1916 Craftsman Bungalow House featuring Craftsman Fonts

Aluminum Screen For Smart Meters

2012-01-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I was determined to find some aluminum screen to cover my "smart meter" that Ive talked about recently. More on that here: http://1916home.blogspot.com/2011/12/smart-meters-are-still-dangerous.html

Just head over to your local hardware store and you will find the aluminum screen in the screen door area. They sell a few different sizes and widths and for our needs I picked up a roll that only cost $10. There was a smaller width for $7 available. I figure better safe than sorry and went with the wider screen.

I havent put this up yet. Our old house has a million things to do on it and I will fit this task in ASAP... hopefully in the next couple of days.

I recently asked The Dervaes Family what their take is on the Smart Meters and they posted my question on their recent blog post. Read the whole thing here:

http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2012/01/23/smart-meters-really-smart/

There is no long term scientific data on smart meters. I was recently lambasted for posting my thoughts on them (probably from an electric company employee), but if you think about it all... why take the risk? There is obviously some serious concerns going on here with many counties and cities in California banning the use of smart meters... http://stopsmartmeters.org/how-you-can-stop-smart-meters/sample-letter-to-local-government/ca-local-governments-on-board/

Playing Possum

2012-01-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

This little guy has been visiting us nightly. We have no name for him, but he seems to be EVERYWHERE. In our trash, in the garage, running past the back door, etc. From a distance this opossum is kinda cute, but up close this is one ugly looking kid. We dont plan to remove him from our surroundings, and since he is just a little guy, we will do no harm to him.

I am mainly worried he will bite one of our cats, but he seems to hide himself up in the trees during the day, well out of reach. From what I am reading he will get along with cats and its very rare Opossums carry rabies. In this photo I caught him sleeping in the garage and woke him.

So if we are stuck with this opossum, what good are they? Well let me tell you :)

Opossums are the ONLY marsupial in North America. They are relatives of the Koala Bear and Kangaroo. They are omnivorous and eat insects, snails, rodents, berries, fruits, grass, leaves, cat food, dog food and people food. Opossums are nocturnal. If attacked or frightened it might play dead or "play possum". Fossil remains date the Opossum to the time of the dinosaurs... 70 million years ago.

These guys generally dont live very long... 2 to 4 years, with 7 years being about the most. They have so many predators like humans, owls and coyotes..... hmmmm. cars too.

Well, we'll do our best to keep him around, but we do have a night owl that comes around from time to time.

You can learn more about Opossums if you wish here:

Opossum Society of the United States...
http://www.opossumsocietyus.org/frequently_asked_questions.htm

National Opossum Society
http://www.opossum.org/

2012 - Off The Grid

2012-01-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

2012 is the year I am planning to go "off the grid". Since this is THE year I was hoping to be completely off the grid, Id better get moving. Can I be 100% off the grid by December 31, 2012? I dont see why not.

I will be putting together a plan and update the blog as I work on projects. With wind and solar easier in reach then ever before and with electronics using less wattage... this is entirely possible.

There are Do It Yourself wind turbines, youtube videos to make wind turbines, tips and techniques to make solar panels and fix broken ones. Computers today use very little energy compared to 10 years ago. Many big screen TVs use less energy than that of a light bulb. LED light bulbs are better then ever and keep coming down in price.

If you too are interested in going off the grid, or reducing your dependency, please post a comment and keep in touch so we can share ideas. Thanks!

She was 20% Dead

2012-01-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

The misses took a terrible spill on the weekend. We were out on one of our walks... we love our town... everything is sooo close together that walking makes perfect sense. We walk with friends, we walk with neighbors, we walk to get a beer, we walk to hear good music, we walk to the library, we walk to the farmers market, ok I will stop... bottom line... WE WALK.

As we were crossing the street Miss 1916home took a spill and ground the palms of her hands, her knees and her legs on the road. In an area that sees heavy traffic too. I had to flag traffic to slow down so I could pick her up and carry her to someones front yard. Of all the places to take a spill.

Not wanting to risk infection I took her to the hospital... just a couple of blocks away from us. No.... I didnt make her walk there, I dragged her. JUST KIDDING. We drove! All is OK now... just some BAD scrapes and cuts in the worst places, and she is in a ton of pain now. Skinning the palms of ones hands ranks pretty high on my list of things I dont care for.... like drowning to death in a submarine.

The doctor told us she was 20% dead from losing blood. Apparently this is a new term being used in hospitals around Southern California. The doctor said to us "She was _____ percent dead." I find it funny since a human being is either A) ALIVE or B) DEAD. There is no such thing as a percentage of being alive or dead, is there? Or is this some sort of new "sympathy card" one can use on others?

MARY: I was 40% dead the other day.
JOHNNY: You were? How come?
MARY: I was sleeping and not awake.
JOHNNY: So technically you were alive the whole time.
MARY: Technically speaking I was.
JOHNNY: Hhhhmmmmm. Well I feel sooooo bad for you!
MARY: Aww, thanks :) You are so sweet. Can you do the dishes?

(sorry for the gruesome image above - its at least 80% sickening to look at)

We hope you are all 100% alive and doing fine and that 2012 brings you good health and happiness!

Whole Foods Organics Made in China

2012-01-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

If you have not seen this expose, you should check it out right now. We have shopped at Whole Foods before, but since none are near us, we do not really shop there. After seeing this, we are glad we dont.

As consumers we must be vigilant on everything we buy and put into our bodies these days, no matter what store you have purchased them from. This is a perfect example. Whole Foods has been selling "California Blend" frozen vegetables, only to read the back of the packaging to find out the food came from China. Whole Foods countered saying the food is organic, but no agency can verify this. China has had a long history of "additives" in food and excess use of pesticides.

A close look at other Whole Foods products you might be purchasing reveal:

Creamy Peanut Butter - made in China
Crunchy Peanut Butter - made in China
Cashew Butter - made in China
Organic Peanut Butter - made in China
Organic Pumpkin Seeds - made in China & Mexico
Raw Pine Nuts - made in China
Pepitas - made in China
Various Frozen Vegetable Packages - about 40% made in China

Many of Whole Foods organic and non organic products selling peanut butter made in China. Even seeds and nuts like pine nuts and pumpkin seeds made in China. Not all of Whole Foods frozen vegetables are made in China, but read the back of the packages because 40% of their frozen vegetables are made in China.

I think we are all wondering... how can we eat healthy in 2012? GOOD QUESTION!

Great Deals at Slickdeals.net

2012-01-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

We came across this website sometime in November before the holidays and am thankful we did, so I thought I would pass it on to everyone. It is called Slick Deals.

If you are a deal hunter there are some awesome deals to be had here. Ive seen everything from baby items, computer items, entertainment, electronics, food, the list goes on.

During the holidays we picked up a 32GB USB chip for $20... a great deal! Our first ever Blu ray player we picked up for only $50. It plays free radio stations, can access the weather, plays Netflix if you have a subscription and can play videos from a USB stick. I also picked up a slim portable USB DVD drive for $10 all pretty good deals. I helped one brother buy a six quart Kitchen Aid mixer for $150... which retails for $500 I believe. Its made in America and you can tell it will last a lifetime.

My most recent deal I found was for Lavazza coffee. Im an espresso drinker so Im always in the hunt for cheap in price coffee, not cheap in product. I paid only $12 for about 36 ounces of incredible tasting coffee.

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/66728/amazon.com-4pack-of-8.8oz-lavazza-crema-e-gusto-ground-coffee-bricks-italian

Many, if not most of the deals on Slick Deals expire at some point so you have to stay on the ball and check their website often. It is worth it though if you are looking for an item and want to wait for a great deal on it, or just browsing around. You can find many more great deals here....

http://www.slickdeals.net

Should I Hire Lawn Care

2012-01-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

I have always considered getting a lawn care maintenance person, but have yet to do so. It seems like every other person on my block already uses one for their yards and frankly their yards look better! I dont let my yard look bad, but sometimes I cannot get to it TWICE a week or whatever the norm is in my area.

Ive even considered going to an English garden style that looks more natural and no front grass. It still would need work. Weeding, cutting back, pruning, trimming, etc. We have a SMALL front yard and in my region people pay about $70 a month for lawn care service. It seems like a lot for an hour of work once a week. You know how it goes... make sure the trimmer battery is charged up, gas in the mower, mowing, raking, trimming, hedging, sweeping up, grab a beer, etc. Even with a small yard it still takes a good hour.

So in area for my small yard breaks down to $17.50 a week. Could I be more productive in that hour time? Could I justify hiring someone for the lawn while I work on something else?

I was thinking about this over the weekend when I had to attend to our big backyard that hasnt been maintained for a while. I spent the majority of the day on it and it felt like a wasted day to me. I could have been doing something far better.

Im still not sure which way I will go an I am curious what readers do.

Do you you save money and cut your own grass?
Or do you save time and have someone do the work?
How much is lawn care in your region?

Is the Government Poisoning You?

2011-12-29T19:53:00.000-08:00

Today I came across a very interesting exposé about what governments are doing to people. No matter where you stand on the issues I think this special report is worth a listen of your time. It is an incredible report about the government systematically poisoning people.

Do you believe it? Thinks its all hogwash? What about the documented facts? Does the source of the info make a difference?

What YOU do with the info contained below is up to you. Governments and big companies like Monsanto are counting on you NOT researching the info below.

Take the time to listen to the report or brief through the text and links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dtCpMilUtdI

Proof that the government is poisoning the population. With their stated goal to reduce population worldwide, eugenicists who run the world state have resorted to any means necessary to target reproduction and fertility, including the outrageous measures identified in the 1969 Planned Parenthood – World Population memo written by Frederick S. Jaffe.

That memo proposes reducing U.S. fertility via postponement of marriage, discouraging tax incentives for parents, encouraged increases in homosexuality, adding fertility control agents to the water supply and encouraging women to work, as well as measures including forced abortion and payments to encourage abortions. Many of these draconian calls for involuntary fertility control reflect some of the most controversial entries in the 1977 Ecoscience volume written by current White House science advisor John P. Holdren & population bomb scare-monger Paul Ehrlich.

From Bisphenol-a (BPA), to GMO crops, fluoride in water and countless other toxins slow killing modern society, the elite controllers have intentionally triggered cancer, disease and sterility while trying to mask their attack through "slow" ambient poisons that gradually drag down the masses as they eat factory-produced foods, drink public water and are bombarded by packaging products of all kinds.

BPA and other synthetic estrogen-mimickers are particularly harmful, and widely used in food-grade plastics, metal food cans, recycled paper & receipts, as well as countless other products-- as they interfere with the endocrine system, create gender-bending effects, reportedly cause male infertility, trigger early puberty, contribute to hyper-aging and are linked to breast cancer in adults, prostate cancer in children and numerous other harmful effects.

We participate in our own destruction through the designs of the elite via our own ignorance. Learn the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Read more on how to eliminate and reverse the effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other toxins naturally.

DOCUMENTATION & FURTHER RESEARCH:

http://static.infowars.com/2011/12/i/article-images/jaffememo-watersterilants.pdf

http://zombietime.com/john_holdren/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/monsantos-gmo-corn-linked_n_420365.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/033782_BPA_exposure_breast_cancer.html

http://news.change.org/stories/bpa-in-plastic-blamed-for-sparking-puberty-in-...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8093585/Bisphenol-A-now-linked-t...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1300402/Gender-bending-chemical-food-...

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/bpa-compromises-male-fe...

http://www.thestar.com/article/843074--banned-chemical-coats-40-of-store-rece...

http://www.infowars.com/scientific-study-finds-40-of-all-store-receipts-cover...

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/oralcare/2010-09-07-dental07_...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/05/AR20090305032...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1241091/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080514091427.htm

http://www.polymersolutions.com/blog/recycling-bpa-containing-receipts-taints...

http://www.naturalnews.com/001891.html

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/there-are-drugs-in-drinking-water...

http://www.naturalnews.com/032031_sperm_counts_radiation.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/033436_toxic_chemicals_clothing.html

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20100518/canned-food-may-expose-people...

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=6159899&page=1

http://www.ecoawareness.com/blog/bpa-in-toilet-paper-canned-soup%E2%80%A6-is-...

http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/some_unpleasant_sources_of_bpa_paper_pr...

http://www.infowars.com/food-and-depopulation-monsantos-monopoly/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-smith/genetically-modified-soy_b_544575...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/only-breed-smart-babies-ethicist/story-fn6bf...

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/from-7-billion-people-to-500-millio...

http://www.naturalnews.com/033993_BPA_protection.html

Merry Xmas and Hap Ho

2011-12-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Here at 1916 we have chosen a little bit different Christmas path this year. We have downsized dramatically. We saved money and time by not purchasing a Christmas tree. We did put up Christmas lights on the house but that was it. With the consumerism abound at this time of year, we already have what we want. Each other.

We kept the gift giving down this year. For the extended family we did a gift exchange and picked one name out of a hat instead of everyone exchanging gifts for each other. After all, the gifts are mainly for the children. Maybe next year we'll opt out of the gift exchange entirely and donate money to charity instead to people who are truly needy and would appreciate the gifts.

