#regular cleaning services in Statesville

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Deep Cleaning Services in Statesville, NC

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[emlydunstan]

How Harm Reductionists Keep the Faith

It’s a bitterly cold afternoon in early March as Karen Lowe and I pick our way down the broken sidewalks of a semi-abandoned neighborhood in Statesville, North Carolina. All around us, squatter houses stretch for blocks. Every window is busted or boarded up. Thin, dirty mattresses lie on sunken porches and feral dogs scrounge in the trash-strewn yards for scraps. Some residents are huddled inside for warmth, though in most of these homes, there is no electricity.The neighborhood is a depressing sight, but it’s hard to feel blue when you’re on outreach with Karen Lowe. Co-founder of the Olive Branch Ministry, a faith-based non-profit that brings harm reduction services to the seven foothill counties of North Carolina, Karen is the embodiment of love.Harm Reduction in the Deep SouthAs I burrow into my thin jacket, Karen strolls down the middle of the street extending warm greetings to the few brave souls who venture outside. Though the pockets of her cargo pants are bursting with clean syringes, naloxone, and other supplies to prevent death and disease among people who use drugs, she doesn’t flaunt her wares.“I just want people to see me,” she explains. “It’s about building trust. They know why I’m here. If they need something, they’ll come to me.”As we walk, the 52-year-old fills me in on the colorful cast of characters who call this neighborhood home, including a man who claims he hasn’t bathed in a year and an old woman who pees on the sidewalk. Karen describes everyone with great affection.“There is a certain kind of love that goes with being an untouchable,” she says. “And [the people of this community] have it. But it’s not allowed to grow.”There certainly isn’t much growing in this neighborhood. Judging by the columned porches on every house and what looks like abandoned flower gardens, this was probably once a desirable place to live. But shifting economic winds have devastated entire cities in the South and Statesville is no exception. A small inland city—population 26,000—Statesville boasts neither North Carolina’s green mountain range nor its sparkling coastline. It’s stranded in the flatland area of the state, mostly buried under strip malls and fast food restaurants. But despite so few bragging rights, Statesville embraces its Southern pride, describing itself on its website as “a city where fish is fried (as our Lord intended they be) and a bottle of Kraft French Dressing is good enough for anybody --- so get over yourself.” Also true to its Southern roots, while Statesville has recently invested in a splash park and a $330,000 home for veterans (more than double the average price of a house in the area), the city has allowed this particular neighborhood, in which residents are almost all black, to fall into ruin. The only people who venture into this place are the churches who occasionally come evangelizing and of course, the police, who make neighborhoods like this one their second home.But Karen brings cheer to this desolate area. Twelve years ago, she was homeless herself, struggling with mental illness and depression, and searching for both a literal and metaphorical place to set down roots. She found a surrogate family and a calling in a faith-based organization in Greensboro that provides services to people living with HIV. The community welcomed Karen with open arms and she became a regular at meetings, outreach events, and retreats, which she describes as “mad love and dealing with yourself, everybody crying and snotting.”Not Your Typical Faith-Based Outreach OrganizationKaren says she knew then that her life was about to change in remarkable ways. And was it ever. A couple years into her involvement with the faith community she met the love of her life, Michelle Mathis, a woman who shared her passion for helping people in need. Though they have the same heart for harm reduction, the pair is about as opposite as two people can be. Michelle exudes elegance with a powdered face and coiffed hair that somehow survive even in the god-awfullest North Carolina humidity. Her partner is more salt-of-the-earth.