DIY Life http://www.diylife.com DIY Life http://www.diylife.com/media/feedlogo.gif DIY Life http://www.diylife.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The DIY Reel: Replace a Broken Sprinkler Headhttp://www.diylife.com/2009/10/22/the-diy-reel-replace-a-broken-sprinkler-head/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/22/the-diy-reel-replace-a-broken-sprinkler-head/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/22/the-diy-reel-replace-a-broken-sprinkler-head/#commentsFiled under: ,

Want to know what my biggest pet peeve is? OK, it may not be my biggest, b/c I have quite a few, but this one's high on my list. Ready? I hate nothing more than unpacking my seasonal items, only to find that they've been broken, or were, in fact, broken upon storing them.

Naturally, I'm beginning to store my gardening tools in preparation for a chilly winter season, and I'm making sure everything is in tact for next spring. After all, there's nothing worse than dragging out your garden hose, only to realize you failed to repair it last fall. First on my repair list? The sprinkler head:



One important thing to keep in mind when tackling a sprinkler head repair:
When using a hand trowel or old serrated knife to cut through the lawn or dirt surrounding the sprinkler head, be careful not to cut into the water line, which could make this project much more costly in the long run!

That's it --- get to work! Good luck, and thank you, Eric!

 

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]]>brokenfixgardenlawnreplacesprinklersprinkler headSprinklerHeadErin Loechner2009-10-22T15:00:00+00:00Daily DIY: How to Re-Web a Patio Chairhttp://www.diylife.com/2009/10/09/daily-diy-how-to-re-web-a-patio-chair/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/09/daily-diy-how-to-re-web-a-patio-chair/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/09/daily-diy-how-to-re-web-a-patio-chair/#commentsFiled under: ,

lawn chair, patio chair, patio

Learn to re-web a patio chair in four easy steps! Photo: Shelterrific

It's time to put those patio chairs back into storage, but first --- why not re-web those few chairs that are in major need of some TLC? Shelterrific shows us how to re-web your chair using basic screws:

1. Measure and cut the length of the strip that you'll need.
2. Take the cut edge of the strip and fold each side in to form this lovely pointy end. Turn the strip over and insert the screw directly through this point so it holds the flaps together.
3. Screw into the hole on the chair. Weave the strip through existing webbing and repeat the folded point on the other side, securing with screw through the hole on that end.
4. Remember to factor in the bit of extra length you'll need for the chair to open and close fully.

Sure, it takes a bit of hard work, but you'll be glad you did it next spring when you remove immaculately-woven chairs from storage.

 

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]]>backyardlawn furniturepatiopatio chairPatioChairsummerErin Loechner2009-10-09T09:00:00+00:00Daily DIY: Flies on the Wallhttp://www.diylife.com/2009/10/02/daily-diy-flies-on-the-wall/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/02/daily-diy-flies-on-the-wall/http://www.diylife.com/2009/10/02/daily-diy-flies-on-the-wall/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

basil, plant, green,

Keep the flies at bay with basil. Photo: More Quality Less Clutter

A trip to the farmer's market last week had me stopping to smell the flowers, and unfortunately -- spotting the flies. Fruit flies were everywhere and happen to be one of my biggest pet peeves, so as soon as I returned home, I did a bit of research on how to fight the good fight. Fortunately, the solution happens to be found at my local florist!

A potted basil plant's scent will drive those flies away. Although humans find basil's strong aroma to be pleasing, and in some cultures, healing, flies despise the scent. A few other herbs flies like to steer clear of? Lavender, elder and mint. Try a few herbs as centerpieces for your next outdoor party and watch the flies fly far, far away.

Want a more inexpensive solution that won't upset your allergies? Vinegar water keeps bugs at bay all through your home. Proof that you can stay bug-free this fall without toxic sprays and/or solutions.

