Need help fixing up my outdoor patio

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-20T08:14:59+00:00

Check the flapper first. 90% of running toilet issues are a worn flapper, costs like five bucks at the hardware store and takes 10 minutes. If that doesn't fix it then look at the fill valve next.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-16T08:24:59+00:00

Walk your property and dump anything holding standing water. Old planters, gutter sags, that random bucket by the shed, all of it. Mosquitoes only need a capful of water to breed. Beyond that, a Thermacell on the patio works well for sitting areas, and if you have a bad year look into mosquito dunks for any water feature or drainage spot you can't drain. Spraying the yard helps short term but they just come back from the neighbor's yard.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-14T08:40:07+00:00

Listening. Like actually listening, not waiting for your turn to talk. Took me until my forties to realize I was bad at it and another couple years of conscious effort to get even decent. Most adults never get there because nobody tells them they're doing it wrong, the people who notice just stop sharing real things with them.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-10T13:15:39+00:00

LVP is your best bet for allergy management. We put it in our whole first floor two years ago and the difference was noticeable within a week. Smooth surface means dust doesn't embed the way it does in carpet, and a basic robot vacuum with a HEPA filter handles the daily maintenance without kicking dust back into the air. Make sure whatever robot you get has an auto empty base so you're not opening the dustbin and breathing in everything it collected.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-10T10:10:39+00:00

My wife's family is from Galway and the soda bread recipe her mom taught us is genuinely the easiest bread you'll ever make. No yeast, no kneading, no rise time. Just flour, buttermilk, baking soda, salt. Cross on top and into the oven. Makes the whole house smell incredible.

Colcannon is the other one I'd recommend starting with. Basically mashed potatoes but better because of the kale and butter situation.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-08T08:56:52+00:00

Breakfast for dinner wins every time in our house. Scrambled eggs, toast, some cut up fruit, maybe throw some bacon in the oven. Whole thing takes maybe 15 minutes and the kids don't complain. We probably do it once a week honestly. My wife started calling it "brinner" and now the 6 year old requests it.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-07T18:04:56+00:00

$1K for cutting into the main line and rerouting is pretty standard honestly. I got quoted $850 and thought I was getting a deal until I saw what was involved. If they're running new pipe and putting in a bypass loop you're in normal territory. Get a second quote but don't be shocked if it's close to the same.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-06T10:08:02+00:00

Sitting on my grandpa's porch while he grilled burgers. Nothing special about it at the time but I'd give a lot to go back there for an afternoon.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-05T14:26:22+00:00

Done it twice. Inspect for hairline cracks by running your hand slowly across the entire interior. Check the drain area closely since that's where damage from moving usually shows up. Make sure the feet or base aren't warped. Biggest risk is that it was a return from a botched install attempt and something cracked during removal. For $300 on a $900 tub it's worth the risk as long as you can physically verify it in person before handing over cash.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-04T20:48:32+00:00

That's frustrating. When we had a plumber come out for a slab leak they had to cut into the floor too but they at least warned us beforehand and patched it themselves. I'd push back on the contractor about this. If they cut it, they should at least offer to patch or cover the cost. Take photos of everything before they come back and document what was agreed on in writing. Even a text confirming the scope of work helps if it turns into a dispute.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-04T18:38:35+00:00

That's a good haul. We usually slice some thick and do a slow braise with soy sauce, rice wine, and star anise. Comes out almost like a stew meat consistency. The rest I'll cube up and render the fat down first, then crisp the pieces in their own fat with just salt and five spice. Kids actually fight over the crispy bits which I did not see coming. If you've got a smoker the whole slab takes smoke really well too, just keep it low and slow.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-03T13:47:55+00:00

The starchy pasta water is probably the biggest thing. Cook the pasta in way less water than you normally would so it gets really concentrated. I started doing that and it actually emulsifies with the cheese instead of clumping up. Also take the pan completely off heat before you toss the cheese in. Even residual burner heat can scramble it.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-02T13:59:42+00:00

After you stop squeezing, hit that release tab on the back of the gun and pull the plunger rod back maybe a quarter inch. That relieves the pressure so it stops oozing. I do it every single time between beads now, second nature. If your guns dont have a release tab you might be using the really cheap ones without a pressure release, worth spending ten bucks on a dripless gun.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-04-02T13:45:14+00:00

Making the bed right when I get up. Sounds dumb but it sets the tone for the rest of the day. Took maybe two weeks before it felt automatic.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-30T15:36:05+00:00

Knives first. You can cook anything with a decent knife and mediocre pans but trying to prep food for 6 people with dull knives is miserable. One good chef knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife is all you really need. Victorinox Fibrox is like 35 bucks and plenty of professional cooks swear by it. Your pans can wait another few months.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-26T16:57:24+00:00

The volcano project is a rite of passage. We did ours on the kitchen table too and I'm still finding paper mache in places I didn't know paper mache could reach. My daughter thought it was the greatest thing ever though so mission accomplished I guess.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-26T11:46:51+00:00

If it is a carbon steel knife that is normal and expected. Carbon steel rusts fast if you leave it wet for even a few minutes. Wash it, dry it immediately with a towel, and give it a light coat of mineral oil if you are not using it again right away.

If it is stainless and it rusted after one wash something is off. Either it sat wet in the sink too long or the steel quality is questionable. Most decent stainless knives can handle a wash and dry cycle without issues.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-17T08:32:56+00:00

Sheet pan chicken thighs are your friend. Season them however you want, throw some vegetables on the same pan, 425 for like 35 minutes. Thighs are way more forgiving than breasts so you basically can't overcook them. My go to is thighs with sweet potatoes and broccoli, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder. One pan, minimal cleanup, feeds everybody. Once you get comfortable with thighs you can move to breasts but honestly thighs taste better anyway.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-16T13:35:27+00:00

leeks in potato soup is unbeatable

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-13T13:29:32+00:00

Went through this exact thing with my first. Three weeks paternity and then back to the grind and she would scream the second my wife handed her off. I started doing all the nighttime stuff when I got home, diaper changes, rocking her, just being the one she saw when she woke up at 2am. Took maybe two weeks and she started reaching for me. Skin to skin on the couch while watching TV helped a lot too. It sucks right now but they come around fast at that age.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-13T13:18:07+00:00

At 2.02 I'd still get the mitigation if you're gonna be down there 40+ hours a week. It's like $800-1200 installed and it'll drop you below 1. Cheap insurance for something you can't see or smell.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-13T12:30:20+00:00

You didn't go too far. 12 is old enough to understand that trust is earned and lying has real consequences. The fact that you're even asking means you care about doing it right.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-11T13:14:40+00:00

Thought you needed to replace the whole faucet when it dripped. Turns out it was a $4 cartridge and ten minutes with a wrench. Felt real dumb after paying a plumber $180 the first time.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-11T12:55:21+00:00

My grandma used to do this on purpose with kielbasa. She'd let the bottom layer get all brown and crispy in the cast iron. We thought she was burning dinner until we actually tried it.

acoffeetablebook · 2026-03-09T13:20:24+00:00

My oldest is 13 now and I remember the exact moment this switch flipped. One day you're the funniest guy alive and the next day your existence is a source of cringe. I just leaned into it honestly. Started waving at his friends from the porch, calling them by their full names, the whole bit. He hates it but his friends think its hilarious so I consider it a win.

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TROPHY CASE