Fixing the flute

JJ dropped his flute on the steps of his teacher's house a while back. I tried to fix it since he had a concert before we could get a repair. It was still not right so I have tried again.

Fisher and Paykel Washing Machine blocked diverter

Our trusty "made in New Zealand" Fisher and Paykel washing machine wouldn't drain today. A little bit of help from an internet video and now it works (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j1as-nyQGE). I went through all the diagnostic codes and it showed "pump blocked." But the pump was working, just pumping the water back into the washing machine. Nobody wanted to empty the load of washing out of the machine to turn it upside down, but it had to be done. I managed to get most of the water out first by bailing, then pumping the water into my bail, then using a wet vacuum cleaner. Only a little spilled on the floor when I tipped it over.

When I looked into the diversion valve, I saw a moving part, but thought it was part of the valve. When I couldn't find any blockage in the hoses or pump, I went back to the valve and took it apart. The mysterious moving part fell out. I wondered if I could get it back together. But as I stared at it, it began to look more like the end of a pen (like the boots that looked like an opossum eating something in the dim dawn light at Piha camp years ago!). It even had "BIC" set into the molding. So out it came, back together went the washing machine; I added some caulk where the floor meets the wall behind the machine, and the clothes are washing as we speak.

Staple Gun Rusted

So.... I left my staple gun out in the rain ages ago. It rusted shut and the simplest solution was to pick up another for a few dollars at a garage sale (a Bostitch). But when I needed it to cover a chair, I ran out of staples. So a new pack of staples would be about $13 and a trip to the shops. Instead of waiting, I had a go at unrusting the old yellow. Penetrating oil sprayed in all over got it freed up. But when the staple gun fired, it did not load another staple. There was enough rust in there to stop the spring from advancing the next staple. So....I had to take it apart, and sand the rust off the channels. Now it works like a charm!

Button up that Loose Hair!

"Marketplace Day" is coming at school. The 3rd graders are expected to design, make and market a product to sell to their schoolmates, proceeds going to a charity. As we have collected jars full of old buttons, J. elected to use them to make decorative bobby pins. It was a simple matter of hot gluing buttons to the bobby pins. The buttons with the (what is this thing called?) piece added on the back with the hole for the thread (as opposed to holes on the face of them), worked best, as they could be threaded onto the bobby pins and then glued. They came out quite lovely. Our little ladies have been wearing them to school the last few days (before the Marketplace Day)--excellent marketing ploy, as their classmates have grown covetous of them and now plan to purchase some!
--Danger, Mom at Work