 

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]]>basilbugsfliesgardenherbsoutdoorplantsErin Loechner2009-10-02T09:00:00+00:00The DIY Reel: Cleaning Your Outdoor Grillhttp://www.diylife.com/2009/08/26/the-diy-reel-cleaning-your-outdoor-grill/http://www.diylife.com/2009/08/26/the-diy-reel-cleaning-your-outdoor-grill/http://www.diylife.com/2009/08/26/the-diy-reel-cleaning-your-outdoor-grill/#commentsFiled under: ,

I'm planning a backyard bbq baby shower (say that three times fast!), which means one thing -- I need to kick my grill into high gear, and FAST! Our DIY reel this week arrived just in time with Eric Stromer sharing his Trade Secrets on cleaning and caring for an outdoor grill.

Best tip, hands down? Keep your grill covered to avoid summertime rust, cobwebs and other gross things that you don't want crawling around your food when it's time to cook out. In addition, be sure to frequently check the propane tank, firebox, and grates. If you have heavy rust or orange hues to any, chances are they'll need to be replaced. After all, you wouldn't cook on a rusty stove, so be sure you don't cook on a rusty grill.

And while we've got grills on the brain, have you seen this cutie grill from Traeger? Ha! Cute enough to make me switch to vegan bacon... forever.

Here's to outdoor bbq fun!

 

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]]>backyardgrilloutdoorsummerErin Loechner2009-08-26T15:00:00+00:00How Now: Bug Off!http://www.diylife.com/2009/08/20/how-now-bug-off/http://www.diylife.com/2009/08/20/how-now-bug-off/http://www.diylife.com/2009/08/20/how-now-bug-off/#commentsFiled under: ,

I smelled fall in the air yesterday, and visions of campfires danced in my heads. Ahhh, S'mores, wool blankets and crisp air. Also present? Bugs. Creepy, crawly and hungry [ouch!] bugs. Needless to say, I'm vowing to keep myself covered this year.

Luckily, Howcast has a handy tutorial on keeping the bugs [and toxins] at bay with a DIY bug-spray remedy:


How To Make Bug Spray on Howcast


The best part? You only need three easy ingredients: witch hazel [which is a natural reliever for bug bites], eucalyptus oil and cider vinegar. You'll smell organic to humans, but dangerous to bugs. What could be better?

I can't wait to show those backyard bugs who's boss at our next campfire/bbq shindig. What about you? Any bug remedies you swear by? Comment below to share them with us and we may feature your ideas in our next How Now post!

 

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]]>backyardbbqbug-spraybugshowcasthownowsummerErin Loechner2009-08-20T17:00:00+00:00Daily DIY: Using Air Conditioner Condensation to Water Your Plantshttp://www.diylife.com/2009/07/31/daily-diy-using-air-conditioner-condensation-to-water-your-plan/http://www.diylife.com/2009/07/31/daily-diy-using-air-conditioner-condensation-to-water-your-plan/http://www.diylife.com/2009/07/31/daily-diy-using-air-conditioner-condensation-to-water-your-plan/#commentsFiled under: ,

a/c, condensation, garden



I'm horrible at keeping my plants happy and healthy, and even my outdoor plants often suffer from my forgetfulness. There's just too much to think about, and unless it's raining, I all too often forget about my dear green friends. Naturally, I'm filing this green idea under "Why didn't I think of that?".

Plant a tiny garden under the condensation pipe of your air conditioner. Regardless of your A/C model, water will drip from the pipe daily, keeping your garden healthy, wealthy and wise. Although the water that drips isn't a lot by any means, it's consistent, giving your plants plenty of water to grow.

Of course, be sure to choose plants that will only grow a few feet tall so the pipe won't be blocked by their leafy greens! Try dwarf azalea, holly fern and vinca, as they only grow up to three feet tall and enjoy shaded areas.

Now you'll have an excuse to crank up the A/C on those hot summer days!

 

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]]>accondensationgardenplantsErin Loechner2009-07-31T09:00:00+00:00Build Your Own BBQ Pithttp://www.diylife.com/2009/06/25/build-your-own-bbq-pit/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/25/build-your-own-bbq-pit/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/25/build-your-own-bbq-pit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Extremely hot flame pit by Flickr's GenkiGenki.

