JillFlorio

Hi Jill. Here’s a grooming question for you: our dog, Bridget, howls like a banshee the moment you put a brush within a foot of her fur. Any tricks to make her like it better? She looks such a mess if we don’t brush her and she gets really hot and uncomfortable in the summer.Thanks, Betsy

Hi Betsy. Thanks for writing. Now I will put on my dog groomer’s smock: is this a dog you’ve had since a puppy, or adopted later? It’s possible there was some bad history with brushes, if she’s an adoptee.

Also, what kind of dog and what kind of coat? If she’s really matted, I’d recommend going to a groomer for a shave down first. But this also depends on what kind of coat we are talking about. Some double coats should not be shaved.

If shaving is an option, as the hair grows back in, you can slowly ease Bridget into a brushing routine. By the time mats might occur again, she will be comfortable with it all.

Here’s what to do: Have short (five minutes, ten max) play sessions daily, with yummy treats and toys, lots of praise, and just let the brush ‘hang out’ with you, in your lap or whatever she will allow. Don’t touch her with it for a few days. Just let it be there. In fact, let it lie around on the floor all day for awhile, like furniture, so she can see it is not a threat.

Let the play sessions end on a happy note, each time. You are training for positive responses to the sight of the brush.

If she can tolerate the sight of the brush, try turning it over (smooth side) and letting it go over her skin without bristles. Praise her for accepting it with treats and lovins. Eventually she will let you gently brush her, and she should still be mat-free from being shaved. If there are mats, leave them alone until she accepts brushing.

What kind of brush are you using? A “slicker” type is better than a pin brush or human one.

Other options include soft rubber brushes that feel like a doggie massage, and the “zoom groom” (look it up online), that dogs don’t mind on their bodies because it feels nice to them. The zoom groom won’t take out mats but it’s non-threatening, and really great for getting off dead hairs, which means no more shedding if you use it every day.

Now, for de-matting, you can certainly ask a groomer for advice on tools and techniques. Brushes can prevent future mats but should never be used to get out an existing mat. Get a specialized tool for that and ask a groomer to show you how to use it. She won’t charge for this but you should give her a tip of 3 or 5 bucks for her time. There are easy ways to take out bad mats without hurting the dog, but using a plain brush would just be painful for Bridget. And for you! Good luck!

I just bought an RV. I’m doing lots of research about the lifestyle, and am thinking of grooming on the road, while I travel, to help pay expenses. Traveling Groomer? Why not?So I took Introduction to RVs and the RV Lifestyle, Barry Houseknecht’s online course to get introduced to the concepts, the language and the nuts and bolts about RVing.

This is a SuiteU course, so it was a natural to enroll (this being the sister program to Suite101). If you are thinking about moving to the RV lifestyle, start with this great beginner’s course. My research has shown most of the websites dedicated to RVing assume you already know the jargon and are currently on the road.

Here’s my short review of the Introduction to RVs and the RV Lifestyle course:

Houseknecht’s course is pleasant to read - he never talks over the beginner’s head. The four lesson chapters lead the student through choosing the right kind of RV (did you know there are three classes of motorhomes and a whole smörgåsbord of trailables?), going to the dealer, getting your rig ready, staying in touch with the world (mail forwarding, Internet access, cell phones and GPS) and how to get started finding work on the road.

From a newbie’s perspective, I was glad to have this course; I felt less intimidated by everything I needed to know. There are a few simple course assignments and quizzes to get through, along with links to helpful resources.

Altogether, this RV course should get anyone from the RV Dreamer/Wannabe stage to their first trip on the road. I’d like to see a follow-up, more advanced course to teach me about holding tanks, best RV parks, cooking on the road, and all the numerous, day-to-day details of living the life, so to speak.

Do you bring your dog on your RV excursions? Do you think you would use the services of a groomer while at the RV park? Start a discussion below and let me know what you think.

And by all means, give Barry’s course a look-see if you are thinking of getting an RV.

Featured Course:
Introduction to RVs and the RV Lifestyle

While wading through my pile of items to review from the Involvaholic perspective, I thought I would mention how important it is to like your tools.

Whether you are a cook, a construction worker or work from your home office, you need to like your tools. You should like the look and heft of your chopping knife, hand drill or computer mouse, for example. They should fit your hand and become an extension of your limbs.

What do you get from having the right tool? More productivity, less daily frustration from products that don’t work for you. Even a minor point of irritation, such as a stapler that too often mangles its staples, becomes a subtle form of water torture….wearing away at you in frustration every time you use it. You should literally LOVE all the things you own and use.

Sometimes the right tools cost more…but not necessarily. My new keyboard is not the most expensive (but not the cheapest either). I picked it because it had features I enjoy and because the size fits my little paws better than any other five or seven boards I’d tested. It is the same with my computer mouse - I went through half a dozen iterations before I settled on the one that feels like a part of me.

