2026 Update… My basement wall started leaking water into my office – right by my guitars. Fortunately, I spotted it quickly and it was a very slow leak. One that I could easily patch myself with hydraulic cement. But no matter how small the leak, it’s ‘a leak’ and it has to be dealt with […]
Indoor
Phantom Dinnertime Doorbell Ringing
2025 Update – Every few days, right around dinnertime – my doorbell was ringing. And nobody was there. It wasn’t a repetitive ring, or a ring followed by the sound of laughter and kids running away; it was a very sensible single ring – beckoning for an answer. But nobody. While I wasn’t really sure […]
Grouting Hell – For a Natural Stone Mosaic Backsplash
If there’s an afterlife, and if I somehow end up in hell – I’m certain I’ll be grouting for all eternity. Grouting, for me, combines the worst of all things: the time crunch, a horrific mess with risk of ruining all the tile work you spent hours (or days) doing just prior, and the nightmarish […]
Hygge: The Art of Making Winter Bearable
2025 Update – This one’s for the deep winter dwellers, those of you who live where it’s not unusual for your eyelashes and nose hair to freeze as you make your frigid way from front door to driver’s seat each morning. And hopefully that’s a heated (and massaging) driver’s seat because little creature comforts are […]
Carpet Tiles for a Quick Home Rehab
I never really considered the use of carpet tiles before. If I need to carpet a room, it’s usually something I contract-out because it’s clearly a talent – with wisdom acquired from experience. Best to have a professional carpet installer handle this. On the other hand, area rugs can be absolutely beautiful as well, adding […]
Using Corner Blocks for a DIY Crown Molding Installation
2025 Update – Corner blocks can make a crown molding installation job SO much easier. And the whole room a lot more striking, in the end, too… I’ve written previously about the beauty of architectural trim work; I love it. You can change the “feel” of most any living area with the art and elegance […]
How to Replace a Ceiling Fan
2025 Update… Sometimes, you just need something new – and for me, it was my bedroom ceiling fan. A 52-inch, LED light replacement for the Hunter ceiling fan I had installed when we first moved in almost 20 years ago. That’s a pretty impressive lifespan, and while I probably could have fixed the Hunter – as […]
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