Hummingbirds

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My First Day back at work:

Worked hard. Decided to take a little nap in the rocking chair I brought up with me. So, there I am in the machine shed, on a warm day with a nice, cool breeze blowing through, snoozing, when I hear a bird chirping and a bumble bee buzzing. No! Not a bumble bee--too loud--a humming bird?. A humming bird being chased by two swallows. I’m not sure why, but it's possible that the hummingbirds had taken over the nest that the swallows built last year.

I didn’t like the big guys picking on the little ones, so I chased them out and closed the door. I went looking for the hummingbird. These things are small and quick. I finally spotted one at the very peak of the building.

The hummingbird is the small V-shaped object in the opening. (The darker objects are structural components of the building.) My little promotional-gift camera couldn't zoom any more.

Now, remember, the peak of the shed is about 25 feet up and my camera is one of those promotional give-a-ways, so getting a clear picture is nearly impossible at that distance, but I tried.

The little bird, with outstretched wings, just floated up there--frozen. Not a twitch nor a buzz. It just hung there, an exhibit at the finest museum. I thought maybe it had died and was caught up in a spider web or something. For five minutes, I watched. Finally, I walked away and came right back—Gone!--only to be seen flying around the rafters again a bit later.

The shed has a ridge vent running the entire length of the building. This happened early afternoon on a very sunny day. Were the air currents from the warming building enough to hold the bird up there?

Speaking of Critters

They like the dome and they do not like that I try to keep them out.

The first time I went into the basement I saw a chipmunk scurry across the floor. I searched everywhere for the entry point. Finally, this is what I found:

They chewed an opening through the bottom of my make-shift door.

I put a metal trowel across the opening and that settled that...Hah, so I thought!

The next morning I came to work to discover the sound of running water. The garage floor was covered and I could see that water was spraying out of the hose that comes from the pressure tank in the basement. I thought the sharp edges of the hole in the wall had worn through the hose, so I replace the hose with a heavier one.

The next morning--same thing. This time I saw bits of hose on the floor and teeth marks on the hose. The critters we not able to get into the house because the water pressure kept them out, but they made a mess for me.

Basement Windows

They are in! Three windows. Sure, the finishing work still need to be done, both inside and out, but they are in--they open and close letting in both light and fresh air, but they keep out the critters.

I guess I need better pictures as well as one from the outside.

Putting in windows has changed a bit since I last did it. Back in the day, the windows came with brick molding (the decorative trim around the outside of the window) already attached. The window was then set in the opening, squared and plumbed, then nailed to the wall through the brick molding. That is what held the window in place.

Now, they come clad in plastic/vinyl. The vinyl extends out beyond the window and is perforated for nails which hold it in place. This system helps seal the window better from Mother Nature and gives the builder or home owner more options for the style of trim to use. The window is shaped such that no additional trim is necessary—siding or other exterior wall covering can come right up to it, just leave enough space for expansion and sealant.

My work did not go unnoticed. One critter, a chipmunk, noticed that he could see into the basement so he joyfully jumped into the window well only to learn about glass. Unable to get into the basement, he turned to run out the tunnel that he normally used only to find that it was buried under a pile of pea rock that was moved back to make room for the window.

A rather new 2X6 was put in for a ramp, but it proved too slippery. So, a weathered peace of plywood became the ramp material of choice.

I'm Back: May, 2015 (and it's snowing)

Finally! Internet issues kept me from posting earlier.

About the house...This year will start with basement windows (installed), finishing the painting (five gallons applied so far, another four, or so, to go.), water proofing, and finishing any stucco that is patiently waiting to be done. Time and funds permitting, I will also install windows in the first and second floors, and then some of the doors in the house. Hopefully, I will also be able to do some work in the garage, starting with framing out the big garage door and the three upstairs windows.

Tomorrow, I will stop by ReStore to see if I can pick up an entry door or anything else I might need. ReStore is Habitat for Humanity's Goodwill of construction materials, new and used. It is absolutely a good place to check out for anyone doing anything in their house. I recently purchased stair risers for $7.00 each in Baltimore--these run around $35.00 if bought in a flooring or big-box store. There are at least four ReStore locations around Baltimore. (I stopped at ReStore in Moorhead and picked up a solid wood door with oak veneer and solid oak frame for $15.00.)

The door with its frame and threshold. Notice the basement windows.

Actually, I have been in the state for over a week (Nearly a month by now.). During this time, I had the privilege of helping one of my sisters install a new laminate floor, another with un-carpeting and woodifying (Yes, it's a word--I just used it, so it must be!) her stairs (actually I just helped cut new risers, she and her son did the rest), and then gave minimal advice, well support, to a third sister about a plumbing issue. (As it turned out, my advice was incorrect—it was the fresh-water line that had cracked.) With the help of other siblings, I delivered and set up mobility devices for a brother--a stair lift and a motorized wheel chair, and, again with sibling support, I delivered my travel trailer and my sister's motor home to the construction site. The trailer is ready for occupancy, and I will be in it, getting to work starting tomorrow.

I will be at my brother's tomorrow morning while a service man finishes installing and maintaining the stair lift--a seven-year-old Bruno. The technician said that it looks to be in very good shape. Tomorrow, he will bolt it in place, then clean, lubricate, and adjust it as necessary. These things (stair lifts) are expensive, but I came across this one on Craig's list. I think that the seller was emptying out a house and needed to get it sold fast. (Completed, as expected.)

At the same time as I was finding that, one of my sisters found a motorized wheel chair for my brother. The chair is an older Hoveround that a gentleman had used while recovering from back surgery. He no longer needed it, so he sold it to my sister for an extremely good price. Sometimes things just work out.

I will try to post some pictures of these machines later.