For the House

Sentimental Pencil Holder

DIY

Damaged in a storm many years ago, this oak caught just the right wind one dark night recently and now is no more.  We kept the lumber and are trying to make the most of it. This tree stood here for a hundred years and has meant a lot to our family for the last [...]

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How to Paint a Watercolor Tomato

DIY

Here at Little House in the Suburbs we’ve grown tomatoes,  dried tomatoes, broiled tomatoes, fried tomatoes, pickled tomatoes, and even laughed at my attempts to stake tomatoes. Running out of new things to do with tomatoes, by george, we’re going to paint tomatoes. How to Paint a Watercolor Tomato by Jeff Atnip It is always [...]

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How To Make a Patio Pond in a Day

DIY

Have you had your eye on an expensive water feature for your back yard patio? Water features are a great way to add visual interest to your back yard, and can help provide a calming oasis for you and your family to relax next to after a long day. Water features, however, don’t have to [...]

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A Few Firewood Basics

DIY

I thought I’d share some of the scintillating facts I’ve picked up about firewood since we started heating with a wood stove.  I say that intending a bit of sarcasm, but the truth is I really do find this stuff way too interesting.  Here we go: 1.  While every old-timer has his or her list, [...]

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Splitting Firewood

DIY

I learned something new recently.  Around here, and presumably in most areas, when a tree trimming crew disposes of a tree it pays a dumping fee.  Our local fee ranges from $50 for easily mulch-able branches to $75 for big trunks.  For the tree trimmers, especially the small companies, this can eat into their profits. [...]

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