Hint,
Build a pyramid for a roof, place a "Lava Spring" (Use a bucket to gather lava) on the top of the pyramid and your house will be bathed in an impenetrable shell of lava that also produces light.
Also
wana really expand the game, look into this
http://www.minecraftwiki.net/wiki/Redstone_circuits
I have seem people build 16bit logic systems (IN THE GAME) with this stuff
if anyone needs any tips, let me know.
also looking at "Flood gate" mods that will let you use redwire to control water flow for irrigation systems and monster traps.