Friday, September 30, 2011

Hall Light

Earlier this summer I scored a bunch of new light fixtures during a tent sale.  And by score I mean bought six new light fixtures for different areas of the house for about 10% of the list price.  On average each light cost me around $10 dollars. I really had no idea what to expect from the sale and I wasn't prepared for what I found -- there were piles of name brand boxed lights everywhere and they weren't necessary in the correct box so I had to open EVERYTHING -- but it was worth it. We've been slow to get them all up, but we did manage to update the hall light just inside the front door. 

 BEFORE. 
The old brass fixture was in perfect working order but it just wasn't our style so it was donated to Goodwill.

AFTER.  A new oil rubbed bronze fixture. There are a ton of other things that need updating in this picture -- front door, some paint to get rid of the "contractor cream" and flooring, but the light is a nice change.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Bathroom Wiring and Ceiling

Slow and steady wins the race on the master bathroom.  Andy has been working on the wiring.  We had too many lights and outlets on the current bathroom circuit and so being true to our motto "if you're going to do it,  do it right" we decided we needed to rip out the ceiling (not part of the original plan because of relocating all of the insulation in the attic) and run wiring for a new circuit to the basement.  We also needed to work quickly because we didn't want the ceiling open for an extended period of time because of running the AC. It was still very hot out when we tackled this project. 

 Wiring setup for new switch box just inside the doorway.

 This angle makes it hard to get your bearings, but imaging laying on the floor and looking up at the ceiling.  You are looking up through the bathroom ceiling, into the attic, and the plywood roof.  Adding more insulation to the attic is on the "To Do" list but we want to get as much of the wiring done as possible first.  You can see all of the new white wires running across the ceiling and down the back wall at the bottom of the photo.  These will feed the lights over the vanity and the new outlets.

New box for a ceiling fan and light.  None of the bathrooms in the house have fans and we have almost steamed the wallpaper off the walls in the guest bath in the hall, so fans are a must to help reduce the smell humidity.

With the new drywall up on the ceiling Andy was able to install the fan/light combo (toward the top of the picture) and also a small light over the bathtub. I can't say we shop for bathroom fans often so I had no idea how much better they look than the old fans that I am used to.  You can barely tell that this  is even a fan, but you can see the vents when the light is on.  Thanks to KW (home renovator extraordinaire!) for the tip on the upgraded fan/light options. The duct running down the back wall is for a new fan in the powder room downstairs.

More drywall.

New lights in the closet-to-be.

And we also put new insulation in the exterior walls.  Again, this wasn't on the original "To Do" list but what was there didn't meet code and while we had the walls and ceiling open we figured now was the time to add new insulation.  This picture was a work in progress, but the full wall is insulated today.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Cool or creepy? (Part 2)

The monster squash is taking over the world!  It has now taken over the fence and climbed into the nearby Dogwood tree.  I trim it back at least once a week and for all the growth visible in this picture I have removed just as much in my trimming.  It produces very unusual squash that are rather tasteless and I haven't found a great use for them.  I did slice them and roast them for a roasted vegetable lasagna that was delicious but that's about all I can think of.  The neck is too skinny to use for stuffed squash and it isn't the right texture to use in place of zucchini.  I am convinced that if I let it grow without trimming it back that it would take over the world.  It has certainly liked our garden this year, but I don't think we'll be inviting it back next growing season.

 It works it's way into the Dogwood tree from the right side of the fence and is pulling the fence down.

Then it wraps through the tree and comes back out on the same side.  I can't even reach these squash with a ladder which is why the one below got so big. 

 One mutant squash.  I vote creepy for this one because 1) did you see how big it is? and 2) it's heavy and wobbly all at the same time -- it's just not right for a squash

 Yes that is a 39" squash!  which makes #3 on the creepy list -- vegetables that are 2/3 of my total height should not be allowed.

At least the rest of our garden doesn't produce mutant veggies.  Lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and wax beans, basil and eggplant.

This one is neither cool or creepy.  In fact I think I will create a new category called NOT cool.  Our tomato plants have developed a fungus called Septoria Leaf Spot.  It's treatable, not spreading quickly, and we are still getting nice tomatoes but we would like to rid the garden of this for next year.

There's a fungus among us!

And this little guy could be cool or creepy.  It's an eel we found in the crab trap at the shore. I'm on the fence with this one.