animo's Profile

Two words: Knife duel.
But seriously -- We have a similar problem in our household. Try flipping the table on her (figuratively) by asking your mother-in-law for a hand. Does your MIL have a favorite recipe that she might like to prepare and share? Start there. Offer to be her prep support for a meal (or part of one). Next meal you get to call the shots. This way you take competition out of the mix.

I used to collect empty aquariums. I'd hunt for them at yard sales and ask the person selling it what kind of fish used to live in it. I'd get as much history as possible and then try to use it as leverage to get a really low price. After I got the item home, I'd write down the story of of the fish that had lived in it aquarium on a 3x5 card and place it into the aquarium. I had over 700 at one point. My wife made me move out. Good times.

I also used to collect cans of dog food from around the world. When I used to live in LA, i would carry extra cans of dog food around with me and have celebrities sign them. At one point my dog food collection was up around 1435 cans. I fire in my apartment put an end to that collection.

Currently I am working on my collection of broken spatulas -- 922 and counting!

I love your house and how practical and style play off each other. Did I spy little wild strawberries between the pavers?

Where's number 7's description?

These are all great. I especially love 3 & 4, but would kick 5 out of the house either. I might just have to try my hand at making one for our half-bath.

So very nice. Great sense of style, balance and humor. Does anyone know of a source for the trestle legs seen in the first photo? Thanks for sharing.

While I can appreciate the thought and planning that goes into a project such as this -- I'm just not feeling it. I have to agree with the mirandabee on the 4000 square foot home for an empty nester being touted as green. Oy.

Any advice for how to lime a floor -- specifically wide pine floor boards?

Thanks.