Cleaning Carpet

 

I like to clean my carpet twice a year minimum- preferably 4 times a year or every season. Years ago, when I had a family daycare in my home, I cleaned my carpets once a month. They still looked great after 24 years! I don't think they make carpet as sturdy nowadays. 

It was time since I hadn’t cleaned them since last year. I only have carpet in the living room and master bedroom. 

Once I moved all the furniture ( with my husband's help) they looked terrible. I’m not sure but we’ve only had this carpet for maybe 6 years. I could be off and it could be longer.  You know how time flies when you have a new carpet! 

I guess with a 70 lb. dog who enjoys her daily romp in the living room and wrestling with us there’s bound to be some major wear and tear. We love our animals - they are family. They are allowed to lay on beds and furniture - which means more work for me but they’re worth it. 

It just so happens I like to clean the carpet and I have my own machine. 

Now I’m off to the bedroom. The room smells better. It's not perfect - I can see the flaws but at least it gives the illusion of being clean. 

GOOD NEWS

We had a semi-cloudy 82-degree day. Lovely! That’s why I had to clean my carpets. The temps will be dropping into the 70’s and we may get some rain. 

I’m really feeling all Fallish now! 

July 2021

Tomorrow we hope to drive up to Lassen Volcanic National Park to Manzanita Lake. They opened yesterday after being closed due to the Dixie fire. The park will close down soon for winter so I wanted to see some Fall colors. 

It will really be cold up there. 52 for a high. Burrrrr. Then come home for some homemade chili. 

I can't wait. 

Fall cleaning

 

It's coming. The 10-day forecast has a couple of 100 degree days but mostly they are 90's. We're starting to get down into the '70s at night. I still can't open the windows at night, due to the bad air quality.

I started Fall cleaning. I took off the cushions covers from my sofa and loveseat and washed them along with blankets we use and throw pillows.  I vacuumed the sofa and love seat and of course, Laydee approves. 

She tends to drool. I've never been one that keeps my animals off the furniture. They are my family. I just have to make sure I am regular about keeping the sofa clean and smelling good. 

That was just the beginning - I want to wash down the walls, and the kitchen cabinets, reorganize my pantry, and wash curtains. I like going into Fall, or any new season, with a clean house. 

Then after I am done, I will start my Fall decorating. 

I received my replacement filters for my 2 air purifiers and my new purifier.  I placed this one in the hallway - the other one like this is in our office. 

This is the new one for the living room. It's very quiet. 

I can already tell a difference. My house smells clean and fresh. But that stops at the door - the air, depending on the wind shift, at times smells like smoke. At least I can rest easy knowing my inside air smells fresh. 

Sometime this week, I will call to get my HVAC looked at and tuned, ready for future cold weather, and then I will ask about the whole house purifier or whatever they call it. 

Rainy Days and chili

 

It's been rainy. Not a big storm but it's been wet. After our 6-mos dry season, those first rains smell so sweet. Formerly yellow grasses turn green almost before your eyes. 

Good News, the husband finally is done with the patio pavers - so the patio is completed.  He still has some finishing touches to complete - it may have to wait till the Spring. Unless it is going to be wetter than the wet rainy season, we most likely will have some dry days with sunshine and spring-like weather in between storms. We have a chance to get it all done. 

My section of the garden - on the other side of the fence, I didn't get a chance to lay down the weed barrier. So I took some cardboard boxes and laid them out flat until I get to it. I want to lay some rocks down as well. The morning glories are starting to die off, which surprises me. When I lived in the bay area, I had them year-round. It did get down to 29 degrees one night so that must have nailed it. 

I was able to clean out my pantry. Slowly I am getting things done but not as fast as I would have done a year ago.  I also made some homemade chili last night for dinner. I wanted it to last 2 nights but it was so good, we only have enough for lunch today. I normally make 2 batches. 

THANKSGIVING

So what is everyone doing for Thanksgiving this year? Next week I will go out to "gather" my meal. We will have a small, low key meal. Weather permitting, I hope we can have a small bonfire. 

