Recently my wife decided to purchase a bicycle for me. I have had the same mountain bicycle for many years, and yes it is still running, a little worn for wear, but it still works fine. Why the new bicycle? My wife thinks it is time that I enjoy the benefits of a cruising bicycle. … Continue reading Ammo Can Panniers for a Bicycle
How-to, Repairs
PTO Snow Blower Repair
The following video is a how to fix a tractor PTO snow blower fan that no longer throws snow. Over the years, I noticed that our snow in Northern Idaho is not staying the typical dry powder; now, it is primarily a heavy slush. January, historically, is our coldest month. Now, the coldest month seem … Continue reading PTO Snow Blower Repair
Antique Lamp Restoration: Fail and Success
Smash! What was that? The lamp in the living room had crashed to the floor. Both our dogs cowered under the dining room table. The rough housing had become too much, and they caught the cord in their excitement and brought our home’s ugly, taupe lamp to its final end. The lamp had been repaired … Continue reading Antique Lamp Restoration: Fail and Success
Lava Lamp gets a new life
For years my lava lamp has been sitting dead in my classroom. Every now and again I would attempt to see what was wrong and assess the situation. Not wanting to be overly aggressive, I would put it back on the shelf and try again later. The issue started with the light bulb being stuck … Continue reading Lava Lamp gets a new life
Sometimes a Choice Is a Not a Choice. Why I Chose to Repair My Wife’s Bicycle
What to do when your favorite bicycle breaks down? Well, you can take it to a professional bicycle mechanic, be convinced your bike isn’t worth fixing, and buy a new bike. But, what happens to the old bicycle? We were put into this exact position when my wife’s favorite bike had a cascade failure. The … Continue reading Sometimes a Choice Is a Not a Choice. Why I Chose to Repair My Wife’s Bicycle
Math in the Real World: Pythagorean Theorem
When are we ever going to use a2 + b2 = c2 in the real world? I asked this question in math class. I am unsure if I ever received an answer until I began building my off grid paradise. Recently, I plotted the footprint for my shop’s foundation. My math teacher should have handed … Continue reading Math in the Real World: Pythagorean Theorem
Honest Companies Do Exist… Tractor Chain Success
Sometimes it seems everyone is so busy trying to make a dollar, that integrity is the first decent thing sacrificed to get it. Even in the blogging world, the temptation to create ad revenue before speaking a company's name is a real thing. When looking for tractor chains after this winter storm, I discovered two … Continue reading Honest Companies Do Exist… Tractor Chain Success
Winter Storm Nadia is Naughty.
I remember years ago in first grade our school taking two vacation days in February to celebrate the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln, February 12, and President George Washington, February 21st. We would work on crafts centered around both presidents and display them the entire month of February. Today, schools celebrate Presidents' Day, which complete … Continue reading Winter Storm Nadia is Naughty.
It Really Works… Introducing the Bicycle Generator.
For the past few months, I have been trying to build our own bicycle generator. Soon it became a sort of obsession as I tried to take an old exercise bike and convert it to a human powered generator. These past few weeks, I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. … Continue reading It Really Works… Introducing the Bicycle Generator.
Kioti Tractor Box Blade Implement Setup (when I can get to it)
My first sunny day of Spring Break and I wanted to be prepped for summer projects. I had to disconnect the Winco generator from the Kioti tractor and reattach the box blade. However, due to winter still hanging on, I had to work a day to clear a path to even get to the box … Continue reading Kioti Tractor Box Blade Implement Setup (when I can get to it)
Living a Sustainable Dream 