Contrary to what most "lawn experts" tell you dethatching is not necessary unless the thatch is more then 1/2 inch thick, and if the thatch is that thick there is a soil problem that needs to be addressed because the Soil Food Web is unable to function well. Whether grubs are a problem depends on the population, 5 or fewer per square foot are not a problem while 10 or more per square foot will be. In a good, healthy soil grubs will be kept under control by predators that will not be present in a sick soil. Recycling your grass clippings can help because they can supply 1/2 the needed 2 pounds of Nitrogen per 1,000 square feet lawns need each year. Your soil does need organic matter which will help retain necessary mositure, as well as provide a food source for the Soil Food Web that will feed the grass you want to grow. Start by contacting the local office of your Washington State University Extension Service about having a good, reliable soil test done so you know what your soils pH and base nutrient levels are. These simple soil tests may also be of some help in getting your soil into that good, helathy condition needed to grow a strong and healthy garden. Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains� too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. Here is a link that might be useful: WSU CES

IMO, Wiring Simplified is about the best book for beginners. That's what got me started, and I still keep the latest edition around for reference. You used to be able to find it in any hardware store. For some reason it's not quite as widely sold now. (Maybe because the price has gone up a fair bit in the last few years.) However, just about all the bookstores have it, and Home Depot also sells it in their electrical departments. Don't skip the chapter on basic electrical principles.

I've seen the Undecorate Book at my library. Very nice. I asked my library to order both of Robyn Griggs Lawrence's Wabi Sabi books. I think you would enjoy anything written about that. Here are some thoughs from Japanese architect Tadao Ando, about the essence of Wabi Sabi: "Wabi-sabi is not a decorating "style" but rather a mind-set. There's no list of rules; we can't hang crystals or move our beds and wait for peace to befall us. Creating a wabi-sabi home is the direct result of developing our wabigokoro, or wabi mind and heart: living modestly, learning to be satisfied with life as it can be once we strip away the unnecessary, living in the moment. You see? Simple as that. This is tough in any culture, of course, but darned near impossible in our own. In America we're plied daily with sales pitches that will help us improve ourselves, our circumstances, our homes. We can have the whitest teeth, the cleanest carpets, and the biggest SUV money can buy. All of this flies in the face of wabigokoro, as described in Rikyu's sacred tea text, Nanporoku. "A luxurious house and the taste of delicacies are only pleasures of the mundane world," he wrote. "It is enough if the house does not leak and the food keeps hunger away. This is the teaching of the Buddha-the true meaning of chado." This is un-American. Or is it? I believe there exists in all of us a longing for something deeper than the whitest teeth, sparkling floors, and eight cylinders. What if we could learn to be content with our lives, exactly as they are today? It's a lofty thought...but one that's certainly worth entertaining."

Just read this short summary & thought of this thread. Basic & aimed primarily @ weight loss, but still helpful, IMPO... The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Going Low-Carb Ditching carbs to lose weight really sucks, but it works, which is why so many people have joined the low-carb craze. If you're cutting carbs to lose a few, just be careful not to make these three mistakes. Going Completely Carb-Free Think of your body as a car and its fuel is carbs. A car won't run without gas, and your body can't function without carbs. Your brain runs on glucose, which comes from carbs, so without it you'll feel tired, foggy-headed, slow-moving, and cranky. Plus, ditching carbs altogether will only make your cravings that much stronger, so when faced with a delivery of office pizza, who could blame you for devouring four slices in a row? Eating mostly protein and going completely carb-free just isn't a diet you can sustain. Certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition says you want to make sure you're eating at least 120 to 130 grams of carbs a day - about 30 to 40 percent of your diet.Not Eating the Right Carbs Not all carbs are created equal, so you don't want to slurp down a soda with your Instagram-worthy salad and grab a chocolate chip cookie afterward. Skip the refined and overly processed carbs like white bread, pasta, bagels, and sugary beverages and baked goods, and fuel up on carbs that are also high in fiber - they'll add to the fullness factor. Leslie recommends one-half to one cup of whole grains like quinoa or oatmeal and one to two pieces of fruit each day. That will keep your carbs low enough to lose weight and allow your body to have the energy to function. Plus, they also offer valuable vitamins and minerals your body needs to have a strong immune system.Not Watching Portions Low-carb doesn't automatically mean low-calorie, and just because you're not eating spaghetti, rolls, or rice doesn't mean you're not overeating other foods! Watching your portion sizes is still very important when it comes to weight loss, so be sure to monitor how many calories your meals and snacks add up to." HTH