Skip to main content
Bryan Ruby

Main navigation

  • Thoughts
  • Words
  • Deeds
  • About
User account menu
  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home

Smart Home

By Bryan Ruby , 28 January, 2022
The Roomba j7 Plus

My review of the iRobot Roomba j7+

Like most office workers, two years ago at the start of the pandemic my employer moved our non-operational staff from the office to the home. Although my wife and son initially had to work remotely too, they didn't stay long and have since then returned to work and school. Yet, here I still sit the only human being at home for eight hours a day.

Despite being busy because I'm working the family has come to expect during my breaks from my workday to be that person to do an extra load of laundry, vacuum the floor, start the dishwasher, or let the dog out.  The argument goes now that now I'm essentially a stay at home Dad that doesn't have the commute time to and from work...I can use that extra hour in the day doing family chores. Mind you, I'm still putting in eight hours of work for the office and my break times away from work computer need to be limited to 5 to 10 minutes. That's not much time to get the expected or unexpected tasks done at home. I'm grateful that I don't do all the housework manually thanks to robotic vacuum cleaners.

By Bryan Ruby , 24 April, 2020

Rabbits Marching Through Wife's Flower Garden

My anxiety just kicked in knowing my wife would have me fighting a new war for her in the coming days. Keeping bunnies out of her flower garden.

A wireless Arlo Pro Webcam (720P) was used for this video. This webcam is available on Amazon via my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3avRykt

By Bryan Ruby , 25 June, 2015
Blossom Sprinkler

Starting my Summer with the Blossom Smart Watering Controller

Spring brought to South Dakota plenty of rain. The lawns are green, the flowers are in full bloom, and it seems we can't go beyond a couple days without a rain shower or thunderstorm. While water is usually plenty for my city, we do things smart around here and restrict water usage for our lawns year round. It's not uncommon in my part of the country to see the weather pattern quickly change from wet to dry. What once was green can turn brown in a hurry.

By Bryan Ruby , 19 April, 2015
Blossom Sprinkler still in box

My Blossom Sprinkler Controller Has Arrived

My Blossom Sprinkler Controller has arrived! For home owners with a water sprinkler system, you no longer have to be stuck with the expensive but dumb irrigation controllers that was originally installed at your house. There is a new generation of "smart" sprinkler systems arriving on the scene, including those created by Rachio and Blossom. The Blossom controller self-programs based on real-time weather data and gives you control of your schedule right from your phone. Once the controller understands the vegetation, layout of your yard, and the weather it should do the thinking for you when deciding how much to water should be used. The company claims that because their controller is "smarter" than conventional controllers (and hopefully smarter than me), I can expect to save up to 30% on my water bill.

Smart Home

Recent Articles

Weekend Fun in Sioux Falls

2 weeks 6 days ago

Renewable Energy Is Our Energy

3 weeks ago

My review of the Eversolo Play CD Edition

1 month 2 weeks ago

2025 SpyderFever in Council Bluffs

1 month 1 week ago

I didn't follow my own rule

2 months ago

Popular content

Today's:

  • My review of the WiiM Amp Ultra
  • My review of the Eversolo Play CD Edition
  • Weekend Fun in Sioux Falls

All time:

  • What we know about EGO's new Select Cut Cordless Lawn Mower (LM2130SP)
  • My review of the Snow Joe Two-Stage 80V Cordless Snow Blower
  • My Review of the Fluance RT82 Turntable
  • I purchased an EGO Power+ Self-Propelled Mower
  • About

My Elsewhere

  • SocPub
  • GEN X LIVING
  • CMS Report

Follow Me

RSS feed

Copyright © 2004-2025, Bryan Ruby. All Rights Reserved.