Also a good excuse to shoot people! lol
Here our homes are also concrete, bricks and tiles, heavy stuff, fences too.
Don't know, i like both styles,
Chit Chat in VOLTVILLE Thread #2 :)
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Here our homes are also concrete, bricks and tiles, heavy stuff, fences too.
Don't know, i like both styles,
I like brick or stone construction as well, but wood framing has some advantages when it comes to cost, speed of construction and ease of modification. Unfortunately, it isn't very fire resistant and not really very wind resistant.
Yeap, i like both construction methods, here in severe weather, thunderstorms and such we can watch the world burn from the safety of the window drinking tea or something.
It bothers me when i see people's houses ruined in the states which has such an unstable weather. 25 victims on the recent storm.
This summer we had a few tornadoes here, nothing happened.... a few cars only and some roof tiles. That's it.
It bothers me when i see people's houses ruined in the states which has such an unstable weather. 25 victims on the recent storm.
This summer we had a few tornadoes here, nothing happened.... a few cars only and some roof tiles. That's it.
Merry belated Christmas! I'm back home now. I did have an Internet connection at my brother's house, but it was just too busy and hectic where I was to get online to keep in touch with everyone. I hope you all understand.
It's been unseasonably warm here, too, but do you hear me complaining? Christmas eve, I was singing a song to myself: "I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas ..." and my stepmother, Pat, finished it with some impromptu verses of her own.
The package with the book I was expecting was here waiting for me when we got home this afternoon. The Green Futures of Tycho has not yet arrived. Maybe it will before Saturday, my first day tutoring the new boy. If not, I'll use a different book. I visited my stepfather (my deceased mother's husband, who will be 100 in June) on Saturday and got some books that were hers, so I've got plenty of ammunition now, and there's no deadline for returning them. I made up the lessons for the existing students already, but I think I'll go over the new books and see where they may fit in, especially with the new boy in mind. One book I got that I'm considering is Ishi: Last of His Tribe (see http://www.amazon.com/Ishi-Tribe-Ba...253902&sr=1-1&keywords=ishi+last+of+his+tribe for reviews). I read that book as an adult and loved it, but I realized that the writing was so easy an upper elementary school kid could read it, too. It's a touching story that I'd recommend to all of you.
My nephews didn't seem too interested in the game I had under the tree, but I hope the late delivery of the book I was waiting for may make them notice that more. They got lots of neat gifts, so they were happy.
We had lots of good food, since my SIL is a tremendous cook. I always tell her she's the best cook I've ever experienced. It may even be true, since I remember most eating wonderful food at her house more than at any restaurant. Yes, I do also remember a very special beef bourgignon at a place on Cape Cod yeas ago; Maine lobster with butter along the coast of Maine at various lobster shacks; steaks at Peter Luger's in Williamsbug, a section of NYC; and then just-as-good steaks and hamburgers in Puerto Rico in the early 1980s (I don't know whether the beef is still as good in PR -- or at Peter Luger's, in fact). I remember some small green mussels in pasta at a small restaurant in Half Moon Bay in California, south of San Francisco. I've never seen those particular mussels before or since.
What are your memorable meals?
Oh, and as for Christmas cookies, my all-time favorites are these: Walnut Snowball Cookies Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com I'm not sure if this is the best recipe, but you get the idea, and I bet everyone has eaten them at one time or another.
Anyway, you can see that it was fun to eat their Christmas dinner and the leftovers. This morning, before we left, we had waffles and bacon, and even better, on previous days we had sticky buns with lots of nuts and molten brown sugar. See Philadelphia Sticky Buns - Recipe - Cooks.com for an idea.
We even ate Philly steak sandwiches at Dalessandro's -- Dalessandro's Steaks and Hoagies -- a place I used to lunch at after riding horses a block or so away when I was a teenager. Then, it was just a good place for Philly steaks, but now, it's mobbed! There are lines out the door if you get there at popular times, but we arrived about 11:30, right before the lunchtime crowd, and we actually got seats at the counter!
I sort of wish we could be back at my brother's for their yearly new year's bash, but we never have gone, since going down for Christmas is so close, and we both do have to get back to work. Besides as weird as it seems, I get homesick, and I don't really enjoy living in someone else's house and wondering how my house is doing while I'm not there. I used to think it was because I missed my cat and worried about him, but this is the first year we've been away with no worries of pets left at home, and still, I wanted to get back. I'm glad to be home and back to normal life.
