Book presents how-to for tabletop gardens

Book presents how-tofor tabletop gardens
Though not everyone can have an outdoor garden, anyone can have an indoor garden.
The new book "Beautiful Tabletop Gardens" (Lark Books, 2003, $24.95) by Janice Eaton Kilby shows readers how to create more than 30 lavish, exotic, unusual or simple tabletop gardens, by simply buying plants at a nursery or growing them from seeds.
Color photos fill 128 pages and illustrate tips on planting, potting and growing. Readers will learn to make a water garden grow in a bowl, nurture a salad garden, make a simple Zen sand garden, create a living wreath and much more.
The book is available at local bookstores and at Amazon.com.
Patching vinyl floorcan save big bucks
Patching a vinyl floor can save hundreds of dollars in replacement costs, and it is something that you can do yourself. If you think you are without patching material, try looking under the refrigerator, range, washer or dryer.
To make the repair:
UCut out the damaged area, at a dark pattern line (if possible), and glue in the replacement piece. Tub and tile caulk works well as an adhesive.
UWhen the glue is dry, seal the joint surrounding the patch with clear seam sealer. You can find this product at a local flooring store.
This technique is not recommended for asbestos tiles or other brittle floor coverings.
Perfect Glue is handyfor several surfaces
Glue has come a long way, baby. Though Elmer's Glue used to solve all your problems as a kid, and Crazy Glue worked its magic for more permanent attachments, today's glues are even more versatile.
The new Perfect Glue by Liquid Nails may be among the smarter glues on the market. Its three versions (Perfect Glue 1, 2 and 3) are each formulated to work on specific substances (vinyl, Styrofoam, glass, concrete, etc.) and can be used for a variety of repairs and tasks, from fixing a broken pan handle to creating a science-fair project to repairing shoes.
Perfect Glue retails for $3.99 and is available at Home Depot, Ace Hardware and other retailers. Call (866) 321-GLUE or visit www.perfectglue.com for information.
Bobby pins keep you fromhammering your fingers
If you've ever used a hammer, you are likely to be familiar with the "ouch!" utterance and the pain associated with whacking your thumb instead of the nail.
This can occur with great frequency when one works with tiny nails (brads).
Many brads are so small that they disappear between the finger and thumb when held ready for the hammer.
Ah, but there is an answer that is safe if you are reasonably well-coordinated.
To drive a tiny brad with a big hammer and not whack your thumb, use a bobby pin as a nail holder, or finger extension.
A bobby pin will protect your precious appendages while allowing easy contact with the brad.
Mend your leaning fenceswith homemade supports
Have high winds and inclement weather taken their toll on your wooden fence?
If it's no longer running down the straight and narrow, chances are you have a damaged or fractured post.
Replacing a post, and the concrete pier that anchors it, can be expensive. There is, however, a cost-effective, easy-to-install alternative -- a fence-mender.
A fence-mender consists of a couple of elongated U-shaped metal brackets that are installed opposite one another at the location where the post is most vulnerable.
Remove the fence board that covers the post. Use a sledge hammer to drive the metal bracket between the post and concrete pier. Finish the job by attaching the top of the bracket with a couple of screws, and replace the adjacent fence board.
Combined dispatches