Rose Cottage Ltd

I wrote a post back in January 2012 about some wood stove maintenance I’d need to do before the Fall/Winter stove season began. Even though there was one 82 degree day in Central North Carolina which made it seem silly to spend the day working on/with the wood stove, by the 38 degree morning yesterday, I was glad I had.

You’ll see from the January post that the stove’s gasket seal around the window needed replacing and that I also needed to replace some of the bricks that hold and process the heat. It took me about 2 hours to accomplish this work since I had already ordered the gasket roping, the “glue” to hold it in the stove’s window channel, and the bricks.

Based on yesterday’s and this morning’s burn, I apparently got the seal tight enough and I also think the new bricks are making for a better fire.

I also bought a little chimney sweep tool from Lowe’s. It looks like a Brillo pad on steroids and is attached (sold seperately,) to a snaky piece or two of narrow aluminum tubing that extends about 20′. I got up on the roof, ran this thing up and down the vent a few times, and then removed the outside vent cap and cleaned the creosote from that with some steel wool. I’m lucky to have a low roof so this was all accomplished quite safely in about 30 minutes.

My stove was purchased from Lowe’s in 2007. You can read some info about it – and the year-over-year savings since its arrival.

This particular model is hard to find now five years later, but I have linked some wood stoves that are similar here. Further down that same page is an interview with the stove’s installer with a few FAQs AND a few useful wood stove accessories.

I’ll be updating the savings enjoyed by using this wood stove for heat soon but I can tell you here that I made it through all of last year’s and the early 2012 heating season on one tank of LP gas. Prior to the wood stove, I was using at least one and one-half tanks to get through the cold months.

Today’s high is to be right about 49 degrees with very windy conditions and some rain. This is a perfect time to heat the house via the wood stove. I’ll set my central heating on 60 degrees, and probably not have it run for the rest of the day. All I’ll hear is the wood stove blower versus the quarters dropping every time the central heat WOULD be kicking in.

Music to my ears…

I’ll start off first with what my best online friend, Wikipedia, has to say:

(To) Renovate: Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.

(To) Remodel: To make over in structure or style; reconstruct.

Not much clarity there!

I’m nearing the end of (in my mind) “renovations” at my house and getting close to the “remodeling” stage. You can read more about that here.

In practice, renovating and remodeling are much the same but in my frame of reference the process and work is entirely different. Before you either purchase an older property or contemplate upgrades to your current home – getting yourself in the right frame of mind may prove helpful.

To me, “renovate” usually means something has to come down before new can go up. This can still relate to “upgrades,” but is more often referring to necessary improvements to a home’s main structures such as the roof, foundation, walls, floor, electrical systems, HVAC, wells and their (expensive) pumps, etc., etc. These are things I see as “required.”

On the other hand, “remodeling” implies upgrades. You have a functioning kitchen but want to change the footprint or want new cabinets or new counter tops, etc. Remodeling can be as simple as changing the kitchen sink faucet hardware. These construction tasks I see as “nice-to-do” or optional.

With older properties, the tricky part is where your remodeling process exposes renovation necessities. That old Tom Hanks movie called, “The Money Pit” provides a prime example. In the movie, the couple got an unbelievable deal on a real estate property that appeared to need some mainly cosmetic improvements. In reality, every “cosmetic” change exposed a massive problem just below the surface, and a “money pit” the house became!

None of this really makes any difference unless you buy a home for what appears to be a great price and figure you’ll have to spend say $10,000 on improvements. Unless you have a lot of construction experience, have a very thorough home inspector, or are yourself a General Contractor, you might find that before you can spend that optional $10,000 for “remodeling” you may have to spend $20,000 on “renovation.” This is what gets a lot of people with great intentions into serious financial (and emotional) difficulty.

If you think of renovations as “substance” and remodeling as “style,” it might make it a lot easier to plan the estimates of time, cost, and resources required to tackle your next home project.

After losing my dog CoCo back in July, puppy Cato was adopted from the local county animal shelter. It has proven to be quite a transition from a 10+ year old dog that was well-trained and well-behaved to a what has turned out to be a VERY headstrong puppy!

Here’s Cato’s “First day at my new home” puppy pose:

Don’t let that angelic face fool you!

