It was a busy "house-project" summer around the house!  We got lots done and are still working on a few things which I will share with you next.
I was asked a while back to do a summer favorite post by a reader who liked my winter favorites list.  I love reading "favorite lists" and hope you do too!  Please share your favorites from this summer in the comments :)
Also.... Please note that I have changed my "featured adoptable dog of the week" that I posted this past Monday since one of my readers has sent in an application for little sweet Luther!!!!!  I'm over the moon!!!


This is my late summer mantel and I am going to be sad to change it to fall later today as I have enjoyed it so much.  Vintage coral fans lean against a painting, which leans against the antique French mirror.  Orchid in antique marble urn.  Circa 17th century Italian gilt and gesso candlesticks with a English hallmarked sterling and crystal match strike.





I am loving this chemical free Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby SPF 60 (sample from my dermatologist.)  For my very young readers...  do not listen to the articles that tell you you only need to wear a 30 SPF... you need a 50/plus SPF on a daily basis.  AND... you will want a chemical-free sunscreen for your face.  You can thank me in 20+ years ;)  I say this with first-hand knowledge as I grew up in Texas wearing baby oil (NO SPF) and laying in the sun as early as January.   I am paying for it now.  Do as I say, not as I did ;) !   I've have had 2 V-Beam lasers this summer (I am extremely pleased with the results, btw)  to erase redness from sun damage on my cheeks (telangiectasias.)  With all the media out there on the subject we now know better!  Wear your sun screen every single day!!  And don't neglect your NECK!!!:)  Just sayin'
You really shouldn't put anything on your face that has a fragrance since what you put on your skin is absorbed into your skin.  Why cosmetics companies insist on putting fragrances in beauty products and makeup is beyond me.  Most baby sunscreen products come fragrance-free and have the same ingredients of adult products, so I find them a really good alternative.





While not chemical-free I am still very happy with the Banana Boats KIDS spray-on sunscreen for the body.  Neither Dan nor I like perfumes, and even though a product might say it is "unscented" it often can have a smell.  I find this product to be truly unscented.  I keep it in the basket at the front door, so we can apply it outside as we are going to work in the yard or go for a walk with the girls.
And don't forget SPF for your lips, we us this HERE





I've loved this clam shell orb that I got at HomeGoods at the beginning of summer.




I have been loving Dr. Teal's Body Wash in Lavender and the Dr. Teal's Body Oil.  I use the Body Wash instead of soap in the shower then lightly dry off and apply the oil before going to bed.



 My go-to pedicure color for most of the summer was Essie's Turquoise and Caicos!  My manicure color was O.P.I. Cajun Shrimp, which unfortunately looks to be discontinued.




This summer I have found the magical oil that is Castor oil!   HERE  When I first saw it around the beauty blogosphere I thought... "The stuff that that industries use on machines???"  Well, turns out castor is a natural ingredient from the castor bean and has many natural beauty benefits.  Google it for yourself, but I have had really good results for eyebrow hair growth (eyebrows diminishes with age.)  It is very thick and the smell is similar to peanut/sesame seed oil (both which I personally like) but if you don't (or are allergic to nuts)  it might not be a good product for you.  I also use it on my cuticles every night right before going to bed.




Straw-Ella!  After rolling in our dry grass from months of hot temperatures with little rain!




This is my summer go-to bracelet (actually all-year bracelet)  from Love, Nina Jane -  freshwater pearls and antique medals strung on leather.   I've had my bracelet for three years, or longer, and loved it so much I "wore it to pieces" as Jane of Love, Nina Jane said when I wrote asking if they could restring it!  It is so easy to wear in the summer as it is light and not bulky, but so feminine and pretty.  Mine is the triple wrap bracelet HERE (which you can also wear as a necklace) in the brown leather.   I'll wear the bracelet alone or group with other bracelets.
photo Love, Nina Jane



It also comes in tan leather.

Photo Love, Nina Jane



 I am seriously coveting this 5 wrap bracelet in the tan leather
HERE.
 photo Love, Nina Jane




I have loved this florist hydrangea that was a gift from Amy and her family who adopted Nanny from the Lytle Animal Control HERE!  It has bloomed ALL summer while changing varying gorgeous colors and has been wonderful on the front porch.  I would never have thought that a florist hydrangea would last all summer, let alone outside!  Next year I am buying one early spring!  I have enjoyed it so much- thank you Amy!   kisses to Nanny!



Amy just sent me this adorable photo of adopted Nanny and her son!  Nanny won the puppy-lottery for sure!!




