Drop Cloth -No Sew Curtains

I have been needing curtains for this sunroom.  Why?  Some people don't want curtains in a sunroom, they want the sun to shine in.  But, this room can get really warm, so curtains are a nice shield during Hot days. We only have three bedrooms, so it can serve as an extra guest room also.  I have taken a nice nap on that futon, LOL.

I had just been unable to decide on something. I do that sometimes....think...look....and finally a light bulb clicks on for me.  Two huge windows plus a smaller third one.  I didn't want a lot of color because you look out into this room from the den and dining room.  I needed something that wasn't going to cost me and arm and leg.  I had seen these done before....Paint Drop Cloths.  They were perfect, a 6 x 9, 8oz fabric for $10.43 from Lowes.  I needed 5 of them.  Add that up $50 bucks for a whole room of curtains, versus two panels.  The rod and clips were the expensive part.

I like them!

  Their not real full when closed, but I don't intend for them to be closed that much and I do want as much window exposed as possible when the curtains are pulled back.

This is an EASY project.....OK, ironing out all the seams wasn't real easy.  ( My mom even said so, LOL!) I folded mine over 16" at the top and pressed a nice seam, no sewing.  Then I measured the distance I needed between clips and put a straight pen in, then when I got up on the ladder to hang, just clip and remove the straight pen.  OK, I know what you are thinking.....Why didn't you just put the clips onto the curtains in the first place?  The rod brackets are circles, the rod has to slid thru the circle. They are not the brackets that just hold the rod.  The clips have to be on the rod when hung. Unless, you have room to pull your rod apart in the middle, you could put the clips onto the curtains and then slide them onto the rod.  I didn't have room to work.  See that corner?

 Eight ounce fabric is pretty heavy.  I am glad I didn't go with the 10oz.  You do have to kinda work with it when pulling the curtains back.

This rod, brackets & clips had the installed all in one piece.

My mom is a Seamstress and she couldn't believe it, when I told her that they were drop cloths.  Now, she has done a bedroom in them and a shower curtain.

Cost......Drop Cloths $52.15  Rods & Rings $132.82

How does your Garden Grow?

We have had a ton of rain here in the South!  A very unusual summer.  Most summers I have to water my gardens and I stand there sweating, while just holding a water hose.  Besides, my lovely gardens, we grow hay here on our small farm.  And, as I type, I pray that it does NOT rain today.  It wasn't suppose to RAIN.  And, we have cured hay on the ground, ready to bale as soon as the dew gets off of it this morning.  Literally, I have prayed several times this morning.  God has sent the rain around me before and I have faith that we will not get rained on today!

But, I wanted to show you the gardens.  They have really loved the rain this year and so have the weeds.  It has been difficult to keep up, when I have been out of town so much.

Pulling weeds and dead growth!  And that wasn't the only wheelbarrow..

Crepe Mrytles coming up in the flower bed

Black Eyed Susans love my dirt!

Poison Ivy is not my friend!  I grabbed some twice while weeding..

 Look under the labels for Helpful Hints, there is one on Poison Ivy.

The vegetable garden, well there are flowers here, as well.

The Tomato plants are huge, which is normal, but the tomatoes are just now coming in.  Very late for my garden.  I usually have the first ripe tomato by July 4th.

See what I mean, Zinnias and Lambs Ear, Bee Balm

My oasis

Green beans, Boy have we enjoyed these.

I cut the Basil back.  I have loved using it fresh and dried some too

Fresh Veggies!

My garden is finally on a roll.....Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Corn, Basil, Bell Peppers

So, what to do with all of it?

Slice it, Dice it, Chop it (onions-store bought) and put it in a bowl with Italian Dressing, Toss with Salt & Pepper. Serve Chilled!  Enjoy!

THE Dorm Room - Critz Hall - MSU

College move in...finally arrived!  We left home at 5am to head to Mississippi State at Starkville, MS.  Check in started at 8:30am.  We wanted to be there and try to beat some of the crowd and rain.

Her truck was full of clothes and golf clubs.  My car was full of this and more.......

