tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37950352437382372952024-03-13T15:56:55.074-04:00In with the Old LoveJoin us as we embark on the extreme adventure of making our first home as eco-friendly, reused and repurposed as possible. Updates on room decor, furniture, art, materials used and references to other inspiring bloggers.In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-78409670608240094872011-11-09T14:26:00.000-05:002011-11-09T14:26:25.753-05:00Standing Outside a Broken Telephone Booth with Money in My HandOur bathroom sink clogged up a few months ago. Tom ripped apart the plumbing and the clog is somewhere more than 2' from the trap. I feel particularly bad and gross since it is my fault. Whilst cleaning the bathroom, I was rinsing the sponge in the sink. Apparently our sink cannot handle the amount of grist we had accumulated, hence the feeling bad and gross.<br />
<br />
Several days ago, I was rushing to get dishes done before leaving on a weekend trip to the mountains so our house wouldn't stink, so we wouldn't come home to a mess and so our bold mouse friends wouldn't get into them. Yes, MICE. When we replaced the dishwasher last summer, there was evidence of them and just yesterday, I was poking around near that general area and my suspicions were confirmed. Mice are one of the grossest things I can think of; I hate them even more than I hate squirrels and crickets, and I am pretty good at not getting grossed out by a very wide range of things. That is why I let out a very loud squeal when I saw one scurry across the floor toward the dryer (which is in our back mudroom since it is the only place it has a correct plug for it in our house). Optimus was outside, so the mudroom door was open and I am *crossing my fingers* hoping it went out the door since I poked around and did not find it (yes, I was being REALLY brave). <br />
<br />
Anyway...onto the other part of the story. I was letting the water out of the sink when I hear a waterfall-esque sound. Oh, wonderful. When I opened the cabinet under the sink, there was water squirting out of the top of the piece of PVC that hooks into the trap. While I did secure the primer and glue that is needed to attach the pieces together, I am not 100% sure that is all that is needed. Tom doesn't get home until at least 7pm now since he started his new job. Therefore, he does not want to deal with this after he gets home from work when he has about 3 hours before heading to bed. I'm going to attempt to attack it if it is still like this in a few days.<br />
<br />
So at the moment, we have the choice to wash our pots and pans in the tub or with the hose. <br />
<br />
The last three months have been really similar to this particular situation. Remember Hurricane Irene? We still have a rather large tree trunk in our yard that we can't get through since we don't have a chainsaw and axes, circ saws and reciprocating saws can only do so much. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">FOL.</div><div><br />
</div><div>On the plus side, we have been in our house for almost 1.5 years. Yay?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Jessie</div><div><br />
</div><div>Currently Listening to "I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole (yeah, I said it)</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-61299941149469569752011-08-08T23:57:00.000-04:002011-08-08T23:57:26.419-04:00Love and Marriage<div style="text-align: center;">So this is what free time looks like when you're married...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhaLzVqgC4riiso31VkHuueEFT4gwQlxtQeBf1o89zu8knxXBVZUavJrjLL_dRliQGAulIDeJYYdj6C_BIyJ4DuSB4-GUefZPPMlb25iBbl5fNTCnN9ppfWChWFCArp9bvdD4BhKEBM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhaLzVqgC4riiso31VkHuueEFT4gwQlxtQeBf1o89zu8knxXBVZUavJrjLL_dRliQGAulIDeJYYdj6C_BIyJ4DuSB4-GUefZPPMlb25iBbl5fNTCnN9ppfWChWFCArp9bvdD4BhKEBM/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...plus grilled cheese and tomato soup, which makes it completely un-lame. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Shock/dp/B001V7MM6Q?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Soft Shock</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001V7MM6Q" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs</div><br />
In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-9502780019266319322011-07-13T16:13:00.000-04:002011-07-13T16:13:35.090-04:00Let My Tell You About the Birds and the Bees......well, at least the bees part. Here are the basics of beekeeping equipment. We harvested the first half of our honey this week. This was the first time I've actually wanted to make a blog video, so bear with me. Explaining this in words would be nearly impossible. More videos to come.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sMD26GYGVfQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Her-No/dp/B002KFHX30?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tell Her No</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002KFHX30" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Zombies</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-76699176833401380742011-06-28T20:52:00.002-04:002011-06-28T20:53:47.558-04:00Love and Happiness<div style="text-align: center;">Again, we've taken a leave of absence. Many congratulations to our loved ones we've gotten to share big days with recently. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Meryl and Scott in Port St Joe, Florida</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWV4hP2Qj0Yl0FZfqDsTxk94h2mLtJrTThHH6ZWbdPFeclq9_X5PM0u4CtY_ePAhW_-LsKhJjOiaPCMXXnfXnJ45TTbmqYagCk5o8IREu-lDTLkcSwcOx7KzHUl8YI0eENZn9QP8HziI/s1600/DSC_0749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWV4hP2Qj0Yl0FZfqDsTxk94h2mLtJrTThHH6ZWbdPFeclq9_X5PM0u4CtY_ePAhW_-LsKhJjOiaPCMXXnfXnJ45TTbmqYagCk5o8IREu-lDTLkcSwcOx7KzHUl8YI0eENZn9QP8HziI/s320/DSC_0749.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Look at how beautiful she is. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s1600/DSC_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aGV-r2vw22IVz8N-FrelrMzmKkBIrTN8uf7-jEVmwkyxhDx9zIJGK6E6Cs6MSSf0a9zaNJ0UBkFRqtaWwVGfCKZDS3PSNvOcmBQYpDxiFW60R2cf3OJHnxCJsYTDXJ1JeSEfXhglKYU/s320/DSC_0806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visiting my brother in Roanoke, Virginia for the first time since he moved there in February. Hanging out at the Mill Mountain Star, the world's largest freestanding illuminated man-made star. Happy 25th Birthday, kid!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58EFUZL0uIR13zcNXlokRpepl0Cf359VGiW4SdoWpOtnKrnjKZqKvthjPv32gqWDnTR1HrMFtCz00PN9LqD5hMXywZHCB56qLlq_JYKaWxy7faLWENWdw4MlNyGlsiCHytSKFywDc-Tk/s1600/IMG_5340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58EFUZL0uIR13zcNXlokRpepl0Cf359VGiW4SdoWpOtnKrnjKZqKvthjPv32gqWDnTR1HrMFtCz00PN9LqD5hMXywZHCB56qLlq_JYKaWxy7faLWENWdw4MlNyGlsiCHytSKFywDc-Tk/s320/IMG_5340.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-Kc0K76MAFTKynwSUYtHG0V1CHBTrJ8CiArghhRd7NOtWPwKGW39PrJ31qwe64pz3lkl29sqtog9dxhddc6u9YkidEXSSn1DEWaNNEkrRBXskIlz8sy9yB2VsGhZYCw2ZcD-fxvVBWY/s1600/DSC_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-Kc0K76MAFTKynwSUYtHG0V1CHBTrJ8CiArghhRd7NOtWPwKGW39PrJ31qwe64pz3lkl29sqtog9dxhddc6u9YkidEXSSn1DEWaNNEkrRBXskIlz8sy9yB2VsGhZYCw2ZcD-fxvVBWY/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beach trip with Austin and Marie to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-93ODJ3K-Qd5-pRKrnme4svEwvOPi36v0HzTB88p62_fsyUo_hkOmcAnuu8UN7I4WNkcp7e9ilkYMc6qZE46fYekrXyBrWlpMzAPVq6w6mAapPYXt5HhlHwPovuSGmPWbFTxE5SAnYYQ/s1600/IMG_5381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-93ODJ3K-Qd5-pRKrnme4svEwvOPi36v0HzTB88p62_fsyUo_hkOmcAnuu8UN7I4WNkcp7e9ilkYMc6qZE46fYekrXyBrWlpMzAPVq6w6mAapPYXt5HhlHwPovuSGmPWbFTxE5SAnYYQ/s320/IMG_5381.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Celebrating the graduation of the new veterinarian, Dr. Austin, in Raleigh, North Carolina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrKYIlbKSpWY8TJSSZSAgh0Qyw4TVB8QNIYI3MSDLLUaVO04SgXZlLWF0fS1G7JbvHeWqMa6dde-Ltg4qTAHFbP6iUYhW_-B-3ek5d_jjP7R5JB4e1djpglpK92eS8vn9HuJ1Mt5j-rg/s1600/IMG_5554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrKYIlbKSpWY8TJSSZSAgh0Qyw4TVB8QNIYI3MSDLLUaVO04SgXZlLWF0fS1G7JbvHeWqMa6dde-Ltg4qTAHFbP6iUYhW_-B-3ek5d_jjP7R5JB4e1djpglpK92eS8vn9HuJ1Mt5j-rg/s320/IMG_5554.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jane and Daniel had a baby! Abram Daniel. Seeing Tom hold a baby is strange. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXvpFeqLZjOKe9cqHeSUsqQxen7vXsr7xOy7pfR6yghlnL9SQ19YFdKWB0GyWza5DXHMWs0KZfO36cWAr-JwgFGvHNvt3tJSyGAslNzIvnSVaw2vBVk-cnUrQ7tcyQxOOwCtpnKTpyUY/s1600/IMG_5573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXvpFeqLZjOKe9cqHeSUsqQxen7vXsr7xOy7pfR6yghlnL9SQ19YFdKWB0GyWza5DXHMWs0KZfO36cWAr-JwgFGvHNvt3tJSyGAslNzIvnSVaw2vBVk-cnUrQ7tcyQxOOwCtpnKTpyUY/s320/IMG_5573.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben and Stacey in Raleigh, North Carolina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwSGXuOR_q-kR5l1eBVe8SVwOtxeb8Jn2JaBOVqqRMgC4JEQ5wBQY_p290v_A147INk83ptv3HITPaNcfacD9vaptpr4pTdb5_BeXXIN7st2HC-rYaIClGppDMelBlUlmbjTDqRBqm0Y/s1600/IMG_5667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwSGXuOR_q-kR5l1eBVe8SVwOtxeb8Jn2JaBOVqqRMgC4JEQ5wBQY_p290v_A147INk83ptv3HITPaNcfacD9vaptpr4pTdb5_BeXXIN7st2HC-rYaIClGppDMelBlUlmbjTDqRBqm0Y/s320/IMG_5667.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Visiting my grandparents in Prescott, Michigan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswH3vjkFHQTwqsuGEBEiEEgn4bvQbG5Aj-Uagtwa3pr7i2DWJTl1HzKkMXozYGCb7V9hMC9CvVwnzV0NnuJRjkWtcp3MxE7cKkRrVX2ZRmHvbfTP8JFd5RLTGxlnDJDh7OlakiZMvsuU/s1600/IMG_5999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswH3vjkFHQTwqsuGEBEiEEgn4bvQbG5Aj-Uagtwa3pr7i2DWJTl1HzKkMXozYGCb7V9hMC9CvVwnzV0NnuJRjkWtcp3MxE7cKkRrVX2ZRmHvbfTP8JFd5RLTGxlnDJDh7OlakiZMvsuU/s320/IMG_5999.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Miranda and Derek in Ann Arbor, Michigan.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo booth props!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylB8cfc6bmiPa-Oi48_JLNnSQmVPzTwBAlqvWYw4QXzZ4rUQ-H6JyuVj83AlXDPLEwqlcXstOGU_6pd_oreCP9WaXMfYfw7SEAi1v30y8nc5F7UCbOqvEYB1LiFJWosNIhyphenhyphenjdR5g-L-A/s1600/DSC_0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylB8cfc6bmiPa-Oi48_JLNnSQmVPzTwBAlqvWYw4QXzZ4rUQ-H6JyuVj83AlXDPLEwqlcXstOGU_6pd_oreCP9WaXMfYfw7SEAi1v30y8nc5F7UCbOqvEYB1LiFJWosNIhyphenhyphenjdR5g-L-A/s320/DSC_0025.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrefl-PEN9ShMhOkkwAZfMvMZJKRGEvVXAxrWjb45v9mWXSyZlDd1-L36Z96Zn_xGJnU2MifGstrffC7v8kSD-wvVOMBNedPkGVk3tsmsmj5nxWyKTOTMXtJwYmhDMN7q6qPJe7jpIz0/s1600/DSC_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrefl-PEN9ShMhOkkwAZfMvMZJKRGEvVXAxrWjb45v9mWXSyZlDd1-L36Z96Zn_xGJnU2MifGstrffC7v8kSD-wvVOMBNedPkGVk3tsmsmj5nxWyKTOTMXtJwYmhDMN7q6qPJe7jpIz0/s320/DSC_0302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being bossy getting everyone out of the ceremony venue. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVGYaGhXGL2A0wIdlbUuGElbvR5Q24VYGZBruJ0aaBA3ve1bzNVQU_Xs2yb__THJznoKP6RQJstQO3i0_a3sXbiXckYyb9ykztCsmVKeKIOe0kJ-FuEO2BKeBX5tJ4cLGzOw3UQftBqI/s1600/DSC_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVGYaGhXGL2A0wIdlbUuGElbvR5Q24VYGZBruJ0aaBA3ve1bzNVQU_Xs2yb__THJznoKP6RQJstQO3i0_a3sXbiXckYyb9ykztCsmVKeKIOe0kJ-FuEO2BKeBX5tJ4cLGzOw3UQftBqI/s320/DSC_0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see that I talk with my hands...a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBZYUK7-4F07bqncOgl4FelPkBeNE0SARUOgK17wpmn_feX0NWhm9PickGUq4dJilvVHLsNmn29n7gLTZfcm7fF0uyJGpEaur4A_lm13zrd0qVvhthLk8c1IUkY0Eiw0uA7MGuhDfobo/s1600/DSC_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBZYUK7-4F07bqncOgl4FelPkBeNE0SARUOgK17wpmn_feX0NWhm9PickGUq4dJilvVHLsNmn29n7gLTZfcm7fF0uyJGpEaur4A_lm13zrd0qVvhthLk8c1IUkY0Eiw0uA7MGuhDfobo/s320/DSC_0247.JPG" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look how sexy my husband is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1cLk-324rJZU9PCLMxiVK6IiVLm4jXj3esX6FHs5qtysnNv-dr0oJyzmaKftxpPDLOEfB7EbJQTY3sZTaX-9GGKdGxUu22cSzWa1krjAFiGe3zwHSAdKqMmH6vAc-RgHw72qKgGTWxc/s1600/DSC_0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1cLk-324rJZU9PCLMxiVK6IiVLm4jXj3esX6FHs5qtysnNv-dr0oJyzmaKftxpPDLOEfB7EbJQTY3sZTaX-9GGKdGxUu22cSzWa1krjAFiGe3zwHSAdKqMmH6vAc-RgHw72qKgGTWxc/s320/DSC_0269.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aren't they a cute couple?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-oFab1AyCbM8Y4GY9_y711IPLAY3On6Zz82d6AhVuEYartBz-GeX8z1P2CuGH2sk-4yb13_EePjzKYI4irqLolKlJtPRJFmURFyYXIUu0QYvJB5RauYzepw7FliP-RM_Ssjg0BZkeGM/s1600/DSC_0380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-oFab1AyCbM8Y4GY9_y711IPLAY3On6Zz82d6AhVuEYartBz-GeX8z1P2CuGH2sk-4yb13_EePjzKYI4irqLolKlJtPRJFmURFyYXIUu0QYvJB5RauYzepw7FliP-RM_Ssjg0BZkeGM/s320/DSC_0380.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seeing Kristine, one of my best friends from college, in Northville, Michigan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymq26a5KfXVfSC2C-XJTD-0JsfwZBitbFqfzZCJRmaHjcRTFcwK41VR4uJ7y32pZ5HdB8wUNOLO_koCCx31rUWMp52-AhdDOkWMZaFiPdLvGMWINz6nnsatUco-fvS8b6Jvvv_06jI94/s1600/IMG_6089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymq26a5KfXVfSC2C-XJTD-0JsfwZBitbFqfzZCJRmaHjcRTFcwK41VR4uJ7y32pZ5HdB8wUNOLO_koCCx31rUWMp52-AhdDOkWMZaFiPdLvGMWINz6nnsatUco-fvS8b6Jvvv_06jI94/s320/IMG_6089.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also got to see Tallahassee, Florida to see Carlie, a friend from Portland, welcomed another 3 babies (Cora Summer, Lila Gage and Oscar Savage) into our lives and spent time with another friend getting married in Raleigh, North Carolina.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Congratulations to all. We love you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "Love and Happiness" by Al Green</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-79514995693993532572011-05-29T15:41:00.001-04:002011-05-29T15:42:17.863-04:00Brand New CadillacMore like "Brand New Door". <br />
<br />
Yeah, this is my fleeting appearance until I get my tutorials on raised beds and upward growing potato bins.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI18WyQyoKA3XgedNGjfcxMLVqEVjcq4zCZJ46z-kzXctE8WRJlYg-deBiEWVhLnmBEn-_wREszeQh1m7bi7ratUn4FAh5M0fH1E4S5wbybf08SkXvow9ZC_DrZYyX_R0FsXFE7l6BFZ8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI18WyQyoKA3XgedNGjfcxMLVqEVjcq4zCZJ46z-kzXctE8WRJlYg-deBiEWVhLnmBEn-_wREszeQh1m7bi7ratUn4FAh5M0fH1E4S5wbybf08SkXvow9ZC_DrZYyX_R0FsXFE7l6BFZ8/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaj_-y4iQD16u3YDk6QQ4G8doW1J0jFDAVLerAqG402A9p4z0TI85k3UBI-XBrTP7ejSET4g-Al1Q7XQdu3eeW9cvbTdmobBuUrPzrLyxN51GyGdqQKg-DP1Orx34wO-kn437JJylshY/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaj_-y4iQD16u3YDk6QQ4G8doW1J0jFDAVLerAqG402A9p4z0TI85k3UBI-XBrTP7ejSET4g-Al1Q7XQdu3eeW9cvbTdmobBuUrPzrLyxN51GyGdqQKg-DP1Orx34wO-kn437JJylshY/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Anyway, that is what I did this morning. I now need to figure out how to adjust the "screen"/glass door to match with the door. We'll do some fancy footwork involving something with a lock so my paranoia will be quelled...at least a bit. Also, I would love for Optimus to not be able to get out. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm05iPB9K_Fxkq5vryDl2aZsgzV-MZ6pk64QcIIQfqp7sd7_U-3F8bzRwKtiI74kONdxWbjOscVLK_4BZQhpEuRbUxGrtwfQsgXpi2-C1i_EDnkEVEWEnikbgxYWDbfBIZFImItRWzydU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm05iPB9K_Fxkq5vryDl2aZsgzV-MZ6pk64QcIIQfqp7sd7_U-3F8bzRwKtiI74kONdxWbjOscVLK_4BZQhpEuRbUxGrtwfQsgXpi2-C1i_EDnkEVEWEnikbgxYWDbfBIZFImItRWzydU/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a><br />