By M.E. Williams

Every summer, I look forward to cooking outdoors. Lots of people have propane grills, which make outdoor cooking fast and convenient, but I use a small charcoal model similar to a Weber Kettle Grill. I don't think I'd move up to a propane grill, partly because the food cooked on it can have a "gassy" off-flavor (also possible with charcoal, if you use too much starter). On the other hand, I'd love to have a backyard large enough for a barbeque pit, like the one I remember my late grandparents having.

The Arizona BBQ Association has assembled a page of links that will show you how to build your own backyard smokers and grills. The projects are of two basic types: those based on masonry and those based on metal barrels, which usually require welding. The BBQ Lodge pit project is probably the simplest, but still, the designer had to cut some concrete blocks to shape.

None of these is exactly an "easy" project, but if you get started now, you'll have something to show off on Labor Day Weekend... and some really great meals for the rest of the season!

 

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]]>barbecuebbqflame-pitDIY Life Staff2009-06-25T15:00:00+00:00Avant Yard - Father's Day Gifts for Yardiac Dadshttp://www.diylife.com/2009/06/20/avant-yard-fathers-day-gifts-for-yardiac-dads/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/20/avant-yard-fathers-day-gifts-for-yardiac-dads/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/20/avant-yard-fathers-day-gifts-for-yardiac-dads/#commentsFiled under: ,

Freestanding wooden swing seat in a garden, painted bright white and surrounded by green foliage

Sunday is Father's Day and, yes, despite what your dad (or spouse) says, he probably does want a gift. Time to shop!

First piece of advice: skip the big box stores unless you're utterly desperate. Check out their websites and you'll see what I mean. Lowes has a pretty good Father's Day gift-finder page. You can search products based on the type of dad you have. (Lawn dads, wood-working dads, etc.) However, it's hardly inspiring stuff. Example: their suggestion for the dad who has everything? A gift card.

The Home Depot does a little better with its online gift center, but the suggestions are uniformly dull... or just plain stupid. I mean, do you know anyone who would buy dad a $699 pressure washer for Father's Day? Oh, but it's not just Home Depot and Lowes pitching dumb Father's Day gift ideas. Amazon: come on!

-- Diane Rixon

 

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]]>fathers-day-giftsDIY Life Staff2009-06-20T09:00:00+00:00All-Natural Ant Control and Preventionhttp://www.diylife.com/2009/06/17/all-natural-ant-control-and-prevention/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/17/all-natural-ant-control-and-prevention/http://www.diylife.com/2009/06/17/all-natural-ant-control-and-prevention/#commentsFiled under: ,

ant by Jeff Kubina on Flickr

By Bethany Sanders

Picking up my kids from my mom's this afternoon, I found them stooped in the driveway, laughing over an anthill. The pavement ants they were watching were so small we could hardly see them, yet the tiny insects were carrying large helicopter seeds, working diligently to bring them down into their holes with them. It was really a site to see, like if I tried to pick up my house and stuff it into a manhole.

Ants may be curious, industrious creatures and fun for kids to watch, but the minute they enter your house, they're bad news. I once had ants marching across my kitchen counter for days, and every trap I tried they ignored, until, many dollar signs later, I found the right one.

But according to some experts, a simple homemade solution will do the trick just as well. Not only is it cheaper than experimenting with traps, it's safer for pets and children as well. I'll tell you the secret after the break.

You'll need:
  • water
  • alcohol
  • dish soap
Mix together in a 40:40:20 ratio water, alcohol, and dish soap, or in other words, equal parts water and alcohol, then half as much dish soap. You can spray this directly on the ants (kills them on contact... sorry ants, but you have to go), then wash along the trail line to eliminate their scent trail. Once you find where they are coming in, plug up the whole.

Another solution involves mixing 1 T. boric acid with 2 T. each of peanut butter and jelly and placing it as a trap where ants like to congregate. Keep in mind, however, that this won't take care of all species of ants and also must be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Here are a few more all-natural tips for getting rid of ants (though I've no idea if they really work), as well as tips for preventing an ant infestation in the first place. On the other hand, if your pest is of a bigger variety (like cockroaches), check out this post on how to brew your own cockroach killer.

