Zen Garden

It is always interesting how a goal or project has so many components. Someday we would like to finish a room in our basement. There already is a chimney there, where the previous owner had a wood burning stove. I dream of putting another one down there with a glass front, so it would have the feel of a fire place, but use the existing chimney.

However, there was a water leak on the floor when we had a really hard rain. We surmised that it was running in from the Zen Garden. In looking at it closer, the Zen Garden was lower than the landscaping in front, so that is entirely possible. So over Thanksgiving weekend, Gerry and I (mostly I) moved out all the big stones and then shoveled out all the small rocks, put them in barrels, and then with Gerry's help shoved in about a foot of top soil. Top soil "in the sticks" is heavy clay, especially when wet. We are now going to wait for it to settle and make sure it does not still leak before putting the rocks back on.

These pictures are the before and after of just the first step. Note: we had to dig out the flag pole also. It was concrete about three feet deep. The final report on this will probably be posted in the Spring.

Thanksgiving tradition

The setting: Shawn, Stacey, and Kyla's house.
The menu: By Bruce: The turkey brined and roasted, dressing with sausage
By Stacey: Potatoes mashed with the skins on, steamed broccoli, chocolate bunt cake
By Bernice: Cranberry relish, candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie
By Bonnie: corn soufflé, jell0 salad
This is the menu to the best of my recollection. For me it was very relaxing, since I could cook ahead and just bring three things. Shawn always has the privilege of carving the turkey. It was a bit of a challenge this year.

Stacey's sister Stef and fiancée, Jeff also joined us. (Their wedding will be in January in Phoenix. Stay tuned for the report on that) The picture shows Stef and Jeff with Shawn, Stacey and Kyla. Note what is on the TV.

Our Own Trojan Horse

I just had to post about DH and another project. This last week I was suffering with the dreaded flu/cold. After seven days, I think I will make it. Meanwhile DH worked on this project. The waste oil furnace was given to us by a dear friend. Thank you, Carl. DH has spent countless hours getting it running, which it now is doing quite well. He then had to secure several 50 gallon barrels of waste oil (the end product of changing the oil in your car). A friend has converted his furnace to propane and has about 200 gallons of fuel oil in his basement. Actually it is in a fuel tank in his basement. DH is making a pump specifically to pump it out. See, another gift brings about a project. Since the shop is quite full, it was decided to put the furnace on very tall legs, so the area under it could be utilized for other activities. He used the lift for support and welded on leg extensions. It so much reminded me of pictures of the Trojan Horse. It has now been moved to its resting spot, but a ladder is needed to service it. And we will be warm when working out in the shop this winter.

Oh wait! I think the agreement was that we (DH and myself) would work one year on the Shop, getting it organized, and then spend time on the house. I'll keep you posted on that. We do have projects scheduled for the house.

Living in the sticks without Internet

After a week without internet connection, I am back on line. How did we live without it in the "good old days"? I am guessing the reason for this difficulty to get on line had something to do with - see photo. That is DH with a machine he made just for that purpose. OK, maybe he wanted to lay a phone line from the shop to the house but it did a number on the underground cable. And why, you may ask, would he be putting in an underground phone line when we only have a cell phone?

Well, DW here had been complaining that it was not much fun to have to run out to the shop in the rain, and soon to be snow, to give him a message. Like "You have a phone call", "Dinner is ready", or "Are you still alive, since it is 2AM and I just awoke and you are not it bed?" I could not call on the cell phone because there is really poor reception in the shop. He is planning to put in some sort of communication method using the phone line.

Yesterday we spend the day helping a friend do some renovation on his 100 year old house. He needs to put in on the market but cannot until it is updated. In this case that means completely rewiring it. One hundred year old electrical wiring does not meet code. Surprise. DH helped by fishing new wires in the walls. I did some painting.

We came away so grateful for a new house. Ten years old is new compared to our friend's. But since we did not build our house there still are upgrades we want to do. Today we will purchase $1000 worth of insulation for the basement. And guess who will put it up. The progress, with photos, will be on upcoming blogs.