Product Review: Bavarian Edge Knife Sharpener
Greenhouse Heater – Upgrade
My new greenhouse heater that I luckily got hold of. Since the previous one unfortunately was a real letdown, I gave another product a chance.
Originally, this an emergency kerosene heater, even suitable for living spaces, more expensive but also much more potent and durable. (This one to be precise, but it’s available as several different models for different prices and in different qualities).
I tested this product thoroughly and over several days before writing another enthusiastic article, and in this case I can indeed give a clear recommendation. It’s got a capacity of about four liters of kerosene which it burns in about 36 hours on the lowest setting – a thirsty sailor. But it works! As soon as it’s heated up, it doesn’t stink very much anymore, it doesn’t self-extinguish with a half-filled tank and it heats my 6 m² greenhouse to 3 °C when it’s -10 °C outside reliably.
Also, it just looks cool, doesn’t it? Let’s keep that one. 
Branding Iron
I’ve got my own branding iron! My logo, heatable and carved in brass!
It’s these guys who are making them and they’re really very supportive and customer-oriented! I’ve got the simple version that has to be heated externally (e.g. with a gas torch), but they also sell electrically self-heated irons as well.
Hilde’s Visit to the Vet
Lovely Hilde had to visit the vet a couple of days ago – she seemed a little lethargic and passive in the last few days and we wanted to avoid a catastrophe as with Schakkeline at all cost. I assume she wasn’t exactly happy about having to sit in her travel box and being transported in the car, but eventually – after a profound examination and survey – it turns out she might well have been just a little bit lazy… 🙂
Nice to Know: AC/DC Symbolism
Got myself a (fairly simple) multimeter for the northern germany refuge lately.
I wonder if I will eventually arrive at a point in my life when I’ve memorized these two simple symbols without having to look them up. Every. Single. Time. 🙂
Edit: Here’s a good explanation on how multimeters work (german language – sorry).
Finally – a Mousetrap that Works
I stumbled upon this YouTube Video and decided to give this method a try:
→ How to Make a Simple Catch and Release Bottle Mousetrap (that works!)
What shall I say? The counter is on three within two days now – better than every other trap I’ve tried so far. By the way, the secret bait is peanut butter. Jerry seems to like peanut butter 🙂
Product Review: Microplane Kitchen Grater
I’m not a kitchen tool voodooist and I’m normally sceptical when it comes to heavily advertised “world changing” kitchen appliances. But after seeing one of these microplane graters in what felt like the 500th youtube video, I decided to buy one and give it a try.
It’s a sturdy tool, as far as I read indeed “laser-etched” (whatever difference that may make) and it’s dishwasher safe. What makes a difference for me is that it grates almost everything that comes across for me to grind, from nutmeg to lemon zest to (comparably) soft cheese. The results are always fine gratings and not the ripped and torn shreddings that you get so often using other tools. Afterwards, it’s easy to clean.
Thumbs up, recommendation.
Nice to Know: Finding an LED’s Polarity
I needed this for a project that I’m working on at the moment (I can never remember it correctly…) I thought perhaps someone might find it useful.
More about LEDs on Wikipedia.
Prepping: My “EDC Kit”
Thinking about various occasions where an “emergency kit” might come in handy lately, here’s also my list of things that I carry around with me by default – I don’t even notice it in my pocket anymore. Nobody needs any more than that if he’s not in, like, Canada’s wilderness 🙂
Prepping: My Car “Get Home Kit”
There was a veritable winter storm with much media coverage sweeping over germany the last days. I got stuck in traffic (harmless), the weather got worse and worse and I had some free time to wonder about what I’d do when there’s a real SHTF situation of that kind. Here’s what I came up with for a wintery, cold and unpleasant car-sticky-situation:
