25_Critter Eviction

Consider adding one or more of these to your attic/crawl space.  

We've had decades of success with them.  It emits an ultrasonic sound that makes it unpleasant for any critters/birds to want to stay in your home, but you'll never hear it in the house. (It makes a slight click so you can tell it's working). Plugs into a standard outlet.  Set it and forget it.  

Easier to dissuade pests then to evict them.  Avoid the danger of chewed wire - the expense of removal and repair. 

______________________________________________________________

Bird-X TX-PRO Transonic Pro Electronic Pest Repeller

Price: $25.49

In stock. Processing takes an additional 2 to 3 days for orders from this seller. Ships from and sold by PCSOUTDOORS.

35 new from $25.49  http://www.amazon.com/Bird-X-TX-PRO-Transonic-Electronic-Repeller/dp/tags-on-product/B000FG8B50

At the time of posting, Home Depot carries this product for just under $40.  

Lowe's carries something comparable for around $25.

24_FileMaker Pro samples

Developers often show people invoicing systems and grids of data.  

While that might be very interesting to other code junkies, it can put the rest of 

the world to sleep.  I can do that too, but I hope this presentation makes 

important issues clear and doesn't cause eyelids to droop.

For example, if you are familiar with Craigslist...

If you are familiar with a recipe file...

Recipe on the left, ingredients on the right, generate a grocery list below.

These examples may seem simplistic, but the concepts that run them are 

the same as larger more complex systems.  They contain related tables, 

filtered portals, calculations and scripts, custom reporting, and 

interaction with real-time web data.  All functions inherent in every 

contract manager, invoicing system, or inventory control program 

that you can dream up.

FileMaker Pro is at home on the Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad and the web. 

23_ Referrals

FileMaker Pro client:

Remote FileMaker Pro client in Mexico:

Quicken client:


Erika Kidd and I have worked together for probably 2 years.  She has trained me on how to use Quicken for all my financial activity.  I have many accounts, as well as credit cards and investments we have incorporated into the program.  It helps when it is tax time, and let's me know where my money is going.

I was uncomfortable, at first, sharing my financial information with Erika.  I found her through Craig's List, and did not know her.  I have been a victim of fraud in the past, and the idea of theft or anything in this realm worried me.  The more I got to know Erika, the more I trusted her.  Now, she just comes in and balances my checkbook, inputs my checks, catagorizes everything, including my credit cards.  Erika is a Christian and very trustworthy.  I also trust my dog to her.  My husband and I travel a great deal, and Erika will pet sit my dog.  One other thing, she makes a great "handyman."  My honey-do list is finished more by her than my husband!

I have referred Erika to quite a few people.  She has had access to my best friend's financial information, as well. 

Karen Curry - Milton, GA

22_ Insulating Ideas for little cash

ONE:

If you have attic stairs, you might consider building one of these five sided boxes to keep heat from escaping into your attic this winter.  Just some rigid insulation and duct tape will do the trick <$20. 

 Measure the dimensions of your stairs from the attic side when closed.  Cut the insulation with a utility knife and tape the pieces together.  It only needs to rest above the stair opening.  Light enough to slide out of the way as you enter the attic and to replace as you exit.

If you have a whole house attic fan this works as well.  Remember to remove it before you turn the fan on again in the spring.  It really does make a difference in the hallway where my thermostat is located.

TWO: 

If you don't already have a ridge vent, consider adding it.  Hot air flows in through the soffit, along the underside of the roof and out the top without the need of powered fans (which need maintenance and electricity). The materials needed for the average home are less than $100 (less than a fan and available at the large home improvement centers). A carpenter could install it in half a day.  Most attics do not have enough ventilation - there are many sites on the web to help calculate how much your house needs.  

21_ Dog Fun

Fun at our place usually starts with a good brushin'!

Some enjoy this more than others.  Maybe a bath.

  

Then we can play!

 Explore.

Dinner - party of five.

And a nap or a sunbath.

Then some MORE play.

  And some more ball games.

 Running with the pack

Everyone sleeps well at night:-)

20_Cabinet Door Refinishing

Four simple steps

Tools needed: 

• TSP/cleaner, sandpaper 
• shellac or oil base primer, paint brush 
• paint base color (in this case cream) and 
• accent color (chocolate brown) 
• toothbrush and sealer.

Your provide time (work + drying) and effort.


Painting affords you the option of replacing your pulls and/or hinges.
Measure the distance between the holes of the pull.
Either purchase new pulls with the same distance or
fill one or both holes with a sandable putty to disguise their location.
For example, in this way you can go from a 3" pull along the side to a 6"pull
across the top of the door, if you wish.

 Remove hardware, clean with TSP, sand smooth and 

scuff surfaces to allow for best primer adhesion.

Spray with fine coat of quality primer, and allow to dry.

Paint with good quality paint in your choice of color.

Once dry, sand off paint and primer to reveal the wood

in areas where you would expect to see wear and tear 

(edges, near the handle and so on).

 Use a toothbrush to get some of the thinned accent paint into 

the recesses to highlight the detail of the woodwork.  

Drag a thumb across the bristles to splatter a bit of color.  

Dry wipe some across the surface and edges
until the desired look in achieved.  

Let this dry thoroughly before sealing with a clear shellac.

Replace the pulls and hinges to reinstall.

If you create your own kitchen vision, 

your pride in your own accomplishment will be added to the pleasure of its use.

19_FileMaker Web Viewer Virtual Tour

FileMaker Pro allows you to get real-time information from the web associated with your data, without having to open a browser.  View maps to the address of your contacts, track package deliveries for your customers, display research data, track stock performance and store the results in a user friendly way that allows you to access and use the results in seconds.

Double click on the image to get a closer look.

Virtual tour of a FileMaker Pro database solution created in version 11 utilizing the Web Viewer in a semi-automated data scraping tool (Craigslist is only an example) by Erika Kidd, Klozpin FileMaker Development.


Want to know more?  Watch this short video: http://www.filemaker.com/eight_five/learning/pop_movie.html?src=T01_v1.mov

18_Residential Kitchen Redesign

The Kitchen

Before - from the Carport Door

After

Before - from the bedroom hallway

 After

Planned the new design and coordinated the talent to complete it in this 1960's brick ranch.  Removed the wall between two rooms, feathered into the existing hardwood floors, widened the door to the dining room, added skylights, a dozen recessed can lights + 3 pendants (not yet up in this photo).  Replaced all cabinetry with new IKEA products and appliances.  Added the island with bar, granite counters and glass tile backsplash. Ran crown moulding, chose colors and painted.

Estimated equity increase - double the renovation costs for labor and materials.