Prevent Sagging on Canvas Gazebo CoversMany people have gotten pretty metal gazebos for their back patios or yards, usually with a canvas cover. If left out during the rainy season, the water can pool and stretch the top in unexpected ways. This can result in an ugly, ill-fitting cover that leaks. Here is a great way to keep the cover in place, without damage or a lot of expense.
Put Away Summer Structures in the FallPut away your backyard shade structure when the summer is over. We bought this one two years ago and didn't put it away over the winter. When the windy rainy days of spring hit, it just couldn't take it and totally collapsed.
Homemade FlagpoleMy grandsons are visiting me for several weeks this summer. Here is a picture of the flag pole Derek made for us while he was here. He found the old pole behind our garage. He painted the pole white, and attached a solar light on top.
Pool Noodles As Safety BumpersSomeone gave my husband and me their old chicken coop but the edges of the tin roof would scratch my head. I bought a couple of pool noodles and brought them home. I took some sharp scissors and put a split in each one.
Craft: Kids ClubhouseEvery kid needs a playhouse or club house, so I set out to build our youngest grand child a club house. My idea came from a playhouse that we spotted in town one day.
Dish Detergent for Dog Prints on Wooden DeckWe have a large, painted wooden deck and two very large dogs. To say the deck is frequently dirtied by their paws is an understatement. My husband had tried several things to clean the deck without damaging the wood or making it slippery.
Throw Patio Furniture in Pool for Quick CleaningA quick way to clean plastic patio furniture is to toss it into the pool for a few hours. This especially works good if the furniture is white. If you don't have a pool, mix up some chlorine a little stronger than a pool and spray it down generously.
Discouraging Mailbox VandalismOur neighborhood has vandals smashing our mailboxes. A friend shared an idea on how to not need to buy a new mailbox each time it is smashed, by reinforcing it. Purchase a large metal mailbox, and a smaller size that can fit inside of the larger mailbox.
