Firstly, apologies for being, well, gone, for so long.  It's been rough losing Finn.  He was my shadow, my ever-so-faithful, velcro Trusty Furry Assistant.  I don't have words presently.  I can't...my heart and soul are shattered.  So today it's a Variety Pack Day to catch up a bit on a handful of things I've distracted myself with around the house. Soooo....yeah.   Thank you for your kind comments and messages.  Thank you. As when Hailey died, which will be ten years ago this coming July, a hard anniversary to mark, we jumped ship.  Thi ..read more

My apologies, I will be taking a bit of a break.  I'm not quite sure when I'll be back but I will be. Finn, our Big Dog, big boy sweetheart, passed away unexpectedly on March 20.  To say we are devasted and destroyed is an understatement.  To say I'm not functional is an understatement as well.  We love him so much.  He will be so missed.  Our hearts are shattered. Thank you for your understanding during this awful time for us.   Thank you.   ..read more

  Whooo it's been an embarrassing stitch of time here, getting back onto the DIY Stair Project.  I've been a tad busy.  But today, we're one step (ahhhhh haaa ha, pun) closer to done with the landing. Yes, the landing.  Finally.  Omg.  Finally. This was a design and installation quandary which always takes me plenty of brain effort.  Mostly in the installation head space arena as I had to sort of reverse engineer how to get it in there.  Math. Well, ok, in fairness, the design took some time to figure too. What I did know, to begin with, was I was ..read more

  Yes, another scrap wood DIY how-to today!  Seriously, I know.  But hey, I’ve got too much scrap wood.  So all right, let's make tray picture frames! I will gush momentarily, these are snazzy.  Especially since you can customize them any which way until Sunday.  Into the next week even.  Truly the possibilities are boundless here.  Ultimately I should thank two things for this project, well ok, three:  Glenfarclas then my new Bora wall mount storage rack* then the Mackintosh House gift shop.  And ok ok, four:  myself.  In mixed ..read more

  Ah here we are, the last in my series of Actual Travel (as opposed to our Web Trips), it’s the Faroe Islands + travel tips. Let me preface this post by saying, even if you aren't planning a trip, any trip, just click the links for a visual treat. Yes, the Faroe Islands.  It’s possible you’ve never heard of them and to be honest, I hadn’t until, I’m embarrassed to say, Instagram.  Ya know, the ‘gram, it typically shows you accounts you might be "interested" in and, for me, I’m typically not until one day the most dramatic scenery blew my little mind.  Dang ..read more

  We already know the details are not the details so indeed, it truly is the little things that make a major difference.  Hence a Variety Pack of little things! Honestly, I haven’t had much time to get to anything big or on my to-do list or the swarm of lingering projects strewn about the house.  Every day is different with Finn and though for the most part he’s doing ok, I’m still left with very little time for DIY schnizz.  We all have those little things lollygagging around, stuff we know we need to do, fix, tweak, tidy up, declutter, organize, whatever, and we know ..read more

  Well this is a nifty little project!  How to DIY concrete and rebar outdoor solar lights!  They're really quite easy too! I'm always on a quest to light up the outdoors with subtle decorative low-light solar lighting as I've pointed out, lighting is like room jewelry.  Not only for an indoor space, such as lamps, hanging fixtures, and such but also for an outdoor space. Multiple sources of light and multiple types of light, as in varying bulb wattages, plus the ability to adjust said light with dimmers create visual warmth, cozy ambiance, and all-around comfort ..read more

  Yeah so maybe you saw a fun little video of this project over on my Instagram or maybe over on my TikTok but it appears, according to my records, I have yet to share it here.  Doh, what an oversight!  Yes, I made slatted wood wall panels for our kitchen doorway.  Or, see it here... And it's freakin' cool glow-up indeed, right?!   If I do say so myself. I will say too, I was concerned about doing it up fancy pants in this doorway because it's our daily egress in and out, the way to the pantry, the only access to the back stair, and out to the yard and garage. M ..read more

  Ah, look at me in a semi-timely manner getting the week two of actual travel, week two of our Scotland trip shared with you! If you remember week one, we were on a whirlwind tour planned by John Grant, the Chairman of Glenfarclas Distillery, named Distiller of the Year for 2023 by the way.  I mean still, it utterly boggles my mind that John and his lovely lovely wife Ishbel spent a week of their valuable time with me and my cool woodworking friend Scott. It was unreal.  Unreal.  Fun.  As I stare off into the distance reflecting. Truly, an unbelievable chan ..read more

  I alluded to this nifty project in my ol' Dollar Store DIY Decor:  Beaded Towel Ring post a short moment ago.  Yes, it's another wall mounted mirror (with clips) frame. Yay too, another in a lovely line of spiffy scrap wood undertakings! I'm not going to profess this is earth-shattering or maybe even all that swanky, but I like it very much and it was a great way to not only a. dress up a naked mirror but also b. use up scrap wood. See, not long ago, I blew up the basement closet and my door rolling table loaded with said scrap wood to clean things up, out, reorganize, an ..read more