“I did the make-up and heels thing when I was young…somebody should have stopped me,” Karen laughs.The yin to the other’s yang, the two married in a private ceremony in 2009 where they exchanged olive branches instead of rings, thus creating what would become their joint life’s work, The Olive Branch Ministry.Olive Branch is not your typical faith-based outreach organization—and not just because its founders are an interracial queer couple spreading the word of Jesus in the Deep South. True to the tenets of harm reduction, whose guiding philosophy is “meet people where they are at,” Karen and Michelle serve without pretense or expectation.“We say faith is why we do [this work], but it’s not what we do,” Michelle explains to me over the phone. “If someone asks us to pray for them, we will pray for people…We take the message of harm reduction to faith communities…but we don’t evangelize.”During afternoon outreach with Karen, she utters not a whisper about faith. And yet, if God’s love for others were perfume, you’d smell her coming from blocks away. Helping others comes as naturally to her as breathing. Several times during our conversation she offers to assist me personally with everything from community partnerships to my writing career, and after I mention casually I’ll be traveling abroad soon, she offers me money to buy a goat or chicken for a family in need.Morning to evening, nearly seven days a week, Karen and Michelle endure taxing commutes to bring harm reduction services to drug users in North Carolina’s hard-hit, rural areas. They ask nothing in return for their services. In fact, they seem critical of faith-based groups who use community outreach programs as a carrot to boost membership.“It’s hard to be trusted in a neighborhood like this [because people think] everyone wants to take them to church,” Karen explains, adding that this is why she maintains such a low-key presence on outreach. Instead of rolling up in a van stashed with free giveaways, she roams the streets where people can see her, offering nothing but a greeting unless she is asked.The Intersection Between Faith Communities and Harm ReductionThe Olive Branch Ministry’s approach could serve as an example for how faith-based communities and harm reduction can work together. The relationship is not always harmonious: some in the faith community accuse harm reductionists of enabling drug use or not doing enough to discourage problematic behavior. Conversely, many harm reductionists criticize faith groups for the hypocrisy of claiming to serve “the least of these” while refusing to help drug users, who belong to one of the most stigmatized and marginalized of all groups. Even when faith-based organizations do offer assistance, some peddle a strict, abstinence-only agenda or approach outreach with an attitude that appears to place more importance on gathering lost souls into the flock than on addressing people’s immediate needs.But despite the tenuous history between the groups, there is much cause for hope. Across the country, faith-based groups like The Olive Branch Ministry, Judson Memorial Church in New York City, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Arkansas, the national Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition, and many more are forming active partnerships with harm reduction groups. Other organizations, including the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and National Council on Jewish Women have publicly proclaimed their support for harm reduction programs.The relationship between the faith community and harm reduction shows promise and room for growth. Especially in the South where faith is so important and drug users have so few services, these alliances are critical to stem the tide of deaths and disease caused by an unregulated drug supply, draconian laws, lack of sterile equipment, dearth of adequate treatment, stigma, and misunderstanding about what causes drug use to become problematic for many people.“I feel that faith communities in general think that harm reductionists are a bunch of left wing radicals,” says Michelle. “They think that we will come in and demand that the church hold drug user union meetings and do syringe exchange, but they don’t realize that we meet the congregation where they are…we figure out where they are comfortable and [decide] how to go from there.”Harm reduction groups and faith communities need to work together rather than at cross-purposes in order to reach and help as many people as possible. It's not always easy to find common ground; an olive branch is a good place to start.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8241841 https://www.thefix.com/how-harm-reductionists-keep-faith

