Shopping--What did you buy?

[Marie Miller]

I got my truck back after a neighbor borrowed it for just a few school and medical things with the kids since June 24. She was miffed when I told her it spends nights in a garage. Literally across the street. Tuesday night - son has foot ball at 6:00 tomorrow. You knew that at 8:00? I had to decline as we had two medical appointments at 7:00. Not happy. My truck smelled like a HS limo and is going to the body shop for a dent in the left front fender. Thank you for at least four days a week. It had 3/4 and came back with 1/4.
Lesson learned!

 

[Mary Stetler]

I've got a long list of refrigerated stuff to buy since we had a power outage, so I've been on Walmart's website getting the Aisle# for things I don't buy that often and am unsure of the location. As long as I was on the site, I checked to see if they stock a gasoline stabilizer I use for my rarely-driven truck. Apparently at some point (probably when I bought tires) I put my truck information in my Profile. When the Product Page for the stabilizer came up, I got this message:

Apparently, this fuel additive won't fit my truck. That sucks.

????

 

[Mary Stetler]

Since I have not been motivated to do yard work, I did the next best thing...I bought a new set of hand pruners as a substitute for actually pruning. Rather than go to Lowes, I went into town to the local ACE hardware to buy something of higher quality. They had a deal going where you buy one of their branded 5 gallon buckets for $5, the money goes to charity, and anything that "fits in the bucket" is 20% off. So I got a bucket, the hand pruners, and a grass trimmer.

I got to the cash register and said "It kinda fits in the bucket." The girl said "Today it does."

I love my local merchants.

Does that work like a scythe?

 

[Tony Nathanson]

We use a lot of cinnamon, too, and I buy it in the bags from Amazon and then store it in a container that we can either shake it out or use a spoon.
Since it is supposed to help with blood pressure, Bobby has been using some in his supplement drink that he makes every day, and I add it to any foods that can have cinnamon, like cereals or rice , as well as in the fiber cakes.

I learned Cinnamon is like coffee - you won't believe how much better it is when you grind it yourself - and much less expensive too. I order mine whole from a spice Co. & grind what I'll use in a month. Wow - what a difference in smell & taste! But, it does start out noisy - after all, it's bark-- & you need a good blender.

 

[Tony Nathanson]

We're in the middle of a heat wave. I got a second insulated shopping bag & a couple more blue ice things. Ever since plastic bags were banned & they started charging for paper bags, many companies started making poor-quality insulated shopping bags, but this company makes great ones. No problems with handles or zipper, even when carrying a heavy watermelon. I've given them as gifts & everybody loves them.
ETA: The brand is "Creative Green Life."

• $29.99
  
  
  
  
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[John Brunner]

Does that work like a scythe?

Yup. The blade is serrated on both edges so you get it coming and going. Some places call it a grass cutter. Others call it a grass whip. In this modern era, "trimmer" brings up all sorts of gas & battery results. After I got home I looked it up on ACE's website to grab a pic for my comment here and saw it was rated poorly. Here's the AI Summary of the reviews:

Customers are sharply divided on this tool. Many report the blade arrives extremely dull—compared to a butter knife—requiring extensive sharpening before use, though some note it cuts thick weeds effectively once sharpened. A significant group experiences handle failures, with rivets breaking and wood splitting during first use, plus complaints of slippery lacquer coating and poor fit. While some praise solid build quality and sturdy feel, many call it cheaply made with loose screws and warped blades. Several users reinforced or replaced handles themselves. Overall, satisfaction hinges heavily on willingness to perform immediate repairs and modifications.

Amazon reviews for the one they carry are almost identical, especially regarding the blade being too dull. I'm just trying to cut back the thick stuff that's grown up around my foundation, not trim a putting green. We shall see.

As I look at reviews, this pic resonated with me:

 

[Mary Stetler]

Yup. The blade is serrated on both edges so you get it coming and going. Some places call it a grass cutter. Others call it a grass whip. In this modern era, "trimmer" brings up all sorts of gas & battery results. After I got home I looked it up on ACE's website to grab a pic for my comment here and saw it was rated poorly. Here's the AI Summary of the reviews:

Customers are sharply divided on this tool. Many report the blade arrives extremely dull—compared to a butter knife—requiring extensive sharpening before use, though some note it cuts thick weeds effectively once sharpened. A significant group experiences handle failures, with rivets breaking and wood splitting during first use, plus complaints of slippery lacquer coating and poor fit. While some praise solid build quality and sturdy feel, many call it cheaply made with loose screws and warped blades. Several users reinforced or replaced handles themselves. Overall, satisfaction hinges heavily on willingness to perform immediate repairs and modifications.

Amazon reviews for the one they carry are almost identical, especially regarding the blade being too dull. I'm just trying to cut back the thick stuff that's grown up around my foundation, not trim a putting green. We shall see.

As I look at reviews, this pic resonated with me:

Let us know. I use trimmers for under fence boards. No putting greens here.

 

[Tony Nathanson]

I got my truck back after a neighbor borrowed it for just a few school and medical things with the kids since June 24. She was miffed when I told her it spends nights in a garage. Literally across the street. Tuesday night - son has foot ball at 6:00 tomorrow. You knew that at 8:00? I had to decline as we had two medical appointments at 7:00. Not happy. My truck smelled like a HS limo and is going to the body shop for a dent in the left front fender. Thank you for at least four days a week. It had 3/4 and came back with 1/4.
Lesson learned!

I was reminded of a funny bumper sticker on a pickup truck: "No, I won't help you move"

 

[John Brunner]

Let us know. I use trimmers for under fence boards. No putting greens here.

