Happy Thanksgiving Hiatus

We're busy in Seattle & Sequim, so posts are on hold for now. We hope 83 Durant Street is OK while we're away. Fingers crossed during our first long visit away from it!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our readers!

Meet Our New Washing Machine

Last week, the washing machine (left by the previous owners, and probably about 15 years old) started leaking. This happened the morning after I had a dream in which our house started flooding. So now I'm psychic, which is pretty handy. Anyway, we've been searching for the right washer. We got this one at Dracut Appliance, a local business about 2 miles from here. They were very nice folks. Today they delivered and installed the washer, and right now, at this very minute, I am doing the first load of laundry. So far, so good. Fingers crossed.




Someday, we will get a plumber here to set up some supply lines and extend this drain pipe so that we can put the washer on this drain area. It looks like the previous owners started this project but didn't finish it. It's not high on the priority list at the moment, as projects go.

More nano-projects

The energy efficiency guy from the gas company suggested that we put some insulation up on the hatch to the attic. So today I made nice with the pink panther, using my ever trusty staple gun.

Also, we had some drainage issues in the driveway. Pile of leaves were getting stuck in the drain pipe, shown here. Check it out, we finally found a grate that fits right in there.

A gutter needs a tree like a fish needs a bicycle

On Friday, we planted a tree! On Saturday, we got new gutters. Perhaps one day, that little tree will grow to fill our new gutters with leaves.

We're so relieved that the gutter guys finally showed up. There is a new gutter on the driveway side of the house that we hope will alleviate some of the basement window leakage, and a new one across the back porch (off the flat roof) that we hope will help the condition of the ground in the backyard.

The tree is an apple tree. It should produce this old-style apple called "Ashmead's Kernel." We bought the tree (little more than a twig, really) at Cider Day.

let there be light!

Oh how I love the cordless drill. This evening I put up a little halogen light fixture that we bought at Home Despot last week. It has two light settings, which is nice. The counter area under the cabinet, beside the fridge was a little dark. There was already a light under the cabinets on the other side. Unlike some other projects, this one was OK to take on at 9:30 at night. I did manage to drop one of the screws behind the refrigerator, which meant pulling out the fridge (and then cleaning behind it) which slightly lengthened the project. But not too much. And now, light! See how it shines on my cordless drill?

The painting is complete!

Here's the house with the door and everything done.