This year we sort of let Christmas unfold and happen on its own instead of forcing it and I think it worked out great. No set dates really, no forced Christmas shopping, etc. and this made for much less stress for us.

Yes, there are some pagan rituals thrown in for good measure to liven up the holidays (evergreen trees, santa), but Christmas for us is about honoring the birth of Jesus.

A Blessed Christmas to all!

Peace on Earth!

Smart Meters Are STILL Dangerous

2011-12-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I did an expose about Smart Meters and their potentially harmful emissions. You can read about it here:

http://1916home.blogspot.com/2010/12/smart-meters-are-dangerous.html

A year has passed now and I can tell you I am embarrassed to say I really havent done anything about it, and yet.... my health continues to decline ever since our smart meter was installed.

Initially I did make several calls to my local electric company, took notes, wrote down names and phone numbers only to be jostled around and shoveled from one department to another. I ended up moving on and forgot all about the smart meter problem.

I was recently looking at my electric bill online and notice they now offer an "opt-out" for a FEE! They will charge me to replace the meter which never needed replacing, then charge me a monthly fee for using the old style analog meter! WHAT A CROCK!

Its time to DO SOMETHING.... ANYTHING.... Watch the videos below. My first step this weekend is going to be installing some aluminum screening around my smart meter (video link #1 down below). Apparently this works better than say using some foil. Thats my first step and I will keep everyone reading informed.

Are you concerned about the "Smart Meters"? Here are some interesting videos.

Foiling a Smart Meter with Aluminum mesh screening...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJzBeUeXb0Q&feature=related

Bees, bats, & no more honey because of PG&E Smart Meter...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI0JJgKkyzs&feature=related

And if you dare, Replacing a smart meter with a safe analog meter...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ8YR7Kzj_M&feature=player_embedded#!

If you would like to learn more and get involved, please start here:

http://stopsmartmeters.org/

Green Gift Ideas To Suit All Budgets And Tastes

2011-12-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

Green Gift Ideas To Suit All Budgets And Tastes

Gifts are a huge part of Christmas and, as such, coming up with green gift ideas can actually help the environment. You really aren't limited in this area: there are literally hundreds of possible eco friendly gifts you could choose for family and friends this year.

Here are a few quick green gift ideas to get you started:

When you buy wooden gifts, ensure that the wood is taken from a sustainable source,
Gifts made from recycled waste materials (such as recycled metals or plastic) are a good choice,
When buying beauty products, opt for organic products wherever you can,
Buy gifts that encourage people to grow food, such as a starter kit for kitchen herbs,
Instead of cut flowers, choose potted flowers.

Fair Trade Gifts

Buying fair trade is an ethical choice for Christmas gifts, and any other products you may usually buy. The fair trade system ensures that the producers of the products, all around the world, are treated fairly in their prices and business practices. Although fair trade gifts are not the same as eco friendly gifts, they are a great way to ensure you're doing something good with your money. Make sure you look for the fair trade logo when buying your products.

Baked Gifts

If you're short on cash or ideas, then why not bake some gifts for Christmas this year? If you choose organic, local ingredients then your cooking will not only be more eco friendly, it'll also be healthier for anyone who eats it. What's more, this is a fantastic personalized Christmas gift choice!

Local Gifts

Whether you're buying food or other products, buying items that were produced locally can help to reduce the environmental impact. Not only this, but you'll be doing your part to help out businesses and individuals in your area.

The Gift Of Time

Not all the gifts you can give have to be physical products. Why not give someone your time? Perhaps you know someone who needs help redecorating their home, or sorting out the weeds in their garden?

You can also buy loved ones activities such as a day out, pampering in a day spa, a meal in a restaurant and much more. These green gift ideas don't need wrapping, but they provide something the recipient will never forget!

Utility Rebates

2011-12-15T09:27:00.000-08:00

The end of the year will be here and before I forget I wanted to remind everyone reading that many of our utility companies offer some sort of rebates or discounts. Some of them might end at the end of the year too, so now is a good time to double check their websites.

A local search of my gas company reveals $35 discount for new clothes washers, $30 for dish washers, $200 for a new furnace, .15 cents per square foot for insulation (that would save us $150), $200 on a tankless water heater, and up to $75 off for a high efficiency tank water heater.

Its definitely worth it to spend a few minutes checking your local websites for any rebates on items you need.

Eco Friendly Decorations For Christmas

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Eco Friendly Decorations For Christmas - Easier To Come By Than You Might Think!

Decorations can cause a lot of waste during the holiday season every year. Although many of us have decorations that we re-use every year, many stores are now stocking cheap, plastic decorations that wear out quickly and don't do anything to help the environment. Why not think about the kind of eco friendly decorations you could use instead?

Decorate With Nature

If you're in the market for new eco friendly decorations then one of the best places to find them is outdoors. There are plenty natural items that you can use to decorate your home. Once Christmas is over, you can leave them to biodegrade naturally.

Pine cones: You'll often find these on the ground during the winter, so gather some for free - and without harming any trees in the process - and glue them to wreaths or other Christmas decorations.

Leaves: What better way to make your home look like Christmas than by using a variety of winter leaves? Ivy is just perfect for decorations: combine it with twigs and holly and you can create the perfect, homemade wreath.

Berries and Nuts: We all associate nuts and berries with Christmas, and thankfully nature provides them for free. If you can, gather some acorns and holly berries to add to your decorations this year.

One of the best things about using natural, eco friendly decorations is that it encourages you to get outside and experience the real beauty of winter. Not only this, but you can turn it into a project for the whole family to enjoy together.

Recycled Paper

If you and your kids like to make your own Christmas decorations, then using recycled paper can be a great way to go about it. Paper chains are a simple way to decorate the home, or you can use old paper scraps to create snowflakes and more!

Christmas Tree & Lights

Choosing trees that can be planted outside after Christmas is the most eco friendly choice, and LED lights are the most energy saving way to light them. For ornaments, try making your own from recycled materials (old CDs, cardboard, fabrics and more) and add some organic, fair trade candy, too!

The key to using eco friendly Christmas decorations is to use natural, biodegradable materials wherever possible. When you do buy decorations, make sure that they are good quality and will be reused for years to come. And, if you have old decorations you no longer want, try donating them to ensure they still get some use.

The Weekend Goes Fast

2011-12-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

Weekends go by so fast. Maybe Im just too busy lately to notice even having a weekend? This weekend I did ZILCH on the house, I was so busy with finishing up and releasing our new Christmas Cookie Cookbook (click the ad to the right if interested). If you love baking I think you will love our new recipe ebook. There are about 150 different cookie recipes in there, many I translated from German or Polish. There is a whopping 15 chapters ranging from rolled cookies, drop cookies, refrigerator cookies and even low carb cookies... there is definitely something for everyone in here. Plus you will be supporting independent authors too and feel good about it. If you order from us directly you will get a nicely styled PDF version and an EPUB version for viewing on Nook, iPad or Kindle. Our ebook should arrive on portable devices very soon and we now start the long arduous process of getting it into printed form for sale on store shelves.

So thats what I did on our anniversary :) No rest for the weary huh? I know... not very romantic! Seven years already! Wow, it seems like we just got married!

If you have never known about it, we also sell the handmade Gustav Stickley Font. It is a true Craftsman Font that can be used for that key authentic look on a project you are working on. We have sold it for most of this year at half price. We are currently refreshing it, cleaning it up and adding more characters to the set. Around the new year we will be re-releasing it and raising the price back up. If you were ever considering purchasing it, now would be a great time. You get free updates on it for life, so if you had previously purchased from us, we will be emailing you the new versions when they become available soon. How cool is that huh? If only new car purchases worked that way!

There are some great websites I use often and love to pass them on. I hope they can be of some use to you!

Wunderlist is a GREAT site I use every day. I have lists and notes for everything and Im very organized now thanks to this (well, at least it looks like Im organized)...
http://www.wunderlist.com/

Castle.so is a super simple site to share a file with anyone. No registration needed....
https://castle.so/

Rick Steves has a great travel website. Excellent TV show (watch all his shows on Hulu) and even a radio podcast I love to listen to...
http://www.ricksteves.com/

Here are two interesting websites I have not seen hop the pond yet into America (both are British sites).

Rent your backyard out to people looking for a campground...
http://campinmygarden.com/

Rent your items. Tools, kitchen appliances, cars, clothes, you name it and you can rent it!
http://www.rentmyitems.com/

Do you think those could ever do well here in the USA?

1916HOME Christmas Cookie Cookbook

2011-12-11T09:13:00.001-08:00

Wow ohhh WOW! We finally did it! It has taken us ALMOST A YEAR to complete, but we have finally finished our Christmas Cookie Cookbook with over 150 Christmas cookie recipes inside.

You will enjoy many of my family favorites which have been brought back to life from old hand written notes in German or Polish languages. One of the best flaky pie dough recipes you will ever make is worth the price of this book alone! The best tasting peanut brittle and our Traditional Swiss Gingerbread recipe will keep you busy and looking for more great recipes within our book.

With so much time and effort (and sleepless nights) that has gone into this book, I want to sell it for $20 each. I am marking down until Christmas Day for only $10.95 which I think is an absolute DEAL.

Beautifully styled in the PDF version, the book design will bring you back 100 years as if you are opening an old classic recipe book uncovered from within the walls of our 1916HOME house. Each recipe has its own page making it easy to print one recipe and take notes for future baking. The EPUB version which is meant for portable devices like the Kindle, Nook, and iPad features an easy to use Table of Contents whisking you to whichever chapter you desire.Our eBook provides over 150 time-tested Christmas Cookie Recipes, that you can bake for Christmas, family reunions, Thanksgiving or simply to have fun in your kitchen with your children or relatives.

I am now working on the hardback edition which wont be ready in time for this Christmas, but the EBOOK version ** IS ** available! Click our ad below to go the website.

I sincerely hope our Christmas cookie recipes become a family favorite in your home each Christmas !

CLICK THE AD TO GO TO OUR

CHRISTMAS COOKIE COOKBOOK WEBSITE!!!

Environmentally Friendly Christmas Tree

2011-12-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

What Makes An EnvironmentallyFriendly Christmas Tree?

Your Christmas tree is a huge part ofwhat makes Christmas so special and memorable. Here are a few tipsfor making sure you choose the most environmentally friendlyChristmas tree available.

Artificial Christmas Trees

Artificial Christmas trees aren't themost environmentally friendly Christmas choice, due to the energythat goes into their production and the materials they use. However,if you choose wisely, an artificial tree can be something you'll usefor years and years to come - reducing the impact it will have.

If you choose to go the artificialroute then make sure you buy a quality tree that will last. You'llalso need to have a place to store it in between Christmases. If youreally want to reduce the impact your tree has, try finding asecond-hand reusable artificial tree for sale.

Cut Real Trees

Cut trees are one of the most commontypes of Christmas tree, and are very traditional. Picking your owntree is always fun and, once you have it at home, it'll give off awonderful smell! Not to mention the fact that you can choose theexact kind of tree you want.

Unfortunately, this isn't the bestchoice for the environment. Obviously, cut trees cannot be used year after yearand they will eventually die.

Living Trees

A far more environmentally friendlyChristmas tree choice would be to choose live trees that can beplanted outside once the holidays are over. This is definitely lesswasteful than buying a cut tree, as it keeps on growing even afterthe holidays. There are some drawbacks, though, such as the fact thatyou'll need to hide the roots in a suitable container while you'vegot it inside, and it'll cost more. And you'll have to be carefulthat your home isn't too warm for the tree to live healthily.

How To Recycle Old Christmas Trees

If you still want to buy a cutChristmas tree like we do each year, then you can at least reduce thenegative impact it has by recycling it once the holidays arefinished. For example, you could use the tree for projects in yourhome that require wood, or you can turn the tree into mulch using alocal Christmas tree recycling service.

Choosing an environmentally friendlyChristmas really is a big decision, and will take some advancedthought. Weigh up the pros and cons and do the best you can in yoursituation to help minimize the environmental impact of the tree youchoose.

Green Wrapping and Green Cards

2011-12-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

Green Christmas Presents Also Mean Green Wrapping and Green Cards

Green Christmas presents aren't just about what you choose to give as a gift - it's also important to think about wrapping paper and even the greetings cards you're sending out. Christmas cards are a fantastic way to get in touch with people who you may not have spoken to for a while, and are perfect for sending good wishes to family and friends. However, the numbers quickly add up, and most of us will end up using huge amounts of card for these yearly greetings.

Make Your Own Cards

If you're really feeling creative then why not try making your own cards from recycled materials? You can use parts of old greetings cards, or scraps of card, to put together cards that are personal and fun. This is an especially good idea if you've got kids who enjoy arts and crafts!

You can also go digital and design your own cards on the computer. This can be another fun project for you or the kids and is an easy way to send out cards without wasting any paper at all! Save the paper cards for only your closest friends and family and you'll be helping to save a lot of trees this Christmas.

