Check out our DIY projects!
Here is a diamond in the rough . . . we saw potential!
This old door had six panels, but we only needed five panels for a queen-sized bed headboard. That works great because Neal prefers an odd number of panels. (For my sake, glad he likes odd!)
Continue reading “Making a Headboard from an Old Door”
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We interrupt this DIY Home Improvement Blog to share about the AMAZING Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama!
Do you ever just need to unplug and S-L-O-W D-O-W-N the busy pace of life? We do! I can be consumed with my consultant work, writing blog posts, creating social media posts, doing house chores, and all the demands of life. My “To Do” list is always a mile long.
We have the PERFECT place for you to unplug . . . or rather should I say, RECHARGE your battery! Continue reading “Camping at Gulf State Park”
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This summer, I have enjoyed growing zinnias and other flowers. I have learned about flowers that not only survive but thrive for this “Wannabe” master gardener. Click HERE to learn more about this flower bed Neal built for me (pictured below) and other spring and summer flowers we planted in pots on our deck. 
Continue reading “How to Arrange Zinnias (or any fresh cut flowers) in a Vase and Other Ideas”
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Our deck and deck railing needed to be replaced. Because we live on a lake, we wanted to use wire so as not to obstruct our view of the lake. We researched several options and decided to install hog wire deck railing. Actually, we learned through this process that we wanted to use sheep/goat wire. It consists of 4×4 squares. (Hog wire consists of rectangles and cattle wire consists of larger rectangles.) We purchased the sheep/goat wire panels from Tractor Supply Company. We purchased all the treated lumber from Ace Hardware and were pleased with the quality.
This DIY deck railing project has totally transformed our deck and YES, we have a great view of the lake. Continue reading “DIY Hog Wire Deck Railing”
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In 2011, we purchased our lake house. In 2013, we renovated and added an addition. Our deck is original to the house and we have been contemplating what to do with our deck for several years. We considered replacing the wood with composite, but that is so expensive and not in our budget yet. Continue reading “Redoing Our Deck by Flipping the Boards”
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This post was updated just in time for July 4th, 2020.
July the 4th is one of many fun times to live on the lake as we celebrate Independence Day! We typically have family visit for several days, so we create great memories of swimming, boating, fishing, eating, telling family stories (that are more exaggerated each year), and a lot of laughter.
So back to my tablescape . . .
Continue reading “Festive, but Simple 4th of July Tablescape”
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Our son-in-law Keith started building a brick paver patio and asked for a little advice from Neal. We were delighted to help Keith and Emmy a few days with their patio. Keith worked really hard on this project and the results are worth it! Continue reading “How to Build a Brick Paver Patio”
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This post was originally published in 2019 and has been recently updated.
Several years ago, Neal and I finished constructing the closet on our dock. 
Neal and I purchased treated lumber at Home Depot to construct our dock closet. It is always challenging to calculate how much lumber you need for these types of projects. We were almost finished with the closet . . . but then we ran out of lumber. It was hot and we were waaaay too tired to go get more lumber. We live about 17 miles from Home Depot. But we got an idea! We used some leftover thin pieces of treated wood to make an American flag. This is an example of reframing a negative into a positive!
Continue reading “How to Paint an American Flag”
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This blog post describes the process we used to build a barn door for our dock closet; however, the same steps apply to building a barn door for any room in your house. The only difference is that we used treated wood and plywood.
Here is our dock closet before building/installing our barn door. 
Neal purchased all of our supplies from Home Depot.
Materials:
Note: This material/tool list does not include the door trim.
We started by measuring this treated plywood and cutting it the size we need. It will be the frame for the door. The height will be 84 inches and the width will be 42 inches.
Continue reading “How to Build an Exterior Barn Door”
I chalk painted this antique nightstand. The picture below is when the nightstand was at my father’s house before he passed away. 😢 It is old and as you can see was warped on the top.
Continue reading “Green Chalk Paint Nightstand Makeover”
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We purchase a used 2012 Passport Express Super Lite travel trailer by Keystone in January 2017 from Camping World in Anniston, Alabama.
I am not sure why I have always had an obsession with campers. Perhaps it is the idea of being able to pack up whatever you need in your “house” and hit the road. It just seems so freeing . . . and it really it! It forces me to STOP working, doing laundry, and checking off my “To Do” list. It forces me to relax, enjoy the moment, and recharge my battery.
Our favorite place to “camp” is Gulf Shores State Park. We have thoroughly enjoyed each trip and lost count of the times we have visited there. Continue reading “Camper Makeover”
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