I love tile, especially all the options you have with it. From materials (ceramic, granite, glass and more) to uses (bathroom floor, kitchen sink backsplash, in a shower or elsewhere), there's something to appeal to nearly everyone's taste. Add to all these choices the myriad of designs, colors and textures and you're got more options than the Bugatti Veyron (the most expensive car available today, selling for about $1,200,000). According to The Tile Doctor, a site dedicated to all things tile, the first ceramic tile was used in Egypt. Once entirely handcrafted, only royalty could afford it. Today, we commoners can make it our own. If only there weren't so many choices....
When I lived in "the bush" in southern New South Wales in Australia, rain was a big deal. Because we lived off a water tank on our parcel of land and not water from the village (yes, we didn't even live in a "town" but a "village"), water conservation was a major concern. Rainwater was collected from the roof's gutters and drained into the gigantic tank. During the three months of winter when we didn't have a drop of rain fall, my parents-in-law, with whom we were living, bought a rain gauge. My mother-in-law was obsessed with keeping track of how much rain fell then calculating what that number meant to the water in the tank.
Needless to say, you may not live in a drought climate but you, too, may want to measure how much rain you're getting. Here's a product my mother-in-law would have loved had she not moved back to New Zealand last year where they get plenty of rain. The EZ Read™ Illuminated Rain Gauge collects and measures rainfall and has three LED bulbs positioned to light up the inside and outside of the water column, making it easy to read in the dark. Powered by two AAA batteries, it works with any infrared remote control in the house. All you do is point the remote at the gauge and hold down the power or volume button. The Illuminated Rain Gauge will light up and automatically shut off after five seconds. You can stake it in the ground or mount it. It sells for $24.95 and is available on the manufacturer's Web site or by calling 1-800-228-0275.
Older homes may have the architectural details and charm you're seeking, but don't forget that many house a hidden danger: lead paint. This video on MSNBC should remind people that lead paint is still a concern. According to the Center for Healthy Housing, an estimated 38 million homes in the U.S. still have lead paint. If your house was built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned, you should have a certified lead-based paint inspector check it out. Today, 250,000 children suffer from lead poisoning, which can lead to permanent brain damage. Most people believe that it is lead chips that poison people, but in fact is it usually lead dust from deteriorating paint or renovations that are the cause.
What's your favorite house style? Arts and Crafts, Victorian, Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne or something else? If you're like me and dream of buying an old house with original details, you may want to act now in this buyer's market. This Old House looks at 17 great neighborhoods to find one of these beauties in "Best Places to Get a Bargain on an Old House." The photos alone are worth checking out. Just try not to drool on the keyboard.
If you live in a state with a perpetually wet basement like me, you're probably running a dehumidifier year-round. Ours sucks the moisture out of our always-wet walls and drains it into the sump pump.
If you're luckier than me, you may only use a dehumidifier for humid summer days and are dragging yours out of storage right about now. If you have an older model, you may want to consider upgrading to an Energy Star qualified one. It removes the same amount of moisture as a unit of the same size but uses 10 to 20 percent less energy, which could actually power your refrigerator for six months. Visit Energy Star's page on dehumidifiers for more information as well as a list of approved models.
I am one of the lucky ones to have a utility company that offers practical, readable advice in its mailings and on its Web site. In the June newsletter, there is a short piece about conserving energy and helping keep energy costs down during the summer months. Some of the good suggestions include: use dishwashers, clothes washers and pool filters during off-peak hours (usually between 8:00 p.m. and 10 a.m.); hang clothes outside to dry and set air conditioning temperatures to 76 degrees. For a longer list of ideas, check out "Summer Energy Saving Tips".
The Energizer Hard Case Professional Series flashlights are the newest must-have in your tool box. These lightweight but hard-working flashlights boast bold, bright LED lights and many also have night vision and pipe inspection features, as well.
In the most recent DIY project in our house, Hubby Dearest strapped on the 4 LED Headlight to install a cat door for the downstairs bathroom. We've been having a problem keeping our dog out of the cats' litter box where she liked to eat "recycled food," if you know what I mean. Anyway, the headlight with pivoting head and 15-hour run time freed up Hubby's hands and gave him plenty of time to cut a hole in the bathroom door and install the new pet door.
These heavy-duty flashlights all carry a lifetime guarantee to boot. And if you're still looking for a Father's Day gift for your dad (or a gift for your kids to give their dad) this Sunday, the Energizer Hard Case Professional Series of flashlights is available at Lowe's and Ace Hardware. Just don't give him a chore along with the gift. Wait 'til next Sunday.