I love the Ikea battery operated tea lights! HERE  Be sure to buy extra batteries HERE !  Even after a rainstorm and soaking, for hours, in water they still work!  Unlike other battery operated tea lights I have seen these have a very realistic glow.  They also come in candlesticks which I use in the three cow stanchion windows in the barn mud room at Christmas.




I love the Pocket hose HERE!!   I also have several in black with brass connections HERE.  They expand when you turn on the water and then deflate when the water is turned off.  I like how you can tuck them out of view and don't have a huge hose reel to look at.  One key to a longer life for the hose is to always turn the water off when you are not using it.  I have 5 of these at different spigots round the house.




Kimberly Queen ferns take full sun!  I have used them for the last several years and absolutely love them!  They are annuals for me, but grow in really quickly during our spring and summer months.




I love the Royale Peachy Keen verbena  HERE   (This is for you Allison! xxo)   I have used it for several years now and besides LOVING the color (coral is my "happy" color :) I love how it blooms literally all season long!




I love using herbs as container plants.  We will sit in the chairs in the evening and casually run a hand over the rosemary and the scent fills the air!  It is so wonderful and simple!




We are still loving the Balsam Hills lighted boxwood that I first showed you HERE.  What I especially love is that it has a 6-hour timer.  You turn it on one night and then every night after that it comes on automatically for 6 hours at that same time, and then turns itself off.  It is so delightful to walk outside and have it lit without having to turn it on.




Love this battery powered leaf blower to blow off debris on the porches and the terrace.  It has just enough power to get rid of leaves and debris without moving the pea gravel or crushed stone. Word to the wise... be sure to save the box and receipt as these blowers have a tendency to not be long lived and you might need to replace it within one season.




The cutting garden.  As you can see there is still not a white picket fence around the garden.  Since we don't really need one for protection from animals eating the produce we have decided to simply set the garden gate as a "folly gate" using granite posts for support (you can see one laying in front of the gate.)  Hopefully that will get done this fall, but since this has been a 3-year in-the-works project I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you!!!:)
Note the tall cherry tomato plant in the back left corner.  I did not plant that this year!  It came back on it's own which totally shocked and surprised me in our 5a USDA garden zone!




The antique iron urn at the front door is planted with 4 small white on white plants that all work together!  I didn't plan to have 4 containers in the urn, but it just sort of turned out that way and it has worked well and I enjoyed the different foliage textures and tones of green and white.




Southern Luzianne ice tea with mint from the garden!
If I can find Luzianne in New Hampshire I'm thinking you can find it too!  I buy the decaf so I can drink it throughout the day.
I'm sure you all know this, but just in case a novice gardener is reading... ALWAYS plant mint in a pot... not in the ground as it will take over and become a BIG nuisance in your garden/lawn.




And since we are on the subject of drinks;)....  If you like margaritas or tequila straight, you must try Anejo tequila!!!  Anejo tequila is "aged" tequila and is mild and sublime and out-of-this-world wonderful!  Our favorite, for flavor and value, is the Costco Kirkland Tequila which we buy by the case ;) in Massachusetts as New Hampshire's Costco can not sell hard liquor!  Lucky for me there just happens to be a Costco right next door to the Ikea in Massachusetts!!!  Win/Win!
To make our margaritas I use Costco's Margarita Classic Lime Margarita mix which uses cane sugar.  I mix 3 parts lime mix to one part Anejo tequila and one-half part either Cointreau (me) or Grand Marnier (Dan.)  I often will use 1 part Dole Orange Peach Mango Juice and 2 parts lime mix, Dan prefers the straight lime mix.  If I rim the margaritas (I don't always)  I dip my favorite Marta glasses (these are perfect for so many things!) from CB2 HERE in the lime mix then in a mixture of kosher salt and sugar.  If I really want to kick it up a notch I will add a pinch of cayenne pepper into that mix!  Cheers!




I adore the morning glory"flying saucers" on the iron arbor in the courtyard (funny story of the arbor HERE).  My little vines starts that I purchased from a favorite nursery, Walker Farm in Vermont are planted like they are made with pure gold.  The reason is.....



 ... this nasty little hugely destructive varmint called a "vole," (not to be confused with other nasty varmints called "moles.)
I am ready to go all Caddy Shack on them HERE.
Last summer I had two white sweet autumn Clematis planted at the base of each pillar that were growing beautifully only to one day go outside and see every stem coming up out of the ground snipped- it literally looked like someone took clippers to them. I was sooooo mad :(   It took a while to figure out what had happened and what had done the damage.  After reading about the varmits I placed a cone shaped screen (it was actually a wire container that I cut the bottom out of) around the base.  The vine was growing back nicely and then it shriveled up and died.  The damn voles had dug underground and ate the entire root.  UGHHHHHHH.