In addition, I gave Optimus a bath and used some <a href="http://www.etsy.com/transaction/48983131">Pineapple Creme Brulee Body Souffle Whipped Soap</a> on him after his normal shampoo. He smells like dessert! I may be plugging it (because I love it so much), but I got it off <a href="http://www.etsy.com/">etsy</a> at <a href="http://kreatedbykarina.etsy.com/">KreatedbyKarina</a> recently, along with some coconut lime verbena and orange candied ginger. Can't wait to bust open the others! <br />
<br />
So now....Optimus hates me.<br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "Brand New Cadillac" by The ClashIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-89543499222405293042011-04-17T14:02:00.018-04:002011-10-23T20:34:50.057-04:00Time For Bed!Ok, I could see how that would be confusing, when Jessie says "time for bed" what she really meant was "time to build a bed before you sleep in it." Not cool. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqe-Aui2vYMUrb9F2QtzdL8MT_O-7NStuN2QX1pI9L1PrZKfPXmNKSuVwsxThESSfWmql0u9mpTjVRWJKEUGRSrZgC0k8Apzl-tU68NTztXYwPw4xogDezwHxguwmdrnGFDpUpb4-5KE/s1600/IMG_4869.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqe-Aui2vYMUrb9F2QtzdL8MT_O-7NStuN2QX1pI9L1PrZKfPXmNKSuVwsxThESSfWmql0u9mpTjVRWJKEUGRSrZgC0k8Apzl-tU68NTztXYwPw4xogDezwHxguwmdrnGFDpUpb4-5KE/s320/IMG_4869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596616923336383810"></a><br />Thankfully, she already had her own set of plans for a super-tall, indestructible bed that would have space underneath for clothes bins, a bed for Optimus that he will never ever use, and other normal bedroom items like a chop saw and air compressor fittings. All I had to do was shut up and cut or hold boards how she told me to. This was quite nice. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3oCHrrH1KaAun_AP0n3aQ2DgoVUVg_dyCH2oD5oUro3NRRRVSRd6AaAJeul6Ud04J8xrX3HLruTuSw3gcmj_eF1BavPkJqSxlCogk8HNpkpNlCnrhbVtLEyhQRwCs-j8CtmzagsnfP8/s1600/IMG_5668.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3oCHrrH1KaAun_AP0n3aQ2DgoVUVg_dyCH2oD5oUro3NRRRVSRd6AaAJeul6Ud04J8xrX3HLruTuSw3gcmj_eF1BavPkJqSxlCogk8HNpkpNlCnrhbVtLEyhQRwCs-j8CtmzagsnfP8/s200/IMG_5668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596618504895130386"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N_rT3yIM-okjgEo0vj5F2imlDozmzTWm_05AHacTK9keMrxZqad60YdH3bjnHmt0H9TMYmD2wY0ushIP02oJui7kJLDVWpreLJfyB9jnmZgFsGcqSQ0mXqSc-2h0agCKU-ar4-qTA1w/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N_rT3yIM-okjgEo0vj5F2imlDozmzTWm_05AHacTK9keMrxZqad60YdH3bjnHmt0H9TMYmD2wY0ushIP02oJui7kJLDVWpreLJfyB9jnmZgFsGcqSQ0mXqSc-2h0agCKU-ar4-qTA1w/s200/IMG_5693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596619470122269554"></a><br /><br />Before you knew it, we had a bed! Simple, quick, easy. <br /><br /><br /><br />Ok, if you're reading this you know it couldn't just happen like that. But I'll let Jessie tell that tale...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYT3ImE8IB3yuoMv_b8H8SByOJDzjQi1GK8Scnshemvu2vx77_MF-SErnUllPa0myjj2fMTBcJsCkfYWRJWFpEiH90aMcb_tQvWKd6kq-tfw3poYWCgta8gizWkxpHfxpA6rnYeL78vA/s1600/IMG_6337.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYT3ImE8IB3yuoMv_b8H8SByOJDzjQi1GK8Scnshemvu2vx77_MF-SErnUllPa0myjj2fMTBcJsCkfYWRJWFpEiH90aMcb_tQvWKd6kq-tfw3poYWCgta8gizWkxpHfxpA6rnYeL78vA/s200/IMG_6337.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596616047957624594"></a><br />Side note, while working on the bed I went to get a beer from our fridge. Actually from the "freezer" because a while ago our freezer stopped working; the fridge was actually substantially colder. No problem, now we have a fridge and a beer fridge! <br /><br />Yeah. Apparently the freezer started working again at some point. In our house when someone says "grab me a cold one" they need to be more specific.<br /><br />Ok, so now that we had a huge bed for Optimus to hog, we thought the room felt a little stuffy....yep, that wall has to go. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQok7UV8CCcf2fhcugqM53pmTX48LIZa9imIOhDlf0qJd8EUVXje8HkkpXq4iLt2yQIwbzs9QP1PkQ2DS4NewFVLGJamTMIStaO5fHpXAVjLYDIY72k3bomRxnnkovjH7V4IpcEeo0X4/s1600/IMG_5677.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQok7UV8CCcf2fhcugqM53pmTX48LIZa9imIOhDlf0qJd8EUVXje8HkkpXq4iLt2yQIwbzs9QP1PkQ2DS4NewFVLGJamTMIStaO5fHpXAVjLYDIY72k3bomRxnnkovjH7V4IpcEeo0X4/s320/IMG_5677.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596621856622691970"></a><br />We had planned on making some changes anyways, like adding in a closet and making the other bedroom into a master bathroom, thus necessitating a doorway. Probably best to do the dirty demo work before bringing our clean mattress into the room. The main attraction of this wall is the chimney that we wanted to expose. Raw original brick would look awesome in our bedroom and bathroom....if it weren't for the inch-thick layer of plaster applied directly to the brick, it would be easy. Jessie's brother and sister took turns a while ago with hammers attacking the plaster and made tons of progress. We however, are not as awesome or patient as they are, so we brought in the heavy artillery. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W_XYLmlOxyk?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W_XYLmlOxyk?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO548TmsT910Azmfhviv1q1MljsPMnoXxr7eHFNCnOflt1K_l3YMvpAt7kWLNKNX_1j48jbOEF1azRczVAoc0EOOHtmdeRaPYcrf8f-GyiS6wRDedL5qmZoYbTFYWl2sO4rVP3mEu-qc/s1600/IMG_5726.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO548TmsT910Azmfhviv1q1MljsPMnoXxr7eHFNCnOflt1K_l3YMvpAt7kWLNKNX_1j48jbOEF1azRczVAoc0EOOHtmdeRaPYcrf8f-GyiS6wRDedL5qmZoYbTFYWl2sO4rVP3mEu-qc/s200/IMG_5726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596626506313449314" /></a>We managed to clean off the bedroom side in less than 30 minutes and it was actually<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr49L-3TrK0Qgq2-cehEiqqHv0KpC4dcr9fkgi6AGEfz05HR-u1Cmgv6vDmFR57sD9a0_zlZBRMqbOQoXfJiPLBgDfqQMxYaBugA-ECwFbkwlwpJIOkYfIzBH4H_3UQN4_Z4UBYQ6DJc/s1600/IMG_5720.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVr49L-3TrK0Qgq2-cehEiqqHv0KpC4dcr9fkgi6AGEfz05HR-u1Cmgv6vDmFR57sD9a0_zlZBRMqbOQoXfJiPLBgDfqQMxYaBugA-ECwFbkwlwpJIOkYfIzBH4H_3UQN4_Z4UBYQ6DJc/s200/IMG_5720.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596625150318812914"></a> pretty fun. Air-powered demolition tools = fun. One problem with this much fun is the amount of dust and crap it kicks up in the air. The hippo light will help demonstrate to your left with the cleaned off brick to the right. Another problem is the several hundred pounds of plaster (basically concrete) waste that you end up with in Rubbermaid containers that can easily bury a room's floor. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOuop-Q39JLoG_n_GRg2URDRaI_SRYGJ_cqThcgTpOgaYhnyH8bPRDx8GD5FLspiDvB0rBgwwBXfRUNkZsfhwo_eBX8FT5mJaE0cGU0bK_qC0yemE49ydtkx9fOIijuDMxNNvL068l-8/s1600/IMG_5689.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOuop-Q39JLoG_n_GRg2URDRaI_SRYGJ_cqThcgTpOgaYhnyH8bPRDx8GD5FLspiDvB0rBgwwBXfRUNkZsfhwo_eBX8FT5mJaE0cGU0bK_qC0yemE49ydtkx9fOIijuDMxNNvL068l-8/s200/IMG_5689.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596627783112479122" /></a>Jessie will elaborate on the design details of the room, but there are a few things we needed to make room for, such as the closet. The door to the other bedroom<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxiipLNzHCX7vVI52gxGNchBqBq_jqLCQuk4syPY5x60noep1gtbbjYtdrr3W108dMuLVlx4RENDK9LewbplIOKHHBo_e9hGeXm89sUGSr-1Aaq__evVuPjW_8PrkunHF1-JwDc79_qw/s1600/IMG_5673.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxiipLNzHCX7vVI52gxGNchBqBq_jqLCQuk4syPY5x60noep1gtbbjYtdrr3W108dMuLVlx4RENDK9LewbplIOKHHBo_e9hGeXm89sUGSr-1Aaq__evVuPjW_8PrkunHF1-JwDc79_qw/s200/IMG_5673.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596629580844580802" /></a> would be entering directly into the closet, so we removed that with the entire frame and transplanted it to the other opening. Lest we forget, this house is really old, so we encountered plenty of annoyances, the least of which was probably the hinges for the door that been painted over so much it no longer needed screws to hold it in place. The door actually opened and closed just fine without them. Super fun. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDkSKxSTXPtydslSB1Xof6al8F-FW6X9NJZ3zF17lGI4SOwLK1yECK2mnQqei7mUk9r4cax7460KQ0w7jxQrVe-bPNMTw2HOLCCXuNMuwAOOd372ylWkD-oFiSdybOioapkOrwe4MlnI/s1600/IMG_7373.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhDkSKxSTXPtydslSB1Xof6al8F-FW6X9NJZ3zF17lGI4SOwLK1yECK2mnQqei7mUk9r4cax7460KQ0w7jxQrVe-bPNMTw2HOLCCXuNMuwAOOd372ylWkD-oFiSdybOioapkOrwe4MlnI/s200/IMG_7373.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596630446233693474" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc3rorEgr5lxZABH45HupaQviigv5-r7Ti4CEUMIBVYnFEU-auHOyOYTRTLFp_M5WJNl2J0Q863XAuPQNZdx3I4g62BvC3vZHz70zkk1i-5kL4TLtRlNKEZbi-MiXa-OY4aXNs0xqCv0/s1600/IMG_7378.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc3rorEgr5lxZABH45HupaQviigv5-r7Ti4CEUMIBVYnFEU-auHOyOYTRTLFp_M5WJNl2J0Q863XAuPQNZdx3I4g62BvC3vZHz70zkk1i-5kL4TLtRlNKEZbi-MiXa-OY4aXNs0xqCv0/s200/IMG_7378.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596631148459795186" /></a>This leaves us with a gaping hole in yet another wall, but a new, functioning entrance to the future master bath. Even better, it matches the rest of the house because it's original, meaning less new materials to buy/consume. In the end, this is actually progress. I mean, we did end up sleeping in a room with three walls for a couple months, but as of a few weeks ago we've got 3.5 walls....so we're almost there!<br /><br />Tom<br /><br />Currently listening to "Buried Alive" by Avenged SevenfoldaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-35174127931495711012011-04-17T12:55:00.012-04:002011-04-17T15:33:31.644-04:00Our House is a Very Very Very Old HouseAh the joys of rebuilding something way, way, way older than you. We've discussed the plaster and lath wall construction in previous posts...unfortunately that did not magically make it disappear. Some of you may<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ODi9j6lG1KVWHclU9Et99yzS1gitaRPgPOorkm3wzMK8mF0Wseb_NtTzTl5_ENpL_o-Ki-kGSixT7OYNRvccAovM6T0_Azeatal347GHyjEiRyYkF3xEoDu5tjJ61YvNa_lI3HGF0io/s1600/IMG_4823.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ODi9j6lG1KVWHclU9Et99yzS1gitaRPgPOorkm3wzMK8mF0Wseb_NtTzTl5_ENpL_o-Ki-kGSixT7OYNRvccAovM6T0_Azeatal347GHyjEiRyYkF3xEoDu5tjJ61YvNa_lI3HGF0io/s200/IMG_4823.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596605543224494466" /></a> remember when Jessie started painting every room in the house and got between 1/3 and 2/3rds of the way through each room. Well, we hadn't finished a few months later, but that's ok, because we would have to repaint anyways. Turns out the changes of season (and temperature/humidity) cause the plaster to expand and contract at varying rates, which cause either massive fissures or small mountain ridges to appear in walls and ceilings....everywhere. To better illustrate this, we sanded down a few of these magical ridges, seen to your right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGngqqqRFpHaYjxCr-R00h3jJQ4HSa7KGc-ILeM_CaUEmZbcxumoBfkvPd803PWMDOHQj0SS1mUd5t3CGhBH_6TANjfGLkYU972iHqgp2d_OB0d5d12STVsJ6NdHzN0ezV6BGBNO5fN3g/s1600/IMG_4827.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGngqqqRFpHaYjxCr-R00h3jJQ4HSa7KGc-ILeM_CaUEmZbcxumoBfkvPd803PWMDOHQj0SS1mUd5t3CGhBH_6TANjfGLkYU972iHqgp2d_OB0d5d12STVsJ6NdHzN0ezV6BGBNO5fN3g/s200/IMG_4827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596606524784461986" /></a>Of course, no matter what we do (short of replacing everything with modern drywall) we'll end up with more cracks popping up later, but we'll worry about that after we get everything painted once. It's amazing the difference color makes for the feel of a room. Now I feel like I'm inside a pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving every day in our living room. Yes, I like that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4DoSxEoaRRNlUzRHwITqKfb340CuOZy04UvBHUfWOQ_qBLAMBfZg3vfaQRUIazWXiRG6rOUMt5E7H9ESaxSDtupeTb4PgP3fIwDJskpB-uVmLen254oeYkzR8u-sOKCODtev2JhsyZQ/s1600/IMG_5872.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4DoSxEoaRRNlUzRHwITqKfb340CuOZy04UvBHUfWOQ_qBLAMBfZg3vfaQRUIazWXiRG6rOUMt5E7H9ESaxSDtupeTb4PgP3fIwDJskpB-uVmLen254oeYkzR8u-sOKCODtev2JhsyZQ/s320/IMG_5872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596612166532131154" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqvMip6MlNM8WVsJoHYTtTcoU2EkxkGtf8H8DWv5M8fEkE4sT9yci5EeLsEryWv9Cc0uja_mbxVXwvTnp5CfzSB4dmyBux6A9cdaEFcEs2M04svHcbkhKGQ2Kfe5_k1J_0f5hkgHYe2g/s1600/IMG_5821.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqvMip6MlNM8WVsJoHYTtTcoU2EkxkGtf8H8DWv5M8fEkE4sT9yci5EeLsEryWv9Cc0uja_mbxVXwvTnp5CfzSB4dmyBux6A9cdaEFcEs2M04svHcbkhKGQ2Kfe5_k1J_0f5hkgHYe2g/s200/IMG_5821.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596609797186788818" /></a>Meanwhile, it snowed here! Yeah, it's a dusting for anyone North of us, but here it's the blizzard of the century. Schools closed early, work was canceled, and by 6pm Wal-Mart was completely sold out of 4 items: milk, bread, ground beef, and pizza rolls. Hot Pockets also took a good hit. Naturally, this was a day BEFORE any sort of frozen precipitation began. Gotta love North Carolina winters...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkuW2h1rbqr6NhItJvGMvvBpGV6zoW6GpxcS93nzgNj_7slIi-g0-W-i1DHUorVZuOlCfGYtB89cwUTZJX5H7ALg4jgILmBZ3uOyDmcAkOTTT44WYqSlpE7YxUvcOzi1WEEA8AQVuzMY/s1600/IMG_5876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkuW2h1rbqr6NhItJvGMvvBpGV6zoW6GpxcS93nzgNj_7slIi-g0-W-i1DHUorVZuOlCfGYtB89cwUTZJX5H7ALg4jgILmBZ3uOyDmcAkOTTT44WYqSlpE7YxUvcOzi1WEEA8AQVuzMY/s200/IMG_5876.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596613157169818658" /></a>Regardless of how infrequently we get weather like this, the bees are not fans. They'll stay in their boxes most of the day, but the wind cuts through the openings and isn't good for bee morale (or continued bee living). Jessie's mom is totally BA, so she goes out there with a drill and starts putting on a small blocker to keep the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6co5IXjM078WWYjqWvSL6Z67WIOaSb28EqxbMlb5Xp01wQv9QW-h36Fi9cSUS8d6oPhywABGM_JN7WrePxEPBC1zvDkqDj6a6EIVE9RQ1R6CDTDi_p8HINC5XB3O0lpWK73wB5k1HdpU/s1600/IMG_5822.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6co5IXjM078WWYjqWvSL6Z67WIOaSb28EqxbMlb5Xp01wQv9QW-h36Fi9cSUS8d6oPhywABGM_JN7WrePxEPBC1zvDkqDj6a6EIVE9RQ1R6CDTDi_p8HINC5XB3O0lpWK73wB5k1HdpU/s200/IMG_5822.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596614105908515570" /></a> wind out of the hive. She doesn't need a suit, the bees respect her too much to screw with her. While she was doing our work for us, I was foolishly riding my bike in the snow because it's fun. It worked about as well as you would expect.<br /><br />I love the snow, so overall it was a pretty nice, relaxing time. Of course, due to the cold we found even more squirrels had been sneaking into our basement and making sweet pads for themselves in our walls...everywhere. But more on that later...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OeWutz4WzAQ?hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OeWutz4WzAQ?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Tom<br /><br />Currently listening to "Maybe For Now" by Few and Far BetweenaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-91159980086498202912011-04-17T12:04:00.008-04:002011-04-18T10:03:10.210-04:00Depends On Your Definition of "Progress"Documenting your life's work outside of work is really time-consuming. Let's play catch up. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijklRQnz9JxcbUCfcC022OwScveH-SBmEjTIGBrArhcQeYo8Y3LEqJHD68fVWBj9ZmxVPg2TKgqn5iy6vhtH8cAX5L-ECTSe_I6i8FEDv3LAnqw9V_0MlV1oEOYQGcv8DE2oQUlILtS8/s1600/IMG_4779.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijklRQnz9JxcbUCfcC022OwScveH-SBmEjTIGBrArhcQeYo8Y3LEqJHD68fVWBj9ZmxVPg2TKgqn5iy6vhtH8cAX5L-ECTSe_I6i8FEDv3LAnqw9V_0MlV1oEOYQGcv8DE2oQUlILtS8/s320/IMG_4779.