Search found 811 matches

by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Dec 20, 2015 10:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: True cost of a [dental] implant
Replies: 71
Views: 14736

Re: True cost of a [dental] implant

I had two implants several years for $5000, half of which was covered by dental insurance. That used up my lifetime allowance. My dentist is eying other potential implants but at age 79 I will put up with extractions and gaps. Most of the food I eat now is soft and I stay away from meat that is tough to chew. I know, it's only money but it seems that having a gold tooth that can be removed would make more economical sense...to my heirs. Are implants really recommended at the age of 79? I would think there would be a high failure rate for the bone graft at that age or it would take MUCH longer to be ready for the crown. My mom had an implant done at age 87. No problems and she's glad she got it. She's had it for a number of years now. At th...
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Dec 17, 2015 12:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Advice on Selling Engagement Ring
Replies: 73
Views: 8495

Re: Advice on Selling Engagement Ring

I just searched for " Tiffany's 1.13ct H VS1" in Google and up came this auction: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tiffany-Co-Platinum-1-13ct-H-VS1-Round-Diamond-Solitaire-Engagement-Ring-/281848834180 Was this you? :) The username looks oddly familar If this is your listing on ebay OP you might consider taking the ring to a jeweler and having it steam cleaned and polished. A jeweler can probably buff out all the surface scratches that come from the ring having been worn and make it look brand new again. Anyone who is going to buy an engagement ring at that price point is not going to want it to look worn. On another thread on Bogleheads someone mentioned having good luck selling an engagement ring on their local Craigslist. If I remember...
by Mrs.Feeley
Fri Dec 11, 2015 8:09 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

WIAV8TOR wrote:Hey guys & gals, just saying 'hello', new to the site. I'm down here in Walworth County and have been a Vanguard fan going back a good ways, over 20.

Not sure if I'll ever make a meeting, but never know.
We'd love to have you join us! We have a really good group with lots of knowledgeable and interesting people. If you'd like to be added to our e-mail list send me a PM.

Remember folks, meeting of the Madison Boglers tomorrow!
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: We have a major bedding issue. Yes, bedding.
Replies: 43
Views: 8343

Re: We have a major bedding issue. Yes, bedding.

Get rid of the plastic mattress protector and stay away from memory foam which holds heat. Try one or two cotton quilted mattress protectors instead, maybe with multiple sheets between. As others have said, 100 percent cotton or percale sheets are your best bet. For a blanket try a very light polyester blanket that can be easily tossed into the wash machine and will stand up to repeated washings. Maybe supplement that with a second light polyester blanket that can be kept at the foot of the bed in case one is chilled in the night. Even a light fleece sheet might be enough of a blanket for your wife to stay warm. And for heaven's sake turn down the thermostat. Usually night sweats occur when one's core body temperature rises a bit and for wh...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:06 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

Our next meeting is this coming Saturday, December 12, noon at Sprecher's Pub on John Q. Hammond Drive on Madison's far west side. Bring your friends and see you all there! :beer
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Holiday tipping: letter carriers
Replies: 120
Views: 14658

Re: Holiday tipping: letter carriers

In the past mail carriers were not permitted to accept any sort of tips or gifts since they're federal employees. This I heard years ago from a friend who worked as a mail carrier.

However, these days, in our neck of the woods, most of the long-time postal employees have been forced into early retirement and their jobs filled by part-time contractors. Every time I see our postal carrier struggling up the hill and up the winding steps with another 38-pound box of dog food from Amazon I feel pity, especially if it's raining or snowing. I would pass them an envelope for the holidays if not for the fact that every time I happen to see our postal carrier it's a different person.
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AT&T changed me to Uverse without my consent
Replies: 18
Views: 3009

Re: AT&T changed me to Uverse without my consent

I've had my own battles with AT&T and it doesn't surprise me that they did this to you LadyIJ or that they are putting you through so much grief and hassle to try to straighten it out. AT&T...<sigh>... I have no good words for them. Here's one thing you should be aware of: when they disconnect your old phone line and switch you to Uverse they cancel your old phone account and open a new account. When they do this they are unable to transfer any credits from the old account to the new. Have you recently paid a phone bill? If so you will probably get a credit. It will take them at least two billing cycles to issue you a check and drop it in the mail. You will also be receiving a whopper of a bill for the Uverse installation in, oh, a...
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Dec 02, 2015 2:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: AT&T changed me to Uverse without my consent
Replies: 18
Views: 3009

