SheldonTimes

Several years ago I wanted to rent a powerwasher to clean the deck at the Media house before refinishing, but since the rental fee for two days was considerably more than half the cost of a new unit, I ended up buying one instead. It turned out to be a great investment. It cleaned that deck twice. Then I used it once on the front patio after moving to Friendship Road.

Our bathroom repairs have been pretty much on hold, because the next step involves electrical work. For the bathroom, we need/want:

• replace light over basin
• add GFI outlet near basin
• add outlet in bathroom closet (so rechargeables can be out of sight)
• add ceiling exhaust fan

While we're at it, we will:

Martha Stewart sold me on the idea of using attractive refillable containers for items you tend to keep handy on the sink or counter to avoid being constantly assaulted by advertising and unattractive products. I invested something under a dollar in a pour spout that I added to a Prussian blue liter bottle that once held mineral water or something, and I've been using that ever since for my olive oil.

When we were children, clothes were hung on the line to dry, and sometimes instead on a wooden rack. Automatic dryers were introduced as conveniences, but over time they have become viewed as necessities of modern life. What a shame. Dryers are expensive to operate, increase the temperature in the house, and stress fabrics, decreasing the useful life of clothes. What's more, clothes from the line smell like sunshine, something you can't fake with a detergent or fabric softener.

Why clutter up the pantry with pale imitations of real foods that are easy to prepare, vastly superior in taste and quality, and often less expensive? Mark Bittman's article from The New York Times takes a decidely upscale approach