Wrapping Gifts

A lot of gift wrap is difficult to recycle, especially since it gets torn up and thrown out with other trash! Try not to add to this waste by using recycled materials to wrap your green Christmas presents, such as old newspapers, magazines, old brown paper bags, or wrapping that you've salvaged from previous years. Most people won't mind you wrapping in this way - in fact, you can usually make it look unique and creative with a little effort! If you still want to buy wrapping paper, many stores now sell recycled options.

After Christmas

Once Christmas is over you'll likely be left with a huge number of Christmas cards that no longer have any use. It's important that you recycle cards as much as possible - whether this means re-using them for your kids' craft projects, or dropping them off at local stores who include a Christmas card recycling point.

Although these are easier to recycle, you should also try to save as many envelopes as you can when receiving cards. When it comes time to send cards again, you can reuse the better quality envelopes by using special “reuse labels” to cover up old details. This is a habit you can continue throughout the year, too!

You can also recycle holiday gift wrap. When unwrapping gifts, try to do it carefully rather than tearing it all and you can use it as is. This is the perfect way to turn the presents you receive into more green Christmas presents!

TOOLS The Chisel

2011-12-09T09:31:00.001-08:00

At the end of the week Im covering a different tool. It might be a new tool that just came on th scene, or an old tool used for centuries. Hopefully, my end of week tool series will give you something to think about when you are wandering the hardware store this weekend!

Today Im talking about the chisel. A chisel is one of the most basic tools every guy should have in their tool box. So gals, if your other half doesnt have any, they will make a great gift (or stocking stuffer). When it comes to chisels you get what you pay for. The chinese chisels do not hold an edge very well and require constant sharpening. USA, British and German made chisels will get you the most for your money as far as quality and longevity.

A chisel has three main parts. The shaped cutting edge, the handle, and the end used for striking with a hammer or mallet.

There are many types of chisels for many different applications. U shaped chisels are typical for woodturning. Cold chisels are used by blacksmiths, Tooth shaped chisels are used by sculptors and masonry chisels are generally dull and used for breaking, rather then cutting. I wont go into full details of each, so if you are interested you will have to do some of your own research.

The photo above is of a common wood chisel, probably the most used of all chisels. I purchased a set of three wood chisels at my local hardware store and paid around $20 for mine a few years back. Mine are low end, but they "get the job done". I recently purchased one nicer wood chisel, made in England, and paid $15 for the one but I have not needed to sharpen it yet and it cuts through wood like im cutting through butter with a butter knife. Its amazing and well worth the money.

Chisels are used by craftsmen all over the world and no toolbox should be without a set! (hint hint) I highly recommend at least a basic set of wood chisels and then branch out from there. Specific wood chisels if you get into wood working, or masonry chisels if you will be working in the garden creating pathways.

How to Grow Raspberries

2011-12-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

Every Wednesday I want to covera fruit, vegetable or flower. We have a bunch of varieties growing around the house so this should keep me busy blogging for a while! As you can guess from my recent posts, today Im going to cover raspberries.

All around our house we have systematically removed trees and bushes that have had no real value to us. My only real regret was the huge pine tree in our front yard. We loved the fresh pine / mountain fragrance when arriving home every day, but the pine needles killed off the grass in the front yard. Anyways, we have worked hard the last couple of years planting trees and shrubs that work for us. Just a tre providing shade was no longer good enough. Be it fruits, berries, or something edible, we wanted to make better use of what little land we had.

We wanted raspberries because of the high vitamin C and antioxidant properties they offer. Plus they taste great :)

We also chose a red "everbearing" variety called Summit Raspberries. Everbearing is just that... they will produce more often than summer varieties (june to august). With our everbearing berries we'll get a spring (april) to summer (july) batch of berries and a second batch from about early autumn (september) until frost time, which for us is usually the beginning of the year (january). Your mileage will vary depending on your locale.

Ive never planted raspberries from seed, we found some nice young stalks at our local nursery and they have done very well. And once you get some stalks, you can separate them and plant them in a few locations and they will do well.

You will need well drained soil for raspberries. Our raspberries have grown straight up, very sturdy. You can tie them to a post or a fence to prop them up, but we didnt even need to do that the stalks are so strong.

After the second run of berries are done, I'll do some trimming in February. The easy way to go is to cut all the stalks down to a couple inches of the ground. A better way to go for the everbearing variety is to cut the light colors stalks (might be green) down to a couple inches and the dry brown stalks remove completely. Doing so will help produce MORE berries in the coming season.

As with all of our crops... a soaker hose has really helped grow our garden, especially in warm summers. No need to spend an hour or two watering, just put a soaker hose on a timer and you re set.

Hope it helps! Happy gardening!

Some Raspberry Facts:

high in dietary fiber
contain 50% daily amount of vitamin C
high in potassium, vitamin A and calcium
raspberries are also known as cane berries
contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium

Pile of Leaves

2011-12-05T15:33:00.001-08:00

Well, there certainly isnt much to see here! I took a photo of a pile of leaves. A neighbor was walking by and I know he now thinks Im off my rocker.

"Yeah, and Dave was taking a picture of a pile of leaves! Can you believe! Whats with these kids today!"

I spent most of yesterday cleaning the yard, thats how bad it was after the winds over the past few days.

Later this week Im going to outline all the problems Ive had with a certain brand of shower faucet. You dont wanna miss it. I think Im going to live "tweet' my complaints and see what sort of responses I get from the company. Ive used this tweet technique once before when I had problems with my Ford Escape. They paid attention to me and took care of me only after I went to public tweeting. So I think this is a viable option for us consumers. Complain via Twitter. It puts us in direct connection with companies that otherwise send us to pressing #1 for phone hell :)

Eco Friendly Holiday Lights: Which Should You Buy And How Should You Use Them?

2011-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Eco Friendly Holiday Lights: Which Should You Buy And How Should You Use Them?

When it comes to making your Christmas decorations more green, eco friendly holiday lights are a great place to start. Many of us put up our lights at the beginning of December and leave them on all day, every day until at least New Years. Although it's great to get into the holiday spirit, you can only imagine how much energy this uses up.

I was thinking about this yesterday as I was hanging my Christmas lights and thankfully there are quite a few measures you can take to help make your Christmas a more eco friendly one.

Use Low-Energy LED Lights

The good news is that more and more Christmas lights are now using low energy LEDs. These were first introduced a few years ago, and are far more energy efficient than traditional Christmas lights. Simply switching your old lights with newer eco friendly holiday LEDs could save a huge amount of energy this Christmas. The good news is that, if one light goes out, the rest will carry on working - and LED lights last for a long time.

Solar Powered Lights

Even if you live in a country that isn't famous for its sunlight levels, you can still take advantage of solar powered lights this Christmas. These eco friendly holiday lights will work in the winter when sun levels are low, but they do require at least some sunlight to work. This means they won't last as long in the winter as in the summer, but you can still expect them to stay lit for days from a single good sunny charge.
It's important to note that solar lights won't come on if you have a particularly bad run of gloomy weather, or if you can't face them toward the sunlight. How bright they show up in the evening depends on how much sun they got the day before.

With power outages here in Southern California this past week, Ive noticed several houses who already had solar powered lights. Huge sections of cities were without power in my area, yet a few houses had Christmas lights operating (I doubt they would use a generator just to power Christmas lights).

Other Tips For Saving Energy On Your Christmas Lights

Perhaps solar powered lights aren't for you - or you'll only be placing lights inside the home this Christmas. There are still things that you can do if you already own LED lights, or don't want to replace your traditional lights with new ones yet.

Turn Off Your Lights When You're Out: Many people leave their lights on even when they're out of the home. Although this can make your window look nice, just turning the lights off when you leave the home could help to save a huge amount of energy.
Switch Them Off An Hour Earlier: Try switching your lights off an hour earlier each night, or turn them on an hour later than you usually do. You'll still get a great amount of enjoyment from your lights but you'll also get the pleasure of knowing you're helping to save energy!

Even incorporating just one of the measures mentioned in this article could make a huge difference to the amount of energy you use, helping to make it an eco friendly holiday.

Sunday Mornings

2011-12-04T07:31:00.001-08:00

I'm going to make those awesome Abelskivers right now for breakfast with my fresh raspberries...

Our roses continue to do well...

And lilacs blooming in December? Whats up? They smell GREAT though...

RECIPE: Abelskivers

2011-12-03T07:04:00.000-08:00

Aaaaahhhhhh.... gooood morning. Its foggy outside this morning. I love these late autumn, early winter mornings in California. It is perfect for making a hot scrumptious breakfast. Its about 45*F degrees outside. Its brisk, but not bone chilling. A hot and yummy abelskiver would suit you just well.

Abelskivers are traditional Danish pancakes in the shape of a globe. Though not always, abelskivers are made with some sort of filling like apples, raspberries, or strawberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar. To make abelskivers, you'll need an abelskiver pan.

Our Abelskiver recipe is simple. Its posted here and also as an index card sized PDF down below.

ABELSKIVERS (EBELSKIVER, ABLESKIVER, EBLESKIVER)
Serves 20-30

Ingredients:

1-1⁄2 cups flour
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions:

Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a large bowl.
Beat eggs, buttermilk and sour cream together. Add vanilla. Stir into flour mixture.
Heat Aebelskiver pan over medium high heat.
Add a little butter to each cup. (about 1/2 teaspoon or so). Spoon about 1/8 of a cup of batter into each indent. Let cook for 30 to 45 seconds. Use a tooth pick to make sure that the batter isn't sticking and when the bottoms are brown, use the pick or a fork to turn the pancake over.
Serve hot, right out of the pan. Dip in powdered sugar. You can also fill the inside with apples or jam by placing a tsp of filling in the center as soon as the batter is put into the pan, then push it down into the batter a bit with a spoon.

Abelskiver Recipe Card: http://www.1916home.net/recipes/Abelskivers.pdf

Enjoy!

Abelskiver Pan

2011-12-02T10:39:00.001-08:00

In the spirit of home restoration, every Friday I will cover a new tool. It might be a garden tool, a power tool or a kitchen tool. Today its a kitchen tool called an Abelskiver pan. This pan is used for making Danish Abelskivers, a little pancake like ball often filled with fresh fruit or jam.

I first came across Abelskivers* while visiting the Danish town of Solvang, CA. Its a great place for a little vacation if you will be in the Southern California area. Solvang is about 2.5 hours north of Los Angeles. Solvang looks and feels like a small Danish city (or tries to). Its adorable with wineries surrounding the city, give you plenty to do in the region.

You will undoubtedly come across a restaurant in Solvang cooking and selling Abelskivers! These are cute little pancake like balls that are super tasty. To make them you need an Abelskiver pan like the photo above. We have a cast iron one which I love, its worn in well. Stores now sell nonstick ones if you are into those types of kitchen equipment.

Tomorrow, I will post our Abelskiver recipe for you to make this weekend :)
In the mean time here it is as an index card sized PDF...

Abelskivers

http://www.1916home.net/recipes/Abelskivers.pdf

Mmmmmm these puppies are good!

* Abelskiver is also spelled Ebelskiver, Aebleskiver, Ebleskiver, and Æbleskiver

Espresso Morning and Night

2011-12-02T09:09:00.001-08:00

Ive been told I drink way too much coffee (espresso). In the mornings for sure right when I awake, but also in the evenings if I plan to get some extra work done. I have just a stove top Bialetti espresso maker. There's no pressure involved so you won't get the crema, but it's still tasty. How do make your coffee?

Power of Mother Nature

2011-12-01T22:46:00.001-08:00

Well here is a shot us Californians don't see too often! The winds took down several big trees in Pasadena CA. Reports have up to 500,000 without power. Could be in for another wild ride tonight as well.

High Winds in SoCal

2011-12-01T12:04:00.001-08:00

We've had very high winds last night. Widespread power outages and toppled trees everywhere. We're OK. Lots to clean up and fix which will cut into time workin on the house.

Mr. Bisou at Night

2011-12-01T10:46:00.001-08:00

Many times I will come home late, sip some espresso around 9pm and work through the night. Our cat Bisou will stay with me the whole time. He will keep me company... purring, begging for some love, nestled in a blanket on my desk. When he is particularly in need of attention he will just sit right in front of me. If I dont pay him attention he will scoot a little closer to make sure I see him. How can you miss this cute buddy, winner of cat of the week in the 365 day cat calendar?

Its Lonely Online!

2011-12-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

We've brushed some dust off from the autumn months and updated some of our pages at the top. Check 'em out. We have also turned the lights on our Facebook and Twitter pages, but..... its lonely there and we dont know anyone yet. Care to join us on both Facebook and Twitter? Its the easiest way to get our updates and be our friends. After all, friends are the spice of life!

We've also updated our contact info too...

1916home Contact:

Email: contact-info [at] 1916home [dot] net
Phone: 867-5309
Facebook: facebook.com/1916home
Twitter: @1916home

Pssssstt... Anyone there?