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596594439616198834" /></a><br />Remember way back in <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/11/time-suck-theater-3rd-times-asomething.html">last year</a> when we dug up half our yard to uncover the large pieces of driveway underneath? Well we finally did something with some of the concrete amalgam: enter the fire pit. Perhaps fire pit is a misnomer, considering we're not sure if it's legal to start large fires in our yard here. We'll just call it the decorative hole in the ground for now.<br /><br />Now, also remember from that same old post where the squirrels had eaten through some of the insulation on the power mains into our house? There's more where that came from. In fact, just a week ago we woke up after a particularly ornery storm had come through to find that half of the electrical circuits in our house didn't work. Did the usual checks, no breakers were tripped, no lines were loose, no water damage, no squirrel damage....then I got out the digital multi-meter to start probing (yeah, that's right). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1yR2kKlLrTMTd-hY0R7w3ngKyjT3i758828EaPf0OAFSPOLKRsITo6-M-GUgm2_IXHyOpMkAmwtlh6a2H411J-vhmSNl9FhRFm9SMlhnsR2042tckLaKtNYz9ocRfcyxknDQRoQNFss/s1600/IMG_8194.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1yR2kKlLrTMTd-hY0R7w3ngKyjT3i758828EaPf0OAFSPOLKRsITo6-M-GUgm2_IXHyOpMkAmwtlh6a2H411J-vhmSNl9FhRFm9SMlhnsR2042tckLaKtNYz9ocRfcyxknDQRoQNFss/s200/IMG_8194.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596595316638701410" /></a>First checked an outlet that was working and saw ~121 VAC (volts) as normal. Checked an outlet that wasn't working and got ~20 VAC...so they were still getting power, but not enough to run anything designed for 120. Went back to the breaker box and discovered that every other breaker exactly in order was reading 120-20-120-20-120-20 (-ish). Traced it back to the two big mains coming into the house. Every <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-pEp5JnS3mXuJHtiHo2EEr9pzZY6HQ0IIZzO16V0M85JsVnepVQT9b3Ks7AVmBSeh05G0XSt8mZ3p7S7oeHVARJL77VI-DLjqEDwDYXp1ouTWjKpOvCNX5xiRQuJq254Dfh8E7iUhqw/s1600/IMG_8193.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-pEp5JnS3mXuJHtiHo2EEr9pzZY6HQ0IIZzO16V0M85JsVnepVQT9b3Ks7AVmBSeh05G0XSt8mZ3p7S7oeHVARJL77VI-DLjqEDwDYXp1ouTWjKpOvCNX5xiRQuJq254Dfh8E7iUhqw/s200/IMG_8193.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596596394428935394" /></a>house has two 120 mains coming in and one ground. The breakers are wired such that each main services every other breaker so when you add breakers they end up evenly distributed between the two mains. The other reason is so when you put in a double breaker for a 240 VAC outlet (to run your dryer or range for example) it will take the two separate 120 VAC lines to be able to essentially add them together and get 240 at the appliance. As a result, our dryer and range were only getting ~140 VAC...<br /><br />Anyways, this means the problem is outside of our house. The two possibilities are that we have a problem inside our power meter box, at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherhead">weatherhead</a>, or in the lines to the transformer up on the street poles. For reference, pretty much every electrical company says the customer is responsible for anything from the weatherhead IN to the house (except for the meter, which you aren't allowed to screw with). We called the power company to come check their lines before I started scaling our house and electrocuting myself. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w-DLLb_c8nbvK-iOPpmvaS4yonXDB8zw1bbMn4rkR2-WAolbJzHD-oSFwCkN0DDETD97qVnCzc4WBV5bGq2L2UWu0QuTGxWKV3A5th4fwbniubPiHGZTjAdqvuslurzqv5uLfOVeTfc/s1600/IMG_8200.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9w-DLLb_c8nbvK-iOPpmvaS4yonXDB8zw1bbMn4rkR2-WAolbJzHD-oSFwCkN0DDETD97qVnCzc4WBV5bGq2L2UWu0QuTGxWKV3A5th4fwbniubPiHGZTjAdqvuslurzqv5uLfOVeTfc/s320/IMG_8200.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596596946953356050" /></a><br />As it turns out, our mains are routed through a couple decorative trees that were planted in our front yard. Over the years the three lines that are twisted together had rubbed up against tree branches so much that it had worn through the insulation and one main and the ground started to fuse together, creating a resistive short, which made the wires get even hotter and melt together (they were permanently one piece) while corroding due to atmospheric exposure. They replaced them with all new lines from the pole to the splice outside the weatherhead and we were back in business!<br /><br />And that catches you up on everything in the past 5 months. But not really.<br /><br />Tom<br /><br />Currently listening to "Lost" by Avenged SevenfoldaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-60132976278633398522011-02-27T18:45:00.000-05:002011-02-27T18:45:37.584-05:00Listen to the Music...Round 4You know the deal by now. Here is another rendition of motivation music. Check out <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-to-clean-house-to.html">Round 1</a>, <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/09/round-ii-dancing-to-musicagain.html">Round 2</a> and <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-could-have-dancedmaybe.html">Round 3</a>.<br />
<br />
This music follows me around in my back pocket (no, I don't have one hand in my pocket) whenever I work outside.<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Gunn-Re-Recorded-In-Stereo/dp/B004M3J3ZE?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Peter Gunn</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004M3J3ZE" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Duane Eddy<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Bother/dp/B000W23K9E?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Why Bother?</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000W23K9E" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Weezer<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sunny/dp/B002EMGLVY?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Sunny</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002EMGLVY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by B.W. Stevenson<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Jeans/dp/B002JM78SO?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Blue Jeans</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002JM78SO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Jessie James (a guilty pleasure...I hate admitting this one)<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Over-It-Explicit/dp/B000ULAU5Y?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Get Over It</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000ULAU5Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Ok Go<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Laugh-LP-Version/dp/B001229EAC?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Laugh Laugh</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001229EAC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Beau Brummels<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Laugh-LP-Version/dp/B001229EAC?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Radar Love</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001229EAC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Golden Earring<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cha-Twist/dp/B001PQMRK4?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cha Cha Twist</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PQMRK4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Detroit Cobras<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Race-Car-Ya-Yas/dp/B00137KJYG?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Race Car Ya-Yas</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00137KJYG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Cake<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pike-County-Breakdown/dp/B000VWKWDM?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pike County Breakdown</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VWKWDM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Flatt and Scruggs<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Time/dp/B00137OCV2?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">No Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00137OCV2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Guess Who<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Get-Rhythm/dp/B00136PZU0?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Get Rhythm</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00136PZU0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Johnny Cash<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Point-Of-Know-Return/dp/B00137SXGM?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Point of Know Return</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00137SXGM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Kansas<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lookin-Out-My-Back-Door/dp/B001GH3JOU?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Lookin' Out My Back Door</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001GH3JOU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by CCR<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/In-The-Midnight-Hour/dp/B00260NZC2?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">In the Midnight Hour</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00260NZC2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Wilson Pickett<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ms-Jackson-Explicit/dp/B0013D8C94?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ms. Jackson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0013D8C94" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Outkast<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dig/dp/B00137GE68?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dig</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00137GE68" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Incubus<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Like-A-Prayer-Album-Version/dp/B00123JSAC?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Like a Prayer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00123JSAC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Madonna<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Generation/dp/B001NB1W98?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">My Generation</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001NB1W98" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Who<br />
<br />
Short list this time, I know. Send me some mix cd's and they will show up on the next list!<br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-River-Remastered-Version/dp/B001246EY4?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Take Me to the River</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001246EY4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Talking HeadsIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-50087523623235529392011-02-27T18:02:00.001-05:002011-02-28T21:59:54.393-05:00SunnyToday it was about 80 degrees out. Awesome. For about an hour in the morning, we took some coffee outside and walked around the yard to decide where we are going to plant our garden. Onions, shallots, garlic, jalapenos, bell peppers, brussels sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, organic tomatoes (you get the point), squash, beans, zucchini, cucumbers, watermelons, peas and some other stuff.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qBzLWhqrSbcDP3g02euX9xC_8s7xSUjT_H0mvnOictPUXcgyAQFc9wTt8n66IHAhfGIUaTNe-wD4G3Ns5fq7h0pvX32dxmZPf6Cr3Ui4hqYs5HsS3t4PAihlyNt3ZEZjqebWOLDvcog/s1600/IMG_5083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qBzLWhqrSbcDP3g02euX9xC_8s7xSUjT_H0mvnOictPUXcgyAQFc9wTt8n66IHAhfGIUaTNe-wD4G3Ns5fq7h0pvX32dxmZPf6Cr3Ui4hqYs5HsS3t4PAihlyNt3ZEZjqebWOLDvcog/s320/IMG_5083.jpg" width="239" /></a>Tom was doing some reffing at the YMCA, so I had a bunch of time for myself. Since it was warm enough for me outside, I sat outside and read a book (#10 of my 50 book goal for the year) while Optimus laid next to me. Then, I got super bored and still had a lot of time, so I pulled up a ton of ugly concrete paver things from the yard. Thank you so much to whoever took the time to make the yard look ugly. Ugh. Now they are sitting by the road waiting for somebody on Craiglist to come and haul them away.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In the meantime, I was searching for more to do. We had discussed the possibility of several raised beds for the yard. One or two little ones would have a bunch of wildflowers and one would be a big one dedicated to a large strawberry patch. Strawberries spread like crazy, so keeping them contained is a must. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfVmjPvr7b2nsoGFpyGgHVip9MoNP2F2epFqA7J-yztqZ-Txq27A00ipmc-YpX3l2tVQ2nE8qJmuoScavPTfAg9U3ayBawNYJi_dU2fcBw44x7FpeazGfr67ovfkvW3jUKDyLL8Ijmb4/s1600/IMG_5088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfVmjPvr7b2nsoGFpyGgHVip9MoNP2F2epFqA7J-yztqZ-Txq27A00ipmc-YpX3l2tVQ2nE8qJmuoScavPTfAg9U3ayBawNYJi_dU2fcBw44x7FpeazGfr67ovfkvW3jUKDyLL8Ijmb4/s320/IMG_5088.jpg" width="239" /></a>Typical raised beds are made out of railroad ties or treated lumber. Both leach chemicals into the ground around it. One of the things that has been running through my head lately is an alternative to this. As you may have seen in a previous post, we have a bajillion pallets that we got for free off CL. Pallets are made out of untreated wood, so I have been working on dismantling them in order to build raised beds out of them. We'll paint them with a pretty exterior paint that we'll most likely get from the Habitat Restore.</div><br />
<br />
In the meantime, I was looking for more to do. Speaking of things to get rid of, the lathing strips from under the plaster has been in our house for a LONG time. We don't want to take it to the landfill and we haven't figured out what to do with it. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqx6oO9tQtViazlMY7qV0b9qq5vY7Z60S6nJDYZX8VH71s5sstVRDidNN-qxJgfQyiF21erPeNhgSHQ9B3tP8xECfSuzMVr_XButn-jEVdQn5ISeH8CNNtwu6dXqwx0f8_RAQROUuI68/s1600/IMG_5087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqx6oO9tQtViazlMY7qV0b9qq5vY7Z60S6nJDYZX8VH71s5sstVRDidNN-qxJgfQyiF21erPeNhgSHQ9B3tP8xECfSuzMVr_XButn-jEVdQn5ISeH8CNNtwu6dXqwx0f8_RAQROUuI68/s320/IMG_5087.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
Genius idea! First of all, I painted the lathing strips with exterior paint (from the Habitat Restore) and then took puffy paint and labeled them to use as garden marking stakes. Next, I'll cut them with the chop saw and we'll be good to go. As soon as the weather gets warmer, there are so many more things to do!<br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "In the Evening" by Led Zeppelin<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfVmjPvr7b2nsoGFpyGgHVip9MoNP2F2epFqA7J-yztqZ-Txq27A00ipmc-YpX3l2tVQ2nE8qJmuoScavPTfAg9U3ayBawNYJi_dU2fcBw44x7FpeazGfr67ovfkvW3jUKDyLL8Ijmb4/s1600/IMG_5088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><br />
</span></span></a>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-22620032479615646222011-02-13T10:23:00.002-05:002011-08-09T21:17:28.751-04:00I'm So Tired<div style="text-align: center;">Ahhhhh. I lost half of the post, so that's what you'll get here. <br />
<br />
Yes, I am not in school anymore. However, I do have homework for getting a proposal together for a social work conference. Procrastinating is way more fun, plus you all get to see what we have been spending our time on away from the computer. This is months overdue, we know.<br />
