Home Improvement

LAST October, as in 2021, I installed a new hook outside for our garden hose.  Previously the hose had either been draped over a lilac shrub or chucked on the ground:

The photos I shared on Instagram from Fall 2021. I’m slowly getting caught up!

I built a 90-quart bin cage for the random times I catch pregnant mice in the basement… mouse babies are true escape artists!

This post builds on 5 Little Projects Part 1 published June 8th [projects 1-5], 5 Little Projects Part 2 published June 21st [projects 6-10], & 5 Little Projects Part 3 published September 7th [projects 11-15].  This will cover the final 5 little projects I worked on in 2020.

Over the summer I came upon a website dedicated to building bin cages for hamsters and other small pets.  I immediately wanted to build bin cages for the mice to double the room they have to run around and play at night. 

This past summer, Jim challenged me to build a 3-panel folding screen for under $40.  Actually, it started with him searching online for an affordable screen for the corner of the bedroom, but they all looked [to me] like discount store dressing rooms. He said “if you can build one for less than $40, then go for it!”. And I did 🙂

Part 1 took us up the point of removing the spider arm from the Samsung washer drum.  It was nearly impossible.  The bolts were completely fused to the spider arm and drum. I finally got the old spider arm off and the new one on, and everything is working perfectly!

OMG this was a PROJECT!!!  One week to dismantle the washer, replace the spider arm, and put the washer back together.  Another week to wait for a part we didn’t know needed replacing. But it works great now!

In Part 1 I explained how I found a ton of rot behind the existing steps when I pulled them away from the house.  And critter holes.  Which probably explains why I trapped and released about 30 mice from the basement this summer! 

This project began in the Fall of 2018. I replaced our 14 gold-colored doorknobs, 5 gold-colored deadbolts, & 42 gold-colored hinges with silver-colored brass. Much better 🙂