THE AESTHETIC OF LIGHTNING RODS

    Back in April we got the sad news that all 5 of our chimney flues had deteriorated beyond repair.  This is the main reason we decided to have a fireplace built onto our addition.

    It just so happened that the very same day in April when I received the chimney 'news', Wallace, Donnie,and I met with a roofing contractor to finalize and sign the contract.  When the contractor said, "And what do you want to do with the lightning rods?  They don't really DO anything so you don't need them."
    Both my husband and Donnie said, simultaneously, "We don't need them."
    It was precisely at this moment when the stress of the project and the distress of losing my fireplaces got to me and I had what I have since referred to as a full blown grown-up temper tantrum.....right there in my front yard, I stomped my foot and screamed,
 "DO NOT GET RID OF MY LIGHTNING RODS !!!  THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO DO

SOMETHING.  I WANT THEM BACK ON THE HOUSE WHEN THE ROOF IS COMPLETED!"

    This, in front of a man whom I just met and in front of any neighbor or passer-by.  Nice first impression.

    Upon my eruption, both Wallace and Donnie, wide-eyed at this unexpected display, turned to the roofer and said, "The lightning rods go back."
    "Thank you," I said and walked away, realizing what I'd just done.
    This brings me to my point.  The roof is about done and it is time for those lightning rods to go back up.
.......Check back soon to see photos of the finished product!

THE GARAGE GOES UP

Backyard as seen through the carport (March 2011)

Backyard as seen through the carport (October 2011)

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

    I have for years had the luxury and privilege of being able to stay home with my children.  For me, being a mother has always been akin to being a juggler in a 3-ring circus.  If you drop a baton, keep juggling with a smile on your face.  The show must go on!

    Juggling all that must be done to see this renovation to and end is not such a foreign task.  It seems there are many batons that must remain in the air but, at the moment, all my batons are on fire.  It is not possible for  me to be at Hawthorne Ave today.  So, as I sit here at home eyeing a sick child on the sofa, I'm attempting to make dozens of renovation phone calls, manage mishaps and reschedule meetings all amidst bouts of nausea.

    In the meantime, how about a photo of my completed chimney?

detail of chimney 

    The hearth remains to be completed.  It will be level with the floor as are all the other hearths in the original part of the house.  The brick used on the inside is the brick from the original chimneys we took down in May.

    The mantle is one salvaged from a home on Brookland Parkway (coincidentally where Wallace's mother grew up in the 1930's).  I came across the mantle back in July and thought the $23 price was too good to pass up, especially since it has the dental molding detail that we have on the original fireplaces.

    Check back another day to see the mantle and the completed hearth! 

BRICK BY BRICK

    Slowly (because the weather has been rainy and progress hinges upon framing and inspections) but surely (the masons are working on a Saturday!) my wood burning fireplace progresses.  

August 4,  2011

October. 15, 2011

Nothing about this project has been speedy.  It is, however, being done right  (Thanks mostly to our Donnie's *  keen eye for detail and extensive knowledge about construction and repair of old homes)

  

* "Number One",  your room on the 3rd floor will always be here for you!

TAX FREE WEEKEND

    We spent a couple of hours in Lowe's this morning taking advantage of the tax free weekend here in Virginia. Since we need numerous qualifying products (dishwasher, fans, toilets, lighting, and more) for our renovation, it just makes sense.  Columbus Day sales PLUS no tax made a huge difference in our bottom line.  If you are in need of any of these products, maybe a trip to the hardware or appliance store is in your near future.  Tax free day ends Oct. 10, 2011!

OUR THIRD FLOOR WINDOW

February 28, 2011

July 9, 2011

July 31, 2011

October 4, 2011

A NEW 4 - 5 AM PAST TIME

    Have you ever lain awake in the wee hours of the morning not knowing what to do?  Shall I get up?  Shall I lie here a bit longer and hope sleep comes again?  This was the conversation in my head this morning, and then the answer came to me......

GET UP AND CLEAN THE OLD PAINT OFF THE BRASS HARDWARE !

    To those of you who think I might be crazy, surely this will confirm your suspicions.  To those of you who have a passion for creating (model airplane building, knitting, painting, song writing, design, etc.), getting up at 4AM to pursue your passion is not an uncommon occurrence.

    SO I GOT UP (as did the dog and the kitten).  

I retrieved a bag of old brass hardware that I'd removed from doors and windows at Hawthorne Avenue. 

     I gathered the tools I understood necessary to perform the job:

1. an old pot not used in food preparation (mine has been used to felt and dye wool) 

2. fine steel wool (Thanks to my mother-in-law, I have a plethora of steel wool)

3. heavy duty rubber gloves

4. tongs 

5. water and the stove

Boil the water and place the painted brass in the water

After about 2 minutes in the pot, I removed one piece at a time with tongs, and, working quickly while the metal was still hot.....

rub the brass with the steel wool

Some pieces needed to go back in the pot to reheat to completely remove all the paint but after a second dunking......

Voila !  I have beautiful paint free brass ready to return to the newly glazed doors.

To date, this was one of my most productive sleepless nights.

"GOOD USE OF AN S.A.T. WORD, MOM"

Anytime I speak a word more challenging to spell or define than those in my 1st grade reader....

Ann ran.

A man ran.

A ram ran.

....my son has been known to say, "Good use of an S.A.T. word, Mom!"

    This renovation project has expanded my vocabulary.  Some of my newly acquired vocabulary have been made up words like fairytoon.    Learning new terms for tools (A sawzall is actually a reciprocating saw ),  and parts of a house ( 'Dash' is not only a punctuation mark or something reindeer do , and 'flashing' is not only something streakers do ) has had a positive effect on my vocabulary.  Hearing some of the subcontractors converse among themselves has, on occasion, offended my ears.     

    I hope to continue expanding my vocabulary in a positive way.  It helps being able to speak the language when you are in foreign territory.  It makes communicating with contractors, construction crews, and salesmen in the building trade one heck of a lot easier.