These attractive ornaments are made of sturdy wrought iron, often by Old World craftspeople. The open design of the sham lets the surface of the stove pipe show through while encasing it in a decorative sheath. The standard color is flat black, just like the pipe, so the effect is to give the assembly a pleasing texture.

Botanical designs are the most popular motif for stove pipe shams. The products come in a standard diameter of 6 to 6-5/8 inches, which will fit most wood stoves. (They do not, however, fit the 10 inch pipe that vents Franklin fireplaces.)

Lengths are available in 6 inch, 9 inch, 12 inch, and 24 inch sections, plus you can even cover the 90-degree elbow that connects the stove pipe with your chimney.

Pricing runs in the neighborhood of $45 per section, which is very reasonable considering the cost of most iron fireplace accessories.

So if you love your high-efficiency wood stove but still can’t learn to like your stove pipe, do the obvious thing: cover it up by wrapping it in a swirling wreath of leaves and vines. The effect overall is a tremendous improvement over that ugly black pipe.

The Sanyo SR-2570M mini fridge is Sanyo’s dorm size refrigerator. This is one of their top selling models, mainly because it’s so attractive. Everyone seems to be buying the stainless steel and black model pictured at left, although the unit is also available in black or white. Although you can find other models in this size, the Sanyo gets the most customers because of its name and its reliable performance.

These 2.5 cu ft models have grown increasingly popular because they allow room for two coated wire shelves, rather than the single shelf found in the traditional 1.7 cu ft “cube” models found in dorm rooms throughout the country. As you can see by the photo at right, the second shelf allows this unit to keep a lot of food cold. Other features that customers like include a thermostat dial control, a smooth no-coil back, a reversible door with a built-in a can dispenser, and Sanyo’s 1-year warranty. Dimensions are 8-5/8 by 25-1/4 by 19-5/8 inches; weight is 44 pounds. The price is $240 with free shipping from Amazon.

Although the photo shows the refrigerator as having a “freezer” unit, don’t expect to keep ice cream cold in these. The only way a mini refrigerator can achieve true 0-degree storage is by separating the freezer in a separate compartment, as Danby and Edgestar have done with their 2-door models. The freezer compartment in both Sanyo models reviewed here is really only good for storing ice cubes. Sanyo deserves props for saying so in its product literature, instead of trying to pass it of as a freezer. Very few mini fridges are available with automatic defrost, so expect to clean the unit out a couple of times a year and let it de-ice – but then it never hurts to clean out the fridge now and then.

The Sanyo SR-3770S mini fridge is Sanyo’s counter-high 3.4 cu ft model. It comes in the same gorgeous stainless steel finish as the SR-2570M, but has additional features.

The SR-3770S features three spillproof shelves made of clear, unbreakable plastic, instead of the coated wire found in smaller models. The third shelf sits over a crisper drawer in the bottom of the fridge so you can store fruits and vegetables for munching on.

The “freezer” unit is full width in this model, but as with all single-door mini refrigerators, don’t expect it to keep ice cream cold. The freezer is manual defrost.

The door includes a built-in can dispenser and still leaves room for a couple of 2-liter soda bottles or wine bottles to stand upright. Other features include a reversible door, adjustable thermostat, a smooth, coil-free back, and a countertop serving area. Dimensions are 18-5/8 by 33-1/2 by 19-7/8 inches, which allows it to fit neatly under almost all countertops. Weight is about 60 pounds.

The SR-3770S sells on Amazon for $199.99, which is $40 cheaper than the smaller SR-2570M. However, Amazon ships the 2570M for free, while charging a hefty $50 shipping fee for the larger model. This brings the price of the under counter model to $10 more than the smaller model, which is still an excellent buy.

To save money, Amazon is shipping the 3770S in its original packaging, and a few reviewers have reported that they received it in damaged condition when shipped via ground. To put things in perspective, out of 51 reviews, 6 reviewers reported damage in transit. Amazon offered them a generous discount to compensate them for the damage as an alternative to exchanging or returning the unit. If this is an acceptable risk, then you could end up with a great little fridge at an even greater price. If a perfect finish is important to you and you’re willing to pay for it, you’re better off shopping at a bricks and mortar store for the 3770S. There are far fewer damage reports for the smaller model.

