Category: DIY Projects

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Online Music Buying Guides

If I have any options to review a product and/or service, you can bet that I will be utilizing every type(s) that I can get my hands on. It’s a whole new world out there. It’s amazing to think that we managed to live our lives without computers. At some point in the late 80’s we have become more and more reliant on what used to be referred to as the World Wide Web. I mean when is the last time you have even heard the words World Wide Web?

With all that the Internet has to offer almost all of us in the 21st century, it still surprises me that there are still some of our senior citizens who are bucking, kicking and screaming all the way to any computer who just can’t wrap their heads around even some of the most basic functions, even explaining all that they are missing by not using e-mail can’t entice some people to get on board.

My grandmother was a bit slow at getting used to the whole computer concept, but it didn’t take long once she starting realizing how useful it can be. One of the advantage that came into play during the holiday gift buying season. She actually took her time and checked out different acoustic guitars that she found at one of the major music websites that have just about anything that is musically related. It seems that a friend and neighbor told her about Musician’s Friend, which Grandma felt safe enough to go online, find a particular buying guide and actually ordered a wonderful guitar at a great price. Free shipping is always a plus when ordering anything online.

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Hosting via the web

Hosting your own website can be a challenge if you have never done it before or have a lack of computer knowledge.  Personally, I am not a computer guru so when I decided to jump into the world of technology I decided I better get some help.

Recently, I have been taking some classes on horticulture and wanted to be able to share this information with others.  I absolutely love gardening and constantly yearn for new knowledge about plants.  One area that fascinates me is new species of plants.  I envy the horticulturists out there that are able to create and breed new plants.  One new species I currently am researching is what the article called bleeding tooth fungus.  The plant is very cool looking.  The plant is pink in color like the gums on a human and drips blood- colored liquid.  I am not sure if this plant is toxic but I imagine it must be.  The more brightly colored plants are the more poisonous they usually are.

My new website will be produced by a web hosting company.  They have been very helpful and have given me the confidence ot continue my goal of spreading horticultural news to the world.

 

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Pumpkins

While at work today I saw the very first sign for the many pumpkin farms in this area, and I can not wait to take David to let him pick out his pumpkin for our porch jack-o-lantern. It has become a family trip and party to pick the correct pumpkin and to get it carved and set up on the porch, just right.

I like to pick one smaller pumpkin to make us some pies and we will get this done on this trip too. I love this time of year, the weather has cooled off and we have so much to do this time of year.

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Coventry 3′ x 5′ Oval Tawny

Don’t get me wrong, I love my new hard wood floors, but there is something about having some thing nice and warm to step on that a hard wood floor just doesn’t have to offer. I think having a couple of nice area rugs to place strategically in a few key places around the house just might be the best way to handle this.

There used to be a guy that always set up at the Flea Marker down in the city that I used to like doing business with, but I hear that he retired and no one has heard from him since last year. I love going to this up scale Flea Market.  You won’t find any used toys or baby clothes, it is strictly antiques and collectibles and other top quality merchandise. Well worth the trip down into the city on a nice weather day. There is such a variety of merchandise, as well as a variety of customers that it is a great way to spend the day people watching and seeing all the unique dealers that set-up there each weeks. But I have purchased a few items here and there through-out the years.

Thank goodness for the Internet. I found a great selection of that I have seriously been eyeballing the past couple of days. Amazing how many types of rugs are available these days. I think I’ll stick with the classics, now I just need to decide what size will be the best for what I need and want. It could run me anywhere from $40 all the way up to just under a grand.

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Mailbox Battle

Every winter I have to worry about my mail box.  The plowman can be so vicious. I feel as though he really does not care about any one’s mailbox, not just mine. I have to replace my mailbox nearly every year.

One year I actually rebelled and refused to fix my residential mailbox. It was extremely bashed in and did not meet the federal post office box standards. Unfortunately, the post office won and I had to fork out money to replace the box and the post. I was not happy.  What made this worse was that the mailbox I replaced was a decorative one.

I love decorative mailboxes. However, with this situation I am not able to have a pretty mailbox. This upsets me but that is the price I have to pay for country living.  I would not give up country living for the world. I enjoy going out on a daily basis to pick my mail out of my mailbox.  I not only get to pick up my mail but also get to enjoy the birds and flowers in my gardens.

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Crafts and Organization

Have you ever wanted to create your own jewelry? Or perhaps make your own candles or quilts? Crafting is more than just a hobby today, for some it is a work of art, labor of love or even a way have their own business. No matter what kind of crafting you do, finding storage for your excess supplies and finished products can be a pain. Although you can use kitchen containers at Storables.com to keep the items at arms length there are other options.