2011-11-30T19:15:00.001-08:00

Hey all. We are still here, but.... really busy. How is everyone doing? Getting ready for the holidays? Do you have your lights up yet? A tree bought & decorated? Time moves fast doesnt it? Hope to get some good posts in here as the winter months kick in and the cold air envelopes our little house. Those woolly blankets we bought to stay warm this winter have already been upended by our pets :) Its all good. Enjoy a few photos of recent times...

We love food, who doesnt? Imported Parmesan with some local handmade salami.

I won this nice sake set @ a local sake tasting.

Remind me not to test 24 different sakes at the same time again ;)

We both love dahlias. Each year we pick different colors.

What Is Going on with the Economy?

2011-07-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

Many people tell me they dont really understand whats going on with the economy, especially with all the problems over in Europe. Since this is a house blog I will try to explain it from our point of view. Yes, we can all "tune out" to whats going on, but sooner or later it will creep in and take hold of us Americans too. I recommend trying to be as self sufficient as possible. Not relying on too many people for day to day stuff, or the government, or the police, etc. Grow your own veggies (at least know how), chop your own wood, repair your own homes, fix your own cars, and get to know your neighbors.

Lets visit my relatives living in a little town north of Amberg, Germany, shall we?

It was a calm summer afternoon. Gertrude and Otto were sitting at the patio table in their backyard, enjoying a lunch of schnitzel and sauerkraut, when Gertrude broke the news to her husband. "Otto," she said, "I'm afraid the neighbors are in trouble."

"Oh no," Otto replied. "The DuPont family? That nice French family right next door? What happened?"

"No, no dear. Not the DuPont family," said Gertrude. "They're fine. At least, I think they are – for now, anyway. I'm talking about the Mikoses."

"The who?" Otto asked.

"The Mikoses," she responded. "You know… the Greek family… about 16 houses down the street on the left-hand side."

Otto thought for a moment. "Is that the house where the beat-up, old cars are parked on the lawn… where the shirtless teenage kids hang around all day smoking cigarettes and trying to hook their shoestring-knotted sneakers on the power lines?"

Gertrude nodded.

"Hrrrummmph," Otto groaned. "It doesn't surprise me that they're in trouble. What happened?"

"It's the same old story," Gertrude said. "The family spent more than they earned. They got in over their heads with debt. They ran out of ways to borrow money. And now they're in trouble. So we have to help them out."

Otto took a bite of his schnitzel. He slowly laid his knife and fork on the edge of his plate, raised his napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth, and dropped the napkin on the ground.

"Wait a minute," he gasped. "Is this the same family we were asked to give money to last year? The same family that promised to do better, to fix the broken shutters on their windows, to take down their Christmas lights by Easter, and to keep their damn goats from pooping on everyone else's lawns? Is this the same family that STILL owes us that money?"

Gertrude nodded again.

"Ich bin mude von diesem," Otto grumbled. "I won't bail them out again. I refuse."

"We don't have any choice, mein strudel," Gertrude replied. "We have to. Don't you remember 15 years ago when we first moved into this neighborhood? We joined the Homeowners Association. Inside that big pile of documents we signed, we agreed to assist our neighbors financially… for the good of the neighborhood. The Association requires us to pay. They'd like us to come up with the money within two weeks."

"Das ist ridiculous!" Otto exclaimed. "Where was the Association when the Mikoses were on a spending spree? Didn't the Greeks sign the same pile of documents when they moved in? Certainly the Mikos family has to comply with the same rules as we do."

"Yes, they do," said Gertrude. "But the Association can't enforce the rules against the Greeks right now. They're broke. Forcing them to stick to the rules might run the Mikoses out of the neighborhood."

"That's fine by me," Otto responded. "Getting rid of those deadbeats can only improve the neighborhood."

"It doesn't work that way," Gertrude continued. "If the Mikoses leave, the Association fears it'll bring down the property values of all the rest of the homes. They fear it'll actually destroy the neighborhood. So, you see, we have to come up with the money to bail them out."

"Well, OK then," Otto conceded. "I don't like it… not one bit. But if it saves the neighborhood, I suppose it will eventually work out for the best. At least we're all in this together, right? I mean, everybody else on the block is chipping in too, right?"

"Well…" Gertrude hesitated, "not exactly. The DuPont family is in, of course. But, most of our other neighbors are already tapped out. Mr. O'Connor lost his job over a year ago and the unemployment benefits are running out. The Lombardi family lost all their money in a ponzi scheme. Mr. & Mrs. Garcia aren't selling as much Port as they used to. And the Perez family isn't any better off than the Mikoses."

"In fact," Gertrude continued, "the Association is probably going to ask us to help out all these other families as well. You know… for the good of the neighborhood."

"Hrrrummmph," Otto groaned again. "So that's how this is going to turn out, is it? The entire neighborhood riding on the back of our checkbook?"

Gertrude shrugged.

"Gertrude," Otto continued, "my little lederhosen, perhaps it's time for us to start looking for another place to live. I hear a nice home just opened up for sale down the street from the Changs. Maybe we should check it out."

Enjoying Thrift Stores

2011-06-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

With the economy in a perpetual limbo the last few years, we are heading to more vintage, antique and thrift stores. A new thrift store just opened nearby so we went to check it out. We first donated some old books and hope they find new homes.

Here are some of the awesome things we found yesterday! For $1 a book, we scored about 10 of the DK travel books. These books usually cost $20-$30 each so $1 a piece was a real good deal!

Another great find... I love playing darts. At work I have a dart board set up and play against other employees (no I dont work in a bar!!!). The soft tip dart boards usually cost $40 on up. The one I bought was only $5 and just needed to remove the old batteries, clean the terminals and put in some fresh batteries. NICE. I will hang this in the garage, play some darts and drink a beer tonite!

I can no longer afford $50 for a pair of jeans. The jeans these days seem such poor quality and none of them are made in the states anymore. There are tons of great jeans in a thrift store... some of them very nice looking, others naturally aged :) I dont have to pay for them to look deconstructed. $5 got me a comfortable pair of jeans.

Lastly, t-shirts are only $2 a piece and there are some nice ones to be had. I only picked up one... San Diego Padres. Im not a Padres fan, but hey it was $2 for an officially licensed MLB tshirt... Im sure this was $20 or more new.

Other great things we saw, but did not buy. Roller blades, a digital photo frame (minus the transformer plug), some great LPs and CDs, a shortwave radio, ski boots and skiing accessories.

There you have it. We scored some travel books, a dart board, and some clothes. Deals to be had. If you have found anything great at a thrift store, let us know!

NYT No-Knead Bread ( Sourdough Recipe)

2011-06-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

I love bread making. There is a certain craft and skill to it I love. The recipe is so simple, usually consisting of flour, water, yeast and a little salt. making subtle changes to the recipe can yield entirely different breads. This morning I am making the New York Times No Knead Bread recipe. Im making two rounds. The first one is the classic recipe unchanged, and the second round is a Sourdough version Ive been experimenting with and have got it pretty good now.

Here is the original NYT No Knead Bread recipe...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?_r=1

I recommend saving that recipe somehow where you wont lose it :) The recipe is one of the best and easiest bread recipes out there. The PERFECT bread with a soft chewy interior and that hard crust exterior bread lovers worldwide have come to know from their local bakers.

It really is delectable. I must say, I am a huge fan of sourdough bread and Ive been working on the NYT recipe and tweaking it to get a much richer, much more complex flavor if you add just a bit of vinegar and some beer in place of just straight water. Hear me out... I dont have time to make a sourdough starter (the mother). I dont have time to find a baker who is willing to share his mother with me. Wow that didnt sound right at all. I dont bake enough bread to keep a sourdough starter going all the time either. So I am going to add in a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar and swap out a little of that water for a little bit of beer.

Take the original NYT recipe and boost the salt from 1-1/4 teaspoons of salt to 1-1/2 teaspons. Dont do any more than this. This adds a nice complexity, without you being able to notice salt was added in. Instead of 13 oz of water, Ive replaced it with 7oz water and 4 oz beer, plus 1 tablespoon of the apple cider vinegar. Besides those simple changes in ingredients, follow the original recipe as it is. Here is my NYT No-Knead Bread (Sourdough style) ingredients list.

3 Cup flour
1-1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Teaspoon yeast
7 OZ water
4 OZ beer
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Very simple, anyone can do this. I started my dough yesterday with our KitchenAid mixer (best thing Ive bought for the kitchen!). It only took minutes to mix the ingredients up and then let the dough rest for 12-18 hours. Here I am, 6am doing the next steps of the dough and getting it ready for baking.

(hold on, I have to put the oven on now!)

OK, Im back. And in 30 minutes Im going to have some of the best bread ever.

* Quite note on the beer. Pick a quality beer of around 5% alc. Not a light beer, and not a heavy or dark beer. Heineken, Urquell, Baltika #3, even a Corona will do. You just dont want cheap beers like Bud or Miller that uses rice in the brewing process.

1916home Goes MOBILE!

2011-06-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

You can now take the 1916HOME website with you where ever you go with our all new mobile version of the website! You can even post comments on articles too! Check it out with your mobile phone now. Scan our QR code here or go to the weblink below...

http://1916home.blogspot.com/?m=1

One Mans Junk...

2011-06-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

...Is actually my junk now. Thats right. I found this old rickety chair along the side of the road, ready for the trash man in the morning. It does look like junk, but its the kind of junk that has a lot to say. A closer examination of this old chair reveals it was put together with scrap pieces of wood and its quite possible it was made in haste. I can only imagine and older unskilled gentleman put this chair together many years ago to rest his aching back from working the orange groves that used to proliferate in the area that I live.

The chair itself is of a simple design. It only took 18 pieces of wood to make this chair long ago. I am planning to reproduce this chair soon and put some extra care into the joints so it lasts a long time. Its not a very big chair, but one that people would surely want to try out and sit in.

Today was one of those perfect days in the back yard. The breeze was just right, the puffy clouds were scattered so... the mint in the garden made for an excellent tea. Later on into the afternoon the clouds gathered a more dark ominous thought about them, while some old WWII P-51 Mustang war birds buzzed by.

Ohhh what a joy it would be to sit in a chair made by hand! A proud delight would prevail anytime a neighbor or friend would choose to sit in my humble chair. God Bless the USA!

RainBird offers FREE Sprinkler Design Service

2011-06-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

RainBird sprinkler products are a household name where we live here in Southern California. I believe they were founded (and their sprinklers invented) here many many years ago when orange groves covered much of the Los Angeles area in the early 1900s.

Before summer kicks in, Im considering installing a sprinkler system in the front yard. You might be interested to know that Rainbird offers a FREE design service by email. It only costs money if you want it faxed or mail or are in a hurry.

http://www.rainbird.com/homeowner/design/designstart.htm

The weblink above guides you through the process of submitting your water info to Rainbird so they can best design a system for you. They are primarily interested in a few things: your water pressure, water meter size, size of service line, your gallons per minute water flow, and a sketch of where you intend to have your sprinkler system. It is all pretty easy to do and the instructions guide you through it from start to finish. You'll get an in depth design of your new sprinkler setup plus a product and cost report too.

Nesting Newbies FREE Issue #5

2011-06-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet seen it a couple weeks back, the newest issue of Nesting Newbies online magazine has arrived. We have thoroughly enjoyed these issues (hey, they are free). They are packed with 200+ pages filled with recipes, high definition images, step by step tips, garden ideas, home design ideas, embedded videos with some articles... its pretty nice!

Check the latest and back issues here:

http://nestingnewbies.com/category/magazine/

Cleaning that Cat Poop Smell

2011-06-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

Many people dont like to talk about this, after all its a crappy subject! Every once in a while one of our cats will have a mishap thats not in the litter box. Recently, it happened on one of our chair cushions, but this time I could not remove the smell. Hot soapy water didnt work and I was at my wits end. The area looked clean, but the smell would not go away.

Thanks to our friendly neighbor... the internet :) I tracked down a solution that works well to get rid of the pet poop smell. Im sure this works for baby mess too.

The product is called BAC-OUT made by Biokleen and I found it at Whole Foods Market. This product has a lime smell and has enzymes in it to break down the smell and it works REALLY good. Its only about $5 or so, making it easily affordable.

Give this a try next time you have a mishap! It worked for us.

Free Martha Stewart Grilling Cookbook

2011-05-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I come across some nice freebies out on the Internet. Here is a nice grilling cookbook that you can download for free from Martha Stewart. Nice thing is you dont have to register your name or email or anything.

It has lots of tasty grilling recipes for you to try this summer and comes packed with four chapters:

Appetizers & Extras
Salads & Sides
Main Dishes
Desserts

Click on the "download the cookbook" link to get the whole book, or you can select each chapter individually if you prefer.

http://www.siriusxm.com/marthastewartlivingradio

Eggs on Cast Iron

2011-05-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you had a chance to read my recent article about the Pan Grease Recipe using coconut oil and lecithin and was wondering if it actually worked... well... this morning I made an artisan bacon and egg sandwich with ciabatta bread to test out the pan grease on cast iron. We have one non-stick skillet here at home and Ive really wanted to get rid of it since it is made out of aluminum and who knows what chemicals are in the non-stick surface.

