Shooting Lions in The Park

What's with all the lions around Echo Park and Silver Lake? In my strolls around my home, I've noticed that there are an awful lot of lions around. They seem to guard houses of all sorts, from the porch of this Victorian:

to this daycare provider:

The kiddies there should feel well-protected. They are actually guarded by this batta-lion:

Here's a close-up:

Doesn't he look sincere? And vigilant? He would never have allowed this to happen.

This stubby pair will need to grow into their posts. They're almost like lions-in-training:

And this one, though emaciated,

is ready to defend to the death the driveway gate he guards. I think he could use a few more carbs.

These guys guard the side of a house, for when chain-link just isn't enough:

And if wrought iron and security bars aren't enough, there's always this guy:

I couldn't capture them all but this home had no fewer than a dozen lions throughout the yard:

Including this one, guarding from above:

This guy is always ready for the holidays:

The next two shots are the same home, protected both from without their fence and from within:

and as if that weren't enough, they have this yard grotto for extra-strength protection:

When I first saw this guy, he wore what appeared to be a cheese grater on his head. To my great regret, I did not have my camera at the time:

I found 7 kings of beasts in this photo:

Do you see them all? Go ahead, click on the photo and count.

This next homeowner decided to color in the eyes of his lions. But it kind of creeps me out, like when I see Roman statues with the colored eyes:

and it makes me kind of sad:

Thanks, lions. Thanks for looking after the 'hood.

For the Studious Cow Collector

For anyone with an interest in learning more about cow creamers, I'd like to share of couple of resources I've discovered. The first is about the donation of 250 creamers to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. It's called the Rice Cow Creamer Collection. Check it out.

Another great resource I just found is a website called Craig’s Cow Creamers. According to Craig, he has over a thousand beauties! That really is a lot of Quake Hold!

Thinking I might visit the Rice collection, I once asked K if he thought I would ever have occasion to visit Indiana. He said "no." Just like that. A flat "no." He's probably right. It's a long way to travel to visit cow creamers and no offense to Indiana but . . . I don't see that vacation in my future.

Party 'til the Cows Come Home

And they have (come home). As the unpacking continues, last week I was able to get to the cows. And since Julia over at Hooked on Houses is having a Friday "What Are You Hooked On?" Party, I thought I’d let the cows join the party.

For anyone new to The House on Red Hill, I’m hooked on cow creamers. We buy one (or two) whenever we go on a trip. Or K buys one for me whenever he goes on a trip, and with his work he’s been on a lot of trips. So we have a lot of cows. 38 as I’ve just learned.

Before the cows went up, K had to build a couple of shelves.

We originally bought shelves from Ikea but the color was all wrong. Too pale. We thought they would work with the butcher block. Wrong. So K tried staining them. That didn’t work out and now they’re not returnable. Oh well. But shelves he built are perfect.

So the cows are unpacked and have finally come home. First I rounded them up on the counter . . .

And let them have a good stretch after being boxed up for six years . . .

Then everyone got a dose of Quake Hold on each hoof . . .

Then up they went. . .

It took me three evenings. That's a lot of Quake Hold.

There are black & white cows . . .

And a brown cow with a pink twin sister. . .

There are brown and cream cows with pink flowers painted on them . . .

There’s a whole set of cows with windmills painted on their sides. . .

Here’s an anomaly. She doesn’t hold cream. . .

Instead, she carries a set of salt and pepper shakers.

Here are my two tiniest cows, under the protective watch of big Mother Moose (or maybe that's Auntie Elk. I'm not up on all my North American ungulates) . . .

Before I can show off pictures of the completed kitchen there’s one tiny detail that needs to be completed. But it’s close. It’s all so very, very close.

So while you’re waiting, head over to Hooked on Houses and see what everyone else is hooked on.

Tool Tell All

In my single days, the only tools I owned were a dime and a tap shoe.

Then, marriage made me the proud co-owner of a table saw, a tiger saw and a jigsaw. I never saw so many saws in my life.

But since buying the fixer-upper and since reading so many houseblogs, I am amazed at what others are able to teach themselves. I am amazed at the generosity of those who teach their knowledge of tool use. And I am always blown away by the variety of tools available and the many things they do.

Last week I wrote about the upcoming Before and After Contest at One Project Closer. Contests are always fun and before and after pictures are always fun but if you're not familiar with their site, the really practical element is their series of tool reviews.

