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08 October 2009
New Lamps for Old
 Well, there's the last of the "big changes" I had on the Master To-Do List.The installers turned out to be a married couple; she put the pendant lamp together while he was the one that got up on the ladder and did the actual installation. While she was on the stairs putting the light together, she saw James' "rocket garden" and they talked about having taken their grandchildren to the Kennedy Spaceflight Center and having seen the Rocket Garden and taken the tour. "Endeavour" was on the pad when they went, but they did not see the actual launch. She even cleaned up the floor afterwards, although I planned to re-sweep it and wash it before putting everything back. Yeah, yeah, I'll cut to the chase. UGLY AND DUSTY OLD LAMP IS GONE! "Ding-dong, the light is dead! Which old light? The ugly light!"  REPLACED BY BEAUTIFUL NEW LIGHT (the light is on here, and this was taken with the flash):  The flash version without the light being lit shows the colors off a little better, although the professional shot in the previous post probably does the best job.  Now that it's there, it looks like it's always been there, like it belonged there all along. If you look above the purple petals, and below the purple petals, you can see the light amber and light orange, respectively, tints that I added to the glass. It's very subtle, which is what I wanted. Labels: decorating, house  04 October 2009
There's Always One More Trip
After we got home from grocery shopping this morning, James decided to install the programmable thermostat we bought yesterday (a Hunter, just in case you were curious). According to the directions, it was simple: take the old one off, label the wires, take the mount for the old one off and install the new one, match the wall wires to the wires on the new unit and fasten them, then put the new one on the wall.And the screw holes on each mount actually matched, so no messy drilling had to be done. Except for one thing: our present thermostat is powered by the house current, with battery as backup. But nowhere on the box of the programmable unit we purchased did it mention that the entire unit is powered by the battery. Neither of us want to play that way. We like the concept of double and triple redundancy. So it was back out to Lowes. Turned out that Hunter did not have—or perhaps Lowes doesn't carry—a type of thermostat that was electrically powered with a battery backup. We ended up with a Honeywell. And after that, it was simple. By the time I got done folding the towels and my own clothes, James had it up. It took me longer to program it because it's a 7-day timer and you have to do one day at the time (well, okay, I found out later you can actually do multiple days at one time; that's what I get for reading the manual after I program the timer!). I'm so short I had to stand on a stool to look the thing "in the eye" to program it. I felt like Phronsie Pepper helping Polly with the dishes in the Little Brown House! 27 September 2009
A New Fixture in Our Future
I am finally ridding us of that nasty pendant light fixture in the foyer.We didn't plan for the awkward thing. When they asked us to choose between the black-mounted fixtures and the silver-mounted fixtures, we thought the only difference was the color. The old house was so dark we wanted something brighter, so we chose the silver. The black pendant fixture we thought we were getting in silver was a relatively tidy piece. It consisted of an upturned frosted glass "cup" supported and surrounded by curving black metal supports. I didn't know how on earth you changed the light bulb when it burnt out, since it was about 14 feet up in the air, but that was the only problem with it. What we got was a silver monstrosity which I could take a photo of and post here, but I won't gag you with it. It consists of a tapered glass "box" with edges of antiqued silvered metal, smaller at the bottom that at the top. Three decreasing-size scrolls of metal piping are at each corner at the top. In the center is hung two sets of four "candles" which hold candle-shaped light bulbs. Not only is it impossible to reach to change bulbs if they burn out, but the bottom opening is so narrow that you can't dust inside it. I know, because I tried with a lambswool duster on an extension pole; it got stuck inside and I was afraid it would be hanging there in perpetuity until I managed to dislodge it. So it sits there getting dustier by the day and looking ugly while doing it. We had a $10 off a $50 or more purchase for Lowes that expired today, so we went there to buy some paving blocks for the dip in the side yard where the