Awesome discovery!

I am all for anything that is going to make a dreaded job easier. Aren't we all liking this? Lazy? Smart? Yes.

Our deck and screened porch is on the shady side of the house. Needless to say mold and algae must like shady sides of houses because I have a green thumb for growing these.

In order to keep things clean Mr. Spouse has used the pressure washer. It will remove the mold. It will remove the algae. But it also removes the paint. Now I'm not wanting to keep adding paint to the deck and the spindles and the steps because that is a dreaded job.

Also the vinyl siding had the same growth features. It is supposed to be almond--not green or black speckled.

I was walking through Lowes and saw this product:

It comes with the attachment so that all is needed to use is to attach it to a water hose. Now that is my kind of work: attach, turn on water, spray. Rest for ten minutes. Spray with just water. (See the E-Z on the label?) So I bought a couple. They were really cheap--as in $8 each. And I tried it. AND it worked! It removed all those plant specimens. 

I first tried it on the siding. Mr. Spouse was elated (as in I had done it for him! type of happy). We raced back to Lowes--well actually on our next trip to Lowes I searched for the bottles. Gulp. They had moved them but being the diligent teacher that I am--they couldn't hide them from me. 

Saturday I decided to tackle the deck. We had out glass table on the outside deck and I was inspired by Rhoda after seeing her porch. If I could move the table inside to the screened in porch we could eat out there! I sprayed the deck and took a $1 rag mop from Dollar Tree and rubbed the decking. I sprayed again and rubbed a little more. Then I hosed it all off! 

Our table is now sitting on the screened in portion.

 My cleaned decking with two of the chairs.

Some of my beautiful geraniums and ferns.

And I also put some of my plates on display. These are plastic ones I got a couple years ago at Wal-Mart. I love the design in them.

Here's to the rest of summer and an easy job completed!

I was not compensated for this advertisement--just wanted to share a great product!

Too Much RAIN!

It has been a very rainy summer. Usually it is hot and dry--grass is a lovely shade of brown. Not this year. Rain. Rain. Rain.

We have a very old apple tree in our yard. It is full of golf ball size apples. Not edible. 

This is what we woke to this morning:

Just glad that we weren't underneath when this happened. Mr. Spouse had just mowed last night and I had just walked the dog underneath!


Guess Mr. Spouse has some work to do!

Summer Porch

Finally it has warmed up in Tennessee. We have had a very cooooool Spring! Only the last two weeks have been consistently warm.

Here is a peak at some of my flowers on the screened in porch and deck.

The screened in porch (why do I use three words to describe it?) gets no sun due to the north facing side of the house. It makes it really nice because it is cool enough to enjoy almost every summer day! Ferns love it here just as much as I do. The little fountain was a gift from one of my students several years ago. Next to it is a remnant of a poinsettia from Christmas. I took it to school and it lived in the window there until school was out. It kept blooming--I guess because it got lots of darkness. When school begins I'll take it back and just maybe it will bloom for Christmas!

I love red geraniums. I've had great luck with Lowe's $5 ones for the past two summers. I tried to keep some over the winter and they are blooming--but not like these!

Our little home for some tiny birds entertain me. The funny part is that they move in without moving out last year's furniture! Mr. Spouse says there is not enough room for them but they love it here.

My project this week is to scrub the deck. By the same shady part of the house that creates a nice cool place to enjoy --it also gives green algae a home on the deck and side of the house. Last week I cleaned the siding. So this week I shall tackle the floor!

Time for Porch Living!

Oh, Spring is beginning this week! Can't wait for my favorite time of the year. I began updating my screened in porch. This is the before:

I've had that rug for years and years! I am tired. tired. of the Christmas green.

So I went shopping and picked up new cushions and a new rug.

I guess I am in an aqua faze! The cushions have the light turquoise and light brown accents. I lucked upon the cushions at Big Lots--total was around $75. Not bad! They are reversible.

The new rug brings in all the shades. And to me the lighter rug is calming.

The rug came from Lowe's. Since the weather doesn't get into the porch it should be fine. The other one was for years, and years, and years.

Now I'm anticipating the ferns that will be out soon! Until then I laid a silk one on the table--just to give me a spring in my step.

It will go from this:

To this:

I've tried to keep my geraniums over by storing them in the garage. Does anyone know exactly how to bring them out--do I begin to water them more and just set them outside???? They look alive but barely. They were gorgeous last year!

Happy Spring!

Autumn Inspirations

It's here! Summer is a distant memory. 

Just a hint of fall colors. And saying goodbye to my beautiful ferns. 

I've tried to keep them through the winter months but never have succeeded. They always lose their leaves and look pitiful. Thanks to Lowes they are easily replaced each spring.

Love the spice of warm fall dinners. If you have tasted this creole sausage and beans dish--it will definitely warm you--maybe a little too much. You can find the recipe shared by Cara here.

The touch of autumn creeps into the living areas. Time to curl up with a good book and relax.