Saturday, January 31, 2009
LISSA CHANGES HAIR COLOR!!Nate and Lissa arrived safely from Oregon. Nate has been struggling with a cold but today we were able to do a few things.
We went to Frankenmuth and spent some time at Bronners, and we drove through town to look at the ice sculptures and snow sculptures that were created in competitions for last week-end.
We also went to Birch Run and shopped at the outlet mall, and ate at the famous I-75 Tony's. Jenny and Michael were with us, too. It was a full and fun afternoon.
When we got home, we each tried on the white wig Dan bought at Bronners for Spirit week at school. So this is what Lissa would look like with white hair!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
BIG FREEZE
Our attempt to eliminate the annual freezing of our dish washer did not succeed. Of course, this year the sub-zero weather went lower than normal and lasted longer than normal. My efforts to insulate did greatly reduce draftiness, but the dish washer did freeze--the drain line freezes nearly every winter. Thawing involves shining a hot-bright light under the washer. This year, it took about 8 hours to thaw. I will have to consider some additional tactics!
Our attempt to eliminate the annual freezing of our dish washer did not succeed. Of course, this year the sub-zero weather went lower than normal and lasted longer than normal. My efforts to insulate did greatly reduce draftiness, but the dish washer did freeze--the drain line freezes nearly every winter. Thawing involves shining a hot-bright light under the washer. This year, it took about 8 hours to thaw. I will have to consider some additional tactics!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FIRSTS.
Our first black President. My first President who is younger than I am (now THAT feels strange!) The first inauguration I have seen live (on TV) in decades. Words are words and actions are actions, but while I did not vote for President Obama, and I have certain fears, I must admit that the actions I have seen and the words I have heard are more encouraging than I had expected. I will continue to "pray for them who have the rule over" me, and trust the God who has the heart of the king in His hands. "The just shall live by his faith" as the Lord told Habakkuk, and what that prophet faced was far greater than what we can imagine in our own future.
Our first black President. My first President who is younger than I am (now THAT feels strange!) The first inauguration I have seen live (on TV) in decades. Words are words and actions are actions, but while I did not vote for President Obama, and I have certain fears, I must admit that the actions I have seen and the words I have heard are more encouraging than I had expected. I will continue to "pray for them who have the rule over" me, and trust the God who has the heart of the king in His hands. "The just shall live by his faith" as the Lord told Habakkuk, and what that prophet faced was far greater than what we can imagine in our own future.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Our house was built in 1895 by William Alswede (who's grandneice we have met). The foundation is poured concrete and includes a cistern located in one corner--under the kitchen. The only access to it is a 12" X 24" hatch through which it is just possible to lower a 5' step ladder. I have been there before, when I re-plumbed the kitchen and added a vent pipe that helps the drain to run properly. Since the house is made with "balloon construction", I was able to cut a hole in the floor and shove a 1 1/2" pipe from the cistern to the attic right up the void between the wall studs. I did that years ago. At the same time, I filled in the hole through which water used to come from the eves. Rain water used to fill the cistern. I also stopped up the over-flow pipe, and insulated the space between the foundation and the floor.
Even so, that corner was the coldest corner in our house, each winter it is so cold that the pipes to our dish washer freeze. This summer, we had foam insulation blown into the walls of the house, with special attention to that corner. But it is still cold. So over Christmas break, I went back into the cistern (with all the spiders) and put some thin foam insulation in the bottom side of the floor joists. Here are some of the pictures of that operation. The test will be over the next couple of days when it is predicted that temperatures will go perhaps to -20. Thats MINUS twenty degrees. That will be the test. I am hoping for the best!