So this year I bought small scale wire and Dan made two enclosed (sides and bottom) wire planters (planter on the far right) to plant the vines.  Wire planter in the middle of the photo is what it looks like buried, and the wire screen on the far left (open on top and bottom) is the one I place above ground to keep the voles out.  I didn't want to spend another $40 on the clematis, so I tested the wire planters with the morning glories as they were much cheaper since they are annuals and not perennials.  I've liked them so much I will probably do the morning glories again next year!



The morning glories encased in their wire planters.




The system has kept the varmints out, thankfully.  But they have done extensive damage to other beds and to the grass lawn all around the house.  After more research here is what happened and why we have a vole problem.  A couple of years ago Dan decided (after doing many test holes looking for grub worms) to not continue putting grub control out with his fertilizer thinking we didn't have any grub worms.  Wrong.  The next year is when our vole problem started in the winter.  The voles ate the bark off of newly planted trees and made a virtual road map of tunnels under beds and lawn eating and destroying countless plants.
Come to find out... voles love grub worms.  Grub worms turn into a pupa and emerge from the soil as adult Japanese Beetles.  If you fight Japanese beetles (which I did for the first time this summer)  then you have grubs, and if you have grubs you could get voles (or moles) which you do NOT want.  Let's just say we are back to using grub control;)
But, since that will take a while to kill the grub population we have been trying EVERYTHING to eliminate the voles, and nothing works.  I recently bought Organic PlantSkydd  repellant HERE, but havne't put it down yet.  The reviews are very promising however, so fingers crossed.  It also works for deer, rabbit and elk, so if you have any of those issues you might want to try it too.
If you've used PlantSkydd or have any "proven" vole eradication methods please, please leave me a comment before I go all Caddy Shack!!!;)

Hope you had a wonderful summer!  xxojoan



To read more of my favorite lists:

ten "house things" I can't live without
part II:  "house things" I can't live without
the next best thing since "the clapper" ;)
winter essentials
Dan's ten "house things" he can't live without
ten favorite "winter" things
some "winter" favorites a new way

We've been getting more snow lately which is so beautiful and makes it definitely feel like winter is finally here!  And, speaking of winter...check out our expected wind chill for tonight.
Yes, you read that correctly-
MINUS 33 DEGREES

Since it's been so cold I've wanted to share some of my favorite products (which you've seen before) and tell you of the new ways I have just discovered to use a couple of them that might come in handy at your house.

Magnolia and Ella enjoying the snow!

Up first is:
 THAYERS Organic, unscented, alcohol-free witch hazel with aloe vera
which I wrote about last winter after recently discovering it. HERE  It is now my year-round go to and I can't recommend it highly enough.  This one is not used in a new way, but I just wanted to remind you about it in case you are suffering from dry, itchy skin this winter.... you're welcome!!  Every time I use it I think "I need you remind you about it!"   See, you are always in my thoughts:)
 This is not the witch hazel from your adolescences- it does not contain alcohol and is not the 

 Like many of you I have several faux fur throws around the house in the winter (the girls love them).  One pair of throws in the barn room I've had for about 3 years and they were in dire need of a cleaning.  The cleaning directions all say "dry clean only."  I really didn't want to take them to the dry cleaners, so one day I decided to wash them with the Eucalan and take my chances.  I washed them each separately on the delicate cycle in cold water using about 2 tablespoons of the Eucalan for each load (a little goes a long way). After washing I dried them on a low-heat setting in the dryer and they came out PERFECT!  I washed a third faux fur throw since I was so pleased with the outcome of the first two.  I'm happy that the pups don't have to sit on and breathe in all those dry cleaning chemicals and I can only imagine how much it would have cost be to have had them dry cleaned. 

I purchase the unscented HERE.

And, finally the Swiffer Dusters that I mentioned in one of my favorite lists: 10 house things I can't live without HERE

Last week while dusting in the master bedroom I noticed the black fabric lampshade on the table in the corner was really dusty.  I always see it when I'm dusting then forget about it by the time I get the vacuum out,  (and besides, I find lampshades are a pain to vacuum since I always end up unleveling them and then have to jockey with them to get the shade "just right" and back to level...)  so I decided to use the Swiffer Dusters and I couldn't believe that it actually worked and worked great.   Try it on your fabric shades and see what you think!  It was so much easier than vacuuming.
(I should mention that it was a "fresh" Swiffer, not a previously used one;)

So, that's it.  Just a couple of things that I wanted to share with you in hopes of making your day a it nicer/easier.  xxo
Hope you are warm and comfy!

