By Tara Richter…
About a year ago I bought my first condo and ended the days of renting. I wish I could say that owning a brand-new condo was a smooth process, however the builder of my condo and their associated tradespeople have had a few issues, and subsequently I’ve had a bit of a crash-course in things like plumbing, heating and ventilation amongst others. The book I recently received from DK Canada called Do it Yourself: A step-by-step guide to fixing, building and installing almost anything in your home, would have been extremely handy to have many months ago. This book is fantastic with its highly visual and descriptive pages for just about everything in your home. As a new homeowner,
I find half the battle is just trying to figure out the terminology of household item like p-trap, HVAC, plenum, HRV etc.
While it may be humorous to some that I didn’t know these things before, I certainly have earned my badge over this last year in household terminology. This book not only shows the visual mechanics and associated definitions, but is also full of DIY household projects like hanging drywall, installing a deadbolt lock, painting techniques and electrical know-how (which has proven to be extremely useful just this past week). The DIY projects are great for various household projects, but also hold the key to learn why something isn’t working or how to fix it. I find the book provides me with a sense of empowerment to complete these projects in my home, rather than always calling on others to do it for me. There are hundreds of easy-to-follow techniques as well as money saving eco-friendly and “green” alternatives for key projects. This must have reference book is also DK Canada’s feature title this month and is available for just $21.00.
The second book I received from DK Canada was Wine: A Tasting Course. There were many nights of frustration with my condo that I sipped on glasses of wine while researching things like attics, furnaces, insulation and ventilation. Unfortunately in those moments, I didn’t take the time to really enjoy the flavours of the wine, since my mind was so preoccupied with other things. I have participated in a couple wine-tasting courses and was greatly amazed at all the information there is to know and learn about a “simple” glass of wine from its colour, clarity, bouquet, and how its legs look… yes that’s right.. your wine has legs. When I was asked after sipping what I tasted, I hesitated and said “uh…wine?” Not an uncommon answer, however after the sommelier explained the origin of the wine, the type of grape, the way it was processed, and the kind of soil the vines grew in, suddenly a full picture came to mind. He described wines using words like delicate, bold, sweet, buttery, spicy, with hints of apple, or citrus. I was amazed from that point on about all the things there are to know, and how knowing these things can greatly impact the way you enjoy
your glass of wine.
Wine: A Tasting Course beautifully covers all the intricate details about wine with bright colorful pages that are both full of information yet easy to read and follow. It is by far the best “about wine” book I have come across in years because of the type of information provided, and it’s amazing visuals; a common feature in all of DK Canada books and what makes me LOVE them so much. Why spend thousands of dollars on wine courses, when you can easily learn the same information from the comfort of your own home for just $18.20! The book even has its own mini-trailer on YouTube with expert advice on how to choose wine!
Both of the above titles, or hundreds of others related to house/home or food/drink, are available from DK Canada. I’m always amazed at the great prices offered for these outstanding books, and love that shipping is free on orders over $50.00.
You must have felt a sense of relief at not having to rent any longer. Although my rent is low, I still hate throwing money away like this.
I finally bought a few tools for my toolbox…that sentence sounds peculiar to me because for years a straight head screwdriver was a kitchen knife!! These books look like not only good reads but books to have on hand.