Stuck Lawn Mowers

Don't you hate when the riding lawn mower gets stuck in the water-filled swale (this is the "creek" that our bridges "span") in the back yard? Me too.

While the swale wasn't muddy when the tractor got stuck, it sure was when we were finished getting it out! Unfortunately, I failed to get any pictures of the event. I will tell you this, though, the tractor wasn't the only thing covered with mud when we were done.

Bridges

In true broke homeowner fashion, we have a "creek" in our back yard. It's actually more of a rut in a swath but for us, it's a creek. And what does every good creek need? A bridge, of course! But two? Well, when you get carried away at Sam's Club, that's what happens...


Two mind you, not one, but two of the above. For our little creek. They actually look much nicer in a more natural habitat as opposed to the "clean room" environment depicted above.

Foosball anyone?

What would a basement game room be without entertainment? Exactly-that's what we thought too! So, for Christmas, we asked Santa for a Foosball table and low-and-behold, we got one!

Family tournaments abound and fun smack-talk flies. Boys vs. girls, adults vs. kids, kids vs. adult (note the lack of an "s" on that last one. It's good, clean family fun this Foosball table.

Of course, what do you think everyone wants now? A finished basement, of course. A broke homeowners job is never done...

Costco & Leather Ottomans

So, the Brokehomeowners venture out to two of our favorite places to shop: Costco and Sam's Club. We're "in the market," as they say, for some inexpensive yet durable chaise lounge chairs for the deck we finished last fall. You see, last summer we built the deck, this summer we plan to use the deck. Using the deck requires a couple of chaise lounges.

So, we start perusing the aisles at Costco (isn't that the only way to shop at Costco?) when what to our wondering eyes should appear? But a leather ottoman, of course. A leather ottoman we've been looking for to use in the family room since we moved more than a year ago.

So much for the chaise lounges - at least we still have some time before Spring...

Winter Thunderstorms

You know you're a broke homeowner when...


a winter thunderstorm brings a smile to your face because all you can think about is how good it is for your new lawn and trees.

Sick Kids

Ugh!

As Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that."

TiVo!

For a fairly technology-savvy guy, I feel a bit behind the times on the whole DVR thing. I took a crash-course last night setting up the TiVo I got as an early birthday gift yesterday and I'm already hooked!

Just ask my wife about my excitement - "Honey, wanna see me pause the 10 o'clock news?" "Hey, look, I just replayed the 5-day weather forecast!" "Check it out - Will Smith and Martin Lawrence running backwards!"

"Are you going to do this all the time?" she asks.

So, I've got "Lost" set up for a season pass - and "Friends," too. TiVo recorded "City Slickers" and "Dirty Dancing" overnight - because I told it too. :)

This thing is great - I do wonder why it recorded "Matlock" and "The A Team" overnight as well, though... Looks like TiVo and I both have some learning to do.

Desks & Tables & Fish Tanks, Oh My!

What is it about moving furniture that always turns into a day-long affair? We decided yesterday we were going to move one desk upstairs and bring another down. Of course, this also involved moving two computers, two book-cases, a 35-gallon fish tank, and - before it was all said and done, the dining room table and 6 chairs. Today, we're both sore and we still have a lot of paperwork and books that need to be put back in their respective "new homes."

So much for resting on the seventh day...

The Heater, The Garage, & The Thermostat

Heated garages are great. Until you get your gas bill, anyway. I put a big heater in our garage this fall to take the chill of the bedrooms over the garage and provide a heated workspace for winter garage projects.

We were already in the project for several hundred dollars so I went cheap on the thermostat. We're paying for it now! Back to the store for a programmable thermostat - the garage doesn't need to be 50 degress during the day!

Finger Insurance

Check out SawStop, "The World's Safest Table Saw." The blade stops and drops below the table as soon as it detects contact with your body. You'd wind up with a nasty cut, but you'd still have all your digits.

It's not cheap and the $70 safety mechanism is single-use, but how much are your fingers worth? From a guy who recently had a router "incident" that involved more than 50 stitches and 2 hours of surgery, safety seems like a real good thing lately.

My brother-in-law was kind enough to ask (in mocking fashion, of course) if the same technology was available for routers.