CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Eco Snow Removal

CasaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:30:07 -0800

When a big storm comes though, staying off the roads inherently cuts back on gasoline use. But using a gasoline-powered snow blower or other snow removal product to clear the snow from your driveway and walkway will also emit greenhouse gases. So, instead, use an electric-powered one. To get some great exercise, you can also try human-powered alternatives like shovels, ice picks, and brooms to clear your sidewalk, porch, driveway, and balconies of snow and ice.
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Who Shovels at Your Home?

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:15:53 -0800

If you live in a snowy climate, chances are that you'll spend a good amount of time each week shoveling your front walk, which is actually a good form of exercise. Most cities also require that residents keep the sidewalks in front of their property free of snow and ice. Do you shovel at your home?

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Do You Shovel the Snow?

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:45:52 -0800

It's still 52°F here in San Francisco, but other parts of the country have already gotten over a foot of snow this Winter. Personally, I always preferred to shovel the snow rather than pick at the ice on my walkway. But others would prefer to hire someone to do it altogether. What about you? Do you shovel the snow, or pawn the responsibility onto an unsuspecting other?
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Casa Quickie: Caution Ahead!

CasaSugar — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 08:30:00 -0700

If you're digging a new garden bed near your house, keep an eye out for buried cable or water pipes. Dig carefully for the first few shovels full of dirt, and then spread the dirt out with your hands to make sure you're not cutting through a cable. You'd hate to miss out on an episode of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, right?

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How-To: Clean Your Fireplace

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

For me, the rule of thumb has always been that if I use my fireplace at least four times a year, I'll clean it at least once a year. I tend it to use it more often that, so I clean it more. It's not the most exciting task, but that's just the price you pay for enjoying a crackling fire. Ideally, it's best to clean it when you won't be using it again soon (i.e. before and after the Winter season). To learn how to clean out your fireplace, read more.

First of all, don't even think about cleaning your fireplace until all of its ashes have cooled - give it a day, at least. I'd also recommend putting on a mask before you put your face near all of that ash. This job can get messy, so lay down some newspapers in front of the fireplace to keep the ashes contained.
To begin, open the damper and use a stiff bristle brush to briskly and strongly clean soot and creosote buildup out of it. Creosote is the dark residue on the inside of your chimney and back of your fireplace.
Now, remove ashes from the hearth with a broom and dustpan or shovel into a bucket with a lid, and then vacuum the hearth to get rid of fine bits. Let the ash sit for a few days to make sure any live coals die down before you get rid of them.
Put your fire grate and andirons on your newspapers and scrub off loose residue with a wire brush.
Place your fire grate and andirons on an old towel and wipe them down with a rag. Wipe them down gently with steel wool dipped in metal polish, then wipe off the polish with a rag. Once dry, spray with a vinegar and water solution, and wipe clean. Then let dry.
Now, spray your vinegar and water solution onto your fireplace bricks, and let it soak. Then, use your stiff bristle brush to give it a good scrub. Repeat until clean.
Rinse everything with warm water and let dry. Vacuum the surround of your fireplace, and toss your ashes. If you have only wood ashes, you can compost them, but do not compost Duraflame ashes.

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Casa Quickie: Three Helpful Uses For Salt in the Winter

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0800

As many of you know, sprinkling rock salt on your walkways and driveways in the Winter will prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, making it easy to shovel away. Make sure to do so lightly, as salt can cause damage to your grass and other plants. Keep a tightly sealed bucket with a scoop for the salt outdoors near your walkway for easy access when the weather gets bitter. To hear two other helpful uses for salt, read more.

By dipping a sponge in saltwater and rubbing it across the interior of your car or home windows, you can keep your windows free of frost when the weather gets nippy. Just make sure to rub it dry once you've sponged down the windows.

When it's blizzard weather, a bit of salt will also prevent snow and ice from piling up on your windshield. Just fill a small cloth bag (or even a tied dishcloth) with rock salt, dip it in a little water, and wiping it across your windshield. Keep one handy in your glovebox in case bad weather arrives quickly. Then, drive on safely.
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Casa Quickie: Just Say No to Slippery Steps

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:15:35 -0800

If you plan on hosting any dinner parties or holiday gatherings, the last thing you need is a guest with a head injury. Unfortunately, slippery, icy walkways and steps are often the culprit in Winter accidents. Stop slips before they start by making sure to keep your steps free of ice and snow. First step: Always shovel any ice and snow away as soon as it lands on your steps and walkways. Then, if there's still a problem, use sand or kitty litter to provide traction. Using rock salt is also an option, though if the temperatures get below 25 degrees, it won't work. Do you use these methods, or do you have another way to keep your steps slip-free?
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How-To: Prepare Your House For Vacation

CasaSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:44 -0800

After you've done your shopping and packing, if you're leaving town for the holidays, there are a few things you should check off your list to keep your digs in tip-top shape. If you'll be gone for a couple weeks or more, I suggest following all of my steps. If it's a short trip, you may choose to omit some.

