Author Archives: Andy

Oct 18 2010

How times have changed

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Today I went down to the laundry room and discovered a CFL bulb had leaped to its death off the shelf while I was hammering floors down, and there was broken glass EVERYWHERE (mostly from the globe around the bulb, though). Out of curiosity, I wondered what the government had to say about cleaning up CFL bulbs, since they contain mercury (a possible 4mg!).

Don’t use a vacuum or a broom on hard surfaces, try and manage with cardboard and duct tape. Put everything in a sealed bag or canning jar. Clothes came in contact with some glass? Discard. Take the waste to a recycle area. Wipe down your vacuum. Ventilate the area. For FOUR MILLIGRAMS.

Then I remember at the family reunion, the talk amongst the folks of the baby boomer generation talking about playing with mercury. As in rolling it around on their hands and such. Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?

Oct 3 2010

A bushel and a peck

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Today we picked a bushel of apples. Okay, it’s really a laundry hamper full of apples. I estimate we cleared out about half of the non-tiny apples from one of our trees.

And here is Anya using her new magnetic chalkboard wall. Only the magnetic part can be used right now – according to the can, we should wait 3 days (THREE DAYS!) before priming with chalk dust and using. I’m not sure Cabol can wait that long.

Aug 30 2010

Wanna shake my tree?

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Yesterday I was mowing up by the workshop, when I saw a handful of peaches scattered next to it. I started grumbling about Cabol throwing out old fruit for the animals right where I’d mow over it.

Then I looked up and saw 2 dozen bright red and yellow peaches hanging off a tree that appears to be growing under the large spruce next to the workshop. I blame squirrels, but I can’t understand how I missed a bunch of peaches growing over my head ALL SUMMER LONG. It’s not like it is the first time I’ve mowed there!

Jun 12 2010

New toy

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Our new $267 riding mower, courtesy of the Sears Outlet website.

I was a little concerned when it wouldn’t turn over last night, but I borrowed a battery charger today from my boss, and it turns out the battery was mostly drained. Charged it for awhile tonight, and it started up on the first try. I took it down the hill and back. It’s been probably 20 years since I’ve last driven a riding mower, and our hilly, uneven ground was a little scary. But I managed not to tip over!

Apr 19 2010

Go fly a kite

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Saturday (or maybe it was Friday) it was windy outside, so we got out the kite Anya received from the Easter Bunny. Ok, it’s almost always windy here, but it was windier than normal. Anya thought it was the greatest thing in the world, especially once we finally got it to stay aloft for more than 15 seconds. She stood in the driveway holding on to the string with both hands, because she wanted to do it all by herself. Then she let go.

It ended its life with the string stuck to the telephone/power lines, and the kite flapping madly until it was consumed by a kite-eating tree in the woods on the other side.

Jan 20 2010

Happy cake

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Today is, as Anya would say, a day for a happy cake. For the first time since we received all that snow the weekend BEFORE CHRISTMAS, we were able to drive the car all the way from the street to the house!

This will, of course, but a damper on the Loafkeeper Diet Plan. But it also means we can get the microwave we bought the other day from the Home Depot clearance section out of the car and into the house.