New Plans Rolling In
Monday, June 26th, 2023 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snoozefestaudio72F and overcast out there this morning. It looks like it rained overnight, and we could get some more this afternoon.
Somehow, it's already the final week of June! Friday is the 30th!
It doesn't feel like it, but I've gotten a lot done this month.
It's mostly been filling in ruts, and growing grass... fiddling with the timers for the hoses an soforth.
But I did get that utility space created on the hill, and I made some progress over by the chainlink fence.
And I did finally fire up that wood chipper, and get that damn juniper cut down.
But I also got sidetracked with the notion to start up a new recording studio in Dad's room, and that didn't go as smoothly as I first imagined.
I haven't done anything like that in 15 years, and in that time, my wheelhouse has become home maintenance... with outdoor landscaping becoming a big focus this year.
And I was really kicking some ass with the landscaping!
But when I jumped back into this recording stuff, I was anxious and unsure of myself, which lead to costly mistakes, like breaking the good monitor that was usptairs, and then blowing another hundred on the hot garbage USB monitor.
I also couldn't even figure out how to download the software for a week... and that turned out to be just confusion born of panic.
Once I was off my game, I proceeded to bust a brick off my own firepit, and crack the mortar on another, in my attempt to create a form for the cap.
I'm not so worried about wasting money on 1X4s and clamps, because I can probably use those down the line for other things, but the damage I did to the top tier of the firepit has to be fixed before winter, or ice could form in the cracks and do further damage.
Then we have the HELOC issue, which is not related to anything else, but it's still disconcerting to have missed that for June... and to not know for sure what caused the problem.
--<>--
The deck of cards on my shelf back here now shows the two of clubs, which is a reminder that spring did give way to summer while all this was going on... and that does have a lot to do with what made June different.
It's why I went part time... to avoid slaving in the heat.
That lead to me digitizing old tapes, because I had a little too much time on my hands after dark on worknights.
That, in turn, lead to me getting the notion to start recording music again.
And trying to get that started, threw me off my game.
But I'd already adopted a kind of, "fuck it," attitude for June, as soon as I decided to cut my income in half... right before setting up the irrigation system to start running the water for 90 minutes a day!
--<>--
Well, at any rate, there's still one work week left of June, and then I'll have a four day weekend.
So I guess the goal, heading into July, to to just get back on top of things.
At least I was up and outside by 11AM today!
------------{=0=}------------
8:33PM
Spent today at work thinking about some way to cap the fire pit... given that the capstones I bought (basalt tiles) are probably too fragile and will be broken over time by me or others weilding metal implements to manipulate the burning wood inside the pit.
That, and there seems no good way to get the top of the pit level for them to sit on.
But I do feel like I need something, because some of the old bricks on the top tier do have legacy cracks on their sky facing sides, which could lead to a situation where ice forms and further breaks them apart... triggering a cascading failure of the whole structure... over 10 or 20 years.
--<>--
So, the best idea I could think of is this... I have that castable refractory cement, which was supposed to be poured into a form.
But... I could just mound that cement around the top tier... kind of like a curved little cap.
Like... it would be just as wonky as the bricks, but I could lean into that, and put random indentations into it to make it look... essentially like a big hunk of natural rock sitting atop the firepit walls.
I couldn't really get it to overhang so... it'd just be a rounded top.
But it would let the rain roll off, and it would be white, to give a bit of finishing contrast up top.
I could also mix silica sand into the concrete... because silica is extremely heat resistant... and that would help this faux rock cap look a bit more... rocky.
And luckily for me... silica sand is cheep as hell!
--<>--
So, as of tonight, that's the going plan.
I repair the damage I did to the top tier, and then just get all artistic and try to do a faux, stone type, rounded rim on the top.
The only drawback is... if it looks like shit... there's no going back!
And there's no way to know that it won't look like shit!
------------{=0=}------------
As for that busted storm window... and all the cruddy, or missing storm windows around the house, I have a solution for that as well.
They still make sliding panel, aluminum storm/screen combos that can be bolted on to the outside of the house, in front of old ass sash windows like we've got in this house.
They're a lot less expensive than whole new windows, and they're also a lot easier to install!
