Top 10 Holiday Gifts for the Handy (and not so handy) Homeowner...
Obviously, this time of year everyone's thoughts are focused on what to get their friends and relatives for Christmas. Well, ladies, if you own a home and are looking for something for your hubby, here are my Top 10 Holiday Gifts for the Handy (and not so handy) Homeowner. These items are sure to be appreciated by guy who has chores to do around the house and best of all some of these gifts are dirt cheap! 
10. Every guy has tried to fix something he doesn't know anything about and usually screws it up. Get him a book like "How to fix Everything" or "How to Fix everything for Dummies" both at Amazon.com for less than $15.00. I searched for a video version of these books to no avail. As most of us guys are too stubborn 
to read directions unless it is the last resort. I figured if there was a video with that girl that worked with Tim "the Tool man" Taylor on the "Home Improvement" TV show than the man of the house would actually sit, watch, and learn something before starting the next project. I'll keep looking for next year.
9. An extension ladder stabilizer is something that makes a world of difference when you are way up high clinging white knuckled to a wobbly ladder. Stabilizers can be bought at Home Depot or your local hardware stores for as little as $25.00 and are easily attached to any ladder.
8. While we are on the subject of ladders, the Little Giant Ladder System is a great gift although not cheap at about $279.00 for the smallest version. They have great versatility and can be used as a step ladder or extension ladder. They are available on line or Home Depot. The Werner 13' Aluminum Telescoping Multi Position Ladder runs about $69.00 and is a great alternative at a lower price. I've seen these offered at Lowe's.
7. After years of bending over sealing or staining my decks with a brush or roller, I discovered the Wagner "Deck Mate" which makes this chore a breeze. This is a simple mop like tool that has a reservoir for the stain or sealer and a replaceable applicator pad. It even has a little brush in the center of the pad that gets down in between the boards. Best twenty bucks I ever spent at Home Depot!
6. A set of nice drill bits is always a welcome gift but the Drill Doctor XP2 Drill Bit Sharpener for around $100.00 (available at Home Depot) will keep the drill bits he already has sharp. It also eliminates the cursing when he breaks a bit.
5. A guy can always use a set of screwdrivers. We always seem to lose them. I think there are screwdriver gnomes that come at night and take them. Just about every hardware store has sets available and you can always pick up a good assortment of trusty Craftsman at Sears for under $30.00. A nice assortment of screws and other fasteners are also much appreciated. You can never have enough nuts, bolts, wood screws, and little nails! Now for the really good stuff:
4. Just about every guy in the Lakes Region of NH would like a N.E. Patriot's tool bucket liner (although I prefer the Dallas Cowboys version). These canvas pocketed liners with the team loco emblazoned on it fit in a standard 5 gallon bucket and hold all kinds of stuff for the odd jobs around the house. Even if he doesn't know what he's doing, he'll think he cool. I've seen them on Amazon.com for under $40.00
3. Put together a nice boxed gift set of some useful product like Goo Be Gone, Goof Off, Gorilla Glue, Super Glue, Silicone Sealer, and maybe some Spackling Compound to repair all the things that got broken using the foregoing gifts. This will probably cost you about $30 at your local hardware store.
2. I also found some Crack Spackle that is only available on line at www.duluthtrading.com. This is a special product that comes in a small plastic tub and it is used to cover the worst imaginable kind of crack in the house which everyone knows as Plumber's Butt. It is actually a "long tail" T-shirt that is guaranteed to stay tucked in even under the most severe 
household repair jobs. Sure to please at only $19.50.
1. My favorite Home Owner gift would have to be the Duct Tape/WD40 Gift Set. This premium, yet affordable, gift includes one can of WD-40 and a roll of Duct tape from your favorite hardware store. These two items will set you back, oh about $15.00. Then go to 
www.cafepress.com and order one of their premium T-shirt for $28.00 that says "You only need two tools: WD 40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use Duct tape." Perfect.
Ladies, aren't you happy I solved your holiday gift dilemmas?
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