Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

I have started refinishing my kitchen cabinets and after much research and confidence, I finally have the process down to a T. I am actually enjoying the process and seems to be the perfect project when you can only spend an hour or two at a time. Currently I have old, dark stained Oak cabinets with a shiny, waxy gloss finish. I am painting these cabinets "Abby White." Here's what I have learned.

1. Clean cabinets with TSP cleaner.
2. Strip Cabinets...I am using a Citrus Paint Stripper.
3. Carefully scrape off stripper residue with a putty knife or similar item. Wipe clean.
4. Steel wool and Lacquer thinner the entire surface ...this gets rid of any dark spots the stripper left behind and overall cleans the surface perfectly. I would not leave out this process.
5. Sand cabinets smooth, wipe clean. Clean nooks out with toothpicks or whatever works to get out any leftover steel wool and stripper in the corners.
6. Apply a sealer/primer. Let dry overnight.
7 Sand smooth again. Wipe clean.
8. Apply first coat of paint. Let dry overnight.
9. Apply second coat. Let dry overnight. Apply third coat if needed.
10. Buy new hardware, and rehang.

I skipped the paint stripper process , but continued with all other steps on the thin wood cabinet facing that is mounted to the kitchen walls, and on the backs of the cabinets. I will see overtime if it made a difference, but I assumed the facing would get the most traffic and should be done completely for best results.

American Girl

My4 year old daughter has been hooked on this web game on and off for some time now.

The background music is tolerable too.

Check it out.

US Airways Service to Pittsburgh - August

Again, for those who are effected by the flight cuts in July to and from Pittsburgh, don't fret the flight schedule with resume back to 3 round trips in August.

The flight schedule with be as follows:
Beginning Sunday the 19th of August 2007 and every Sunday thereafter until further notice:

Flight 4380 Departing Pittsburgh at 12:05p arriving in Erie at 12:51p.
Flight 4380 Departing Erie at 1:20p arriving in Pittsburgh 2:09p.

Flight 3991 Departing Pittsburgh at 3:15p arriving in Erie 3:56p.
Flight 3892 Departing Erie at 4:25p arriving in Pittsburgh at 5:08p.

Beginning Monday the 20th of August thru Friday the 24th of August and lasting every Monday-Friday until further notice:
Same schedule as Sundays with one early morning addition and one late night arrival addition:

Flight 4389 Departing Erie at 6:10a arriving in Pittsburgh at 7:01a.
Flight 4384 Departing Pittsburgh at 8:40p arriving in Erie at 9:27p.

Beginning Saturday the 25th of August and every Saturday until further notice:
Flight 4389 Departing Erie at 6:10a arriving in Pittsburgh at 7:01a.

Happy Travels!

Love Yourself First

To love yourself is the number one thing that your children will learn from you. Your children are waiting for you to love yourself, it's the most important life lesson you can give them.

Love yourself.

US Airways Service to Pittsburgh

I just want to clarify for anyone who is concerned or affected by the flight cuts from Erie to Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh to Erie, effective the 7th July to the 19th August.

These flights cuts are temporary as I have checked in US Airways reservation system.

I have listed the new flight schedules below:

Every Monday thru Friday from the 9th of July to the 17th of August:

FLIGHT 3991: Departing Pittsburgh at 3:15p arriving in Erie at 3:56p.
FLIGHT 3892: Departing Erie at 4:25p arriving in Pittsburgh at 5:08p.

All Saturdays from the 14th of July to the 18th of August:
No flights arriving or departing to Pittsburgh.

Every Sunday from the 8th of July to the 12th of August:
FLIGHT 4390: Departing Pittsburgh at 8:35a arriving in Erie at 9:21a
FLIGHT 4390: Departing Erie at 10:00a arriving in Pittsburgh at 10:49a

FLIGHT 3991: Departing Pittsburgh at 3:15p arriving in Erie at 3:56p
FLIGHT 3892: Departing Erie at 4:25p arriving in Pittsburgh at 5:08p.

After the 20th of August, the flight schedule will be modified, check back soon for an updated flight schedule.

Small Town Circle of Friends

Since I was raised here in Erie, I have a number of friends in all areas of town.

Friends from high school, friends from work, friends of friends, husbands friends, children's friends, and so on and so on.

The thing I find most often, is that everyone knows someone that I know and if you dig deep enough you too will have someone in common.

Everyone says "small town", but the truth in the matter is that you will find that everywhere you go and that's what makes this town great. I hear everyone knows somebody that knows somebody, every 6 people.

I love that.

Dianthus

I recently learned that pinking shears were named after the perennial flower Dianthus.
It appears that the edges of this pink flower are cut with pinking shears, but actually pinking shears were patented in 1893 and got their name from the flower.