Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Homemaking Tip—Marry Yourself a Handyman

Recently Calvin replaced the hinge on the cedar chest he made for Cali several years ago

This tip is for the unmarried: Marry yourself a handyman.

Calvin’s been putting a piece of furniture together for Grace and Abe. And though I’ve heard hell more times than if I actually lived there and had to give my address, having a handyman is so nice and improves your furniture selection.  (Bonus tip: Sit in the same room while handyman assembles the furniture and read a book. Sharing their misery seems to calm them some.)

Our water heater gave out Sunday afternoon. I boiled water for a bath on Monday morning until the handyman could take a look at the water heater. Calvin needed a tool to scoop out the calcium deposits in the bottom so that he could replace the element. He took one of his arrows and taped the smallest spoon we had to it and used that. I laughed when I saw it. He’s made lots of intricate tools for his gun and bow making, he’s carved heavy duty wooden spoons from hard wood for Dutch oven cooking, so an arrow with a spoon duct-taped to it was a bit crude for him. But it worked and when he showed me the bowl of calcium deposits he’d scraped out (imagine wet, lumpy oatmeal swimming in gray water if you'd like) he said, “Makes you sick to think you rinse your mouth out with water from this doesn’t it.” And then in the next breath, “Are you sure you can’t use it somewhere?”

I said, “Well, I guess we could feed it to the chickens.”

A handyman can fix your water heater and make his own tools and provide calcium supplement for the chickens all in one afternoon.

A handyman is a very good investment.

17 comments:

Kay Scott said...

Mike is also handy, can fix most things, and is always rigging up funny and ingenious ways to accomplish his task. It's quite a blessing. Your line of I’ve heard hell more times than if I actually lived there and had to give my address was laugh out loud funny. Love this post.

Deidra said...

Darn! Advice five years too late! I figure I got myself a good deal though when I got someone who can play the piano. He plays, and I weld (and claim the tool box and drill as mine). BUT, he is pretty handy and was for sure the one I called to come change a flat tire and fix my closet door. He's handier than I give him credit for, which is nice when I'm not in the mood to fix something myself or more than 2 hands are needed.

Mama Tales said...

I think Calvin married a pretty great handy-girl as well. Thanks for all you support and help this past week!

Susan said...

Indeed! Very good advice!

*sigh*

I don't have one of those, and never will. ;)

Congrats on getting yourself one!

sheila piper said...

I wish I had a Calvin. Dan just tells me to call someone. Maybe next time I will call Calvin.

hennchix said...

If Calvin is ever lacking for something to do- my plumbing needs fixed and Paul DESPISES plumbing. Handy hubbies are the best!!

Angie said...

I'll keep holding out for a handyman...thanks! :)

Rebecca said...

I go for the entertaining type over the handy!

Ben and Cortney said...

Love it. I am the handy man at my house though,and not a very good one at that!

Marie said...

Amen, sister!

Anonymous said...

HaHaHa! Loved the part about sitting in the room and reading a book to calm the handyman down---so spot on, Jane. Those handymen need their gals, don't they? Please tell your girls that the blog drought is getting on my nerves.

Love,
BRENDA

Tyler - Danielle - Emree said...

What about if you married someone who thinks they're a handyman? Is that good enough? lol :)

Kathy’s Korner said...

Your post started me thinking so many things! You may laugh at this: my father was a handy man and could fix, or invent almost anything. He had those strong hands every where! He built our home and it was beautiful. The problem for me was that it always seemed to take so long...so...I decided I definitely was not going to marry a handy man! Glenn can't do it all, but when he does do something, he wants me right there handing or fetching tools for him. He's a funny guy! So how do you get away with sitting and reading a book?

Becky said...

Definitely good advice :) My handyman is pretty amazing...and he cooks and will mop the kitchen floor too!

So happy to have you blogging again.

Thoughts of your family have weighed heavy on my mind for the last day and my prayers are still for you.

michelle said...

Seriously. There are times when I wish someone had given me this advice 20 years ago!

Jill said...

I totally agree, but find that my handyman lacks motivation sometimes. He's sort of a delayed handyman.

Anonymous said...

Mama,

I laughed and laughed at this line,
"And though I’ve heard hell more times than if I actually lived there and had to give my address."

I'm especially laughing because I bet "hell" wasn't the only bad word he was saying. I sure do love my parents.

Cali