[alexdmorgan30]

How Harm Reductionists Keep the Faith

It’s a bitterly cold afternoon in early March as Karen Lowe and I pick our way down the broken sidewalks of a semi-abandoned neighborhood in Statesville, North Carolina. All around us, squatter houses stretch for blocks. Every window is busted or boarded up. Thin, dirty mattresses lie on sunken porches and feral dogs scrounge in the trash-strewn yards for scraps. Some residents are huddled inside for warmth, though in most of these homes, there is no electricity.The neighborhood is a depressing sight, but it’s hard to feel blue when you’re on outreach with Karen Lowe. Co-founder of the Olive Branch Ministry, a faith-based non-profit that brings harm reduction services to the seven foothill counties of North Carolina, Karen is the embodiment of love.Harm Reduction in the Deep SouthAs I burrow into my thin jacket, Karen strolls down the middle of the street extending warm greetings to the few brave souls who venture outside. Though the pockets of her cargo pants are bursting with clean syringes, naloxone, and other supplies to prevent death and disease among people who use drugs, she doesn’t flaunt her wares.“I just want people to see me,” she explains. “It’s about building trust. They know why I’m here. If they need something, they’ll come to me.”As we walk, the 52-year-old fills me in on the colorful cast of characters who call this neighborhood home, including a man who claims he hasn’t bathed in a year and an old woman who pees on the sidewalk. Karen describes everyone with great affection.“There is a certain kind of love that goes with being an untouchable,” she says. “And [the people of this community] have it. But it’s not allowed to grow.”There certainly isn’t much growing in this neighborhood. Judging by the columned porches on every house and what looks like abandoned flower gardens, this was probably once a desirable place to live. But shifting economic winds have devastated entire cities in the South and Statesville is no exception. A small inland city—population 26,000—Statesville boasts neither North Carolina’s green mountain range nor its sparkling coastline. It’s stranded in the flatland area of the state, mostly buried under strip malls and fast food restaurants. But despite so few bragging rights, Statesville embraces its Southern pride, describing itself on its website as “a city where fish is fried (as our Lord intended they be) and a bottle of Kraft French Dressing is good enough for anybody --- so get over yourself.” Also true to its Southern roots, while Statesville has recently invested in a splash park and a $330,000 home for veterans (more than double the average price of a house in the area), the city has allowed this particular neighborhood, in which residents are almost all black, to fall into ruin. The only people who venture into this place are the churches who occasionally come evangelizing and of course, the police, who make neighborhoods like this one their second home.But Karen brings cheer to this desolate area. Twelve years ago, she was homeless herself, struggling with mental illness and depression, and searching for both a literal and metaphorical place to set down roots. She found a surrogate family and a calling in a faith-based organization in Greensboro that provides services to people living with HIV. The community welcomed Karen with open arms and she became a regular at meetings, outreach events, and retreats, which she describes as “mad love and dealing with yourself, everybody crying and snotting.”Not Your Typical Faith-Based Outreach OrganizationKaren says she knew then that her life was about to change in remarkable ways. And was it ever. A couple years into her involvement with the faith community she met the love of her life, Michelle Mathis, a woman who shared her passion for helping people in need. Though they have the same heart for harm reduction, the pair is about as opposite as two people can be. Michelle exudes elegance with a powdered face and coiffed hair that somehow survive even in the god-awfullest North Carolina humidity. Her partner is more salt-of-the-earth.“I did the make-up and heels thing when I was young…somebody should have stopped me,” Karen laughs.The yin to the other’s yang, the two married in a private ceremony in 2009 where they exchanged olive branches instead of rings, thus creating what would become their joint life’s work, The Olive Branch Ministry.Olive Branch is not your typical faith-based outreach organization—and not just because its founders are an interracial queer couple spreading the word of Jesus in the Deep South. True to the tenets of harm reduction, whose guiding philosophy is “meet people where they are at,” Karen and Michelle serve without pretense or expectation.“We say faith is why we do [this work], but it’s not what we do,” Michelle explains to me over the phone. “If someone asks us to pray for them, we will pray for people…We take the message of harm reduction to faith communities…but we don’t evangelize.”During afternoon outreach with Karen, she utters not a whisper about faith. And yet, if God’s love for others were perfume, you’d smell her coming from blocks away. Helping others comes as naturally to her as breathing. Several times during our conversation she offers to assist me personally with everything from community partnerships to my writing career, and after I mention casually I’ll be traveling abroad soon, she offers me money to buy a goat or chicken for a family in need.Morning to evening, nearly seven days a week, Karen and Michelle endure taxing commutes to bring harm reduction services to drug users in North Carolina’s hard-hit, rural areas. They ask nothing in return for their services. In fact, they seem critical of faith-based groups who use community outreach programs as a carrot to boost membership.“It’s hard to be trusted in a neighborhood like this [because people think] everyone wants to take them to church,” Karen explains, adding that this is why she maintains such a low-key presence on outreach. Instead of rolling up in a van stashed with free giveaways, she roams the streets where people can see her, offering nothing but a greeting unless she is asked.The Intersection Between Faith Communities and Harm ReductionThe Olive Branch Ministry’s approach could serve as an example for how faith-based communities and harm reduction can work together. The relationship is not always harmonious: some in the faith community accuse harm reductionists of enabling drug use or not doing enough to discourage problematic behavior. Conversely, many harm reductionists criticize faith groups for the hypocrisy of claiming to serve “the least of these” while refusing to help drug users, who belong to one of the most stigmatized and marginalized of all groups. Even when faith-based organizations do offer assistance, some peddle a strict, abstinence-only agenda or approach outreach with an attitude that appears to place more importance on gathering lost souls into the flock than on addressing people’s immediate needs.But despite the tenuous history between the groups, there is much cause for hope. Across the country, faith-based groups like The Olive Branch Ministry, Judson Memorial Church in New York City, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Arkansas, the national Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition, and many more are forming active partnerships with harm reduction groups. Other organizations, including the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and National Council on Jewish Women have publicly proclaimed their support for harm reduction programs.The relationship between the faith community and harm reduction shows promise and room for growth. Especially in the South where faith is so important and drug users have so few services, these alliances are critical to stem the tide of deaths and disease caused by an unregulated drug supply, draconian laws, lack of sterile equipment, dearth of adequate treatment, stigma, and misunderstanding about what causes drug use to become problematic for many people.“I feel that faith communities in general think that harm reductionists are a bunch of left wing radicals,” says Michelle. “They think that we will come in and demand that the church hold drug user union meetings and do syringe exchange, but they don’t realize that we meet the congregation where they are…we figure out where they are comfortable and [decide] how to go from there.”Harm reduction groups and faith communities need to work together rather than at cross-purposes in order to reach and help as many people as possible. It's not always easy to find common ground; an olive branch is a good place to start.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8241841 https://ift.tt/2UWIoWY

[pitz182]