The principles of simple living dictate you own only what you need…but along those lines, don’t be afraid to own the right tools for the job.

Too often, we try to buy things that are on sale, or are…well…just cheap. This often ends up costing more in the long run. Cheap clothes unravel at the seams. Cheap sleeping bags will not keep you warm when camping. Then you end up buying more products to replace those.

However, expensive products don’t always equate quality. Sometimes you are overpaying for the status of having a name brand item.

The key lies in finding quality products at good prices…and in maintaining their quality as you use them. Sharpening your good kitchen knives. Repairing your leather boots and purse straps. Storing your winter coats properly over the summer.

Having high quality things that you own, love and maintain keeps junk out of the landfills, saves you money in the long run, and lets you enjoy a more frustration-free life.

Book hoarding is a very difficult type of clutter disease to cure. Everyone tells us books are good; they are indicators of an intellectual bent; they are clues to our inner personalities…blah, blah, blah. For those of us who really love books, it’s hard to let them go. Book clutter can get out of hand, to the point where a single person can own literally hundreds or thousands of titles.

If you have the room for a library area of your house, you may not be so concerned. Dust your books every few months, store them upright, and provide comfortable nearby seating to encourage book browsing. That DOES sound appealing. Make sure you have nice teas and mugs you can make quickly to enjoy your library nook.

Not everyone has the time, room or inclination to make a library area in our homes. I personally have moved homes too often to even think about that - and if you have moved a lot, you understand just how HEAVY boxes of books can be.

Not only are books heavy, but they are vulnerable things to keep around. Your pretty coffeetable books get scuffed when you move too much - another thing I have discovered. When you store books, covers can get creased and folded, books are easily ruined when wet, and can get chewed on by rodents. I have lost several stored crates of books over the years to moisture, mold, rodents and general improper care.

It’s an excellent goal to whittle down your collection to books you often use and love. Go through your books on a wet or snowy day and try to eliminate any book you have already read or KNOW you will never read. Decide which reference books you really want to keep. Pick out a couple of your art books (how many do you really use?). Keep your own personal classic novels (I would never get rid of my Lord of the Rings, Watership Down or Lonesome Dove copies).

When you go through books like this, it tends to take a LONG TIME. You get caught up in the fun of book discovery. That’s okay; don’t try to clear out your collection in one session. If you have lots of books, give yourself a month or a season to make your book collection manageable.

Don’t worry about missing the books you give away. You can always borrow those titles again from your local library, or download them online, or even grab yourself another copy later if you really feel you made a mistake. Chances are very good that you won’t even miss them, however.

How you get rid of your books is up to you. You can sell them on Amazon or at a used book store or at a garage sale. You can donate them to a library or to Goodwill. Gift them out to friends. Just let them go and you will feel lighter in life.

Index of Living Simply Articles

Having a garage sale? Here are some tips for setting up and displaying your goods to get the best prices and have a great sale.

Garage Sale Tips

First off, don’t go it alone. Have a spouse, partner or friend be your wingman, no matter how informal your sale. Bribe your friend with free pizza or a round at the bar, on you, to help out on your big day or weekend sale. Bribe your spouse with a big dinner and/or evening massage, for giving up their weekend to help you. Either way, you will have someone to help you set up and take down, someone to help you make sales, an eye to keep watch for those bathroom breaks, and, of course, moral support.

Beyond enlisting a good buddy, you also need to plan out a few things before the sale:

* Will you use tables or lay items out on blankets? Maybe a combination of the two?

* Can you group any things out thematically? Sporting goods together, tools off the the side, kitchen wares on one table? Try to think ‘department store’, not ‘junk pile’.

* Can you spread out everything the night before in the garage? Then you can just open the doors and get going in the morning. Don’t feel bad if your garage is already packed to the gills with stuff. Remember, each garage sale you hold will help get you to that Holy Grail of a roomy, organized garage.

* If you can’t spread out in the garage, try to have all your stuff in ‘like boxes’. Dishes together, toys in a sack, games in one box, and so on. Set-up’s a breeze when you have it semi-organized beforehand.

* Set up your coffee, tea, or other wake-up brew, ready to go, the night before. Trust me, no one likes a grouch at 7AM.

* If you don’t like people swarming over your belongings before you set-up, don’t hesitate to shoo them off. Simply say, “I’m not open yet.” It’s really okay to do this. It’s your stuff, your property. I’ve found I set a better pace for my day if I can set up the driveway area in peace. Don’t stress over what you COULD HAVE sold. You’ll eventually sell everything anyway.

Tables, Boxes and Blankets

How to display your wares? Table-height is best, but you can still sell well with things neatly laid out on blankets, tarps and sheets. If you have some big boxes, you can drape a sheet over them and have a makeshift table. You could place a board or old door on sawhorses or crates and make a table that way.

Setting the Tables

Make sure everything you put out is clean and labelled. Having dirty junk mixed in only brings down your whole look. Remember that you are trying to create a ‘retail’ appearance to get the best price for your goods.

