Back when there was a cable ‘box’ I enjoyed the early years of HGTV. Since I’ve ‘cut the cable cord’ I get my remodel fix by watching PBS shows. When Son #1 asked me to pet-sit while they were on vacation I said sure – they have satellite and Netflix – win/win for me! I remembered all the fun shows I used to watch: Design on a Dime, Decorating Cents, Curb Appeal, and Holmes on Homes. Then I got a rude awakening – it was nothing but repeats all day or night long of the same shows: people looking for houses on a beach, in another country or less than 150 sq. feet; people flipping houses, people remodeling then selling a house, people letting brothers remodel and sell their house. . . . Not any of the quick and easy fix it shows from the old days.
I tried watching but after a few, it became apparent that there are plenty of highly opinionated, non-imaginative folks looking for a home. The price tags for these are incomphrendable to me. Guess things are different outside the Midwest. This was just another version of reality TV with whiners and it’s all about me participants. I was also very disappointed that when they did a remodel, the cabinets and fixtures were completely destroyed. You’d think in this day and age they’d reuse and recycle all of that. Habitat for Humanity would be glad to get those things for their ReStore facilities. I checked on-line to see why the changes and found out most of them are scripted and produced in Canada even tho the HGTV headquarters is in Knoxville, TN. The homeowners are carefully chosen and of course the hosts don’t do any of the actual work.
I suppose you can find all the projects you’d ever want on Pintrest with videos and instructions. Just search on YouTube and you’ll be able to learn to knit or crochet. Gone are the days when you learned these things from your Grandmother.
On my “free” TV there was a Live Well Network and it had some hands on, crafty shows. But the local station discontinued it so I watch it via my laptop now. I still watch This Old House but deep down, the Scott brothers are much better to look at than Norm and Roger!

Before this adventure started, my favorite sister and I, along with Nephew JR3 headed to Knox County to get strawberries in Oaktown. Along the way we stopped at Asbury Chapel to put flowers on family grave sites. Our mother would have been 100 years old on May 17th. It boggles my mind to think of all the changes in the world she experienced in her 89 years. The roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, WWII, the space race, watching grand and great-grandkids grow up . . . .
Before we got to Blann’s Berries off US 41, we went past the Lays potato fields which were in bloom. Some were a pretty purple and others had white blooms. After loading the berries (we order ahead, getting too old to do U-Pick!), we went past the asparagus fields which were going to seed. They still had some for retail sale so we added fresh asparagus to our load. Too bad the melons weren’t ripe yet – that will be another adventure later this summer.
I spent the night at Windy Hill so JP and I could get an early start on the Old National Highway – US 40 Yard Sales. There’s absolutely nothing I need or want but, you never know what treasures you’ll find. The plan was to head West, stopping at sales on the Northside of the road then hit the Southside ones on the way back.
Our first stop netted a Tupperware cake taker for $1 – now that’s a total bargain! Onward – A few more uneventful stops then we got to a barn sale where I purchased a small bookcase that found a home in Grandson M’s room.
JP’s co-worker had been telling her that the ‘best’ fish sandwich was at a café in Reelsville. There’s not much in Reelsville, but we found the place; still not sure what it’s called: two different names on signs and two different names on the building itself. It was an old Texaco filling station and pretty much original. The hostess, Chris, gave us a running narrative on the history of the building as she cooked our food. She even had pictures from the town flood of 1913 and celebration dinners from the 40’s and 50’s. It’s nice when people keep historical records. Oh, BTW – it really was a good fish sandwich.

Yes, it’s THAT time of year – spring cleaning. Or at least that’s what Clorox, Windex, P&G and Mr. Clean would like you to believe.  Just turn on the TV and there’s someone telling you how to do it faster and better.  The only way that would work for me is to have someone else do it.

And please, stop showing those pictures of dust mites magnified thousands of times – they’re giving me nightmares.  I’m sure my house is a much desired location for them, probably got 5 stars on Yelp.  I was much happier thinking of dust bunnies.

Of course the big thing nowadays is making your own cleaning products. I have a niece that makes her own laundry soap. Sorry, I have better things to do than chop up soap bars and mix it with borax.  I guess it’s a choice of convenience vs expense or the Little House on the Prairie syndrome.  Just check the internet for recipes for cleaners:

Glass Cleaner: 2 Tblsp of lemon juice, 1 Tblsp white vinegar and 1 cup hot water, mix, put in spray bottle and start spritzing. But, do it on a cloudy day; if it’s sunshine-y your windows will streak (so I’ve heard).

The one thing I do make is drain cleaner – easy peasy:

1 C baking soda, 1 C salt and 1/2 C vinegar, pour into the drain, let sit for 5 min. then pour 2 C boiling water down the drain. Works great plus the foaming makes me think of jr. high science class.

I did purchase a spin mop and the grandkids love using it. Winner all around: happy grandkids and clean floors!