A weed burner works by using a propane flame to heat the moisture in the weed’s leaves and stems until the plant literally boils to death. The parts consist of a tubular wand with the flamer at the end, and a fitting to attach to a propane tank. High-end models have a backpack or cart for a larger propane tank, a hose to attach to the wand, and a bell-shaped fitting for the business end of the torch.

The cheap weed burners are just a length of metal tubing shaped like a “J” with a fitting for a 1-pound propane tank and a handle. Typically sold as a “weed burner/ice melter” combination, the manufacturers don’t mention these units’ BTU rating for a reason: they’re not powerful enough to do any serious weeding with. They also rip through those little disposable propane tanks like a hot knife through butter, which isn’t a good use of your money.

To really do any serious weeding, you need a weed torch rated at a minimum of 100,000 BTU. The leading brand for these units is Weed Dragon, but users report that the generic knock-offs work reasonably well. If you buy an off brand of weed torch, inspect it carefully, because equipment failure around propane and fire can have tragic consequences. If you’re buying online, you’re better off sticking to the name brand, which is priced reasonably and available through a variety of online stores.

There are two ways to fuel a good weed torch. You can use a standard 20-pound propane tank attached to a cart or dolly, or you can get a 10-pound tank and wear it in a backpack sold by Weed Dragon. Either way, you’re going to need a hose to connect the wand to the tank. The standard six-foot hose that comes with the unit is great for the backpack, but for the dolly setup it’s just a pain in the rear, as you’ll be constantly moving the tank. Get at least a 10-foot hose so you can move around freely and focus on killing weeds.

Contrary to what you might have read, burning the weed down to ash is the wrong way to use a weed torch. The right way is to direct a split second of heat at the weed so that it wilts, bleeding moisture out of the entire root structure. This only really works on weeds that are less than four inches tall. If you have an unsightly tangle in your back yard, you’re better off mowing it with a string trimmer or other clipper device and getting after it with the flamer next spring when the shoots are new.

Important safety precautions with a weed burner include keeping a fire extinguisher and/or garden hose close by in case things get out of hand, and not working during periods of drought when it’s easy to start grass fires. If you’re working around desirable plants and shrubs, be careful using the torch, as it’s easy to kill the wrong plants if you don’t keep a safe distance. And do not under any circumstances use a torch on poisonous plants such as poison ivy, because the burning vapors can get into your lungs.

Follow these precautions and you’ll be the master weed killer in your neighborhood with your weed torch—minus toxic herbicides and loud, cranky string trimmers.

Cost: A conventional two-car garage with a concrete floor costs a minimum of $10,000 to put up if you hire some or all of the labor. (If you have the expertise, you can build one for about $3,000 in materials, including having the concrete floor done professionally.) You can buy a one-car portable garage canopy starting at around $600, or a two-car model for about $1,000. One-car metal carports are priced at around $1,000.

Durability: A well-constructed garage or pole barn will last as long as your house if you maintain it properly. A portable garage is basically a tent made of polyurethane tarp material stretched over a plastic or metal frame, and will deteriorate within three to five years due to continued exposure to the sun and extremes of temperature. A metal carport is made from steel and can last as long as the steel roof on a pole barn with the right maintenance. Portable garages and carports are less secure in high winds than permanent structures because they aren’t anchored to a foundation, and because the wind can get under the canopy and lift them off their support structure.

Legal stuff: if you live in a city, village, or subdivision, then your local ordinances may prohibit you from placing non-permanent structures on your property. By the same token, though, many localities have restrictions on the size, appearance, and siting of garages, and pole barns are prohibited altogether in many areas.

Insurance: a garage or pole barn is insured as real property, just like your house, and will probably increase your homeowner premium slightly. A nonpermanent structure like a garage canopy or carport is considered personal property like your home furnishings and probably won’t be valuable enough to make your premium go up. Check with your insurance carrier before making any decisions.