The college had over 500 volunteers to help with the move in process.  First, you had to go to a check in point to get your dorm key, and then get in line to your dorm.  We didn't really have a line.  We pulled right up in front of the dorm. There were dollies and volunteers to help you to unpack your vehicle.  Once, you had everything out, you moved your vehicle to a parking spot. We parked right there in front of the dorm.  As the day went on, parking got more difficult.  The volunteers even helped to get your things to your dorm.  Everything had her dorm room number posted on it.  I sure those on the second and third floors, REALLY appreciated the help.

Her new home for this school year, Critz Hall.  This is one of the old dorms. Many have been replaced with new dorms.  The key to getting into one of those....This IS IMPORTANT, Apply for college the very first MINUTE that the books open, which is at midnight.  You will have to look up the date.  She and her roommate had a combined application date of something like the 15th and that wasn't good enough. Or, be in the Honors College.  Brianna is smart enough, but didn't want the extra pressure.

Of course, I didn't get a before picture of the Room....but it would put tears in your eyes....thinking about leaving your baby there.  No bathroom in these rooms, you have to hike 3 doors down the hallway. I think there are 4 toilets in one room and 4 showers in another, for about 36 girls to share......

 Here is the floor plan.  Neither of the girls wanted to bunk their beds and I don't blame them.  Having them side by side does take up ALL the floor space, but allows for a ton of storage under the bed.

A room full!  Her Roommate brought the yellow curtains....They looked great while they were up!  We had to use command strips for everything, nails are not allowed and the outside wall is concrete anyway.  So, Katie's dad is working on a plan.  

Someone had to take a food break!

She is working on her Photo board.  The B frame was made for her, by her sister Megan, one year for Christmas.  It looks great with some dangle earrings.

You saw the Initials in an earlier post.  They look Cute!

 

If, she is studying at her desk on the Right, her roommate can't get in or leave without her moving.  It is tight!

The Corral picture frame on the top shelf, was just an old wood one that I painted to match her colors. The Yellow basket use to be green.  Spray paint is a wonderful thing.  The Yellow thing down on the desk holding Finger nail polish, is actually a Pool Ball holder that was spray painted Bright Yellow.

Welcome to Bulldog country!

 The thing hanging on the towel rack, we found at Bed Bath & Beyond, it is designed to hold hot irons, instead of leaving them on the vanity till they cool down.

Katie's dad made this to hold jewelry, she painted it.

The Family

I think that their room has to be one of cutest!

Bathroom Gut JOB!

Yesterday, I showed you my parents new kitchen.  Today, I am showing you the bathrooms.....I wish I had the drawing that my mother did, but I don't.  Get your visual hat on.

 This was the first thing you came to walking down the hall, a 1/2 bath. And then this yellow bath was behind the 1/2 bath accessible from the master bedroom.

 The green bath was next door to the blue bath and it is still there, but it has a new vanity and the walls have been painted. They looked into having the tub re-glazed,,,,no one in AR does that. This is a NICE deep tub.

Before

After, new vanity and paint job.

 This Pink bath is across the hall off of another Bedroom.  For now, it is what it is, they are tired of reno. But, the vanity and walls have been painted. New vanity top going in, check back for updated pictures.

SOoooo. The New Master Bath......Includes these two baths, a 1/2 bath and a full bath, that backed up to each other.  Then beside these baths was a hallway that was just wasted space, that was taken in for a shower.

Let the demo begin:

looking toward main hallway, the area to the right is for new shower

Hammering out concrete to run water for shower

Dad on the hammer, and that lovely yellow on the wall is a plastic to keep dust confined.

Stubs outs for vanity.

Tub & Shower

New Shower, where a hall use to be.

A toilet goes back into original location

I asked for finished pictures and here is a couple.....looking lived in.  LOL!

This shower door rotates in or out.

Toilet is in the other end of the room.  Sorry no picture.

****Warning, the Kitchen & Bath are the most expensive renovation projects.  They had a nice budget, and it went fast!