Im really happy to report that my eggs did not super glue themselves to the cast iron! There was no sticking to the cast iron at all and this is going to be my new way of frying/cooking from this point on. You really only need a pinky nail amount size of the pan grease and just wipe the surface of the cast iron. Since the recipe is made from only two all natural ingredients, it does not impart any flavors to the food at all. My jar of pan grease is going to last me FOREVER! In fact I gave some to my dad last week and even though I gave him only a small amount, its going to last him a long long time too.

I think this is not only a healthy alternative to non-stick skillets, but also cost saving in the long run. Give it a try!

The Dust Has Settled

2011-05-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

I did some grunt work last night and redid the website. Its easier to read now, much easier to find stuff, and the main posts are right there on the left side. We really like how it turned out. What do you think? I may have a few tweaks yet to take care of here and there, so let me just say... "HELLO WORLD" and welcome to the new 1916home Bungalow House Blog!

Katherine Albrechts Pan Grease Recipe

2011-05-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

The recipe works awesome for cast iron cookware. Since we dont use harmful aluminum pots or pans, we have mostly cast iron and some stainless steel cookware. Personally, I like cast iron as it soaks up some of the excess moisture in food that is cooking. Ive noticed when making french onion soup from scratch, you can cook down the ingredients much faster with cast iron.

But cooking with cast iron is tricky! How many of us have had pancake batter or an egg practically super glue itself to the cast iron pan? I'll raise my hand on that :) You can buy pre-seasoned cast iron, but that only helps for a period of time. Ive read many places of people seasoning their cast iron pans themselves with a long drawn out baking process on low heat in the oven. Its time consuming.

A better option Ive found is to use a pan grease recipe for cast iron. Listening to radio host Dr. Katherine Albrecht, she finally let out her secret recipe. I recently bought the ingredients and gave it a try... WORKS GREAT! Here is the recipe...

- 1 jar coconut or palm oil (about 14oz)
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup of lecithin

Heat up a pan on very low heat and scoop all of the coconut oil into the pan. This melts very easily, so while thats melting, measure your lecithin and add it into the melting coconut oil. Stir until all is completely melted. Mine never got very hot so I poured it into a couple of jars. I recommend refrigerating the new recipe.

Any time you need to cook, just spread a very thin layer onto your cast iron!

notes: coconut oil is easier to find than palm oil. its a spreadable solid. I used organic soy lecithin (the only soy i let into my house), but you could find lecithin made from egg also. its rare, so if you really want it, you may have to do some hunting.

Happy safer cooking!

We're Still Kickin'

2011-04-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

As my grandpa always used to say when I asked how he was doing.... "Ohhh, I've got aches and pains, but I'm still kickin'!"

We are definitely still here, just BUSY as heck. There is so much to do on a house that is so old, but I love every minute of it. I love being near the mountains and smelling the fresh pine. I love hearing the neighborhood owl at night hoot with authority as if he is guarding the homes. I love seeing the baby birds making their first flight from under the eaves of our home, or seeing the veggies coming up. We're a bit late on our tomatoes this year, unfortunately, but we have many other crops doing their thing. Check it out...

We keep picking cabbage every week. Love it!

Strawberries to pick every morning! Although this one was eaten by someone already!

We matched up our cherry tree with another last fall and now we have two cherry trees raining big juicy cherries!

Mmmmmm!

And we have all sorts of flowers doing great too. Hibiscus, roses, lavender, eastern snowball... all coming in thanks to a nice rainy season here in SoCal.

More to come this week (finally) as we start some demo work. We hope everyone is doing well and you are still kickin' too!

Please Help Japan

2011-03-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

The quakes and tsunami have hit close to home as my brother and his extended family are living in Japan.

We have added a red bar at the top of our website to help raise donations for the people of Japan. We choose Doctors Without Borders because over 80% of donations they receive go to actually helping people, not just administrative work. You can also make a donation easily for the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 for Japan. If we all did this, it would really help the people of Japan.

Thanks for reading!

BIG SALE! 50% Off Stickley Font Set!

2011-03-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

We have been incredibly blessed by orders of our Stickley font set the past two years and we wanted to thank everyone since the font launched in 2009. We're slashing the price from the original $18.95 to only $8.95... $10 marked off and over 50% off deal. Head on over to our font page if you are considering ordering the font. Its easy to order it online and available immediately as a direct download. See the font in action below!

http://www.1916home.net/stickley/

Spring Has Arrived!

2011-03-05T10:39:00.001-08:00

All is well here on our Micro Urban Homestead ©. The weather in SoCal is incredibly beautiful. Snow capped mountains, veggies doing great and flowers springing to life. Enjoy some morning shots!

Help with the K1 Fiancée Visa Process

2011-03-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

From time to time, I get emails requesting info about the entire fiancée visa process. Here is some detailed info that may help you, a friend, or a relative out who is considering helping someone immigrate legally through the fiancée visa process.

First, you will want to head over to an official government website such as the link provided here which guides you step by step details:

Nonimmigrant Visa for a Fiance(e) (K-1)
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_2994.html

That link explains in very simple detail the instructions for each step along with each document that is needed along the way. Each document usually carries a processing fee which can range from $100 to $1000 FOR EACH DOCUMENT depending on what you are filling out. This is not cheap or quick. It will cost you thousands and thousands of dollars and take at minimum a couple of years, if not longer. It is not for the faint :) The country of the person migrating also plays some significance in the whole process as well. You will learn more as you continue to read through the link above. The US citizen will need to travel to meet the other fiancée to validate the relationship. I recommend doing this more than once, because US Immigration may consider fraud if you have never met or have only met once.

Here is a link to approximate processing times for each of the different documents than needs to be filed :

USCIS Processing Time Information
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do;jsessionid=bacY_qxV80oUu-O1ay35s

Those times will vary depending on a number of factors. Where you live, which government location handles your paperwork (some are fast, some are slow) and so on. These links above may change from time to time. Immigration keeps changing its name from INS, to BCIS to USCIS and so on, hence the website address changes. When doing internet searches for items, documents and more, make sure you go to government only websites! The sites will end in ".gov" so you know you are on an official US government website.

This is a long process, but if you love the person its all worth it and nothing really matters or can stop you. I DO NOT recommend using the many companies on the internet that claim they will do the work for you. They always make mistakes and charge you all sorts of strange fees on top of the normal government processing fees. You could end up doubling or tripling your expenses if you go with a 3rd party company to do the work for you and it will not speed anything up at all. In fact errors will slow the process down or worse, the government can decline the visa altogether. When you do one set of documents at a time, its not difficult at all. Make sure to send all documents to the government as certified mail so you have a receipt they received your packets. The government is known for misplacing or claiming to have never received items. Document everything you do! Keep receipts of everything! If you have any problems do not hesitate to contact your local state representatives office, they can be of assistance. Good luck in your quest for love!

I am always at odds with people who want to give illegal immigrants a free ride here in America, or even to charge them a fine as if they really didnt do something wrong. Illegally immigrating is a Federal crime. Illegal entry and illegal presence are serious matters. You cannot have laws without consequences. Illegal immigration is part of the reason why or economy is tanking (trade with China doesnt help either). Illegal immigration costs the state of California $12 billion annually. Thats a huge chunk of the state deficit.

Now you can understand a little to the reasons why I get upset with the illegal immigration issue here in America. I have paid tens of thousands in fees and travel expenses, on top of filing a myriad of forms, waiting patiently through the processing times, and even going through plenty of heartache when I had to battle the government after they declined our paperwork, which was their fault. Thankfully, my local state rep admitted the USCIS mistake and corrected everything immediately.

I hope this has helped you out if you are looking for K1 fiancee visa information!

$25 of food for only $2 ??? YUP!

2011-02-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

I love to share deals I come across and here is one I cant pass up. Ive used http://www.restaurant.com/ once or twice before. Its already not a bad deal.. You can buy a $25 gift certificate to your local restaurants for only $10. Its a nice deal and a great way to try out a restaurant without dropping a bunch of money. I dont know long this will last, but if you use the coupon code DINE at checkout, you can get a $25 not for $10, but another 80% off of that... for $2 bucks. Buy several of them. Heck, $100 worth of food for only $8? Yes, you could even buy a $100 gift cert.

There are some stipulations. A $25 gift card would require you to to buy $50 worth of food in order to use the card. Its easy to do these days. Some restaurants only allow you to use one coupon per month too. So check their rules before buying.

Again, use code DINE on checkout. Its only good for today to get 80% off. Head over to retailmenot.com to search for more 60-80% off coupon codes for rhttp://www.restaurant.com/

GOOD LUCK! Like this blog post? Im going to have savings ideas every day for the next few weeks! (until I run out!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

Love,

1916home

Same Price, Less Product

2011-02-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed increases in food prices lately? Does it concern you? It does to me and thats one of the reasons Ive been growing my own fruits and vegetables. My 2010 garden produce total of 200 pounds can cost $700-$1000 at grocery stores and farmers markets. That was not a lot of work and thats a pretty nice savings in my pocket at the end of the day. On top of all that, I am eating healthier and I know where my food is coming from.

Below are some photos I came across recently. Check em out. Right now here in the USA, product sizes are shrinking. Sure, 64 oz to 59 oz doesnt seem like much, but thats an 8% drop in product while the price remains the same. Yogurt goes from 6 oz to 4 oz... Thats a 33% drop in product! Would you like it if your employer one day says you will get 8% less pay? Or how about 33% less paycheck? Nah, I wouldnt like it either.

If you follow the news carefully, you'll see that food prices are going up. Wheat prices have gone up 11% in the last few weeks. Corn prices have gone up 94% since last June, and the UN is warning food prices to go up at least 30% overall in this year alone.

As you'll see below in the photos, shrinking product sizes are just the first step. The next step is for grocery stores to absorb the price increases. This is happening as I write this. Many grocery store stock prices are tumbling because they have been absorbing food price increases. There is only one step left and thats to raise food prices which is also just starting to happen.

I see prices the going up. Sugar has gone for $2 to $4, some veggies have also doubled in price. I see beer going up in price. Im sure if you go to the grocery store for staple items you have seen the increases as well.

SOoooo the big question is "what can we do?" Simply put, Id recommend starting off by growing your own garden. It doesnt even have to be big. You can do an indoor herb garden. You can do those hanging tomatoes or put them in pots on the porch where you live. You can grow potatoes in trash cans. The point is to DO SOMETHING. Id also recommend buying produce from local farmers markets. Prices seem high, but the truth is you will be getting produce thats more likely higher in vitamins and minerals and produce that did not travel hundreds or thousands of miles to get to you.

Another more drastic approach people are now doing is to buy storable food. Food that has been specially packaged to sit on your shelf for several years. There are a few good points to this. First, you're going to be prepared for ever escalating food prices. Second, in case of any sort of emergency like a storm or earthquake, you wont have to worry. Search the term "storable food" if you're interested in that route. Ive purchased a few samples from various online sellers and the food tastes pretty good considering. Its now an option on my list at least.

So whats your take? Will you make any changes in your budget or planning to grow a garden? Are you concerned about rising food prices? Do you care? Hey look! A squirrel!

Pet Privacy Tips

2011-01-14T14:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some great pet privacy tips from radio host Katherine Albrecht. I really enjoy her daily radio show covering topics like privacy concerns, RFID microchips and health tips.

If you need to find your pet a new home, dont list pets on Craigslist as "FREE". There are many research laboratories scouring Craigslist for free pets to do "research" on.
Dont put your pets name on their ID tags. Thieves who steal pets will know know their name and there will be a greater possibility your pet will respond to those people.
Instead, put a phone number on one side, and the word REWARD on the other side.
This is clever: Consider putting the words "pet needs daily injections" instead of the word reward. Thieves aren't going to want a pet that needs daily care.

For more info and to listen to her daily radio show, go here:

katherinealbrecht.com

America's Test Kitchen RADIO

2011-01-12T11:55:00.000-08:00

Just a quick heads up here! One of my favorite magazines is Cooks Illustrated. No ads and chock full of recipes plus details of how they came up with the best versions of recipes. Love it. They also have one of my favorite TV shows, America's Test Kitchen, and now its going onto the radio also.

If you too like Cooks Illustrated and the Test Kitchen TV show, you'll probably enjoy the radio show too. Pop it into your smartphone and listen while on a walk, play it from your computer while cleaning the house or whatever way you like to listen.

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/radio/

Speaking of smartphones, Cooks Illustrated has an awesome iphone app. Recipes and videos right at your fingertips.

Switching Dog & Cat Food

2011-01-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I noticed our cats were really lazy and gaining weight. As you know we have two cats and one small mini pincher doggie. I was getting concerned about their laziness, so I started researching pet food. Most of the stuff out there like Iams and other popular brands, whether it be high end or low end, are mostly corn grain, and for all I know its GMO corn too (GMO = genetically modified). With the pet food scare a year or two ago from pet food made in China, and with Chinese known to add melamine into their milk to boost protein levels, I wanted to take a step in the right direction for the health of my pets. I love them a lot and I knew there had to be something better out there.