How Harm Reductionists Keep the Faith

It’s a bitterly cold afternoon in early March as Karen Lowe and I pick our way down the broken sidewalks of a semi-abandoned neighborhood in Statesville, North Carolina. All around us, squatter houses stretch for blocks. Every window is busted or boarded up. Thin, dirty mattresses lie on sunken porches and feral dogs scrounge in the trash-strewn yards for scraps. Some residents are huddled inside for warmth, though in most of these homes, there is no electricity.The neighborhood is a depressing sight, but it’s hard to feel blue when you’re on outreach with Karen Lowe. Co-founder of the Olive Branch Ministry, a faith-based non-profit that brings harm reduction services to the seven foothill counties of North Carolina, Karen is the embodiment of love.Harm Reduction in the Deep SouthAs I burrow into my thin jacket, Karen strolls down the middle of the street extending warm greetings to the few brave souls who venture outside. Though the pockets of her cargo pants are bursting with clean syringes, naloxone, and other supplies to prevent death and disease among people who use drugs, she doesn’t flaunt her wares.“I just want people to see me,” she explains. “It’s about building trust. They know why I’m here. If they need something, they’ll come to me.”As we walk, the 52-year-old fills me in on the colorful cast of characters who call this neighborhood home, including a man who claims he hasn’t bathed in a year and an old woman who pees on the sidewalk. Karen describes everyone with great affection.“There is a certain kind of love that goes with being an untouchable,” she says. “And [the people of this community] have it. But it’s not allowed to grow.”There certainly isn’t much growing in this neighborhood. Judging by the columned porches on every house and what looks like abandoned flower gardens, this was probably once a desirable place to live. But shifting economic winds have devastated entire cities in the South and Statesville is no exception. A small inland city—population 26,000—Statesville boasts neither North Carolina’s green mountain range nor its sparkling coastline. It’s stranded in the flatland area of the state, mostly buried under strip malls and fast food restaurants. But despite so few bragging rights, Statesville embraces its Southern pride, describing itself on its website as “a city where fish is fried (as our Lord intended they be) and a bottle of Kraft French Dressing is good enough for anybody --- so get over yourself.” Also true to its Southern roots, while Statesville has recently invested in a splash park and a $330,000 home for veterans (more than double the average price of a house in the area), the city has allowed this particular neighborhood, in which residents are almost all black, to fall into ruin. The only people who venture into this place are the churches who occasionally come evangelizing and of course, the police, who make neighborhoods like this one their second home.But Karen brings cheer to this desolate area. Twelve years ago, she was homeless herself, struggling with mental illness and depression, and searching for both a literal and metaphorical place to set down roots. She found a surrogate family and a calling in a faith-based organization in Greensboro that provides services to people living with HIV. The community welcomed Karen with open arms and she became a regular at meetings, outreach events, and retreats, which she describes as “mad love and dealing with yourself, everybody crying and snotting.”Not Your Typical Faith-Based Outreach OrganizationKaren says she knew then that her life was about to change in remarkable ways. And was it ever. A couple years into her involvement with the faith community she met the love of her life, Michelle Mathis, a woman who shared her passion for helping people in need. Though they have the same heart for harm reduction, the pair is about as opposite as two people can be. Michelle exudes elegance with a powdered face and coiffed hair that somehow survive even in the god-awfullest North Carolina humidity. Her partner is more salt-of-the-earth.“I did the make-up and heels thing when I was young…somebody should have stopped me,” Karen laughs.The yin to the other’s yang, the two married in a private ceremony in 2009 where they exchanged olive branches instead of rings, thus creating what would become their joint life’s work, The Olive Branch Ministry.Olive Branch is not your typical faith-based outreach organization—and not just because its founders are an interracial queer couple spreading the word of Jesus in the Deep South. True to the tenets of harm reduction, whose guiding philosophy is “meet people where they are at,” Karen and Michelle serve without pretense or expectation.“We say faith is why we do [this work], but it’s not what we do,” Michelle explains to me over the phone. “If someone asks us to pray for them, we will pray for people…We take the message of harm reduction to faith communities…but we don’t evangelize.”During afternoon outreach with Karen, she utters not a whisper about faith. And yet, if God’s love for others were perfume, you’d smell her coming from blocks away. Helping others comes as naturally to her as breathing. Several times during our conversation she offers to assist me personally with everything from community partnerships to my writing career, and after I mention casually I’ll be traveling abroad soon, she offers me money to buy a goat or chicken for a family in need.Morning to evening, nearly seven days a week, Karen and Michelle endure taxing commutes to bring harm reduction services to drug users in North Carolina’s hard-hit, rural areas. They ask nothing in return for their services. In fact, they seem critical of faith-based groups who use community outreach programs as a carrot to boost membership.“It’s hard to be trusted in a neighborhood like this [because people think] everyone wants to take them to church,” Karen explains, adding that this is why she maintains such a low-key presence on outreach. Instead of rolling up in a van stashed with free giveaways, she roams the streets where people can see her, offering nothing but a greeting unless she is asked.The Intersection Between Faith Communities and Harm ReductionThe Olive Branch Ministry’s approach could serve as an example for how faith-based communities and harm reduction can work together. The relationship is not always harmonious: some in the faith community accuse harm reductionists of enabling drug use or not doing enough to discourage problematic behavior. Conversely, many harm reductionists criticize faith groups for the hypocrisy of claiming to serve “the least of these” while refusing to help drug users, who belong to one of the most stigmatized and marginalized of all groups. Even when faith-based organizations do offer assistance, some peddle a strict, abstinence-only agenda or approach outreach with an attitude that appears to place more importance on gathering lost souls into the flock than on addressing people’s immediate needs.But despite the tenuous history between the groups, there is much cause for hope. Across the country, faith-based groups like The Olive Branch Ministry, Judson Memorial Church in New York City, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Arkansas, the national Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition, and many more are forming active partnerships with harm reduction groups. Other organizations, including the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and National Council on Jewish Women have publicly proclaimed their support for harm reduction programs.The relationship between the faith community and harm reduction shows promise and room for growth. Especially in the South where faith is so important and drug users have so few services, these alliances are critical to stem the tide of deaths and disease caused by an unregulated drug supply, draconian laws, lack of sterile equipment, dearth of adequate treatment, stigma, and misunderstanding about what causes drug use to become problematic for many people.“I feel that faith communities in general think that harm reductionists are a bunch of left wing radicals,” says Michelle. “They think that we will come in and demand that the church hold drug user union meetings and do syringe exchange, but they don’t realize that we meet the congregation where they are…we figure out where they are comfortable and [decide] how to go from there.”Harm reduction groups and faith communities need to work together rather than at cross-purposes in order to reach and help as many people as possible. It's not always easy to find common ground; an olive branch is a good place to start.