It's been unseasonably warm here, too, but do you hear me complaining? Christmas eve, I was singing a song to myself: "I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas ..." and my stepmother, Pat, finished it with some impromptu verses of her own.
The package with the book I was expecting was here waiting for me when we got home this afternoon. The Green Futures of Tycho has not yet arrived. Maybe it will before Saturday, my first day tutoring the new boy. If not, I'll use a different book. I visited my stepfather (my deceased mother's husband, who will be 100 in June) on Saturday and got some books that were hers, so I've got plenty of ammunition now, and there's no deadline for returning them. I made up the lessons for the existing students already, but I think I'll go over the new books and see where they may fit in, especially with the new boy in mind. One book I got that I'm considering is Ishi: Last of His Tribe (see http://www.amazon.com/Ishi-Tribe-Ba...253902&sr=1-1&keywords=ishi+last+of+his+tribe for reviews). I read that book as an adult and loved it, but I realized that the writing was so easy an upper elementary school kid could read it, too. It's a touching story that I'd recommend to all of you.
My nephews didn't seem too interested in the game I had under the tree, but I hope the late delivery of the book I was waiting for may make them notice that more. They got lots of neat gifts, so they were happy.
We had lots of good food, since my SIL is a tremendous cook. I always tell her she's the best cook I've ever experienced. It may even be true, since I remember most eating wonderful food at her house more than at any restaurant. Yes, I do also remember a very special beef bourgignon at a place on Cape Cod yeas ago; Maine lobster with butter along the coast of Maine at various lobster shacks; steaks at Peter Luger's in Williamsbug, a section of NYC; and then just-as-good steaks and hamburgers in Puerto Rico in the early 1980s (I don't know whether the beef is still as good in PR -- or at Peter Luger's, in fact). I remember some small green mussels in pasta at a small restaurant in Half Moon Bay in California, south of San Francisco. I've never seen those particular mussels before or since.
What are your memorable meals?
Oh, and as for Christmas cookies, my all-time favorites are these: Walnut Snowball Cookies Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com I'm not sure if this is the best recipe, but you get the idea, and I bet everyone has eaten them at one time or another.
Anyway, you can see that it was fun to eat their Christmas dinner and the leftovers. This morning, before we left, we had waffles and bacon, and even better, on previous days we had sticky buns with lots of nuts and molten brown sugar. See Philadelphia Sticky Buns - Recipe - Cooks.com for an idea.
We even ate Philly steak sandwiches at Dalessandro's -- Dalessandro's Steaks and Hoagies -- a place I used to lunch at after riding horses a block or so away when I was a teenager. Then, it was just a good place for Philly steaks, but now, it's mobbed! There are lines out the door if you get there at popular times, but we arrived about 11:30, right before the lunchtime crowd, and we actually got seats at the counter!
I sort of wish we could be back at my brother's for their yearly new year's bash, but we never have gone, since going down for Christmas is so close, and we both do have to get back to work. Besides as weird as it seems, I get homesick, and I don't really enjoy living in someone else's house and wondering how my house is doing while I'm not there. I used to think it was because I missed my cat and worried about him, but this is the first year we've been away with no worries of pets left at home, and still, I wanted to get back. I'm glad to be home and back to normal life.
Great timing, Sandy! We brought home some "leftovers" from my daughters and Snowball cookies were part of that. Mrs. Awsum wanted to know what they were and how to make them. The recipe is already printed and in our favorites stack. Now, we've got to make some!
If sci-fi is a genre the kids like, I'd suggest some of the books by Robert Heinlein. His earlier books were written for a younger audience and really fine for teenagers and older as well. "The Green Hills of Earth", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and a bunch of others including the Lazarus Long series. (If you haven't guessed, I'm a Heinlein fan)
Another pretty decent series was on TV last night. "Killing Lincoln" was on FNC. O'Reilly does a pretty decent job with the "Killing" series and this one was narrated by Tom Hanks. Lots of interesting facts that are not normally covered, for example Jefferson Davis comment that the assassination was the worst thing that happened to the South other than losing the Civil War.