I came across two brands that are made in the USA and the ingredients lists read all natural. Lean beef, sweet potatoes, dandelion, etc. I really do think my pets have benefited from the switch in food. Bisou the cat is really picky on the food he eats, but with only one option, he had no choice but to like this new stuff :) I found it strange he would gravitate to one cheap brand previously, almost as if they had added in some flavor or fragrance he could not refuse.

Now our pets are jumping around, chasing each other in play, and hunting more and more in the backyard. Since I notice a big change for the better in my pets, I thought I would pass these two brands along to you if you have never heard of them (Id never heard of them before researching pet food). Check them out if you have any pets. If I worked at home I might consider making food for them, but I just dont have that sort of time.

Anyways, here are the two brands I bought....

http://www.evopet.com/

http://www.beforegrain.com/

My pets like the products and I feel better feeding them this. It just makes sense to feed them natural food and the types of food they would probably be eating in the wild.

2011 Garden in Close-up View

2011-01-06T11:24:00.000-08:00

Our 2011 garden continues where 2010 left off.

The first image shows Sorrel growing well, even in cold Southern California weather. Sorrel is a popular green and practically a staple food over in Eastern Europe. My dad grew up in Poland eating sorrel soup, as did Anna in Ukraine.

The second image is of our peppers. We have several varieties planted last spring and they continue to grow and produce. If there was ever an easy vegetable to grow, I would think peppers are top of the list. ive grown them in pots before, flower boxes by the window, etc but in a raised bed they have flourished.

The third image is of our easy peel seedless clementine mandarins :) This is our first yield (what about 15 of them) and they have a lot more flavor than the store bought ones. Im so glad we tracked this particular mandarin down. Many of them are loaded with seeds and hard to peel.

Fourth photo is of our broccoli which is a first time planting from seed I believe purchased from Freedom Seeds.They are growing very strong! I have no idea how to harvest them, so will have to do some research :)

Last photo is an ode to all the rain here lately.

Home Prices & Home Value Websites

2011-01-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

Real jobs are looking bleak here in America (save for the common retail job). Stores like Home Depot, Lowes, and Wal-mart only sell Chinese products which dont help. Helping the country can begin right here at home. Purchasing items from bloggers such as myself (Stickley Font) and great handmade tinctures and tonics from Miranda of 'An Austin Homestead' on her site The Relic Jar are simple ways to boost local economy. We love to go to our local farmers markets and buy food and items. We also try to purchase items as local as possible to help our local economy we live in. I foresee bartering as commonplace soon as the economy gets worse. Heck, its something I already do. Unfortunately, I dont think this is going to get us out of the situation the country is in right now. Taxing every American 100% would not even solve this mess.

Our "vintage charmer" bungalow has dropped in value by a whopping 40%. This terrible "Great Recession" economy we are in has finally arrived to my city, which has held out pretty long. I used several websites to come up with my home value (see below). If your house is not upside down and you have equity, now might be a great time for a refinance to lock in historic low rates. I know I would if I could :) Its also a great time if you are looking to purchase a home.

CyberHomes...
http://www.cyberhomes.com/

Eppraisal...
http://www.eppraisal.com/

Zillow...
http://www.zillow.com/

Redfin...
http://www.redfin.com/

Homegain...
http://www.homegain.com/homevalues/

Trulia...
http://www.trulia.com/

Real Estate ABC...
http://www.realestateabc.com/home-values/

Yahoo Real Estate...
http://realestate.yahoo.com/Homevalues/

With those links above I have made a bunch of phone calls and from my experiences, loan appraisers will appraise your home close to the CyberHomes value, while mortgage companies like to lowball their numbers and go for values similar to the Yahoo Real Estate page (which is basically a mix of zillow and eppraisal).

Hopefully, if you are interested in checking out home prices, those links above will help you. Do you barter and try to help your local economy? Do you see more and more people staying home because there arent any jobs out there these days? Is your house upside down? What will you do? Are you going to bunker down? Start a home garden? An urban homestead? Whats your plan?

Would love to hear from all out there reading. You can sound off, cry, laugh and share a joke, whatever you want right here in the comments.

200 Pounds of Produce!

2010-12-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Well, we FINALLY reached our 2010 goal of 200 pounds of produce. And we cut it close too. I thought we would easily blow passed this number since I had planted lots cabbage, but Im guessing all the rains we've had sort of put the cabbage in a mid winters sleep. They still seem OK, just not ready to be picked any time soon.

Our pumpkins never did materialise this year, although we planted a lot of seeds. Im guessing either old seeds or poor placement :) And our garlic never developed in early 2010, but I notice they are coming up again many many many months later. What a nice surprise!

Im glad we made it passed our 2009 totals of 141 pounds and now hope to hit 300 pounds for the 2011 calendar year. Lofty goals I know :) This years garden was more fun than anything made easy thanks to drip irrigation. Im going to have to be more organised if I want to hit 300#. Its doable. I'll be planting more potatoes now that I feel I know what Im doing, I'll find a better place for pumpkins, and try my luck with hanging tomatoes too.

I know, time to start planning already! I will keep a better log of the garden so I know what works and what doesnt for each month making future years easier and easier. My own farmers almanac if you will.

Within the next few days I'll come up with our 2011 goals list so look for it if you are snowed in and bored! :p

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a safe New Years!

We Did It! 500 Blog Posts!

2010-12-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Thank You Everyone! It's been a fun ride so far!

Still Raining Here in California!

2010-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Yup! It is still raining out here... coming to almost a week straight now of rain. While I dont remember that type of rain in recent years, when I was growing up I remembered lots of rain and thunderstorms back in the 70s and 80s. I dont feel this is really out of the norm.

You can see our garden is getting really soggy and waterlogged. I havent even wanted to go outside to help preserve anything. We've had a lot of severe downpours with us being so close to the mountains.Im sure we are picking up more rain than the Los Angeles basin.

I love photos of water drops on leaves and flowers!

I dont even remember what Im growing! Its broccoli or brussels sprouts I think.

The water in the bucket doesnt look like much, but just over night I collected 7 inches of water. So does that make for an accurate rain gauge?

And the Winner Is!

2010-12-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

And the winner is!

All three people who posted! Alexa, Byron and Ben! Congrats and thats going to close our giveaways for the Christmas season. Thanks everyone :)

They each have their own blogs too so give 'em some love...

Alexa - Bungalow 718 Revision
Byron - Cincinnati Bungalow
Ben - The Sky Is Big In Pasadena

And now back to regular programming here... :)

Second to the Last Giveaway!

2010-12-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

The year is coming down to an end and our Holiday giveaway is almost over too. It sooooo simple to enter the contest! Just comment on this blog post for a chance to win! We'll use random.org to pick a winner as always. Thanks for such a fun time! Good luck to whomever wins! (we'll pick a winner late tonight) The prize is a gift certificate to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds!!!

Morning Photos

2010-12-15T09:58:00.001-08:00

Here are a few shots from this morning. Bisou looks handsome, Julie interested with the bugs on the ground and heres one of our garden boxes with strawberries, cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprouts among a few other things!

And the Winner Is!!!

2010-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

As always we do our contest results as live blogging over on our twitter account.

CANDACE is this weeks winner! Congrats Candace!

Come back again to our blog and place a comment next Monday, December 20th, for another chance to win a gift cert.

Monday Giveaway!

2010-12-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

We're back! Just post a reply to this blog post here to enter for a chance to win a Baker Creek Heirloom Seed gift certificate. Just our way of saying 'Thank You' to all of our readers!

PS... We'll be picking a winner LATE tonight so you have plenty of time to enter and great chance to win!

Best $3.98 Ever Spent!

2010-12-13T10:06:00.000-08:00

This has got to be one of the best $3.98 products I've bought in a long time.

We have several flash lights, from the 99 cent ones, to the expensive mag lights, and none of them work. If you drop one of those nice metal mag lights, they (generally) just stop working and become a waste of money. We have a few cheap flash lights that require C sized batteries which we never seem to have on hand :) and those seem to run out quick anyways. We also have a nice smaller light I paid $15 for that requires two AA batteries. I like the light a lot, but the bulb went bad. I drove all around to find a dang $2 dollar light bulb and could not find it for sale anywhere. I can buy a flash light for cheaper than the bulb, but I like that flash light.

SO ANYWAYS!! Where was I... Yes... $3.98 at Lowes for a yellow Eveready flash light Made In America. This thing is super bright and comfortable to hold. Easy to push rubber button. In fact, this sucker floats in water. Although, I cant remember when I was stuck in water the last time and using a flash light. Buts its good to know for the McGyvers in all of us.

Look, there arent too many things Made in America any more and I'm keeping my eyes open for those type of products from now on. If you want to label me xenophobic, go right ahead. Our country is falling a part and being outsourced to the lowest bidder. If my $3.98 flash light purchase helps keeps jobs in America and helps light my home when needed... Money well spent! In fact I might just go buy a couple more of these.

Speaking of Made in America products... I make my own wind chimes too. Check it out...

http://www.freedomwindchimes.com/

Saving Money During Christmas

2010-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Christmas & holiday spending seems to get out of hand if you dont reign things in and keep it all under control. You can still have a great Christmas without spending much money. Here is a few ways we are saving...

Christmas Cards can add up. You can save money by switching to postcards, which were very popular at the turn of the last century. You'll save not only on the cards themselves, but also postage.

My family has always used the comics section (the funnies!) as wrapping paper for Christmas gifts. I mean... Santa Claus has always used the comics section.

Since we also like the Victorian Era, stringing popcorn for garland on Christmas trees is always entertaining and a good way to spend with the family. Cranberries add a pop of color too!

Of you have a big family, consider picking names from a hat to buy presents for, instead of having to come up with gifts for everyone.

Buy used gift items on Craigslist or Ebay. I need an air compressor desperately and Santa just gave me my gift early this year! Dad found a nice one on Craigslist for $50 and fixed the broken wheel and rewired it for me. Minus a paint job this is as good as new!

And here's my best biggest Christmas savings tip! We have switched to a German tradition of decorating our Christmas tree the night before Christmas... on the 24th. Instead of buying a 5 ft tree for $80 here in Southern California (they are getting more expensive and smaller!), we will head out and look for our Christmas tree in the afternoon to early evening of the 24th! The last three years we have scored BIG. The first two years we got a 7 ft tree for $10 each. Last year we got an 8-9 ft tree for FREE! (Had to cut a foot off the bottom and a bit off the top!) Although I felt a bit bad, so I tipped the family selling the tree $10. They were ready to pack up and leave the next morning so they were more than happy just to get rid of their trees. I now know the family that sells their trees so we'll be back again on the 24th.

Just spending time with family by the fire with a hot cocoa and maybe playing some boardgames is worth more than any present!

What savings tips do you have?

40% OFF our 2011 Rose Calendar

2010-12-09T14:39:00.000-08:00

If you love roses, we are offering 40% off our 2011 Rose Calendar, but its for today only! Upon checkout, use coupon code: TIEMPO

Every page is simply a photo of a beautiful rose! Click the calendar below to place your order. Thank you!

Bisou Our Cat

2010-12-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a great photo of Bisou. One year ago he was attacked by the neighbor dogs and has recovered well. He is much more cautious now and spends his weekends during the day in the backyard looking for bugs. I rarely see him walk to the front porch. Im so glad he is alive!

I cant quite pin it... so many times he is adorable and cute, other times he looks majestic and noble. What a great cat he is.

Smart Meters Are Dangerous

2010-12-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

There. I said it. So where do I begin this blog post. In case you are unaware, many utility companies in America are replacing the electric meters on peoples homes. The reasoning from the electric companies is the new meters will cut electricity use, help the environment, and help pinpoint problems faster. Sounds fine and dandy, I know.

Well, I had one installed about a month ago and I havent been able to concentrate lately. Sounds silly, believe you me, but Im highly sensitive to electromagnetic pollution. I cant be around those spiral CFL light bulbs for very long or I will get huge migraines.

What these new smart meters do is emit sharp bursts of radiation every 45 seconds, 24 hours a day thats roughly two to three times the intensity of a cell phone. If you think I'm nuts, Im sure many of you have seen the '60 Minutes' and 20/20 style episodes where entire neighborhoods had higher cancer rates because they lived near power lines. I know, these new meters are not like a whopping power line, but no one really knows their effects. I went from a meter that a meter reader had to check once a month, to a computer thats sending out radiation every minute all day long. Imagine if someone lived in an apartment with a bank of 40 meters, and their children slept on the other side of the wall?

Electromagnetic Fields are Cancer Initiating & Cancer Promoting
http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/ecologsum.php

Wi-fi Makes Trees Sick
http://www.pcworld.com/article/211219/study_says_wifi_makes_trees_sick.html?tk=rss_news

There are other concerns with these new digital smart meters. What about privacy? If they are wireless, they can surely be hacked. Im sure Google, or Microsoft, or other retailers would love to know how you use your electricity. Your privacy is going to be bought and sold once again.

