Stalled projects, and Idaho again

It's been over a month since the last blog post and it's not like nothing has happened, it's really that so much has happened that I haven't had the time or inclination to write. Certainly my personal home improvement projects have completely stalled, no progress whatsoever has been made on the downstairs bathroom, but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy.

The mountains near Sandpoint Idaho. 

For starters, I was gone for over two weeks assisting at the Cougar Fire, a wildfire in the Idaho National Forest in the Idaho panhandle. My main function at wildfires is to provide specific weather information to the command and planning staff so they can make decisions regarding containing the fire and managing resources. It's two full weeks of 14 hour days and short nights in your tent. Very rewarding and challenging. Side benefits include working with tremendous people and getting to see parts of the country you would never otherwise visit. This fire was near Sandpoint Idaho, a beautiful small town on a gorgeous lake about a half hour north of Coeur d'Alene. Northern Idaho is truly beautiful and I hope to get back someday, as a tourist.

Chimney access door installed. 

On the home front, we had some major work done on our chimney again. The main issue is the flue for the fireplace. It goes straight up out of the firebox, then after about 10 feet it makes a right angle turn for a few feet, then straight up again to the top. This horizontal section is quite unusual, and makes it near impossible to properly clean. After two years of shrugs by the chimney cleaner, we had them install a door in the outside of the chimney so they could properly access and clean the flue. As far as I can tell, it's the first complete cleaning it has had in around a hundred years. As a fireman, I feel much more comfortable firing it up this fall.

They also fixed some of the cracks in the plaster that were caused by the improperly lined furnace flue. Next year, we will get a proper chimney cap and we will permanently repair the the outer surface. If all goes well that should be the last expense on the chimney. It is interesting to note that the chimney, flues, and related equipment has been the number one expense that we have had in our fixer upper. I think when you consider the risk if fire, and of carbon monoxide, your home's exhaust system is a proper place to hire professionals and spend a bit of money.

Here's a wintry view of our open garage. It has been open
since we moved in 3 years ago. This is about to change.  

Another big project has been started, again by professionals, is the replacement of the garage door. I really wanted to save the money and do the job myself, but nearly everyone I asked, and nearly everywhere I looked, suggested that installing a large, double garage door was just too tricky and dangerous by a weekend warrior. So, we bit the bullet and ordered a door and opener which will be installed later this week. I will be doing the wiring for the opener before they arrive, but the installation will be completed by the Gates Garage Door Company. It will be nice to keep the bats, skunks, cats and who knows what else out of our garage, not to mention winter snow. The added security will be nice too.