 

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]]>homemade-ant-deterrentnatural-ant-controlDIY Life Staff2009-06-17T11:00:00+00:00Become a beekeeperhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/07/25/become-a-beekeeper/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/25/become-a-beekeeper/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/25/become-a-beekeeper/#commentsFiled under: , ,

two honeybees on yellow flowers

It's been all over the news for about six months now: there is a bee shortage. While this probably means catastrophic things for our planet in general terms, more specifically, it leaves us with a lack of honey for cooking and body care products, and less beeswax than we'd like to make lip balms and other lovelies.

What about the long-term effects the dwindling bee population could have on our plants? Without bees to pollinate them, our blooms could fade into just a memory.

Have you thought about becoming a beekeeper?

My husband has, on many occasions, and I wonder if the bee crisis will be the impetus for his actually starting a hive, right here in our own backyard.

The University of Kentucky shares basic beekeeping operations with us, including tips on choosing a hive location, what to look for when examining the hive, how to feed bees, and honey collection.

What do you think? Are you ready to start a hive, repopulate the Earth's bees, and have bountiful honey and beeswax?

[via Make]

 

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]]>beebeekeeperbeekeepingbeesbeeswaxcolonyEarthgreen-dailyhivehoneyhoney-beeshoneybeespollenpollinateDebra McDuffee2008-07-25T15:00:00+00:00Make a terrarium with your childhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/07/21/make-a-terrarium-with-your-child/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/21/make-a-terrarium-with-your-child/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/21/make-a-terrarium-with-your-child/#commentsFiled under: , ,

child's terrariumGot a kiddo who's driving you stir crazy on a rainy day? Or maybe you just have a budding botanist in the family. Either way, this kid's terrarium from National Geographic is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.

Have a responsible child run down to the basement and dig out that old fishbowl... you know, the one you bought after you won that goldfish at the county fair? Wash it out with soap and water, then rinse well. While it's drying, gather the rest of your materials:
  • potting soil
  • horticulture soil
  • small stones
  • plants of your choice
  • scissors
  • water
  • decorative figure of your choice (a Polly Pocket? Ben 10? Let them decide.)
Visit National Geographic Kids for details on the how-to of this nifty terrarium, but basically you're going to layer the stones, then the charcoal, then the potting soil. Put your plants in the dirt, decorate, and place in a sunny place! Leave it to your children to prune the plants as necessary... responsibility is good for them!

(via Craft)

%Gallery-28174%

 

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]]>childrencraftsgardeninggiftshomeschoolingkidsplant-careplantsrainy-day-projectsscienceterrariumBethany Sanders2008-07-21T15:00:00+00:00Don't It Yourself: Pipe bombshttp://www.diylife.com/2008/07/17/dont-it-yourself-pipe-bombs/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/17/dont-it-yourself-pipe-bombs/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/17/dont-it-yourself-pipe-bombs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

firework inside a PVC pipe
If you're reading DIY Life, chances are you like to make things. Perhaps you build large structures, or maybe you enjoy sewing. I hope you can keep your creativity from overflowing into the pipe bomb arena, though.

We've all started projects only to abandon them, or at least take a big break in-between work sessions. Any painting job I've ever tried to do comes to mind. The only hazards there are perhaps some stiff, neglected paintbrushes. What if you left a pipe bomb half-finished?

That's what one guy did, and when he ran out of welding rod, he tossed the half-finished pipe bomb -- already filled with gunpowder -- back into the scrap pile. You can imagine what happened the next time he needed some scrap metal pipe....


The Darwin Awards got hold of this story, and the ending isn't pretty. Shrapnel everywhere, up to the third floor, missed his brain by half an inch. Visit the original submission for all of the gory details.

Now go back to your woodworking, or resume sewing that twirly skirt, but by all means, do not attempt to build a pipe bomb. It'll end in tears.

