This morning, the wind and the rain...
By this evening, a warm fire, a cold drink, rain, and sitting on the porch.
Perfect.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
URYO
Uryo...Japanese for rainfall...
Since the snow fall on December 7, 2013, we finally got some rain (01-30-14).
1.46 inches of it thanks to the orographic lift.
Need more..
UPDATE 02-27-14: Another storm system moved through last night and dumped 0.72 inches and this was just for 02-26-14 and does not include this morning's deluge.
UPDATE 02-28-14: The "Pineapple Express" delivers another 0.86 inches for the 24-hour period for 02-27-14.
UPDATE 03-01-14: The "Pineapple Express" delivers a whopping 1.93 inches of rain for the 24-hour period for 02-28-14!
Since the snow fall on December 7, 2013, we finally got some rain (01-30-14).
1.46 inches of it thanks to the orographic lift.
Need more..
UPDATE 02-27-14: Another storm system moved through last night and dumped 0.72 inches and this was just for 02-26-14 and does not include this morning's deluge.
UPDATE 02-28-14: The "Pineapple Express" delivers another 0.86 inches for the 24-hour period for 02-27-14.
UPDATE 03-01-14: The "Pineapple Express" delivers a whopping 1.93 inches of rain for the 24-hour period for 02-28-14!
Sunday, February 23, 2014
"BEAM" US UP
Now what?
One of our friends, who owns his own lumber mill, cut these beams to our specifications for our next project.
My wife and I were just toying with the idea of adding pizzazz to our south porch. We talked it over with Raymond and that is how it all started.
This is just a rough sketch of what the project will look like when complete.
Now, things can and do change and we have left our options WIDE OPEN.
From the front, it will look like theRoman Pantheon or Greek Parthenon (I married into a Greek family). The two outside pillars will be made of shaved pine logs 16 to 20 inches in diameter.
The middle pillar of the same type of pine log will be from the ground to the top. The beams that are being cut will provide character and structure integrity. The beams will be secured with heavy metal brackets and bolts.
We were going to go with cedar but decided we didn't want any carpenter bees ("cedar bees") buzzing our porch. It's bad enough with yellow jackets ("meat bees"), and mud daubers ("mud bees").
There will be a series of five cross beams running from left to right in the diagram that will replace the original trusses. We plan to purchase indoor/outdoor ceiling fans. Our intent is to build screens to keep the insects out as we either eat or entertain on the porch.
We are contemplating installing low voltage Malibu lights for aesthetic effect. There is the solar option, too.
The underside of the porch roof will be covered with log offcuts and remnants that cover up the OSB plywood for that log cabin feel.
As for underneath the porch deck itself, it may be prudent for us to reinforce with cables, heavy brackets, and posts.
Not only are these beams huge, they are heavy...
The dry rot will be removed.
Our friend milled one side straight and the other side was hand hewn. He scorched the wood with a propane torch and sanded it smooth. The grain in the wood is something to behold.
The beams exposed...
After seeing these beams, we may have to redo the mantel in the house.
UPDATE 04-01-14:
Work began by removing the corner posts and reinforcing the porch with some of the scrap lumber. Didn't think we could pull it off, but all went will without a hitch.
The dry rot will be removed. Thankfully, this is the only area where there was damaged.
One of our friends, who owns his own lumber mill, cut these beams to our specifications for our next project.
My wife and I were just toying with the idea of adding pizzazz to our south porch. We talked it over with Raymond and that is how it all started.
Now, things can and do change and we have left our options WIDE OPEN.
From the front, it will look like the
The middle pillar of the same type of pine log will be from the ground to the top. The beams that are being cut will provide character and structure integrity. The beams will be secured with heavy metal brackets and bolts.
We were going to go with cedar but decided we didn't want any carpenter bees ("cedar bees") buzzing our porch. It's bad enough with yellow jackets ("meat bees"), and mud daubers ("mud bees").
There will be a series of five cross beams running from left to right in the diagram that will replace the original trusses. We plan to purchase indoor/outdoor ceiling fans. Our intent is to build screens to keep the insects out as we either eat or entertain on the porch.
We are contemplating installing low voltage Malibu lights for aesthetic effect. There is the solar option, too.
The underside of the porch roof will be covered with log offcuts and remnants that cover up the OSB plywood for that log cabin feel.
As for underneath the porch deck itself, it may be prudent for us to reinforce with cables, heavy brackets, and posts.
Not only are these beams huge, they are heavy...
The beams exposed...
After seeing these beams, we may have to redo the mantel in the house.
UPDATE 04-01-14:
Work began by removing the corner posts and reinforcing the porch with some of the scrap lumber. Didn't think we could pull it off, but all went will without a hitch.
