A few months ago I moved into a new house and found myself with two dogs and no fenced yard. After about a week of taking Kirby outside on a leash I was seriously questioning my sanity! What possessed me to get this dog? Was I in my right mind? Kirby is a healer so he’s constantly trying to “heal” anything that moves; cars, joggers, cyclist, if it’s moving he’s going to round it up! He about pulled my arm off several times. My last house had a fence so I didn’t have to take him out on a leash 3 or 4 times a day and we only walked in a park that almost nobody used. I knew I needed to fence the yard, and soon, because one of us, me or the dog, would not survive much more of this. So we happily began fencing the yard and on the 2nd day a city inspector stopped by to ask if we had a fence permit, um, no, seriously? I need a permit to put up a fence? So began my latest adventures in permitting and working with inspectors. Read More
Chalk Up Another Completed Project – DIY Chalk Paint Chalkboard
This past weekend I decided to create a framed chalkboard. I wanted someplace to post my weekly menu so I didn’t get asked every day “what’s for dinner?” I was going to buy one, but I couldn’t find one big enough or cheap enough – those things are pricey! So I headed off to the home improvement center and bought a quart of chalkboard paint and two 8’ pieces of 1X3 select pine, the wood is for the frame. I decided I needed to frame it since I’ve never been very good and coloring inside the lines. I already had everything else I needed; painter’s tape, tape measure, level, painting tools and left over trim paint (for the frame). I wanted my chalkboard to be roughly 24” X 60”, that would be wide enough and tall enough to fit 6 days of menus. Read More