Wrought Iron Urns and Taking Advantage of Sales and Cash Back

I have been wanting/needing two of these 28 inch tall large wrought irons urns for the last 2 years.

After seeing one on Pinterest, that was filled with little pumpkins, I knew I wanted/needed two of these.  But first... I needed to find out where I could buy them online.  I searched on and off for about 6 months before I found them. 

I put the two urns in my cart on eBay and waited until they either went on sale, offered free shipping (these are heavy and heavy=$$$), or there was an increase in eBay Bucks or Ebates.

Almost a year later during the Christmas holiday of 2018, I received a code from eBay Bucks that for 2 days I could get 10% back in eBay Bucks.  I then checked Ebates and they were offering 2%.  So I pulled the trigger and bought them.

The price for two was $259.90 + $97.90 for shipping.  Not cheap inexpensive but they are very heavy and well made and they were exactly what I wanted.  I saved $5.20 on Ebates and $25.99 in eBay Bucks for a total savings of $31.19.  The shipping was a lot but when I buy heavy stuff I know that the shipping cost is going to be brutal.

On January 1st eBay Bucks paid out and issued a code for me to save $34.56 on any eBay item or items totalling $34.56.  I currently have $78.12 pending on Ebates and I think they send out their Big Fat checks in February.  So signing up for these free programs do have an upside depending on how much you buy online.   

These urns comes in a lot of colors including just a clear coat over the metal or in a rusty condition. The eBay seller also offers other items in metal including wrought iron gates. 

If you like the large cast iron urns (in freezing conditions you need to protect cast iron urns so that the dirt doesn't freeze/expand and then crack the cast iron) but need something that can handle being left outside all winter, then check out these urns.  I think that these could also work well with a modern style home.

I haven't decided whether I am going to use a coco mat and fill with dirt and geraniums OR fill it with my collection of round rocks (fist size and larger) in the summer and little pumpkins, gourds, and squash in the fall, and then faux small spruce trees in the winter.

I am getting anxious to plant flowers and paint the back of the house.  The fact that we are only 1 month into winter is a real bummer.

Sign up for Ebates and get a $10 gift card of your choice after spending 20 bucks using Ebates.  There are over 2K online sites that participates in the program.

Sign up for eBay Bucks by clicking on eBay Bucks on the left side of your summary page.

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Oh My...More Demo of Game Room Ceiling

Today's demo has revealed so many 'DO NOT DO THIS' moments if you are building a roof. 

This photo was taken from the outside looking through the window.

First let me recap just to refresh your memory.  R removed 4 layers of rubber membrane and 4 layers of Homosote from the roof only to reveal a layer of cedar shakes.  Once that layer of cedar shakes were removed, he found another layer of cedar shakes.

We removed the ship lap that was the sheathing for the roof and found that the original rafters were somewhat rotted and did not have enough slope to drain properly.  So someone had added more rafters but did not use hangers to attach to the house.  The lack of hangers and the weight of oh let me count, how many layers......10 layers of miscellaneous materials plus the sheathing caused the newer rafters to pull away from the house and sag at the house.  The sagging caused leaking and the leaking caused additional tar to be slathered EVERYWHERE.   This is textbook cluster.

The only good part is that we salvaged some of the rafters which are Douglas fir and true 2X4's which R loves to use to make studs out of when he repairs a wall.

I finally removed all the nails from the ship lap which is also fir and also removed nails from the salvageable old rafters that were removed.  My wrists are very sore and my right wrist makes a cracking noise when I move it.  Yes, I know.....don't move it.

Tomorrow we need to buy 11 ten foot long 2X6's and 11 joist hangers.  I also want to do a fall concrete project.  My final cost is unbelievably low thanks to a store rewards program and a sale.  Gotta love that!

Also today when I went to Panera to get a green iced tea they told me it was free because I use my Panera rewards card whenever I buy something.  So using those reward cards really do save you money.  

Ebates is another way to save actual cash when purchasing online.  Ebates will send you $$ quarterly in the form of a Big Fat Check.  So far I have saved $858.51 by using Ebates when I purchase online.  

Use this referral and I get a reward and you get $10 in the form of a gift card once you spend $20 while using Ebates.

https://www.ebates.com/r/JANHUN7?eeid=29041&utm_source=extension&utm_medium=raf_link

Some of the stores available for savings at Ebates are eBay, Etsy, Lowes, and several thousand other stores.  Sign up now so that you are ready for your online holiday shopping.

I also use, the handy Ebates Cash Back Button found under Help, then click on More features, and finally click on Ebates Cash Button.  This puts a tiny E up in the top right corner of your screen (same area that the P for Pinterest is located at) and it will remind you when you are visiting a website that gives rebates using the Ebates program.  

