I "Heart" YouTube.

How, in God's name, did I manage before YouTube?  I am definitely a 'see it to learn it' type of person.  I am very visually-oriented.  School was onerous because of this 'limitation' - I could read something until I memorized it, but I did not necessarily 'get' it.  Except for The Jaberwocky.  I have been known to recite the entire thing without the least bit of prompting.  Other than a glass of wine or three.  It took me YEARS to learn how to knit socks because of that wonky bit about turning the heel and the gusset thingy.  My mother finally got tired of hearing me whine about it and sat me down and showed me.  Once.  I've been knitting socks for years now.

So, faced with installing the door closer on my recently hung (by me with help from the Lithuanian Lawn Guy - who was somewhat more of a hindrance because he thought he knew more than I and, frighteningly, didn't) storm door, I hit a wall.  I looked at the directions in both English and Spanish (both made equal sense), looked at the pictures, and....nada/nothing (I did, however, pick up some bilingual-ness).  I put it down and walked away for a day, hoping that distance would lift the veil.  It didn't.  I tried to ignore it, but that's hard to do, when the wind catches your brand new door and tries to rip it off its hinges.  I am sure some of you will scoff, but I am definitely mechanically challenged.  That, however, never stops me.

(Small watt light bulb) Aha!  YouTube!  You can learn the Macarena - why not how to install a door closer?  And there he was, No-Nonsense Guy, showing me how to install my door closer.  I "heart" Mr. No-Nonsense Guy, too.  A mere ten minutes later....

Ta-da!

One small step for most.  One big, fat relief for me!

Whambang-est Giveaway - Day #5

Who hasn't needed help when doing something for the first time?  And although 'they' say that mistakes are just steps towards perfection (oh, right), wouldn't it just be easier to go to your home library shelf and find a good reference book or ten?  There are no Kindles or Nooks (well, maybe a nook or two) in my house.  I need to have a good, solid book in my hands to make me feel like it's the place for answers.  Of course, I still make all kinds of mistakes, but I think of them as steps in the right direction.  That's me, Cleo, Queen of Denial.

Today's giveaway goodie is:  The Encyclopedia of Country Living, by Carla Emery.

You are going to need a sturdy bookshelf for this puppy....not to mention a sturdy mailbox....

Today's comment topic:  What is a skill that you would like to learn?  Is there something on your homestead that needs doin' and you don't know how?  Me?  I'd like to learn how to make a stone fence.  I have LOTS of stones.

(Comment by midnight tonight to be eligible for the drawing.  Sorry, shipment of the book is limited to the US.)

Our Super Sewer and Winner of Day #4 is:  Lynda!  Please send your mailing information to me at swomersley at gmail dot com!  (All information I receive will remain strictly confidential.)