May 8, 2022 Debbie and I continue to work on our new home plan as the supply chain inflated price of materials has delayed our start. This has actually given me more time to run through potential needs scenarios and apply some really deep thinking on solutions. One of those…

May 1, 2022 There are few things that can upset you faster than discovering the packages delivered to your door have disappeared. In fact, 11 percent of Americans have had at least one package stolen from their home in the past year and a half, according to a survey of…

April 24, 2022 As Debbie and I continue to work through the details of our home planning, there are aspects that are not as fun or glamorous as others. But it doesn’t mean they’re any less important, especially where life safety or the law are concerned. Smoke and carbon monoxide…

April 17, 2022 The world of air purifiers can be confusing, but the bottom line is that the best units can improve your quality of life. In much of the country as many have transitioned to work from home, air quality has become a bigger concern. From smoke-filled air caused…

April 10, 2022 As Debbie and I were running some errands this weekend, we noticed a lot of activity at a local nursery. It got us talking about our outdoor and landscaping plans for our new home project. Part of our plan includes planting a small vineyard toward the back…

April 3, 2022 Debbie and I first started incorporating smart home technology in our Minnesota home 6 years ago. I took the approach of developing my smart home plan from head-end to end-user — head-end defined as where the internet was terminated for use. As it was an existing home…

March 27, 2022 Debbie and I have been going through a checklist of sorts on a variety of new home topics ranging from light fixtures to artwork we’ll display. Regarding artwork, Debbie’s been busy inventorying what I’d have to admit is a pretty broad collection we’ve acquired over the years…

March 20, 2022 As I’ve written in the past, my approach to smart home includes a mixture of both wired and wireless solutions, depending on the technology. And to drill down deeper, I prefer to wire everything possible in order to maximize bandwidth, security and wifi. This applies to more…

March 13, 2022 After writing last week’s post about smart home technology options to get rid of pests, it got me thinking about outdoor summer plans. With the ability to eliminate the concern over mosquitoes at family barbeques, pool parties or simply playing catch with the grandkids, it got me…