Monday, February 17, 2014
"STEP"PING A"SIDE-ING"...
One of the "before" shots...
And since then, the "after"...
We will cover up the underside with pine offcuts and remnants.
The new 36-inch wide door...centered. It replaces the previous 32-inch door. We plan to build a screen door to allow air flow.
My wife did a fantastic job of painstakingly staining every rail and baluster on the porch. This picture does not show her work yet. We will rent a floor sander to sand all of the porch decks and then we will Thompson Water Seal it. Since the lumber is old, we want to keep that appearance without painting or staining.
For the right steps, we had to get two yards of gravel (54 cubic feet) for the landing transition. We are contemplating retaining wall blocks for gravel integrity to prevent spilling out into the driveway. If you step off the landing, you can "sink" and lose your balance. We don't want that.
The little pine tree at the bottom center was a tree JayMi received for Christmas and wanted us to have it to eventually replant it. She named it Spencer. Why? I don't know, but the name stuck.
The black trim on the far bay window and the dark green at the Welcome sign are the colors we have opted. With the porch deck and steps stained a ginger color, the colors will compliment each other.
Then there is that exposed granite underneath Spencer. There is more of it. I am going to take the power washer to remove the gravel. There is nothing like solid granite slab to enhance the landscape.
Before...
It was time to replace the laundry room window and the glass blocks just to the left and above the Welcome sign. The glass blocks along with the solar tube provided the only natural light for the bathroom.
After...
The new Pella Therma Star windows installed. Double pane on the left and double pane obscure on the right.
The T1-11 siding is only temporary. We replace all of it with the James Hardie fiber cement siding. We will only go as far as the garage door which is the white strip on the far left in the previous picture.
We also plan to cover the cinder blocks in cultured stone that we had left over from our previous home.
Our bathroom now...
Wish list
Wish list
Wish list
Wish list
The windows as seen from the laundry room. The area in between the windows will be the new bathroom wall.
The bathroom window will be above our brand new bathtub when we expand our master bathroom wall three feet to the left.
The center of the opaque window is over the current wall of the bathroom. The window is functional from the laundry room side. With this window, more light and some ventilation (if you know what I mean). No more reliance on the "fart fan."
We will have a tiled shower that will be approximately 48"x48" and the tub and the shower will be separated by a tempered glass partition.
We will have to tear down a wall and rebuild it which should be an easy endeavor.
Remove the existing tile and spray for any mold that accumulated. This concerns me since the water heater was located in the mudroom adjacent the shower. The water heater leaked and caused some mold to accumulate in the mudroom when we removed the tile last year. I hope the mold abatement strategy works. I feel it is the cause of my runny nose everytime I go into the bathroom. We have plenty of bleach to take care of our problem. We may have to remove the plywood subfloor and replace it with OSB plywood.
We will have to rewire the electrical. We currently have one socket. My wife uses it for the blow dryer and curling iron. Doesn't leave me much so I have to charge my electric razor in the mudroom which is okay with me (I get to shave outside!)
Then comes the rerouting of the water pipes and insulate them to prevent any winter freeze.
We have to purchase new sinks and hardware to replace the IKEA sinks, which will eventually become as shop sinks.
Can't wait to take that first shower!
Dibs!
And since then, the "after"...
We will cover up the underside with pine offcuts and remnants.
The new 36-inch wide door...centered. It replaces the previous 32-inch door. We plan to build a screen door to allow air flow.
My wife did a fantastic job of painstakingly staining every rail and baluster on the porch. This picture does not show her work yet. We will rent a floor sander to sand all of the porch decks and then we will Thompson Water Seal it. Since the lumber is old, we want to keep that appearance without painting or staining.
For the right steps, we had to get two yards of gravel (54 cubic feet) for the landing transition. We are contemplating retaining wall blocks for gravel integrity to prevent spilling out into the driveway. If you step off the landing, you can "sink" and lose your balance. We don't want that.
The little pine tree at the bottom center was a tree JayMi received for Christmas and wanted us to have it to eventually replant it. She named it Spencer. Why? I don't know, but the name stuck.
The black trim on the far bay window and the dark green at the Welcome sign are the colors we have opted. With the porch deck and steps stained a ginger color, the colors will compliment each other.
Then there is that exposed granite underneath Spencer. There is more of it. I am going to take the power washer to remove the gravel. There is nothing like solid granite slab to enhance the landscape.
Before...
After...
The T1-11 siding is only temporary. We replace all of it with the James Hardie fiber cement siding. We will only go as far as the garage door which is the white strip on the far left in the previous picture.
We also plan to cover the cinder blocks in cultured stone that we had left over from our previous home.
Our bathroom now...
Wish list
Wish list
Wish list
Wish list
The windows as seen from the laundry room. The area in between the windows will be the new bathroom wall.