 

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]]>bombbuilddarwin-awardsexplodingexplosionexplosivesfireworkfoolishgunpowdermakepipepipe-bombpipesPVCPVC-pipeshrapnelstupidstupiditythoughtlessweldweldingwelding-rodDebra McDuffee2008-07-17T08:00:00+00:00Don't it Yourself: Creative mini-rocket launchinghttp://www.diylife.com/2008/07/10/dont-it-yourself-creative-mini-rocket-launching/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/10/dont-it-yourself-creative-mini-rocket-launching/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/10/dont-it-yourself-creative-mini-rocket-launching/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

man launching a bottle rocket

Reminisce with me for a moment, if you will, back to your childhood, to when you and your siblings built and launched your own bottle rocket. How'd it go for you?

If you did everything correctly, your rocket probably took off with ease, and the display was celebrated with lots of hoots and hollers.

However, if you tried to elaborate on the directions, and came up with a creative way to watch your rocket fly a little longer, it may have ended badly, like it did for the two young men who won a Darwin Award honorable mention.

Suffice it to say, you should not tie yarn to your rocket at one end, and a birdbath at the other, in hopes that the rocket will spin around and fly longer.

And if, by some off chance, you decide not to heed this advice and do it anyway, and the rocket burns through the yarn and flames through the sky, please don't stand in the rocket's path.

If you are feeling completely left out of this post's humor and camaraderie because you've never made your own bottle rocket, NASA (via About) has a tutorial on how to build a bottle rocket in thirty minutes.

Did I mention that you shouldn't tie the rocket to yarn and...?

 

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]]>bad-ideasbottle-rocketbuildchildchildhooddarwin-awardsfireflameskidkidslaunchmakemistakeNASAnot-liablerocketstupidDebra McDuffee2008-07-10T08:00:00+00:00Dyeing flowers with food coloringhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/07/02/dyeing-flowers-with-food-coloring/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/02/dyeing-flowers-with-food-coloring/http://www.diylife.com/2008/07/02/dyeing-flowers-with-food-coloring/#commentsFiled under: , ,

flowers dyed with food coloring
I have a large flower garden in my backyard. Last year, my son had just moved in with me (I adopted him from the US foster care system). I was never able to get him very interested in the garden. This year, however, he's been a bit more involved. He's enjoyed seeing the plants spring up from their winter slumber, and he's even potted his "own" annuals.

Working in the garden has been a great learning experience for him. We discuss everything from flowers to bugs to environmental responsibility. When I stumbled across this article about dyeing flowers using food coloring, I knew it was a fun experiment my son would enjoy.

All you need is white flowers (carnations work well, but almost any long-stemmed white flower will do), food coloring, glasses or vases for each color, and water. Simply color the water and insert the freshly cut flower, then wait for the magic to happen. While it's fun to see the color change, don't forget to take advantage of the educational aspect. PBSKids has some information on how the process actually works.

%Gallery-26631%

 

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]]>carnationcarnationscolorcolored-flowersdyed-flowersdyeing-flowersflowerflower-dyeingflowersfood-coloringPBS-kidsPBSKidsscience-experimentwhite-flowersMaggie Vink2008-07-02T13:00:00+00:00Predicting the weather: Keep your eye to the skyhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/06/25/predicting-the-weather-keep-your-eye-to-the-sky/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/25/predicting-the-weather-keep-your-eye-to-the-sky/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/25/predicting-the-weather-keep-your-eye-to-the-sky/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A cloudy sky in Arizona, by Flickr's pagedooley.You're heading out for the day, you missed the weather forecast, and you have no idea what to take along? Don't panic.

It doesn't take a degree in meteorology to be able to predict the general patterns of weather a day or two in advance. Just look up. The answer's in the clouds. It's also over at Instructables, where there is an excellent page on clouds and weather prediction.

Do you remember your grade school science? I'd bet that at some point along the way, someone told you about cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds. They may even have explained that clouds float along at three different heights, too.

Put those two bits of information together, and you have pretty much all you need to know. In the very simplest terms, the higher the cloud, the fairer the weather.

[via Lifehacker.]


