Bit the Dust

Regular vacuums cannot be used as shop vacs.

Wish List

Each year for the past several years, we've requested no gifts for the holidays. Why? Well here, let me list the reasons, I love any opportunity for a list:

1. We don't live near any family, so everything would have to be shipped
2. Space is precious and limited (especially when we still lived in the apartment) so we don't need any more 'stuff'
3. This automatically eliminates any possible stress (did I mention I hate shopping?) on what to get us
4. This saves everyone money (we couldn't be happy knowing our gifts are breaking our loves ones' banks)
5. If gifts are a must we've suggested options of consumable items, handmade items, or inexpensive items
6. This directs the holiday's focus on the more important things rather than the materialistic, like sending a card with a nice message that we are missed and loved
   
7. And if a card was forgotten, a phone call would make us just as happy
8. Cash. We will accept cold hard cash. Just kidding. Or are we?
   

Since we've started this tradition of breaking tradition, we've received handmade items, food baskets, wine. And everyone has been on board with the idea!

Even though we request no gifts, it doesn't mean we don't like to dream. Here is my wish list of items I need or would love to have! Uh oh, I sense a list forming:

Image from Amazon.com

1. Bathroom vent because the one in the powder room is about to die any minute now, and it would be nice to upgrade to an integrated light
   
2. Pendant chandelier to replace the ancient one in our stairway
   
3. 2 storage ottomans to replace our coffee table which is heavy and bulky
   
4. TV console because ours is currently too low and Rylie has gnawed on the edges (thanks Rylie)
   
5. 3 bar stools to replace the ones that I sold. These have a smaller footprint.
6. Lever for the entryway door to the garage, it's the only one left in the house to switch out
7. Dimmable CFL bulbs for the chandelier in the dining room, surprisingly expensive and hard to find
8. Area rug for the living room that actually matches stuff and didn't come from a dead guy's house (we bought our current one at an estate sale where the homeowner passed away)
9. Buffet/sideboard/credenza/server/console/bar cabinet to store infrequently used kitchen things that are currently in the back of the coat closet
10. Electric hedge trimmer to keep the Creeping Fig in check
11. Roundup to show Creeping Fig who's boss
12. Power core aerator to loosen our compacted lawn (thanks dogs)
    
13. Soil pH and moisture tester to know what amendments our lawn needs
    
14. Fireplace draft stop balloon to well, stop drafts
15. Latex Window Glazing, because if you haven't noticed it's really drafty here
16. Caulking gun to apply said glazing
    
17. mailbox and new post because our mail box is rusty and won't close all the way and attached to a post that is hanging onto a retaining wall by 1 loose nail
    
18. A hard-sided cooler with drain plug to keep beers in during parties, and to keep our food in at flyball tournaments
    
19. Chiminea or outdoor fireplace because the firepit is really smokey on windy nights
    
20. More solar lights
21. Outdoor lights over our garage
22. An integrated hose and reel for the front spigot, so I can stop toting the one from the back
    
23. Artificial grass for the incline
24. Wheelbarrow for future lawn redo and possibly to cart around a dog or two around the neighborhoods so that we can cement our role as the neighborhood dog freaks

What's on your wish list? It's fun to come up with one even if no one reads it...

Tool Around

Thanksgiving was our power tool sandwich. We ordered a cordless drill on the morning of, and a tile saw a couple days after. We didn't plan these new purchases but saw some deals we couldn't refuse.

Image courtesy of Lowe's

We've been looking at drills for weeks, maybe even months now, to replace our beloved 12 volt Makita cordless drill (you can spot it here and here). Both batteries have died and no longer hold a charge. At all. We've been doing all our screwing and unscrewing by hand. And when we can't, we resort to nailing. This is making life around the home difficult. Not to mention we can't drill holes at all. We were planning on buying another Makita, as we're big fans of the brand (did you know that they are used in space by NASA?), but we saw a deal on Thanksgiving morning, on Lowe's website ($99) for a DeWalt drill that still kicks our outdated dead drill's butt. And couldn't refuse.

Image courtesy of Home Depot

On Cyber Monday (is this a new term this year I don't recall hearing it before), I saw a deal on a wet tile saw ($99.88 - half off, and cheaper than renting) with 4.5 star reviews on Home Depot's website. To be honest, I wasn't shopping for one, but our next big project will be the master bath. And even though we don't know yet what the plans are for that room, it most certainly involves tile (and therefore tile cutting).

Oooh I can't wait for the new gadgets to arrive (I just tracked the packages and the drill is scheduled to arrive TODAY!). Did you score any awesome deals? Are you awaiting fun toys to arrive on your doorstep? Do tell.

Dishing the Dirt

If you have, or have access to one of the following:

• dirt
  
• grass
  
• leaves
  

And you have in your dwelling one of the following:

• patio
• balcony
• deck
• yard

Then you should be composting.

Why? Reduces trash (which is less hassle for you, and your dear waste collector, and less to go into the landfills for poor Mother Earth), and oh yeah free fertilizer (ca-ching!). It's also fun in a science experiment sort of way. So if you're a nerd like me, this should be up there on your list of good times like a game of charades.

Sure you could buy one, or gather some lumber and make one. But here's an even easier way to do it: find, repurpose or get a decent sized bin with a lid. This was my old 'pantry' bucket that held non-perishable foods while we were cabinetless (bonus points if it's green, for going green).


Next, drill* holes in the bottom because composting requires oxygen, yo! Use whatever size drill bits, and do as many as you want, it is a free country.


Next, fill it with dried leaves, dirt, grass clippings, whatever you got (sorry that the pic is sideways, but just tilt your head, it's good to stretch your neck). I used dead creeping fig leaves because I hate them and want them to rot in... a bucket.


Next, throw in your food scraps and cover with more yard stuff. I threw in 2 dead plants I had, and instantly gained 2 hanging planters! This is already paying off.


Lastly, moisten the contents, cover and drill holes into the lid. Place somewhere outside (I put mine with the trash barrels) and always put a layer of yard stuff on top of your food scraps (no odors this way). Make sure the contents always remain slightly moist (but never soggy), turn with a pitchfork about once a week and in about 6 months (I think, I hope) you'll have some great stuff for your garden.

Things to keep in mind:

• Composting is a fancy term for stuff rotting, so the smaller the bits the faster it will rot (IOW corn cobs will take a long time to decompose). If you don't care how long it takes, then just toss stuff in whole.
• Tree branches and twigs seem like they would take a long time to decompose too. I'm just guessing, I don't really know for sure.
  
• No dairy, bones, or meat products. It either takes a long time to decompose or doesn't at all, definitely will become stinky, and therefore attract critters.
• Things like newspaper and cardboard rolls can go in, but it's best to shred them. Nothing glossy, nothing colored because that means finishes and inks and such.
• No chemically treated greens. So if pesticides were used on your garden or grass, keep those out!
• No poop. Keep your pet waste out, it carries germs folks. And any other poop, ew I know what you were thinking and if you were considering adding it, you've got issues.

Sidenote: Ryobi drill bits suck. It broke during this process. Totally lame, come on drilling through plastic.

Ok go make some dirt!

D-day (D as in Demo, Demo as in Demolition)

Today we unleashed all our angst and stress to destroy our kitchen. I thoroughly enjoyed this process. How many chances do you get to have a party with your power tools without any care in the world (aside from your own personal safety of course)? Power tools rock, especially when you don't care about what they are touching. The beauty of poorly constructed cabinets is that they are a breeze to demolish.

Once we remove the old cabinets, just a little clean up and painting and the new ones go in! We are so close!