As the Years Go By – Kick Ass or Die

Victory Lap: Year Seven

March 8, 2019 13 Comments

Can I just start by saying, holy shit… year seven? I mean, what the hell have I been doing for the last seven years? (Besides

2018: The Year of Getting Stronger

January 30, 2019 16 Comments

Here’s the thing. While I like being strong, I don’t think I’ve ever walked into a day (or month, or year) and said, “You know

Spring on the Farm: 2018

June 14, 2018 18 Comments

It only took six years, but I think I’ve finally figured out how to manage spring on the farm without completely losing my shit, and

Victory Lap: Year Six

March 19, 2018 16 Comments

Can you guys believe that I bought this place six years ago? That’s insane. When I started blogging (and back then blogging wasn’t even really

2017: Unexpected Progress and New Adventures

January 30, 2018 12 Comments

When I sat down to reflect on 2017 I expected to be a little disappointed with my progress around the farm, mostly because I spent

Christmas on the Farm

January 9, 2018 18 Comments

Well, holy shit, it’s 2018. This year stared out by giving me a solid ass-kicking just so I would know who’s actually in charge around

Summer on the Farm

July 24, 2017 21 Comments

Every year I go into spring with a ton of energy and a ton of projects, and I’m always convinced that energy and motivation will

Spring Garden Tour

June 7, 2017 20 Comments

For so many of the early years on the farm spring was a daily, relentless battle against grass and weeds. One I almost always lost.

Year 5: Taking Stock and Being Grateful

March 13, 2017 21 Comments

Last week marked 5 years to the day since I officially closed on this property and took my first victory lap around the farm. That inaugural

So Long 2016

January 3, 2017 14 Comments

About this time last year–when I was looking back and reflecting on what I’d gotten done–I called 2015 “the best year yet.” I got so much

Victory Lap: Year Four

March 7, 2016 26 Comments

Today is four years to the day since I closed on this property and then immediately drove out to the house with a bottle of champagne

Then & Now: 2012 – 2016

February 7, 2016 9 Comments

Turns out that yesterday was the four-year anniversary of a huge and unexpected change in my life plans. Stumbling upon this property when and how

2014 Lessons Learned: Farm Edition

January 28, 2015 19 Comments

I know we’re at the tail end of January already, but I’m still just kind of easing myself in to the new year. I’ve got

2014: A Bigass List and Other Philosophical Things

January 3, 2015 22 Comments

Actually, that was a lie. There are no philosophical things in this post. This is mostly just a token update about how I checked all

Liberty House: Master List (2014 Update)

April 2, 2014 16 Comments

It’s weird, but in general I expect that people who are “list makers” have your typical Type A personality. They make lists. They check shit

I'm not interested in a mediocre life. I'm here to kick ass or die.

(formerly DIYdiva.net)

THE STORYTELLER

Back in 2004 I started writing about my adventures in fixing up houses on the internet. A lot of things have changed since then, with me, with my houses, and with the internet. These days I am basically a cranky old man trapped in a slightly less old woman’s body. The internet has changed and I am staunchly refusing to change with it. You won’t find any algorithms here, or feeds, or ads, or social media. Just good old-fashioned stories about a woman drinking beer and building shit, and living an unexpected life.

(While you won’t find updates on social media, you can sign up to receive new posts via email here.)