Tag Archives: construction

Hanging a Picture

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I wanted to share my newfound knowledge with you. It’s nothing profound, really, but it is rather useful. What is this knowledge of which I speak? Well, it’s how to hang things from your walls and ceilings. Now, we live in a townhouse that has metal studs. This might not seem like a problem, but it has stymied us for years. You can get stud finders that will find your wooden studs when you run them across a wall – they beep. Then you can insert screws directly into the drywall at that location and it makes it simple to … Continue reading →

Creating a Multifunctional Potting Shed

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We built a playhouse over the weekend. However, I could just as easily call it a potting shed. It looks a little ramshackle, but it’s quite sturdy. We created it out of two bifold doors cut in half, four posts, some scavenged two by fours, and a lot of roofing planks that I had in the basement, just like any good playhouse. Since our back garden is mere meters in length, the playhouse will double as a potting shed and an avenue for my building-related whimsies. Granted, it is a rather deluxe and spacious potting shed, measuring all of 3.5 … Continue reading →

The Treehouse

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Yesterday we spent the entire day building a playhouse for my daughter. We is my dad, mostly. My daughter was distinctly uninterested in the process, much to my dismay. She is four and would prefer that the house be presented in its completed state. Given my general state of soreness today, I can attest that it is now completed. If you (I mean your preschooler) are dreaming about treehouses, here are some tree and playhouses to tickle your imagination. On second thought, it might be a good idea to hide these from your preschooler. If she’s anything like mine, she’ll … Continue reading →

Pets and Home Renovations

We’ve had a lot of guests at the cats-only boarding facility lately who are in need of a safe, quiet haven while their homes are under construction. But you don’t have to remove your pets from the house while workers are there — as long as you’re careful. Make a safe room for pets. If you can, keep one room free of the chaos of construction. You can keep your pets safely in the safe room with food, fresh water, and some kind of distractions — a special toy, soft music, and tasty treats. If your pets are unsettled by … Continue reading →

Diary of a Cat Care B&B: Home Renovations

Most of our clients at the cats-only boarding facility leave their furry friends with us when nobody will be home — a business trip or family vacation, for example. Lately, it seems we have a lot of guests who are in need of a safe haven during moving or home construction. Why board your pet during home renovations or packing for a move? Reduce the risk of your pet escaping when someone is bringing supplies in or out. If your pet is skittish around strangers, he or she won’t feel safe or comfortable with unfamiliar movers or construction workers in … Continue reading →

Bob the Builder

Can he fix it? Yes, he can! “Bob the Builder” is a wildly popular children’s television show. First appearing on Nickelodeon, and now a regular on PBS, “Bob” is a claymation creation about a building yard and the owner (who would be Bob) his helper, Wendy, and all the machines they use every day. Each of these machines is alive and has a personality all their own. Scoop is a yellow digger truck with a scoop on the front. He’s the first truck Bob ever bought back in the day, and they’ve constructed a lot together over the years. Scoop … Continue reading →

Lilies of the Field – William E. Barrett

Making waves in Hollywood in 1963 as a major motion picture starring Sidney Poitier and Lilia Skala, “Lilies of the Field” first appeared as a gentle novella, a triumph for author William E. Barrett. Homer Smith, a black man from South Carolina, was just honorably released from the Army and has decided to travel around the West for a while before returning home. He carefully saved his pay packets and had plenty of money for his travels, but every so often the urge to work strikes him and he stops for a while to do odd jobs. He’s never seen … Continue reading →

Live Like Martha

If you are a fan of Martha Stewart’s show (or have caught her during one of her guest stints on the “Today Show” or “Oprah”) then you know there is little this style guru can’t make, update, redo, fix, or organize. So, it should come as no surprise that she is now offering you a way to live just like she does. Not by following her “lifestyle” tips, but actually living in a space designed by Martha herself. An entire home manufactured in her image. KB Home has teamed up with Martha Stewart to create Martha-branded homes in cities across … Continue reading →

Slow Down…That’s My Grandpa!

I was watching the news last night (well, not really watching, more like listening; I was busy finishing up some chores and had the television on) when I heard a little boy sobbing and choking out the words: “He was my grandpa and now he’s dead.” I immediately ran over to the television to try to find out who this young boy’s grandpa was and how he died. I found out that the boy’s 55-year-old grandpa was one of two local highway workers killed while filling potholes on a busy highway near my home. Apparently, traffic was slowed down to … Continue reading →