<br />
We finally moved into the back bedroom over the holidays since we had lots of guests and needed more space. To give us some privacy from the people staying in the back bedroom, we put up sheets (to also keep some of the dust to a minimum). Under that blue panel, we did find some more brick. Instead of chiseling all 3" of plaster off by hand, which is a HUGE pain and takes forever, we got a $15 air hammer/chisel. Tip: Those are one of the best tools EVER.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd8eOLeGqJFKW1X-6Zjt7F18mjqW8HfqEtOvpfeCkXqoac-uJrkracjjs0LJzo9itEPvm1F9Bez7fKzZKvIeGJMkBZp7OYKiNUcddPI69GaUpo4qPkjbTERBXKBfFT9qM5EtJwnbZkX8/s1600/IMG_4404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFd8eOLeGqJFKW1X-6Zjt7F18mjqW8HfqEtOvpfeCkXqoac-uJrkracjjs0LJzo9itEPvm1F9Bez7fKzZKvIeGJMkBZp7OYKiNUcddPI69GaUpo4qPkjbTERBXKBfFT9qM5EtJwnbZkX8/s320/IMG_4404.jpg" width="239" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_glIywukjTYh4RLwlHutOGVPBfqHliK2RYD7EFE4K_SADRT5kRvQTOcn_fYyv0Vh5NibrK5mGQpk5UqqgfEyqNfc8DHYIQdTo0XZ313WEVTg6aY8D08a7zfWyliyINH_Z1oZYtX7-zI/s1600/IMG_4405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_glIywukjTYh4RLwlHutOGVPBfqHliK2RYD7EFE4K_SADRT5kRvQTOcn_fYyv0Vh5NibrK5mGQpk5UqqgfEyqNfc8DHYIQdTo0XZ313WEVTg6aY8D08a7zfWyliyINH_Z1oZYtX7-zI/s320/IMG_4405.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> While our room looks pretty and colorful, there were also a few problems. Well, at least one that really stuck out. In a normal house, the humidity is supposed to be at 45%. Ours is at a dusty 16%. With the humidifier working overtime since Christmas, we've gotten it up to about 33%. Better, but not great.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaseo0HGyos445U_NLYeCgxKbOIxPoBKewGcucbsHljk3JY_YSkI6v2MeW-zwW3l7Y3OCFRLUsRE-TbZr58AVdp2Yx2p6GwX-gBD9Dm6gW-BU6u36Fx-33UiEUE8PZ0ml-PVXDFr_dc9g/s1600/IMG_4347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaseo0HGyos445U_NLYeCgxKbOIxPoBKewGcucbsHljk3JY_YSkI6v2MeW-zwW3l7Y3OCFRLUsRE-TbZr58AVdp2Yx2p6GwX-gBD9Dm6gW-BU6u36Fx-33UiEUE8PZ0ml-PVXDFr_dc9g/s320/IMG_4347.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile, this is what the future master bathroom looked like. On top of the window are all of the boards we pulled out from the old door and casing, moulding and trim from around the room.<br />
CAUTION: DISASTER.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5MOH_dqK-Wg_PY2rNAj-5V8WK38Q1ruNn3DbLAAIEf2p2gQPAfNOxIcw_6jI77iFrw-eKzNw0D5erKFbIp75i3Bgfoc7Hoo7eZ9VsWKb-0Y9wZcrRYK36qu9GziIf0SfaWZTuNXwV9I/s1600/IMG_4407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5MOH_dqK-Wg_PY2rNAj-5V8WK38Q1ruNn3DbLAAIEf2p2gQPAfNOxIcw_6jI77iFrw-eKzNw0D5erKFbIp75i3Bgfoc7Hoo7eZ9VsWKb-0Y9wZcrRYK36qu9GziIf0SfaWZTuNXwV9I/s320/IMG_4407.jpg" width="239" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-HN-OVFnaMvZMPLH4TkwuOlUVS4AfP0ByHzjhhnbRVUQTu_sdsD2kJ8yRrApfLjdHFurHMto3kK17ptJMr5V13zkBUUj4qJeb5-82lH8Umk7tTAHo5CfwyiCD59ig0_3tsF17F5zLpo/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-HN-OVFnaMvZMPLH4TkwuOlUVS4AfP0ByHzjhhnbRVUQTu_sdsD2kJ8yRrApfLjdHFurHMto3kK17ptJMr5V13zkBUUj4qJeb5-82lH8Umk7tTAHo5CfwyiCD59ig0_3tsF17F5zLpo/s320/IMG_4410.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-HN-OVFnaMvZMPLH4TkwuOlUVS4AfP0ByHzjhhnbRVUQTu_sdsD2kJ8yRrApfLjdHFurHMto3kK17ptJMr5V13zkBUUj4qJeb5-82lH8Umk7tTAHo5CfwyiCD59ig0_3tsF17F5zLpo/s1600/IMG_4410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Well, there are super old 2x4's in that stud wall. We had to remove two of them to make room for a bathroom door. That bathroom door happened to come from the entrance to the 2nd bedroom, so we moved the ENTIRE old rickety frame and door to a new location. We're really going for that whole reduce, reuse, recycle thing...or whatever. Basically just the part where we want to make the house as old and authentic as possible without buying a ton of new stuff. When we took the studs out, we cut them down to reuse them. However, you can see the interesting stuff we found when we took them out. Original 88 year old bark on them as well as sap still oozing out of the wood. Pretty cool, huh? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdRwEhKUm5-uGnIoedOLlmMS8_aDla9cvKqpDHXpkMEJ-clH4eZ8WqCWwRLPWquDgizMORqn1eGpzn8cKZ7dx0v7051c_e74YmI1A-T1AK8ll4bJTEvf6Z-bPpmrd1gRziAWZKxo5nw/s1600/IMG_4419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdRwEhKUm5-uGnIoedOLlmMS8_aDla9cvKqpDHXpkMEJ-clH4eZ8WqCWwRLPWquDgizMORqn1eGpzn8cKZ7dx0v7051c_e74YmI1A-T1AK8ll4bJTEvf6Z-bPpmrd1gRziAWZKxo5nw/s320/IMG_4419.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7CW8yTyyKeJKI9GWDvAFXr73NxrN3OAvaWcMWb39jqtpaqu_urfpzKHpFahfWNGPPVh9v0pcpTiYCzNDLCoBZ6QkdtZQczCa9UYv-_K5hKDFTBPjNTSMEobi279-AaoIATcELq_nfL0/s1600/IMG_4421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7CW8yTyyKeJKI9GWDvAFXr73NxrN3OAvaWcMWb39jqtpaqu_urfpzKHpFahfWNGPPVh9v0pcpTiYCzNDLCoBZ6QkdtZQczCa9UYv-_K5hKDFTBPjNTSMEobi279-AaoIATcELq_nfL0/s320/IMG_4421.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Bathroom progress! You can also see the paint swatches I'm testing out to see what goes best with the future bathroom. We're still trying to do earthy tones, but we figured terra cotta would be best to match with the brick and the tiles we want to put down. I'm fairly certain we are going with the bottom color. We also got a tub at the Habitat ReStore for $25. I just wanted one that was bigger and deeper, but didn't care about having jets. This one had been marked down from $75 and was the loner, so, of course, I wanted it. There was grout and caulk around the edges, but all I needed was a putty knife. Simple, easy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKirlhn6h5ROte6wNIEnGNti-9NUtDmyO1_5zZveto7RH0SgMHNeE3cwA1cLp8wzUWnzNUWeajzUgfSGdhrJOkOF1O5fNDNBLoLB4kye3YtVJI6N7g1CiMIJZD1myfPFmzi2JZ8RNrw4/s1600/IMG_4349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKirlhn6h5ROte6wNIEnGNti-9NUtDmyO1_5zZveto7RH0SgMHNeE3cwA1cLp8wzUWnzNUWeajzUgfSGdhrJOkOF1O5fNDNBLoLB4kye3YtVJI6N7g1CiMIJZD1myfPFmzi2JZ8RNrw4/s320/IMG_4349.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1OudqShYhVJbTBXmrerE7ZJUuYR6p71H1SAT_7T2bRwX0_GgNtu_M14Bm4LoFPp7fAumh6XdN-qmsGMjLWpIhD8019MvNiGKMy9B543uKl3FkRVa3hd4uIlxn-J_Q5Ackz9kl4qsZM/s1600/IMG_4346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK1OudqShYhVJbTBXmrerE7ZJUuYR6p71H1SAT_7T2bRwX0_GgNtu_M14Bm4LoFPp7fAumh6XdN-qmsGMjLWpIhD8019MvNiGKMy9B543uKl3FkRVa3hd4uIlxn-J_Q5Ackz9kl4qsZM/s320/IMG_4346.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Matching the paint to the black slate tiling:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvQCfkU28_oQHghNXXJIJPJiufNE2ojrwEEFMv6y_5RdHupAO6jKGMnPFDwxgJnvwxnZ431-XGhRag87Dh2U-LGaNPxlNXxR_yPmZ4ZInysoEjpkGkTNEF2YIWcCV192OLhx5oFoX4g/s1600/IMG_4355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nvQCfkU28_oQHghNXXJIJPJiufNE2ojrwEEFMv6y_5RdHupAO6jKGMnPFDwxgJnvwxnZ431-XGhRag87Dh2U-LGaNPxlNXxR_yPmZ4ZInysoEjpkGkTNEF2YIWcCV192OLhx5oFoX4g/s320/IMG_4355.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Other unfinished projects - </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finding the perfect paint for the hallway...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyNUbubNfggeGnpNK8h7-82WliriCXiTqd8EGz-NAs5m572Kxz0T6f3fK9dSGK7keo4eCJqGczpNrxASRg0GOOAT37osFa2HVAlA0nI1ny40DJIBwv3BL4kuk70f2rmHRKabDMRQdzV8/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyNUbubNfggeGnpNK8h7-82WliriCXiTqd8EGz-NAs5m572Kxz0T6f3fK9dSGK7keo4eCJqGczpNrxASRg0GOOAT37osFa2HVAlA0nI1ny40DJIBwv3BL4kuk70f2rmHRKabDMRQdzV8/s320/IMG_4412.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and the bathroom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcSjA5Jr8yslyAeLcfZTI6p4Dar3vApv0Qzo4GTr1FCzWxlSDT4D0NdcaiezK6QTyfR2dUHPu_OOZoBYvt-PgKIzhmn5KuTpVp2Y-kS4iCo_PW0rKZ8r_5euz9oarRGkmg8dF9gGZHMQ/s1600/IMG_4350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcSjA5Jr8yslyAeLcfZTI6p4Dar3vApv0Qzo4GTr1FCzWxlSDT4D0NdcaiezK6QTyfR2dUHPu_OOZoBYvt-PgKIzhmn5KuTpVp2Y-kS4iCo_PW0rKZ8r_5euz9oarRGkmg8dF9gGZHMQ/s320/IMG_4350.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also have colonies of squirrels living in our basement laughing at us. So not cool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hysteric/dp/B001V7MRXY?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hysteric</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001V7MRXY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyNUbubNfggeGnpNK8h7-82WliriCXiTqd8EGz-NAs5m572Kxz0T6f3fK9dSGK7keo4eCJqGczpNrxASRg0GOOAT37osFa2HVAlA0nI1ny40DJIBwv3BL4kuk70f2rmHRKabDMRQdzV8/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyNUbubNfggeGnpNK8h7-82WliriCXiTqd8EGz-NAs5m572Kxz0T6f3fK9dSGK7keo4eCJqGczpNrxASRg0GOOAT37osFa2HVAlA0nI1ny40DJIBwv3BL4kuk70f2rmHRKabDMRQdzV8/s1600/IMG_4412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-51608867924814661382010-12-12T13:45:00.001-05:002010-12-12T13:48:22.228-05:00Oh Christmas Tree<div style="text-align: center;">Tom's favorite holiday is Christmas and I would rather refer to it as a happy holiday. Mainly, our purpose for the season is getting to spend time with friends and family. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some people may refer to me as a grinch, but that is not the case. Growing up in the town that has the world's largest Christmas store mildly taints my perception of things. Since Tom loves the holiday, I try to do something every year. Winter-themed dish towels and a decorated tree count, correct?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, this is our holiday homage.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8n4JQqS8ThROO2zWqrVEhwEDfpf3Bu60anmAVAXqKVsE5_2_hcnP9fGJWoXYcBUlzorDMD-3B-I2aEvlRmUeBdhzrmHuMrpTrZXVKBTZg2DtSNU8UZI2uOM8eSjRnhSz2oefG8paBpg/s1600/154967_898359049222_12100789_47795648_3375007_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8n4JQqS8ThROO2zWqrVEhwEDfpf3Bu60anmAVAXqKVsE5_2_hcnP9fGJWoXYcBUlzorDMD-3B-I2aEvlRmUeBdhzrmHuMrpTrZXVKBTZg2DtSNU8UZI2uOM8eSjRnhSz2oefG8paBpg/s320/154967_898359049222_12100789_47795648_3375007_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Yes, it is a baby tree which cost us a whopping total of $13 plus a pot we had hanging around for planting season. As you can see, there is a bit of door scraping in the background. Oh well. Our house is constantly under construction. After the holiday, we plan on putting the tree in our yard. We hear that it may not survive because of the massive change in temperature, but we'll probably put it in our cold laundry room, then in the freezing basement before we finally take it outside.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm in love with this tree.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cherry-Bomb/dp/B0013F0IG2?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cherry Bomb</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0013F0IG2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by John Cougar MellencampIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-21591710871291304272010-12-12T13:26:00.000-05:002010-12-12T13:26:57.179-05:00Oh My Sweet Carolina<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ok, in this case, it would be "<a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/">My Sweet Savannah</a>" and oh-how-sweet she is for passing along this golden nugget of information to all of us in the blogging world, particularly in the home improvement arena. Here she is on a special post called, "<a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-i-refinished-my-wood-floors.html">How I refinished my wood floors</a>". Please check it out - it's totally worthwhile and amazing, ESPECIALLY if you have a home with wood floors you would like to contemplate some sort of project about. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Many people have somewhat frequent blog posts about objects, craft items or furniture they love. Well, this is similar in that my loves and likes are about different methods of home improvement, tools and the like. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o2NhS2_SKMxs7Trg458PWiuyQfhntTQd153tu3USmmI5cHVjbPkqQCf8tSvy4Yip1oke4HqLsFT_Du4KBEi5rr6Y9CjO0T3xG5l9rogimX5pT5EPKBWJ4cB-tfPVndDiGp85xWhJtiM/s1600/DSC_0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o2NhS2_SKMxs7Trg458PWiuyQfhntTQd153tu3USmmI5cHVjbPkqQCf8tSvy4Yip1oke4HqLsFT_Du4KBEi5rr6Y9CjO0T3xG5l9rogimX5pT5EPKBWJ4cB-tfPVndDiGp85xWhJtiM/s400/DSC_0775.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You may have noticed, but the floors in our house are original hardwoods and I have been PINING (you see what I did right there?) to clean them up and do some refinishing. </div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Does anybody know what that ring around the floor is about a foot in from the walls? I can't seem to figure out what the world could make those patterns. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-Sdn7ogwyfwbR8KCAXU_X0KGAoPSl9bexgDoCrflCH13I2l-OYS6msP5DwV_xWF-D_KRavbe8_6LKMRtkfHDB7wHLyNm79zmPyRSPbbj7TF8UaIYcyf6KkLz-Da_PIPtH3dlP4n01tI/s1600/DSC_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-Sdn7ogwyfwbR8KCAXU_X0KGAoPSl9bexgDoCrflCH13I2l-OYS6msP5DwV_xWF-D_KRavbe8_6LKMRtkfHDB7wHLyNm79zmPyRSPbbj7TF8UaIYcyf6KkLz-Da_PIPtH3dlP4n01tI/s400/DSC_0700.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT-Sdn7ogwyfwbR8KCAXU_X0KGAoPSl9bexgDoCrflCH13I2l-OYS6msP5DwV_xWF-D_KRavbe8_6LKMRtkfHDB7wHLyNm79zmPyRSPbbj7TF8UaIYcyf6KkLz-Da_PIPtH3dlP4n01tI/s1600/DSC_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Same deal going on here with the weird ring going about 1' in from the walls. We had radiators (well, the house did at some point judging by the 1" diameter holes in our floors) at some point in time, but those could not have caused what we are seeing now. It's a mystery!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In our kitchen, you can tell the previous owners tried to paint the floor the same color as the dark, icky green walls. From what it appears, they then decided it was a horrible idea and proceeded to sand the floor down. Awesome idea, poor execution. This is only a little section, but the ENTIRE kitchen has green stained planks. *sigh*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s400/DSC_0762.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymYMCXhk043Hyc4kmhvU7WCgLJXnnytFf8OHe_RBV6dE9mCoR4yorlINuf08uLKVCu1JaIuPGdreJQ3F2p1ZWDgsa_osUSv0RppMVDInie-FNK3niMWYGN_z_QhKRQwvLMIdUAPvqQuA/s1600/DSC_0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></a></span></div><br />
Seems fairly quick and easy, right? Now we just have to come up with a few hundred bucks, a place to put all of our stuff temporarily, a weekend and a way to protect the floors that we would inevitably end up scratching up terribly.<br />
<br />
After seeing her post, it made me want to run to Home Depot or Lowe's and rent one of those zamboni-esque machines. You'll see what I'm talking about when you read <a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-i-refinished-my-wood-floors.html">the Savannah post</a>.<br />
<br />
I suppose we have to finish the painting, master bedroom/bathroom, platform bed, etc, etc, etc. until we can undertake another project, but ahhh, a girl can dream.<br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson BrowneIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-22523204370137902302010-12-02T14:07:00.001-05:002010-12-02T14:08:37.553-05:00Cry, Cry, CryThough this was the song I was listening to at the end of my last post, it seems to be more appropriate right now. I love drawing plans on engineering paper (you may have noticed). It makes me feel pretty smart. Tom likes to go over it and tweak the dimensions to use the least amount of materials possible. We make a pretty good team. We also love building things together and haven't gotten a chance to do much of that since we have moved in. <br />
<br />