water collects when it rains and it gets muddy. (We only bought a dozen and see, after putting them out in the muddiest spot this afternoon, that we need a lot more. <g> Later...when it's cooler—although there was a delightful breeze this afternoon despite it going up to 78°F.) After buying those and more wild bird seed, we still didn't have $50 worth of stuff. I figured it was now or never. I looked at the fixtures one more time, then picked out this:  It goes with the Tiffany-style pendant in the dining room and, although it's a little more spring-colored than I wanted, it was more autumn-colored than the other Tiffany pendant they had there. And note that the fixtures point downward: I can use the bulb-changing head that goes with the extension pole to change bulbs when they burn out. (Don't think that will happen often, as we will be putting CFLs in the fixture.) So next thing is to await the installer to come out to put it up. (Even if we had a ladder that long, damned if I'm sending James up there to do that! Let a professional do it.) 12 July 2009
New Restaurant Seating for the Birdies
After watching that slug of a squirrel sunbathing on our deck rails after prying out suet from the suet feeder, I got disgusted. Spent much too much yesterday on a new pole support for the bird feeder, and also bought a new, small squirrel-proof feeder.James installed the new pole and hooks today, and we also put the old assembly back up, making it more stable. It's possible the latter may tip, however, if the squirrel tries to climb it, while the new assembly is quite sturdy. Here the new pole is on the left, the old one on the right. The old one used to be mounted where the new one is now. The two suets have hot pepper in them, as birds are not affected by pepper. They have no taste buds for it.  A close-up of the squirrel-proof feeder. It is all metal on the outside and if anything heavier than a cardinal steps on the perch or if something pulls on the perch from below, the gap closes up.  When I have a little more money I will buy another feeder. Toying with buying a thistle feeder to see if we could lure some goldfinches here. Labels: birds 04 July 2009
Happy Independence Day from Autumn Hollow!
Haven't posted here for a while, but haven't done any more major improvements on the house (still want to get that light in the foyer changed, though).Here on the table, on either side of the "pick-a-nick basket," as Yogi Bear used to say, are two of the prims I bought last weekend in The Maple's Tree in Gatlinburg, TN. (The "tablecloth" in the basket is a napkin folded up to look like a tablecloth tucked in for the picnic.)  China cabinet:  The little "Anne of Green Gables" type Liberty Angel with the Pilgrim salt-and-pepper pots from Publix, and the fall blessing:  The foyer table:  And the complete foyer:  Porch, from left-  -to right:  Now that it's actually the 4th, the patriotic banner has been traded out for the flag. Porch detail: sheep and birdhouse:  Porch detail: Uncle Sam and "bell tree":  These two have nothing to do with the Fourth, but I wanted to show off these cuties. This "fall display" is actually four parts, as the two pumpkins and the leaf scarecrow at right (with the orange leaf predominant) as three separate parts:  And I bought "Kiss the Cook" for James and set it in front of our cow chef:  I bought two other of these little block items, one that says "I [heart] Dogs" with a little flop-eared mutt sitting on the DOGS blocks, and an I [heart] Cows" with a cow in a similar position. Labels: decorating 10 April 2008
Fence Photos
07 April 2008
Please Fence Me In
Well, it's done. (Actually, it was done before 3:30, but I've just had the time to post about it now.) I don't think photos are necessary, since it's just your garden variety "dog ear" top six-foot privacy fence. If I take photos it will probably be after we have it stained. Besides, you don't want to see outside right now. The yellow pine pollen covers everything with a thin, gritty coating. It's disgusting. The leaves on the bushes out front are coated and I can't even rinse them off. If you look out the window, everything is suffused with an icky yellow-green glow and when you come in you have to wipe off your shoes because they have yellow dust stuck to them.