[prokred]

HVAC Air Filters from Sears PartsDirect

The single, most-effective thing homeowners can do to keep their HVAC running smoothly is to replace the air filter on a regular schedule. Dirty air filters restrict airflow which can lead to a variety of issues. If your HVAC is having problems or isn’t operating as expected, start by checking the air filter.

Stuff Lawyers Made us Say: We’re partnering with Sears PartsDirect to provide candid opinions of their products and services. Sears PartsDirect is providing product and compensation; however, the opinions we express here are our own. Remember, we’ll always be upfront with you when we’re receiving a free product, compensation, or both. And of course, we always strive for objectivity in our reviews.

A dirty air filter reduces the efficiency of your HVAC system, causing it to work harder to maintain the temperature in your home. That can impact the lifespan of your equipment resulting in costly repairs. Not only does a clean air filter save energy, it also results in improved air quality.

Choosing the Right HVAC Air Filter

It’s important to choose the right air filter for your system. That means purchasing air filters that are the correct size and type. Not all HVAC units are designed to accommodate the pleated filters to remove allergens, and the wrong filter can result in issues with static pressure or even freezing from lack of air flow. Check your owners manual to see which air filter is right for your system.

Sears PartsDirect has a helpful tool for comparing HVAC air filters. They carry a variety of brands such as BMC Air Flow and DuPont at great prices.

How Often Should I Replace my Air Filter?

Most air filters include information about how often they need to be replaced, and a typical air filter should be swapped out every 1 – 3 months. Regularly replacing your air filter removes all the particles like dust, mites, pollen and pet dander from your home. Consider changing your HVAC air filter after major home projects like refinishing hardwood floors or anything that creates significant dust.

Save on HVAC Air Filters

Sears PartsDirect makes it easy to order replacement air filters. In fact, you can get free shipping just by opting-in to the Automatic Reorder Program. The program makes it quick and convenient to replace air filters and maintain your HVAC system.

Read more http://ift.tt/2nLnVZj Areas served: Winston-Salem, High Point, Yadkinville, Mocksville, Advance, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro, Walnut Cove, Statesville, NC, North Carolina Services: House painting, roofing, deck building, landscaping, Carpentry, Flooring, tile, hardwood, remodeling, home improvement, interior, exterior

[winstonsalempainting]

World Toilet Day brings attention to local sewer system

Lastly, homeowners can strengthen city sewers by scheduling a regular cleaning of their property's sewer lateral with a local, licensed plumbing ... Read more http://ift.tt/2AOA80X Areas served: Winston-Salem, High Point, Yadkinville, Mocksville, Advance, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro, Walnut Cove, Statesville, NC, North Carolina Services: House painting, roofing, deck building, landscaping, Carpentry, Flooring, tile, hardwood, remodeling, home improvement, interior, exterior

[homejacksite]

Grill Maintenance with Sears PartsDirect

You may recall that last month we kicked off a partnership with Sears PartsDirect sharing lawn mower maintenance tips. This month we’re taking a look at grilling, and Sears PartsDirect is a great resource for many different brands of grills. Keep your barbeque grill and smoker cooking like new with troubleshooting tips, online manuals, and replacement parts from Sears PartsDirect.

Stuff Lawyers Made us Say: We’re partnering with Sears PartsDirect to provide candid opinions of their products and services. Sears PartsDirect is providing product and compensation; however, the opinions we express here are our own. Remember, we’ll always be upfront with you when we’re receiving a free product, compensation, or both. And of course, we always strive for objectivity in our reviews.

Clean Your Grill

I’ve enjoyed cooking on my Weber grill for over 15 years. During that time I’ve replaced the grates and flavorizer tents. However, everything else is original. My secret is regular cleaning, and I mean more than just scraping the grates. Gas grills require regular maintenance on the grates, flavorizer tents, burners, burner box and more. Not only will you ensure your grill is functional, you’ll avoid dangerous grease fires. Sears PartsDirect has a great article and video on how to clean a gas grill. Check it out at that link.

Replacement Parts

If a good cleaning doesn’t solve all your grill issues, it may be time to consider some replacement parts. Sears PartsDirect carries replacement parts for just about every grill make and model. Whether you need a new burner, igniter, or grease tray, Sears PartsDirect has you covered. Click here to check out the grill and smoker parts.

Fall Outdoor Grilling

Here in Maryland, the weather is starting to turn, and it’s beginning to feel like fall. Sears PartsDirect offers some fun tips for grilling fall vegetables like squash and portabella mushrooms. You can also try grilling fruits like pears and figs which are great with grilled meats or mixed green salads. Check out the full article on fall outdoor grilling from Sears PartsDirect.

Read more http://ift.tt/2kNMLWH Areas served: Winston-Salem, High Point, Yadkinville, Mocksville, Advance, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro, Walnut Cove, Statesville, NC, North Carolina Services: House painting, roofing, deck building, landscaping, Carpentry, Flooring, tile, hardwood, remodeling, home improvement, interior, exterior

[nchomeimprovement]

Planning the Pub Shed!

I’ve been hinting at this for a while, but I have enough of the plan* together to finally share: I’m building a pub shed!

