One of the unhappiest experiences the home furniture maker can run into
is buying a piece of wood and then finding it’s just a little too short.

Because of shrinkage and varying standards of mill planing, there is a difference between the actual “net” size of dressed lumber that you get from the lumberyard and the nominal size that you order. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a gardener that has an unlimited supply of water, consider yourself lucky. There are many of us who live in drought zones where the garden and lawn watering rules are very constrictive to the healthy growth of gardens and plants. Many people just give up when they find out how few gallons of water they are permitted to use, but some of us have just found ways to cope with less water. There are many ways to optimize ones garden to conserve water while still keeping it lush. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers make the mistake of mis-understanding the process by which antique items are found.  Many collectors and dealers waste valuable time searching in places where they believe that these items are in great abundance.  But a true understanding of where antiques originate seems to have eluded many well meaning antique dealers and collectors.

It’s elementary Watson! Read the rest of this entry »

While gardening is usually thought of as a productive way to grow beautiful plants and obtain tasty fruits and vegetables, few gardeners have ever considered the immense amounts of exercise one can get in the process of gardening. While you can get almost as much muscle (if not more) exercise as you do working out, it is very productive at the same time. Read the rest of this entry »

A great way to spice up your garden is to add a water feature. These can be both soothing and aesthetically appealing. I’ve found that there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on a bench next to my garden and listening to my fountain while I read a good book or do some studying. Putting in a water feature is fairly easy and relatively inexpensive, and will add immensely to the pleasantness of your garden. Also, the maintenance level is minimal. Read the rest of this entry »