Butch enough for me

I love the chainsaw.

First... the job site.

One down (prior to the chainsaw purchase) two to go.


Here is my energetic wife getting a head start,
while I gather the tools.

Then...poof - the thing was down.

Miller time (well ...technically...Michelob)

Friday

tip-o-day

Today's tip is simple.
Know your own limitations.

Everyone has limits. Learn them. It may extend your life... or certainly some appendages.
I purchased an electric chainsaw today. And while that may scream 'pansy-dyke' to some... I think it's damned smart.

There will be pictures. Especially since I will most likely retain all my fingers.

Power tools

She's done it again.

This past weekend...
It was Sunday afternoon and we were finishing up two full days doing spring clean up.
The work had been heavy and I was pretty tired and a little sore. I had left the tractor work till the end, figuring I could still manage to steer.

I drove my big orange Husqvarna with cup holder around to the side of the house... to find my frugal wife and our 82 year old neighbor cutting down a tree.

See, I had a tree guy come and give us an estimate on taking down these three hemlock trees and trimming up a large northern pine in the side yard. The estimate seemed high, so I planned on calling around for others.
Evidently that's unnecessary.

Again, my burly wife used her tool of choice for this 19 foot sapling with an 8 inch trunk- her HAND saw.

She did mention that she could use a new blade this year.

There are two more trees to take down... larger than the first.
Time to buy some power tools.

Somebody hide the remote

Sometimes I wish I had the strength to toss the TV right out the window…and I don’t mean physical strength.

I went to the gym during my lunch break yesterday, and foolishly turned on the TV while I ran endlessly going nowhere on The Machine That I Hate⁽¹⁾.
I was watching The View. I found it… mildly amusing at best.

BUT then I saw a commercial by the folks who make Lysol. They were hawking some new plug in type air freshener. First, let me just say that I really don’t like air fresheners in the home. Fine in the office – where you really can’t control your aromatic environment but cleanliness should not be replaced with pleasant smelling tricks.

Which is EXACTLY what these Lysol folks want you to do.
So much so in fact, they spell it out for you. The voice over said something about covering up bacterial odors and they gave two examples. One was a teenage boy with smelly sneakers. Ok… I was not completely irate here, smelly sneakers can happen – we did raise a boy. (Of course he got new sneakers as soon as there was any detectable odor. He is actually rather fastidious about his shoes.)
But… the next one folks had me gasp audibly.
They showed a bathroom, and suggested that the toilet was the source of the bacterial odors by having it grow to enormous size and then have a child walk in and grimace at the smell.
Did they suggest cleaning the toilet??
NO!!!
They suggested that you get this wonderful magical fix it all up electric⁽²⁾ air freshener.
OMG.

Please, please I implore you. If your toilet smells⁽³⁾ – CLEAN IT.

1) TMTIH – the elliptical
2) Do you really need to waste even more electricity on an air freshener?
3) This should never actually happen of course. The toilet should be cleaned regularly regardless of the way it looks or smells, and therefore will never degrade to the point of causing odors.

a day off

I am off from work today.

I am puttering around the house and yard continuing the spring maintenance that my energetic wife and I started over the weekend.

This morning I scrubbing the wood porch floor and washing the siding on that side of the house (yes, I wash the house).
Evidently during this process I got the doorbell unusually wet.
Now its randomly ding-donging.

The FREE dog is going nuts.

Friday

tip-o-day

It's Earthday people.
Conserve today.
But please, don’t forget about tomorrow.

A Weekend Outing

One of my artistic wife’s favorite places is the Met… for those who don’t live near NYC, which is the center of the universe – this can either mean the Metropolitan Opera, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today I refer to the Museum. (she also loves the Louvre…but we don’t get out there as often)

We have been going to this museum since … well since the mid 80’s. We have favorite rooms, specific artists and certain paintings that we like to visit each time.
My painterly wife loves the American Wing, and the Dutch painters have a special place in her heart.
In the rooms which house the permanent collection of European paintings I have a favorite bench… it faces a Rembrandt self portrait which I have grown to love, and allows me a rest while my wife enjoys long visits with her Vermeer’s.

We have visited the museum in each season – Christmas time is always a favorite.
Spring time in the park can be lovely, and dinner in little Italy is fab in the summer.

We brought ‘The Daughter’ to this museum when she was small enough for a piggy back. I remember this distinctly because after a full day in the museum she was tired and we rode her on our backs the entire 30 blocks back to Grand Central. We didn’t take cabs or the subway in those days… we were young…and strong… and broke.

A few years back we introduced Ferris to the Met with the Da Vinci exhibit. We learned Ferris’ insight into art is priceless. Having been raised by artists in a home filled with art, he saunters through a room filled with renowned European painters and his keen eye hones in immediately on this piece.


Can you see why?

We returned to the Met this weekend after having been away for several years. Perfectly timed with a special exhibit of Louis Comfort Tiffany. If you are in the area, I highly recommend it. It’s extremely well presented.
We will of course now be purchasing lead, glass cutters, grinders and several pieces of colored glass – as my affected wife gets inspired.