How Private is Your Smart Data?
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/10/how_private_is_your_smart_grid.html

Smart Meters Raise Privacy Concerns

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/209844-Smart-Meters-Raise-Privacy-Concerns

To top things off, these new meters tend to record or use more electricity than their old counterparts. Which means you'll get screwed with a higher electric bill. San Francisco ABC7 did a special about it...

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=7522788

Come to think of it, as a taxpayer getting the smelly end of all the government deals the past few years, you know we are going to end up paying for the installation of all these meters with tax increases and rate hikes.

So where will all the meter reader jobs go once these new electronic meters are in place and no one needs to come by anymore? No one stopped to think about that one, did they. What about the undemocratic process of installing or not installing these? When did I get my say in this? The next thing you know they changed my meter.

I have no idea how to get my old meter back. If its even possible. My long term goal of getting off the grid and going solar and wind power has been exponentially sped up at this point so I can detach myself from this fraudulent system.

More Concerns...
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=11884807&tqkw=&tqshow=

From Maine to Tallahassee to Oregon and many cities throughout California, people are standing up and rejecting these new smart meters. One man leading the fight here in CA is Joshua Hart. He runs a blog with many more details:

http://stopsmartmeters.wordpress.com/

Electromagnetic pollution is real and something that should be looked at more closely. What steps can we take? You can write to you local officials warning them of the dangers. If you dont already have a smart meter, you may be able to opt out. I already dont use a cellphone. I will also seriously consider running hard lines for our internet service, instead of using wi-fi throughout the house. And maybe dig out that old Western Electric model 500 desk phone and connect it back up, getting rid of our cordless phones.

Consider taking the "Prove-It" challenge and unplugging yourself for a few days, or weeks and see if you feel better. Check it out...

http://www.prove-it.co/

Big thanks go out to Josh Hart for doing something about this and for Katherine Albrechts radio show that recently had him on.

How To: Attic fan Insulation Cap

2010-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

BBBbbbbrrrrrr it's cold here in Southern California! Temperatures have actually hit freezing here. I dont think we reached that last year, but every year it at least comes close. Freezing in SoCal means basically frost on the front lawn and for us, on our veggies. Its important to cover them up.

Many months ago I had read the biggest heat loss inside a home is from an attic fan or a pull down staircase. Well, last year we had installed both! I remember doing an internet search back then on how to insulate these since there would be heat loss. "Attic fan caps" and "draft caps" for pull down stairs can run $100 easily on up to $200 depending on size and brand. We ended up not buying anything at the time.

But since its been cold here, I decided to tackle this job myself instead of forking over a lot of money for what looks like nothing. I purchased some hard foil lined insulation board (1 inch thick) and created my own attic cap. With measuring tools and some duct tape I was done in about an hour for the the price of the board which was $12. I already noticed a difference the first night!

(attic fan)

(cap that goes over the attic fan)

The attic fan cap I made is lightweight, yet very sturdy. This could probably support a 75 lb kid if needed. This is going to make a BIG difference if you have either the attic fan or a pull down staircase, so I highly recommend making a cap. Heck you could even make it while watching Desperate Housewives. Not that thats what I did. :)

Congrats!

2010-12-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

....and the winner is seidos! Congrats to you! Come back next Friday for another chance to win.

Friday Giveaway time!

2010-12-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

We're doing something different today for our Friday Baker Creek Seed giveaway. In order to enter into the contest today, you must post a reply to this blog post. Its that simple. If there are two people or twenty people, the drawing will be picked at 4:30pm. Good Luck!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T07:56:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone has a nice and relaxing Thanksgiving! It looks like Bisou has already started the relaxing part...

Use Water To Warm Up Your House

2010-11-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well sorta. Hear me out on this one. Have you ever been to the desert in the winter? IT IS BONE COLD. The air is very dry and the cold seems colder than what it should be. So dry the air penetrates your clothes and your skin.

We just turned on our gas floor heater for the first time this winter a couple of days ago. The heater goes off and on and cant seem to keep up with the cold temps outside. Here in California its dipping into the high 30s to low 40s... which is cold for us :) And the cold came rather sudden too. Its been very moderate all summer.

Dont recall where I heard this one, but I decided to give it a try last night. I added some warm water to a glass pyrex dish and set it on top of the grill for our floor heater. If you dont have a floor heater, put your container of water near your heat source. Within minutes the heat worked with the water to create humidity which told the bone coldness away. The room became comfortable and almost cozy!

Hey, we're trying to save money here :) If we can turn our heater down a few notches, then thats more money back in our pockets. Give it a try.

And the Winner Is!

2010-11-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

Live blogging over at http://twitter.com/1916bungalow

Here we go for last weeks Friday Giveaway that we postponed!

OK, here we go... another Baker Creek Heirloom seeds gift cert!

drum rolls please..... brbrbrbrbrbrbbrrbrbrbrbrbrbr.....

(how cheesy!)

From 1 to 44. We've had no new friend connects for a week now!

And the winner is....

AJK! Congrats on winning! Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving!

Using Parchment Paper

2010-11-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

I was set to bake some cookies over the weekend and was rummaging through our kitchen drawers. I came across a roll of parchment paper and decided to try it out instead of greasing the cookie sheets. Im glad I did! Adding the balls of cookie dough onto the parchment paper was no big deal and the cookies came out exceptional. Clean up is a breeze.

The best thing is you can reuse these several times simply by wiping off the surface with a damp cloth. No more stuck cookies on the pans, no more slaving to clean them either. Parchment paper would also work pretty good keeping items in the freezer from sticking together. Im going to give this a shot next time I make pizza too.

Parchment paper is different than wax paper, so dont try putting wax paper in the oven, which will cause a whole bunch of smoke (done that before!) and possiblely fire. Parchment paper is sold in rolls like wax paper and foil or in sheets. I purchased the roll as it was cheap, but Id imagine the sheets would be very easy to work with.

With the holidays around the corner and all those cookies ahead of you, make sure you are stocked up on your parchment paper before you attempt that 150 count cookie recipe :)

Cha.. Cha.. Changes (yah, again!)

2010-11-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

As you might have noticed, there have been a few visual changes to the blog lately, but we are gearing up for more than just that. We hope to bring more content about home restoration, which we have lacked lately. We have had a lot of input about the blog... people love the pet updates & photos, some people just dont like us talking about potatoes :) and others enjoy the health tips such as throwing out the microwave. We hope to make our money saving ideas permanent also.

While we still plan to cover our garden (and potatoes) we'll get back to the house restoration stuff too. You too can help shape the direction of our blog by filling out our survey. Thanks!

1916 Home Survey

Quick note... todays giveaway has been moved until tomorrow!

Thinking about the Christmas Lights

2010-11-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

I had to make a run to the grocery store over the weekend and decided to swing by Big Lots to see what deals they were pushing. For $1.50 I decided to get some plastic clips I can use to put my Christmas lights up soon. Probably this coming up weekend. I am always 20 feet up in the air on a not so sturdy ladder nailing my lights up :) Not the best feeling. So when I walked by the Christmas light section, I noticed these little clips, and for $1.50 I could not turn it down. Hope they work :) They had a variety of clips, but I chose these as they looked like they would do the job.

If you dont have any clips, might be something to think about!

The Winner Is!!!

2010-11-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

1916 Bungalow presents the Friday Giveaway from now til the end of the year, every Friday!

We'll be using Random.org to find our first winner of a $15 Baker Creeks Seeds gift certificate.

Drum rolls please....

Here we go... Im twittering all of this as we go here...

The winner is Rebecca F! Congrats!

THAT WAS EXCITING! Thats all for the prizes this week. Next drawing is this coming Monday, November 22th for another $15 gift certificate to Baker Creek Seeds.

Friday Giveaway Later Today!

2010-11-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

We are giving away a Baker Creek Seeds gift certificate later today at 12pm Pacific time and AGAIN on Monday! As the first time we picked the winner out of the Google Friend Connect pool, so make sure you are a friend for your chance to win BIG!

CLICK HERE TO FRIEND US!

Just click the link above to friend us. You can friend us a variety of ways too. Google, Yahoo, Twitter, AIM, Netlog and OpenID. We'll be using our Twitter account to live blog the drawing and winner! See you at 12 noon pacific time!

No Internet!

2010-11-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

Im quickly sending this out from work! Cannot do the the all important Thursday "Saving Money" post today. Internet went down yesterday at home... router melted and started smoking! Yikes. Will try to get the post up tomorrow, Friday, along with our Friday Giveaways! Will be working overtime tomorrow :)

As you can see from the photo, the router is OLD... I think 5 years old. Hopefully the new one can handle all these blog posts :)

Meteor Shower this Thurs. Morning 11/18

2010-11-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

This Thursday morning at around 12am to 4am PDT (2am best) the Leonids meteor shower will take place. Its one of the best of the year. The moon should be gone already and if there are no clouds it will make for perfect viewing. Look to the east in the constellation of Leo for the most activity. See photo...

The image above is from a free open source program called Stellarium. Its available for Windows, Mac and Linux systems. Check it out to see when the best hour will be for your area is. Its a great program on a netbook when you are out camping too :)

http://www.stellarium.org/

Website Upgrade

2010-11-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

Some minor changes to the website background as well as a new banner and new icons on the top right. You might have to refresh your page a few times to see the new changes. Let me know what you thing? Getting into the holiday spirit here :)

We'll be giving away Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds this Friday AND Monday. So make sure you are a Google Connect Friend. Thx!

1916home now on Facebook!

2010-11-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

We finally made our way over to that social network called Facebook. We would be honored to have you as a friend there. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/1916home

Here's a Laugh!

2010-11-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

Yah, a break from the norm, but sometimes we all need a laugh :)

I missed our big giveaway last Friday. We're just so packed with things going on, but we'll do it big this friday! And again on Monday! Check back!

Saving Money In a Bad Economy #1

2010-11-11T12:07:00.000-08:00

One thing that owning a home has really forced us to do is to monitor our spending habits. It is as simple as what goes in and what goes out. I stress that simplicity more than ever now in our tough (bad) economy we are in. Every Thursday we'll do a blog post about different ways to save money, find free money, spend smart, etc.

We have a bunch of great ideas, but today is going to be a simple one. Anya loves to shop online. She doesnt drive a car, so shopping online is a big deal for her. She has lots of tips to share. Just a couple we'll share today.

Buy only items marked on sale. This is simple, but works both online and in stores. All clothes, all food, all everything we buy anymore is marked on sale.

One big tip we employ a lot is to look for "free shipping" deals. We'll get emails from companies that say "Buy $100 of merchandise and Get Shipping FREE". We'll pick $70 worth of items, and instead of paying $20 for shipping, we'll pick out another item to reach the $100 level to get the free shipping. When the package arrives, we make a choice if we liked that extra item enough to keep it or just return it. Sometimes we do keep that item, but many times we'll return it by walking it into the store.

Another fave website we have is called "MyPoints". Some of you may have heard of it. You earn points two ways. First, you get a daily email and you click onto their link to earn points. Second, when you buy items through their website, you earn more points. So, instead of buying an item from Sears.com, we click onto the Sears link on the MyPoints site which takes us to the Sears website. Sometimes there will be deals... "earn 4x points at sears.com today" or whatever. When I bought new tires for our car I got 4x the points on MyPoints. When enough myPoints add up, that becomes a $50 Macys gift card, or whatever it is we want. My sister does MyPoints and only clicks onto the daily emails, she doesnt use it for shopping and you know what? She gets two or three $50 gift cards a year! For doing basically nothing. Does it take a bit of organisation and discipline to remember to buy through mypoints? Yep, but it has become a hobby now saving money. You can sign up for MyPoints through our link here if interested! Please do! Thanks! We earn some points!

1916home MyPoints

Another online shop we like is by invitation only called Rue La La. its free to join. Name brand items like Adidas, Pottery Barn, Victoria's Secret, Lowes, Tommy Bahama, etc are offered for up to 80% original prices. Here is an example: It was my birthday yesterday on the 10th :) and my gift was a pair of Adidas shoes. Ive been talking about them for a while how I like the style, and a few months ago they popped up on Rue La La. $70 shoes for $20. And we have looked all over the place for these shoes on sale elsewhere. They are always $70. We found them at Urban Outfitters for $60, which was the cheapest. So we really did get a deal. If Rue La La sounds interesting, try signing up.. its absolutely free and you can see what sorts of brand names they offer at great prices....

1916home - Rue La La

Thats about it for todays savings ideas. Its going to get better so check us out next Thursday also for more savings. Not just shopping ideas. Home renovation savings, energy savings and more. In the mean time, consider adding us to your RSS reader, following us on Twitter, or just stopping in here everyday. Thanks :)

* by the way, the photo above is from the game Monopoly. Yes, its a game, but it can also be used as a learning tool. Look at it differently the next time you play it and it could benefit you. Your spending habits, shopping habits, etc are exposed for all to see. Sure its a game, but it reveals a lot about yourself.