There are a few benefits to this approach...
The plan is to get four, for the downstairs windows this year, and then, after I have experience with installing them... get four more for the upstairs windows next year.
Installing the upstairs ones will require me getting up on an extension ladder, which is quite dangerous, so I'll need to know what I'm doing.
But if I can get all of these in place, the enegry heating and cooling efficiency should go up quite a bit!
------------{=0=}------------
There are already plans for the back fence and the basement hatch.
And I've even come up with solid plans for the side porch enclosure, and even the back door area.
But those will be projects for next year.
------------{=0=}------------
In addition to all that, I was talking to Tim last night, and we both kind of realized that the most logical thing for me to do inside the house is to move out of the upstairs, and renovate that first!
I've already been camping out in the back room by day for four months... for the sake of the dog.
And now I'm turning Dad's room into a recording studio.
So... the logical thing to do is just stay living downstairs, empty out the upstairs, and focus on renovating that first.
The upstairs can function as a nice little apartment... or guest suite... or Air BNB!
So, it could either attract a friend or family member to come stay here and help out with the pets and the bills... or it could be a way to generate extra income!
It's already got it's own entrance, and privacy door to close it off from the downstairs, so if the bathroom's updated, and I put in a little kitchenette... then whoever stays up there won't have any reason to bitch about the downstairs bathroom... or anything else downstairs.
And it just makes sense for me, because the cellar shop is right below the recording studio and... I'm fine with how shitty things are down here at the moment, and don't mind taking years to get the bathroom expanded.
------------{=0=}------------
SOO... those are all the ideas that have come flooding in from the cosmos just before the second half of 2023 is about to start.
The first half of the year was... after Dad's momentous passing... about securing ownership of the house at all... and securing short term survival... and rebooting the back yard.
Now that all of that's pretty well in hand, these new plans are not just for the second half of 23, but all of 2024.
All I gotta do is stay on top of the finances!
But... tonight at least, I did take out all the garbage and recyclables from both the upstairs and the downstairs.
That's enough for a Monday.
°¦}
https://soundcloud.com/snoozefestaudio
Somehow, it's already the final week of June! Friday is the 30th!
It doesn't feel like it, but I've gotten a lot done this month.
It's mostly been filling in ruts, and growing grass... fiddling with the timers for the hoses an soforth.
But I did get that utility space created on the hill, and I made some progress over by the chainlink fence.
And I did finally fire up that wood chipper, and get that damn juniper cut down.
But I also got sidetracked with the notion to start up a new recording studio in Dad's room, and that didn't go as smoothly as I first imagined.
I haven't done anything like that in 15 years, and in that time, my wheelhouse has become home maintenance... with outdoor landscaping becoming a big focus this year.
And I was really kicking some ass with the landscaping!
But when I jumped back into this recording stuff, I was anxious and unsure of myself, which lead to costly mistakes, like breaking the good monitor that was usptairs, and then blowing another hundred on the hot garbage USB monitor.
I also couldn't even figure out how to download the software for a week... and that turned out to be just confusion born of panic.
Once I was off my game, I proceeded to bust a brick off my own firepit, and crack the mortar on another, in my attempt to create a form for the cap.
I'm not so worried about wasting money on 1X4s and clamps, because I can probably use those down the line for other things, but the damage I did to the top tier of the firepit has to be fixed before winter, or ice could form in the cracks and do further damage.
Then we have the HELOC issue, which is not related to anything else, but it's still disconcerting to have missed that for June... and to not know for sure what caused the problem.
The deck of cards on my shelf back here now shows the two of clubs, which is a reminder that spring did give way to summer while all this was going on... and that does have a lot to do with what made June different.
It's why I went part time... to avoid slaving in the heat.
That lead to me digitizing old tapes, because I had a little too much time on my hands after dark on worknights.
That, in turn, lead to me getting the notion to start recording music again.
And trying to get that started, threw me off my game.
But I'd already adopted a kind of, "fuck it," attitude for June, as soon as I decided to cut my income in half... right before setting up the irrigation system to start running the water for 90 minutes a day!