If sci-fi is a genre the kids like, I'd suggest some of the books by Robert Heinlein. His earlier books were written for a younger audience and really fine for teenagers and older as well. "The Green Hills of Earth", "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and a bunch of others including the Lazarus Long series. (If you haven't guessed, I'm a Heinlein fan)
Another pretty decent series was on TV last night. "Killing Lincoln" was on FNC. O'Reilly does a pretty decent job with the "Killing" series and this one was narrated by Tom Hanks. Lots of interesting facts that are not normally covered, for example Jefferson Davis comment that the assassination was the worst thing that happened to the South other than losing the Civil War.
My stepsister just sent me this,which you might get a laugh out of:
Breaking News from Washington DC. Capital of the USA ! The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the United States' Capitol this Christmas season. This isn't for any religious reasons. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's Capitol. A search for a Virgin continues. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.
Awsum, I'm glad the cookie recipe came in handy. I have one in my recipe box (I think) that I never tried, but it was given to me by someone who made these cookies and I liked them. If the recipe I linked doesn't work too well, I could look it up or find out the one my SIL uses.
I'll have to look into Robert Heinlein. He certainly an author I've enjoyed, though whatever I read by him was more advanced, (I think) than the kids might be up to. Was he the author of Stranger in a Strange Land? I should look that up. It was a great book. I just looked it up. Yes, it was him, and I remember loving that book! Good choice, Awsum! Maybe not yet -- I'll get it and see if the reading level fits -- but at least it'll be someday in my scheme of things.
Breaking News from Washington DC. Capital of the USA ! The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the United States' Capitol this Christmas season. This isn't for any religious reasons. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's Capitol. A search for a Virgin continues. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.
Awsum, I'm glad the cookie recipe came in handy. I have one in my recipe box (I think) that I never tried, but it was given to me by someone who made these cookies and I liked them. If the recipe I linked doesn't work too well, I could look it up or find out the one my SIL uses.
I'll have to look into Robert Heinlein. He certainly an author I've enjoyed, though whatever I read by him was more advanced, (I think) than the kids might be up to. Was he the author of Stranger in a Strange Land? I should look that up. It was a great book. I just looked it up. Yes, it was him, and I remember loving that book! Good choice, Awsum! Maybe not yet -- I'll get it and see if the reading level fits -- but at least it'll be someday in my scheme of things.
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If you stick to his early stuff it was written for kids, pre-teens and adolescents. "Stranger in a Strange Land" was a little too deep for that age bracket unless they're really mature. I think I was 18 or 19 when I read it the first time. If you check out a list of his books it'll give you an idea.
I just had a quick look and besides the first two - "The Star Beast", "Starman Jones", "Space Cadet", "Glory Road"
I just had a quick look and besides the first two - "The Star Beast", "Starman Jones", "Space Cadet", "Glory Road"
Good morning, Voltmaniacs.
I think fences are less common in some areas although out West we have a saying that good fences make good neighbors. Meaning you keep your livestock and your dogs on your property
In Nevada, we have open range laws. That means if you want to keep livestock from chewing on your shrubbery, it is your responsibility to put up a fence, not the livestock owners. So, two conflicting ideas in one state.
We fully fenced our five acres in five foot welded wire with T-posts. It was one of our goals when we moved here. We bought five acres and we wanted to use all of it. We put up one 50 foot section of wood fence for wind protection and privacy at the back of the house.
There are people out here who have not fenced because it isn't cheap to do fencing but I would say a lot of people have put up fencing. Our neighbor has not put up fencing but he already has fence on our side and no neighbor on the other side so I guess he hasn't felt the need. He also has only chickens and no dogs or other critters.
Heinlein is a bit mature for your guys, @SandySu . I am certain there are some other writers that would be a bit more appropriate for your age group. I'm going to have to try to remember some of my early favorites from when I was a kid. I always loved reading. The Little House on the Prairie books is one idea. Laura Ingalls Wilder. You get a slice of pioneer life.
Waiting on the horsey photo, awsum.
I think fences are less common in some areas although out West we have a saying that good fences make good neighbors. Meaning you keep your livestock and your dogs on your property
In Nevada, we have open range laws. That means if you want to keep livestock from chewing on your shrubbery, it is your responsibility to put up a fence, not the livestock owners. So, two conflicting ideas in one state.We fully fenced our five acres in five foot welded wire with T-posts. It was one of our goals when we moved here. We bought five acres and we wanted to use all of it. We put up one 50 foot section of wood fence for wind protection and privacy at the back of the house.