*As much as anyone would call something I do a “plan”

The “Shed” Part

The idea for this has been in my head for a while (and on a paper for a shorter while), but let’s face it: I need more DIY space — especially for tools and garden storage. The one-car garage I have is packed full all the time with the mower, gardening materials, woodworking tools, paint, and more. Even though I try as best I can to keep it organized(ish… meh) by cleaning it out once a year, that still means I spend a lot of time looking for the things I need in a very tight space (you would think losing things in a smaller space would be less frequent, but… nope).

As you can probably imagine — someone who blogs about DIY as much as I do — this is a less than ideal situation. Even adding better storage solutions like my DIY pegboard wall and (coughcough) temporary lumber rack have improved, but not solved, this conundrum.

It is increasingly difficult to find room for stuff like this.

The “Pub” Part

The “pub” part of these pub plans is a relatively new concept. Originally, I was thinking I’d add a small pop-out window to one side of my shed as a small greenhouse-type area: cover it in glass, place it on a side that gets a lot of sun, and use it to start seedlings or propagating my hydrangeas. But, after one of my regular lunches with Dad, he passed along a copy of Family Handyman that included this project, and it included a shed with one side for entertaining!

via Family Handyman

The second I saw the idea, I wanted to make something like that for my own — especially since I’m planning on upgrading my seating space near the house (a platform deck next to the smaller concrete one, that also creates a flow to the new fire pit) and adding string lights that connect the various different “zones”…

This is a really insane sketch, but it includes basically all the stuff you’ve seen me working on this year: the garden beds, the corner garden, the hedge along the back, the fire pit, and more on the way!

While the shed I’m planning on building isn’t nearly as big as the one FH published (nor will it include quite as many extra windows and such), I love the idea of a counter and seating area that can be used for any number of things (from potting bench to serving area).

The DIY Part

I’ve always wanted to learn more about woodworking. Learn framing. Be better at picturing the insides of the walls I’m always messing with. Overall, I want to also increase my knowledge on the kinds of tools I don’t really use as much for interior DIYs (like a roofing nailer?!?! BRING IT ON!). I learned a little by volunteering in Habitat for Humanity events, but I know that there is still so much more fun stuff I could be doing and learning. So, after months of trying to think of where best to put it, what it might look like, the hoops I might have to jump through to get it, I’m going for it! I am building it from scratch (not using a shed-building kit), and I will share as I go, warts and all (and I’m sure, a few mistakes).   

This is one of the bigger (and more costly) DIYs I’ve ever wanted to do, so I’m going to have some first-time learning curves ahead. Also, obviously, it’s something I’ve had to save up for. If you’ve noticed the increase in my sponsored projects on the site over the last few months, this is one of the main reasons I’ve taken them on (the summer is usually when I wind up working with more sponsors, so I wanted to funnel some of that to immediately start planning for this!). I’ve already seen what the kinds of costs are to have one custom built by ordering, so I’m hoping the DIY is also going to be more budget-friendly.

Since this is going to be a much bigger project, it will be isolated as its own series (look for “Pub Shed” as the category on posts for updates). As you guys might have seen in some of my Instagram shares or updates about the back yard, I’ve already begun the process to try to make it into a reality. More specific details (now that I’ve actually announced the first round of plans with this post) will be upcoming, including building the base (it’s not fully “in” yet, so that will have its own post when it is).

The bearded dude (I feel like maybe he needs a nickname by now) has been a big help on it so far — he’s mainly the one with the previous construction skills and does this kind of 3D rendering all the time for his day job as an engineer, so you might be seeing glimpses of his help as well as we go through the build process:

Planning (changes to plans, such as how to accommodate the bar area with extending the roof OR making its own overhang, whether the opening should create windows or a completely closed space, etc.)

Building and leveling the foundation (I decided against a concrete slab like I did with the trash bins)

Framing

Roofing

Adding the exterior finishes

Building/installing the door

All the pub-related and entertaining area details

Gardening around the exterior

Interior finishes (TBD)

But anyway, I’m excited. Thrilled. All of the happy emojis. Charlie’s excited too — she keeps sniffing all the stuff we’re digging up and moving around! More soon, friends! Building anything lately?

P.S. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irma hit my area and knocked out power, downed a few trees, (one fell on a neighbor’s car down the street!), blocked my neighborhood’s entrance, etc. but the UDH was thankfully fine (I just have a few extra downed limbs to chop up for the new fire pit). I hope those of you impacted are, above all, safe — including your pets. And I’ll be saying a prayer for those who weren’t as lucky. Thanks for those of you who have sent comments my way via social media. 

The post Planning the Pub Shed! appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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[prokred]

The Saddest Little Guest Bedroom, Probably Ever (and Video!)

Hi. My name is Sarah, and I have a sad guest bedroom. Possibly, the saddest little guest bedroom of all time.

Even though other rooms in this house have been easy contenders for Longest Room Renovation Of All Time, the guest bedroom IS THE WINNER, in my opinion. Not because there aren’t still other rooms that need to be finished with a capital F, but because it’s never been functional. Other rooms have managed to still serve their purposes (somewhat) as I’ve worked on them, leaving my guest bedroom as my dark little secret. It has mostly served as a dumping ground for all of the things I have never had a place for (also things I intended to haul away to Goodwill, miscellaneous electronics, dog stuff, etc.), and to be honest, I haven’t really cared about it for very selfish reasons. Who could blame me, though? When you’re remodeling, you don’t invite people over. It’s too embarrassing and easier just to hide behind a closed door. So, with no guests invited, there were no guests to need their own bedroom… just extra space to “temporarily” put all of my Christmas decorations so I didn’t have to look at them anymore.

