Friday, August 16, 2019

The Joys of Home Renovation Weekly Link Round-Up




Casa Kittling was built in 1952. I've lived in it since 1981. (Denis since 2001.) Most-- but not all-- of its windows are original to the house. Denis and I both knew that replacing the rest of the windows was l-o-n-g overdue, so this was #1 on our to-do list. But, as is the case with so many home renovation projects, there's been a problem or two along the road of execution.

This household runs in accordance with Denis's work schedule, 2 PM to midnight. We get to bed around 3 AM and get up around 10 AM. The window installers wanted to show up at 6:30 AM. With the climate here in Phoenix, they want to start early and finish before the "insane" heat has taken hold. This made perfect sense to us, so during the first (and supposedly only) week of the installation on Denis's days off, we adjusted our schedule. In bed around 11 PM and rousting out at 5 AM (me) or 5:45 AM (Denis). Let me show you one of the windows that is being replaced.



This is the hole where the big picture window was at the front of the house. I chose this one so you could also get a glimpse of my TBR shelves. (I know you so well.) There's something unsettling about walking past huge holes in the walls of your house that insects and birds can fly through at will...

There was a problem installing the new picture window and a lot of chiseling had to be done before they could get it to fit. It took them all day just working on this one window, and the trim still has to be done. I won't even mention the other five windows that still need to be installed. The very next day, one of the installers was sick, so they told us two hours after they were supposed to be here that they weren't coming at all. We have their trailer, a bunch of windows leaning against the side of the house, and their tools, and all this stuff will be sitting around until next Monday (which is really last Monday by the time you'll be able to read this).

I am not pleased with the course of events, but I'm concentrating on new curtains and books. Denis is practically in a state of euphoria. He's gone around with one of his trusty gadgets checking the temperature on the inside and outside of the new glass. On the inside, the temperature is 80°. On the outside, the temperature is well over 100°-- and the window is currently in the shade. We have curtains up on that big picture window, but they're open-- and the room is COOL. That's never happened before in living memory! Can you imagine what the house is going to be like once all the windows have been replaced?

So... installation woes, but it's going to be fantastic once everything is done. Now it's time for those links!


►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄


►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
  • Thousands of endangered animals were seized in a customs operation. 
  • The discovery of a raptor-like dinosaur adds a new wrinkle to the origin of birds.
  • Goats may be able to tell when their buddies are feeling good or baaad.
  • Funny! --A video shows a determined cockatoo methodically removing strips of anti-bird spikes that line a perfect place to perch. 
  • Thanks to light pollution, we're losing Nemo.
  • Fossil of 99 million-year-old bird with a giant toe has been found in Burma. 
  • Mussels' sticky threads could inspire ways to clean up oil spills, purify water, and more.
  • Tanzania says their elephant and rhino populations are rebounding after an anti-poaching crackdown.


►The Happy Wanderer◄


►Fascinating Folk◄
  • Denise Mina, a modern crime queen weighs in on podcast investigators, celebrity culture, and one more road-trip novel before Brexit.
  • S.I. Huang: Five ways my background as a stuntwoman and armorer helped me become a crime writer (and one way it didn't).
  • English pastry chef Annabel de Vetten creates made-to-order cakes that look like beautiful nightmares. (I love her nickname.)


►I ♥ Lists◄



That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Have a great weekend, and read something fabulous!


2 comments:

  1. Home renovation never goes the way you think it will, does it, Cathy? I hope things go more smoothly from now on. And it is wonderful to hear that new window is already making such a difference. Now, off to see those paintings in Wyoming...

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    Replies
    1. I've lived in this house long enough to know that NOTHING ever runs smoothly, Margot. There was another tiny hiccup after this, but the house put back to rights, it was all worth it-- just like I knew it would be.

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