Tools can be pricey. And just like I wouldn't see a movie without reading a review first, I can't imagine spending money on a new tool before reading a review. The thing about the OPC gang is they are homeowners with projects of their own so they share your perspective. Now, even as a tool-phobic klutz, I can also honestly say that I get a lot from the reviews too. I get ideas about what can be done. "Cause if you didn't know how people did it, and you've never seen it done before, how do you know if you're missing out on something that you might want to try for your own home? For example, in this month's giveaway (oh yeah, they have monthly giveaways, too) they have a jig for making pocket holes. "A what for making what?" you may ask. If you'd read their November review of the Kreg Jig, you'd know and you might even be thinking up some useful projects that call for pocket holes.

And who knew there was such a thing as an Electric, Hydraulic Log Splitter? Now say that ten times fast. If Lincoln had had one, things might have been completely different.

And I love that there's actually something out there called a "toe nailer." Or am I the only one who finds that funny?

In addition to the aforementioned giveaways, the site also has discount coupons and regular tidbits of knowledge shared from their own DIY experiences. There was even a recent tutorial on lock picking. We promise not to ask what you'll do with that information.

So anyway, before you even think of adding to your tool collection, if your haven't been following One Project Closer you have a lot to catch up on.

How Many Strikes Does China Get?

In case you missed this January item in the Wall Street Journal, in addition to deadly pet foods and toxic toys, China has also been shipping us defective drywall:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123171862994672097.html

As if property owners don't have enough trouble with their home values, some now have the very walls of their homes "emitting sulfur-based" gases, causing damage to their A/C systems and creating potential health hazards???

Can we stop accepting these products already? If we can't even visit Cuba, why should we import from China?

Our "Superior" Saturday

Now we're really under the gun. Or, at least my long-suffering husband is in that position.

K has been working extra hard on the house, taking time from work to put time into the house. The theatre kicks into high gear production schedule in the spring and once that happens, there'll be little time DIYing.

And not only that, but it's almost time again for the Before and After Contest over at One Project Closer. We didn't have anything ready to enter last year and I'm determined to have an entry this year.

So . . . we spent our precious Saturday morning at Superior Moulding

where we bought a gazillion wooden switch plates (wow, those really add up! Why did I complain so much about not having enough outlets??) and we bought picture rail. Here's a pic of K loading a 16' length of picture rail into his sports car:

He looks like he's on his way to a jousting tournament.

While we were there, we saw an HGTV host and camera guy shopping and recording the host's design process. It was for The $250,000 Challenge. That's gotta be the one HGTV show I don't know.

Take a look at carved pieces we could have selected (but didn't):

Creepy

Creepier

Once we got home with the picture rail, turns out there was a misunderstanding about how much picture rail there should be. Mmm. I guess we don't read each other's minds after all.

So as I was saying, I really want to have something ready for this year's Before and After contest. Last year, I was certain we'd have at least one room complete by summer's end but with working on 4 rooms simultaneously, that just didn't happen. Still hasn't. But we're close. Anyway, the contest is that you enter before and after pictures of any home improvement project you've completed during the past year. Each week they will be showcasing two projects (one on Wednesday and one on Sunday.) And, not only will there be weekly prizes for the submitters, One Project Closer will also be making bi-weekly donations to Habitat for Humanity. How cool is that? And . . . at the end of the contest period, there will be a grand prize for the winning entry selected by readers. You should check out their blog if you haven't already. It's a great resource with all kinds of how-to posts and tool reviews. And you gotta love any contest that supports a great cause like Habitat for Humanity and gives you the chance to see before and after pics of other people's projects.

Today? I've got a date with some Minwax and those cows.

Why You Won't Be Coming to My Oscar Party

You would be invited. Really, you would. We'd have champagne and tasty little snacky things from Trader Joe's. Maybe I'd make my famous Acapulco Dip. I'd wear a new set of pajamas - 'cause that's how I like to watch the Oscars, dressed like Hugh Hefner. I'd welcome you to dress like Hugh as well.

The only thing is - I'm not have a viewing party. And this is (one) reason why -

Yep, that's our TV. Generally, when you choose a size for your television, the TV should be wider than the components. When the demolition of our public rooms began November 2007, we would spend the next eight months pretty much confined to our bedroom. There was no room for the old style 27 inch TV. We gave it away and moved this tiny thing from basement storage to the top of our dresser. Now it's out in the living room, tucked into a corner. And the truly sad part of this story? There's really no room in the living room for a new TV (and this one is definitely not staying!)

Because we've opened up the room to the dining room, we lost a wall there. One wall will have the big pocket doors. Can't put a TV there. And the two remaining walls have windows. Mmm - a conundrum.

We've discussed losing the satellite service anyway. That would be about a $1,000 a year saved. Besides, now that I've unpacked our books, I have a lot of reading to catch up on.

K has this crazy idea that once the house is done, we won't need HGTV anymore. Crazy, crazy idea.

Happy Oscar Sunday. I'll be thinking of you.