Taxes: it’s no secret that your property assessment will go up significantly if you add any permanent outbuildings. Nonpermanent structures like portable garages and steel carports shouldn’t change your assessment, but it’s wise to ask your local assessing body (usually the township clerk) before proceeding.

Really big vehicles: if you have a big motor home or camper, the cost of building a permanent outbuilding with a 13-foot garage door can break the bank. Portable garages to accommodate large vehicles are readily available and can be had for a reasonable price.

Aesthetics: portable garages definitely aren’t high on the list of good-looking enhancements to your property, so you’re better off siting them where they either won’t be seen, or on property where nobody cares how they look. Metal carports are somewhat more attractive and can be purchased in colors that complement your house.

Shopping Guide – Best Prices and Selection

The Trikke website does an OK job of showing off their goods, but it doesn’t explain why you should choose one model over another, and they don’t stock all models and colors. So let me be your virtual Trikke sales rep and guide you around the showroom.

1. Do you want a human-powered Trikke? There are 7 models to choose from. (There’s also a motorized Trikke, and a ski Trikke, called the Skki.)

2. Are you buying for a child or an adult?
The 2 kids’ models are the T67 and the T5.
There are 5 adult models: the T78 series (3 models), the T8, and the T12.

3. Are you willing to pay a little extra money to get air-filled tires? The old Trikkes had small hard plastic wheels. Air-filled tires give the rider a much better grip on the pavement and make riding uphill easier. Plus the ride on air tires is much softer. Trust me: you don’t want plastic wheels. Nowadays, the only adult Trikke with plastic wheels is the T78 Convertible, which has an air tire on the front and 2 plastic wheels on the rear. For a $50 upgrade you can get the Convertible with air tires all the way around.

4. Would you rather have a heavier, cheaper Trikke, or a lighter, more expensive one? The T78 series has a steel frame and is slightly smaller than the T8 and T12. Available in 3 models: T78 Convertible, T78 Air, and T78 Deluxe.
The T8 and T12 both have aluminum frames, with a 50% weight reduction over the steel frame T78 series. The steel frame models are only a little heavier to ride, but they’re a lot heavier to carry when folded.

TRIKKE T78 CONVERTIBLE: $249.99
Discounted on Amazon at $219.99 with free shipping!
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tire on front, plastic wheels on rear (can be upgraded to all air for $49.95)
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Colors: black

TRIKKE T78 AIR: $299.99
Buy this hard to find model on Amazon with free shipping!
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tires
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Color: denim blue (gorgeous and hard to find!)
This is your best buy if you don’t mind the weight.

TRIKKE T78 DELUXE: $369.99
Steel frame – 23 lbs.
Air tires all the way around
Pad caliper brakes
Assemble yourself easily with toolkit included
Tricked-out custom features like clearcoat paint, deluxe handlebars, black painted machined rims, animal free leather hand grips, upgraded brake cables, aluminum brake levers, bolted aluminum stem, and black foot decks (you pay $70 more for these features above the $299 price of the T78 Air, or the T78 Convertible with air tire upgrade)
Colors: metallic green. Also available in pink, but this seems to be permanently on backorder.

TRIKKE T8 AIR SPORT: $499.99
Available in all three colors from Amazon with free shipping!
Aluminum frame – 10 lbs.
Air tires
Their bestselling model
Colors: choice of black, green, blue. Last year’s copper brown (right) is still available on Amazon, with free shipping.

TRIKKE T12 ROADSTER: $599.99
Heavy-duty aluminum frame – 13.6 lbs.
Air tires
Disc brakes
Sits higher off the ground than the other models
Colors: charcoal black, metallic green, or metallic copper (beautiful color!)
Free shipping from Amazon!

Why Do So Many People Want a Trikke?

Burns More Calories Than Running
Trikkes are a hot item and have been since 2002 when Time magazine named it one of the best inventions of the year. It’s an incredible aerobic fitness machine. A 2006 study in Germany found that a 9 mph ride on a Trikke burned 520 calories per hour, while a light jog burned only 350 calories per hour. Riding the Trikke at near top end speed of 12.5 mph burned a whopping 1,000 calories per hour.

