Time to Know Me Thursday

WOW!  I almost forgot today was Thursday!  I have to work tomorrow (I typically don't work Fridays... did I just hear you moan?!?) so that threw my whole schedule off!

So, I'm not sure why I started this Time to Know Me Thursdays... I'm not a very exciting person....

But here it goes...

I'm going to talk about my DH Mike.  This week was a very special week for us, and in particular him.  He finally got a teaching job.  He quit college years ago to move in with me 150 miles away from where he was going to college to support me through my schooling.  (Not that he was taking college seriously anyway!)  He always planned on going back, but with kids, a mortgage... you know how things go.

So years later he is working in a factory... a factory that sucked.  He was going through a major funk and I told him to finish school.  I had a job, the kids were in school... why not?

So he enrolled in 2007 to finish his teaching degree.  Working full-time, coaching the kids sports, and taking full load night classes was our life for 3 years.  Let me tell you it wasn't fun!  (I have a WHOLE new respect for single mothers.)

He graduated in May 2010.  Male elementary education teacher... you'd think everyone would want a piece of that! :)  Application after application, interview after interview... nothing.  Never mind the fact that our economy has taken a HUGE dump and education is NOT one of the top priorities, that there were 325,445 teachers fighting for 2,219 jobs at any given point this past year.

So, if you can't get a job, try to get over qualified! ;)  He went back this fall to get his special education endorsement.  After 4 interviews, 3 of them he was chosen 2nd because he didn't have experience (really a 34 year father of 2 who has done long term subbing has NO EXPERIENCE to teach?!?)  The 4th interview finally panned out.

He received the call Tuesday that he received a position in one of the few schools in Iowa who work with the severe and profound disabled.  This school is a fantastic school working with fetal alcohol children, severely autistic and Down's syndrome children.  Everyone says good things come to those who wait... I unfortunately am extremely impatient, but he's not.  So I am so proud to say that these last 4 years have been worth it.  He does have more schooling to do to be certified to teach these children but I think all of us will all be rewarded in the end.  (My checkbook especially!!! lol)

So congrats to my DH!  (pix of us at his college graduation reception at school)

So, thanks for stoppin' by and getting to know me this Thursday!

Would You Buy It Wednesday

Another auction has come and gone.  Another truck, trailblazer,and car have been unloaded at home.  (That goodness What Cheer Flea Market is next weekend!)

In my HUMONGOUS stack of goodies I bought this.

Dirty and icky... until I oiled it.  Now it looks like this...

It's cool.  I give it that.  With all the writing on it, the gears.  BUT... would you buy it?  What would you do with it?  I'm not going to keep it, I'm going to sell it at the Flea Market, but if you saw it there what would you do?  Pass it up or purchase it?

Let me know!

Thanks for stoppin' by,

I'm linked up here:

Transformation Tuesday

Mornin'!

Remember this pile of frames from I got at a auction a couple weeks ago?  See the one I'm pointing out... here

A coat of white spray paint, a vinyl decal, and some Armor Etch and whala! 

A new item for the store.  (it's sold already too!)

Gotta love instant gratification!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Time to Know Me Thursday

Hi, I'm Kim.  I don't know if we've formally met yet.

When I follow a blog I like to know the person behind the colorful background, extensive layout, the real 'bones' of the blog.  Many people let us get to know them, but some don't.  I'd like you to know me so each Thursday I'll spend some time with you so you can get to know me a little more than you do.
This is me.

20+ years ago that is!

I grew up on a family owned farm in Iowa.  7 miles from town.  Where my friends were.  And long distance phone lines connected us.  Which wasn't a big deal up until I was 10.  Then it sucked.  A lot. 

So these ladies became my friends.

They had their ups and downs.  The were great listeners (except when they got sidetracked licking their nostrils...gross) but they weren't real great at giving advice.  You could yell at them and take out your frustrations and they wouldn't talk back or argue with you.  I remember coming home from college on weekends and STILL heading out to the pasture to talk to them, they still didn't offer advice, but they still listened.  Some of the best friends I think I've ever had.  :)

So, what did I do for fun?  Feed calves, water horse, pick up rock  played on my homemade jungle gym.  I pretended I was in the Olympics and doing the uneven bars on the grain auger.  See here...

Now this isn't exactly like the one at home... the upper bar wasn't as high up.  But you see where I'm going with this.  As long as dad wasn't unloading grain it was free game. 

