I'm your handyman

Ever notice how it seems fewer and fewer kids these days know how to hammer a nail, change a tire or fix a leak? Count me as one of those kids -- I never took shop or home economics class in school (was it even offered?) and both me and my husband have to call on my Dad for more "huh?" moments than I'd like to admit.

A couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon what seems like the ultimate guide to handiness -- pre-cordless drill days -- the 1957 Handyman's Book by Better Homes & Gardens. Sure, it was written for dudes (note the swooning wife in the lower left corner of the cover) but the tips inside apply today to either gender, whoever's not afraid to get his or her hands dirty.

It's 400 whopping pages of know-how, with 50s graphics and photography, and plenty of basic tools. Whatever did they do before laser levels and stud finders?

All the essentials for a budding workshop.

Who said tools were exciting?

The inside cover shows a dad and adoring son, working together on what appears to be an "early American" end table, a popular style in the 50s. Remember the "I Love Lucy" episode when she did her whole home in "early American" style and blew the budget Ricky set for her? She had tons of 'splainin to do for that one.

I was thinking this reference book would be the perfect conversation-starter on the coffee table, so I wasn't sure whether to add it to my shop. But wouldn't this make the cutest graduation or housewarming gift? So, since I don't have either of those occasions on this summer's horizon, I decided to leave it up to fate and listed it at my shop and *BOOM* 90 minutes later, it sold! Here's hoping it goes to a guy (or gal) with a sense of humor. Oh and duh, what an awesome Father's Day gift -- darn!