

This isn’t my battle, though. Every driver makes his or her own decisions and then lives with the consequences. My topic today is for parents, particularly moms, though I see dads doing this, too.

All parents spend some time in parking lots, waiting for children. Sports practices do not end on time, or we arrive a few minutes early just to be on the safe side. Then, instead of wasting time, we decide to catch up with a friend or conduct some business on the cell phone. It’s OK; we are parked.

What I observe many times, though, is the child getting into the car and the parent continuing the conversation on the phone, many times not even glancing at the child. Talk about missing the boat! This is prime time for parent-child communication–from the little guys up through teens.

I have two teenagers, and there are times when they get in the car and do not want to talk. I get that. But if they want to unload about basketball or tell me about their French class or who is going out with whom, I want them to know that I am available to listen. If I am on my telephone, that moment disappears quickly. I miss out; they miss out. The connectedness of our family suffers.

I hear parents complain often that their children quit talking to them as they get older. Is that the case, or do we just stop listening? Maybe the time gets more limited. That’s natural. But when we let unimportant things cut into that time, we are letting a huge opportunity pass to maintain a relationship with our kids.

Don’t pass up a chance to get to know your children better. They change constantly, and if we don’t listen to them, converse with them, we run the risk of waking up one day (when they are 16) and not recognizing who they have become. That’s a risk I do not want to take.

I love to read, and I get recommendations of good reads from my family and friends. I like to share some of my favorites, as well. With that in mind, I would like to periodically push recommend a favorite book to you! It’s not a full-scale review…Just like friends discussing books at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee (or something with a kick!)–only not really.

If you’ve read my suggestion, what did you think? Feel free to comment. Here’s to great literature! So many books, so little time.

Read it. You'll be glad you did!

Historic fiction? Definitely my favorite. Scotland in the mid-1700s? Even better. But throw in some time travel? You’ve got to be kidding me!

Diana Gabaldon, however, does it and does it well. This is no quick read. The first, Outlander, is 620+ pages long, and that is one of the shorter books! I recently finished her most recent, An Echo in the Bone, number 7, coming in at 814 pages. Yet, she kept my attention through them all. Actually, more than kept my attention. An amazing side note:  She wrote this book as a “practice” novel.

Outlander is a love story, a history lesson, an action-adventure, and a Gaelic guide. It tells the story of Claire Beauchamp Randall and the unlikely meeting of her Jamie Fraser. The interesting twist is that Claire is a British nurse during WWII. Jamie is a Scottish redhead with a complex personality and past. They are thrust together–as they should be.

The times are gritty, the characters real, and the story captivating.

I am not doing any of this book or the characters justice. Just read it, and try not to get sucked in. I dare you.