Know Signs of Walls At Risk of Collapse “Walls protect and walls limit. It is the nature of walls that they should fall.” – English Author Jeanette Winterson No wall stands forever with weak limbs (ever see the Chicago Bears offensive line come the fourth quarter?). Heck, even the legendary, two-millennium-old Great Wall of China […]
Now’s the Time for Iowa Homeowners to Ready Their Flood Defense Plan In one of Mother Nature’s cruelest twists of irony, nearly 10 years to the date of the devastating Iowa floods of 2018, flooded rivers and waters are again threatening numerous towns throughout eastern Iowa. A fury of early June rains have many of […]
It’s almost safe to go outside, for at long last, it’s springtime again in America. Alas, for weary Iowans suffering from a 106-degree case of cabin fever, this is no time to let your guard down against severe weather threats to your home and family. For as we’ve learned the hard way the last few […]
Let’s face the cold, hard, inescapable, miserable truth: So far, the winter of 2018 has felt like winter in the coldest, harshest northern regions of Westeros. Stephen King isn’t cruel enough to dream up anything as harsh as what January has already dealt us. If you’re not an avid ice fisherman, this winter has been […]
The curiosity of children is a wonder to behold. But children’s curiosity with fire and electricity is one childhood interest that needs to be closely managed. A lack of supervision or containment when children are free to explore flammable materials around the house could be a matter of life and death. For kids, there’s no […]
The Packers and Cowboys are locked in a classic. The Food Network has a “America’s Worst Chefs” marathon playing. I’m just 1,000 points away from a new record score on “Call of Duty.” We heard a voice calling us to enjoy this beautiful autumn day on the river. As Garfield would say, it’s a good […]
Every backyard barbecuer dreams of being a grill master. Truth is, not everyone can be a four-time world barbecue champion Mike Mills. Most us are Average Joes just trying not to burn the hot dogs until they’re pitch black and extra crispy. Unfortunately, some barbecuers this season will fall dangerously asleep at the grill. With […]
Des Moines. Cedar Rapids. Burlington. Dubuque. Interstate 80. Out of nowhere and without warning, sinkholes are appearing all over Iowa and often swallowing everything in their path. And you thought teenagers had a bottomless appetite. This is no horror movie plot. This is reality for thousands of unsuspecting Midwest homeowners. As hundreds of evacuated homeowners […]
As the House Stark would say, “Winter is coming.” And that’s not a blunt, true fact-of-life statement you want to be on the “not” side of the “ready or not” door. And just because your home may look stunning as it basks in the late autumn glow as you pull into your driveway, looks can […]
Act Now & Save Money, Time & Discomfort Come Winter Autumn is the season of falling leaves, kids returning to school, and football returning to fields nationwide. And even though the calendar may seem as if it’s more packed than a school bus, fall is the perfect time to tackle home repair and maintenance projects […]
