Slimy Chicago Style Politics

   It makes me angry that they do this----it makes me very angry that people do their part to fall for it, too.
Darrell Issa (R, CA) was chairing the house oversight committee--“to assess the impact of the healthcare mandate rule on freedom of religion,” and see whether the executive branch of government had overreached its constitutional authority, which of course it had.  A very serious accusation when you think about it, particularly with a devisive election coming up. 
   Here's what the Democrats did---they had a black woman there all coached, and they asked if she could address the panel about contraception.  Wrong committee, wrong topic---so Rep. Issa said 'No'.  It's his job to keep the meeting on topic, which this clearly wasn't.  So the Democrats stormed out to the waiting cameras, and the story out now is Issa won't allow women to testify about women's health issues.
   Slimy.
   I believe the Democrats are fully aware Obama is way over-reaching his constitutional authority and it's a toxic topic for them.  Preventing government oppression plays well with a huge part of the population, so they HAD to change the focus here to make it sound as if it were a hearing about contraception.
  If you are reading this, and you disagree, see if you can focus on this question----Does the president of the united states have the authority to require churches to pay for abortions?  If so, where in the constitution is this power listed?  

  

Attic Vents

   I had to buy special attic vents.  They were designed by a firefighter and are guaranteed to keep burning embers out.  I'm guessing that guarantee only extends to the purchase price of the vents.....
   They are called 'Brandguard vents'.  They are vertical channels that overlap so air can get through, but a firebrand can't carry.  There's a screen on the backside.  They are supposed to keep out rain and snow as well.  Nope.  I was working downstairs and noticed a drip-drip-drip coming from the insulation on the in-side of the house below where I knew the vent to be.  I'm glad I didn't have the ceiling up there yet.  So I left the fireplace warmed lower portion and went up into the attic to check it out.

I know, bad picture.  It's dark because it's an attic.  An attic with a pile of snow sitting on the insulation and snow blowing right through the expensive snow-proof vent.  It's funny crawling around up there---it all looks solid but the ceiling joists are 24" apart spanned only by insulation friction fit in place.  If I fell through, it's 17 1/2 feet down. 

So I bought two non-wazoo standard issue vents and cut them to the size I needed, then pre-drilled some holes and crawled back up there.

So then these got screwed directly to the back of the original vertical vents and caulked all around.  There was a very noticable decrease in the airflow---now wind has to go through the vertical tracks and upslope 4".  The top of the upslope for each louver even has a 1/2" bend-back, then another screen.  Next time there's a howling wind and snow storm I'll climb back up there and see if anything other than dry air is getting through.

If you look around our neighborhood it's easy to find houses with the west facing vents all choked up with expand-o-foam owners sprayed in there to keep rain and snow out.  It's ugly, but it's also not too good---you really need a well ventilated attic to allow moisture to escape and also keep the house cool in summer.

Building in the Snow

   This time last year, when the weather would turn, I could get a little bit done but before too long the elements and common sense would get the best of me.  I'd have to go home and be underfoot for AnnaMarie while the framing would be getting snowed upon.  Now, I have options.

     You're supposed to use the fireplace a few times with the house open to burn off any oils and contaminants from the manufacturing process.  This airtight fireplace drafts air from outside, and has a thermostat controlled blower.  It really puts out the heat.  I'm just tossing construction cut offs in as I go.

Also---here are the shutters I salvaged from a dumpster.  They have some 'character flaws' that I'm going to leave in place, just some little gouges here and there.  They go well in the bedroom, I think.  All the wood is going to get painted gloss white.

Working Up High

  Working up in the gables over the porch roof has proven to be difficult.  I moved my triangle braces over and screwed them to the wall.  I have to work from the top down, remove the braces, then from the bottom up, being careful the boards space out correctly.  It would look odd to have a half width board

Some pics from the Cuyamaca Cabin project

  This was the first owner builder project, 2000-2003

Fabric Formed Foundations

   Both of my owner/builder projects were built this way.  As far as I can tell, it's never been done elsewhere.  It solved some problems with building over expansive soils on a slope over boulders where there's frost and earthquakes.

A Trudge To Success

  Here's the fireplace, with the cut local stone veneer.  It might not look like much accomplished for a days work, but today was one curveball after another.
  When I got off wrk this morning, I had a wicked sore throat and plugged up ears.  It was raining, too, and AnnaMarie needed stuff from Walmart.  I really wanted to just spend the day lying down but the kids volunteered to watch three little kids for one of their teachers for the day.  I could just see passing this crud to a kid, to teacher, to whole school, so decided I'd just work on the cedar lining for the closet.  Low braindrain, no heavy lifting.   The compressor had other ideas.

  The little gasket on the pressure tube where it goes into the valve housing was shredded.  The part is $1.17 and shipping is $14 so I also ordered a new valve assembly (Byron's feeling on the cause of another compressor issue) and gaskets.  Total $27.77.  A new compressor is over $200.  No cedar work until the parts come.  So, the other indoor 'shovel ready' project is the fireplace.  Lauren had puzzle fit the stones on the template for me but all the edge ones needed trimming.  Lugged the wet saw inside and got it all set up.  It was working intermittently and I thought the burning plastic smell was from the space heater, until the smoke tipped me off to a failing plug.

