Since we moved in we’ve been anxious for the Spring to arrive so we can finally wash this red sea away.  This past weekend was the planned “sod party”, and OH was it a party…

The event began at 1:00am Saturday morning.  Yup, we didn’t expect to be awoken to the sound of a flatbed truck outside out house in the middle of the night, but sure enough…there it was.  We were told the sod would be delivered at 7am Saturday morning.  The truck driver was told 7pm Friday night.  So why 1am in the morning, you ask?  Well, in an attempt to arrive at 7pm, the driver set out from South Georgia late in the afternoon Friday, and didn’t make it far before his transmission begin giving him trouble.  There he sat on the side of the road for FOUR hours waiting for a tow truck.  To make matters worse, he had his 5 year old son in the passenger’s seat thinking he would get some good father/son bonding time in.

The tow truck finally came to give the truck driver a hand, and soon enough he was off again…headed to Forsyth County 5+ hours late.  Now, any of you who have been to our neighborhood know that we’re almost a mile into the subdivision.  That mile consists of some turns and hills — turns and hills that a flatbed truck carrying 18 palettes of sod doesn’t appreciate.  Sure enough, the grinding gears and screeching tires at the front of the neighborhood caused an unhappy neighbor to file a noise complaint with the police.  That poor driver — that’s the last thing he needed.

At 1:00am our doorbell rang.  In a foggy confusion, Chase checked the window by the door and sure enough, he muttered, “Ali, sod’s here.”  I was at a loss for words.  It’s 1 in the morning!  But there we go, headed outside to watch 18 palettes of sod stack up on our curb.  Two of our neighbors heard the truck as well, and stayed outside with us during the delivery.  Let the party begin.

7am rolled around…when the sod was supposed to be delivered…and Chase began laying each puzzle piece of sod.  His dad, brother, friends and neighbors joined within a few hours, and things took off.  Our yard was beginning to look beautiful!  ”Instant grass”, Chase said.

Hours later of laying, edging, patching, rolling, and laying more sod, the side yard was done!  We still had two and a half more palettes.  We can’t let that precious sod go to waste, so we started on the side yard (another area that needed a fresh coat of grass).  Needless to say, by the end of the day we were exhausted.

We were unbelievably blessed that the rain held off long enough for us to finish, and even more blessed that the rains came down the next day to water our new green carpet outside :)  Today we’re just hoping everything stays in place, the roots take, and we’ll have a yard to play in this summer!

Post from: in her words

Oh my sod

From de-squeaking doors to shooing flies, you’ll never think of WD-40 the same… or use it for the same thing.

WD-40…

1. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes.
2. Protects silver from tarnishing.
3. Removes road tar and grime from cars.
4. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings.
5. Gives floors that ‘just-waxed’ sheen without making it slippery.
6. Keeps flies off cows.
7. Restores and cleans chalkboards.
8. Removes lipstick stains.
9. Loosens stubborn zippers.
10. Untangles jewelry chains.
11. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks.
12. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill.
13. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing.
14. Removes tomato stains from clothing.
15. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots.
16. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors.
17. Keeps scissors working smoothly.
18. Removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor.
19. Gives your kid’s play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide.
20. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers. (tell your man about this one)
21. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open.
22. Makes an umbrella easier to open and close.
23. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers.
24. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles.
25. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans.
26. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling.
27. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running.
28. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools. (Another for your honey.)
29. Removes splattered grease on stove.
30. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging. (Nice!)
31. Keeps pigeons off the balcony. (They hate the smell)
32. Removes all traces of duct tape.
33. Some say it can even relieve arthritis pain!
34. Protects the Statue of Liberty from natural elements. (Interesting New York trivia)
35. Attracts fish if sprayed on the lure. (Impress your man with this one)
36. Takes the sting away from fire ant bites and stops the itch.
37. Removes crayon from walls.

Post from: in her words

WD-40: the new Duct Tape

Everyone was very considerate today, and I appreciate it more than you know! In the midst of my mourning, one of my coworkers, Debi, mentioned an adorable idea that she had come up with when she lost her pet a few years back, and I had to share it!

In remembrance of a pet, use their collar or tags to create a Christmas ornament for your tree! This way, every Holiday season when your whole family, pets included, are gathered, you can remember your passed pet and smile :)

Post from: in her words

Remembering a loved one

This adorable apron would be such a wonderful mother’s day present! There are so many more to choose from at wrapables.com, too. I wonder if they make that print in a dress…

Post from: in her words

Be a Fashionable Cook

That being said, here’s a great find – and an even better way to help the environment: If you’ve ever used a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, you know how great they work on scuffs and hard-to-clean soils. You also know how quickly they disintegrate after a few uses. Well, I just came across this cleaning cloth, appropriately found at greatcloth.com. It works just like the Magic Eraser, but this thing will last for years. I believe it is supposed to work for a good 5 years. You can use it on any hard surface, and it will clean just about anything. The best part is you just wash this thing like you would a rag, you can even bleach it, and it’s just as good as new. So if you want to cut back on those harsh chemicals and paper towels, you should try it!

Post from: in her words

Microfiber Magic