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62 posts
Mild Winters Still Cost Money: Draft-Proofing a 1950s HouseDecember 1, 2025A 1958 brick ranch leaks air in quiet ways. The cheap weekend fixes we did this fall, right after the new attic insulation finally went in.
A Thanksgiving Plan for a Small KitchenNovember 21, 2025Eight guests, nine feet of counter and one oven. Our make-ahead Thanksgiving plan, day by day, with who brings what.
Getting the Guest Room Ready in One WeekendNovember 12, 2025Our third bedroom was my desk, a pile of boxes and the Christmas bins. Two days and about $60 later, it was ready for a Thanksgiving guest.
Layering Throws and Pillows Without Buying NewNovember 3, 2025Shopping our own closets for fall: a cedar chest of blankets, old flannel shirts turned pillow covers, and three loose rules.
Pecan Season in the BackyardOctober 24, 2025Two old pecan trees, one stubborn beagle, and a lot of squirrels. How we gather, crack, and store the backyard harvest each fall.
How I Read 40 Books a Year Without Buying ThemOctober 15, 2025A former library assistant's system for reading about forty books a year for free: holds, renewals, interlibrary loans and small habits.
Shopping for Homeowners Insurance After Our Premium JumpedOctober 6, 2025Our renewal came in $550 higher with no claims. How I spent two weeks comparing quotes and policy wording, and what we decided in the end.
Chicken Bog: A Lowcountry Pot for a WeeknightSeptember 26, 2025A peppery one-pot of chicken thighs, smoked sausage and rice, made weeknight-friendly for about $13, plus notes on getting the texture right.
A Laundry Corner That Works in Five Square FeetSeptember 17, 2025Our washer and dryer live behind bifold doors in the back hall. A two-by-two-and-a-half-foot corner beside them now does the rest.
Painting the Front Door: The Smallest Big ChangeSeptember 8, 2025One quart of exterior paint, a cool September morning and a faded brown door that became the friendliest thing on our street.
Why Our August Power Bill Hit $312 and What We ChangedAugust 29, 2025Our worst electric bill ever arrived this week. A frank look at why August cost so much and the changes we're making before next summer.
Learning to Like a Slower Pace After Leaving My Library JobAugust 20, 2025Eight months after leaving my library job, on missing the work, losing the structure, and slowly learning to like a quieter day.