Hot Again!!

I won't go into how long it has been since I have posted....I have been quite preoccupied with work, failing banks, regulators, dog rescues, chickens, smart-mouthed teenagers, job searching and driving to my new job - not necessarily in that order.
We haven't done much around to house due to time and money resources. We did have the air handler in the attic (bad idea) overflow it's pan from condensation, with no shut off switch, for MONTHS before the ceiling in our bedroom finally came down on us  at 4am one fine morning...so THAT is fixed. Finally painted that ceiling!

We have our deck maybe 80-90% taken down; I never thought it fit well with our 1915 house; I would prefer some patio area off the two back doors, and some "floating decks" around the yard, where we will reuse the Trex boards from the deck. Our backyard is a huge mess....lots of die off from the two previous winter's hard freezes, lots of building materials scattered around, lots of attention needed there. The one thing which is new and complete back there is the CHICKEN COOP. We have 2 2nd season hens (a white leghorn and a NH Red) and 2 pullets(a barred rock and a buff orphington). When they are totally happy, we will get as many as one egg each, every day. They are not always happy. We are learning.

The siding and windows continue to deteriorate; we replace what is in most need. that will never be done, it is forever ongoing. We will need to do some windows VERY SOON. I honestly don't know what is keeping some of them attached to the house. The front porch will need to be rebuilt too. The floors need refinishing. Regardless, this house is our home, not a museum, or a showroom. I hope someday that the "finished project" fairy will visit us in our sleep, and we will wake up to gleaming floors, painted trim, rebuilt windows and new, smooth siding.

Winter To Do List

Was outside yesterday clearing some more weeds and vines in the back yard; our winter to do list was born. Siding behind the A.C unit is in bad shape, that will be replaced up to the windows, same with a patch of siding on the deck; this work will most likely reveal rotted sill as well. Also an area above the front porch will be replaced. What I'm really looking forward to is rebuilding the deck....it is pulling away from the house and looked terribly skewed; will will tear it down and rebuild, probably lower to the ground, using as much of the existing "Trex" materials as possible. Depending on the level of rot found with the siding, we may not get to the deck until next year. There is a "Frankenstein" door (pieced together in a rather rough manner) on the side of the house off the office which needs to be worked over and painted; we can probably fit that in before it gets too hot again. We will also repair a few of the windows which are in the worst shape.