What a packed fall. It just seems like the
calendar is full of family events, fix it projects
and the normal chores and activities around the
house. It is hard to figure out what to do… That is
why you have Fusion. We will try to get you
going on the right track! So, while the weather is
good, sit back and learn a little from the Fusion
crew.
Back to School Organizing
Now that the kids are back in school you have a lot
more to worry about when it comes to organizing. Dan
Lerma from The
Container Store (503-620-5700) showed us how you
can keep everyone on task and prepared with all the
activities that are going on. The first thing that
Dan recommended was a calendar. Having one calendar
that everyone can see is very important. It becomes
easier if you color-code activities and/or people as
well. Next, make lists! Create a to-do list, a
shopping list or even a chore list to help everyone
save time. Then what do you do with all the
paperwork?? Dan recommends a bin or storage area for
all the paper work that makes its way home. This
will make sure that Mom gets the permission slip or
class schedule and they won’t get lost at the bottom
of a backpack. Then we move into the ‘meat’ of
organizing, lunches and breakfasts. Dan showed us
how you can create and store lunches and even had a
container that you can use for breakfasts on the go!
Speaking of ‘on the go’, we also saw a ‘on the go’
bin. This is a bin that you can use to place items
that you need to take with you on your next trip.
This could be movies that have to be returned,
gloves, library books, scarves and even those signed
permission slips. You can also have a smaller bin
near the front door that can hold you keys,
sunglasses, cell phone and even your wallet, all
those things that you can easily forget when you are
in a hurry. Finally we check out a system for
organizing for all those after school activities.
This larger unit had individual bags that you can
use to store soccer, ballet, football stuff and even
after schools snacks if you need them. For more
organizing ideas, check out the products at the
Container Store.
Pea Soup
It is cooling off and that means it is soup time to
keep the family warm and healthy. You can fill them
up and keep them healthy with this great recipe
which you can use fresh, late season peas or frozen
peas. Chef David walks us through this recipe for
pea soup that he had put together that includes
peas, shallots, leeks and chicken stock. He added
some butter and oil to the pan. Next went in the
shallots and leeks, which were cooked until soft
then we added the chicken stock and let that cook
until it boiled. The peas went in next and once 5
minutes had passed we blended the mixture until
smooth and then we put it in a bowl. We added mint
oil and sour cream and we were done. If you are
looking for a new and fresh taste for your family,
give this recipe a try. Click here for the full
recipe.
Garlic Gadgets
Just about any recipe can benefit from the taste of
garlic. To help you get the garlic ready for the
kitchen we stopped by
Sur La Table (503-968-8015) to check out the
latest garlic tools. Laura showed us 3 different
gadgets that you can use to make peeling and
preparing your garlic easier. The first gadget
helped to peal the skin off the garlic clove. All
you have to do is insert the clove and roll it on
the counter. Next we saw a garlic press that can
mince and slice a clove. All you do is drop it in
and press! Finally we saw Laura’s favorite the Rosle
garlic press. This one works well and it easily
comes apart for easy cleaning, no more using a
toothpick to clean out the little holes!
Basic Plumbing Tools
Dealing with plumbing can be nerve wracking, but the
real frustration comes with a plumbing emergency and
not having the right tools to make a repair (or
limit the damage). We found all the right tools at
the parts department at
George Morlan Plumbing (503-224-7000) and the
always friendly Dave Charvet to teach us about them.
The first tools in our bag of tricks were shut-off
tools. If you have an emergency you will want to
know where the water shut-off is. It could be near
the street, in your garage or even under your house.
Once you know where it is then you can get a meter
key to help you shut of the valve. You should also
have a meter key for your gas line in your kit as
well. Next we talked about X-treme Tape. This is a
tape that sticks to itself, creates a water-tight
seal and can stop most leaks for quite awhile. To
perform simple repairs to most pipes we talked about
SharkBite fittings. These fittings are pressure
sealed once you use them and are a permanent repair
for most jobs. You can use the SharkBite fittings
with flexible PEX pipe for jobs that need a bigger
repair. Next we looked at tools for drain clogs. The
first one was a pressure valve that uses water
pressure to force the clog away instead of using
chemicals. The other tool was a Closet Auger. This
is a mini-snake that is easier to use and easier to
store.
Energy Efficient Windows
Did you know that you could be losing up to 40
percent of your heat energy out of your windows?
Glenn Ziegler joined us from
Milgard Windows (1-800-Milgard) to show us how
they produce the most energy efficient windows on
the market. These windows are produced in Tualatin
and they can make over 4 million combinations of
windows at the factory with all the different styles
and materials they have. The manufacturing process
that Milgard uses includes using a spacer that is
extremely energy efficient. It helps prevent heat
transfer between the panes of glass they use. Plus
the glass is a ‘sun coat’ glass that blocks out
solar heat gain. This type of glass also reduces the
amount of UV rays coming through the glass which is
better for you and your home furnishings. The best
part is the quality of the work. The guarantee is
the best in the business. Right now the federal
government has some tax stimulus moneys available,
so these windows are the most cost effective than
they have ever been. To learn more you can attend a
free Milgard seminar. Check with Milgard for the
time and place of the next seminar.
Garage Door Testing
The garage doors and their maintenance are one of
those projects that we never do, but these doors are
important access points to our homes and should be
checked once a year or more. David walked us through
the different steps to see how that they are working
properly. The first step is to check the ‘balance’
of the garage door. Disengage the door from the
track by pulling the cable release. Then pull the
door up and down. It should be easy to pull and it
shouldn’t move on its own without your help. If it
sticks it could mean a problem with the cables or
springs. The springs and cables can be under a lot
of pressure and so you shouldn’t try to work on
these by yourself. They could snap loose and cause
you and the door some serious damage. Next we tested
the safety reversing mechanism. Place a 2x4 or a 2x2
under the door. Activate your opener, the door
should close, hit the obstruction and reverse open.
This means that the reversing mechanism is working.
Next you want to test the sensitivity of the
reversing mechanism. Stand with your arms out and
close the door. When it hits your arms you should
give a little resistance and see if the door
reverses. This is one of the most important features
of the garage door. You can adjust the sensitivity
so it reverses easily. This is to protect children,
pets and property from getting crushed if the door
closes on them. Also, if you have a photo-electric
eye sensor near the floor, make sure that works as
well. If you get in over your head, check with a
qualified professional.
Quick Tip – Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tips
We caught up with Tyler Paulson of
Paulson’s Floor Coverings (503-620-7080) to
learn about cleaning your hardwood floors without
damaging them. Tyler said the worst thing you can do
is to use too much moisture. The rule is ‘less is
more’, the less moisture the better. Vacuuming and
sweeping is the best for normal cleaning. If you
need to use a cleaning product you can use ‘Bona’
Hardwood Floor Cleaner and use it in smaller areas,
working in a 3x3 foot space so the material doesn’t
set too long on the floor. If you can’t get the Bona
product, you can use a Swiffer or and light soapy
water, but don’t do a large area, remember that less
is more. We are hitting our stride. The fall chores are
piling up and we are just plugging along getting
them done and ready for winter. This week is no
different as we cover some basic tools, tasty
recipes and even a cool gadget!