As luck would have it, I was visiting my pals in North Carolina recently while my boyfriend decided it was the perfect time to surprise me with cleaning it out. One, because he’s a neat freak and simply couldn’t take it anymore; two, because I was already taking out the Christmas decor and needing it for the holidays; and three, not having to clean something is totally one of my love languages.

I have been talking to K about remodeling the guest bedroom for the last few months. With the main level of the house now clean and remodeled enough to regularly invite friends over for dinner, the option of also having a nice guest bedroom seems like the next logical step when I consider the overall guest-friendliness of my home (Atlanta is a driving city as are most of the suburbs, so it always means someone needs to be DD or pay for rideshare if alcohol is involved, and I most definitely ply my friends and family with booze in my role as host… fire pits are just more fun that way!).

So, as far as guest bedroom friendliness goes… I have plenty of room to step up my game, here. With the recent cleanup, I also got an opportunity to take these before photos (I’ve learned just to shoot the room in lots of different angles just in case the before and after looks especially good from one side).

There are a few ideas I’ve been kicking around that I really think could do well in here, and I’d LOVE to get your thoughts on this blank space too, since there are a lot of decisions to be made:

“The Saddest Guest Bedroom” Improvement Plan (ish):

Paint… I’m not sure if I want to repaint or not. Or maybe add cool molding? This is a variation of a common color I’ve used throughout the house, but this particular version looks great on two walls and really terrible on the other two because of the light from the window and overhead light.

Speaking of overhead lighting, I think a ceiling fan would do best in here, but I hate the look of most ceiling fans. It will probably take a while to find the right fit.

In terms of my romantic life (and life in general), there are more people and dogs in it. Charlie has had a monopoly on this room as “hers” for a really long time (not planned, of course, but it also explains why she was curious about me being in the room in the video below). So, I’d like to make this room more friendly for K’s needs given how much time he spends over at my house now. Similar to how I work around the clock and on weekends, it’s not unusual for him to bring his work and computer over. The guest bedroom is the easiest space to use for this, since I work virtually everywhere else.

Even though the room is a “guest bedroom”, the actual need for it to be used as a bedroom is a much smaller piece of the room utility pie. So, if the bed itself could be tucked away somehow when not in use (such as a really awesome Murphy bed build like The DIY Village did below), that would be great. Even better if we could make the underside a couch when not in use. It would be a VERY ambitious project, but a perfect thing to try to figure out as winter limits my outdoor shed-building activities.

Adding in bookshelves on either side of the bed would also be great for displaying K’s vintage camera collection, my vintage maps, and photos from travels (how cool would that look???).

As many of you know, I run on a semi-regular basis with a group of my friends and would love to have a designated spot indoors for my related workouts. I think a foldaway area right in the corner (behind the door, so the least likely area you’d see when you walked in) would be perfect for a small set of shelves for the workout gear and yoga mat.

Finally, the remaining wall/corner could be a shelf/desk combo option where one of the shelves might slide/flip out at desk level to have double-duty but not stick out when not in use. Another DIY custom build idea, but another idea that makes my power tool arm itch with anticipation.

So… totally likely to happen quickly, right? Ha. It’ll inch by as my room realities always do, but if part of the issue with having a blank slate of a room like this is having a plan and the desire to get it done, I’d say I at least have that now!

“The Saddest Guest Bedroom” Video Tour

Since I’ve been trying to make good on my promise to do more video as I move along with these rooms and projects, here’s a quick “before” guest bedroom tour so you can take in all of its blandness. Charlie makes a cameo, of course (because whenever I make a video, she is curious why I’m talking by myself and assumes I must be doing something she needs to investigate). This is my first time embedding this particular video type into one of my posts, so if it doesn’t play or you aren’t seeing it in your feed, be sure to click over to the post or to Youtube if you have trouble and let me know!

Got any of your own thoughts on this room? I’d love to hear it!

The post The Saddest Little Guest Bedroom, Probably Ever (and Video!) appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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[winstonsalempainting]

Guide for Easy Gutter Installation

Gutter installation — as a cost-effective do-it-yourself project — can be completed within a day or two.

Properly installed gutters protect your property investment. Without an applied drainage system, rain has the power to wear down a home’s surrounding soil, damage its foundation, flood the basement or crawl space and seep into siding.

Once water is introduced into any of these locations, the consequential mold is costly to remove and may be dangerous. With roof supply or big box store materials and a few basic tools, you can add gutters to your home using this step-by-step guide.

Prepare for Purchase

Before heading to the store consider whether you want to use vinyl or aluminum gutter. Vinyl is less expensive and easier to install. Pieces snap and click together into place. Aluminum is more durable long-term and pieces are joined together with crimping seamers.

Next, it’s helpful to draw the perimeter of your roof line and include measurements. This “map” allows you to approximate gutter length and the number of brackets, elbows and downspouts. You can also indicate elbow direction and downspout location.

Consider buying more material than necessary. Unused items can always be returned once installation is complete. You know how disruptive a supplemental mid-project trip to the store can be.