(The one mistake I did make was keeping the side and front windows open while they worked. They raised a lot of pine dust out there and now the sills and on things close to the window everything is coated with yellow dust. Ugh.) The crew came, worked to music which didn't bother me much since I had the windows in the rear closed, cleaned up, and left (they didn't even ask for the check; I assume either the supervisor will come back for it or they will send me a bill for the balance). They did put in the second gate, and when I went out there to inspect I was astonished to find it perfectly counterweighted so it doesn't swing all the way open on the slope. You can open it to any angle and it stays there. Wow. Anyway, once I had inspected I snapped on Willow's leash and took her out back. When she encountered the fence she tried to go around it and I had to tug her out of the neighbors' yard. I let her off the leash once inside the fence and she did her business and sniffed around, and came both times when I called. I had to watch her since the back fence is high enough off the ground so that she can get underneath it. We are going to buy wire edging and put it along the fenceline to solve that problem, but for now she behaved quite well. They cleaned up nicely and the only problem I did see was that there are already two ant beds out there. !@#$#$!@$#$$%!! bugs! Please Fence Me In--The Installation Edition We had a bobble on Friday, when they were supposed to come. As I explained elsewhere, they need electricity and water to install the fence (water for the concrete and electricity of course for the saws). At the morning job they had Friday, the electricity failed and they had to use a generator to finish the job. The supervisor told me they would definitely come today, and they have; working as I "speak," so to say.He said I didn't need to be here, but it was a good thing I was, since there was some question on where to put the gate so that Willow would not get under it. (If they put it in the middle, there would have been a big gap underneath.) Once they finish, we will need to go get some wire edging (which we looked at at Lowe's yesterday) to set out the length of the back fence that separates the property from the trailer park, since it is some inches off the ground and Willow could easily get under it. Willow has at least quit barking, although she lets out an occasional "woof" when the sound gets loud enough. I had to shut the side window where they were installing the corner fencepost since the sound of them driving it into the ground was making Schuyler nervous. Labels: yard 03 April 2008
Please Fence Me In--Interval
Well, now we know it's going to happen: the grass is covered with red marks showing where the utilities are buried.Labels: yard 02 April 2008
Please Fence Me In--Part 2
27 March 2008
Please Fence Me In
The "fence estimator" has come and gone. Maybe I am naïve, but I never realized a fence would be that inexpensive, since I have never had to get a quotation for that sort of thing. The fence behind the house I grew up in was existent when my folks bought the property and my dad replaced it himself when it was nearly 50 years old and falling down (but we had chain-link and that was easy for him; we can't have chain-link here), and there was a picket fence between our property and the Santamarias' land. I was expecting something like $3000-$4000. Of course, we don't need a fence on one side, either, since Josh and Susan already fenced in their property. I guess if we had had to order an entire fence it would have been quite a bit more. I am told the company uses "Yellowwood" and the fence itself is warrantied for 20 years. (You can have the fence stained for an additional amount, but that does not affect the length of the warranty.) They have also advised we have a gate on either side, which we both think is sensible, and will make sure we have at least one wide gate so if we ever have someone who mows the lawn who uses a ride-on mower, they will be able to get through.The fescue in the back yard is getting quite scruffy, so I will have to call the new lawn-mowing guy. The Bermuda grass in front is just starting to emerge from hibernation. Any day the pine pollen will start sifting in little drifts on the deck. We figure since we can't hose down the deck this year due to the water restrictions, once the pollen deluge is over we are just going to have to sweep it off best we can and take all the lawn chairs to the car wash. The tassels on the pine trees around the building at work are fat with yellow pollen, but I don't see any tassels on the pine trees in our yard, just cones. Still, I found my car with a fine sprinkling of yellow on it Tuesday. Spring is galloping in apace anyway: all the trees are in bloom except for the dogwoods, daffodils wave from yards and around Smyrna city center, some places the forsythia and the snowball-like Bradford pear trees are even leafing out. I have all the windows open today (it's about 73°F right now), but no fans since I don't want to deliberately pull that muck in here. 23 March 2008
Happy Easter!