Re: AT&T changed me to Uverse without my consent

I've had my own battles with AT&T and it doesn't surprise me that they did this to you LadyIJ or that they are putting you through so much grief and hassle to try to straighten it out. AT&T...<sigh>... I have no good words for them. Here's one thing you should be aware of: when they disconnect your old phone line and switch you to Uverse they cancel your old phone account and open a new account. When they do this they are unable to transfer any credits from the old account to the new. Have you recently paid a phone bill? If so you will probably get a credit. It will take them at least two billing cycles to issue you a check and drop it in the mail. You will also be receiving a whopper of a bill for the Uverse installation in, oh, ab...
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance
Replies: 53
Views: 7350

Re: Dental Insurance

This is a post from a dentist that I think gives an accurate description of how dental "insurance" really works. http://meadfamilydental.com/2011/12/like-a-gift-card-from-a-control-freak/ My husband's employer offers several different types of dental coverage and some of the programs definitely fall into the "Gift Card from a Control Freak" category which is an apt way of describing them. Every year during the benefits change period I do the math on all of them (because my spouse refuses to believe they can possibly be that bad) and even with the best of them for us to come out ahead on the year's premiums means that both DH and I both would need to have root canals and caps done that year. After the three month waiting...
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Nov 18, 2015 1:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dental Insurance
Replies: 53
Views: 7350

Re: Dental Insurance

We have Delta Dental through my husband's employer. We pay the full cost of the premiums and I believe it's $16/month for the two of us. Delta Dental covers only X-rays, exams, cleanings and fillings at 100 percent up to $1K/year per patient but nothing else. Wish we got reduced rates on root canals, caps, etc. as we're starting to get into that age. For many years I paid my dental bills out of pocket because the dental clinics in our HMO's network were pretty poor. No, that's not correct, they were horrible. But in recent years the good dentists I've paid out of pocket in the past have signed up to be part of Delta Dental's network. The quality of care hasn't gone down, but the size of their clinic has exploded. It's become like Grand Cent...
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Nov 05, 2015 4:07 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Too many trips to Goodwill this year
Replies: 51
Views: 10529

Re: Too many trips to Goodwill this year

Years ago I knew a fellow who served as an IRS judge and who liked to make jokes about people who took thousands of dollars in deductions for a box of old, out-of-date suits dropped off at the Goodwill and who would come before him to argue that the donated suits were indeed worth that. Jes sayin'.
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Halloween Candy
Replies: 45
Views: 5397

Re: Halloween Candy

We always decorate with purple and orange lights in the bushes, pumpkins, skeletons and bats swinging in the wind, plastic witches, etc. Some years we've gotten 0 kids at the door, and the next year we'll be mobbed. This year we had maybe 20 kids show up, all little ones with their parents, some coming from neighborhood parties. Most of the parents were neighbors we know. No teenagers, which was unusual. But maybe because it was a Saturday night and they had better things to do. Lots of leftover candy for the freezer this year.
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Oct 10, 2015 12:41 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

Don't forget today's meeting of the Madison Bogleheads! Noon at Sprecher's on John Q. Hammond Drive. See you there!
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:13 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

Join us for the fall meeting of the Madison, Wi Bogleheads this Saturday, October 10, noon at Sprecher's Pub on John Q. Hammond Dr. on the far west side. The topic of discussion will be tax-loss harvesting. See you there!
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:19 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inherited hoarder's house. Now what?
Replies: 36
Views: 10063

Re: Inherited hoarder's house. Now what?