There are people out here who have not fenced because it isn't cheap to do fencing but I would say a lot of people have put up fencing. Our neighbor has not put up fencing but he already has fence on our side and no neighbor on the other side so I guess he hasn't felt the need. He also has only chickens and no dogs or other critters.
Heinlein is a bit mature for your guys, @SandySu . I am certain there are some other writers that would be a bit more appropriate for your age group. I'm going to have to try to remember some of my early favorites from when I was a kid. I always loved reading. The Little House on the Prairie books is one idea. Laura Ingalls Wilder. You get a slice of pioneer life.
Waiting on the horsey photo, awsum.
moanin', Voltatics.
You know, thinking about sci-fi books for younger folks, there is always the old Tom Swift and Tom Corbett series. Then there's the Hardy Boys for mystery/detective.
You know, thinking about sci-fi books for younger folks, there is always the old Tom Swift and Tom Corbett series. Then there's the Hardy Boys for mystery/detective.
@SandySu . . . So glad to read that "You" had such a good time and the books finally arrived - NICE . . . 
BTW: Can't tell Ya' how much I miss being able to have and eat both Philadelphia Sticky Buns & Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches . . .
. . . "YOU" . . .
. . .
. . .
I will never ever be able see "You" in the same way or light again . . .
Just one of "My" favorites escapes . . .
Actually - "We" had the same saying on the East Coast too . . .
AND - The Higher and Stronger the Better . . .
Just Sayin' . . .
BTW: Can't tell Ya' how much I miss being able to have and eat both Philadelphia Sticky Buns & Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches . . .
I will never ever be able see "You" in the same way or light again . . .
Just one of "My" favorites escapes . . .
Actually - "We" had the same saying on the East Coast too . . .
AND - The Higher and Stronger the Better . . .
Just Sayin' . . .
Good morning, Volthandypersons.
The new door is up. As I suspected, it was a huge job. The guys worked from 9am to 4pm. The handle and the locks and the trim have not been put on. We propped the door closed and placed a blanket on the door to fill the cracks over night.
Today the guys will put on the trim, the insulating strip and the casing. Also, the locks and the door knob. Hopefully, the door will be complete within a couple of hours.
Hubby said the handyman guy was very helpful and that he is glad he had him. With everyone saying it would be no problem, they had me worried since I knew it would be a big job. As it turns out, the handyman guy had not actually built a door frame from scratch before. Neither had Hubby.
The threshold we bought will not work as the frame is too wide. It seems we cannot buy a threshold that wide so Hubby says he will make one from oak.
The dog door is being debated. We sort of hate to put a big hole in our beautiful new door. However, there are only a few spots in the house suitable for knocking a hole in the wall. It would be nice not to have the dogs going through the kitchen to use the dog door. Life is better without dogs under your feet in the kitchen.
The other problem with putting a dog door in the wall is the electrical wires which might need to be moved. Also, some sort of frame might have to be built. Seems complicated. IDK Hubby is voting for putting the dog door in the wall even though it would be a project.
The new door is up. As I suspected, it was a huge job. The guys worked from 9am to 4pm. The handle and the locks and the trim have not been put on. We propped the door closed and placed a blanket on the door to fill the cracks over night.
Today the guys will put on the trim, the insulating strip and the casing. Also, the locks and the door knob. Hopefully, the door will be complete within a couple of hours.
Hubby said the handyman guy was very helpful and that he is glad he had him. With everyone saying it would be no problem, they had me worried since I knew it would be a big job. As it turns out, the handyman guy had not actually built a door frame from scratch before. Neither had Hubby.
The threshold we bought will not work as the frame is too wide. It seems we cannot buy a threshold that wide so Hubby says he will make one from oak.
The dog door is being debated. We sort of hate to put a big hole in our beautiful new door. However, there are only a few spots in the house suitable for knocking a hole in the wall. It would be nice not to have the dogs going through the kitchen to use the dog door. Life is better without dogs under your feet in the kitchen.