To read more of my "favorite lists" HERE.  On the bottom of the page click on "older posts" to continue reading.

Winter?? you ask.  

Yes, "winter!" 

 While I realize some of you are enjoying the arrival of spring and others are already experiencing 90-degree temps (ouch!) we still have snow on the ground and it is, in fact, snowing as I write this post.  This is New England, after all!  Spring is still a good month and a half away.

While I call these my favorite "winter" things, many of these items are year-round favorites, and I dare say one of them has been life changing for me!

If I were Oprah, I'd give each of you a package of all my favorites;) , but since I'm not, I have linked to each product to make it easier for you to find and to find information about them.  I've done several "favorites" posts in the past and I will link those posts in the bottom of this page, if you are interested. 

Disclaimer from Amazon:   " I,  for the love of a house, am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. "

What this means is that I make a (very small, but very much appreciated ;) commission on anything - not just the products that I link to- that you buy after clicking on any of the links from this blog, or the Amazon links on my sidebar.  Thank you very much for supporting this blog.

Fyi- not all of the links go through Amazon.  Many take you to a company's website or are informational sources for you.

Other than the possible fee I would receive if you were to click on, and purchase, through my Amazon links I have not been paid by any of the companies that I am recommending.  They are simply favorites of mine and I wanted to share.

I love to share my home, my designs, my life, ideas, favorite products, etc. with you... all of my passions, which I suppose is one of the main reasons I blog, so I am really excited about this post!

Here are ten favorite winter things in no particular order...

Fresh flowers.  I keep fresh flowers in the house year-round, but in the middle of winter they become a necessity.   I buy simple flowers so am able to get them at the grocery store or Trader Joe's.  I have two floral departments of close-by grocery stores on my phone and I know the days they get their fresh arrivals!  I love this time of year as tulips are a favorite.  This gorgeous display was two bunches of $4.99 tulips!  And they last for a week.  I love how they "dance."

I've mentioned them before, but I can't do a "winter favorites" without talking about my BOGS boots!  These are the boots I wear on walks in the snow and cold.  They keep your feet and legs dry and toasty.   I love them so much I talked Dan into getting a pair.

HERE

HERE

HERE

It also comes scented in Rose Petal, Cucumber, Lavender.

For some additional information on the different uses of organic witch hazel HERE and HERE.

For tapers these Trader Joe's candles are the best.  The are dripless (well, that's a bit of a stretch as I do find they can drip) and they self-extinguish (this they do every time) which is wonderful.  I can find them year-round in some stores, but others say they are seasonal.  So when I see them I stock up! 

With the house all buttoned up tight during the winter months there is nothing like the scent of fresh lemons (which is my absolute favorite smell!)  to brighten a room.  "Happy" in a spray can!  

Citrus Magic is a safe and natural, non-aerosol odor eliminating spray made from the natural oils of citrus peels.  (Interesting video on the Citrus Magic website- bottom left, HERE.)  

I buy it in the 3-pack as it is the best value HERE and then keep a can upstairs and down.  But, it can also be purchased as a single can HERE.

It also comes in Tropical Citrus Blend, Lime, Orange and Lemon-Raspberry if you prefer those scents.  In addition to the Lemon, I have the Orange and the Lemon-Raspberry, which are also wonderful.  I am able to find some of these fragrances at the grocery store, but the only place I can find the lemon is at Amazon.)

This one might seem really silly, but if you live in an area where it snows, and salt & sand is used to keep the snow off the road, OR if you live in a salt-air coastal environment you'll get it.

Stainless steel license plate screws.  When we first moved to New England I would notice almost all cars (including very high end cars) to have rust "tears" streaming from the metal screws on license plates.  I was shocked at how prevalent it was.  We purchased a new car after moving and the screws holding the license plate were indeed plated steel- i.e. they rust.  After discussing it with Dan  I suggested we might trade them out for stainless.  And that's what we did.  We simply went to a local TrueValue store and found stainless steel screws to use in their place.  Problem solved.  You're welcome!! :) 

I just love New Hampshire's state motto "Live Free or Die" on the licence plates.  

Please excuse the dirty car and license plate ;)

 Sweet Ella modeling the PawZ flexible booties. 