And when you are not saving $money$ remember to 

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Gargoyles and Our Downspouts

It was about the same time that I was searching the Internet for a splash block that I came upon a gargoyle for downspouts.  I was excited to find another method to hide the hideous downspout extensions.

Gargoyle en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle

In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or formed grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between. Architects often used multiple gargoyles on buildings to divide the flow of rainwater off the roof to minimize the potential damage from a rainstorm.

The back of our house is fairly close to how it was when we purchased the house in 2004.  We removed a poorly thought out and non-original overhang over the back door and we re poured the step at the back door.  We also removed a large picture window with casement windows on the side.  It wasn't original and was badly rotted.  AND we planted hostas so they could get a foot hold and look good when we finally finish the back of the house.

We have replaced the old eave troughs and downspouts on the house except for the back.  There are two downspouts on the back of the house and both the downspouts and downspout extensions are very obvious and ugly.  So I was quite pleased to find a method to make them look better.  Enter the downspout extension gargoyle.

The gargoyle is cast resin and colored to look like concrete which is perfect for us because we love concrete items.  The gargoyle slips over the end of the downspout extension without the need of a tool. If you have plantings around your downspout extension, you can hide it and have just the gargoyle peeking out from the plantings.

In the photo above the extension is showing, but when we install new eave troughs and downspouts, the extension will be shorter so that you only see the gargoyle peeking out and not the extension.

 Isn't he cute?

The hostas are First Frost with Royal Krossa in the middle. Both have blue instead of green and both varieties have thick leaves.  Always try and buy the thick leave type as they look great right up to the cold weather and frost.  Notice the difference in the other photo.  Those hostas have thin leaves and show stress as soon as it gets hot.  Bugs and slugs eat the leaves and the heat burns the tips and they require more frequent watering.  They actually only look good for a month or so in the spring.  I will replace those hostas when we finish the back of the house.

Search eBay Gargoyle Gutter Spout Downspout Statue Stone and Resin Garden Home.  You will find two styles...Gargoyle and Dragon.

I also found them on Wayfair for almost half the price that I paid.

Don't forget to use Ebates for an additional 2% off.  Click here to sign up and receive a $10 gift card after your first $20.00 purchase.  I am at over $700.00 saved by using my Ebates account when purchasing at participating sites.  I recently purchased an item from an online store and will receive 12% back by using Ebates.  Etsy is currently giving 1% but I have seen it at 2% and 4% before.  eBay can be as low as 2% and occasionally 5%.

Also, make sure when purchasing on eBay that you sign up for eBay Bucks.  I will receive a code worth over $22.00 at the beginning of October.  I can use that code on any eBay purchase, but hopefully something on sale and when Ebates is offering more than 2% back.  Maybe I will buy more hostas!!!!

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Deck Step and Shingle Update

The weather has been very cooperative and we should be farther along but we had a feline problem that we needed to stop and deal with right away.  We have over the course of the last three years found homes for or taken feral cats to a rescue home for what has now become 31 cats.

During the summer we had a cute little grey cat show up at our other house.  We nicknamed her Little Bit and worked on socializing her.  She comes to her name, talks to us, but stays about one foot away all time.  I told R one day that she looked thinner.  He agreed but we didn't think she had kittens because she just wasn't that big.  About 6 weeks later she shows up with two little orange kittens.  Little Bit is slate grey and black but we've seen the daddy a couple of times.  He's a big big orange male who just sits on the edge of our property and looks at us.

Last week R saw one of the kittens across the street where two people were trying to catch it.  He spoke with them later on and they did indeed have the kitten.  He explained the deal and they said they would find it a home.  At this point we knew we needed to nab the other kitten before it tried to cross the road or become coyote food.

Three days later the kitten actually went into the large cage we had set up with a blanket and food.  R closed the door and we were relieved, but now what?  We transferred the large cage to the garage and over the next three days we worked on touching it (we think it is a male), litter training (no problem at all), and making sure it calm around people.

We just didn't have time to find it a home so we took it to a local no kill rescue that we had worked with before.  We gave them a $100 donation and 6 bags of kitty litter and they were thrilled.  The lady told R that the kitten was super cute and it would be absolutely no problem to find it a home.  Yea!!!!

But we still need to catch Little Bit before she get pregnant again.  There is also another cat about the same size as Little Bit that is all black but a little more stand offish.  We think they were litter mates.  So that will be two more cats to find homes for or two more donations.

Long story short....we didn't get much done on Monday.  But we had two good days and made some progress.  I might even try to do a little priming tomorrow and painting on Friday.

The step is complete.  We love how it is deep enough that you don't have to break your stride at all when stepping up and walking through the patio doors.

Tomorrow is our final mowing day of the year.  R can use the zero turn on the rental house and our house, so I can paint while he mows.  I normally mow our house with the traditional lawn tractor but painting is a priority right now.

