Apr 23

Our Backyard Swimming Pool Has Become a Neighborhood Hangout

My wife and I decided to purchase a backyard swimming pool last year and have it installed so that my son and daughter and their friends could come over and swim whenever they wanted to. We live in a very close-knit community, and our friends are always welcome to come over whenever they want to. Well, it was not long before our backyard swimming pool became a neighborhood hangout and hoards of people were over at our house on a regular basis!

When we first had the backyard swimming pool installed, we invited a couple of our neighbors over and informed them that their kids could bring their bathing suits and trunks and go swimming. We had a barbecue, and the kids swam for a good portion of the afternoon and into the evening. I noticed that one of our friends kept looking over at the pool. I asked her if everything was all right, and she said she was really tempted to get in the pool herself. My wife and I both told her she was welcome to do, and she immediately jumped up, took off her shirt and shorts and was wearing her bathing suit underneath.

My wife and I both looked at each other and laughed, until her husband took of his shirt and jeans, and was wearing his swimming trunks. Apparently, news had spread about our backyard swimming pool, and even the adults wanted in. Our friends ran over to the pool and jumped inside, while our other friends went home to get their bathing suits and my wife and I went inside to get ours. Before long, we were all out in the pool, frolicking in the water like a bunch of schoolchildren, and having the time of our lives! Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 23

Grab a Wrench and Fix That Dripping Faucet

Even if you’re not a particularly frugal kind of person, a dripping faucet can really get on your nerves for the kind of waste it represents. Even if it is just water. Almost always, the cause behind a dripping faucet is a worn-out part of one kind or another.

To fix a dripping faucet is an ideal beginner’s DIY project. It isn’t too complicated, it can be an involved-enough project to satisfy your need to actually do something useful, and it can get some useful work done. Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 23

Bathroom Flooring Options

If you want to change things up at home, a new bathroom can be just what the doctor ordered. Though  it is a small room (or rooms) in your home, it is a place where everyone goes quite a few times a day. You want to have an inviting and function bathroom that pleases the senses as long as possible. Do not forget to give some thought to your bathroom flooring options when you are doing a remodel. Some things work better than others and some are just plain bad ideas.

If you have ever had a rental, you may have had carpeting in the bathroom. Some landlords will put this in the bathroom and the kitchen just to make sure the floors underneath are safe. This is not only not a good idea, it does not work. Those are two rooms where water and other things can go just about anywhere. The carpet will protect the floor for a while, but once it seeps down, not only is the carpet ruined, the floor underneath is as well. Avoid carpeting when thinking about bathroom flooring options. It is not cost effective by any means.

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