Nicole

I've dealt with abuse to my "nice" cars by fixing it myself. When my BMW stick shift was shredded, I recoverd it with calfskin. A small hide was $17. I recovered a whole love seat for $80 by purchasing a whole hide, on sale, that matched. They have perforated, with the little punched dots....if that's the type of leather you have? Do you have a local Tandy's store? I prefer to shop in person to get the best match.

Thanks, Nicole and KW. I am usually resourceful and motivated with regard to problem solving. I grew up with resourceful parents and don’t like spending money on thigs I can do or fix myself. Sometimes I envy people who can just throw money at probelms.

I on e had a Jeep and the rear windshield washer would not work for lack of some thin patent tube. The dealer wanted $500 to replace a compound part. I did not wantto do that and figure something would turn up (Remember the McCawber character in Great Expectations? One day while cleNing a cupboard in the cellar, I spotted a basketball inflationg needle. Bingo. I cut it to size, inserted it i to the rear wiper arm, hit the sprayer and washed wiped the rear windshield.

I am thankful to be among some resourceful people here. Nicole, while I prefer the seat as kt is meant to be, you have give me the idea about finding some leather or hide. I may be able to fashion a leather seat cover, although the existing leather seat may con5inue to stretch and tear. Darn it. I thought about using duct tape over the tear, but that will just end in a gummy mess.

I have asked mister DH to take it to an auto body shop, see what they say. He is not motivated to do any such thing and so I will have to do it. Then resort to the hippy from the 60s routine with the hide. But no way am I going to resort to sheep skin. Been 5here, done that. DH seems to be one of those people who are hard on certain things. Oblivious? Apathetic? Numb?

His doctor and mind retired, so we need to find an internist or two in the Boston Metro West-ish area. Catch— who is taking new patients and who has some clinical savvy.

Regarding the replacement disposal: It is convenient, but we barely used the one that came w the house. Crumbs mostly. We bag and trash messy stuff and veggie peelings go to the compost. We have a septic tank SDS, so it is not recommended to but waste into the SDS.

Technically I dont need one. Nice to have on occasion when washing veggie or chunky remains from dishes. DH bought it but then has gotten into one of his absolute slog states. He then tells me he will do it. Yeah, but in my lifetime? I am tired of all the ”going to get to it” ongoing clutter, brain-occupying unfinished chores or tasks. Poor guy doesnt want to agree to getting anyone else to do it. So the $160 disposal rests in a box amid clutter in the first floor bathroom. Acceptable to him, but not to me as the months pass. I am for tossing it.

My guy and his brain or personality issues are draining me. I want to run away. He is pig headed, will not move. says he will blah blah blah, but never does anything or brings to topic up. AbbyNormal.

This was a temporary house/home, but I think I am only going to lve her until I get sick, injured or die. I hate the location and the culture. Zero here for us and that was always the case. I cannot stnd it. Can you tell?

I have reupholstered car seats myself, but it is easier if the front has bucket seats. It is easier than reupholstering a sofa or lounge chair, and I have done those as well.

Thanks, Lars. I’ve noted how skilled you are with many things. I think regular seat. Toyota SUV, Bucket seats are torture on my back.

I was recently looking for seat covers for my humble car, and I recall that they make leather seat covers. Less work that DIY, but not the auto guys.

Thanks, aok. That might be an option.

Along those lines I’ve heard good things about katskinz. I assume what they make is custom so you miht be able to get a good match for just the seat bottom.

Nicole @ petalique ....Your not alone. My husband "used" to say he works construction ALL day he's NOT coming home to do more of it. Soooooooooooooo.......he came home one day and I'd ripped up the carpeted kitchen floor. Yes.....carpet in the kitchen. He'd given me the option of picking out NEW carpet...he loved carpet. I purchased Dal Tile. Purchased Hardi-backer...he screamed and yelled....and he even ripped up a few of my tiles....then he got over it.

Then I purchased a co-workers house. He said he didn't want a rental. I said I don't have to put your name on the house title...? He worked his buns off helping me remodel it.....he just pitched in because that's where I was spending MY time...and he could see the profit we'd make. I purchased several more. :0)

He didn't want a pet. I adopted a cat....he had the flu, stayed home from work and the cat sat on his chest, kept him company while I was at work...his NEW best friend. The start of a bro-cat-mance.

I'm doing everything I ever wanted to do....:0) He's "not" in charge.....he can join-in if he wants to be where I am...do what I'm doing. We're a team...but we evolved into a team. AND I lead the "team".

Check with your local dealership or a well-regarded body shop. There are people who can do magic with torn seat upholstery of all kinds.

On the disposal, either

1) turn off the breaker to the circuit, then remove the wiring terminal cover panel on the old disposal, disconnect the wires from the disposal’s terminals, and connect them to the new disposal’s terminals.

Or 2) if the old disposal doesn’t have a removable cover over it’s wiring terminals, and can’t easily be disassembled to get at the terminals (laying on your back inside a sink cabinet, nothing is easy), then just cut the wires to the old disposal, crimp terminal rings on the wires, and connect to the new disposal’s terminals.

Or 3) screw a one-gang surface mount electrical box to the wall, run the wires into that box through a cable clamp, connect to an outlet in the box, add box cover, turn breaker back on, and you’re good to go.

#2 or #3 make things easier for the next disposal replacement.

If the wires do not include a ground (if very old, that is conceivable) then you could ground the disposal or outlet to metal plumbing (which you should have, if things are that old down under your sink).

If you go 3), GFCI outlet recommended, though not clearly required by code. If convenient, place the box over where the wires exit the wall, so that the wires from wall to the box are not exposed.

On the torn leather, that would drive me nuts. That can be fixed without reupholstering, they fill the tear with a sort of flexible vinyl, somehow apply a texture, then spray paint to match the leather.

petal, I enjoyed your post. I enjoyed it, in part, because it is so relatable.

This is why old peoples houses look like old people's houses.

I have a new faucet that has been waiting for years to get put in. I just cant easily get under the sink and do all that anymore. I have always been the one of us who took care of all of those kinds of things. If my hubs fixed something, it would usually result in other things in the vicinity being broken.

Where I live they charge up to $500 to change out a faucet!! I dont have than kind of expendable income and it is so darned hard to find a handy man. It is not as it they are listed for hire somewhere. I have always done for .myself.

My hubs too is not the person he once was. He has neurological problems and he struggles. He is dependent on me for many things and in many different ways. He is bull headed and he is angry about his loss of self and his loss of independence. He also gets lost and confused. Trying to keep him from driving is the biggest battle.

Changing faucets, garbage disposals, building a new walll.....I did it all. But I am not as handy as I once was, either.

So many things I would do if I could, but they dont get done. I am afraid to start something and have to leave it in progress to deal with other matters. I had .to call 911 for hubs just a couple of weeks ago. He was in a really bad way and I thought I had lost him.

I figure the house will get sold as is, basically. We just dont have the resources to deal with it properly anymore.

Moving closer to the kids was something I tried to do a couple of years ago and he was so upset at the fact that the whole thing got dropped.

We get very lonely and our house is starting to look quite sad. Sometimes I just want to run away too.

We need a ’hug’ button.

Maybe check inside the seat whether something like a twisted spring may have caused the hole, so needs to be remedied or have extra padding added to keep it from doing it again.

o j