Since then I’ve bought a few things for him – to try to keep him occupied. Rawhide chews, bones, treats, Kongs, rope pull-toys, tennis balls, a new Frisbee and, a squeaky, furry squirrel. I finally got smart along around month #2, admitted defeat, and bought a crate. I had never had a crate for any of the dogs I’ve owned and had not had a really good impression of one. I was wrong.

For this particular puppy, having a crate is a MUST – and I think he actually likes it and thinks of it as his “down time” place. I work at home and having to get up every few minutes to see what he was doing was ruining production! He moves fast and would take advantage of any moment I dared to concentrate on computer work to disappear into another room. This usually meant trouble of some sort. We’ve now reached a sort of compromise. And that’s a good thing because this boy is getting B-I-G!

He weighed around 13 pounds the day he was adopted. Now, he’s just under 40 pounds at 4 and a half months old and you can definitely see his Weimaraner heritage.

For anyone who thinks a dog crate is a bad idea or that the dog “shouldn’t” be crated well, I felt the same. However, suddenly having too much space to investigate (and in their mind protect) can get too much for a new dog. Think of the crate as a place where they feel YOU are in charge of things – which is what you want anyway. I’m not a dog expert but I can tell you that when a young dog gets overexcited and out-of-control, having a secure “time-out” location is good – for both of you.

If you’re considering a crate, here is a link to what I got for Cato – it’s inexpensive, and sturdy: Best Pet Black 49″ Triple-door Suitcase Style Folding Dog Crate with Free Pan. Order a little floor mat for the crate to make it more inviting. Cato goes in and in a few minutes, is usually asleep.

Cato is off to the vet next month for his neutering. I haven’t told him yet…

I must admit to being a long-term fan of National Geographic. Great books, videos, maps – and gifts. What better way to start getting holiday gift ideas than to see a few of this season’s National Geographic Top Sellers…

With this Personal GPS Tracker mark your location with the push of a button, and then explore at your leisure. This GPS-enabled digital compass is designed to lead the way back to home base. Mark as many as three places at one time, and you’ll always know how far away you are from those sites and how to get back to them.

Water-resistant, and backlit for nighttime viewing. Includes a clip for attaching to a backpack or purse.

Under $100

It’s hard to improve on a perfect product and this Victorinox Swiss Champ Multitool is a prime example.

In a handsome hardwood case, features a large blade, small blade, Phillips screwdriver, can opener with small screwdriver, corkscrew, bottle opener with large screwdriver and wire stripper, hook, scissors, wood chisel, pliers with wire cutter, fine screwdriver, wood saw, mini screwdriver, fish scaler with hook disgorger and ruler, ball point pen, metal saw with metal file and nail file, straight pin, magnifying glass, toothpick, tweezers, key ring, and reamer with sewing eye.

A steal at $115

You can spend a lot more on a compass, but why should you when you can own this stylish Irish Pewter Compass.

The history of pewter-casting in Ireland dates back more than 800 years, where it was first found in the castles and manors of wealthy patrons.

This functional pewter-finished compass is decorated with a hand-etched Celtic design inspired by the elaborate illustrations found in the eighth-century Book of Kells. Made in County Westmeath in central Ireland, near the shores of Lough Derravaragh. Includes a woven strap and belt clip.

2″ diameter x 1/2″D.

Only $39

Sale! Save as much as 70% in the National Geographic Online Store

Check back each week for some great gift ideas for those you love who love the great outdoors!

Leaves are changing color and MANY have already fallen in Central North Carolina. The lake is still somewhere around a foot low on rainfall but I’m hoping the remaining fall and then winter season to come will help raise the level of the lake. In the meantime, the geese do not seem concerned that nearly one-third of the water is missing!

Leaves falling on the surface of a lake or pond will add acid. If fish begin to show signs of stress (floating sideways on the surface or fish that seem to be struggling near the surface,) either add aeration as soon as possible or short of that, try to remove as many of the leaves from the lake itself and from any streams or brooks that feed your lake’s water.

Drought conditions of the last few summers have really put your fish – and your investment in them – at risk. A fountain is probably one of the quickest ways to improve lake oxygen levels but you’ll be looking at around $1000 investment in most cases. Keeping dead leaves and other debris out of your lake or pond will still provide long-term improvement in your water feature’s environment.

++ Fountain Mountain

YEAH!