This perfect museum visit was topped off with a meal in Greenwich village, a visit to a head shop, and the near purchase of a $2300.00 dollar puppy.
I adore my sweet wife’s birthday.

One more year

Because we have been so busy having a fun filled weekend.
I am a couple days late wishing my ever so slightly older wife a happy, happy birthday.

Friday

tip-o-day

It’s time for spring cleaning (well for those of you finished up with your shoveling).
I will probably have several spring cleaning tips over the next few weeks.

Aren’t you excited?

I think you may like this one… because I am going to tell you NOT to clean something.

Don’t be too eager to wash your windows yet. With all the sand/salt and winter dirt still on the roads, washing the windows now would be futile. If you have great resolve you can even hold out until after spring pollen week. At the very least wait until the street cleaners have come.

On window cleaning day, gather all the screens in the yard for a good hosing off. (the screens you removed last fall…right? Well, if you didn’t remove them… take them down for a rinse now). Let the screens air dry as you wash the windows. Remember to wipe the sills inside and out. When you are looking out of your windows on a beautiful spring day, the last thing you want to see is a grungy sill (specifically that spot under the window when you open the sash).
During this process check any caulking that has been installed to make sure it’s still supple and intact. Replace any damaged or cracked caulk.
Also remember to wipe down the tracks, window frame and muntins... again inside and out.

To make the outside cleaning even easier we hose down the windows prior to washing. We take this extra step in the spring to rinse away the accumluated grit, where in the fall we usually just wash the windows when the screens are taken in.
These simple steps will keep your windows looking great, and in good working order for many years of service.

be careful what you wish for

---->

It's the least I can do

I was in the ladies room at work this morning, serenely washing my hands. I have been more careful lately to limit my water consumption. I use my wrist to flip the water on, then off during sudsing, then on again to rinse. The process takes a little longer – but it’s more economical.

I was rinsing when I first heard the *thrrip*,*thrrip*,*thrrip*… I turn… slowly, as the realization of the origin of this sound washes over me. As my sight slowly hones in on the source, it continues... *thrrip*, *thrrip*, *thrrip*.
Yes, six times. I am pretty sure I recall hearing it six times.

I stare. Incredulous.
I falter, suddenly realizing my water is still running.
Damn. Wasteful.
I quickly slap the handle down with an audible pop.
I look back … curious… miffed.

And there she is. Wiping, mopping you might say, her just slightly dampened hands with SIX paper towels.
6!
Oh… the horror of it.

She tosses her WAD of nearly dry and unused paper towels in the receptacle and brushes past me toward the door.
I want to call out.
“Why?”
I don’t. I stand, dumbfounded … speechless.

I will not use any paper towels today.
I feel I need to balance the scales.

The Animal Kingdom

They're back.

My soft-hearted wife calls them Doves.

Which they are... but I still call them pigeons.

See, there is one sitting in the garage. They like to do this. I don't know why.

I did some research on them.

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family, Columbidae.
The bird is also called the American Mourning Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove.

...~ Mourning Doves are prolific breeders. In warmer areas, these birds may raise up to six broods in a season. This fast breeding is essential for the survival of the species as mortality is high.
Each year, mortality can reach 58% a year for adults and 69% for the young.
The Mourning Dove is monogamous and forms strong pair bonds. Pairs typically reconvene in the same area the following breeding season, or sometimes may remain together throughout the winter. However, lone doves will find new partners if necessary.

yes yes... isn't it cute that they are monogamous, and they come back to the same place each year... yeah, cute... those prolifc breeders that they are.

Friday

tip-o-day

It's time people.
I know its still a little chilly up here - but get up off the couch and go outside and give your lawn some lovin'.

In order to keep to a timely feeding schedule, you need to get your first application down pretty soon. This means you need to have finished your raking.

Remember, that the first application of the year contains crabgrass preventative (crabacide). This product works by forming a barrier on your soil which stops crabgrass from germinating. If you rake after the application - you muck up your barrier.
Also note - that it will stop grass seed from germinating as well. So don't apply this product to any areas you plan to seed this spring. Instead, use a starter fertilizer in those areas to give your seedlings a strong start.
This will be an important application, as it was a banner year for crabrass across the country last summer. We may even put down a second application later in the season at our house.

Apply to dry grass, any time of the day.

You may notice the Scott's advertisements for a new product this year which now includes crabacide in the second application of weed and feed to be applied later in the spring. While I am impressed with their quick marketing response the the prolific crabgrass we saw only last year... I have some issues with these two products mixed together because of the very different application methods... we can discuss this next time.
.

Tuning in

I read over at Sassy's their list of TV shows that they like to record.

This, of course, got me to thinking... lovingly of our Hi-Def DVR.

We are not rich folk. We don't have fancy cars, or a big house - hell we don't even have a dishwasher. But I love our Hi-Def DVR.

What makes me love our large TV and Hi-Def DVR even
more is Planet Earth.

You should really tune in.
And... if you have the means, see it in Hi-Def.

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damn...

changing templates.
lost comments.
damn.

abstinence

weese is on the