Easter was so early I didn't get to post my St. Joseph's Day altar. Happy Easter!     Foyer things:  The rose I bought for Mom on Valentine's Day:    Dining room:      These goofy-looking chicks are from JoAnn, I think (either that or Hobby Lobby):  These more traditional chicks are from JoAnn, sitting on the satellite box:  Stuffed animals guard the Easter candy on the hearth:  "PLEASE can I have some chocolate?" "CERTAINLY NOT!"  Schuyler had watermelon for the first time today. She loved it!  Labels: decorating, Easter, St. Joseph's Day 21 March 2008
Around the House
Actually, "behind the house" describes the upcoming project better.We feel it's time to get a fence around the property, or, more properly, the back of the property, since by the terms of the covenants, the fence can't extend past the back wall of the house. (I wonder how negotiable this is since the president of the homeowners' association has a fence that does come closer to the front, but it is an iron post fence rather than the privacy fence that surrounds the rest of the property. He did so to fence off the A/C unit away from his two big dogs.) It would be nice to let Willow run free in the back yard. Kristi and Kelly across the street had quite a nice-looking fence put up around their property, so I was asking her about it at the homeowners' association meeting. She highly recommended the fencing company; while it wasn't the cheapest quote she got, they came on time, didn't leave a mess, were very professional, explained everything, and found the property line. Sounds good to me. I have arranged to have someone come over for a quotation next Thursday. In the meantime, we have finally found homes for Mom's two end-tables that we brought home, but were displaced at Christmastime by a new side table next to James' recliner and a new night table on his side of the bed. One I had already placed in the library to hold the lamp next to the papasan chair. Yesterday after work I got a wild hair and replaced the table next to the futon in the spare room with the other end table. Now if we have guests, there is plenty room for them to put their things next to the "bed." I used the smaller table for the retro Crosley "Musician" that I bought a while ago, since my stereo system didn't play 78 records and I wanted to play Mom's old records. It's tucked nicely in a small corner of the spare room. Labels: decorating, yard 25 December 2007
Merry Christmas!
From all of us here at "Autumn Hollow"! Check out our photos!No, it only looks like we are advertising for KMart. :-)  Our miniatures tree in the foyer, with a Peanuts nativity and train underneath—oh, and that moose and squirrel:  The dining room:  The ceppo on the china cabinet shelf, flanked by the Santa collection on either side:  I decided to put the feather tree upstairs this year; it goes so well on the curio shelf:  Some closeups of the 1950s snowmen and Santas, a 1950s skater ornament, those gilded walnuts I made as a teenager, and an ornament I made as a child:    Even the cart serving as a stand for the mixer (and other things) gets a Yuletide remake:  The primitive blocks and other ornaments I bought at the Apple Annie craft fair (including the winged "Holy Cow" in front):  I saw these decorations and wanted to do a simple vignette; I love the way this came out!:  The Christmas tree, with manger set below:  Click here for a larger tree photo (very large). Here is the manger set that I grew up with; some of the statues are ceramic, but the newer sheep are of plastic, and the three camels and one of the sheep are of rubber and stuffed with tissues! These figures could be bought from large bins at one time, in Woolworths or Grants or Kresges:  You can see the chips on the oldest figures:  With just the lights:  The 1940s Christmas village on the mantel from the left:  And the right:  The individual buildings: radio station WENN (looks like the local cops have been visiting the Buttery downstairs; notice the special appearance!), the lovely Woolworths building, the grocer shoveling his sidewalk, the bus passing "Suicide Hill" (looking at the slope, you know where it's gotten that name), the Christmas tree seller waves as the bus drives past, outside the post office the mailman distributes some goodies, a boy leaves the hobby shop with a new model plane, parishoners enjoy a concert outside St. Luke's while in the rear, Father quietly reads, and a soldier greets his girl, having just come in on the bus. Downstairs in the library, a cozy Christmas reading spot:  The library tree, with its literary ornaments:  In the other house, we had no room for a village, so I created this vignette, "Christmas at the Lighthouse":  Nothing special to anyone else, but special to me: my mom's mixing dish for baking cookies. It probably came from the Outlet or Shepards or maybe even Woolworths in the 1950s and is labeled simply "Made in Czechoslovakia."  After being used to mix the wine biscuits, it's now filled with them:  And just because—Willow:  And Schuyler:  22 November 2007
Happy Thanksgiving from Autumn Hollow!
06 November 2007
New Lamps for Old (the coda)
After going crazy, especially with the installation of the pendant light, we wondered if we actually needed to swap out the large round fixture for the smaller one in the prep area of the kitchen. We had both thought that the larger fixture had another socket, which would have given us three of them rather than two, but that was not so.However, since the larger fixture did have a larger reflective surface, James did put that one up in the prep area. In addition, instead of reusing the existing soft white 60 watt "Helco" or whatever the brand of bulbs were, since we could not put up anything of a larger wattage according to the UL listing on the socket, we replaced them with clear 60 watt bulbs. Whoa. Before it was just bright enough to see the food, now I feel like I should be tap-dancing and singing along to the "Back on Broadway" song from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (or reciting Luke for Charlie Brown). Labels: DIY |