From the website: PawZ are the world's only disposable and reusable waterproof dog boot.  Made of natural rubber, they are 100% biodegradable.  Designed to go on easily and fit securely without zippers or straps.  They offer serious paw protection.  PawZ is the most natural-feeling boot your dog can wear because without padding your dog feels the ground, providing a needed sense of security.  Like a sock, PawZ moves with your dog, allowing full paw motion and maximum comfort.  And imagine never losing another expensive dog boot again.  They come 12 in a package and each boot can be worn many times.

These are amazing!  Think strong little balloons on the paws!  The red are the small size and the blue (they were sweet Amelia's) are medium.  They are easy to put on (if you have cooperative dogs I guess;)   Ella will react to the salt that is put on the road for snow removal (it burns as it melts in her paw) and by wearing the waterproof PawZ we were able to walk all winter long.  It also helped her to wear them even if there wasn't fresh salt on the road, but it was simply very cold.  The snow gets up in her paws and melts from the warmth of her body and then her feet get cold.  These totally eliminated that problem.  They are great for other uses too, not just the snow and cold.

HERE

Ugg Boots as house shoes!  (We do NOT wear these outdoors-  not that there is anything wrong with that; I just don't think that it is age-appropriate for us!)  These are Dan's.  Now, why are Dan's Ugg's on my 10 favorite winter things?!  Because they were the best purchase I made all last year!!!  I no longer have to listen to a certain someone constantly complaining about his feet being cold.  I bought a pair of the knock-off  (but real fur) Uggs from Costco when we first moved here and for years I extolled to Dan their virtues as winter house shoes!  Costco only sell the women's boots. Last year we were in Boston and walked by an Ugg store; I talked Dan into trying a pair on. He had been resistant as he didn't fully believe me (silly husband) and because they were expensive, especially when buying them as house shoes!  He loved them!  Sold!   He wanted me to make sure that I tell you they are the Ugg boots, not the Ugg slippers (which they also make) that warm the legs and ankles and really keep your bare feet warm.  I swear to you, he still thanks me at least 3 times a week for them!  He looooooves them!  They really can't be beat as house shoes if you live in a cold environment!  And, the best part.... no more whining!!:);)

HERE 

I find in winter I take more tub baths.  And while I love a good epson salt bath (with a martini on the side please :) I also like to fill a vintage tea ball with dried lavender.

(Antique brass soap and sea sponge holder)

Would love to hear any winter favorites you have!

Thank you again for supporting the blog! xxoj.

To read other "favorite" lists...

HERE
HERE
HERE

HERE

To stay in touch between posts, follow me on Instagram HERE

I wrote about my ten "house things" I couldn't live without here, and then added ten more here!
As we approach the 4th of July I thought it would be the perfect time to show you Dan's ten favorite "house things" since many of them involve the grill!   After giving it a lot of thought he said these were his choices...

1.  Big Blue -
Without a doubt Big Blue is number 1 on his list!

I can't tell you how often we mention that we couldn't do everything we do around the property without Big Blue:  from mowing the meadows (it even has headlights for mowing in the dark and yes, it happens :), moving huge pieces of granite and huge iron planters, using the scoop to mix dirt for new plantings, plowing snow off of the driveway, transporting new shrubs and plantings around the property, carrying brush and yard clippings to the compost pile, using the scoop as a rain barrel, ...and on and on!  Oh-  and most importantly "tractor therapy" for Dan!  It's a real phenomenon (I didn't make it up;) ; it's where you get on the tractor and mow and zone out and meditate on life!  (hi MCC!) 
Big Blue is a New Holland  four-wheel drive, 45-horse power diesel tractor.  It has a 72-inch finish mower, turf tires, a scoop, adjustable forks that are interchangeable with the scoop, an 84"blade for grading the gravel drive and snow removal, and an 8-foot aerator attachment.

2.  the workbench -

This workbench was in the barn when we bought the property.  You can see Dan's old workbench we brought from Dallas on the right- we love our workbenches!.  While this space looks a mess, it is actually pretty organized: an organized mess, if you will- but it's where all the magic happens!  Many "shop meetings" happen around this table as we discuss ideas and pick & choose parts for different projects!  The TV has cable since it is important to keep your "workers" happy so that they'll keep working during football season-  just sayin'!