Re: the junked cars. There are people that will tow them off and pay a set salvage fee. Problems can arise in obtaining and transferring the titles though. A friend helped clean out a hoarder relative's house with a lot full of junked cars. Since they were unable to find the car registration papers they had to contact the state to get title on the cars for the estate before they could send them off with the junker. There was one car that was running and a nephew drove it around to dealers to get offers and sold it for the highest offer at the end of the day.
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Sep 22, 2015 12:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Am I less protected with chip-and-signature?
Replies: 58
Views: 6192

Re: Am I less protected with chip-and-signature?

My local grocery store has had chip + PIN readers for quite a while now, months actually, but they have yet to set them up to work. They only take swipes. Otherwise I haven't seen chip readers in any other stores.
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Aug 29, 2015 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Dear In-Laws: Less toys, more 529
Replies: 70
Views: 9388

Re: Dear In-Laws: Less toys, more 529

I'm from an older generation so the social context might be different. My parents told my grandparents bluntly that toys were plentiful and no more were needed, but any money they sent would be gratefully added to the college fund. They said something similar to aunts and uncles but even more forcefully. My parents did not want to get into a situation in which they were expected to reciprocate gifts to nieces and nephews. They didn't have that kind of money. Growing up it was a good lesson in priorities. But my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, all came out of the Great Depression and for everyone to agree on a moratorium on gifts was just a sensible thing to do.
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Aug 17, 2015 4:08 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Greatest money lesson movie
Replies: 71
Views: 11675

Re: Greatest money lesson movie

The book "Mama's Bank Account" by Kathyrn Forbes which was the basis for the movie and play "I Remember Mama" was chockfull of wonderful financial lessons. Don't remember if the subsequent movie was. In the book there was the memorably cheap Norwegian uncle who after he died was revealed as having used all his money to pay the medical bills of poor children. And there was the renter who skipped out without paying his rent, but who left behind a collection of classic literary works and mama declared the books a far better value than all that lost rent and made her children read them. And there was the story of mama negotiating payment of medical bills. And of course there was the mythic bank account. Terrific little book....
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Aug 17, 2015 3:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Greatest money lesson movie
Replies: 71
Views: 11675

Re: Greatest money lesson movie

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945). Really? It's been a long time since I read the book--I'm not sure I've ever seen the movie--I remember loving it, but not much about it--"there is a tree that grows in Brooklyn which some people call the Tree of Heaven..." What's the money lesson? Maybe that it sucks to be poor, so do your homework? One of the themes in this movie is that even though the family lives in poverty the mother scrimps and saves and tries to instill values of thrift with the idea that there could be a better life in the future even though everything looks pretty dismal. She has a money jar and she is always telling her kids how if they keep putting in coins they can one day invest the money and it will grow and they can...
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Johns Hopkins and Baltimore
Replies: 11
Views: 3208

Re: Johns Hopkins and Baltimore

Public transportation around JHU is pretty good. Haven't been there in years but the city buses were frequent and regular and you could take them down Charles St/St. Paul and down to Harbor Place, the aquarium, downtown and some of the sites, as well as north to Townson and Roland Park. JHU used to run regular free shuttles for students and staff between its Homewood campus and the downtown hospital, which is in a pretty dicey area, as well as to Goucher College. Streets directly to the east of the campus were safe but at night got a little less so after Calvert, although I used to walk around there regularly during the day. The Baltimore Museum of Art is definitely worth checking out, and is on the southern edge of campus off Charles St. T...
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:01 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 70 year old boiler for radiant heating. Upgrade or keep it running?
Replies: 14
Views: 2786

Re: 70 year old boiler for radiant heating. Upgrade or keep it running?

My mom had an old boiler like that powering the radiant heating in her old house. Similar situation to yours. Concrete slab floors, circa 1954 boiler. She was able to keep it going for years, although the repairs grew more frequent. There were also gas leaks in the old pipes going to the boiler and those had to be replaced. Finally the boiler couldn't be repaired any longer. I don't know what exactly was wrong with it but basically it wouldn't fire up any longer. In the city she lived there were only two contractors who could replace it. She went with the one a friend recommended. The replacement boiler cost about $6K. Because of the awkward position of the boiler under the steps, far from any easy ventilation, etc. we weren't able to insta...
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Fabric protection (for armchairs)
Replies: 11
Views: 1458