Today I repainted a metal wreath that I purchased for my mother about 20 years ago.  It was from the Neiman Marcus's catalog.  I loved it because it was different.  The wreath is made out of metal banding.  Originally it was rusty metal but my mother spray painted it in a high gloss black.  Today I sprayed it in a satin black.  I like the satin look better but it was hard to tell the difference in the photos.

Before in gloss black

After in black satin

I also spray painted a decorative bracket that was in my mother's stash.  I don't really recall where she ever used this but I knew right away where I could use it and what I could hang from it.  I have 4 large lanterns hanging on my big trees along my driveway.  They are solar with LED bulbs.  The lantern has what appears to be a pillar candle and the bulb in the candle flickers.  For added brightness there are two LED bulbs in the canopy which have a mirrored finish to reflect more light.  It's amazing how realistic they look.

3960KR1 San Rafael II Solar Mission Lantern

The lanterns I have on the trees are 24 inches high.  I figured that would be too big for the bracket and the location but I tried it anyways.  Yup....too big.  The next size that is offered is 14 inches high and that will be perfect.  

The tall lanterns came from Home Depot and eBay.  The 14 inch tall one was ordered today from eBay for $20.82 plus I will receive 5% back from Ebates and they offered free shipping!!!.  

BTW I just received a cash back quarterly check for $49.84,  Ebates has now upgraded their cash back to include cash back when you purchase instore at certain stores.  You link your credit card to the Ebates site and click on any offer that you might use.  I have a feeling that more stores will offer this in the future so you should have a larger choice as time goes on.

You can sign up for Ebates HERE.  You get $10 once you spend $20 online using Ebates.  They send out checks quarterly.  

To help you remember to activate Ebates before you make a purchase just download the Ebates button to your toolbar and it will prompt you when you go to a site that gives cash back.  I have found that 75% of the sites that I go to offer cash back through Ebates.  eBay, Etsy, Lowes, Macy's, Target, Payless, Toys R Us, are a few of the online stores that offer rebates on Ebates. I have so far received back over $522.00!!!!!

Our cat, Elvis, loves sitting on the bundles of shingles.  Whenever another cat tried to sit on either bundle he swatted at them to go away.

 His sister, Patches, had patience and the minute that Elvis was distracted by a bird on the bird feeder, she copped a flop and hunkered down.

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Buying Pots

LOL....I bet you thought....say what?  I'm talking ceramic and galvanize steel pots.  Not the other pot which Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airman sang about being down to seeds and stems.  This song was a favorite during my freshman year of college.  I'm showing my age, aren't I?

But back to the pots I bought.   I know it is too late in the season to plant these but they are for next year when the deck redo should be finished.  This is the best time to buy such things as it is getting towards the end of the season and they have to make room for snow shovels and such.

I really loved the shape and color of the pots that I bought for the front porch this spring.  It's a traditional shape with a little twist with that raised rib towards the top.  I also like the shiny finish in contrast to my concrete pots.

On my last trip to a local nursery I noticed that they had the pots on sale for 25% off and the selection of black pots was greatly diminished.  So I thought now or never and time to pull the trigger and buy a couple more for next year.  I purchased a larger pot and an additional smaller version.  Then I spied this small round shape black pot with cut outs.  It's an orchid pot but I can cut a piece of coco mat and line it before I fill it with dirt.

FYI I just noticed that the new pots have the raised rib design towards the bottom and the ones on the front porch have the rib towards the top.  So they are the same but not the same.  That's even better.

The other night I stopped by Target to check out their umbrellas (that's another post) and I noticed these two galvanized steel planters in a squared flare design.  I liked them but wasn't sure and left the store. 

All the way home I questioned my decision. When I arrived home I immediately got online and ordered the two planters.  I used in store pick up to save on shipping and Ebates for an additional 2% savings.  I picked them up the next day.

R thinks they look like duct work. LOL I don't think so.  I love the quilted diamond shapes that are lightly impressed in the metal.  

I purchased a set of 3 avocado colored pots at Rite Aid drugstore for 50% off earlier in the summer.  They are ceramic and jardiniere shaped with the same quilted pattern as the galvanized planters.   Rite Aid's online site currently has some cool umbrellas and outdoor pillows for sale. With the Plenti card and the promo code riteaid20 you can get an additional 20% off an online order AND 5% additional savings on Ebates.

Next spring it will be fun to mix and match pots and crank open all my new umbrellas.  Yes, that's umbrellas with an S.  I can't help myself.  R keeps finding these cool umbrella bases so it is my duty to put them to good use.

Tomorrow I'll tell you about what R picked up on his way to the grocery store.  I'm only going to use part of it but it will pair up nicely with an early 1900's piece that I bought at a consignment shop years ago.