New Garden at Huntington Library

2010-11-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Anya and I have always been fans of Huntington Library in San Marino, CA with their beautiful and well landscaped gardens. The Rose Garden is incredible! In fact, our 2011 Rose Calendar has many rose photos from the Huntington Library. Check it out! Huntington Library features many other great gardens, the Japanese Garden is world famous, the new Chinese Garden is very zen and the desert cactus garden is gigantic. Their new garden is "The Ranch" garden, celebrating Henry Huntingtons agricultural roots. I cant wait to check this out when it opens!

You can read more about the garden in the news article below as well as the official Huntington Library website.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_16567636

http://www.huntington.org/

...and of course purchasing our new 2011 Rose Calendar helps keep this blog up and running! It makes a great Christmas & Hanukkah gift for your fave loved ones...

Savings Tips

2010-11-08T11:41:00.000-08:00

So its not quite Thursday yet, but this is a heads up that we'll be having a new article every Thursday with tips on how to save money. Perfectly in time for the holiday season and for the winter months. We'll take a new & clever slant on saving money in various ways, so make sure to tune in.

And the Winner Is!

2010-11-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

1916 Bungalow presents the Friday Giveaway from now til the end of the year, every Friday!

We'll be using Random.org to find our first winner of a $15 Amazon.com gift card.

Drum rolls please....

Interrupted from a phone call...

Here we go again. Im twittering all of this as we go here...

The winner is Laura J. Robinson! Congrats!

THAT WAS EXCITING! Thats all for the prizes this week. Next drawing is Friday November 12th.

We're Extending the Giveaway Deadline!

2010-11-05T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thats it. We are extending it a couple more hours until 4pm Pacific time! Sign up to our google friends list by clickin' the link below for your chance to win the Amazon gift card!

CLICK HERE TO FRIEND US!

(better hurry! you have less than three hours to enter!)

FRIDAY GIVEAWAY! Amazon Gift Card!

2010-11-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Thats right everyone! The 1916home first Holiday Friday Giveaway is a $15 dollar Amazon Gift card! The drawing will be later today, at 1pm Pacific time. To be entered into the drawing, become our friend by clicking the follow button to the right of this post. Yes, right there with the pics of all of our good friends! Its the 'Google Friend Connect' button.

Right now we are at 43 friends, hoping to hit at least 50 before the drawing later today. Again, you must become one of our google friends in order to be entered into the contest. We will be picking out of that lot of friends. Tell everyone you know! Spread the word!

We are going to rock this place every Friday with different holiday giveaways! They wont all be gift cards either. We will have some antique items, some handcrafted items, some non-GMO seeds, and plenty more.

EVERY FRIDAY UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR! We have been blessed by so many good visitors we wanted to do this as a big 'thank you'!

Bisou Says Hello

2010-11-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Since Bisou was recently named "Cat of the Week" and got his photo into the 365 Days Cat Calendar, he has been doing very VERY good. He knows full well how awesome he is (our constant petting and kissing him dont help). He has a special place on our stereo cabinet he likes to sit or lay. Since its varnish wood, it cant be all that comfortable or warm, so we decided to pamper him and get him a nice new fluffy blanket to lay on. I know, not the best photo, but you can get an idea how content he is.

WALMART Plays with their Prices!

2010-11-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

I'll be the first to say it, Im not a fan of Walmart. In fact, I dont like going there based on philosophical reasons. One day, when China gets into an argument with the USA or via versa, we are all going to be screwed. Imagine China cutting off all imports to the US. Imagine that for a second. Walmart alone would have to lay off thousands and thousands of workers. But thats for another post :)

Anna likes to shop there because prices are (many times, not all the time) so good. As with any store, if you go in knowing your prices, you'll do well. We know our prices. Heck, Anna is an accountant!

She was looking specifically for a mini cupcake tin. She knew they run over $10 and many times around $18-$20. She went shopping with my sister "Big Bertha" to Walmart. There is was, a shiny new mini cupcake tin for... get this one.... FOUR DOLLARS ($4 USD). A deal she thought. Later that night, she thought things were too good to be true so we stopped into our local Walmart. Same tin, same company for, get this one... $16. Yes, SIXTEEN dollars, not four. Same item.

Recently I noticed Walmart now has cellphones for sale (I dont go in there often, so maybe they've had them before). There was a phone I thought was pretty cool... HTC Android or something. Very cool at $48 with a 2 yr agreement. Im not signing up for a 2 year agreement though. On the way home from work then next say we stopped into an ATT phone store. Same phone $150. WOW. Then, the next day we stopped by another Walmart and saw the same phone for $78. Whats with all these numbers? I dont have a clue. I ended up not buying the phone. I dont need more debt or any new contracts. especially in this economy.

Yet another example. Walmart sells a card game called Uno. One time while at Walmart, I saw Uno for $7 at the checkout stand. Seemed a bit pricey, but I really wanted the game. I held back. I checked online. $5 online. Plus the standard $5 shipping, putting the game at $10 online. So I decided I would buy the game next time I eventually went to Walmart. There I was... board game isle... found Uno for $4.25. No shipping required. I grabbed it! I headed to the checkout to find the SAME GAME for sale still for $7. How do they do this? You'll find Walmart DOES play price games INSTORE. So Look around. Apparently, you'll pay for convenience of an item being art the checkout, instead of walking all the way to the back isles for the same item. They do this on batteries too.

Let that be a warning or a challenge to you to find better deals at different stores or even at the same store but different locations! Or even in the SAME store! Be smart and save money where you can. $1 here, $5 there... it all adds up.

First AWESOME Giveaway! Friday NOV 5th!

2010-11-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thats right! This coming Friday, and EVERY Friday until the end of the year we will be giving something cool, neat, fun, interesting, and FREE away to one of our Google Friend Connect readers.

You MUST be a Google Friend Connect friend to enter into the contests. Lets try to get 50 friends before Friday! If you havent told your mom, your sister, a friend, a relative, etc about out website, please do so. Hey, if they win a prize they'll be happy & you'll be happy... cant go wrong with that.

The BIG RED ARROW is pointing you in the direction to "follow" us as a Google Friend Connection.

So here is the contest info....

- Must be a Google Friend Connection (follow us)
- All winners will be picked at random with the Google Friend Connect list of people.
- Giveaways every Friday until end of year
- We'll make every effort to contact you if you win. If you dont want the item, it will go up for a random pick again or added to the next Fridays drawing (at our discretion)

Thats it! Please tell your friends to follow us as a friend! Good luck ;)

America's #1 Candy Corn

2010-10-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

It may very well be America's #1 Candy Corn, but like everything else in America, its no longer made here...

* Sigh *

Victorian Era Wallpapers

2010-10-31T02:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! This is a wallpaper design I did some time back. Perfect for Halloween or just anytime. I hope you enjoy! Click each image below and save them off...

Are you a 1916home Friend yet?

2010-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Are you a 1916home Friend yet? If not, click the "Follow" button over to the right and add yourself! We are going to be giving away tons of great prizes between now and the end of the year and we will be using the Google Friend Connect as our base to pick the drawings from.

Prizes will vary, but I will be giving away my craftsman font... the Gustav Stickley Font Set, as well as handmade items such as vintage cutting boards, handmade craftsman oak mailboxes, holiday items for Thanksgiving, New Years, rare Christmas ornaments all the way from Russia, Halloween decorations, not to mention ORGANIC heirloom seeds for your garden.

Whats the trick to enter each contest? No trick! Just add yourself to our Google Friend Connect list and you will automatically be entered into each contest! We will randomly pick the winner each time and YES, you can win more than once! Stay tuned right here and on Twitter for each new contest announcement.

If you have friends who might be interested in our blog, please let them know as well. We have a goal of hitting 100 friends before the end of October. Can we do it? We will hold a special drawing when we hit 100 friends!

Thanks so much to all who have been our friend from the beginning. You truly have made this blog a special place in our hearts.

BREAKING NEWS! Bisou Wins Award!

2010-10-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as we arrived home, we saw a package on our doorstep. We were completely at a loss as to what it was since neither of us ordered anything. The package came from so and so publishing... still did not give us any clue. Someone order a book? What the heck is it? We opened it up and found the calendar inside with a note that read...

"Congratulations Dave & Anna, you cat Bisou has made it into the 2011 cat calendar! You should be very proud of him as there were literally thousands cat photos that did not get selected. Enjoy."

Bisou also was selected as "winner of the week". Under the photo in the calendar it reads "Bisou, which means "kiss" in French, is a handsome three year old Balinese who lives in Southern California with Dave and Anna. Like most cats with Siamese blood (which the balinese has in spades), Bisou is curious and alert, keeping both bright blue eyes peeled for bugs, mice and lizards in the backyard."

Here is the photo that won! Congratulations Bisou my best cat buddy in the whole wide world!

Pumpkin Pie Shake

2010-10-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

Hey look... I like pumpkin pie, dont you? I didnt always like it and I dont know why because its sooo sooo good. I did my mom a disservice by not eating hers, but I did the last few years and I know it made her happy. Talk about delicious. I can honestly say that Ive never made pumpkin pie myself, but heres the next best thing! A Pumpkin Pie Shake...

Ingredients:

- 1 can pumpkin
- 6 to 12 ice cubes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- honey to sweeten (or brown sugar)

... now take the empty pumpkin can and fill it with milk (do it twice) and add in ...

- 2 cans milk

Blend this up in your blender. I usually use 9 or 10 ice cubes, but yours will vary depending on size. I use honey to taste, but in a pinch any sweetener will work... brown sugar, maple syrup, sugar, stevia, etc).

This tastes great as is and tastes great too if you like to add protein powder into your drinks.

ENJOY!

I never knew this but Nestle owns Libbys which makes about 85% of all canned pumpkin.

False Claims & Lies at Farmers Markets

2010-09-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

You can read the juicy details in the two links below...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39319593/ns/local_news-los_angeles_ca/

http://www.homegrownevolution.com/2010/09/farmers-markets-buyer-beware.html#comment-form

Basically what is being said is that some "farmers" arent really farmers at all. They are tricksters and frauds buying produce in bulk from huge markets in downtown Los Angeles and then reselling at a ridiculously high price.

The funny thing is Anna and I just had this chat on Sunday. We were at our local farmers market in Claremont, CA. So we were thinking... whats it to these vendors to go to downtown LA and buy produce for pennies and then sell them for top dollar? Apparently, not much.

Heck, you can get gigantic savings just buying produce at a mexican grocery store, compared to Ralphs (which, by the way furnishes many of the mexican markets). Thats right. Ralphs pulls in behind a market called "Buy-Low". They sell 3 pounds of apples for $1 at Buy-Low. At Ralphs its 50 cents each. Some days when Buy-Low has too many apples? You'll get 4 or 5 pounds for one buck! So who is getting ripped off?? Middle class suburbia, thats who. And Im sure Ralphs is still making a profit. Buy-Low does not gloss their apples with wax and Buy-Low also might have some apples that dont look perfect. Big deal.

Back to the Farmers Market trickery. I remember one time in Moscow we bought a kilo of grapes on the street... but my wife commented to the vendor that it sure didnt feel like a kilo. Sure enough, when we got back to the apartment... it was about 3/4 kilo. I think Americans are usually too courteous to complain or demand more info, so we easily fall prey.

So after discussing this trickery that the vendors COULD do (and turns out to be true) we started looking more closely at the produce. Some of it did look too perfect. As a home gardener... nothing I grow is perfect! If you just go by perfection alone, you can spot the fake tomatoes vs. the real ones as with other veggies. Maybe I do get a few NICE tomatoes... completely without flaw, but its not often the case. If you garden at home and you just picked carrots out of the ground, you can see peoples carrots for sale at the farmers market and think back to yourself... were mine that perfect? Was there some dirt here or there? Were all my carrots the exact same size? etc.

As we were leaving the farmers market, we bought some figs. We were just in europe a couple weeks ago and ate REAL figs straight off the trees. They are delicious and melt in your mouth when they are fresh picked (in fact i had never eaten a fresh picked fig before!). The fig seller kept telling us that his figs were freshed picked the day before. We bought some and immediately took a bite. NOT FRESH PICKED. My wife complained and said they didnt taste fresh. She then uncovered mold halfway down the small box and asked loudly so all around could hear "Fresh picked? Are you sure? Fresh picked figs dont get moldy overnight!" and we walked away.

So let it be a lesson. Buyer beware at farmers markets. Ask questions, get to know the local vendors. Even consider visiting their farm.

I am a Cheater

2010-08-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Ive been caught!!! Im confessing now to the whole wide world. You will all hate me. There is nothing worse than to be labeled a cheater.... so? Ladies? Gardening Guys? Is this forgivable???

Wow! Ive cheated and put my garden on water timers :) Life is going to be so much easier. Have you done this? No longer do I need to waste time watering! Timers and soaker hoses are going to allow me to do other stuff around the garden and give me much needed valuable time.