Re: Fabric protection (for armchairs)

We have ordered two new armchairs for the living room. We turned down the fabric protection that includes in-home stain removal at $90 per chair for a couple of years. Opinions? In my previous experience, even a can or two of ScotchGard was expensive and ineffective. Our most likely stains are coffee and red wine which I have found are easy to clean with simply water or an oxygen bleach . Opinions? Should we get the manufacturer's offering? Should we treat them ourselves? Or, just forget it. L. What brands of oxygen bleach have you found to be effective on red wine stains? I've stopped serving guests red wine after a few horrific mishaps. Have also stopped serving taco casserole. :D I've generally found ScotchGard and other fabric/leather/...
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:04 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

A reminder that the Madison Bogleheads will be meeting this Thursday evening, August 13, at 7 pm at Sprecher's on John Q. Hammond Dr. See you there!
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Aug 08, 2015 12:46 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Inherited jewelry and have no clue how to liquidate
Replies: 27
Views: 7625

Re: Inherited jewelry and have no clue how to liquidate

I've heard of folks having good luck selling jewelry to Circa: http://www.circajewels.com/
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Aug 04, 2015 5:26 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

Hey, folks. Results of the Doodle Poll are in. This month's meeting will be on:

Thursday, August 13th at 7 PM at Sprecher's on John Q. Hammond Drive.

Join us then for a terrific talk by Larry about his adventures in investing through the years. See you there!
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:25 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

Madison Members... If you haven't yet voted for the day you'd like to attend our upcoming Incredible August Meeting featuring the investing adventures of Larry, please head to the Doodle poll now! See you there! At our last meeting we decided to hold an evening meeting in August since so many of us are busy on Saturdays in the summer. I've posted a Doodle poll to determine what night would be best. I've chosen two evenings in mid-August, kind of at random, Thursday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 18. Please select one that you can absolutely, positively commit to attend. LarryG will be giving a presentation on his evolution as an investor. LarryG always has great stories and this is sure to be the Madison Bogleheads event of the year, so if...
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?
Replies: 198
Views: 29066

Re: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?

This is a beater: http://drivenautos.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/beater2.jpg Omigosh! It's my last car! I recognize the duct tape! Man, the good times we shared together... Gosh, how I miss that car. <sniff> This was our theme song: Da Yoopers' "Rusty Chevrolet": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50IgzksUqpQ C'mon, cmon! C'mon, you can do it! (car starts) All right! Dashing through the snow in my Rusty Chevrolet Down the road I go Sliding all the way I need new piston rings I need some new snow tires My car is held together By a piece of chicken wire CHORUS Oh, rust and smoke, the heater's broke The door just blew away I light a match to see the dash And then I start to pray The frame is bent, the muffler went The radio, it's ok...
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?
Replies: 198
Views: 29066

Re: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?

A friend recently was at an interview for an IT job as a programmer. After a day of interviews her potential future boss walked her out to the parking lot and then proceeded to inspect her car. It was nothing special, a 6-year-old mid-range car. But the guy walked around it, peered through the windows, even looked in the back windows to see what was on the back seat (an umbrella). She was kinda creeped out and took this as one of many signs this was not a job she wanted. My theory was that he was looking for signs of disarray and other portents of what her future cubicle might look like. She thought he was just a nosey creep. Creepy! A couple things came to mind. Checking for baby carseats, because it can never be asked directly if you hav...
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Jul 27, 2015 10:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?
Replies: 198
Views: 29066

Re: Would you look down on a co-worker for driving a beater?

