I was going back through some old posts and realized that there are several projects that I said I was going to work on and then never posted about, or never let you know whether or how I did them. Today, I thought I’d tie up some of those loose ends, while I’m watching paint dry in our guest bathroom!

Elvis Parsley in the wild (well, our overgrown backyard!).
1. Outdoor projects: yard and grill area.
At the beginning of the summer, I said I would finally work on clearing out our backyard (see video evidence):
Update on progress: nothing has happened! I know, I know. Well, Mother Nature hasn’t been cooperating – it’s either been excruciatingly hot or raining – and I was sidelined for two weeks with the allergic reaction on my arm (read about that here).
So, all of this still needs to be done, but probably won’t for at least a week, given the rainy and hot weather pattern we seem to be in. Still on the list, though.
2. The shed.
The shed is almost finished!

Halfway there, before the siding was installed…
The shed has been an ongoing project since May. Weather delays and errors in ordering the roof and siding have slowed things down. It’s almost finished now, though! I can’t wait to share it with you. Just a few touch-up things that need to be done – filling nail holes, caulking seams, and some paint – and then I can share the finished product!
3. Stair runner.
I can’t remember if I ever mentioned installing a runner on our stairs before. I know that several of you have asked me about the runner on our stairs and asked for a post on how to do it.

See the stair runner? I DIY’ed the installation of it.
It’s one of those posts that I always thought I had written but, ultimately, never did. Senility is a terrible thing.
Anyhoo, I’m going to write a post showing you how to install a runner on wood stairs. It’s a great, easy DIY project. And it makes a huge difference – especially if you have dogs or other pets who have a hard time on wood surfaces. (Hank, I’m talking to you.)
4. Doors to Laundry Room
I revealed my redone laundry room last year (see THIS POST for the big reveal!):
In that post, I noted that the paint on the laundry room doors needed to be redone. The doors were painted gray before (the same gray as the trim in the kitchen) and I just couldn’t get the white paint to cover it well on these doors.
Again, the weather has been a big factor here. I want to spray the paint on the doors, but can’t do that outside until the weather allows. And it has been rainy for seemingly ever and really hot lately. It’s on the list.
5. Rug in Dining Room
We had a rug in our dining room, but when Bear (the original dog who didn’t eat pizza) was around, she often had accidents on this rug.
I cleaned it more times than you can count. And, for a while, I really didn’t want to get rid of it. I like the rug, and it also was really Bear’s rug – she slept here at night when she was too old to climb the stairs. So it was hard after she died to come to terms with getting rid of it.
But now I’ve gotten past that and realized that we need to replace it. The rug has done its service and it’s spent. So, I’m on the lookout for a good rug for the dining room – one that will last forever (or close enough to it).
I didn’t realize that this turned into a Friday (Thursday) Five! Ack! But that’s what’s been on the to-do list of late.
What are you up to in your home?
Cute picture of Elvis! I’ve started redecorating the downstairs bath/laundry room, and then summer came! My focus turned to being outside and tending flower gardens, window boxes, and planters which I really enjoy doing. Maine summers are great and you want to take full advantage of them. We don’t get the hot, hot weather like the south does. Plus, we are on the coast where it tends to be cooler though we do hit the 80’s. There will be plenty of time for inside projects when the weather turns cold! Others love Maine summers, too, and we have a lot of company visiting, too! There are a few outside items that need sprucing up with a fresh coat of spray paint, and I will get to that!
Thanks, Karen! Summer in Maine sounds lovely! Especially when the heat + humidity index today is something like 100+! Enjoy!!