Category Archives: Blogging

Sep 25 2 comments
Blogging

Top 50 construction blogs

The Homeowner’s blog has been listed in the Top 50 construction blogs, the fact of which finds me a bit flabbergasted.  I perused the list, which can be found at Top 50 Construction Blogs via The Construction Paper.  There are some well written blogs on that list and I find myself humbled to be with such good company.

I also feel a little guilty about not posting more often.  However, a while back, I decided that I would limit the off topic posts as much a possible and try to created good remodeling and construction content that would be both informative, meaningful and perhaps entertaining.  I also got rid of a good deal of dead weight in that I took down all the extra Amazon stores.  Since I have been super busy over the summer, nothing of note has been done around here.

If that changes, you’ll be the first to know.  In the mean time, check out the big list if you have a moment or two.

Popularity: 1% [?]

May 02 3 comments
Blogging, General, Out door power equipment, yard

First planting, Lawnmower, New clothes line, blog videos

I would post more often but we just are not working on the house right now.  I have been very busy working two jobs…  The second job (solar business) is doing well.  It is still difficult, in this economy, to sell high end alternative energy gear but not impossible.

I have managed to do a few things around the house:

radishes poking up through the ground

radishes poking up through the ground

A few weeks ago we put in the cold weather crops, peas, carrots, lettuce, radishes, and spinach.  All are coming up, I think we will have radishes in about a week or so.  I plan on planting the rest of the garden around the middle of May.  That will include tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers, broccoli and onions.  More posts/pictures as the time gets closer.

strawberries about to flower

strawberries about to flower

buds breaking on the grape vine

buds breaking on the grape vine

I did the annual lawn mower maintenance including sharpening the blade.  I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to find several large dings in the blade.  Funny, I don’t really remember hitting any rocks or anything last year.  Anyway, I sharpened the blade on the bench grinder.  Nothing worse than a dull lawn mower blade to maul the ends of the grass blades off.

new clothes line

new clothes line

I also replaced the clothes line posts.  We had a really niffty hydraulic post hole digger for one day in mid April.  I managed to drill several 3-4 foot deep holes around the yard for various purposes including enlarging the garden fence.  I replaced the clothes line because we seem to have a lot of laundry and the old one seemed a little light duty.  Plus, we had a really niffty hydraulic post hole digger.  I cannot recommend this unit enough.

Going to town with the Earth Auger

Going to town with the Earth Auger

I apologize to my regulars (if there are any left) for the lack of posts over the last few months.  When it comes to this blog, I decided that I would rather have quality over quantity.  Staying more or less on topic seems to improve my search results and nets me more Adsense revenue.  To that end, I went through and deleted many of the old off topic posts that were not very popular.

Speaking of adsense, say goodbye to the home improvement videos.  Google, in there infinite wisdom, decided to discontinue the Adsense video service.  I made a fair amount from those videos, but I must have been the only one.  I am going to start moving away from Google and selling ad space on the blog myself this year.  I have had many people tell me that they have greatly increased there revenue by doing this.

Otherwise, stay tuned for some up comming projects this summer.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Mar 17 3 comments
Blogging

6 year old Dell laptop: Done!

I knew this would happen sooner or later, my 6 year old Dell Insperon 5150 laptop has signed off for good. The hard drive had been making funny noises during shut down for the last two weeks. I went to turn it on yesterday and nothing doing. Hard drive is dead.

Fortunately, I planned ahead and backed everything up on an 80 GB backpack drive. Unfortunately I have no home computer right now and posting may be sporadic at best (I am using my wifes Apple to type this).

I have to say, the Dell lasted a lot longer than I thought it would. This computer has logged more miles than I care to think about. Overall, it has been a good machine, although it got a little tired at the end. I would buy another Dell if the right deal came along.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Jul 28 6 comments
Blogging

Second year of the Homeowner’s blog

The Homeowner’s blog is two years old today! It is hard to believe that I’ve been typing these posts out for two years. Here is a brief rundown:

  • Number of posts: 326
  • Number of comments: 863
  • Number of visitors: 126,117
  • Average page views per day ~500
  • Subscribers ~95

Of all those things, the statistic that I am most proud of is the comments. It seems my readers have a lot of thoughtful input, I have learned quite a few things from the comments that they have left.

Here is a blast from the past:

original homeowner\'s blog

That is a screen shot of the original homeowner’s blog before I switched to word press. You know, I kind of miss the old look, it was simple and it got the point across. Anyway, that blogging software was riddled with bugs and I like word press.

Unfortunately, I have not been doing much work on the house lately.  It is a combination of time and money, both of which are in short supply.  Therefore, I may stop posting for awhile as the topics have kind of drifted off into left field somewhere.  If resources permit, I do have some small projects that can be done, but for now, we are on hiatus.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Jul 09 4 comments
Blogging

I’ve been recognized!

E For ExcellentSee what happens when you go out of town for the long holiday weekend? Somebody comes along and give you an award! Thanks to Ethan and Fred at One Project Closer for the E. I was in the Navy, I know that an E is a highly coveted grade and I am flattered. However, as everything goes, an E also has its responsibilities. I have to now choose 10 blogs that I read which I think deserve an E. There are many excellent blogs out there however, I am going to try and pick some newer blogs that I like:

  1. 3 Acres and 3 Thousand Square Feet, aka the adventures of Flannel Man and Robin. Good blog about fixing up a 1973 ranch. Also, lots and lots of great pictures and of ideas about photography.
  2. Tiny Old House. I can’t pass this one up. Jen does a wonderful job explaining how she and her husband are fixing up their brick clad house.
  3. Jay Gaulard Blog. Even though Jay has moved to another state, he is still fixing up his house. Interesting posts about tile and beer.
  4. The Box House. Joanne discusses fixing up a two family.
  5. Residential Solar Power Blog. CalFinder runs a contractor finder web site, the also offer news about residential solar installations and products.
  6. Today’s Green Construction. Todd has launched a new blog about green construction and development.
  7. Helpful Advice for Home Construction and improvement. Speaking of Todd…
  8. EZ DIY electricity. Wayne shares his knowledge with the rest of us about electricity and wiring.

Ten, huh. Well, I can only find eight, so that will have to do.

Popularity: 3% [?]