If you live in New York City, it is even harder. Sometimes it helps to look outside the city for the best space at a good price. Westy Self Storage is a pretty good place to use. Many people have different needs when it comes to storing crafting supplies. Some need to find climate controlled units, so their stuff won’t be damaged by the heat or cold.

Candles and candle making supplies definitely need to be climate controlled because you don’t want them to melt when it gets hot out. Using a storage facility outside of the city will definitely be cheaper on your pocketbook and in more plentiful supply. If you think about just how many people are actually in New York, you will understand that any storage in the city is already full and there is a waiting list a mile long to boot.

Once you have your storage unit, you can use old kitchen cabinets to easily organize many of your projects. Sure you can use air tight plastic containers, but the advantages of organizing your stuff for easy access is really cool. Add a label maker to that and you can label all of the drawers and cabinets. You will never have to dig and search through everything just to find that one little item. If you have the cabinets and counters, you can even work on your crafts right there for quick fixes and such.

One thing I love about having my crafting stuff in a storage unit is the accidents that regularly occur in apartment buildings. Broken pipes, over flowing toilets, and fire or smoke damage, can wreck your crafting supplies if they are in your apartment as well as everything else you own. However, if you are crafting as a business, you don’t want them damaged or destroyed just when you need them the most.

Lets face it, taking a drive and getting away from the big city is refreshing. Spending a little bit of time away from the hustle and bustle can relax you and you can accomplish whatever you have set out to do that day. Plus the best flea markets to sell those finished products are usually out in the country or the suburbs. An easy distance to haul your gear and sell your stuff if you plan it right.

So give it a thought, organize what you need and what you need out of your way. Then find the best location for you. You will not be disappointed with your decision to declutter your home. Then you will have more room for the things you really want there.

 

 

 

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Mark Your House

There are certain things I think a house should have as part of being a responsible home owner. One of these things are house plaques. There are multiple reasons why I can think a home owner should invest in a house plaque. One of these main reasons is for emergency purposes. When a home owner has a medical emergency or some other type of emergency the personnel from the responding agencies must be able to find the home. This becomes a huge challenge when there is no mail box or numbers on the house. When emergency personnel cannot find the house with the emergency lives can be compromised and may even parish. This is why putting a house plaque on your home is so important.

Other options exist if the homeowner does not want to put a fancy house plaque on their home. Address numbers are much less expensive and still have the ability to save lives.  Address signs are another option. Either way this is a subject that should be given the time of day in order to prepare for any worse case scenario.

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Time To Remove The Tree

Today, I finally took down my Christmas tree. I figured three weeks after Christmas was just about the right time.  It always seems to me that the holiday decorations go up more quickly then taking them down.  And every year  the task of taking down these decorations appears more daunting of a task.

Perhaps next year I will put up less decorations to make it easier come the month of January.  However, with this being said I probably will not take my own advice and will have my place looking like Santa’s Village once again next December.

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Carbide Bits and Vrious Other Tools

After the Labor Day holiday is all over and done with comes early on the first Monday of September this year, I am going to have to look for some handyman services in order to get some of the issues taken care of around the place that I just don’t have the time or the tools or the experience to tend to. I gave up trying to find the carbide bits that I had just purchased last year and other various tools seem to have taken a hike during the spring and summer season. I get so frustrated with trying to find things around here. One day I will get organized, but I don’t think that will happen any time soon.

If you are a home owner you well know how much time, effort and money it takes to keep the house up and running in so many ways, it just isn’t possible to get it all done on my own so a good quality handyman will come in “handy” for most of my needs that should be taken care of before the cold winter months hit us. Something tells me we are going to have a real long and cold winter this year. A winter that starts early and last forever and a day, raising havoc on the population.

There are a few friends and family members that can and do come over on occasions to lend a hand with some projects but it seems that people are getting busier and busier these days and it isn’t always possible to impose on their time and talents. And now with the holidays and then the cold winter months ahead of us it will be more of a challenge so I’m just going to go ahead and pay a professional and get things moving.

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Baby Spiders

Recently I inherited some baby spider plants. I have always wanted spider plants in my house. They are just so unique looking!  At first I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with these gorgeous specimens. I have a green and white striped one and a solid green one.

Then one morning I woke up and while I was enjoying my morning cup of chai tea I spotted the perfect location for these plants to live. My large picture window will be their new homes.

Tomorrow I shall march down to the local hardware store and purchase a couple of plant hangers for the wall. I can then hang one plant up on each end of the window and the mixture and light and shade should be just right. These plants do not like bright sunlight all day.

If they receive this then they have a chance of burning. While I am at the hardware store I will also pick up matching pots. I can’t wait to put this project together. They are going to look fabulous!