Cirrus clouds are the highest, those bright white, wispy clouds you'll see on a hot summer's day. The sun (or moon) shines right on through them. Because they're so high, they're formed of ice crystals, hence the bright white color. Cirrus clouds -- whether cirro-stratus, which spread across the sky, or cirro-cumulus, which are puffier -- tend to mean clear, dry weather.

Alto clouds are the middle height, formed of water usually, and darker than the white cirrus clouds. They tend to precede a change in the weather. Like cirrus clouds, they also come in stratus ("sheet") and cumulus ("puffy") variants.

Stratus clouds are the lowest clouds, the ones that sometimes sit right on the ground -- then we call them "fog". They're dark, and they generally cover the entire sky. Nimbo-stratus are rainclouds, the ones that cover the sky in a solid sheet of gray. They mean precipitation, and often precipitation that will last for a day or three.

And then there's that most dramatic cloud, the cumulo-nimbus, also called "thunderheads", and for good reason. They are quite flat on the bottom, and can begin low in the sky, but they pile waaaay up from there, thousands of feet sometimes, can be very dark gray, almost black, and almost always mean violent weather of some sort: thunder, lightning, storms.

There. You're all set! With a few moment's observation of the sky, you'll know whether you can have that picnic this afternoon. Outside my window right now? A sky full of cumulus, turning darker and steadily piling up, with a rising wind out of the west. No picnics for us today, and maybe I'll just sneak into the back yard right now and make sure the bicycles are covered ...

 

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]]>cloud-formationcloudsmeteorologyprecipitationweather-predictionIlona Peltz2008-06-25T08:00:00+00:00Unusual Uses: Alka-seltzerhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/06/11/unusual-uses-alka-seltzer/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/11/unusual-uses-alka-seltzer/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/11/unusual-uses-alka-seltzer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

two Alka-Seltzer tablets fizzing in blue liquidIt sure comes in handy when the heartburn hits, but Alka-Seltzer is not just for tummies. If you've got a household problem, chances are that you can solve it with a little fizzing tablet.

Alka-Seltzer can clean things? You bet.

In the kitchen, you can use Alka-Seltzer to clean out your coffee maker, get the residue out of a vase, clean glass cookware, and unclog a drain.

Is your jewelry dulled? Put Alka-Seltzer to work -- that is, when it's not cleaning your toilets! Rely on the fizz to remove residue, buildup, and stuck-on goo.

Why does this work? Because Alka-Seltzer is baking soda (very alkaline) mixed with citric acid and aspirin (acidic), it creates a chemical reaction. That's why it fizzes, but why does it clean so well?

We know that baking soda is an effective all-purpose cleaner, but did you know that citric acid is the main ingredient in many household cleaners? It stands to reason that with these two powerhouse ingredients, Alka-Seltzer has rightfully earned its reputation as a cleaner... not just an antacid.

 

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]]>Alka-Seltzeraspirinbaking-sodacitric-acidcleancleanerclogged-drainscoffee-makerdranoheartburnjewelrytabletsunclog-drainDebra McDuffee2008-06-11T10:00:00+00:00Cool off with a home-made air conditionerhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/06/10/cool-off-with-a-home-made-air-conditioner/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/10/cool-off-with-a-home-made-air-conditioner/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/10/cool-off-with-a-home-made-air-conditioner/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Antique fan
Summer's here and the mercury is rising. That means air conditioning, and if you're like me, you've got that central A/C unit humming along and sucking up the dollars. But some areas in my home don't have A/C. My shop is a good example. OK, it was meant to be a two-car garage, but what a waste of space that would have been.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised to stumble across this site that shows how to construct a home- made air conditioner. The one featured here uses a small table-top fan, but I can envision one that uses a big box fan instead. More bang for your buck.

To build one of your own, here's what you'll need:
  • A fan
  • Ice chest
  • Copper tubing
  • Aquarium pump
  • Ice

This set-up is actually quite similar to what I rigged up a few years ago when I used to brew beer. The wort had to be chilled quickly when emptying the brew kettle. Maybe I could rig it up to do both things at the same time. Hmmm...