Reviews were right. The thing is a piece of crap. There is no edge to it at all. It doesn't cut grass and it doesn't cut the thick stuff...it just pushes stuff over. I'm gonna take it back and maybe go to Lowes and look around. Or maybe I'll look harder for the old Hechingers one I have kicking around here somewhere.

Besides a decent edge, I'd look for one without a wooden handle. They seem to snap or split because the through-holes to mount them trash the structure. The one I cannot find has a small diameter metal rod, the diameter of a curtain rod but sturdier. They also make fiberglass handles. If I find something decent I'll ping you.

 

[Marie Miller]

Enough colored gel pens to keep Mumsy in crossword heaven.

 

[Mary Stetler]

Reviews were right. The thing is a piece of crap. There is no edge to it at all. It doesn't cut grass and it doesn't cut the thick stuff...it just pushes stuff over. I'm gonna take it back and maybe go to Lowes and look around. Or maybe I'll look harder for the old Hechingers one I have kicking around here somewhere.

Besides a decent edge, I'd look for one without a wooden handle. They seem to snap or split because the through-holes to mount them trash the structure. The one I cannot find has a small diameter metal rod, the diameter of a curtain rod but sturdier. They also make fiberglass handles. If I fi something decent I'll ping you.

I bought a trimmer on amazon with a round blade and other attachments. The problem was, I think it came from temu and was a piece of junk that had to go back. Too bad. It was a really good idea if it weren't made like a tinker toy.

 

[John Brunner]

I bought a trimmer on amazon with a round blade and other attachments. The problem was, I think it came from temu and was a piece of junk that had to go back. Too bad. It was a really good idea if it weren't made like a tinker toy.

The issue with the ACE Hardware cutters is the blade is wrapped in cardboard as though it would slice you, so you cannot examine it to see how dull it is and it makes the wrong inference. Every time I buy something on impulse...

 

[Marie Miller]

I got my truck back after a neighbor borrowed it for just a few school and medical things with the kids since June 24. She was miffed when I told her it spends nights in a garage. Literally across the street. Tuesday night - son has foot ball at 6:00 tomorrow. You knew that at 8:00? I had to decline as we had two medical appointments at 7:00. Not happy. My truck smelled like a HS limo and is going to the body shop for a dent in the left front fender. Thank you for at least four days a week. It had 3/4 and came back with 1/4.
Lesson learned!

Update - she called yesterday asking for a 15 mile one way ride as the truck was leaking oil and had to get back to the shop. No please, do you have time. Blithe of their vehicles were in the driveway. SO had his truck on blocks and parts/tools spread out blocking my truck in.

 

[Marie Miller]

The issue with the ACE Hardware cutters is the blade is wrapped in cardboard as though it would slice you, so you cannot examine it to see how dull it is and it makes the wrong inference. Every time I buy something on impulse...

Can you replace the plastic with after market blades or is the whole thing too flimsy?

 

[Mary Stetler]

Update - she called yesterday asking for a 15 mile one way ride as the truck was leaking oil and had to get back to the shop. No please, do you have time. Blithe of their vehicles were in the driveway. SO had his truck on blocks and parts/tools spread out blocking my truck in.

Thank SO.
; )

 

[John Brunner]

Can you replace the plastic with after market blades or is the whole thing too flimsy?

It's not worth it. I almost need to get a string mower. Dunno if you've seen them. It's an old school push mower but instead of blades it uses thick weed eater string on a drive that hangs out in front of the deck rather than under it so you can cut grass and use it as a weed whacker. I bought one at Lowes a while ago, but it would not stay running and the manufacturer told me to return it. I got my money back and didn't replace it.

 

[Mary Stetler]

It's not worth it. I almost need to get a string mower. Dunno if you've seen them. It's an old school push mower but instead of blades it uses thick weed eater string on a drive that hangs out in front of the deck rather than under it so you can cut grass and use it as a weed whacker. I bought one at Lowes a while ago, but it would not stay running and the manufacturer told me to return it. I got my money back and didn't replace it.

I bought one used on craigslist and it was great. But a part wore out that I could not find. So I bought a new one at a 'great price'. The wheels are plastic and a mouse at through the gas tank. My new handiman fixed the old one and daughter replaced the gas tank. We got another barn cat.
Daughter had taken the old one to a shop to get it fixed and the guy told her he could not fix it but she could just leave it.
Daughter said no, she would use it for parts. She is no dummy.

 

[John Brunner]

I bought one used on craigslist and it was great. But a part wore out that I could not find. So I bought a new one at a 'great price'. The wheels are plastic and a mouse at through the gas tank. My new handiman fixed the old one and daughter replaced the gas tank. We got another barn cat.
Daughter had taken the old one to a shop to get it fixed and the guy told her he could not fix it but she could just leave it.
Daughter said no, she would use it for parts. She is no dummy.

Years ago I bought a regular gas push mower at a department store sidewalk sale. It had been returned. I looked underneath and there was a light spray of green under the deck, so apparently someone pushed it a few feet through the grass and it died. I started it up and it kept surging. I took a dime out of my pocked, turned the fuel mix screw to lean it out, and it ran fine.

$25 out the door, baby. It ran for years.

 

[Marie Miller]

Thank SO.
; )

I felt kind of bad but it took a bit to deal with tools and parts. This morning they were both out and glared at us. No nod or raised hand. Truck still sitting there. We have appointments which require two vehicles 2-3 times a week.

 

[Marie Miller]

I scrubbed some enamel off the top pan of the stove. Yes! SO found the part, ordered right and left and will deal with it. My hero!