Not Just for the Relaxed Fit Generation
Unlike jogging, riding the Trikke is a zero impact sport, and unlike bicycling, you can do it standing upright. This has made it a huge hit with the 50+ crowd who are looking for ways to keep fit and get outdoors without torturing our joints. But the Trikke trike appeals to riders of all ages. Athletic types enjoy pushing it at top speed and using it for skateboard-like stunts, and kids love the “cool factor” of having a scooter that they can ride farther and faster than the lowly razor scooters their friends have.

Trikkes are rated safe for riders up to 250 pounds. On one retailer website, they state that riders weighing 250-300 pounds do ride the Trikke, but at their own risk. If you fall in this bracket, you should think about getting the T12 with its extra heavy duty features.

Learning Is a Bit Tricky*
When you first step on the Trikke, you’ll quickly find that riding it is harder than it looks. Riding up even a small hill really tests your technique (and makes your heart rate go up). The vast majority of Trikke owners pick up the technique quickly, but occasionally someone will have trouble learning to ride it, or just not like how it feels. If you’re in doubt, put an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone in your area owns one and would let you test drive it. There are Trikke clubs in many cities and towns across the U.S. Check Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, and Meetup.com to see if there’s one in your area.
*Trikke is actually pronounced “trike” (like tricycle), not “tricky.”

Pavement Only
Trikkes only work on paved surfaces. The ideal place to ride one is on a bike trail or jogging path. The back-and-forth skating motion of riding takes up about the width of the average sidewalk, so you probably won’t want to ride on a sidewalk with a lot of pedestrian traffic, or a busy street. If you don’t have low-traffic paved surfaces in your neighborhood, don’t be discouraged. The Trikke is ingeniously designed to fold down into a compact shape that will easily fit in the trunk of your car.

Be Careful If You Buy Retail
With all this buzz about the Trikke, the manufacturer is barely keeping up with demand, and when I went to buy mine last year, the retailer told me I’d have to wait three weeks while it was on backorder. When I went back to pick it up, he told me that Trikke has streamlined its manufacturing process and the backorders will soon be a thing of the past. I wasn’t much inclined to believe him, because he didn’t tell me about the backorder problem until I had already placed my order! If you decide to buy from a retail storefront instead of online, be prepared to ask some very specific questions about which models and colors they have in stock. Even finding a retailer can be a challenge. I had to drive 200 miles round trip to buy mine, once to order it and once to pick it up.

Pros and Cons of Buying Online
The two big advantages of buying from a bricks-and-mortar retailer is that they’ll assemble your Trikke for you. The best shops do this at no extra charge, so be sure to ask about this up front. The other advantage is a free riding lesson, which, depending on how athletic you are, could be a big advantage or no big deal.

The biggest advantage of buying online is that you know the seller will have the model you want, in the color you want, in stock and ready to ship, and you won’t have to drive an hour or more to go get it. I’m also seeing Amazon.com with free shipping get first dibs on high-demand colors and models of Trikkes like the
gorgeous T78 Air model in denim blue, while the retail shops have to take what’s left over. Until there’s a shop in every town with a full lineup of Trikkes in stock, online shopping is the way to go. If you buy a T8 or T12, you’ll probably have to pay your local bike shop to assemble it for you, but the money you save by not paying sales tax for your online order should cover it. The T78 series ships with most of the assembly already done for you.

Additional Gear
You don’t need a lot of accessories for your Trikke, but a helmet is an absolute must. Some riders wear bike helmets, which come in cool multicolor patterns that will be easy to match to your Trikke’s color scheme. Others wear inline skater-style helmets, which come in a limited selection of basic solid colors so you’ll probably end up choosing black or white. Padded cycling gloves are nice to have, and a warning bell is a good safety item to have on bike trails, sidewalks, and roads. The tires should be inflated to between 80 and 95 psi, so a good quality bike pump is a must. The tires are expensive to replace, so it’s not worth the chance of blowing them up with the air machine at your local gas station.

I bought my Powerball in February 2009. I’ve been having trouble with de Quervain’s tendonitis for over a year now, and it’s not fun. This is an inflammation of the tendon that moves the thumb. For a while, I couldn’t even pick up a half gallon of milk and put it back in the refrigerator because it had made gripping and lifting so painful.

