If you mix pets, children, entertaining and simple day-to-day life with your beautiful wood floors, you know that what you get is floors that are less than pristine. I am speaking from experience as my 100 year old pine floors bear the brunt of the feet of many sub-contractors, my daughter’s garden … [Read more...]
Urban Gardening: Why Dad Had ’Nam Flashbacks in my Front Yard
May 20, 2010 By ·
My banana tree has far exceeded my expectations of its growth. On year two of its planting, it hit 20-some feet and produced three massive bunches of green bananas, inedible since our Atlanta growing season is shorter than Costa Rica’s. And then there are the canna lilies that shot up … [Read more...]
Clawfoot Tubs, Bad Hygiene, and the Sears Catalog for T.P.
May 19, 2010 By ·
I am enamored with my clawfoot tub, which is original to our restored 1911 Craftsman bungalow. It’s is a deep wellspring of contentment. I love soaking, with a glass of red vino, on a chilly winter day. And since I’m sharing, I prefer the water extra hot with an ample sprinkling of … [Read more...]
The Silence of the Lambs Basement of Old Junque
May 18, 2010 By ·
I get a huge kick out of amassing great quantities of old junk. Not just junk really, but “junque.” That’s French and that makes it valuable. I kid, sorta. … [Read more...]
How Little Bug Bodies Give Trim that Warm Historic Look
May 18, 2010 By ·
My favorite old house finish is made from the scraped bits of bug secretions. And when first harvested, the finish is a tempting amalgam of scraped bark, bug appendages, and sticky-lac resin. The female lac bug is the one responsible for this resin and she lives in the trees of India and … [Read more...]
Avoid a Paint Hang-Over with Essential Oil
May 17, 2010 By ·
Ever paint a room and feel like you've been injected by a flu-like contagion and then dragged behind the back of a truck? I've been the unfortunate victim of a painting hang-over without any joy of getting there. Happily, a friend of mine has cured my painterly blues. Probably the most common … [Read more...]