You will need:

Gutter length

Downspout

Elbows

End pieces — Specify right or left.

Brackets

1/8” rivets

Hex head screws — 1 1/4” for gutter and downspout, 1/4” zippers for elbows.

Sealant — Silicone adhesive is fine. Specialized gutter sealant may be pricey.

Why zipper screws? They make it easier to pop elbows out for seasonal cleaning.

Gather Your Tools

This job requires an extension ladder, drill and rivet gun. The drill can either be electric or hand. If you are hanging aluminum gutters, you’ll also need tin snips and a crimper.

Mark Gutter Placement

Determine height along your roofline.  It���s important that the gutter hang low enough to catch rainwater. If your gutter is placed too high, rainwater will spill over it.

A good rule of practice is to place a level along the slope of your roof, extending over the edge. Position gutter in the space below.

Allow for pitch, which is the downward slope rainwater runs through the system. Approximately 1/16th of an inch decline per foot is standard. Mark pitch with beginning and end nails connected by string on the soffit.

Pitch measurement can vary. As long as water runs down a regular slope, drainage will be successful.

Construct Gutter Line

This step is easier to do on the ground. Connect pieces, if necessary, for entire length of area to be covered. Place adhesive sealing on ends and connections. Aluminum gutters will require crimping along each seam. Measure and cut holes for each downspout location.

Hang and Connect

Drill brackets in regular intervals along roofline, matching your pitch alignment. Hang the gutter, snapping securely into brackets. Connect your elbows and downspouts.

This step is much like putting together a puzzle. Don’t be afraid to alter your original plan if you see ways for improving water flow and drainage once the system is in place.

Determine Catch System

Water collected by your drainage system should safely clear the house and immediate soil base. Ways of accomplishing this include:

Placement of stones under the downspout to encourage slow ground seepage.

Use of a barrel or other collection vessel to hold water for re-use.

Catch basin “kits” available from garden and landscape outlets.

Consider Flashing

Flashing is a metal sheet which fits under the shingles on the edge of a roofline. Depending on the size and shape of your soffit, flashing installation may be a warranted additional step. Flashing further assures that water falls seamlessly into your drainage system without pausing long enough to seep into structure walls.

Keep Your Eye on Maintenance

Whatever drainage system you install, be sure to check and clear regularly. You’ve worked hard on this project, and regular maintenance should go a long way towards keeping it working perfectly!

The post Guide for Easy Gutter Installation appeared first on Homey Improvements.

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[homejacksite]

Grill Maintenance with Sears PartsDirect

You may recall that last month we kicked off a partnership with Sears PartsDirect sharing lawn mower maintenance tips. This month we’re taking a look at grilling, and Sears PartsDirect is a great resource for many different brands of grills. Keep your barbeque grill and smoker cooking like new with troubleshooting tips, online manuals, and replacement parts from Sears PartsDirect.

Stuff Lawyers Made us Say: We’re partnering with Sears PartsDirect to provide candid opinions of their products and services. Sears PartsDirect is providing product and compensation; however, the opinions we express here are our own. Remember, we’ll always be upfront with you when we’re receiving a free product, compensation, or both. And of course, we always strive for objectivity in our reviews.

Clean Your Grill

I’ve enjoyed cooking on my Weber grill for over 15 years. During that time I’ve replaced the grates and flavorizer tents. However, everything else is original. My secret is regular cleaning, and I mean more than just scraping the grates. Gas grills require regular maintenance on the grates, flavorizer tents, burners, burner box and more. Not only will you ensure your grill is functional, you’ll avoid dangerous grease fires. Sears PartsDirect has a great article and video on how to clean a gas grill. Check it out at that link.

Replacement Parts

If a good cleaning doesn’t solve all your grill issues, it may be time to consider some replacement parts. Sears PartsDirect carries replacement parts for just about every grill make and model. Whether you need a new burner, igniter, or grease tray, Sears PartsDirect has you covered. Click here to check out the grill and smoker parts.

Fall Outdoor Grilling

Here in Maryland, the weather is starting to turn, and it’s beginning to feel like fall. Sears PartsDirect offers some fun tips for grilling fall vegetables like squash and portabella mushrooms. You can also try grilling fruits like pears and figs which are great with grilled meats or mixed green salads. Check out the full article on fall outdoor grilling from Sears PartsDirect.

Read more http://ift.tt/2kNMLWH Areas served: Winston-Salem, High Point, Yadkinville, Mocksville, Advance, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro, Walnut Cove, Statesville, NC, North Carolina Services: House painting, roofing, deck building, landscaping, Carpentry, Flooring, tile, hardwood, remodeling, home improvement, interior, exterior

[homejacksite]

Towson library getting new <b>roof</b> but keeping regular hours

Though construction cannot be seen from street-level yet, contractors have started cleaning and vacuuming sediment on the roof and are continuing ... Read more http://ift.tt/2xXj5eL Areas served: Winston-Salem, High Point, Yadkinville, Mocksville, Advance, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro, Walnut Cove, Statesville, NC, North Carolina Services: House painting, roofing, deck building, landscaping, Carpentry, Flooring, tile, hardwood, remodeling, home improvement, interior, exterior