Easy Kitchen Composting

We have been composting in our kitchen for probably 3 years now.  It is really amazing to see how all the stuff that would normally go in the trash, just kind of disappears and turns into amazing compost!  In the summer it is crazy how fast the pile goes down.

We just keep a Rubbermaid container next to the sink and throw anything compostable into it, then I get the honor of taking it out to the compost bin in the back yard.  Super easy and I get to feel a bit better about our waste!

Winter Prep

Winter is coming fast, so one has to get water out of systems.  This is the place in our basement where we turn off the water to the garage faucet.  I have to turn them off then unscrew a screw to have them drain out.  You also have to open the values in the garage otherwise a vacuum forms and water doesn't come out.

I also like to drain some water out of the water heater at this time of year to clean out any mineral build up.  I generally don't get much, which surprises me since we have hard water.  I can only imagine what the inside of the tank looks like...

This time though I loosened the nut and the faucet started dripping.  Luckily it was a simple matter to tighten it up again.

I also ran anti-freeze through the yard sprayer tonight, because it would be a bummer to lose that.

Apple picking and worm burning

We went to my Mom's on Saturday to visit and help her out with a few things around the house.  While there the kids wanted to pick apples from her tree, she is debating cutting it down, but that seems like such a waste!

The kids had a good time picking apples, most of the apples will require some selective slicing to make edible however, as there are quite a few worms nests in the tree.  So after we had picked what we could, I taped a torch to the end of a poll and went to work on the nests.  

Nothing most satisfying then watching burning worms fall to the ground.

We also played some Phase 10, which the kids have been getting into lately.  And also a new game called King Karma, which was pretty fun as well.

In addition we moved a bunch of wood into the garage for her so she would be ready to burn.

Attic Room Expenses

• Attic Ladder: 104
• OSB (8x4) 3 pieces: 52.41
• Brad Nails (5000): 9.59
• Furring Strips (10): 11.50
• Framing lumber (4 2x4x6): 9.56
• Door lumber (2 1x2x6, 2 1x3x6): 5.34, 7.44
• Construction Screws (5lbs 3inch): 14.99
• Construction Adhesive (3): 6.75 + (8) 17.98
• ABS cement: 5.4
• 1.5 inch vent elbows (4): 5.48
• 1/4 inch plywood for "shiplap" (7): 139.93
• Pine Screen "Trim" (13): 41.47
• Pine Corner Trim: 4.39
• Poly: 42.96
• Carpet: 94.08 + 102.90 + 10.90 (remnants, good for the Earth)

Total: $687.07

Not bad for 18' x 4' 8" = 86 square feet ($7.99 per sqft)

It is now 11/2020 and I never gave a completed post about this project.  It turned out pretty well, the kids are using to for zooms, we put a little Christmas tree in here and occasionally watch a movie or play a game up here.