I've been AWOL, but not because life hasn't been active here. Just the opposite; at the end of a rare rain-free day I'm too whooped to write a post. In no particular order:
In an email response I questioned our insurance agent about the underwriter's problem with our porch railing and got a reply three days later. She wrote back to say she'd talked to them and found out she had the wrong porch - it was the front, not back side of MoHo - and it was the bannisters that needed replacing.
Naw...that ain't right.
I called her, and explained that bannisters are the top surface of a stair railing, so a) they can't be "too far apart," and b) that's not what she sent pictures of.
"Oh, I should have said balusters."
Except, again, balusters are the vertical pieces, and that's not what was in the pictures.
This afternoon I added a 2x2 rail between each of those already there, took some pics, and emailed them to her. If I haven't heard back by Tuesday I'll call again.
Yesterday I got the woodshed/storage shed completed except for the door I'll make for the storage bay. Because this thing sits sideways on sloping ground I threw some dirt on the floor of that bay that I'd pulled from the coop project. But because of all the rain, and because it's more clay than dirt, I'll have to wait for it to dry out before I can level it. That should happen by May.Today we went to a free Country Home Expo at the county fairgrounds in Eugene. Most of the exhibitors were what you'd expect in Oregon - organic, free trade, naturopathic, and recycled.
Note: some hippies grow up to be old hippies. And they're weird.
But it was worthwhile because of three particular booths. One was a large display by a firm that builds tiny houses. I spent about 15 minutes talking with the owner and we left thinking it would be another very viable option. They had two models of their trailer versions set up, but they also build slab-on-grade, and he said the price would run about $50 per square foot depending on how we wanted it finished. I got his business card.
I talked to a gal running a booth about chickens and bees. (I don't see it either.) I told her about our plans, asked some questions, and got helpful information. I'd planned on getting 7 Rhode Island Reds and one rooster, but I know from experience that a RIR rooster will be mean. When I asked for her suggestions she recommended :
and Black Copper Marans
She said both breeds are more docile but still lay big brown eggs at the same high rate as a Red. The Marans' eggs are almost chocolate brown.
She also told me I shouldn't have fewer than eight hens with a rooster. "Why?" With fewer than eight the rooster will choose a favorite and ride her mercilessly, until she's sickly. I told her that at the recommended 4 sq. ft. per bird I only have room for a total of eight birds. But when she learned I will let them free range she said that limit doesn't apply; they'd be fine if I had ten.
Then we stopped by a booth (just a table) with one old guy (my age) who owns a roofing company specializing in metal roofs.
(heavy sigh)
Yesterday I was showing Fred to one of our neighbors and discovered that the insulation in one of the loft's bays is soaking wet at the bottom. Only one possibility: the roof is leaking. But a relatively new metal roof with a 12.12 pitch can only be leaking at one place - the ridge vent. I think the high winds we had a week ago drove rain up under the vent.
After talking to this guy it sounds like my ridge vent isn't wide enough. He said I also need to push a tape measure up under the space to see if they bent up the panels per the proper installation method.
The good news: assuming it is the ridge vent he can put on a new one for under $200.
He also told me that he's used a dehumidifier to solve the same problem I've got with mustiness caused by old water leaks, and had things dried out in less than a week. He used one from a big box store that cost him $150. So that's our plan.
Another 2 or 3 hours and I'll have the coop's front porch done. Pics when it is. Pam wanted a Dutch door, I saw no purpose for the effort or expense, and promised her something else that would dress it up, but with some function. This will provide the needed step, keep mud out of the coop, and give a spot for some flower pots in the spring. Pam says, "It will be SO cute!"
Big games tomorrow. I would like both the Broncos and the Patriots to lose, but I don't think that can happen. And of course we're pulling for the Cards against the Panthers, though that would be an upset.
Nine days to the first votes, to be cast at the Iowa caucuses. Is it too much to hope that those midwesterners have a sudden rush of common sense?
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