I love this photo. I usually take such “industrious” photos, and not very arty. But this one I like. Maybe it’s because of the color, or perhaps it’s the crystal-clear foreground and slightly hazy background. It looks so arty! I actually shot a nice photo!

It’s getting colder and colder now, here in Upstate New York– however, with temperatures in the mid-50s during the day, it’s actually unseasonable warm for this time of year. I am mostly comfortable with these temperatures, so I like this weather. It’s dry, it’s clear, it’s invigorating!

But we still have no heat downstairs. :O The Hubs has been too busy with work to do anything. And so have I. I’m also doing a little job hunting, maybe one of those cushy IT Jobs or a position in an electronics kiosk… I love writing and blogging, but I can’t put all my eggs in one basket; I need to diversify. I figure I should work for a good year or so to pay off this kitchen; once that’s done, I’ll start the new project (garage and bedrooms renovations). Then, the house will be completed, Lord willing, and I can restore the exterior of the house and build some nice gardens. Here’s hoping I can get all this done before I turn 50….

I’m chatty today, aren’t I? It’s quiet in the house. The sun is mellowly shining with late autumn sunbeams, the kids are huddled in blankets doing homework. Livvy is curled up by my side. It’s a nice day, conducive to relaxing chat.

How is your season turning out? Have you completed your fall chores and are you ready for winter?

Find the Kitty Friday… 11/12

Original eloquence at New York Renovator.com. This content is copyrighted, so no stealing! Don't make me angry, you don't want to see me when I'm angry!

My Secret Garden looks very forlorn.

Leaves collecting on the porch steps. I had every intention of painting the porch this summer, but the kitchen renovation got in the way. lol. I am glad we did the kitchen, though. It needed it. The porch can wait.

My turtleheads are tired. Their bloom time was short this year. I hardly noticed.

The Rose of Sharon pods. I love Rose of Sharon, but woo! can it spread. I did not pull out all the little saplings that shot up over the summer. Its gonna be fun yanking them out next spring. Looks like more are on the way, too. I like Rose of Sharon because the bushes grow thickly and shield the view of the neighbor’s steel buildings next door.

Overgrown Swiss Chard in the garden.

And poor, poor Livvy, stuck in the house while the leaves are having all the fun!

How does it look where you are?

Just a Little Walk Around the Gardens

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It’s been a chilly week, as evidenced by the heater, blanket, and cuddly kitty. I hadn’t turned the heat on at all upstairs, and was surprised to see the thermometer read 49 degrees in one of the rooms! Weird thing is, the weather dudes are predicting we will experience a mini-heat wave (a real late autumn fat burner, I tell ye) with Tuesday perhaps getting up to 70!

I am happy to see the temps go up a little, still. I have to install exterior trim around the window, and would prefer to do it in above-freezing temperatures.

Cuddles

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The thing is huge, and weighs perhaps 20 or 30 pounds. I was no mean feat hanging this sucker. Because there is no central stud on this wall, I had to cut open the drywall, insert a block of wood between the two flanking studs, and patch the drywall back in. It took about 4 days (spackle had to dry, we had to repaint the area, etc etc). But FINALLY, it is up! I absolutely love it.

It goes with the kitchen design so well, has that bronze-y finish and an “Old World” feeling. It matches the ceiling fans exactly. Now all I need is some custom mugs and a few nice shelves to make the area perfect!

Below the clock will be a long mantle-like shelf. My iPod dock will sit on it. Yes! We got an iPod dock! My Hubs picked it, and it is really high-quality. I’ll have more on that, later. And oh yeah- under this mantle shelf will go a heater… whenever we get those installed. The forecast calls for flurries on Friday! I’m a little nervous because the basement window is still not filled in, and we have no gas lines for heaters yet. :S Both The Hubs and I have been totally swamped at work, and have absolutely no free time at all. *sigh*

Couldn’t Wait…

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Yes, that’s a hole in my basement window. The window fell out.

That’s the original 1855 basement window. The old cut nails are still in it. It had been patched at some point in the past 100 years or so, but I’m amazed it’s lasted this long. We have a few other ones that are seeing their demise, now.

Rather than figure out how on earth to replace the window (and figure out how we’d afford the custom craft), we decided to close off the window. This area of the house is extremely soggy, and water tends to pool beside it. Instead of exacerbating a water problem by keeping a hole here, closing off the window will seal out the moisture. Next year, we’ll remove all the top soil and lay a slab of concrete, to further direct water from the roof from collecting here.

I’ve got some kids who help me haul the concrete, and mix it. Yay!

I lay a thin layer of sand mix to give the cinder blocks something to grab as they sit in there. After the first row of blocks, I fill them with concrete. Then I slather another layer of sand mix, and add another row of blocks. I will eventually smooth out the entire side, to make the wall look seamless.

This is just the first row of blocks. I have since added two, and need to wedge in a narrow third before the window is entirely sealed off. Problem is, I’ve been SO swamped with work that I haven’t been able to get back out to the project.

I’d better hurry. We have a mass of water and drain pipes right in front of this hole. God forbid they should freeze.

Plugging Holes For Winter

Original eloquence at New York Renovator.com. This content is copyrighted, so no stealing! Don't make me angry, you don't want to see me when I'm angry!