A friend recently was at an interview for an IT job as a programmer. After a day of interviews her potential future boss walked her out to the parking lot and then proceeded to inspect her car. It was nothing special, a 6-year-old mid-range car. But the guy walked around it, peered through the windows, even looked in the back windows to see what was on the back seat (an umbrella). She was kinda creeped out and took this as one of many signs this was not a job she wanted. My theory was that he was looking for signs of disarray and other portents of what her future cubicle might look like. She thought he was just a nosey creep.
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Jul 20, 2015 4:44 am
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread
Replies: 160
Views: 80468

Re: Wisconsin - Madison Meetings - Master Thread

At our last meeting we decided to hold an evening meeting in August since so many of us are busy on Saturdays in the summer. I've posted a Doodle poll to determine what night would be best. I've chosen two evenings in mid-August, kind of at random, Thursday, August 13, and Tuesday, August 18. Please select one that you can absolutely, positively commit to attend. LarryG will be giving a presentation on his evolution as an investor. LarryG always has great stories and this is sure to be the Madison Bogleheads event of the year, so if you attend no other meeting this year make it this one. I'll close the poll August 1st, so get your vote in early. http://doodle.com/hip9y3v488nycm5v See you at the meeting! As usual it will be at Sprecher's on ...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Jul 19, 2015 6:17 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Arranging for Death Notifications?
Replies: 20
Views: 3269

Re: Arranging for Death Notifications?

dolphinsaremammals wrote:Googling elderly daily check in service turns up a bunch of services. No idea how reliable/honest they are.
The police dept. in the city where my mom lives has a free daily check-in service for the elderly. Someone from the police dept. calls registered elderly residents every morning and if there's no response they phone a neighbor or emergency contact. Not sure of the specifics of how it works, but my mom frequently receives calls about elderly neighbors and heads over to their house to check on them.

This is a service that some of my mother's friends use:
http://interfaithmilw.org/services-for- ... ety-calls/
by Mrs.Feeley
Fri Jul 17, 2015 11:47 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What to do with bill received for prior homeowner
Replies: 41
Views: 6188

Re: What to do with bill received for prior homeowner

We were receiving credit card statements for a prior resident of our house for about six or seven years. Every time we received them I wrote write on the envelope "Return to Sender" and "Person does not live at this address any longer" and would drop them back in the mail. Didn't do a bit of the good. The next month we'd receive the statements again. Like I said this went on for about six or seven years. Needless to say I got tired of scribbling "Return to Sender etc." on envelopes every month. I finally ripped open one of the statements and called the credit card company. I think it was Discover. The customer service person I spoke with was shocked that I opened someone else's mail. I explained that I had been...
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Jul 15, 2015 11:36 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Getting rid of moles & voles (rodents)
Replies: 28
Views: 5522

Re: Getting rid of moles & voles (rodents)

I've had success with one of the mole/vole repellants. I can't recall the name. It was granules, packaged in a bag like fertilizer, supposed to be safe for pets. Got it at the hardware store. You spread it over the area where the critters are tunneling. In this case it was the grass which was covered with raised tunnels. Then you water it in. It smelled just awful. But it worked. I spread it around the areas by the house where chipmunk were digging but it did not deter them.
by Mrs.Feeley
Wed Jul 15, 2015 10:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Are you going to shop on Prime Day?
Replies: 140
Views: 28316

Re: Are you going to shop on Prime Day?

They had a Prime Day promotion for Amazon Visa card users...Put $100 on the card and get a $20 discount. It was advertised as available all day. When I tried to use it I got "This promotion is no longer available." So apparently even that was limited. Otherwise it seemed to me they were trying to get rid of lots of junk in the warehouse. Waste of time.
by Mrs.Feeley
Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Builder wants to put a retaining wall on my property
Replies: 52
Views: 8490

Re: Builder wants to put a retaining wall on my property

Over the years I've seen enough retaining walls collapse, buckle, bulge due to water problems and/or not having been built properly or age that I would strongly advise you not to take on the responsibility of maintaining a retaining wall that's been built by someone else for their benefit. No way.
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:06 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: can you recommend comfortable walking shoes?
Replies: 48
Views: 23327

Re: can you recommend comfortable walking shoes?

