When living on a single income with 3 children and a 4th on the way, while farming and trying to save money for land there are some skills that are really important. Being able to survive and be content on a little, or at least much less then the mainstream culture tells us is necessary (otherwise known as frugality) and knowing how to fix and make things yourself (in men this is known as the handyman).

Garrison Keillor wrote an essay called, The Book of Guys, in it he writes a list of his strengths and weaknesses–

Useful Things I Can Do
Be nice
Make a bed
Dig a hole
Write books
Sing alto or bass
Read a map
Drive a car

Useful Things I Can’t Do
Chop down big trees and cut them into lumber or firewood
Handle a horse, train a dog, or tend a herd of animals
Handle a boat without panicking others
Throw a fastball, curve or slider
Load, shoot and clean a gun. Or bow and arrow. Or use either of them, or a spear, net, snare, boomerang, or blowgun to obtain meat
Defend myself with my bare hands.

While frugality is not on his list as a useful thing i am sure he intended it. I am happy to announce that my husband can do all but three things on the list–sing alto or bass, throw a fast ball, etc. (but he can shoot baskets), and handle a horse, etc, (yet, but that is on our list of things to learn).

And you can add to that list, fix a dryer and oven. For a total of $127.13 in parts my husband was able to fix both wayward appliances in one morning. Maybe the nesting instinct is getting to him too and the desire to wrap things up before the baby comes is growing. So what else would you do on a rainy morning, but fix stuff around the house. Yes I am so thankful for my handyman! Note I took a picture of him working but since he was still in his pajamas he vetoed its addition to the blog.