My doctor told me to exercise my hand using a foam squeeze ball, but I did some reading and learned that grip exercising can do more harm than good. I was looking for an unorthodox approach to physical therapy when I found the Powerball while randomly surfing around online.

The NSD Powerball is a hollow plastic ball about three inches in diameter with a gyroscope inside. Just like the toy you had when you were a kid, you yank the string, shake it a few times to get it going, and then move it in circles to keep it going. The thing exerts a surprisingly powerful gravitational pull, and I haven’t even been able to get it up to full speed.

The Powerball can be ordered with an optional digital counter that will tell you how many RPMs you’re spinning it, and what your record speed is. Top speed for the basic model pictured above is around 15,000 rpm, while the deluxe metal version tops out around 20,000. When I first started using it, I could barely hold it at 4,000 rpm because my hand was so weak. I’m currently spinning it at around 6,000 rpm and working on going higher.

Spinning a Powerball is a peculiar feeling. Imagine holding an object that pulls your hand outward with steady centrifugal force, so that you have to grip it tightly and pull it back in toward its center. The manufacturer calls this “eccentric” motion, which means “controlling the lowering of a weight.” In other words, instead of lifting, you’re stopping the weight from falling. On the medical page of their website, they suggest that lifting a weight strengthens muscles, while lowering a weight strengthens tendons.

The majority of Powerballers seem to use theirs as a combination of toy and strengthening device. They have an active forum online where people compare their top speeds and egg each other on. If you’re athletically inclined, this type of behavior will probably make sense to you. The forum also has plenty of people like me who are using the gyro to rehabilitate various injuries, such as carpal tunnel, and even arthritis.

So has the Powerball worked for my de Quervain’s? Yes, it has–I’ve been very impressed with the results. In only one week, I went from having about 20 percent use of my hand to around 70 percent. The remaining 30 percent has been much more stubborn, though–I’ve been working it for two months now and am making slow progress. Over on my left hand, which doesn’t have tendonitis but is very weak, I’ve made great progress with strengthening and my guitar playing has improved dramatically as a result.

Buy the Powerball directly from the manufacturer to get the best warranty available.

Gladiator sandals are flat shoes with a heel less than one-quarter inch, if they have a heel at all. The ankle strap is very wide. Often it’s wider than any other strap on the shoe and fastens around the ankle at some distance above the foot. There might be an ornate buckle, or sometimes the sandal will have laces that criss-cross and tie at the top. Picture a tall Roman gladiator in full body armor with a sword strapped to his waist, a metal helmet, and full beard, and you’ll be able to appreciate the bit of swagger that these shoes will add to your summer attire.

Fashion ankle strap sandals look stunning with casual summer clothes, giving you a Romanesque look with a bit of Hollywood glamour thrown in. This year’s designs feature smooth leather or reptile-pattern finishes. Some have wild colors. All of them are designed to show off your feet and legs.

Don’t be afraid to wear a flat ankle strap sandal when you go out for a glamorous evening. The style is elegant but simple and irresistably hip. If you’re attending a wedding or formal event, choose an ankle strap sandal with slender straps. Many of these come with metal ornaments and even rhinestones for an especially glamorous look. Step out and be a little bit different—that’s what chic is all about.

If you have long, slender legs, you’ll have no trouble wearing an ankle strap sandal. If you don’t have the body of a supermodel, you’ll have to plan a bit more, but you can still look terrific in this style without your legs looking too big. If you have any doubts, check out Fashion for Dummies.

The more you show of your legs, the more slender they’ll look with an ankle strap. So choose shorter fashions with this look. A short skirt with a flounce will look feminine and flirty. Ankle straps with shorts look cool and casual. If you’re wearing crop pants, choose a pair with wide legs. If you’re wearing a mid-length skirt, make sure it’s a fitted cut.

If you have any concerns about looking good in shoes with ankle straps, stay away from longer skirts and capris that hug the ankle.

Follow these simple fashion tips and you’ll be stepping out in style, day or night.