The other problem with putting a dog door in the wall is the electrical wires which might need to be moved. Also, some sort of frame might have to be built. Seems complicated. IDK Hubby is voting for putting the dog door in the wall even though it would be a project.
'moanin, Voltillians.
Building a door frame can be a PITA, especially if you mortise the header for it. Mortising the hinges is another challenge if you don't have a router or mortise guides.
A hole through a wall, exterior especially load bearing, does require a header over it unless the hole will fit between two studs. Eave end walls are not load bearing, but a header should be installed. That means making a hole in the walls, inside and outside, bigger than the opening to get the "jack" studs in place. Lots of work, including sheetrock. If it won't be more than about 14.5" wide when finished, you wouldn't need a load bearing header, just a plate to close the top of the opening.
I'm surprised you're having a problem with the saddle/threshold. Lumber yards around here stock them up to six feet.
It's kind of damp out today, rain since about 1AM, so I'll be puttering around inside the house. If I have a can of crushed pineapple I'm going to bake some cookies. One of the ladies Mrs. Awsum works with always gives Christmas presents of a Mason jar full of ingredients to make something and this year it needs crushed pineapple. I think we have a can or two in the pantry.
Building a door frame can be a PITA, especially if you mortise the header for it. Mortising the hinges is another challenge if you don't have a router or mortise guides.
A hole through a wall, exterior especially load bearing, does require a header over it unless the hole will fit between two studs. Eave end walls are not load bearing, but a header should be installed. That means making a hole in the walls, inside and outside, bigger than the opening to get the "jack" studs in place. Lots of work, including sheetrock. If it won't be more than about 14.5" wide when finished, you wouldn't need a load bearing header, just a plate to close the top of the opening.
I'm surprised you're having a problem with the saddle/threshold. Lumber yards around here stock them up to six feet.
It's kind of damp out today, rain since about 1AM, so I'll be puttering around inside the house. If I have a can of crushed pineapple I'm going to bake some cookies. One of the ladies Mrs. Awsum works with always gives Christmas presents of a Mason jar full of ingredients to make something and this year it needs crushed pineapple. I think we have a can or two in the pantry.
Update: Hubby is voting to put the dog door in the wall in the office. I have to eliminate a file cabinet and find a new home for the printer. That is doable although I am not sure where the printer will go. Since we have the shade cover for the back area now, the dog door will be out of the elements. I would have to build a doggie step and possibly put some fencing that only allows a smaller dog to get near the door. That is also doable and not expensive.
I like the large dogs to stay outside all day. It is good for them and lets people know we have dogs. Deters crime but a smaller dog will need to come inside the house when it wants to.
I like the large dogs to stay outside all day. It is good for them and lets people know we have dogs. Deters crime but a smaller dog will need to come inside the house when it wants to.
Ah hah! I had the same problem when we moved in here. The exterior walls are 2x6 framing so the sill plate needs to be 6-5/8". I cheated and swapped the old sill from the original door onto the new door before I hung it. I also had to pad out the jambs to make up for the extra width.
Our old sill is cracked.
That makes it seem a bit problematic on getting a prehung door that will fit our home properly. Sounds like I need to be aware of that when we replace the sliders and the front door.
@SandySu
Best meal ever? I was thinking that one year we went to the Fandango casino for Thanksgiving dinner, buffet style. We were waiting in a very long line. Some friends of MIL and FIL came by and saw us. We spoke and they went on. They came back a bit later and said, "Follow us." We followed them to the Dukes Steakhouse where we had a most delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings....and a really good discussion and a lovely time. And, they even paid for it. Wow. That was a meal to remember.
I happen to like my own personally cooked turkey with the corn bread and sausage stuffing. Delicious. I might cook that later in the year since I didn't cook it for Thanksgiving this year.
Best meal ever? I was thinking that one year we went to the Fandango casino for Thanksgiving dinner, buffet style. We were waiting in a very long line. Some friends of MIL and FIL came by and saw us. We spoke and they went on. They came back a bit later and said, "Follow us." We followed them to the Dukes Steakhouse where we had a most delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings....and a really good discussion and a lovely time. And, they even paid for it. Wow. That was a meal to remember.
I happen to like my own personally cooked turkey with the corn bread and sausage stuffing. Delicious. I might cook that later in the year since I didn't cook it for Thanksgiving this year.
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