Quality is out there if one is willing to pay for it. The problem is that many base "reasonable price" on sweatshop pricing and expect craftsman manufacturing for that price. If you're willing to find and pay for a proper shoe shop they should be able to find shoes suited to your feet and preferences. The problem is, someone like me can be buying a product for years, and then the manufacturer offshores it or whatever and the new ones are crap, and I have to go looking for replacements, which is time consuming, instead of just simply re-buying. I would not mind paying extra for the same product, but that option doesn't exist. Years ago I bought a pair of heavy-tread, all-terrain sandals from LL.Bean that turned out to be heaven fo...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Jun 27, 2015 7:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard conundrum
Replies: 63
Views: 15432

Re: Backyard conundrum

Was talking to my husband, the former landscaper, about the problem tree and overall backyard conundrum, and he suggested you build a deck yourself, because it's not hard (in his opinion), and you build it with a circular design around the tree, with the tree in the center of the deck, using the tree as a support structure. The tree would provide a terrific source of shade for your deck. Even if it's a giant messy cottonwood--although he also thought it might be a linden, this would be quite beautiful. His vote was to keep the tree at all costs.
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Most Economical Way to Handle the Lawn
Replies: 84
Views: 15129

Re: Most Economical Way to Handle the Lawn

In the long run, this is the most economical, the most ecological, & the easiest to maintain: http://www.penick.net/digging/?page_id=33222 http://www.gimmegreen.com/home.htm Turf grass is barely better than green concrete as far as the environment is concerned. Over time, replace it with native plants. God designed them for your environment, so they don't need to be pampered, and the rest of your ecosystem (animals including birds, butterflies, etc.) know how to use them & help them. There's a wide variety of beautiful options. Brad Over the years we've tried to transition the perimeter of our yard to native plants and ground cover. I admire anyone who can do it successfully. I spend far more time each week pulling and digging out ...
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Class action lawsuits as a stock holder
Replies: 6
Views: 1369

Re: Class action lawsuits as a stock holder

I just got a check for $5 from a class action suit against Bain Capital related to shares we owned of Freescale Semiconductor, a spin-off of Motorola, maybe 10-12 years ago. It probably took me 30 minutes to dig out the records, fill out the form and mail it off. I'm sure the lawyers fared much better.
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:03 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Most Economical Way to Handle the Lawn
Replies: 84
Views: 15129

Re: Most Economical Way to Handle the Lawn

I used to cut my mom's lawn which was a 1/2 acre. She had a small push mower. It would take me approximately 45 minutes for the front and 45 minutes for the back, and another half hour for the hill along the side. I would mow these sections on alternate days. We currently have a 1/4 acre lot and it takes me 45 minutes for the front, back and hills with a push mower. I have a Toro mulching mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I bought it new and haven't had any trouble with it over the years except that the plastic gas tank cracked at one point and had to be replaced. In addition to the annual oil and spark plug change, I change the air filter a couple times each summer because mowing our lot churns...
by Mrs.Feeley
Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:18 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard conundrum
Replies: 63
Views: 15432

Re: Backyard conundrum

olentangy61 wrote:
Mrs.Feeley wrote:Is that a cottonwood tree you have there?
I'm guessing basswood (aka linden, tilia americana) from the leaves and bark. Also, bees love basswood.

It's native to the eastern states, but I've seen in California.
You may be right. I thought of cottonwood because the leaves look poplar-like. Basswood are beautiful trees. We have several on the edge of our property. You don't cut them down, you plan your landscape around them. The seed "junk" they drop is easily mowed over with a mulching mower and vanishes into the grass within a week.
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard conundrum
Replies: 63
Views: 15432

Re: Backyard conundrum

Is that a cottonwood tree you have there? They grow big and messy but if you prune them up they can be quite beautiful and provide a lot of shade. Understandable if you want to get rid of it however. They are messy.

Scrolling through the pictures it looks like there's a gas station beyond the fence. Either that or someone's holding a carnival with all those colorful pennants flapping in the breeze. :D My priority would be planting foliage to cover that up.