Well, at any rate, there's still one work week left of June, and then I'll have a four day weekend.
So I guess the goal, heading into July, to to just get back on top of things.
At least I was up and outside by 11AM today!
Spent today at work thinking about some way to cap the fire pit... given that the capstones I bought (basalt tiles) are probably too fragile and will be broken over time by me or others weilding metal implements to manipulate the burning wood inside the pit.
That, and there seems no good way to get the top of the pit level for them to sit on.
But I do feel like I need something, because some of the old bricks on the top tier do have legacy cracks on their sky facing sides, which could lead to a situation where ice forms and further breaks them apart... triggering a cascading failure of the whole structure... over 10 or 20 years.
So, the best idea I could think of is this... I have that castable refractory cement, which was supposed to be poured into a form.
But... I could just mound that cement around the top tier... kind of like a curved little cap.
Like... it would be just as wonky as the bricks, but I could lean into that, and put random indentations into it to make it look... essentially like a big hunk of natural rock sitting atop the firepit walls.
I couldn't really get it to overhang so... it'd just be a rounded top.
But it would let the rain roll off, and it would be white, to give a bit of finishing contrast up top.
I could also mix silica sand into the concrete... because silica is extremely heat resistant... and that would help this faux rock cap look a bit more... rocky.
And luckily for me... silica sand is cheep as hell!
So, as of tonight, that's the going plan.
I repair the damage I did to the top tier, and then just get all artistic and try to do a faux, stone type, rounded rim on the top.
The only drawback is... if it looks like shit... there's no going back!
And there's no way to know that it won't look like shit!
As for that busted storm window... and all the cruddy, or missing storm windows around the house, I have a solution for that as well.
They still make sliding panel, aluminum storm/screen combos that can be bolted on to the outside of the house, in front of old ass sash windows like we've got in this house.
They're a lot less expensive than whole new windows, and they're also a lot easier to install!
There are a few benefits to this approach...
- They look nice from the street.
- They do keep out the heat and cold, but have screens for fresh air.
- They allow me to keep the ancient sash windows on the inside, which are part of the house's history, and I can even bust them loose from their, painted shut, state, and open them up again in the spring and fall!
- Don't have to destroy plaster inside the house to install brand new windows.
The plan is to get four, for the downstairs windows this year, and then, after I have experience with installing them... get four more for the upstairs windows next year.
Installing the upstairs ones will require me getting up on an extension ladder, which is quite dangerous, so I'll need to know what I'm doing.
But if I can get all of these in place, the enegry heating and cooling efficiency should go up quite a bit!
There are already plans for the back fence and the basement hatch.
And I've even come up with solid plans for the side porch enclosure, and even the back door area.
But those will be projects for next year.
In addition to all that, I was talking to Tim last night, and we both kind of realized that the most logical thing for me to do inside the house is to move out of the upstairs, and renovate that first!
I've already been camping out in the back room by day for four months... for the sake of the dog.
And now I'm turning Dad's room into a recording studio.
So... the logical thing to do is just stay living downstairs, empty out the upstairs, and focus on renovating that first.
The upstairs can function as a nice little apartment... or guest suite... or Air BNB!
So, it could either attract a friend or family member to come stay here and help out with the pets and the bills... or it could be a way to generate extra income!
It's already got it's own entrance, and privacy door to close it off from the downstairs, so if the bathroom's updated, and I put in a little kitchenette... then whoever stays up there won't have any reason to bitch about the downstairs bathroom... or anything else downstairs.
And it just makes sense for me, because the cellar shop is right below the recording studio and... I'm fine with how shitty things are down here at the moment, and don't mind taking years to get the bathroom expanded.
SOO... those are all the ideas that have come flooding in from the cosmos just before the second half of 2023 is about to start.
The first half of the year was... after Dad's momentous passing... about securing ownership of the house at all... and securing short term survival... and rebooting the back yard.
Now that all of that's pretty well in hand, these new plans are not just for the second half of 23, but all of 2024.
All I gotta do is stay on top of the finances!
But... tonight at least, I did take out all the garbage and recyclables from both the upstairs and the downstairs.
That's enough for a Monday.
°¦}