Have plenty of space between each item. At my first garage sale, I piled everything I had right next to each other, figuring people would like more stuff to paw through.

I learned this is incorrect thinking: individual items get lost when there are too many things available. Ever hear of the ‘tyranny of choice”? Having empty space around each nicely displayed item lets people actually look at what you are offering. When you sell something, you can always replace that empty spot with a fresh, new item from your reserve.

The Free Box

It’s always nice to have a bunch of free things available for people to pick through. But if your free things are just a tiny step above garbage, it’s better not to have a free box at all. If you do have one, label it well with your Sharpie as “FREE”.

I admit it – I’m drawn to people’s trash. When I see interesting mounds outside on the curb, I slow down in the car. I’ve even been known to flip around for a second drive-by. Shameless? Well, not really. I see rescuing perfectly good furniture and housewares as a service: I’m recycling.

You can furnish your home on the ultimate cheap (and even nab some free antiques) if you just keep your eyes open. Starving students, newly-emerged adults and new homeowners can pick up a sly starter set for a song using these techniques:

1. Call your dump first. Some landfills will have an area set aside for cast-offs, which you can wander through and make legal selections of lots of things: couches, loveseats, end tables, coffee tables, bedframes, what have you.

My town not only forbids anyone from entering the dump for a look-see, but immediately crushes all and sundry to oblivion with a masher. This really offends my reuse and recycle mind view, so I have to be a little ballsier in my salvage approach. That means checking out salvage yards, demolition sites and curbs. Let’s start with the easiest angle - picking through salvage.

2. Check into Salvage Yards. Don’t write off even the most unpromising-looking yard-o-scrap. I must have passed on one such lot hundreds of times on my way home from town. Iron Mike’s, in Flagstaff, doesn’t even have a sign out front – the tiny notice is only visible from inside the yard itself. It looked like a metal salvage heap from the street, but I worked up my courage to park and walk into the back. A bunch of grease-encrusted guys looked at me strangely when I asked if this was a salvage yard.

“Sure. What do you need?” they politely asked.

“I’ll know it when I see it,” I replied. “Mind if I look around?”

They decided that was fine, so I made friends with the junkyard dog while scanning random heaps of rubbish. I hit the jackpot when I opened the creaky door to a ramshackle shed. Peering inside, I saw boxes of filthy housewares and piles of odd, miscellaneous goods heaped in the corners. Promising myself I’d bring along a flashlight and sturdy work gloves next time, I rummaged through the boxes and piles.

Worth getting dirty. What I uncovered: two large Fiesta platters in mint condition (except really, really dirty), a perfect Roseville crock, three Depressionware plates, several Anchor Hocking kitchen items in great shape, a Transferware Currier and Ives collectible plate, a heap of vintage Pyrex treasures, a handmade quilt, a bird feeder, some tarnished sterling silver flatware, a crystal water pitcher, a handmade 1880s rolling pin, two 1950s framed prints, a three-foot candle pedestal in iron, some Deco-era draperies in need of a good cleaning and several old lamp bases sans shades. I also found an old door frame that I plan to staple sheer gold fabric to, to make a colorful and movable wall panel.

All in all, I piled a half a dozen boxes with things I liked and could use. The proprietor was more than happy to move these old things out of his shed - he only charged me $35 for everything. If I’d had cash on me, I’m sure I could have bargained him down. He trusted me enough to accept a check, but I don’t recommend relying on anything but cash at these places.

Jill’s Salvage Yard Hints: Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and your grubby clothes when you go to a salvage lot. Bring work gloves, a flathead screwdriver and a Phillips, a working flashlight, sunglasses or a sunhat, and make sure your tetanus shot is up to date.

I like to have a bottle of water in the front seat, too – recycling is hard work.

Shove a few crates in your car for your finds, since these yards don’t usually have amenities for your goods. And it’s worth saying twice: bring cash.

An ounce of creativity. Look beyond the dirt and state of dishevel. Does that cool old lamp base need a harp and shade? JoAnn Fabrics sells lamp harps for 3 bucks, and you can pick up shades almost anywhere, or make your own. You can dry-clean interesting vintage fabrics, reupholster chairs and sofas, and wash the antique dishes lying on the ground.

Remember that a bit of creativity will go far, too – old cabinets can be reused in the garage to store sporting goods and boxes of holiday things. Old drawer pulls can be removed from anything you find and brought home for your own bureaus. Rickety shutters and orphaned doors can be turned into those oh-so-trendy and expensive movable screens by screwing on a few hinges. Wrought iron gates can be set in front of mirrors, cut to fit, to become a one-of-a-kind, gorgeous “heirloom” showpiece.

Want some more ideas for creating salvage treasures for your home? Here’s a good read, available from Amazon.com, with lots of pictures to set your imagination ticking:

Salvage Style How-to’s.