3.  favorite shoes - 

Specifically his:

Mucks

Now, the funny part, considering how much Dan loves and wears his Mucks, is that he resisted even considering them for at least two years as I went on and on about how much I love my Bogs.  Somewhere along the line (probably after listening to me telling him how fabulously warm my feet were when we were on some walk where it was 13 degrees out and his poor toes were freezing) he caved and got a pair.  From the first wearing he was a convert.  They are super toasty for our cold New England winters and can take on the mud and muck of "mud season" with a simple washing off with a hose!

(on a sidenote- he looks sooo cute wearing them!  If I could only get him to wear a long coat he'd look just like Mr. Darcy walking across the moor; okay, well if you squint :)  Dan is well aware of my love of Mr.Darcy! )

and his...

L.L. Bean leather slippers!
He's been wearing this brand and style for years. The tie is constantly coming undone and drives me crazy, but he loves them.

I dare say it's time for a new pair!

4.  charcoal barbecue grill -
In our 1950's neighborhood in Dallas all of the original houses came with permanent natural gas grills in the backyard!  While I loved the gas grill for its convenience factor I was always missing the authentic flavors you get from cooking on a  real charcoal burning grill.  Purchasing a small charcoal grill made all the difference!

Our current grill is a Kingsford grill.  Dan was very specific that I tell you exactly what he told me he likes about it....

First, it has a thermometer on it.  Just like an oven you want to know what the temperature is inside the grill before you put food on.  The grill grates are cast iron which are best because they heat up and retain the heat (think cast iron skillet).  Dan uses a paper towel dipped in extra virgin olive oil (vegetable oil is fine too) and extra long tongs to wipe the grates right before the food goes on to keep it from sticking.
He loves all of the exterior shelves this grill has for holding plates, cooking utensils, timers, etc.  It also has an internal shelf for indirect cooking.  Yes, you are correct- the front shelf is a bit wonky; last year when hurricane Irene came through she tossed the grill across the yard.

5. hardwood charcoal -
Do NOT, I repeat do NOT, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER (did I mention ever;) use lighter fluid to start briquettes or quick-start briquettes which have lighter fluid already in them.  Ever. 
You can always smell and taste the lighter fluid on your cooked food.  

Dan swears by this brand:  Cowboy Hardwood Lump Charcoal .

(note:  he recently purchased Trader Joe's brand and didn't care for it- it took forever to light, but it did retain its heat for a very long time.)

6.  charcoal chimney starter -
If real hardwood charcoal is new to you this is how you light it.... using a chimney starter.   (My good friend Ina ;) taught me this years ago...  I've told you we've met Ina, yes?!! :) 
Dan uses two chimneys at the same time for maximum effect.  First, you fill the top section of the chimney with your hardwood charcoal. Then,  you wad a piece of newspaper and place it in the bottom section and light it.  In approximately 20 minutes (about the same time it takes to heat the nasty lighter fluid briquettes) your coals are hot and you pour them into the grill.

7.  grilling thermometers -

I do not say this lightly when I tell you that a grilling thermometer saved our marriage :)!!  Years ago when Dan was first learning to grill I would work to prepare all the other dishes and have them all come together at the same time, and Dan would waltz in with under-cooked chicken, or steak, or ....  time and time again.  Not good.  This digital remote thermometer from Williams Sonoma saved the day and the marriage!!  When looking for a link for this thermometer I realized that there are now many more options out there since we first purchased this one years ago, so we might have to go shopping ourselves!  He has also been using a simple instant read thermometer a lot lately.

8.  beer :) -

a.k.a.:  yardman juice, stonemason juice, chef juice, lampmaker juice, football-watching juice, window-washer juice, etc... !

(note:  to those of you with glass front refrigerators and under the design topic "how to decorate with beer bottles!" ;) I found that by turning the bottle labels around to the back of the refrigerator the bottles take on a "vintage" look!  I did this by accident one day and loved the look.... sorry Coors!)
(on another note:  I was thinking about this the other day-  I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and every year in elementary school we would take field trips to the Pearl Brewery !! WHO OUT THERE HAS EVER HAD A PEARL BEER?!!  Yep- we'd go tour the brewery!  Isn't that a hoot?!   I'm guessing that wouldn't be politically correct today :)

9.  headlamp -

Dan has several of these lights:  an Eddie Bauer  and an Energizer .  They comes in super handy for all sorts of situations- like grilling after dark:), hanging chandeliers at night (are you seeing a trend here?!) , working inside of dark cabinets, etc... .

10.  black licorice -

Specifically Darrell Lea Liquorice (that is not a mis-spell; it's Austrailian- you know how they talk funny!! :):)   Luv all my Aussie friends!

While black is his favorite, he really likes all flavors.

We find it at Trader Joe's!