ONE MONTH INTO WINTER...NOW WHAT COLORS?

BACK IN CORNING NOW FOUR WEEKS...what progress on the house can I report?

The first task, in order of importance and urgency, was to stop the leakage of cold air into the house. The air pressure inside a house is usually lower that that outside, due to air flowing over the roof. The cold outside air then enters the house, forcing the hot air out. Heating costs money, especially when the temperatures are below freezing, as they are many days here in Corning. Number one target was the make the manhole airtight. Next, plastic sheeting to be attached to the inside frame of each window. Even though the windows are double glazed, air nevertheless leaks past the framing. After that, a matter of tracking down all the leaks from the outside. I still have a few to discover but the number times the furnace comes on and for how long has dropped considerably. I am looking forward to next month's gas bill to see what progress I have made.

I suppose, were I truly dedicated, I would read the gas meter each day, but this is outside (unlike the water and power meters). With the temperatures below freezing and lots of biting cold wind and four or so inches of snow every so often, I confess to 'wimping out' on this routine.

In the longer term, I plan to make indoor insulated shutters for each of the 15 or so windows to prevent the re-radiation of heat at night. Before that I have to set up my workshop in the laundry room. This is in progress and I have used a spare door as the starting point for a woodworking bench, gradually acquiring tools according to the jobs in hand. Serious work on this will begin with the arrival of a front vise for the work bench next week.

In the meantime I have plodded away at making good the repairs to the drywall (walls and ceilings) in the two rooms formed from four in the upper level. This has involved a deal of plastering to ensure seamless joins where the separating walls once were. 'A little often' is the rule with plastering repairs, with sanding down between coats. Not so bad with the walls but working on the ceilings has been somewhat 'yuck' and tedious, up and down the ladder and getting covered with plaster dust. This has been completed in what will become my bedroom and study space. This week, I painted the ceiling (13 feet by 26 feet) and applied a sealing coat to the walls at the joins. One can hardly tell where the joins were made. I am really pleased with the result...the hard work was worth it!

Now, how to paint the walls. Three walls (North, East, and South) will be some shade of orange, I have narrowed the search down to three choices and painted swatches on the walls. I will live with these colors for several days to assist the final choice. I have only rudimentary ideas about colors so have enlisted the aid of some women acquaintances. Thanks to them for excellent advice, stopping me from rushing in like the fool I am. The picture will give you some idea of progress. These three walls will painted toward the end of this week, taking me into February. This leaves the western wall and I think it will have some greenish hue; waiting to experience the effect of the first color on the room.

Down the track, once the painting is done, awaits the re-flooring. Feels like it is rushing up on me now that the painting is under way. One way or another, I am keeping out of mischief.

BACK IN CORNING AND...SNOW!

ELEVEN WEEKS ABSENT, I am back in my little house. Daniel has done quite a bit of work; strengthening the roofing timbers above the breakfast area, preparatory to removing what was left of the dividing (load-bearing) wall, and repairing all but a little of the dry-walling in this area and the bedroom. You may recall that I had removed all the dry-wall from off this partition. So now a commodious space reaches from the twin French doors to the South, opening onto the deck, to the large window looking northwards onto the front garden and the street.

I am writing this post in this new space and attest that it makes a huge, almost unimaginable, difference to the experience of the house. I begin to hear the house whispering to me about the possibilities around a minor kitchen area remodel and how to populate the eating area while preserving the sense of spaciousness.

The revised heating system is working well and easily maintains the interior at 65 deg. F in either level as required. I discovered that my less than completely efficient furnace (84% vs. 95%) heats the utility room to about 90 deg. F. This room is partly under the kitchen area so, last night, I installed a vent in the floor connecting the two spaces. Now warm air flows into the upper area. I consider this a fairly smart move that partially recovers the loss of efficiency I accepted in the choice of boiler.

And just as well...after a record breaking spell of warm weather through the Fall, the forecast for the past three days has been for low temperatures and perhaps 4 - 8 inches accumulation. About an inch of snow eventuated but the temperature fell from just above freezing to 12 deg. F (-11 deg. C) when I was clearing the deck and front paths this morning. As I was so engaged, the sun rose to begin a fine day. I think the threat of heavy snow fall has passed. As I edit this post, at 8 PM, the night temperature is expected to fall to 6 deg. F (about -19 C). I have rejigged the programing so the house will run a little cooler, so it will be snuggle up tight in bed tonight! At least the cold has frozen the muddy backyard.

As I began this post, Richard (one of Daniel's subbies) arrived to complete the dry-wall work. Mid-week, or a little later, this will all be complete and what remains is painting both rooms. I propose initially to complete the upper bedroom, first the painting, then the installation of the floating laminate floor, and finally finishing out the framing of the doors. Then I will be able to move my bed up from the lower level and begin to enjoy this new space. So a week or so of work there.

I have missed my house so much and it is grand to be back. I am especially pleased with the way the winter sun reaches far into these new, enlarged spaces, traversing from one side to the other as the day unfolds. Below the deck, work remains in the sun room. This needs to be insulated and lined, likely to be complete in February. At that stage, Ray will attach the thermostat for the radiant floor and commission that zone. I have a little work to do in the adjoining laundry area, setting up a workbench. Here I plan to make at least some of the furniture for my evolving home. High Ho...its off to work we go!