In comes the bed platform. Originally, I wanted to go with Anna White's plans for a <a href="http://ana-white.com/2010/01/plan-how-to-modify-queen-sized-stratton.html">King Store Bed</a> on <a href="http://ana-white.com/">Knock Off Wood</a>. It's beautiful and functional and after I figured out the materials we would need for the king-size model, I looked at the price tag. Oye. Those plans go out the window even though they are so beautiful. We just can't afford to spend $200+ right now even though a box springs and frame would be more than that.<br />
<br />
So we went with 2x4's and plywood. We had some 2x4's in the basement from deconstruction (yay for reducing and reusing!) and leftover plywood, so we didn't need to buy nearly as many 2x4's.<br />
<br />
After the plans were finalized, we measured the actual <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Comfort-Dreams-11-inch-Select-A-Firmness-Memory-Foam-King-Mattress/3158655/product.html">mattress</a> (the sweet one we got on a super sale from <a href="http://overstock.com/">overstock.com</a>). King beds are supposed to be 76"x80" unless it is a California King, which ours was not. Dimensions for our bed were 75"x79". Another oye! here. At this point, the original beautiful drawing on that engineering paper was looking rough from edit after edit after...you get the point.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWGVLI1eO_t7Hz_Gxfz_Azki3tBLp8V5gsSAknv2zd0A2sR6WG-kxIjPZwF722NskuJFN7eAYad1EjF-mphgLSWbnL212AQIZZwqv8A2VSP5r8rCzF20cTZVzuRDq9KM5ilU3-vbY2V0/s1600/IMG_4124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWGVLI1eO_t7Hz_Gxfz_Azki3tBLp8V5gsSAknv2zd0A2sR6WG-kxIjPZwF722NskuJFN7eAYad1EjF-mphgLSWbnL212AQIZZwqv8A2VSP5r8rCzF20cTZVzuRDq9KM5ilU3-vbY2V0/s320/IMG_4124.jpg" width="320" /></a>Finally, we started measuring and cutting and loving our chop saw that has the amazing mitering feature (more about that in a tutorial to come). So all the pieces were cut and we realized that our platform was going to incredibly heavy. Oh well.<br />
<br />
Next step is to actually assemble the pieces. We went to our two stashes of screws - we had 3" screws! However, they were decking screws for outdoor use, not wood screws. My stash contained 5 boxes - 1 1/8", 1 1/4" and 2" wood screws. Well, that's not going to work when we need to go through 1 1/2" wood and actually secure it to another piece.<br />
<br />
You know how we come across roadblocks? Ta-dah! Here's another for your entertainment. At least we got half the work done. Optimus even helped!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0bvQ1FH0AHYpap1CHp4n0Ne7pEVzH9EtdJgqKWGS9yU7LvywREZVCvfDDPkGeaUEvfkxQw6Q9yNR2-Pwx1z6dbTQ95KJK-6SksiVgm93FAePBwTn3Ljj_pRdkz4YmCFaumYTlkAhRFQ/s1600/IMG_4138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0bvQ1FH0AHYpap1CHp4n0Ne7pEVzH9EtdJgqKWGS9yU7LvywREZVCvfDDPkGeaUEvfkxQw6Q9yNR2-Pwx1z6dbTQ95KJK-6SksiVgm93FAePBwTn3Ljj_pRdkz4YmCFaumYTlkAhRFQ/s320/IMG_4138.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Life is funny?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "Primative (The Way I Treat You)" by Ambulance Ltd</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-29063465815321765832010-11-27T19:16:00.000-05:002010-11-27T19:16:15.911-05:00Obla Dee Obla Dah...Life goes on, yay!<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close, but we are still hard at work using our time off to get things done around the house. <br />
<br />
For example, this is our plan for tonight. We've had a new bed, but haven't been able to use it because we don't want it sitting on the dusty floor.<br />
<br />
Plans (drawn by me!...I'm excited, can't you tell?)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uisbwUL14v22uTb3VG68FzgFA6GuXWecjzC6Z5ShyZFhUsnJY6cHb5G1DHym5C2zuIfEEFahKG5l6Sl-5Ov-rTCgZemtSKRob1zDMwNwD1ORhR-cPBI6xcBYGowahvDPAVJe5TKU3HQ/s1600/KingBedPlatform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uisbwUL14v22uTb3VG68FzgFA6GuXWecjzC6Z5ShyZFhUsnJY6cHb5G1DHym5C2zuIfEEFahKG5l6Sl-5Ov-rTCgZemtSKRob1zDMwNwD1ORhR-cPBI6xcBYGowahvDPAVJe5TKU3HQ/s320/KingBedPlatform.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "Cry, Cry, Cry" by Johnny Cash</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-91605751408805191372010-11-18T23:15:00.000-05:002010-11-18T23:15:36.160-05:00I Could Have Danced....MaybeOk, so anybody who truly knows me has probably seen me bust a move at least once...if you can call it that. For somebody who loves music as much as I do, I tend to keep the dancing limited to the privacy of my own house when it is only me and Optimus. <br />
<br />
You may have noticed how my posts somewhat always relate to music in a way. In order to keep us motivated, a big part of that is having excellent music to keep us working. As always, you can click on the linked area and amazon will let you listen to 30 second clips of each song. I love that feature.<br />
<br />
In a stunning round number 3 (here you can find <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-to-clean-house-to.html">Round 1</a> and <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/09/round-ii-dancing-to-musicagain.html">Round 2</a>), here are the current jams (what am I, 50?) playing in our house:<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caught-Up-In-You/dp/B000VRV2QS?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Caught Up In You</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VRV2QS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by .38 Special<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Suzie-Q/dp/B001GH5LSM?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Suzie Q</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001GH5LSM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Creedence Clearwater Revival<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Fine-Day/dp/B00163NVM4?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">One Fine Day</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00163NVM4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Chiffons<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crocodile-Rock/dp/B000VWJ7QU?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Crocodile Rock</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VWJ7QU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Elton John<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maps/dp/B000WIO31W?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Maps</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000WIO31W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Late-Greats/dp/B002OPHEEO?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Late Greats</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002OPHEEO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Wilco<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Night-Long/dp/B001O3R65E?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All Night Long</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001O3R65E" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Joe Walsh<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chelsea-Bridge/dp/B00138B4MQ?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Chelsea Bridge</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00138B4MQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Buddy Rich<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devil-With-A-Blue-Dress/dp/B000RGCKSM?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Devil with a Blue Dress</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000RGCKSM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Mitch Ryder<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Tambourine/dp/B004BCRFF6?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Green Tambourine</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B004BCRFF6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Lemon Pipers<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jet-Airliner/dp/B000V8E1EC?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Jet Airliner</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000V8E1EC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Steve Miller Band<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kennedy/dp/B000SFSJF0?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kennedy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000SFSJF0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Ratatat<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Warm-It-Up-Explicit/dp/B001EJ2JHS?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Warm It Up</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001EJ2JHS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Girl Talk<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Around/dp/B000VZUTSM?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Shop Around</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000VZUTSM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by The Miracles<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Away/dp/B000V64KS6?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Walk Away</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000V64KS6" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Joe Walsh<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stranglehold/dp/B00136LHYI?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Stranglehold</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00136LHYI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Ted Nugent<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fortune-Cookie/dp/B001VWF5DI?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fortune Cookie</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001VWF5DI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Los Straitjackets (it's free right now on amazon!)<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Mama-Dont-Dance/dp/B0017SYR44?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Your Mama Don't Dance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0017SYR44" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Kenny Loggins<br />
"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Betty/dp/B00136PUP0?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Black Betty</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00136PUP0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Ram Jam<br />
<br />
<br />
As it turns out, this rendition has far fewer newer things on it as well as less indie. Anybody have similar tastes so you can suggest new music? Any particular music you like to clean, work or craft to?<br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-B-Goode/dp/B001NZ8NSW?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Johnny B Goode</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001NZ8NSW" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Chuck BerryIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-79418592196521759232010-11-14T21:31:00.000-05:002010-11-14T21:31:16.425-05:00Around the World<div style="text-align: center;">About this time last year we were living in Portland, Oregon. It's fairly crazy to think about how much things have changed in just a year in regards to where we live. We moved from a bustling Pacific Northwest metropolis of over half a million to an east coast, southern town of around 2,000. Talk about a culture shock.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, I digress. At this point last year, we had a friend living with us and part of our plan was to have an "Around the World" theme in regards to food so we could try some new and interesting meals. Living in Portland meant a lot more places to eat out AND they had tons of vegetarian options everywhere. We didn't want to fall into that trap so we started cooking and made that a large part of our night. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now we have nowhere to eat out within 15 minutes, so we cook a lot more. Instead of vegetables and rice every night, Tom and I decided to start another round of "Around the World", starting off with a Moroccan Stew. It's way healthier for us and it gives us time to spend together doing something fun while saving a lot of money. We'll keep you updated on our next ventures to far away and exotic places.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Moroccan Stew - Crock-Pot Style</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 small onion, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 medium garlic clove, minced</div><div style="text-align: center;">2-3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup or 1 can of canned crushed tomatoes</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 cup of carrot peels (just peeling the whole carrot down to nothing)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 cup of vegetable broth or water</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp of ground cumin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp red pepper flakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp salt</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg_NjZiWpe3bl5aAn-yHOWxJESxO3Xvj6gvgPw5Ztwrcjf98vjTG9MRxUR1SVImMvCxSc3kfM63sociuB5OnZkVNokwozrTQwceiiC61jdw9LW_J3N2VSnJn5TRrKs_scsq294Sf8atE/s1600/IMG_3989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg_NjZiWpe3bl5aAn-yHOWxJESxO3Xvj6gvgPw5Ztwrcjf98vjTG9MRxUR1SVImMvCxSc3kfM63sociuB5OnZkVNokwozrTQwceiiC61jdw9LW_J3N2VSnJn5TRrKs_scsq294Sf8atE/s320/IMG_3989.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Directions - Throw it all in a crock pot and let it cook for 5-6 hours. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Makes at least 6 servings (enough for it to be multiple meals throughout the week!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqTSBhu9LFwbHgUzRgymC1Hw7MHfBORVqKl7HTb9Pm_C244a_L4X8adtNqYu3vJa7skixbKJ1VXmEpfKRkh1Jf7bEM57A_TR7XCn4RtMp73MzxhI5KnGM2LM39l7Ai21XtQoM6hxia9s/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqTSBhu9LFwbHgUzRgymC1Hw7MHfBORVqKl7HTb9Pm_C244a_L4X8adtNqYu3vJa7skixbKJ1VXmEpfKRkh1Jf7bEM57A_TR7XCn4RtMp73MzxhI5KnGM2LM39l7Ai21XtQoM6hxia9s/s320/IMG_3987.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We also threw in some fresh tomatoes from our garden (in November...awesome, right?). If you have good regional or international vegetarian recipes that you think we'd like, please pass them along. </div><br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "Cannonball" by The BreedersIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-67652598100225464072010-11-09T18:37:00.016-05:002010-11-09T19:46:03.754-05:00Time-Suck Theater: 3rd Time's a...Something...Let's shoot back to last week for a moment, when we were going to transform the random concrete landing strips on the backyard into a beautiful garden space by planting a bunch of tulips and lilies around the concrete. My awesome sister-in-law had already helped us out by getting rid of the overgrowth on top of the concrete. Working together this should only take us another reasonable 2 hours. Dig holes, plop in bulbs, cover them up. Easy, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5R1_cHa6Uqv8QBXB9T7GTbvmeAhuOtnleQN9ILlQ_ilyf12LxaLbdxLCPkyqoBMXUvD92XgyadzfCdWHNGoxYlxpIDgV1kZRUk3hcuFeygf2ZgGeXAPI6tflwXqe5j33nbbbS9401I/s1600/IMG_5550.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux5R1_cHa6Uqv8QBXB9T7GTbvmeAhuOtnleQN9ILlQ_ilyf12LxaLbdxLCPkyqoBMXUvD92XgyadzfCdWHNGoxYlxpIDgV1kZRUk3hcuFeygf2ZgGeXAPI6tflwXqe5j33nbbbS9401I/s320/IMG_5550.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537699578195449234" /></a><br />Wro......well, actually yeah, it was pretty easy. We got half the bulbs planted when I pulled out the shovel to dig some 6" deep holes for a batch of bulbs that required it. Then, clunk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWREE_xA6Db5HL106tYnEl9T7U5iny04_JpAGVji_6NgUMAt6MoSigJMtsff-UTTsWYPq60S1HXsXJXpgG2ptxNqY25FBudH757CDxBVuxOfzlZDIqCLS031CEBE6VQ81NLmo6baHiSw/s1600/IMG_4513.