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Insulation- DONE!
One of the reasons I am gutting the house is to be able to insulate the walls (the other reason is to electrify the house). Of course, another option is to leave everything alone and have a contractor blow in cellulose insulation…. however, The Attic has cellulose insulation, and I HATE IT. Both The Attic [...]
Continue reading...Rethinking My Air Conditioner Ban
8. July 2010
As a kid, air conditioning was an extravagant luxury, meant for stores like Macy’s and really rich people. Back then, when it was 90, 100 degrees during the summer, we sweated it out. Yes, yes! I am now old enough to tell stories of how we “roughed it” when WE were youngsters!! I’ll spare you [...]
Continue reading...Changed My Mind With Lighting
25. June 2010
Choosing lighting for the kitchen has been really difficult for me. The kitchen is very large, 12 x 23, but it has a lot of angles and doorways. And the ceilings are 9 feet. I eventually chose two sets of chandeliers, which I absolutely love. But I can’t say I have been 100% settled with [...]
Continue reading...Working in the Attic
24. June 2010
It actually wasn’t so horrible this time. Some folks must be praying for me! The weather was nice– a bit cool, breezy, and overcast– perfect weather for a latte at the cafe… or a pedicure… or detoxufree 72…. orrrr….. WORKING IN THE MOLDY, DUSTY, DARK ATTIC. This is what greets me when I pop my [...]
Continue reading...Choosing Central Heating
10. June 2010
I’d mentioned that we were getting rid of our forced air furnace. I hate forced air, always have. All it does is blow around dusty, moldy air. In an old house, it’s terrible. We were always coughing and getting sick. We finally tore out a 60-year old WOODEN duct a few weeks ago… and the [...]
Continue reading...The Mystery of the Heat Pump, Solved!
4. January 2010
Here’s a website of heat pump reviews, detailing everything you always wanted to know about heat pumps (but were afraid to ask!). Seriously, I have learned, over the course of owning this drafty 1855 house for over decade, that it really, really pays to know how your heating system works. We spend a fortune on [...]
Continue reading...Giving the Furnace a Vacation
23. October 2009
I’m continuing my series of ways, tips, and products to save money this heating season. Check the category “HVAC” or do a search for “heating” and “furnace” for more posts on this subject. I have a great big old house, having more holes than Swiss cheese. Also, 90% of my home is uninsulated, and cannot [...]
Continue reading...Looking at Electric Heaters
22. October 2009
I do not trust kerosene heaters. They are a terrible burn and fire hazard. I had a few bad experiences as a young lady (turned it on only for the flames to go POOF; another time, I burned holes in a shirt that I had been drying over the heater). And if you have young [...]
Continue reading...The Furnace Cold Air Return Vents
13. October 2009
About this time every year, my blog gets a lot of traffic from people searching for “can I cover my cold air return vents?” Answer: no. I want to address this issue again. If you have a forced air furnace, realize that there is an exchange of air going on with it– cold air to [...]
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I’m Rebecca
:) I’m a married mom of four teenage children. We live in Upstate New York. We bought an old 1855 home and acre property, over 10 years ago. We've been in the slow, agonizing process of living in the home while (trying) to renovate it. When I'm not renovating, I'm a freelance writer and blogger.
We've learned to dig a French drain, plant huge flower and vegetable gardens, wire a circuit panel, install furnace ducting, understand the enigmatic complexities of the plumbing system, and more. It's been *quite* the adventure.
You can read more about us here, read up on the history of the home, and read about what we've renovated so far. Thanks for visiting!
- Parging The Foundation Walls
- The Silent Summer: No Crickets, No Peepers!
- Building a Winter Cat Shelter
- The Tempurpedic Mattress Update
- How to Create a Serfdom
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- Mrs. Mecomber: Lin-- when we finally got the owl out, it was dead...
- Marg: I am sure there are lots of things wrong with an o...
- lin: Was the owl alive or dead? We have a house bui...
- Mrs. Mecomber: Marg-- good advice. At the time, however, we were ...
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16. July 2010
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