jollystomper
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2012
- Messages
- 6,761
Two skills I am glad my parents taught me were cooking and sewing. Cooking has saved me a lot of money, especially when I was single (and I was surprised at how it could be a "babe magnet" back then
. Being able to sew to do repairs and hems Helped me get a lot more years out of many clothes.
I went to a high school that, in addition to academics, exposed me to a lot if trade skills. Carpentry was one, and I have built basic furniture things like bookshelves, tables, shop workbench, and an organ bench, customized to our needs.
I can do basic DIY stuff around the home, as long as it does not involve electricity beyond the wall outlet, water beyond exposed pipes, and going into walls or ceilings - one reason I made sure our finished basement has a drop ceiling, I can deal with that
. Painting/staining/finishing is another skill, as long at it does not involve high ladders at my age
.
I am good at following visual instructions, so YouTube has been great in terms of DIY for house and yard work and repairs. I had great joy years back when our push mover would not start, and rather than replace it I found a YouTube video for the same model on repairing/replacing the carburetor. Knowing that repair has kept that push mower going well beyond its expected replacement time
.
One thing to add, I am also skillful at making good friends with various tradesman and mechanics
. The type who, if I mention a problem, will tell me things I can try before I need to call them in on a billable basis, or will let me match and be their "unskilled assistant" when they work on something, so that I can learn
.

I went to a high school that, in addition to academics, exposed me to a lot if trade skills. Carpentry was one, and I have built basic furniture things like bookshelves, tables, shop workbench, and an organ bench, customized to our needs.
I can do basic DIY stuff around the home, as long as it does not involve electricity beyond the wall outlet, water beyond exposed pipes, and going into walls or ceilings - one reason I made sure our finished basement has a drop ceiling, I can deal with that

I am good at following visual instructions, so YouTube has been great in terms of DIY for house and yard work and repairs. I had great joy years back when our push mover would not start, and rather than replace it I found a YouTube video for the same model on repairing/replacing the carburetor. Knowing that repair has kept that push mower going well beyond its expected replacement time
One thing to add, I am also skillful at making good friends with various tradesman and mechanics