Many people train their dogs to relieve themselves on designated patches of mulch or wood chips. The dogs seem to like that and it's easier to clean up than artificial turf. Looks nicer too.
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jun 23, 2015 4:26 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best window treatment or shades for large windows
Replies: 10
Views: 4317

Re: Best window treatment or shades for large windows

JC Penny's sells a wide variety of thermal drapes which are budget conscious and easy to put up. http://www.jcpenney.com/window/energy-efficient-blackout/cat.jump?id=cat100260235 I hung Penny's thermal drapes over our patio door, as well as our living room windows. They have a thermal backing, but I added an additional lining to gift them a little more heft and block the cold from the drafty windows. There are also window quilts which you raise and lower via cords and pulleys and which seal around the windows with magnets and/or Velcro. These are Roman shades fashioned with a sandwich of fabric, quilt batting, and sometimes an additional insulating material. These don't seem to be as fashionable as they were years ago, but you can still fin...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Jun 21, 2015 6:46 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard conundrum
Replies: 63
Views: 15432

Re: Backyard conundrum

With landscaping it is the same as with finances. You have to read first, here it is the Boglehead Wiki. There is a lot of info about basic landscaping on the internet to read. There is the Garden Web, click on 'Landscape Design' in http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums Landscaping is no rocket science. A nursery could provide you with a plan for a few $100. Working in the backyard is good for your body as a side benefit. I am 75 and do all my yard work myself, except removing trees. You are even able to make a standard patio by yourself. In respect to a deck, I would let deck company do that, always get several estimates. I would start with a basic layout, such as planning on a lawn in the center and several trees around the property line. Y...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sun Jun 21, 2015 7:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Angie's List [for home repair]
Replies: 21
Views: 4777

Re: Angie's List [for home repair]

The best recommendations I've received over the years have come from other tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians. Neighbors are also a good source. The local BBB is useless. A few years back they issued a warning to consumers to avoid a certain local home improvement chain that had logged thousands of BBB complaints. Then suddenly all the complaints vanished from the BBB web site and they had an A+ rating. Had the company bought a membership which caused the massive number of complaints against them to disappear? We have filed a couple of complaints with the BBB over the years and all were "resolved" without anyone ever contacting us. Waste of time. I don't think most small-time operator tradespeople bother to buy a BBB memb...
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Jun 20, 2015 11:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backyard conundrum
Replies: 63
Views: 15432

Re: Backyard conundrum

When a friend wanted to re-landscape her back and front yards she paid a local landscape firm to draw up a redesign with sketches, a plant and materials list. This cost her about $600. Then slowly over time she hired workers to do elements of the redesign, did some of the work herself, bought the plants and trees herself, etc. She hired neighborhood kids to spread mulch and dig out bushes she didn't want. She saved a bundle.
by Mrs.Feeley
Tue Jun 16, 2015 9:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Comfortable shoes for work
Replies: 43
Views: 11459

Re: Comfortable shoes for work

katbert wrote:I liked Danskos (traditional clog model) but have found that I will catch the sole on an uneven piece of sidewalk or on the floor once every six months or so and roll an ankle. This can occasionally cause ankle injuries or falls but if you're relatively young/healthy you're probably not at high risk.
This very thing has happened to me on a few occasions. Love Danskos, by far the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn thanks largely to the large toe box and great arch support. But spills on uneven sidewalks mean I no longer walk long distances wearing them, and tend to wear them only indoors. I've since switched to New Balance and Ecco. Thanks for the Naot recommendation!
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Jun 13, 2015 11:52 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Shipping a bottle of wine as a gift?
Replies: 7
Views: 2381

Re: Shipping a bottle of wine as a gift?

Wollersheim Winery's Prairie Fume is a wonderful white wine and extremely popular around here. It's usually about $10/bottle. They can ship to California, although regulations are such that they can't ship to all states. In general Wollersheim is known for having superb wines. They offer both red and white wines shipped in gift boxes.
http://www.wollersheim.com/wines/PrairieFume
by Mrs.Feeley
Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:09 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best place to purchase a summer hat
Replies: 26
Views: 4776

Re: Best place to purchase a summer hat

LL.Bean has some really nice sun-blocking hats:
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/86630?fe ... utback-hat

A few years ago Consumer Reports tested sun-blocking garments from a variety of retailers and manufacturers and found that garments from LL.Bean and Land's End did the best job of blocking rays.

LL.Bean's sun-blocking hats go on sale at the end of the summer for usually about 40 percent off.