#3pennyjane

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Post office bounty! I’m finally cognitively together enough to actually manage this :D 

Top image, clockwise from upper left:

A pyramid of owls from @bookfanatic which DID arrive by Christmas but which I did not photograph in time for it :D Thank you! 

An awesome vintage car from @kimmiesue13 -- love the stamps you sent too! I saved them inside the card :D

The “Catmas tree” is from @howshouldibegin; the kittens and I both thank you!

The green tree card and the lovely tiny cross-stitch are from @wynjara -- what a wonderful ornament to add to my tree, thank you! 

The pretty red berries card is from Daniel, I’m so glad you enjoy the fic and thanks for being such a long-term loyal reader! (And yes, I am enjoying the deck -- especially showing it off to my envious goth friends :D) 

The Magritte-esque cardinal adn bowler hat is from @3pennyjane, thank you! The Hogfather was kind to me this year :) (LOL SEASON’S MAGRITTE-INGS)

The Llama card and awesome Dummy sticker are from @nonsenseandstuff -- Dummy is going straight onto my laptop!

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is from L and kitty Ripley -- I love the format of card you chose, so imaginative! 

And finally, the stirring mouse is from @mooseman13579 -- thanks Ishmael! I love it. Might hang it in my kitchen. 

Second image (inadvertently themed on “Blues”), clockwise from upper left: 

The tower of green cats is from Lisa -- what a great picture, thank you!

The galactic kitty sticker and glittery snow flakes are from @delphie200, and that’s another sticker going directly onto the laptop! 

Feline Navidad cracked my shit up, thank you Kris & Josh! 

The snowy owl with the narrow look is from Wendy -- it’s a wonderful Chanukkah card :D 

The “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” card is partially obscured just to make sure nobody’s face got shown who shouldn’t, but thank you Hutts for a lovely photo card! (You have SO MANY FISH.)

And finally, the pipe-smoker in the winter wonderland is from @crimson-creature, who also wrote an amazing poem on the inside of the card. I don’t know if you have it posted anywhere but if you don’t you should share it! 

The third image is a package from @winds-wanderer; I LOVE the Lunch Money pouch and the postcards, and I’m pretty sure you sent the origami (but if not do let me know -- it got separated from its family in my bag :D). I’m planning to hang up the postcards at work! 

And lastly, thank you for your patience, the wonderful tartan bird card and “Fuctifano” coaster (OH MY GOD) are from Rua M; I plan to feature the coasters at my next get-together. Meanwhile, the awesome chocolates and postcard and neat brochure from Hawaii, the blessed candy and the new Ofuda, are from @janedrewfinally. I have to say I’m especially grateful for the Ofuda, since the cats managed to PULL DOWN AND EAT my previous one. I’m hanging this one higher on the wall. :D 

Thank you so much, everyone, for your wonderful cards and gifts. I know it always takes me some time to share them but I do love getting mail and I read and enjoy every single card I receive! You guys bring a lot of joy to my mornings.

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Answers About DIY

rsfcommonplace replied to your photo “Masking tape...”

Decorative edge trim or unexpected googly eyes as disguise? 

I do feel like I should maybe paint it black and when someone asks about it go “what black-filled crack in the paint?”

meatball42 replied to your photo “Masking tape...”

My mom (former house painter) says a) use blue painters tape instead and b) if you can't, take the cutting tape off as soon as it won't make the paint run to do so

Oh, that was blue painter’s tape -- but unfortunately I realized after that “sharp edge” blue painters tape really means “sticks extra hard to whatever you stick it on”  :D Fortunately most of the rest of that roll is stuck to metal without paint on it, and most of the stuff stuck to paint is normal painter’s tape. 

amazon-x replied to your photo “Masking tape...”

you're going to have to sand and Spackle that.

That was my first thought! “Goddamn now I gotta spackle the ceiling.” 

I should have just bought the big bucket of spackle. I’m on small tub of spackle #3. On the other hand, once you use up the spackle and give the tub a wipe-down, it makes a handy cup for paint when you’re doing detail work. 

altheterrible replied to your photoset “Before and after....”

when I was looking at the before pic, I tried to wipe my laptop screen because I couldn't figure out what was all over it. The wall looks MUCH better now.

It’s amazing how much nicer the place looks just with the stains on the walls painted out. There were so many of them too. I have genuine concerns about the people who lived there before I bought it -- like, what exactly were they doing that the wall has a big black stain there?”

clockways replied to your post “Every post you make...”

If you give it a good clean, the wood color would be nice with the green already. Or just cut place mats the size of the steps if you're worried about water from plants.

niennanir replied to your photo “Services being held...”

the more I look at this ladder the more I don't want you to paint it. Sand that baby down and epoxy it, it's got gorgeous bones

It does look good in some of those photos, doesn’t it? It’s just so covered in grossness -- the wood looks nice, but the rungs and such looks pretty disgusting up close, and there’s what might be a rust issue with some of the hardware. I’m still considering it, and I might just paint the rungs, but it definitely could do with something to cover up all the weird stains.

Admittedly some of those weird stains are from me putting paintbrushes on it. 

sailorsol replied to your photo “Services being held...”

Can you bless rollers too? I start set build next weekend for our spring production and I do not have undergrad slave labor.

I BLESS YOUR ROLLERS AND YOUR TRAYS, may you spill nothing and have no lower back pain.

tehnakki replied to your post “re: getting a new thermostat...”

my nest changed my life!!!! wifi thermostats are amazeballs. and they are super easy to install, but txt me if yo need help.

Yeah, I’m big time excited at the idea of an app that can program my thermostat. And this one, while not a Nest, apparently has a doodad where if you go outside a certain geographic range it automatically senses that you’re on vacation and goes into “nobody home” mode, which is amazing. 

catinthecoop replied to your post “re: getting a new thermostat...”

I don't have a nest, but I managed to install a fancy wifi thermostat twice. Once in a 60s era apartment and once in a 50s era remodeled house. You should be fine. Just TAKE A PICTURE of the original wiring before you start. I cannot emphasize that enough. Once you’re knee deep in wires is not the time to realize you goofed.

Very sensible advice, other people have said similar. Plus that way I can share with you all the gross crusty one that’s there now before my nice new one is put in! :D 

niennanir replied to your post “In your refurb quest...”

peel and stick vinyl tile is heat and wear resistant, stupid easy to install, and in many patterns less than $1 a foot. It's a great choice if you want to do something fresh but don't want to lay down a ton of money. It won't do a lot for your resale value but if you want to put off professional reflooring for a good 10 years it's peachy.

I do think there’s probably enough left in the box I found to do the kitchen...I’m wondering how hard it would be to pull up the tiles that are there now. Perhaps it’s time to grab a chisel and investigate! 

3pennyjane replied to your post “In your refurb quest for your new place, have you looked into the...”

Jezebel did an article on DIY vinyl tape flooring. It looks like a fair amount of work, but it’s inexpensive and not out of your skill set. Here for instructions and here for an example that doesn’t make the eyes bleed.

I was gonna say, that first one is VIVID. 

I can’t deny that it looks like a lot of fun, but my knees are whining just thinking about it :D 

onceuponacupoftea replied to your photo “The last of Murder Wall.”

Can you stand figurines on the top of the bottom frame piece? Make a little tableau with it?

I think I’m going to go with my original idea of putting hooks in and hanging my keys on them -- this is YET ANOTHER Chicago condo with a door that you literally can’t set to unlock. No matter what you do to the knob, if the door closes behind you it locks. So like in the place I’m in now, I want to make sure the last thing I see before I open the door are my keys, as a reminder to take them with me. How better to remind me than a big red square where they hang? :D