I've been hunting around for just *the perfect* solution for line drying my clothes. I figured I'd need some kind of fancy umbrella line dryer so I could place it in the sideyard where we have fewer trees. Then we lost a fair number of trees in the back so I wasn't quite as worried about birds pooping on our clothes, but I thought it would be cool to have a retractable line. Neither the cool umbrella lines nor the retractable lines are exactly cheap. It didn't make sense to me to spend a lot of money on something that I was undertaking partially to save money - did you know that clothes dryers take up approximately 14% of the average home owner's electricity bill? Read More »
I've been hunting around for just *the perfect* solution for line drying my clothes. I figured I'd need some kind of fancy umbrella line dryer so I could place it in the sideyard where we have fewer trees. Then we lost a fair number of trees in the back so I wasn't quite as worried about birds pooping on our clothes, but I thought it would be cool to have a retractable line. Neither the cool umbrella lines nor the retractable lines are exactly cheap. It didn't make sense to me to spend a lot of money on something that I was undertaking partially to save money - did you know that clothes dryers take up approximately 14% of the average home owner's electricity bill?
Read More »
I'm just a tad bit behind on posts, but I suppose life happens. When I was a kid, the Easter Bunny brought dyed eggs and a basket of goodies. It was only when I hit adulthood that I realized how much fun it is to dye the eggs. So we've changed our tradition a little bit. We all dye the eggs together and the EB fills a basket that we've left out (because who wants 5,000 plastic baskets?) and hides plastic eggs filled with goodies and the eggs we've dyed. Read More »
I'm just a tad bit behind on posts, but I suppose life happens. When I was a kid, the Easter Bunny brought dyed eggs and a basket of goodies. It was only when I hit adulthood that I realized how much fun it is to dye the eggs. So we've changed our tradition a little bit. We all dye the eggs together and the EB fills a basket that we've left out (because who wants 5,000 plastic baskets?) and hides plastic eggs filled with goodies and the eggs we've dyed.
The topic of keeping chickens within the city of Louisville came up on a mailing list in which I participate. Ever since reading Animal Vegetable Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, I've been intrigued with the idea of keeping chickens in my yard. While the book itself is a description of the Kingsolver family living off their rural farm and from other local sources, she also mentions that she kept chickens in arid New Mexico in a much more urban setting. Read More »
The topic of keeping chickens within the city of Louisville came up on a mailing list in which I participate. Ever since reading Animal Vegetable Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, I've been intrigued with the idea of keeping chickens in my yard. While the book itself is a description of the Kingsolver family living off their rural farm and from other local sources, she also mentions that she kept chickens in arid New Mexico in a much more urban setting.
Up until last year, my husband was the lawn guy. When we first moved into this house, he bought a Lawn Boy mower. He said it was supposed to be "the best" because it would last forever. Well, I don't know about that, but what I do know is that he was often out there mixing oil and gasoline, driving to the store to buy aforementioned oil and gasoline, and tinkering around with it trying to get the darned thing to start. Then when he finally did get it to start, I'd run away and hide in shame from the blue-black cloud of exhaust streaming out behind him and our daughter would run and hide from the noise. Finally he also became embarassed by the thing and I convinced him that we should trade it in. Read More »
Up until last year, my husband was the lawn guy. When we first moved into this house, he bought a Lawn Boy mower. He said it was supposed to be "the best" because it would last forever.
Well, I don't know about that, but what I do know is that he was often out there mixing oil and gasoline, driving to the store to buy aforementioned oil and gasoline, and tinkering around with it trying to get the darned thing to start. Then when he finally did get it to start, I'd run away and hide in shame from the blue-black cloud of exhaust streaming out behind him and our daughter would run and hide from the noise. Finally he also became embarassed by the thing and I convinced him that we should trade it in.
Last Saturday morning was a lovely spring day. The sky was blue and there was just a touch of chill in the air. We had a great time walking to the Highlands' Arbor Day tree giveaway. Unfortunately, we got a late start and missed out on the Redbuds and Dogwood. Oh, well, maybe next year. At least that shows a lot of interest. Maybe some of these trees we've lost in the neighborhood will be replaced for the next generation to enjoy. But we are now proud owners of a Shagbark Hickory and a Walnut tree. Someday these teeny tiny trees will be great big canopy trees with edible nuts. We'll probably be long gone - the Hickory is apparently a very slow grower. Read More »
Last Saturday morning was a lovely spring day. The sky was blue and there was just a touch of chill in the air. We had a great time walking to the Highlands' Arbor Day tree giveaway. Unfortunately, we got a late start and missed out on the Redbuds and Dogwood. Oh, well, maybe next year. At least that shows a lot of interest. Maybe some of these trees we've lost in the neighborhood will be replaced for the next generation to enjoy.
But we are now proud owners of a Shagbark Hickory and a Walnut tree. Someday these teeny tiny trees will be great big canopy trees with edible nuts. We'll probably be long gone - the Hickory is apparently a very slow grower.