To start, you'll want to purge your refrigerator and pantry of any perishables. You'll likely have household staples (sugar, flour, etc.) that you won't want to toss; store those in tightly sealed containers, like Le Parfait Storage Jars.
If you're going to be gone for a few weeks, once you've emptied your refrigerator/freezer, unplug it and open the doors to defrost. Leave a box of Fridge-N-Freezer to absorb any odors that may be lingering.
Round up all of your trash bags and take them out to your garbage bin. Make sure you bring your garbage bin to the curb so the garbage crew can access your trash.
Scan your yard, patio, or deck for any outdoor items and furnishings you might have left there and bring them indoors.

To read the rest of my vacation preparation list, read more.

Water your plants, or hire someone to come by and water them while you're gone. And don't forget to feed your pets and hire a caretaker for them if they're not coming with!
Ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to check on your house while you're gone.
Suspend your mail service, or ask a trustworthy friend or neighbor to pick up your mail daily.
Turn the thermostat down to about 55 degrees.
Turn off the water.
Put a few lights in the front of the house on timers so that they go on at night, and turn the rest off.
Close your windows, blinds, and curtains to prevent sun damage and to keep your house private.
Dust, sweep, mop, vacuum, and wipe down your counters.
Wash and dry your bed sheets. Fold them, and put them in your linen closet. Make your bed when you return from vacation to prevent your linens from getting dusty while you're gone.
Make sure to do any other laundry.
Shovel snow and ice off of any walkways at your home, if there is any.
If you're leaving a car at home, remove valuables and bring them indoors. Lock your car doors, and leave it in the garage, if you have one.
Obviously, lock all of your doors (including the garage). But, leave your interior doors open to keep closets and small rooms from getting stuffy.
Do a run down to make sure you haven't forgotten anything (passport!) and take a walk through your house.
Set your alarm system. Bon voyage!

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DIY: Planting Your Garden Box

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:00:12 -0700

Did you read my post on building a redwood planter box? If so, you're already halfway done. You still need to anchor the box, level it, fill it with soil, and plant it. Read on for my list of suggestions on how to do it.

Move your box to the area you want to permanently place it. Since the area in my yard was on a slight incline, I had to dig the box in further on one side than on the other. In any case, you're going to want to dig a perimeter trench for the box, and then place it in the trench.
Use a level to make sure that your box is sitting evenly.
You can stand on the four corners and jump up and down a bit to make sure it's anchored well, too.
Now, break the soil that you dug out of the trenches and use it to stuff into the sides of the box to fill in any holes.
Then, use a pitchfork or shovel to dig up and turn over the grass and soil inside the box.

For the rest of the directions, just read more.

Spread a layer of black and white (not colored) newspaper over the clods of dirt. This will suppress weed growth, and the newspaper will naturally decompose and enrich the soil.
If you have any compost that's pretty thoroughly decomposed, use it to cover the newspaper.

Next, cover the newspaper and compost with gardening soil. We hauled in four bags of Local Hero blend soil from American Soil in Richmond, which specializes in different soil mixtures for gardening and landscaping. If you're not sure how much soil you'll need, here's an easy way to estimate.

Smooth and level the soil.

Now you're ready to plant! I used a mixture of seeds and seedlings, and planted everything from a row of carrots to a a row of zinnias. I planted trellising plants, such as squashes and cucumbers, against the edge of the box. This way I can anchor a trellis outside of the box, which will give me more room for growing plants.

Enjoy!

Midday Muse: Winter Sunsets

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:37 -0800

A friend shared this photo of a Midwestern, Winter sunset, and I just had to share it with you. I can't admit to missing the daily drudgery of warming up cars, shoveling sidewalks, and bundling up in layers during chilly Midwest winters, but I have to say, I do really miss sunsets that look like this.