Lack of blog posts means a busier life.

Can you spot the missing part?

There's been so much going on, with home repairs, remodeling and everything else, it's almost an overwhelming task to write a blog. It's hard to know where to start. One of the most exciting things was inheriting my parent's grandfather clock. I've always liked old style clocks and watches. Sometime around 1990 my parents purchased a beautiful grandfather clock (Cindy and I were with them when they made the purchase). I always admired the clock and when Dad moved out of the house it was agreed in the family that Cindy and I could have the clock.

So, how do you move a grandfather clock? Very carefully, (HA HA), but it's not as difficult as you might think. I discussed the issue with the very helpful owner at The Clock Shop and he told me what to do. You remove the pendulum (take a picture so you know how it hangs), remove the weights, and "bread tie" the weight cables so they don't come off the rollers, then lay the clock on it's back. First Brother Ed was in town and helped me with the physical moving of the clock. After we placed the clock, it was a matter of leveling it, reinstalling the weights and pendulum, and it worked. Well, sort of. The clock would run perfectly for a time, then randomly stop. I thought at first that the weight cables got messed up somehow in the move, but they hadn't. I then noticed that the three weights had assigned positions, but I had some how miraculously put them in the correct places. I finally realized that the minute hand was getting caught on the hour hand. I knew that dad had trouble with the hand falling off. Turns out that the clock was missing it's hand nut, a teeny little nut that goes on the post that holds the hand in the proper place and alignment.

Well it's working beautifully now in our dining room. The clock has three selectable chimes, as well as chiming the hour. You can hear it throughout the house.

Evidence of actual work being done. 

Work on the sun room has stalled. I got as far as tearing off the old molding before the project came to a halt. We did buy a few color sample for the walls, but the big hold up is the ceiling, which is the next logical step. I can't decide if, and if so, how, I'm going to hang ceiling tiles. The ceiling is prone to peeling paint and would need an oil based primer followed by a latex ceiling paint. However, at least two rooms upstairs are going to need plaster repair or ceiling tiles so I want to learn how to do this. Drop ceilings are out of the question since I hate them, and they are no fun to install. The tiles we like are designed to be glued to the ceiling. That makes me nervous since there is really no going back after you start so any mistake or misgivings will be difficult to recover from. I have worked with furring strips in the past but theses tiles are just not made to work that way. Anyway, at some point I'll make a decision and move forward.

I did manage to fix the leaky pipes for the downstairs half bath. During the extreme cold, the compression fittings on both the hot and cold water blew off in the cold crawl space under the house. So, I went out and bought the tools and fittings needed to replace the entire section with Pex piping, which actually resists freeze damage better than copper pipe since it can expand. I also installed in line drains so in case of extreme cold, I can shut off the water AND drain the pipes. After working with Pex pipe, I found I actually enjoyed plumbing and am now eyeing other repairs and replacements in the basement.

Nice view from our room in Wildwood

For the first time in quite a while, Cindy and got away for a quick vacation. Over Spring Break the weather looked decent so we decided to head to Wildwwod New Jersey.  Unfortunately, I got sick with a stomach virus the night before we left. It was an uncomfortable drive down and for most of our time there, I didn't feel much like eating. Our last full day of the trip, I finally recovered. The next morning, Cindy came down with the same thing, and she was sick all the way home, and for a few days after. Believe it or not, we still had a nice time, It was actually very relaxing.

Well that was a long blog. Still have more to write so the next blog should come soon and will have details on more new "used" furniture, and the fate of our old stuff. I've also been checking off items on the impressive honey-do list.

2