HE LOVES MASH.
He’s adorable. He’s also smart, quick and my best bud. I love this little guy!
I Get A Chill…
WHEN I THINK ABOUT BURST PIPES AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, FROZEN HOSES, CLOGGED DRAINS!
No. The temperatures aren’t freezing yet, but that’ll happen before you know it! Take care of seasonal maintenance items – it should reduce your expenses for household repairs. Your home will take better care of you!
- Cover your air-conditioning unit.
- Check basement for leaks during thaws. (I don’t know anyone who has a basement but, I’m certain they exist.)
- Inspect the roof, gutters, and downspouts for damage after storms. Clear the gutters/downspouts of trash/debris
- Vacuum bathroom exhaust fan grill.
- Vacuum refrigerator and freezer coils and empty and clean drip trays.
- Clean drains in sinks, tubs, showers, and dishwashers.
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- Clean the barbecue grill and attend to any issues with gas lines; prepare your fire pit for chilly evenings to come.
- Air seal anything you can! Around chimneys, vents, windows, doors.
- Have your insulation checked. Most homes don’t have enough.
- Woodland creatures look for shelter in winter. They damage attic wiring and contaminate insulation. Secure attic air vents and cover entry holes with hardware cloth. We had to cover our vents with small wire as well to prevent squirrels from nesting in our attic. They chew through the cloth!
Here’s the drill!
PUMPKIN LANTERNS WITH NO CARVING REQUIRED!
I’m lousy at carving pumpkins. The inside is smelly, slimy and sticky. The thick shell combined with my knife skills are a hazard to my health. But I found a solution!
Thanks to YouTube, Pinterest and a collection of drills and dremels in our household, I safely created these pumpkin lanterns for our booth at the local community market! Yayyy!
Here’s what I learned from my experience. Use white chalk to draw your design on. Marker is hard to remove and pencil leaves indentations. Dry erase may work but I can’t attest to it.
Clean out the inside first. Your drill bits won’t get so gunky, but be careful with the amount of pressure you apply if your holes are very close together. Cracking the shell is a huge frustration when you’ve almost completed the project. Cover the work surface and surrounding splash zone with plastic, paper, or old towels.
Continue reading Here’s the drill!Home Security Options
THE YEARLY UPDATE – 20 UNDER $20
I’m married to a security nut and I say that with the greatest admiration! Security of one form or another has been his job for over 40 years, so it makes sense that he knows a bit about it. Our house was the only one on our street that wasn’t burglarized when we lived in Italy! Security was a morning and evening ritual – house, cars, kids – he locked it all down. Or he left strict instructions for the 85% of the time he was out of town – to me.
Now, over 20 years later, we still have a similar ritual. And a security plan. I’m not talking about the home monitoring system. We have a plan for ‘in the event of a break-in while we’re at home’. You should too. But that’s not today’s topic.
What does a secure home look like to you? Smart home monitoring is pricey but there are great products available that cost far less. I thought these ’20 under $20′ were pretty cool!
1. Defender Security Door Lock for homes with small children
Bad guys know to attack a door at the lock—so put a lock in an unexpected place. The Defender Security Lock can easily be installed nearly anywhere on the inside edge of your door. It’s easy to lock and unlock from the inside, but practically impossible to tamper with from the outside. And since you can place it high on the door, small kids can’t escape when it’s secured.
But it’s not a perfect fit for every door so you may need to get handy with a chisel to fit it on some doorways. Replace it after a few years of wear and tear. Watch for them on sale and buy a couple at a time so you can replace one as soon as it shows deterioration.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Good for childproofing
- Tamper-proof
Cons
- Not durable with frequent use
- Not functional on all doors
2. SABRE Door Security Bar for added door security
A door jammer security device like the SABRE Security Bar has a rubber foot and it fits under your door handle; the bar adjusts to the length you need.
Pros
- Works with hinged and sliding doors
- Adjusts from 28.5 in. to 45 in.
- Can be used on bedroom doors
Cons
- May slide on tile floors
3. Defender Security Sliding Window Locks for vinyl window security
This is cool! Literally! The Defender’s Sliding Window Locks offer both protection and airflow. No screws required. Just clamp it on to the window track at the desired location, and it allows for ventilation on those cool Fall evenings. How’s that for a breath of fresh air???
Pros
- Easy installation
- Durable die-cast construction
Cons
- Difficult removal
4. Sliding Door and Window Locks for aluminum sliding doors/windows
Gripping pads on these door and window locks keep them secure on any sliding door or window track. Double thumbscrews make installation easy and snug. Choosing the lock placement along the track lets you control how far your door or window opens.
Pros
- Heavy duty aluminum construction
- Easy installation
- Snug fit
Cons
- Poor performance on vinyl windows
5. Addalock lock reinforcement for renters
The Addalock does just what the name suggests: It adds a second lock to your doorknob. You can use it on a front door or on interior doors to block anyone from getting in. It takes seconds to install, and it won’t leave any holes or marks, so it’s a great security device for renters.
Pros
- Fast, easy installation
- Non-marking design
- Compact size
Cons
- Non-universal fit
6. Defender Sliding Door Security Bar for securing sliding glass doors
The Defender Sliding Door Security Bar is just like your grandma’s broomstick in the sliding door track, but with handy components like a hinge that makes it easy to lock and unlock without removing the entire thing and an adjustable telescoping length.
Pros
- Adjustable telescoping design
- Hinged operation
- Extruded aluminum construction
Cons
- Drilling required
7. Taiker Personal Emergency Alarm for deterring intruders
A whole-house alarm system with monitoring might not be in your budget, but there’s no reason you can’t still scare off intruders with a loud noise. A five-pack of push-button Taiker alarms is under $20, so you can stash one in every room of your house.
Pros
- LED flashlight
- Compact key fob design
- Loud 140 dB alarm
Cons
- Limited durability
8. SABRE Shed and Garage Alarm for garages and outbuildings
Even though this alarm is marketed for sheds and garages, you can use it to secure any door in your home. It’s easy to arm and disarm with your own four-digit code, and you can choose between alarm and chime modes.
Pros
- Loud 120 dB alarm
- Easy installation
- Entry and exit delay
Cons
- Permanent entry delay
- No remote monitoring
