The Tools Take Over

It's been three years since I installed this peg board in my garage and I finally decided I out grew it.

I bought two additional panels and a few more hooks.  The original one needed to come down so as to accommodate the two new ones.  And while I had it down, I figured "Why not spray paint it!"  Purple was not my first choice but I already had two cans so I just went with it. 

I played around with the layout in my living room, trying to make sure things were grouped in the most efficient way.  I also tried to paint shadows of the tools in contrasting pink but after 3, I gave up.  Painting on a pegboard with a tiny brush is not fun.

The finished install turned out perfect!  I even have room to grow!  With such a tiny garage, utilizing the wall space for storage helps me cram as much in as possible yet still have it be functional! 

And So It Continues

I just keep on planting.  I think part of my excitement is that this is really the first time that I've planted flowers that not only survive, but seem to be thriving.  I never had much luck at my condo.  I might have kept plants alive but I couldn't keep them blooming.  This year my green thumb is in full effect.  I decided to add some Knock Out roses to the back yard.  Since they become bushes, I figured they would be good against the back fence in the backyard.

I didn't create a real bed for them.  Instead I just dug big holes, filled them with better soil and rose food and then plopped them in.  I don't know if this is a good thing but I really just want the roses to grow as natural bushes and I don't necessarily need a whole flower bed.  We'll see how it works out for me.

They are tiny now but the should grow to about 3-4 feet tall and just as wide.  They seem happy and I already have a few blooms on them. 

Of course I can't pick up one plant without randomly throwing more in my basket.  I got this pretty purple thing for my daisy and lantana bed.  I brought home one with no stick nametag so I forgot what it is.

This bed layout seems odd.  I realize that.  But I'm trying to allow room for the lantana in the back to grow.  I'll be trimming the bed with white stones (like Pablo's bed) eventually and will probably reshape the front at the same time.  For now the goal is just keeping plants alive.  The last thing I added over the weekend was some impatiens to the front boxwood bed. 

I know it seems like I'm slowly handing over my life savings to Home Depot, but all these plants came to $20.  Not too shabby.  I figure that is the kind of weekly habit I can maintain for awhile without risking foreclosure. 

The $1500 Shopping Spree

I've been a bit AWOL due to an awful stomach bug and my unwise choice to take a 15 week accounting class in a condensed 5 week session.  Apologies.  I will try to keep blogging projects around the house and spare you any talk of balance sheets and depreciation schedules.

Now let me tell you about the third reason blogging has been scarce lately...my $1500 shopping spree last weekend.  I bet you're wondering what I splurged on.  There are so many options. 

Maytag from Home Depot

Maybe I finally got a stainless steel french door fridge that I've been eyeing.  Or maybe I decided to start of with some new countertops.


From bhg.com

No, sadly my shopping spree last Saturday was not so exciting and it certainly wasn't planned.  But it had to happen and I am now the proud new owner of four new tires on my SUV.

I also got some brake pads while I was at it since stopping is pretty important in the grand scheme of driving.  This shopping spree was a little disappointing since I've had to reallocate funds budgeted for home improvement to car expense.  Hopefully I'll be back at it soon.  Until then I'll be pouring over my accounting books trying to learn the secret of generating more cash.  

Garage Organizing

I now know how garages get so out of hand.  It starts off with just a few things stashed in the garage to get them out of the way.  And then empty boxes end up there.  And then spare parts to random items you've bought and self-assembled.  It just all adds up.  I never really got this until I got my own garage and things got out of hand.  This weekend I was determined to bring some order.  Bulk trash pick up is this week so I finally got rid of my patio furniture boxes from months ago.  And an old ironing board.  And TONS of tree trimmings.  Once I was able to see the floor again, I organized all the stuff that would stay.

I started off hanging this old shelf I had been storing on the floor in the garage.  My whodats and thingamabobs collection had grown out of control.  This shelf was my answer, along with a $6 set of jelly jars from Wal-Mart.

On a sidenote: That big white tub is completely full of dog food.  Do you know how long it will take Pablo to eat all that food?!?  I'm guessing at least a year or two.  Crazy.

Once I got the shelf hung and then double secured, I moved my doohickies to their new home.

Now there are all separated by purpose and not just in an odds and ends bucket.  Need a cup hook?  Got it.  Need a rubber washer?  Done.  I even have room for more whatchmacallits to enter my life.

I also organized my growing collection of interior room paint, noting which color goes in which room and then tucking them away for future touch-up needs. 

Pay no attention to the left side of the garage.  This weekend I only tackled the right 2/3s.  Baby steps.

Garage Tour

My house only came with a one car garage.  Not ideal but I figured I could just add a shed to the back yard for additional storage.  Then came move in day.  With the help of my dad we figured out my car is about 6 inches too long for my garage.  This was kind of a shocker considering the house was built in the 40's and I thought cars back then were huge.  No worries, I would just park in my driveway and use my garage for storage.  Now I didn't need to buy a shed.

 I managed to fill the garage up pretty quickly so now it's just a matter of making sure I keep it organized.

My most used tools are on this nifty little peg board I installed.  The empty spaces are probably scattered around my house right now, awaiting projects to be finished.  Below the peg board I have drawers for larger items and a divided case for keeping track of all my small hardware.

Next to that I put up some shelves to hold paint, power tools, and other random garage items.  Here's my growing collection of spray paint just begging for attention.

Next to the shelves I've add some wall mounted storage accessories to help cut down on the clutter.

My favorite find so far has been my $5 Husky strap

It makes it so easy to rehang my extension cord, just velcro it back in!  Much easier than winding it on a roller-thingy, or whatever they're called. 

I've got my new ladder hanging on the opposite wall on a couple of rubber wrapped ladder hooks.  I bought a pack of several heavy duty hooks and will hopefully get my bike and bike rack hung soon!  With all the new tools required of owning and maintaining a lawn, my little garage is filling up quickly.  Here's the latest addition to my yard arsenal:

A leaf blower!  I went with the cheapest one I could find at Home Depot ($29.99) even though it only claimed a power level of 3 out of 10.  After using it last weekend, I can't imagine why I'd ever need more power!  That thing swept of the sidewalks and patio in seconds.  It has the power of my Dyson...but in reverse!  My manual sweeping days are over and I couldn't be more excited.  Now if I could just find a good place to keep it in the garage.