Fall cleaning - Washing the walls and curtains.

I washed the windows from the inside - took the curtains down and washed them. 

Dried them and hung them back up - they shrank about 2 inches! I washed and dried them on delicate. Oh well. I really don't care anymore like I used to when I was younger. 

I'm not the perfectionist like I used to be. 

I have been doing some heavy-duty cleaning and I'm on a roll. It takes me longer these days to complete this mission. Today I washed down the walls in the hallway, office, our bedroom.  My goal is by Monday I can start putting up my Fall decorations. 

I've been having some issues with all the smoke and dust that gets into the house. Next year I want my air ducts cleaned out. I can smell DUST. No one else does but when I can smell it, it's bad. Every wall in this house will get cleaned this weekend. 

I used to love the way a freshly painted room would smell. I'm not going to paint my walls just to get them to smell better, so I wash them down. Although, I do need to paint my master bathroom. 

I noticed the AC didn't kick on - so I checked the thermostat and it was blank. Needed new batteries. 99.8% of me knew it was the batteries but that other small part was thinking, 

"oh no, it's the complete AC Unit." 

No, the HVAC should last another 15 years. It will go out when I am 81. Wonderful!

They say they last about 20 years.  Maybe we'll hit the lottery and I'll hold back some of that money to pay for the new HVAC. Or maybe I will be dead by then. 

The husband has been working on the yards. He says next week he will start in on the finishing of our patio. He's cutting it awfully close if that storm door should open up.   (wishful thinking) 

As the weather cools and the smoke from the fires is not as bad, I feel more alive. It's 95 today but isn't like a summer 95. The sun is at a different angle - we have more shade and it gets dark earlier. We're having wind so keeping the patio and all swept is a never-ending impossible job. It stirs up my allergies, so I stay inside and wash walls. 

Last Year/ This Year

Last Year 

Okay - maybe tomorrow will be the day I will start doing the things I need to do. I am having a hard time enjoying my favorite time of the year - Autumn. Last year at this time I was crafting and decorating and buying more stuff. 

I was organized  - I always like to do a Fall cleaning. I haven't started yet. By the looks of it, I can't say whether it will get done or not. That would be a shame because I know, the clutter will only make my FUNK more defined. I just can't seem to get up and go. 

Heck, even my dog Laydee was part of my Fall decorations. 

I went out shopping today - looked at all the Fall decor and some Christmas - It did not even MOVE me. I have enough stuff. 

I used to love to clean out my pantry - to get ready for the holidays. I haven't done that yet. 

My yards are a mess, due to the smoke and ash. 

I feel overwhelmed. 

To think I started this year on a good note - had my living room carpet shampooed in January. I was chomping at the bit to get 2020 started. I had crafts to make, seeds to plant, and flowers to spruce up my yard, and a wedding to go; my son was getting married on Leap Year - the 29th of Feb! 

Will I ever be, me again? 

I need my Mojo back. 

Cleaning, Crafting and watching you tube videos

The afternoon sun shines through the window. 

I hope to post some nicer pictures soon. 

(I think I say that all the time and never do) 

I was on a roll and then I had either allergies or a mild cold. So I lost some steam. I'm still dreaming of black and white buffalo plaid. I hope to take better photos and remove that air purifier out of the way and the TV antenna. 

Do you still have cable? 

We got rid of paying for cable now for about 6 years. Don't miss it at all. 

But to get local channels we need a small digital antenna. 

They use don't make antennas the way they used to.

Remember?

Taken this morning - I have ordered blinds for the other 2 windows. 

As a take things out of boxes in my craft/sewing room it is apparent that I need more shelves. 

I'm getting overwhelmed.

Oh Lord, when will this end? 

I have been making too many Dollar Tree hauls -

 I've been watching these young you-tubers, working on simple crafts and I tell you, I get heart palpitations because I get so excited. I subscribed to a few of my favorites and I know my husband thinks I am nuts but who cares! I enjoy watching them decorate and it gives me crafting ideas.

One of my favorites is Bargain Bethany. OMG, I wish I could adopt her. 

She just makes me smile.