The Mustard House

Something useful…

// June 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // Ryan

I know these are usually reserved for updates on our little monkey, but figured, why does she have to get ALL the publicity? Am I right?

Today a co-worker of mine showed me a site that I loved and thought you all might find useful. It’s called JustAnswer.com.

You can go on there and ask a question in a given category, simple or difficult, where certified experts are online (doctors, accountants, mechanics, lawyers, computer techs, etc) and name a price you’re willing to pay for their professional answer. You don’t pay unless you’re satisfied. It’s an awesome idea and a good way to get expert advice at a low price. I have a guy answering my question about NY/UT income tax right now and he’s great (asked my question and he had an answer to me in less than 10 minutes – plus they sent a text to my phone letting me know he had answered). You can see the feedback profiles of all the experts so you know they’re quality, plus they have to go thru a fairly rigorous acceptance process to be considered an “expert”.

On the flip side, it’s a good way to make some dough if you’re an expert in anything (Jeff – legal?). You get a cut of the agreed-to price for the answer.

I don’t think any of our Mustard House subscribers are in school, but it’s an awesome way to get help with your homework if you have a few extra bucks - yes, there REALLY are Homework experts out there. Where was this when I was in college? Keep an eye on Max and Taylour. If they start asking for money and claim it’s for school, this could be why ;)

Anyway, hopefully you all find this useful. I wouldn’t have posted it if I didnt’ think it was was worthwhile. I see a lot of useless garbage on the Web all day long and this is a definite exception.

-Ryan

Cheerio, People!

// June 6th, 2009 // 5 Comments » // Mia

We think she wants to be in commercials. This was Mia, completely unprovoked, getting into the box of Cheerios this morning. Check out the reassuring nod she gives the camera once she has the box in her hands. Move over, Mikey. Mia likes it! Now if we can just get her to eat some vegetables.

A River Ran Through It

// June 3rd, 2009 // 3 Comments » // General Stuff

Two years in the making, but FINALLY…

Late last week the good people at Holmes Homes arrived to start removing plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and everything else growing along the side and back of our house and on early Monday, they showed up with their excavation team to start the digging. Goodbye landscaping!!! Goodbye river!!! Kind of sad, but out of the sadness comes one GOODbye – goodbye basement flooding!. A T-shaped trench is being dug parallel with the alley behind our house and perpendicular to the alley in between our house and our neighbor’s. Drains and pumps will be installed in the trenches and everything will be tied together and routed out under the street in front of our house. Once the repairs are completed, we’ll re-landscape, sans-river. The final plans are still TBD, but we’re thinking of putting a concrete pad off our back steps for a patio, then laying sod where most of the flagstone used to be. Mix in a few small gardens and we’ll be all set. We’re thinking about possibly stealing….errr…borrowing an idea from a neighboring house where they’ve fashioned some planters out of flagstone with tall shrubs growing off the top to create a pseudo-fence. We’ll see.

The repair work is to be completed by the weekend and the landscaping started next week. Based on how hard the crew has been working, it all looks likely.

For anyone looking for a home builder, Holmes Homes is highly recommended. They’re going above and beyond the call of duty and fixing a problem that’s really not theirs (insert not-so- subliminal blast of Kennecott Land here).

Anyway, pictures are more fun than words. Take a look at the best mess a Mustard House could ask for: