Blog archives
Home stories in our blog
'Raccoon Mayhem' commercial (Allstate insurance)
August 28, 2011
The Allstate insurance Mayhem commercials starring Dean Winters have burrowed deep into my mental attic.
Blizzard of 2011: Snow storm video (Racine, Wisconsin)
February 3, 2011
A YouTube video summary of the Blizzard of 2011, as we experienced the snowstorm here in Racine, Wisconsin.
Blizzard of 2011 - Racine, Wisconsin: First video
February 2, 2011
Our first peek out the window at the results of the Blizzard of 2011 in Racine, Wisconsin.
Inkjet printer to laser printer: The switch that saved our sanity
September 4, 2010
Dell Color Laser Printer 3130cn: Cheaper in the long run than inkjet, with much more professional-looking results and no grueling hours of waiting.
Good day for the good old-fashioned fan
June 24, 2009
I’m enjoying summer like ‘The Greatest Generation’ with my World War II replica Vornado fan.
Juniper bushes and jeans: Backyard landscape idea
May 7, 2009
We decided to change our shrubbery, but now there’s a fence — and of course wet clothing.
House plants: Will fragrant hoyas fill our home with Froot Loops® perfume?
April 14, 2009
The Hoya obscura is said to be an especially fragrant houseplant. We should find out soon.
Will Wisconsin's Time Warner Cable customers soon see Road Runner caps?
April 6, 2009
In some cites, Time Warner Cable is reportedly going to start charging premiums for Internet bandwidth usage. How does $200 per month sound to you?
Through today only: Pick 'n Save deal on Eight O'Clock Coffee
April 4, 2009
Our local Pick n’ Save has 36-ounce bags of Eight O’Clock 100% Columbian on sale for just $8.99.
AIG and a little trouble sleeping
March 2, 2009
AIG has succeeded wildly at one thing: Keeping families up at night.
How Jerry Taft and TweetDeck found me fresh eggs, dead body
January 25, 2009
During a movie intermission, I try out TweetDeck’s ‘search’ feature and find a dead body and fresh eggs nearby.
Steeling a fabulous new kitchen look
December 8, 2008
Apply Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel to your outdated appliances to make them look brand new.
Bring back Indian summer
December 6, 2008
Here in southeastern Wisconsin, December has started off with snow, and more snow is coming.
Recipe: Potatoes Roasted with Mustard and Rosemary
August 10, 2008
A simple, rustic roasted potato recipe that Amy threw together a year or two ago.
Out with House Sparrows, in with American Goldfinches
May 9, 2008
We had way too many noisy sparrows, so we stopped feeding them and now focus on more desirable birds like the American Goldfinch.
Political robo calls: Mosquitoes of campaign season
February 14, 2008
Political calls are annoying in the extreme, and it’s time to ban them.
Pierogi recipes: Cheese filling, cabbage filling, mashed potato filling
December 15, 2007
Pierogi recipes — for pierogi dough and several different fillings — as handed down by my mother.
How to keep your clothes looking new longer, despite laundering
October 17, 2007
A few things you can do to reduce damage when laundering your clothes.
Wacky Peerless faucet instructions
September 14, 2007
The installation instructions for Peerless faucets are funny reading.
Playing in the dirt
May 30, 2007
A roundup of our spring backyard gardening activities here in Racine, Wisconsin.
"In Spite of Ourselves" / John Prine and Iris DeMent
March 23, 2007
A video clip from the old ‘Sessions at West 54th Street’ show.
Spring is sprouting
March 22, 2007
We’re going to try to grow many of our backyard plants from seed this year.
St. Patrick's Day with Irish breakfast, Racine parade, and Irish stew recipe
March 19, 2007
Since it fell on a Saturday this year, we could celebrate all day — from an Irish breakfast to the Racine parade to a homemade Irish stew.
NOAA Weather Radios with SAME technology
February 9, 2007
One of these radios could save your life, or the lives of your loved ones.
Happy New Year with Emeril's Hoppin' John recipe
January 1, 2007
This dish of black-eyed peas and pork meat is considered good luck on New Year’s Day in the southern U.S.
About earthworms and soil
December 3, 2006
Underneath my yard, I’m hoping to cultivate a healthy population of these amazing animals.
Hummingbirds in Wisconsin
November 1, 2006
I did some reading, hung a hummingbird feeder, and sure enough — a hummingbird came to our window.
Tomato hornworm caterpillar? No, tobacco hornworm
July 27, 2006
I was very honored to have this visitor devouring our tomato plants — until I discovered what it really was.
'Cooking Light': It's what's for dinner
July 20, 2006
The magazine — and the MyRecipes.com website — are great sources for interesting-but-easy, healthy weeknight dinners.
Yew shrubs: Toxic taxus, poisonous plants!
July 11, 2006
The plant is exceptionally toxic, with one mouthful able to kill a horse or cow within 5 minutes.
When in Racine
July 6, 2006
Since moving to Racine, we’re beginning to appreciate some of the special things here.
We are gardeners, and it is good
June 2, 2006
We have been reading a few gardening books, and now we’re planting some things in our yard.
Oatmeal recipe: Steel-cut oats ala Alton Brown
May 17, 2006
‘Good Eats’ is a TV show that can improve your life. Steel-cut oatmeal is a food that may lengthen it.
Charlie don't surf
May 3, 2006
Creeping Charlie or Ground ivy, a.k.a. Glechoma hederacea, is a lawn weed that can drive a homeowner batty.
This is for the birds
April 28, 2006
Moving from apartment to house has made it possible for us to attract a much wider variety of birds to our backyard.
