Category Archives: Living

Living — stories and opinions

The use of paper towels – an opinion

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

This is purely an opinion and maybe a discussion point, but I’m pretty much opposed to the extended use of paper towels. I have been at the homes of friends and watched in amazement as they roll off yards of paper towels to wipe up things and then throw the whole mess in the trash. The whole time I’m puzzled why they didn’t just wipe it up with rags. When I use paper towels I try to use rags as much as possible and try to limit my use of paper towels to things that are too gross to put … Read more…

My kitchen motivation

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

I moved here knowing I didn’t like the kitchen in a lot of ways. So my way of figuratively holding a gun to my head was to pack a temporary kitchen kit with the promise I would not unpack the kitchen boxes until the cabinets were painted. That kitchen kit: 1 dinner plate 1 sandwich plate 4 plastic bowls 1 soup cup 2 coffee cups 3 water glasses 2 knives 2 spoons 2 forks 3 food prep knives 1 12″ skillet 1 8″ skillet 1 pan That’s it. Okay — I did include a wine bottle opener and plastic wine … Read more…

Another example of why I’m the DIY girl

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

Upbringing I was raised by a dad who wouldn’t allow the use of the phrase “I can’t.” On the rare occasion I would dare utter those two words he would sigh and calmly respond “You can do anything you want to do. What you’re saying is you’ve decided you don’t want to.” This was a constant and repeated theme until the phrase “I can’t” was extinguished from my vocabulary. What a gift. I wish it was a gift every parent gave every child. Experience When I have allowed people onto my property to work on things the experience has not … Read more…

Ordering decor over the internet

Posted on by September 13, 2013avatar

I had unhappy dogs since we arrived at our new fixer upper house in Tennessee. They had lived their entire lives with a carpeted living room and were retreating to their beds since they didn’t like to lay on the cold hardwood. They seemed to be adjusting to slipping and sliding as they chase their toys. They were not adjusting to the hardwood for resting. I needed an area rug and I needed one now. I searched and searched the internet not even sure what I wanted. A solid? A pattern? What color or colors? I was looking through the … Read more…

My Tennessee Fixer Upper

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

I wanted out of the heat of Texas, I wanted green mountains, and I wanted cheaper. I found a heck of a deal in Jacksboro, TN — a foreclosure at a great price but obviously not without shortcomings. I’m about 3 miles outside of town on a lot that has a view of the Cumberland Mountain Ridge from the front windows. Well at least a view while the leaves are down in winter — not sure I’ll be able to see much when the leaves come out in spring. I have so many gorgeous state parks within 30 miles I … Read more…

Quote

My choice in houses

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

When I bought my house in Texas in 1995 I had friends stand at the back of the lot, look up at what appeared to be a crack house (peeling paint, decks rotting off the house, the only thing missing was boarded up windows) and ask me “What are you thinking?”  After living there 17 years, last month the buyer raved over the condition of the house and the high level of maintenance. It made me smile. Except for new siding, windows, and roof I had done all the other work myself. People said the three-story Victorian ended up looking … Read more…

Home warranties – cautionary tale

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

While I’m an avid do-it-yourselfer, I also live in a house that was built in 1984 and has some of the original equipment and I don’t do major HVAC and appliance repairs. So at this juncture I feel a home warranty is a good investment — well at least I did until this last experience. Past Experience I had my garbage disposal die, called at 7:00 AM and had a new installed disposal at 11:00 AM by a really nice young man who told me how to take care of it. My garage door opener stopped and after an early … Read more…

Introduction

Posted on by September 10, 2013avatar

The DIY Girl Background Some background on the DIY Girl and as explanation for how I approach projects. I don’t believe in spending one more penny on repair and maintenance than I have to. If I invite someone into my house to do it they are going to charge a lot for their time (and hopefully expertise). If I figure out how to do it properly and do the work myself I can save a ton of money. Money that can go to fun things instead of fixing things. We all have our limits and our priorities and there are … Read more…