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWREE_xA6Db5HL106tYnEl9T7U5iny04_JpAGVji_6NgUMAt6MoSigJMtsff-UTTsWYPq60S1HXsXJXpgG2ptxNqY25FBudH757CDxBVuxOfzlZDIqCLS031CEBE6VQ81NLmo6baHiSw/s200/IMG_4513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537701048080620274" /></a>Wrong! (You see what's happening here?) All we wanted to do was plant pretty flowers! Apparently this house has other plans...namely, to dig up the parking lot under the entire yard. That might be a bit of hyperbole, but here's the first chunk of concrete I dug up. This is just the beginning. On all sides of the random visible strips are about 5 to 6 feet of buried concrete (with some brick mixed in). I think we'll be leaving the rest of it in place...except for the areas that need to be dug up to plant things. Here's the pile of giant amalgamated concrete and brick blocks we dug up that afternoon...are you kidding me?!?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD7bPsoUfBnXZOhlRogBeEgtat6diWt4JNfXwR7VPWn2cAVv5__rX2dfJzCPpdFzfZh8Lsbe7w0xDbCdiC4_8-zKt7gsVxTcgrqNA3cH4xeGBeQYcvy0WLiF8MaVaAiKRINCCgUXiA-Y/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD7bPsoUfBnXZOhlRogBeEgtat6diWt4JNfXwR7VPWn2cAVv5__rX2dfJzCPpdFzfZh8Lsbe7w0xDbCdiC4_8-zKt7gsVxTcgrqNA3cH4xeGBeQYcvy0WLiF8MaVaAiKRINCCgUXiA-Y/s400/IMG_4517.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537701724917414818" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9A2D9WBbtddYCkS_lU6oQEXT_N_kEVWZEda5lv3GDj4Q9NEWdtGK6X0snsjyJqD7jIuFUCca50o0q4_bg-oGWsHJKzxIjcN37NQroWMQG_SCES8viy0iL1FNEWmnqOmBt2tPCRqAES0/s1600/IMG_4504.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9A2D9WBbtddYCkS_lU6oQEXT_N_kEVWZEda5lv3GDj4Q9NEWdtGK6X0snsjyJqD7jIuFUCca50o0q4_bg-oGWsHJKzxIjcN37NQroWMQG_SCES8viy0iL1FNEWmnqOmBt2tPCRqAES0/s200/IMG_4504.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537704079624373986" /></a>There were even some random pieces of terra cotta block in here. Yes, this real. In case you don't remember<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWdhO5i-LcffiIakqjpdHJgy-r0da-jNsyl6Hu7J0uCW4MtoBnYicdHe_HEOGCOT1PQerG91YOq56o6DxRA-Zf_UxVHHEshe4TiYGxhl-TNPnguxjlbquFoe0dr-hLWjDA-ojm4w8z40/s1600/IMG_4511.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWdhO5i-LcffiIakqjpdHJgy-r0da-jNsyl6Hu7J0uCW4MtoBnYicdHe_HEOGCOT1PQerG91YOq56o6DxRA-Zf_UxVHHEshe4TiYGxhl-TNPnguxjlbquFoe0dr-hLWjDA-ojm4w8z40/s200/IMG_4511.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537704516788021154" /></a> what that is, it's the very strange offspring of cinderblocks and bricks that are used as foundation walls in the mid-20's...like in our basement (as demonstrated by Jessie). Some other shards of ceramic looked a lot like pieces from an old clay smokestack. We just so happen to have roughly 40% of one left in our attic above the kitchen. Sweet.<br /><br />Task #3: Success! It only took us 4 hours to almost finish a 2 hour job. Yeah. House: 3, Tom and Jessie: 0.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC_SgLhoO80jdO4Q4MIFRMYBvVlzYEjUgiQ_YhX8hsTh_l_leFg9kB10V58oe2z4ksmrCE2KkxBUPUskwiqW962I-S2x33YpZpNQtfA_XsXwv3ePfSrEKlwKHnKo2idPUpTHHbVfw6PM/s1600/IMG_4676.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdC_SgLhoO80jdO4Q4MIFRMYBvVlzYEjUgiQ_YhX8hsTh_l_leFg9kB10V58oe2z4ksmrCE2KkxBUPUskwiqW962I-S2x33YpZpNQtfA_XsXwv3ePfSrEKlwKHnKo2idPUpTHHbVfw6PM/s200/IMG_4676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537705141484577874" /></a>So...we lose. But wait! We did manage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWJR-f_fWQDVyH-X8f1sNtnm1i1TgyqzQwBclur1so4SBdYUOO82BBX1qJS_7pvR9xvZtFkNU9fsqpAKkKFeMtM5bVfKncHY0fcC2uh31hYM_WNbFcAaz9bTY2H4WpKgLkre4oYEIyvA/s1600/IMG_4678.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWJR-f_fWQDVyH-X8f1sNtnm1i1TgyqzQwBclur1so4SBdYUOO82BBX1qJS_7pvR9xvZtFkNU9fsqpAKkKFeMtM5bVfKncHY0fcC2uh31hYM_WNbFcAaz9bTY2H4WpKgLkre4oYEIyvA/s200/IMG_4678.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537705748441158546" /></a> to get all of the door sweeps installed. That means no more light and wind gusts coming in under every door to the outside world. w00t. House: 3, Tom and Jessie: an emphatic 1.<br /><br />However, while I was installing the door sweeps Jessie was filling in some cracks in the foundation with Great Stuff...then she asked me to come look at this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe-W5Ue6EHhCBahA10_DHkgGAeMaidIcsZ1qh2xlxKIzl2cyQGmfIxKtevrgzXvzXYwfjbYqTaWXLwsG2WU3OzUOfSHsjz_xh7a1M1jiiCA-GzRxN9Swx-Oa571UNq0zTdmdhbcelNnQ/s1600/IMG_4661.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoe-W5Ue6EHhCBahA10_DHkgGAeMaidIcsZ1qh2xlxKIzl2cyQGmfIxKtevrgzXvzXYwfjbYqTaWXLwsG2WU3OzUOfSHsjz_xh7a1M1jiiCA-GzRxN9Swx-Oa571UNq0zTdmdhbcelNnQ/s200/IMG_4661.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537706593519902642" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tYf-nOwE8lWEK_DeFfoxygIniAF9jKMJK2RhSDXe_L1PnoydZwiqG4ex-1rQFvOTuveTbEiHBTvO9oqL1oVDKSITWITmIEx8SgJQY8Ot36grj6vV_FKLjUr95jSNz7bo_hrnpXfuKc0/s1600/IMG_4666.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tYf-nOwE8lWEK_DeFfoxygIniAF9jKMJK2RhSDXe_L1PnoydZwiqG4ex-1rQFvOTuveTbEiHBTvO9oqL1oVDKSITWITmIEx8SgJQY8Ot36grj6vV_FKLjUr95jSNz7bo_hrnpXfuKc0/s200/IMG_4666.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537707007859008930" /></a> <br /><br />That half-eaten sheath around those two giant wires is supposed to be protecting the main power feed into our house. The squirrels have other plans, which is not cool. No problem, I'll grab some extra thick dielectric tape and wrap it up before it gets any worse, just a 5 minute delay....right?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcjsfr4Yvy4A440VBNiXJCa0ZqZ9aNHEbyd1g_tRJJ9idXdj-qpfNMjRYiVBp3xxqg6SkX-XRsj-nSyHjJyCsUDXgyyQKKfgzl7mzjtQlpPy-F5zTufQGcD2Zu3u8Yvo2vawzpWU8Rw/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkcjsfr4Yvy4A440VBNiXJCa0ZqZ9aNHEbyd1g_tRJJ9idXdj-qpfNMjRYiVBp3xxqg6SkX-XRsj-nSyHjJyCsUDXgyyQKKfgzl7mzjtQlpPy-F5zTufQGcD2Zu3u8Yvo2vawzpWU8Rw/s200/IMG_4647.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537707660954908754" /></a>Wrong. What is going on here? This is a giant collection of flies just hanging out on the inside of this one basement window next to the electric meter. Words cannot express...I mean seriously, what is this crap? After cleaning that up, it's another 10 minutes of delay...bringing the final score to House: 4...no, 5. Tom and Jessie: 1.<br /><br /><br />That's all for this edition of Time-Suck Theater. Join us next time...we try to do anything. Yay us. <br /><br />Tom<br /><br />Currently listening to "Midnight" by BlindsideaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-55120582248011694942010-11-08T21:52:00.000-05:002010-11-08T21:52:04.510-05:00The Best Laid Plans of Jessie and Tom......often go awry. That's one of few true literary references you'll see me make, so enjoy it. Currently I'm trying to find a poignant saying to describe a phenomenon that we experience almost daily in our home. Steinbeck said it pretty well I think, but it's not nearly depressing enough.<br />
<br />
Maybe you remember me discussing this problem when <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/06/enter-dishwasher.html">installing the dishwasher</a> back when we moved in. Here's the idea: every job, no matter the scale or complexity, ends up taking 5 to 10 times as long as you plan. Every time. No matter what. Can somebody come up with a catchy phrase to describe our torment and frustration?<br />
<br />
We've got a few things to catch up on, but I'm going to run this theme into the ground in detailing this weekend's events in three exciting installments....aaaaand begin!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEBrWu5PsmD7VBnhEnJzUcf19wfBGYZqLYK9-W0gzYnkPo3fCS_TQAxinx8IsBglGBTUzd-5cN0L1aTDz2GUWa10gtGLUIia7wvHgheeXYIfunxKVy1XtJv4PrCKf7JSnmRpuO4eyU70/s1600/IMG_3729.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537369342639952050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEBrWu5PsmD7VBnhEnJzUcf19wfBGYZqLYK9-W0gzYnkPo3fCS_TQAxinx8IsBglGBTUzd-5cN0L1aTDz2GUWa10gtGLUIia7wvHgheeXYIfunxKVy1XtJv4PrCKf7JSnmRpuO4eyU70/s320/IMG_3729.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
So, first my mom took the initiative to search on Craigslist and find us a dryer for cheap so we could take care of our laundry in the cold, wet days of winter because it's not as much fun then as it is in the picture above. She went to check it out and paid, all we had to do was pick it up, which we are both extremely grateful for. From the description and sale cost we weren't sure what to expect, but the dryer looks about 10 years newer than it apparently is which is a fantastic surprise. We load it in the back of the car, drive to dinner, then on the way home we get rear-ended. Naturally. <br />
<br />
As the story goes, a couple of stupid kids were running across the street while we were turning right, Jessie yelled and I saw them NOT stopping so I slammed on my brakes, avoiding totally wrecking their entire beings. The car behind me slid as it was just starting to rain, hitting us in the bumper, causing almost no damage, but freaking us out and wasting a good bit of our time.<br />
<br />
We regroup, come home, unload the washer into the back corner of the dungeon next to the washer, start a load of laundry in the washer, then try to hook up the dryer. All we have to do is hook up a vent line (two screws) and stick a plug in the wall and we're done, right? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhmsPAUWF6_PIk-P6je9O63gyecxX-DC0cJA7KV3XmQecq7R2nuNYt9wnrbcp5Pr2p_FFwitgLMh_WcXrkq0bUFjuKBO3f-8heIu20jNjX-8SbQzsbRSY4rUr3z02449ptfOP7PqRFaQ/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537375178266611442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhmsPAUWF6_PIk-P6je9O63gyecxX-DC0cJA7KV3XmQecq7R2nuNYt9wnrbcp5Pr2p_FFwitgLMh_WcXrkq0bUFjuKBO3f-8heIu20jNjX-8SbQzsbRSY4rUr3z02449ptfOP7PqRFaQ/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Wrong. This house was setup for a natural gas dryer. Thus there is only a 120V outlet and a really poorly placed, completely unsupported iron natural gas pipe hanging down about 8 feet from the ceiling (it's the black pipe on the left).<br />
<br />
Ok, no problem. Some previous owner wanted to have the laundry in the mud room between the kitchen and the deck (not our ideal choice, but we'll roll with it for now). Jessie and I try to lug the dryer out of the basement and try squeezing it <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT31L9HoL0Sbc4qimqec6QuM1JkpW6SRQscSictD-UyPQi_NVPj6424Bcwg4UjeQsVhVVjfZPVRfYu9bZPdfLevuaBroYFRibwvzB91LcGy3Kb-Ql0bZjWUM0CRAPCw2rNDVoSWiGprL8/s1600/IMG_4670.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537367516154170642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT31L9HoL0Sbc4qimqec6QuM1JkpW6SRQscSictD-UyPQi_NVPj6424Bcwg4UjeQsVhVVjfZPVRfYu9bZPdfLevuaBroYFRibwvzB91LcGy3Kb-Ql0bZjWUM0CRAPCw2rNDVoSWiGprL8/s320/IMG_4670.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 239px;" /></a>up the deck stairs, but to no avail. So we walk around the house, in the front, through 3 more doorways to the mudroom and plop it down next to the outlet. Now we can just plug it in, right?<br />
<br />
Wrong. Apparently, this dryer is too new for this house at 11 years old. 4 prongs does not equal 3 prongs. Newer dryers have a case ground wire on the 4th prong, not to mention a different physical layout to the plug. The only two solutions here are: (1) rewire the outlet to the new 230V, 4-wire standard outlet in the location we want it to be or (2) put a 3-prong adapter cable onto the dryer and hope it doesn't burn the house down. Guess what we did.<br />
<br />
Jessie picked up a cable, all I had to do was remove three nuts and put the new wires on...so of course I drop the ratchet socket into the dryer on the 3rd nut. In case you didn't know, dryers are almost completely sealed boxes, requiring me to tip it upside down on the corner next to the wire connection to get the socket to fall out. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1roV20gPY9dycQWQxmCAODdeCfB26i7LQwtTsDtCuAXHy22esAZghSyC8n4NhTh1EcP_Ec5KCn5g2dxpb9qfTRg6LIx65eNBcryGsv9GOPSj21xTiDeVqVnyvsEEa_rT1LfAx-mJTXqo/s1600/IMG_4684.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537375741637474194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1roV20gPY9dycQWQxmCAODdeCfB26i7LQwtTsDtCuAXHy22esAZghSyC8n4NhTh1EcP_Ec5KCn5g2dxpb9qfTRg6LIx65eNBcryGsv9GOPSj21xTiDeVqVnyvsEEa_rT1LfAx-mJTXqo/s200/IMG_4684.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 150px;" /></a>Great, now the wire is on and I plug it in. The outlet is, of course, positioned in the corner right next to the door. Ok, so the door to the deck will officially be just for show until we rewire this outlet. Whatever, it works...finally......just three days later. <br />
<br />
Task #1: 3 days vs. however long it takes to stick a plug in the wall (for argument's sake, let's call it a 5-minute job). For those keeping score at home, that's House: 1, Tom and Jessie: 0.<br />
<br />
<br />
Tom <br />
<br />
Currently listening "The Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring (seems appropriate)aTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-75957711506655939152010-11-08T21:49:00.012-05:002010-11-09T07:34:44.546-05:00Time-Suck Theater: Installment #2Our main goal for the weekend was to get some weatherizing done. Looking at our financials and places that need it most, we decide that insulating the walls inside the staircase to the basement would be the best place to start given that our basement is almost open to the outdoors. Finishing the basement will take a ton of time and money and it's not conditioned space anyways, so the cheapest way to seal up the upstairs is to seal that not-so-surprisingly porous entrance for cold air.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s9ar7xHyLLPCeVdUtWmJ3iB36lKvdXzIXz2QKRV3KrBbF4GupJeh2PxszLLlmCqQn8hwJWggtZJ37-6HlnXE7pquUtxG_vBWQUV49_4yJfTsYN41m7iGve4l_81IgCzmm3UKqoctTgs/s1600/IMG_4594.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5s9ar7xHyLLPCeVdUtWmJ3iB36lKvdXzIXz2QKRV3KrBbF4GupJeh2PxszLLlmCqQn8hwJWggtZJ37-6HlnXE7pquUtxG_vBWQUV49_4yJfTsYN41m7iGve4l_81IgCzmm3UKqoctTgs/s320/IMG_4594.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537377886497005874" /></a>We pick up some inexpensive rolled insulation to line the walls (and this kiddy-extinguisher to keep it from acting as kindling), along with sweeps and some seals for the door. Installing rolled insulation is easy: cut it to the right length, stick it between the studs, and staple the brown paper to the stud faces. This whole job should only take us a reasonable 2 hours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_eUoX4gt53oh8kUzqZBgTUhxcbYWb6wVO90Hr-QCHIErVh8iMhuENJGMPndsi-HZF0SbqGOJIFb-GZt8e214WGc8iwJlMDOQT9vAh-kl2XMjYCIV6TwDsHYANOuxVHgDL7TgiZIEe5s/s1600/IMG_4601.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_eUoX4gt53oh8kUzqZBgTUhxcbYWb6wVO90Hr-QCHIErVh8iMhuENJGMPndsi-HZF0SbqGOJIFb-GZt8e214WGc8iwJlMDOQT9vAh-kl2XMjYCIV6TwDsHYANOuxVHgDL7TgiZIEe5s/s200/IMG_4601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537378410931822402" /></a>Wrong. Where are we installing this insulation again? In the 10-foot-tall walls overlooking the shoddy 10-foot staircase to the basement? Hmm...I guess we need to figure out a way to reach the top of the walls since there is absolutely nowhere we can set up ladder. My brilliant solution: <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/07/and-so-it-beginsstage-one.html">death ladder</a>. Just like the original construction ladder to the attic, I'd just take a couple sturdy scrap boards and screw them into the studs to give me one step and one handle to hold onto, then allowing me to reach out and staple in the insulation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzywd6GXd4Rq_vTp7MzisZZa28gz4uLgHH78Eg8qAQkEsV6EGXybV3BsmTYDSdmG-lFIlhfcbe9sAB6tz3eJ1JJqcPQTzxqK9LGO08L0pkSbdNBF2Eg3N5jMf45tMDU9-roMvk8WPMz2A/s1600/IMG_4620.