Unfortunately now I live in town.  I wish my children had the opportunity to make a rock house in the rock pile, play in the hay mow, or create an Olympic event by the grain bin.  They still head out to Gramma and Grampa's house but are devastated there is no cable.  As my son said, "There is nothing to do at their house... what am I suppose to do, read a book?"  Yep.  If they only knew.

So, thanks for stopping by and taking time to know me this Thursday.

Would You Buy It Wednesday

Yeah it's Wednesday again! Not only is it 1/2 way through this week, it's Would You Buy It Wednesday over at Junker Newbie http://junkernewbie.blogspot.com/ I'm so glad Stephanie brainstormed this weekly linky... it gives me a reason to hit the auctions! 

At last Wednesday's auction this item came up for bid.

I had no idea what it was, but those are sometimes the best items.  At $5.00 I walked away with it (and MANY more items!).

As I was walking away, I overheard one lady ask another lady what it was and she said it was a vintage magazine rack.  Huh... could it be?  I've done some looking online and haven't come across one, yet.

What do you think?

Would you buy it?

Would you use it as a magazine rack or as something else?

Thanks for stoppin' by!




I'm linked here today:



Cheap Chair Change Up (tutorial)

Whew!  It's a hot one here! 100+ degree heat index for the next 5 days... so I'm glad I got these chairs done LAST week or my paint would never have dried!

So, I'm a hoarder.  I have NOT been featured on one of the above mentioned shows (yet).  BUT I do know I need to downsize, but I can't throw anything away.  I decided to start in with my STACK of chairs.

Here is one I picked out for this project.

YUCK!  I removed the seat and primed it.  I LoVe, lOvE this spray paint!  I can only find it at Menards but it covers beautifully and has a great selection of colors. 

Then I went inside to start reupholstering the seat.  I took the old seat off and starting pulling off the NASTY vinyl cracked one.

Then put new batting on.  I had to purchase new batting as I'd used all my re purposed pieces for other projects.  But with 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby I think I spent $12.00 on a big bag (and did I mention I have a STACK of chairs!)

I stapled the batting on and then set my new seat on the material. (You don't have to staple the batting on separately, I just got a new staple gun and had to play around with it!)

Our JoAnn's Fabrics just opened a new store and clearanced out all their old store inventory.  I got all my material 75% off... so a yard of fabric (which could do 2-3 chairs) only cost me $2.25ish...

When reupholstering, start at the center of all sides.  As you see in the picture, I started on two sides, then move to the other two sides.  After doing the center on all sides, staple close to the end or corner (but not too close because you need to work the fabric at the end of your upholstering job to finish it off) and then meet in the middle from your first staple and the end you just did. Repeat. Dhis on all for sides then do the corners (see below).  Make sense?!

Corners can be tricky (especially if you use thicker batting to make a plush seat!).  Play with it and try to make it smooth. 

Trim off the excess material and reattach to your chair and you're done!  Super quick and easy!  And look at the transformation...

Ahhh... much better.  And for:

Chair: free
Primer: $3.34 (used 1/2 a can)
Paint:$3.34 (used 1 can)
Batting: $12.00 (used 1/8 of it)
Material: $2.25/yd (used 1/4yd))

Can't beat that!

I'm linked here:




Thanks for stoppin' by,
Kim

Would you buy it Wednesday

Last week I hit another auction.  I LoVe auction season and dread the snow because that will mean the end of the season. Luckly, we have 4 months left of good 'ole biddin' weather! 

So, in accordance with Stephanie at  Junker Newbie I'm asking you... did I make a good purchase?  Would you buy this junk?

Here a few of my finds.

3 picnic baskets= $2.00

BIG box of tatting= $4.00 for all.

Frames= $2.00 for all.

Cute child picture in old frame= $5.00

3 old freezer baskets= $6.00 for all 3

5 rag rugs= $17.50 for all

Big box of batting, material,and lace= $2.00 for all.


What did you find this week?


Thanks for stopping by,
Kim

I'm linked up here:

How was your weekend?

Ah, nothing like an extended holiday weekend to get you out of the rhythm of everyday life.  It was a good thing.

How good?

Campfire breakfast good.

Family fun good.

Campfire view good.

Camping sleeping, not so good....

But when you're a hillbilly, you're a hillbilly.


Hope everyone had a great weekend!