 

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]]>air-conditionerair-conditioningaquarium-pumpbeerbox-fanbrewbrewing-beercopper-tubingelectric-fanfanhome-made-air-conditionersummer-heattable-top-fanventilationKelly Smith2008-06-10T08:00:00+00:00Outdoor benches recalled due to fall hazardhttp://www.diylife.com/2008/06/06/outdoor-benches-recalled-due-to-fall-hazard/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/06/outdoor-benches-recalled-due-to-fall-hazard/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/06/outdoor-benches-recalled-due-to-fall-hazard/#commentsFiled under: , ,

red triangle diy life recall alert signThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, has announced a voluntary recall of about 4,500 Best Value park benches, due to a fall hazard posed to consumers if the benches become unstable and break.

Manufactured in China and sold at Jo-Ann stores from January 2008 through March 2008 for about $30, this recall involves Best Value outdoor benches with a green metal frame and wooden slats. Please see the CPSC press release for more information.

Consumers are advised to stop using the bench and return it to the nearest Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store for a full refund. For more information, consumers can either contact Jo-Ann Stores at (888) 739-4120, email the firm at guest.services@joann.com, or visit www.joann.com.

outdoor park bench

 

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]]>benchesbest-valuefall-hazardfallsinjuriesinjurymetal-frameoutdoor-benchpark-benchwooden-slatsAnna Sattler2008-06-06T20:00:00+00:00Make a marshmallow catapulthttp://www.diylife.com/2008/06/02/make-a-marshmallow-catapult/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/02/make-a-marshmallow-catapult/http://www.diylife.com/2008/06/02/make-a-marshmallow-catapult/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boy loading a marshmallow in a catapult
Last fall I took my son and his best friend to a pumpkin farm. In addition to getting lost in a corn maze, drinking cider, and picking out pumpkins, the boys had a great time in the gift shop. They found "marshmallow launchers" (simple blowguns made out of plastic piping -- breathe into one end and a mini marshmallow comes flying out the other).

You can imagine my son's delight when I found the plans for this pyramid catapult that shoots marshmallows. You'll need six garden stakes, a plastic cup, rubber bands, and a whole lot of marshmallows!

It's simple to construct. Just place three of the stakes in the shape of a triangle and secure with rubber bands. Then, use the remaining three stakes to make a pyramid. Make three holes in the rim of the plastic cup and loop rubber bands through the holes. Attach the loose ends of the rubber bands to the corners of the pyramid. Then get the marshmallows and prepare to launch! Check out the gallery for details.

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]]>catapultgarden-stakesmarshmallowmarshmallow-launchermarshmallowspyramid-catapultrubber-bandsMaggie Vink2008-06-02T12:00:00+00:00How to make pickleshttp://www.diylife.com/2008/05/27/how-to-make-pickles/http://www.diylife.com/2008/05/27/how-to-make-pickles/http://www.diylife.com/2008/05/27/how-to-make-pickles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

homemade picklesHomemade pickles are a great way to cut sodium and to eat more naturally-produced foods. They are also a fun and tasty refrigerator science experiment.

The refrigerated method is the simplest, purest way to make pickles. Basically, you soak the cucumber in a salt brine for one week. When they are finished soaking, they will need to be refrigerated constantly until they are consumed.

The pickles will keep in the fridge for up to two months. If you want to keep them longer, you can preserve and jar them. Homemade pickles would be a welcomed hostess or housewarming gift.

Choosing the best cucumber is a bit of an art. The full instructions include pictures with each step, and the accompanying images show you what the most desirable pickle candidate looks like.

If you're working with mini-chefs, include a science and history lesson with some of these fascinating pickle facts. If you want to take things one step further, turn that pickle into a lightbulb and really wow your curious kids.

 

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]]>cucumbercucumbersgiftshomemadejarspicklepickle juicePickleJuicepicklespicklingrefrigeratesalt-brineslashfoodFrancesca Clarke2008-05-27T16:00:00+00:00