DIY Refinishing Oak Stairs-Part 1

Has hell frozen over? Have pigs started flying? I ask because last week I made a purchase that must have happened as a result of one of those two things. Those of you who know me will agree, I'm sure, when I tell what that purchase was.

My Very Own Power Tool

Yes, friends, I purchased a power tool of my very own. It's my first...and only...power tool, or any kind of tool, for that matter. Yes, we have tools at my house. They are Hubby's tools. I don't touch them as a rule. Well, occasionally I touch them. I have been known to screw in a loose screw, or hammer a nail that is sticking out where it shouldn't be. Power tools have been left to Hubby's domain...Well, except for the electric hedge trimmer. I kind of like that one.

Let's get back to MY power tool. It's a variable speed orbital sander. Cool, huh? I bet you are wondering what I am going to do with it, right? Well, I have gotten a bee in my bonnet, so to speak, and have decided I am going to refinish the stairs to the second floor of the house. They are getting a bit worn out and have been calling out to me for a makeover.

I know, you think I have lost my mind. Maybe so, but I'm going to give it a try. I've done my homework, folks. I've watched YouTube videos. I've read carpentry help sites on the Internet. I've talked to Home Depot tool guys. I've talked to stain experts at my local paint store. None of them told me not to do it. None of them thought I was crazy.

I've already spent three hours sanding down three of the stairs with my trusty new orbital sander.

Sanded Stairs

I have made progress, but I fear there are many more hours of sanding...and wiping...and vacuuming...and more sanding in my future. If I'm missing for a while you'll know where I am...sanding...and wiping...and vacuuming...and sanding some more.

Updates on progress in the future...

Enjoy!

Comments

Sisterly LoveJanuary 23, 2012 at 7:19 PM
OMG!!!Someone please tell me who this imposter is...surely this is not my sister? Well maybe, after all you did finally enter a real live fitness gym. I guess power tools were next! What is next a zip line through the Amazon?
ReplyDelete
Replies
RobinJanuary 23, 2012 at 8:04 PM
I too say OMG...is this my BFF who in high school refused to sweat, gym was not her thing. Now she is a gym member and has moved on to power tools. Donna, I congratulate you for being so adventurous and always open for a challenge. xooxooxoox
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year. This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bread fo

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies. Fruit flies in the kitchen. Fruit flies in the bathroom. Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home. It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another. If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance. This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time.

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you looking for the best whoopie pie recipe? Whoopie pies are a quintessential New England dessert and a memorable treat from my childhood. My mom would make them for us every once in a while. Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies! Yum! Today I'm sharing my recipe for the best-ever whoopie pies. The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff Whoopie Pies Whoopie pies are soft round cookie-like cakes with a smooth cream filling sandwiched in the center. Debate rages about the whoopie pie's origin. Some say these goodies originated in New England, others say they originated with the Amish. There is also debate about what ingredients should be in the filling. Many recipes include fillings made with Marshmallow Fluff or buttercream but neither is traditional, in my opinion. The whoopie pie of my childhood is a traditional Maine whoopie pie recipe, made with a cooked flour and milk mixture added to suga

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe. An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while.

Easy Chicken Parmesan-A Make Ahead Freezer Dinner

Chicken Parmesan is a favorite dinner in the Just One Donna house because it is a delicious dish that can satisfy your cravings for Italian food. It's also easy to make at home with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry. But what if you don't have time to cook on a busy weeknight? Don't worry, you can make Chicken Parmesan ahead of time and freeze it for later. I like to prepare Chicken Parmesan to have on hand in my freezer for those busy weeknights when we might be tempted to head to a restaurant instead of eating at home. How to Make Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Busy Nights This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small compensation when you shop using these links Easy Freezer Chicken Parmesan for Dinner Chicken Parmesan, also known as Chicken Pa

How to Doctor Up Store-Bought Potato Salad

Here's a potato salad time-saver for you just in time for summer cookouts. You'll love how you can transform grocery store potato salad so easily no matter whether you are hosting a BBQ or bringing a side dish for a summer barbecue. There's no judgment here. We don't always have the time to make a potato salad from scratch. Sometimes it is just easier to stop by your local grocery store to pick up a container of store-made potato salad. It's good. It's predictable. It will do. All it needs is a little doctoring. How to Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Better When you need a quick potato salad, and have no time to make one from scratch, that ordinary store-bought potato salad you have in your refrigerator can go from blah to amazing in just a few minutes with just a few ingredients. Yes, you can improve store-bought potato salad. How to Doctor Up Potato Salad to have a little more flavor? You're going to a potluck picnic or you are having

Can You Make Better Bacon in Water?

What is the best way to cook crisp, tender bacon? Today, let's investigate a new method for cooking bacon on the stove that I'm seeing suggested as a technique that will change your life. It's frying your bacon in a pan with a small amount of water. Is cooking bacon with a bit of water in the pan a better way to make bacon? How to Cook Bacon in Water This is a simple, relatively fast way to make perfectly cooked bacon every time. Whether you are looking to impress your guests with a decadent breakfast or just want to enjoy a delicious bacon treat, this technique is the perfect solution.

Crunchy, Spicy Gingersnap Cookies

Crunchy, spicy, and yummy are all words used to describe a good gingersnap cookie. While my hands-down, favorite cookie is a gooey chocolate chip cookie I occasionally crave a spicy ginger snaps cookie or this molasses cookie . This old-fashioned gingersnap cookie is a winner. It's easy to make and will be a favorite in your recipe rotation. Traditional Ginger Snaps Cookie Recipe ( This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated when you make a purchase with these links.) Gingersnaps Cookies In the U.S., gingersnaps are usually drop cookies with lots of cracks on the surface. That's exactly how I like them. Those found in other countries may be thinner and sliced. The Lebkuchen, a traditional German cookie, and the pepparkakor, from Sweden, are often cut into festive shapes. My gingersnaps are round. Reasons You'll Love These Gingersnap Cookies These gingersnaps are tasty cookies at any time of the year. Their spiciness is perfect as a holid

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family? If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time. You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig. I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long. How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Just~One~Donna

Search This Blog