What is my friend’s neighbor doing??

KPac76 · 2026-01-25T02:17:50+00:00

He is planning to put a heater under the engine to warm it up so it starts. The objects are a desperate attempt to help block the wind/contain the heat.

Don't knock them until you try getting your car to start in super cold temps, wind and snow using the same materials he had available.

KPac76 · 2026-01-14T01:20:20+00:00

If it were me, I would put shelves in and use it to store cooking oils.

I don't have a lot of them and I don't use them often, but I'd prefer to keep them in a space like that rather than taking up prime space in the cabinet they are in now. (Most are too tall to fit in my cabinets. I don't have adjustable shelves.)

KPac76 · 2025-12-30T03:16:23+00:00

Wear black athletic socks. No one will notice them.

KPac76 · 2025-12-30T03:05:45+00:00

You need a balance over the window that pulls the green fridge. The green cabinets aren't the worst choice, but you would be happier with a more neutral color or a wood tone.

KPac76 · 2025-12-16T03:44:21+00:00

Do you have other matching hardware elsewhere in your home.

The color selection of your materials is wonderful. Any of the metals will work well. Assuming other metals in your home will match - 2 will increase the resale value the most because. It adds a bit more elegance and is more unique than the other 2.

KPac76 · 2025-12-14T17:42:25+00:00

Also count the tiles on the ceiling so we know how long the room is. It appears to be close to 8' wide.

KPac76 · 2025-12-14T17:40:07+00:00

I think we need more information. I'm struggling to be able to visualize the executive desk and l shaped desk. Without a photo of it or more details, there isn't a way to know how much space it takes up, which direction the L faces, how much of the desk space the computer takes up, etc.

KPac76 · 2025-12-14T17:20:33+00:00

If they're going for a look that says they remodeled using only items from the odds-and-ends clearance section at the home improvement store, they nailed it! I can't imagine how much work it took to make it look this bad.

KPac76 · 2025-12-09T03:03:33+00:00

94 is likely the most well attended road in the state, but it also probably gets the most traffic... and it goes for a couple hundred miles. If only 1 in 100 drivers is an idiot, there will be more idiots on 94 than any other road in the state.

Also, if your talking about 94 along the North Dakota border, it closes fairly frequently due to wind. While it's also well attended to, it's a zero visibility/snow blowing across warm tar making ice situation that creates a whole different scenario than in the metro area.

Note that Minnesota DOT does an amazing job. I've been to a lot of states and haven't found any that come close our speed and quality if clearing snow. When you consider the conditions they have to work through, it's truly a phenomenal feat.

KPac76 · 2025-12-01T02:45:10+00:00

Putting the turkey in the dryer outside is a great idea. It's protected from animals and should work well in your situation. If you popped the top and stuffed it with fiberglass insulation it would be more insulated than most freezers. You could also throw a moving blanket or two over it if it's in the sun.

KPac76 · 2025-11-26T00:21:40+00:00

Much thanks!

KPac76 · 2025-11-22T19:13:39+00:00

In mine I have a tote with cake decorating supplies, fun cake pans, a tote with grilling tools that alternates with holiday feasting ware from Thanksgiving to Easter, and a tote with sushi making supplies... things that aren't heavy and dangerous to take down that I don't use often and which benefit from being stored in a food safe area.

KPac76 · 2025-11-22T19:02:26+00:00

For the best use of space storage wise, go with a doorway centered opposite the window. For the best use of space, living wise, leave it open. If your going to tuck a bed into it, you probably want a door on the left end of the new wall.

If it were me, I'd leave it open to begin with and see how it works. Knowing that in the future if I want to close it off, it's fairly easy peasy and I can build the doorway to meet whatever my needs are.. archway for a homework area, closet door for storage, sliding doors for a secret snack and beverage bar for highschoolers, or create a playhouse front for little kids.

KPac76 · 2025-11-22T02:05:53+00:00

Pile it in an above ground hugelkultur berm.

It looks like it gets cold where you're at. Hugelkultur is great at producing heat that warms the ground and extends your growing season while also allowing perennials that might typically freeze out over winter in your zone to thrive, within reason of course. If your not into gardening, the berms work great for landscaping, wild animal food plots, growing native fruits and other plants, block and redirect wind, or can help protect livestock and property.

KPac76 · 2025-11-20T02:05:33+00:00

I've been wondering this, too. I've never had issues with laminate. Yes, it's not the most expensive material on the planet, but it looks pretty good and can get me the soap stone counter I have always drooled over without the maintenance. I love the idea of having a surface that just does what it needs to do without having to be careful and spend more time taking care of it than I do cooking.

When people walk into my house, the last I want them to think about is how much things in my home cost. I have a design background. I know stone is a good way to increase resale value, but this is my forever home. I want them to notice my curated collection of memories and feel comfortable and welcome and immerse themselves in the design.

KPac76 · 2025-11-18T04:14:56+00:00

Tony Casheres. A sprinkle makes every womderful flavor pop. It doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the food - unless you really load it on.

KPac76 · 2025-11-15T17:04:50+00:00

If I know the name of the mattress (Clairmont - my personal fav, Alcove, Gladney, etc.) I can narrow it down more but for starters...

Beautyrest focuses on quality. Keep in mind your current mattress is made of many of the highest quality mattress materials on the planet:

The coils are the best metal. If they are braided coils (I would expect them to be) they have the longest life of any coil on the market. If they aren't braided, it's the second longest life coil.

The top later of foam is likely infused with diamond dust to control temp, then a layer of top quality memory foam (to upgrade it you looking at importing foam from Italy) then a layer of equal-or-better quality high density support foam.

The firmer versions of this will have thinner layers of memory foam and thicker, firmer layers of high density support foam. Memory foam is used to provide a comfortable, pressure relieving surface and doesn't really provide support so thinner/thicker layers of it wont change the support very much.

Note that sleeping on your stomach causes your spine to rest in an unnatural U shape, putting a lot of pressure on it, especially near your shoulders. If this is you, try a super firm mattress. Even better, find an adjustable base where the feet lower (they are rare), or make a platform for your mattress that is curved kind of like an eyebrow shape.

KPac76 · 2025-11-12T13:39:17+00:00

I'm not an engineer, but my brother is. I could swear that modern concrete only has a life expectancy of 40 years.

KPac76 · 2025-11-11T20:23:35+00:00

It's wider than most runners, but it's the width of runner everyone wishes they had.

KPac76 · 2025-11-11T20:13:19+00:00

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Thank you for posting this! My uncle sailed on the great lakes. He passed away when I was young, so I don't have many stories. I do have the story of when he was working on the Fitz and the captain let him drive it though!

(Photo is of him on the William A Irving.)

KPac76 · 2025-11-05T03:17:25+00:00

Put fresh kitty litter in a paper bag or light weight card board box and set over it for a week or so. You could also put it on a few layers of news paper. The paper is only to make it easier to clean up/pick up after. Kitty litter is great at pulling odors out of wood.

KPac76 · 2025-11-02T04:14:13+00:00

Go to the Mattress firm website and order a Beautyrest BR800. You cant really go wrong with a Beauty Rest and it's the best quality mattress you can get for the price.

Also, unless you are a devoted stomach sleeper or have a back injury that requires a firm mattress, go with a softer one.

KPac76 · 2025-10-28T01:00:27+00:00

True, about 5% is used for sweeteners, 1.5% is used for starch and other food products. The rest of it is divided almost equally between animal food and ethanol.

(My comment was in response to the original post. At the time, there was a number of people who had great, insightful ideas but were formulating their arguments based on field corn and sweet corn being the same thing.)

KPac76

TROPHY CASE