A Poem from Jackie to Mom~

That's me watching something, there was so much stuff to look at!

She didn't cook, she didn't iron and never thought of
 cleaning, but that's alright, were family.

She taught us right from wrong, she sometimes came on a little too strong, but that's alright, were family.

She saw beauty in junk, kept a lot of it around, which made her the talk of her tiny little water town, but, that's alright, were family.

She taught us to be strong, could have used a little of how to get along, but that's alright, were family


She loved life, and saw beauty everywhere, she lived in her own world, but that's alright, were family.

We are older now, and see things differently, hoping that all the strength, courage and zest for life she had was passed on to us, that's the true Legacy of family.

She taught us to be strong, taught us to push on, taught us to be family.

She came in with nothing and when she left she was rich, she had people who loved her she had family.

Our sorrow is great, our emptiness is deep, but she didn't leave us alone she left family.

 

 

God knew what we needed before we were born, she made sure we got to church, she made sure we were reborn, it's what you do for family.

I know you are walking with God hand in hand, someday we will all be together and we all will be a part of God's family.

Mom, you gave us life, you gave us love, there were many tears and much laughter, one thing I want everyone to know is that you left your kids, their spouses, your grand kids and great grand kids with great families.

Love you Mom,

Jackie

 

 

Today We Clean (don't say it) The Window Blinds!

We have rented this house for six years and have never cleaned the blinds. The kitchen, dining nook and living room are  one great space. All the times the smoke detector went off because of burnt offerings left on the stove. Jackie experimenting with a new stove top idea for her artwork. The numerous coffee explosions, from our beloved Corning Ware 9 cup perculator, and last but not least, her favorite blackened salmon in olive oil. It gets the prize for worst mess ever! Jackie's reaction to "Blind Cleaning?" Play both videos at the same time, hilarious!

64 ounces $1.00
Dollar Store

I was going to take a before and after picture but I'm only going to show the after picture. Let me put it this way, I forgot what color they were until I started the cleaning process. I yelled out to Jackie, "you owe me a dollar, they are white!"

$5.00 kiddie pool

The blinds were beyond the blind brush or vacuum stage. They needed a take down tub washing. If you are facing a similar task, I have a system that works wonderfully for me.

My process is called,

"One Blind at a Time"

Our blinds after cleaning

Things you're going to need, 2 /64 ounce refill bottles of Awesome Orange Degreaser, $2.00 gets you 128 ounces at the Dollar Store, a kiddie pool, everyone has one, if not $5.00 at the store of your choice.  Soaking mixture 2 bottles of AO into pool, add 3 large buckets of hot water into pool and you're ready to start soakin', You will need rubber gloves, by the way. Remove first blind, take to the "soaker", take a sponge to the blind then swish it back and forth a few tmes and let soak. While it soaks  I take the opportunity to clean the windows. After you get the window cleaned inside out. Remove blind from soaker and rinse with hose. I laid the cleaned shade on the front porch railing to dry. Take next blind out and repeat the process. Once second window is clean, you're ready to put the first blind back in place. They don't get mixed up and the window is completely finished!

I used to dump all the blinds in the bathtub at the same time to clean them, needless to say I could never match the blinds to the right windows. I had to go to"bed sheet" backup. This system really works well.

Til next time~