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzywd6GXd4Rq_vTp7MzisZZa28gz4uLgHH78Eg8qAQkEsV6EGXybV3BsmTYDSdmG-lFIlhfcbe9sAB6tz3eJ1JJqcPQTzxqK9LGO08L0pkSbdNBF2Eg3N5jMf45tMDU9-roMvk8WPMz2A/s200/IMG_4620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537380661032797314" /></a>I liked my solution, Jessie thought it was stupid and dangerous. Her brilliant solution: platform of unspeakable horror. She grabbed some scrap 2x4s riddled with nails and tossed them over the divide. "So now I have a bed of nails to fall onto?" I asked.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA1kV1XtsxrJHeS1qh4PWKi1K0jb9oLzdTCkhBu2dLenvYGrV0_bTkWHtrw22bJLZ4LmV5fkoAz-ev2AxSzExwitvC6YBu4Dwb4b4UZO0BaM_yD8ubt9qEq0he36WmazEMddjjGpsh5M/s1600/IMG_4639.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA1kV1XtsxrJHeS1qh4PWKi1K0jb9oLzdTCkhBu2dLenvYGrV0_bTkWHtrw22bJLZ4LmV5fkoAz-ev2AxSzExwitvC6YBu4Dwb4b4UZO0BaM_yD8ubt9qEq0he36WmazEMddjjGpsh5M/s200/IMG_4639.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537381126946185538" /></a> Then she takes a piece of 3/8" plywood and puts it over the top. "Oh, that's much more secure."<br /><br />Well, like many things in a good marriage, this is a matter of compromise. Our compromise: use both brilliant solutions. This way, when I fall through the pile of scrap wood and nails I'll be doing so from at least three feet higher up. After that little delay, we're back to work and moving right along, three strips in place. They'll all go in this easy, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY8FFsNkUuA93aNId7xSmg3QUTEn-sf9bh5O_juRItX-6ATAKaQeY2VXIW3G3gXWunq-4_d4CYOnYzZJ30O8fQYLsrOXg-wGcPOqrNPUgl0LLbd1tJAa9NPTTTclAKKzcqVR6nu6gmhM/s1600/IMG_4603.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBY8FFsNkUuA93aNId7xSmg3QUTEn-sf9bh5O_juRItX-6ATAKaQeY2VXIW3G3gXWunq-4_d4CYOnYzZJ30O8fQYLsrOXg-wGcPOqrNPUgl0LLbd1tJAa9NPTTTclAKKzcqVR6nu6gmhM/s200/IMG_4603.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537381692492363442" /></a>Wrong! First, we need to remove these several blocks of scrap wood used to support an electrical outlet. Then, we need to figure out what to do with the stove hood that's venting directly into the staircase. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilTNB_qy7SWWGXaUxWpcjvCbygZn9rNOypNs7JWqhpOGGk4AzjvWQrx-lqMeEtw3YXcEn35car2mXZR-ez7mgBsmzHezf4n_uj2MWH9rlQqtWePE3NuO3-d97fzAxpSyhyphenhyphen0LqdmrJ5nQ/s1600/IMG_4605.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilTNB_qy7SWWGXaUxWpcjvCbygZn9rNOypNs7JWqhpOGGk4AzjvWQrx-lqMeEtw3YXcEn35car2mXZR-ez7mgBsmzHezf4n_uj2MWH9rlQqtWePE3NuO3-d97fzAxpSyhyphenhyphen0LqdmrJ5nQ/s200/IMG_4605.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537382223946928114" /></a>Awesome, right? Of course this takes some time because each scrap piece of wood is nailed to the next. Wow, do I hate nails. Now that that's done, we'll reroute the vent......actually, let's not. We'll just cut the power to it, block it off, and just not use it (being that it was use-less before the insulation anyways). Back in business! Funny, some of these strips are just a wee bit tighter than others. Didn't we measure this ahead of time to make sure they're normal construction?<br /><br />WRONG! I mean, yes. Yes we measured two studs. They were indeed 16"-on-center. Those two. Here are the on-center measurements for the rest of the studs in these walls (in inches):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbAJCUg5JjoQvcIjDHCaUO0KXP-06czFCNbHUaIC3AgKc5mLolzqLVkn6M4dZAxfy-ZQk20BSGVPBLj_0i2v2V91K8laNFA1dSirIvaWpDaMvPANeRa_tXqYZVvXkwvqBWqx8GQktMeo/s1600/IMG_4638.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbAJCUg5JjoQvcIjDHCaUO0KXP-06czFCNbHUaIC3AgKc5mLolzqLVkn6M4dZAxfy-ZQk20BSGVPBLj_0i2v2V91K8laNFA1dSirIvaWpDaMvPANeRa_tXqYZVvXkwvqBWqx8GQktMeo/s200/IMG_4638.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537383537285238194" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />16 - 15.5 - 19 - 16.5 - 16.25 - 16 - 12.5 / 12.5 - 12.75 - 9.5 / 10 - 12.75 - 14.25 - 14 - 14 - 14.25 - 14 - 4.75 - 16.5 - 17.75<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ugh. What happened in here? I could get the spacing more accurate blindfolded. Maybe not much more accurate, but ignoring the studs on the end, the spacing varies by as much as 6.25" from smallest to biggest gap. So we made it almost halfway around with several gaps to be filled in later. Only took us most of the day with no simple solution to the stunning 1923 building standards.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTjOvMlrOFGnRPXYu3pF3TxsWVW85CuAgIbwEcbwXZmjGqjoK0Qhujhk1HMBVCFd5VJqUq2Xi8IbWbkp8rYHRtlGvPWI-1CVatZtfLn36u2vgwg2wJ3temt8RuablvlCI9fseytySYYI/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTjOvMlrOFGnRPXYu3pF3TxsWVW85CuAgIbwEcbwXZmjGqjoK0Qhujhk1HMBVCFd5VJqUq2Xi8IbWbkp8rYHRtlGvPWI-1CVatZtfLn36u2vgwg2wJ3temt8RuablvlCI9fseytySYYI/s320/IMG_4640.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537384245001659122" /></a>Task #2: This isn't done yet and it will certainly be another day of work. Scoreboard - House: 2, Tome and Jessie: 0.<br /><br />We drowned our sorrows in our family favorite: grilled cheese and tomato soup. Optimus was intrigued, but ultimately disappointed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3f1MC-mXOKKWEig3bh_pA3rFlYpTy7Q00nyzIi2_zPQimh2AFwyB0ey7sits9BnP9k88K60gBLXLLhLQu-L5yYGPYfu68QQUs3h3HsoaMFH1nQDrXm1OdKfjrvcno08-GPqNB_2KxsE/s1600/IMG_4646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3f1MC-mXOKKWEig3bh_pA3rFlYpTy7Q00nyzIi2_zPQimh2AFwyB0ey7sits9BnP9k88K60gBLXLLhLQu-L5yYGPYfu68QQUs3h3HsoaMFH1nQDrXm1OdKfjrvcno08-GPqNB_2KxsE/s200/IMG_4646.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537385052166951698" /></a>Tom<br /><br />Currently listening to "Ice Cream Man" by Van HalenaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-30191478001625635742010-11-04T23:36:00.001-04:002010-11-04T23:58:02.928-04:00Can't Buy Me Love...At Least Not for $14 - $24For the past few months, I have been searching high and low for metal/iron shelf brackets to replace the awful looking wood ones in our master bedroom. After seeing these on <a href="http://search.anthropologie.com/controller?N=0&Ntk=primary&Nu=p_group_id&Np=2&Ntt=bracket">Anthropologie</a>, I wanted them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-SAVeEQdMZ34VfmilHCtXwrb9O8ZWqCsCWHZk2YVen2VYdnebIIGDNeLsTMMocPwbL-KhrL33lVd5NB8un4RevKfTX7OvssZDEt7fFAly2e_gbnBTC_bUP-6E3tZWx9NMr2vAr6HpeA/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-04+at+11.18.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-SAVeEQdMZ34VfmilHCtXwrb9O8ZWqCsCWHZk2YVen2VYdnebIIGDNeLsTMMocPwbL-KhrL33lVd5NB8un4RevKfTX7OvssZDEt7fFAly2e_gbnBTC_bUP-6E3tZWx9NMr2vAr6HpeA/s320/Screen+shot+2010-11-04+at+11.18.33+PM.png" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful colors and very rustic looking. <i>*sigh*</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDslSOz6t0d2IuR8eiZXXKvc75YZdSHFSzB0O2JJgciL4XOO99XCnjWlBWRgx71suu16IuLhQPmD6np9_kcak7sK809YFE7myW07wRqFG1VIYQNonIhUG6j9RUmoFOUIpHbS9Y0Bw7CJs/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-04+at+11.31.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDslSOz6t0d2IuR8eiZXXKvc75YZdSHFSzB0O2JJgciL4XOO99XCnjWlBWRgx71suu16IuLhQPmD6np9_kcak7sK809YFE7myW07wRqFG1VIYQNonIhUG6j9RUmoFOUIpHbS9Y0Bw7CJs/s320/Screen+shot+2010-11-04+at+11.31.05+PM.png" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, I could not and would not pay $14 - $24 per bracket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead, I found some sort of place called DJ's Liquidators (or something along those lines) on the way home from visiting one set of the parents in Baltimore. Yes, they are garden brackets, but they serve exactly the same purpose and are just as beautiful as the ones at Anthropologie. Each was a whopping $3.49 for a heavy duty metal bracket. LOVE. Awesome. Too bad there were only two left. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyOGLVealQRMwiV3sfeCmkJmi63acvYRlO1B_h8rrDrgKna6TNhU1Kw9aBKUWRiGUqMmp2-4q0vN8PW1he6mKXov3D2tzoIw0-8KvLpVK74SUWoACdJAOmddbuL5r3kzIdSwXxPhlB_A/s1600/IMG_2423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyOGLVealQRMwiV3sfeCmkJmi63acvYRlO1B_h8rrDrgKna6TNhU1Kw9aBKUWRiGUqMmp2-4q0vN8PW1he6mKXov3D2tzoIw0-8KvLpVK74SUWoACdJAOmddbuL5r3kzIdSwXxPhlB_A/s320/IMG_2423.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With a little paint, they transform into the perfect match for our house.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUwA8hI26rfigdYCgY7jLRlV-5afaeFqAQozUhOtJe8BpComsvhiQeAJvlLkYLr2c4L6FkwOMh-ZUCHFr-Qug5N23QJsitJDu-47EQ_LJxUGK5O8g5H7OvmsQ-osB4v8kAflWe97DPw8/s1600/IMG_2476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUwA8hI26rfigdYCgY7jLRlV-5afaeFqAQozUhOtJe8BpComsvhiQeAJvlLkYLr2c4L6FkwOMh-ZUCHFr-Qug5N23QJsitJDu-47EQ_LJxUGK5O8g5H7OvmsQ-osB4v8kAflWe97DPw8/s320/IMG_2476.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcAYVEb72LDXnXGZSI0Lp40ursiVB771kI-62SN9igvV0kRjM8FBX4kXJ9BeiAyKyuDkDoTdPHQP7hS8PjSxxmLYTKa0TlwAD5PS_HQXyPlFkqNAKBrzIkso2ZMLDi07z6v2hO9n7870/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcAYVEb72LDXnXGZSI0Lp40ursiVB771kI-62SN9igvV0kRjM8FBX4kXJ9BeiAyKyuDkDoTdPHQP7hS8PjSxxmLYTKa0TlwAD5PS_HQXyPlFkqNAKBrzIkso2ZMLDi07z6v2hO9n7870/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcAYVEb72LDXnXGZSI0Lp40ursiVB771kI-62SN9igvV0kRjM8FBX4kXJ9BeiAyKyuDkDoTdPHQP7hS8PjSxxmLYTKa0TlwAD5PS_HQXyPlFkqNAKBrzIkso2ZMLDi07z6v2hO9n7870/s320/IMG_2478.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcAYVEb72LDXnXGZSI0Lp40ursiVB771kI-62SN9igvV0kRjM8FBX4kXJ9BeiAyKyuDkDoTdPHQP7hS8PjSxxmLYTKa0TlwAD5PS_HQXyPlFkqNAKBrzIkso2ZMLDi07z6v2hO9n7870/s1600/IMG_2478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">For now, they are sitting in one of our windowsills while we plug away at our bedroom/bathroom remodel. Until that is finished, they add a touch of girly beauty to the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct1CI7gbkRahDcczJ5XSyY-6OdOT9A-ss2MJfg1_09eG4LMENk42Y09dXsZhyBYBhL3bIZMJ6u3JvcQa1AF4dahCKa_U6D1_iYwhyVwWJLpy8oj_tgMVK-WNiR98Ft9c0dunmA0sycpU/s1600/anthrobracket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgct1CI7gbkRahDcczJ5XSyY-6OdOT9A-ss2MJfg1_09eG4LMENk42Y09dXsZhyBYBhL3bIZMJ6u3JvcQa1AF4dahCKa_U6D1_iYwhyVwWJLpy8oj_tgMVK-WNiR98Ft9c0dunmA0sycpU/s320/anthrobracket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess you can buy me love...for $3.49 each + tax. </div><br />
<br />
Jessie<br />
<br />
Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-To-Be-Perfect-Men/dp/B000X71COS?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">How to Be a Perfect Man</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000X71COS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Songs: OhiaIn with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-42063333818428910512010-11-04T21:13:00.001-04:002010-11-04T23:58:57.209-04:00The Past and the Pending<div style="text-align: center;">You know how we've been doing demo intermittently for the last few weeks? Well, here's why. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzZ9sdEK03d41PKN67zWjmwMkkMB8l8ZHeNGkIEyzpz8NGHYM84sBuXo9koZywv8HRsXhviDRCZUyQj253MEviGQ4gSEOmzLB1zQaGsIkBnxdbEhOyIvlFsXuX6R3LRQY-WYsNovYuDY/s1600/Bedroom+Plans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzZ9sdEK03d41PKN67zWjmwMkkMB8l8ZHeNGkIEyzpz8NGHYM84sBuXo9koZywv8HRsXhviDRCZUyQj253MEviGQ4gSEOmzLB1zQaGsIkBnxdbEhOyIvlFsXuX6R3LRQY-WYsNovYuDY/s400/Bedroom+Plans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Past-and-Pending-Album/dp/B000YN48KQ?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Past and the Pending</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000YN48KQ" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by the Shins (perfect, huh?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-9558193607283255712010-10-31T21:21:00.001-04:002010-10-31T22:51:41.306-04:00Things the Previous Owners Left Us - Creepy Shed EditionIn the spirit of All Hollow's Eve:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the back edge of our land, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sits a small shed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A large gust of wind or a tap of a hand</div><div style="text-align: center;">Would level it down to a pile of rubble on top of the land</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBY53_rycdBMqktZVl_sxW6iTaZVktj1QEkW3hRvgtsrqPLfJailHbo_tRgsAiPA1ndUNbhb3AN-RinqhmBcbIjez406NRQEkZofz3ycLTNgmdNP1HeYRDXbaWaQIfawQ8EqmUjQXgpI/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBY53_rycdBMqktZVl_sxW6iTaZVktj1QEkW3hRvgtsrqPLfJailHbo_tRgsAiPA1ndUNbhb3AN-RinqhmBcbIjez406NRQEkZofz3ycLTNgmdNP1HeYRDXbaWaQIfawQ8EqmUjQXgpI/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking at it from the outside</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shows a slight slant to the right</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the inside</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are things worth trying to hide</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASUufKZONUPhXtr0xzR3rTznch4rVceFwt96t_4D3mJ8SuQR6bMDHnSXw-53_03tc_u-Re7VN9XKmG7PzNHL0vLbJjsHqNxJztyjC5QpjNRDrWmcxNnk35OX6SjlWTONVOFEMnXdzuFM/s1600/IMG_3936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgC_mcSqyXpLCpdNZ3t18UnHvrfgoY0APpPIyxgCpwsYjUNCVHdNU1SNobBLr4Avv4rzbLxwtRF2Xsivhm_JqoQ_FG9Dj4I2Ok2Zu8-A7zpaKi08fn2oZqlOaFyirze-_yh2TRzi1rQE/s1600/IMG_3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgC_mcSqyXpLCpdNZ3t18UnHvrfgoY0APpPIyxgCpwsYjUNCVHdNU1SNobBLr4Avv4rzbLxwtRF2Xsivhm_JqoQ_FG9Dj4I2Ok2Zu8-A7zpaKi08fn2oZqlOaFyirze-_yh2TRzi1rQE/s320/IMG_3932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">From vines and bugs on the wall </div><div style="text-align: center;">To a rusty half piece of scissors</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even a calculator rounds out the haul</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stepping in one hears the boards squall</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASUufKZONUPhXtr0xzR3rTznch4rVceFwt96t_4D3mJ8SuQR6bMDHnSXw-53_03tc_u-Re7VN9XKmG7PzNHL0vLbJjsHqNxJztyjC5QpjNRDrWmcxNnk35OX6SjlWTONVOFEMnXdzuFM/s1600/IMG_3936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASUufKZONUPhXtr0xzR3rTznch4rVceFwt96t_4D3mJ8SuQR6bMDHnSXw-53_03tc_u-Re7VN9XKmG7PzNHL0vLbJjsHqNxJztyjC5QpjNRDrWmcxNnk35OX6SjlWTONVOFEMnXdzuFM/s320/IMG_3936.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OVmTjDQGYQHovXzFe9MhRg8lPvnM71nbF8LWfpunFq7FIMmwl0oqTa-1nB3VDi2qTcN2Zox_jD7jxxgvFYnnyUWelAVZYNCLWC0yteCuRXx7Mz6Hvc0ta9QyM4NRABgzN7XGiziqXBk/s1600/IMG_3938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OVmTjDQGYQHovXzFe9MhRg8lPvnM71nbF8LWfpunFq7FIMmwl0oqTa-1nB3VDi2qTcN2Zox_jD7jxxgvFYnnyUWelAVZYNCLWC0yteCuRXx7Mz6Hvc0ta9QyM4NRABgzN7XGiziqXBk/s320/IMG_3938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We hope for a storm to push it down</div><div style="text-align: center;">To save the pain of a zoning application</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which makes the both of us frown</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, how we love/hate this town!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkL6Q8FKbYu3m8DBU_cvVQq5oRDAl4nepkPGm_WQ2kTx19gkV_KstN249-b-PS4PgxOLli9m-YJUjuITmCBNbVnJx7BtAHZRyYBptUwkGUXJlr8qWzEvUFFfpgl2wv4fHsgNEumrpZE4/s1600/IMG_4496.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzkL6Q8FKbYu3m8DBU_cvVQq5oRDAl4nepkPGm_WQ2kTx19gkV_KstN249-b-PS4PgxOLli9m-YJUjuITmCBNbVnJx7BtAHZRyYBptUwkGUXJlr8qWzEvUFFfpgl2wv4fHsgNEumrpZE4/s320/IMG_4496.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy48oSwuYoMFPq2X5iuerR8cRJmlDvDAo2qeyRcaFlsYgJ7ShWiJpPr8HjM8TY_yAc6EFpMp2GHk_dNV1YZySmkluhxrahzxV9XJE0GorNqVlobXLbxIXOhyn5dYApzJhwXzgHjvMwnw/s1600/IMG_4498.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy48oSwuYoMFPq2X5iuerR8cRJmlDvDAo2qeyRcaFlsYgJ7ShWiJpPr8HjM8TY_yAc6EFpMp2GHk_dNV1YZySmkluhxrahzxV9XJE0GorNqVlobXLbxIXOhyn5dYApzJhwXzgHjvMwnw/s320/IMG_4498.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsxH_DUFN5I8wWVvM117PqQWXMfzopW8RZByklsF0F39zsef4KHhBhtojta_yS21kNEdFlELCDVVjRtbIzrYQYZz-lyiQ9Qag1wTaHy2Y6yyc7LMtz7rRr9bo72LXc3ykcnCqw6m6Hn8/s1600/IMG_4500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsxH_DUFN5I8wWVvM117PqQWXMfzopW8RZByklsF0F39zsef4KHhBhtojta_yS21kNEdFlELCDVVjRtbIzrYQYZz-lyiQ9Qag1wTaHy2Y6yyc7LMtz7rRr9bo72LXc3ykcnCqw6m6Hn8/s320/IMG_4500.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Tambourine-Best-Lemon-Pipers/dp/B000008HO7?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Green Tambourine</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000008HO7" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Lemon Pipers</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-65564033987789685212010-10-31T20:07:00.026-04:002010-11-05T00:00:01.517-04:00Oh Smack, a Fence: Fence Stage FourRemember way back when? Back when we wanted to build a fence but couldn't because the sheriff (who's also a zoning board member) dropped off a zoning application on our doorstep? Well, Jessie drew up some very detailed plans, which I biked down to the Town Hall (yes, that's the main Town hall entrance) and paid $40 to get a zoning certificate, finally allowing us to build a freaking fence. Only took three months for us to get this far.<br />