If you are going to take on any big project, keep a supply of plugs around.  I have a tool repair kit all ready to go.  Electrical tape, cords, spare blades, motor brushes, allen wrenches.  (OK the kit is a cardboard box full of junk but it's somewhat organized)

With that repair done and not needing any special order parts, back to the veneer job.  You smear the mastic on ( make sure you buy the right kind.  This is high temp for stone) then spread it with a notched trowel.

  I put some carboard down to protect the hearth from the mastic.  The picture doesn't show how the notched trowel furrows the mastic.  I didn't angle the camera right, I guess.  Then you just start sticking the stones to the wall, pressing them in.  I kept a variety of tiny stones near to fill in.  You can put them in really tight to each other and skip mortaring the joints,  you can mix up mortar and use a mortar bag, (kind of like a frosting flute bag) or, if the joints are pretty small, you can buy elastomeric repair mortar in a caulk tube and just gun it into place.   In the top picture you can see under the hearth where I didn't mortar it yet, so there's white mastic showing through the stones. 

I feel a little guilty.  Projects like this are usually saved as a reward for completing a larger, more tedious step.  I have to get the exterior done.

Siding, Inside and Out

   I'm set up now, to get work done regardless of the weather.  With some beautiful days and some help from Byron, got the tall wall all sided.  The soffits are in, all caulked and painted.  The shingles up in the gable have a wavy look---they were cut from regular siding boards, freehand.  The pattern is matched for the gable under the eyebrow, too.  You can see the color the girls picked.  It's really going to stand out from the highway.

   Then Winter pays a visit.  Howling wind, sleet, in the 20's.   Time to get some indoors stuff done.  I set up the wet saw I bought on Craigslist for $50 and start making tiles from the stones that I found when the foundation and septic were dug.

     The kids were home for MLK day so I recruited Lauren to puzzle fit them together for the fireplace.  I made some templates the exact shape out of cardboard.   I'll get high temp mastic and put them on the hardiboard that's already in place--another cold weather project.   Right now, though, I'm getting some of the tongue and groove interior siding in.  It's very rewarding to work on stuff that will show.  This is the bedroom window with a window seat built in.  I added a reading light in the ceiling and a switch because it looked like an inviting place to sit with a book.  The picture of the lake is out that same window.

 

Not Falling

   So many days are spent getting work done, either here or at the fire department.  So much of getting work done requires putting distance between myself and my home planet.  There are a number of ways to accomplish this; however, the return trip is always top on the mind----taking off is optional.  Landing is not.  When you do return, you want to return to the correct place at a comfortable speed.
   It was time to get the tall wall done.  I promised Mom I wouldn't attempt it alone.  Once again, Byron to the rescue---he came down and helped set up the scaffolding I borrowed, even brought some missing pieces that were needed.  It made the work safer and more productive and we made it up almost to the very top.  I'll finish soon if the weather holds, then final painting on the way down while taking the scaffolding back apart.  We started cutting siding boards into wavy lined shingles for up in the gable.  It came out really well.  Most of the caulking is completed too.  I had to take A.M. to an appointment and returned to find Byron had cleaned everything up inside.  This, by the way, is what I consider the ugly side of the house but the only person that will see it is Keith, who owns the dome home next door.  Oh and soffits---the eaves have to be filled in with this concrete soffit board stuff.  I really don't like how it looks but it's required in fire resistive construction.  It went in easier than I had anticipated and really doesn't look all that bad

Amnesty in California

   It's time we band together as Californians to save our great state.  I don't care what your party line is, or what your prejudices towards these people are.  They deserve amnesty and our state's future depends on it.  It's simple economics.
   Maybe they don't look like you.  Their language might not be recognizable to you, though you probably recognize a few words....You may have even participated in rallies to keep them out.  It's time we recognize these people, (Yes, they ARE people with the same dignity afforded you and me) for the hard work and sacrifice they represent.  Without them our state, even our country, simply wouldn't have the prosperity it has enjoyed in the past.  We all benefit from the sweat of their brow.  You probably didn't know they actually DO pay taxes, and use far less in government services than you and I. 
    I say end all prejudices you have towards this group.  Invite every last one of them into our state, and grant them tax amnesty for being here.  I swear they'll spend, they'll elevate our culture.  Have you tried their food?
    Most importantly they will do the kind of work most Americans aren't willing to do anymore.  Too long this group has been looked down upon, literally spat upon, vilified, made to feel unwelcome.  There are  politicians--Presidents even---that will lie and foster misconceptions about this group for political gain.
    Please, open your minds and really think about what our state would be like if we didn't have them here.  They really bring alot to our communities.  Call them what you want---Millionaires, Billionaires, Entrepeneurs, the Well-To-Do.  Just remember that it's very possible you could become one someday yourself, and ask yourself how you'd want to be treated.

Coming Together

     I realized I hadn't posted an update of the exterior for awhile.  You can see the stucco below the deck level.  The siding is going up nicely---now for the tall wall.  I borrowed some scaffolding for that part.