The bathroom window will be above our brand new bathtub when we expand our master bathroom wall three feet to the left.
The center of the opaque window is over the current wall of the bathroom. The window is functional from the laundry room side. With this window, more light and some ventilation (if you know what I mean). No more reliance on the "fart fan."
We will have a tiled shower that will be approximately 48"x48" and the tub and the shower will be separated by a tempered glass partition.
We will have to tear down a wall and rebuild it which should be an easy endeavor.
Remove the existing tile and spray for any mold that accumulated. This concerns me since the water heater was located in the mudroom adjacent the shower. The water heater leaked and caused some mold to accumulate in the mudroom when we removed the tile last year. I hope the mold abatement strategy works. I feel it is the cause of my runny nose everytime I go into the bathroom. We have plenty of bleach to take care of our problem. We may have to remove the plywood subfloor and replace it with OSB plywood.
We will have to rewire the electrical. We currently have one socket. My wife uses it for the blow dryer and curling iron. Doesn't leave me much so I have to charge my electric razor in the mudroom which is okay with me (I get to shave outside!)
Then comes the rerouting of the water pipes and insulate them to prevent any winter freeze.
We have to purchase new sinks and hardware to replace the IKEA sinks, which will eventually become as shop sinks.
Can't wait to take that first shower!
Dibs!
Friday, February 14, 2014
OUR FIRST VALENTINE'S
Today, we celebrate the first Valentine's Day in our home in the hills.
I prepared an Asian noodle shrimp dish for dinner.
And...
I prepared an Asian noodle shrimp dish for dinner.
And...
Saturday, February 08, 2014
A "PERFECT RAIN"...
The perfect day (or days) for a rain would have to be a steady rain on Friday night and to awaken to the sights and sound of rain on Saturday morning.
I have always looked forward to a day, a night, and a morning aforementioned.
Well, it finally happened.
It has been raining here (intermittently) forfive six days in a row for a total of 1.61 inches of the badly needed precip. It isn't a ding in the drought conditions.
This is good for the miner's lettuce! Love this time of year when they shoot up from the ground.
The foothills are slowly surrendering their tan for some green. Some of the local mountains are capped in white. The air quality has greatly improved in the valley. I can see those mountains from my office window.
Good news is that Badger Pass is officially open to skiing and snowshoeing! Time to dust off those cobwebs on the snowshoes and....
HAVE FUN!!!
I have always looked forward to a day, a night, and a morning aforementioned.
Well, it finally happened.
It has been raining here (intermittently) for
This is good for the miner's lettuce! Love this time of year when they shoot up from the ground.
The foothills are slowly surrendering their tan for some green. Some of the local mountains are capped in white. The air quality has greatly improved in the valley. I can see those mountains from my office window.
Good news is that Badger Pass is officially open to skiing and snowshoeing! Time to dust off those cobwebs on the snowshoes and....
HAVE FUN!!!
Friday, February 07, 2014
NO STARBUCKS
I wasn't much of a Starbucks coffee drinker. During the weekends before a hike and a long drive to get to the trailhead, I would load up on a tall.
Then, I met my wife who has to have her Blonde Roast Grande with Half & Half with a dash of cinnamon. Me? I drink it black with no additives, chemicals or preservatives.
During our commutes to work I made my Fridays "Starbucks Day." Then came Wednesdays and Fridays.
Then, from November 4-8, 2013 I had Starbucks coffee for the entire week due to some "boring" training.
Well, for the first time "since meeting my wife," I did not purchase my usual black grande.
But, then, there still is Saturday...
Sunday, February 02, 2014
SUPERB OWL XLVIII
Go Broncos!
But wait...other events happened this day...
This morning, we pieced together the last of the 550-piece jigsaw puzzle. Our first puzzle.
Meanwhile...
L to R: Uncle T, Gary and Janelle, Tre, my wife, Gail and Klaus.
There is nothing better than watching the Superb Owl with family and friends. It was our first Superb Owl party at P38549. The food and beverages were fantastic. We had homemade chili, sauerkraut and bratwurst, chips, cornbread, vegetables, and hot dogs.
During the game, snow fell...not enough to stick but enough to mimick the "conditions" in East Rutherford, NJ.
Sigh, oh well...
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for their first NFL Championship.
But wait...other events happened this day...
Meanwhile...
There is nothing better than watching the Superb Owl with family and friends. It was our first Superb Owl party at P38549. The food and beverages were fantastic. We had homemade chili, sauerkraut and bratwurst, chips, cornbread, vegetables, and hot dogs.
During the game, snow fell...not enough to stick but enough to mimick the "conditions" in East Rutherford, NJ.
Sigh, oh well...
Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for their first NFL Championship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)