<br />
Then, Jessie told me her dad and grandparents were coming down. I got home from work one day, and found this. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HQpWEDFhVvYP5yOWYQBptnjJuP31ZXEuy4rNcyc48kX3twmFEHwQOIJ14ycn942YS-NLh8eLIFc49gRUXWi32o3Mh2IRD7a4pZMpvUrtsSkNcUhg_h865qaKA4L2jIPpq0fWvA11eC8/s1600/IMG_3935.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534369158140116994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_HQpWEDFhVvYP5yOWYQBptnjJuP31ZXEuy4rNcyc48kX3twmFEHwQOIJ14ycn942YS-NLh8eLIFc49gRUXWi32o3Mh2IRD7a4pZMpvUrtsSkNcUhg_h865qaKA4L2jIPpq0fWvA11eC8/s320/IMG_3935.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> Hmm. That wasn't there before. Apparently they drove down in the morning and Doug and Larry started throwing up some boards...until they ran out of boards. It's so close, it's palpable. <br />
<br />
Well, what else could we work on? Let's start with the holes in the roof. Yeah, that's probably a good thing to do before winter sets in. The eves on this house were "constructed" after the original house was put up. At least, I hope so. Typically, decking <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM7D7kujmbxkk7ZdaubR374GWB1h6vASvaMP4RcIihXgjCy4rADLyh8_2qfpbnNCh8zU_a91OBavQWFY2-tj31tuUh5apL9ojptYBTOjrOGpO19BvREwzwlAY-B9IhVaWuoiDZRDzSVc/s1600/IMG_4303.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534381290467023970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM7D7kujmbxkk7ZdaubR374GWB1h6vASvaMP4RcIihXgjCy4rADLyh8_2qfpbnNCh8zU_a91OBavQWFY2-tj31tuUh5apL9ojptYBTOjrOGpO19BvREwzwlAY-B9IhVaWuoiDZRDzSVc/s200/IMG_4303.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a>boards (4x8 sheets of <a href="http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/fpt/osb/2.html">OSB</a> (oriented strand board (cheaper, pressed form of plywood))) are extended across the exterior walls to the outside edge of the eves. Instead, the geniuses who did this took some 6" wide <a href="http://www.cypress-sawmill.co.nz/eucalyptus_saligna_tongue_groove_flooring.html">tongue-and-groove boards</a> and nailed them onto the exterior wall, cantilevered out...with no other support. In case not all the people reading this are engineers, let me just say that this is beyond stupid. Thus, our eves sag like crazy. It looks, and is, in every sense of the word, {awesome}>[span style="font:sarcasm;"]. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtlMQ2EieuKSodCzOo-Jw3kSlgiFiKtvG82qEZhlHpa1qrfXUb8uS_PG7yYvG_-TShQNQDF_M8ftBdj-r0hCHw8olUNimJicispqPYf5grOny_X_ZSSFDbYzEMxBfhwRHXI-kfcW9Lns/s1600/IMG_4359.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534387154374910066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtlMQ2EieuKSodCzOo-Jw3kSlgiFiKtvG82qEZhlHpa1qrfXUb8uS_PG7yYvG_-TShQNQDF_M8ftBdj-r0hCHw8olUNimJicispqPYf5grOny_X_ZSSFDbYzEMxBfhwRHXI-kfcW9Lns/s200/IMG_4359.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a>For now though, the main issue is that there are four patches of shingles suspiciously missing from different sections of the eves that allowed a lot of water and other crap in. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rwcQMe_RDNWmDLCFQJJo5rmjzGKsl0kpoCvdJz8vvEkWI2RJIZrQ-fZAiB_J88ts2TJ7zDgcXQIp1Dy0O85aENH0uwUtBd4eLvkHSOzS_QeSuDDbdjvH1nNyixZbBuwTkF9OoMJmI0I/s1600/IMG_4302.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534380732911960834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rwcQMe_RDNWmDLCFQJJo5rmjzGKsl0kpoCvdJz8vvEkWI2RJIZrQ-fZAiB_J88ts2TJ7zDgcXQIp1Dy0O85aENH0uwUtBd4eLvkHSOzS_QeSuDDbdjvH1nNyixZbBuwTkF9OoMJmI0I/s200/IMG_4302.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>This kind of repair is something that I lovingly refer to as a "band-aid on a broken leg." It works for now to keep our house dry and seal up the attic, but doesn't address any of our structural issues, which will ultimately lead the roof falling off, more or less. For the record, tar paper does not equal shingles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGmtlvGTCuk2_v5MgY0BycGKAwydsJUlLnn97Xhce6nxYs1S7jyb-nXqnWq4zqr8T4yl429dQgGzdppv8JzP9YYqSIFU2thFK6_iA8MJL_Rt5Hn6YkEZkmx2gd4IjCFjaTXUWs3QD3XQ/s1600/IMG_4340.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534383305400073890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGmtlvGTCuk2_v5MgY0BycGKAwydsJUlLnn97Xhce6nxYs1S7jyb-nXqnWq4zqr8T4yl429dQgGzdppv8JzP9YYqSIFU2thFK6_iA8MJL_Rt5Hn6YkEZkmx2gd4IjCFjaTXUWs3QD3XQ/s200/IMG_4340.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a>That phrase doesn't really convey our appreciation for the assistance in getting this done, because this will stave off heat-loss and water damage for a few years for the cost of a bundle of shingles until we can just redo the whole roof properly. This is a good thing, for our sanity and our wallets. Check out how awesome it looks all patched up, as demonstrated by these before and after pictures.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeQLU3DIaWGJ3YIG1IZrs_sBEP0wi7EKueB4M7BNzWT1ov7D8IbREOMKv4KwqDKUid7QDLdyQsNz8shzv8cpfjjcfROrHjZRxyhGw9q98Y-zxIef0J0HT7TE4YkNlLWfdYpAmCFa4TxM/s1600/IMG_4336.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534388331952889522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeQLU3DIaWGJ3YIG1IZrs_sBEP0wi7EKueB4M7BNzWT1ov7D8IbREOMKv4KwqDKUid7QDLdyQsNz8shzv8cpfjjcfROrHjZRxyhGw9q98Y-zxIef0J0HT7TE4YkNlLWfdYpAmCFa4TxM/s200/IMG_4336.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 150px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmia5mxNe_x97gqxi1MknljFE5UsRzaXHGnkr_TLzYrnPfHEh_67YaTskKILLRjdDLFNmRL022d6X8WUmMAOGTEsc_gCAj-zR-GgzG-AXdz5hMc73kBJZiUeSIgDmsovl2Ujwt8NK6698/s1600/IMG_4353.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534388861177215762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmia5mxNe_x97gqxi1MknljFE5UsRzaXHGnkr_TLzYrnPfHEh_67YaTskKILLRjdDLFNmRL022d6X8WUmMAOGTEsc_gCAj-zR-GgzG-AXdz5hMc73kBJZiUeSIgDmsovl2Ujwt8NK6698/s200/IMG_4353.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TfHp86-y5DdiUndkeAULcD20HkZN0n52YqWuAmPw3ABqf8eRQjV9ZGW4VhksjJAaTQ1s1dcY9gyfKymU3iA8dg4oirw7yPjqqJ1hF5pOW-H7hzRj_6D4xot3SEywoE_kCUSio54Yslk/s1600/IMG_4355.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534384031505731794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TfHp86-y5DdiUndkeAULcD20HkZN0n52YqWuAmPw3ABqf8eRQjV9ZGW4VhksjJAaTQ1s1dcY9gyfKymU3iA8dg4oirw7yPjqqJ1hF5pOW-H7hzRj_6D4xot3SEywoE_kCUSio54Yslk/s320/IMG_4355.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> I would like to say that I actually came home and helped, or built the fence in any capacity, but not this time...Doug and Larry knocked this out and quickly at that. For that night though, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5qdfPcI-BB8F6YRAzRlNSZBt020mI6PS1iwcPQO0vHo9gg-A9QroXAi9jKz77efMaP-nXIOB7uJXlU0rQgo1oXcIG_owgUGRKyZFfO8wwrHoc2CO5wp4GOcHOoGuGcIE72QzvcwPLsc/s1600/IMG_3952.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534407762240468450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5qdfPcI-BB8F6YRAzRlNSZBt020mI6PS1iwcPQO0vHo9gg-A9QroXAi9jKz77efMaP-nXIOB7uJXlU0rQgo1oXcIG_owgUGRKyZFfO8wwrHoc2CO5wp4GOcHOoGuGcIE72QzvcwPLsc/s200/IMG_3952.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a>everyone went to sleep, Doug on the couch, Larry and Dorothy in half of one room (post on that room is in the works)...then Larry and Doug woke up at some ridiculous hour, drove 20 minutes back into town, picked up the rest of the boards and hinge hardware we needed, then got to work making the gates to close up the perimeter. If you too would like to spend your vacations like this, leave a comment and we'll send you directions to our house. We'll provide the tools. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk8zXe5FWZhuJoc2e2B_FdAvvcs4P1l41SzU1B6FVxsFqn5NScrGXa8F5zyWWcagzXzsEEmCjux_-LCH2skqqJwgp0aIPyjQaE9i1dFMvkHw0dqb6vbEy2BogtjhqQ99-IEqkxvOQjH0/s1600/IMG_3984.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534389659967108626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk8zXe5FWZhuJoc2e2B_FdAvvcs4P1l41SzU1B6FVxsFqn5NScrGXa8F5zyWWcagzXzsEEmCjux_-LCH2skqqJwgp0aIPyjQaE9i1dFMvkHw0dqb6vbEy2BogtjhqQ99-IEqkxvOQjH0/s200/IMG_3984.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>Before we knew it, we had a complete fence, including two gates to allow us easier entry and exit from the car parking area and the front garden, which has already come in very handy. Yeah pup, this fence is for you...to be trapped in forever! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDP_yHc39aVKuVMGTCXwVkLZF2GepBwYccZ9ICCsGMR0gEJZPy8eOxN9fyUooctmyYI1xcnhYZQrHmyaeZgiW4RTgTiSQaRdcVBllSCek8CVYzmMURNwocS7FYUTnrBJEhB2UoCZ2zdc/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534390338036088834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDP_yHc39aVKuVMGTCXwVkLZF2GepBwYccZ9ICCsGMR0gEJZPy8eOxN9fyUooctmyYI1xcnhYZQrHmyaeZgiW4RTgTiSQaRdcVBllSCek8CVYzmMURNwocS7FYUTnrBJEhB2UoCZ2zdc/s200/IMG_3992.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a> I wish we could trust him to just hang out in the yard and not bolt every time he sees a squirrel...but I'll settle for him having zero vertical, thus rendering him physically incapable of clearing a 30-36" fence. And it's completely 100% done forever! I mean, almost...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2f5ufM8LPDxKy948to7YJvCmAZKjp6naR0vJsVerMFG7DvvLOk2HQSnSCrFtahyphenhyphenw-0_lTLtzAtFLW-N9wZwax-DCtSGORHQoY5LWGOI54Ny4ZjPOjjyBX9YnEj-0AFuIy1N-T84RqxE/s1600/IMG_4376.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534391418654182946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2f5ufM8LPDxKy948to7YJvCmAZKjp6naR0vJsVerMFG7DvvLOk2HQSnSCrFtahyphenhyphenw-0_lTLtzAtFLW-N9wZwax-DCtSGORHQoY5LWGOI54Ny4ZjPOjjyBX9YnEj-0AFuIy1N-T84RqxE/s320/IMG_4376.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Now, I've talked in detail about the most <a href="http://jessieandtom.blogspot.com/2010/07/post-about-posts-fence-stage-two.html">cost-efficient design</a> for our particular fence needs, which does indeed have its good and bad points. Ultimately, all that you need to ask is: Does the fence design work? In a word: Hilariously. Observe, in stunning 720p HD:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sxz0snNglb0?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sxz0snNglb0?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
Tom <br />
<br />
Currently listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gunman/dp/B002VSF338?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Gunman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002VSF338" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by Them Crooked VulturesaTomOfAllTradeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16159677009826778484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3795035243738237295.post-80649116993301518802010-10-27T11:28:00.001-04:002010-11-05T00:01:33.169-04:00Breakfast Nook - Before and Mid-After<div style="text-align: center;">We made some changes to our kitchen to try to make it feel a little more like home and, hopefully, a little cozier. Since moving in, every night has been a chaotic frenzy of "what are we having for dinner?", "did you go to the store?", "we need to make food for the bees", "our furnace pilot is out and we can't where we are supposed to light it in the dark"...you get the point. We have yet to either sand down the bead board or paint it a certain color (you can see that we sanded part of it down in the second picture). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOHWZM4P6KXbHM5uG9z7qwlXKxToHiyOCdGzBnwFo4VRHYesA6vlolSzO4DHf7rJ97EeojUjljKi7f3mqFhHIpiXUmTk9-c37PUVgPqYgTC9qHgZr-KRd1jmmmJWLWMXOqZVUdPc6puo/s1600/DSC_0763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOHWZM4P6KXbHM5uG9z7qwlXKxToHiyOCdGzBnwFo4VRHYesA6vlolSzO4DHf7rJ97EeojUjljKi7f3mqFhHIpiXUmTk9-c37PUVgPqYgTC9qHgZr-KRd1jmmmJWLWMXOqZVUdPc6puo/s320/DSC_0763.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And After...(minus the bead board work)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja48xYeG9qBsDniNi3x3nRRdvrhEUe9j3CVr0mqhecU6m4ZnSxIMLrT8ol2SpWIbPQkXdpS_w6MeUn5iI892NaBDFTbxmGpobnkRWIeV7j7bHpe5d-i5Ivl2i9QrrgoxEgzoEqNhw2h9w/s1600/Nook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja48xYeG9qBsDniNi3x3nRRdvrhEUe9j3CVr0mqhecU6m4ZnSxIMLrT8ol2SpWIbPQkXdpS_w6MeUn5iI892NaBDFTbxmGpobnkRWIeV7j7bHpe5d-i5Ivl2i9QrrgoxEgzoEqNhw2h9w/s320/Nook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxeVhnJUwYO074t8JW2iwXyMoW6trYOeFiDPWiilyHV6qHrBn0C_Va4OcV_4PmTwc-g9PY1N4S5zVLvBUvm6HfMU8W_BZD1RKgQWFp0YI6AC9UhIEMWUHGQ2xl7QBfFfvgJw_Sx6gPyg/s1600/Nook2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxeVhnJUwYO074t8JW2iwXyMoW6trYOeFiDPWiilyHV6qHrBn0C_Va4OcV_4PmTwc-g9PY1N4S5zVLvBUvm6HfMU8W_BZD1RKgQWFp0YI6AC9UhIEMWUHGQ2xl7QBfFfvgJw_Sx6gPyg/s320/Nook2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhqiUedDBbSnOJo6GUM2G6S2alw3X5BDM6yXmGZ3uVciuINVnHIkAOIuH4XQ2vjuIZhuYnVyX0U0OJq_8X044qlzvUeD5mM1WA6BkWQA3PVgUXUDJo05E_KB7MrskfBEzUk-MREBkfcQ/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhqiUedDBbSnOJo6GUM2G6S2alw3X5BDM6yXmGZ3uVciuINVnHIkAOIuH4XQ2vjuIZhuYnVyX0U0OJq_8X044qlzvUeD5mM1WA6BkWQA3PVgUXUDJo05E_KB7MrskfBEzUk-MREBkfcQ/s400/IMG_2571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of these paintings are things I have done or family has done. On the very left is the painting my sister made for us for our wedding. She knew our colors would be earthy, so she made something to fit our style. Besides hers, this is my favorite of the paintings on this shelf, taken at the Farmer's Market:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjcr-jX9f6G5SdRA4bIzZEjTzD1QHPNDWbR9xFgnFnfX__XtoRiZ6qXJ2HjhJP07LW8CAiq86EmOMY_Naeqpz5SA4rMR8Zh08hBCRUI4ofusu9NoSq6zIPqps8bh6kENNVdRAwT6D9nc/s1600/IMG_2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYjcr-jX9f6G5SdRA4bIzZEjTzD1QHPNDWbR9xFgnFnfX__XtoRiZ6qXJ2HjhJP07LW8CAiq86EmOMY_Naeqpz5SA4rMR8Zh08hBCRUI4ofusu9NoSq6zIPqps8bh6kENNVdRAwT6D9nc/s320/IMG_2574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jessie</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Currently Listening to "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Gonna-Be-Girl/dp/B0011ZTCR0?ie=UTF8&tag=inwith-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Are You Gonna Be My Girl</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=inwith-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0011ZTCR0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />" by JET</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>In with the Oldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16588337827912532836noreply@blogger.com0