Still a bit warmer than average for this time of year in North Carolina but with a low of 40 degrees yesterday morning and highs in the mid to upper 60s for the rest of the week – it IS sweater time.

Here are a few choices for Fall/Winter 2012 – some with a bit of international flair…

For hundreds of years, women in the rural villages of the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland have knit natural wool sweaters for their fisherman kin.

Although the myth that you can identify island families by the stitches in their sweater—like a Scottish tartan—isn’t true, every knitter does have her own special patterns, passed down through generations of mothers and grandmothers. At weekly gatherings, they continually invented intricate new stitches revealed in this Women’s Irish Aran Turtleneck Sweater

Comes in various sized and colors. Men’s Aran Turtleneck Sweater also available.

This Men’s Grecas Alpaca Sweater is made by the Indigenous Bolivian craftsman (grecas: repeating geometric patterns) from the traditional garments of the Tarabuco region in this 3/4-zip pullover. The design is an interpretation of barroco mestizo style, in which indigenous and Spanish cultures have struck an aesthetic balance. This lightweight and cozy 100% alpaca sweater is handknit by artisans in Bolivia.

If you’re only going to buy one new sweater for this season, this Norwegian Wool Crewneck Sweater will be a toasty, excellent suggestion!

Enjoy the timeless style, durability, and warmth of pure wool in this Norwegian sweater by Devold, the oldest manufacturer of knitted goods in the country, in business since 1853. Farmers and fishermen, hikers and skiers have all prized Devold’s thick and hardwearing design. They’ve even outfitted pioneering Norwegian explorers including Fridtjof Nansen, who led the first inland crossing of Greenland in 1888, and Roald Amundsen, who let the first Antarctic expedition to the South Pole and was the first person to have visited both the North and South Poles.

This oatmeal-colored wool sweater is knit of three-gauge Norwegian wool and features a thick and insulating crew neck.

Can’t finish a sweater discussion without a link to a traditional Scottish Tartan Wool Sweater!

A red, green, and yellow intarsia plaid decorates the chest of this Scottish wool-blend sweater. The heathered brown background is inspired by the rich texture of traditional Scottish wool tweed. Made in Lothian, Scotland, of 90% wool and 10% silk for extra softness.

Available in Blue or Brown tone.

Over 50 sweater options available for men, women, and children from…

In the midst of interior renovations yet again, I had a thought to myself yesterday that I will NEVER again buy a house that isn’t new. For about the tenth time in my life, I’m trying to work around noise, dust, scheduling issues, a 4-month old puppy, and last but not least yesterday – rain.

There is always something interesting to me about older homes though and no matter what I say today, the thrill of discovering what’s under that ugly tile or wallpaper will no doubt continue to intrigue. Dealing with the “in process” of renovations though can be frustrating.

Forgetting cost for the moment (PLEASE?) to begin, you must identify any issues or problems – and rank them as far as priority. Then you must rank them in best or most viable order-of-completion. As example, I’ve been walking around on plywood for flooring for about 4 years – waiting, because so many things ABOVE floor must happen first. My only fear is that I will become emotionally attached to the plywood and will see REAL hardwood floors as expensive and unnecessary!

Once these decisions have been made, you’ll need to find contractors to do the work you can’t, or shouldn’t do. It has taken me awhile living in the sticks as I do, to find people who know what they’re doing and who will actually show up to do the work – when scheduled.

Here’s my list of renovation resource”must-haves”:

++ A plumber
++ An electrician
++ A carpenter
++ A HVAC person
++ A guy with a backhoe who knows how to use it.
++ A painter (for me this is for that overhead painting I just can’t do.)

If you’re really up to some major renovation work you’ll need additional help. I just scored the name of a guy to do some drywall work – from the carpenter who is here today replacing a ceiling. These little referrals are often worth GOLD! Most often, the guy who is doing one job knows who locally is the best to work with – since they have worked together on prior jobs. These referrals have in past probably saved me a lot of time and money – and with only one exception in 30 years – have never been a bad choice.

I’m being summoned to the next room to make a “Command” decision.

And, is there any difference between “remodeling” and “renovating”? More soon…

Here’s a little humor for the end of your week!

Cato would have had a hard time being that patient once the food had arrived!

Birds are in fast-food mode this time of year – trying to get ready to survive winter months means eating as much as they can – while they can get it. My bird feeders are actually less busy at the moment while there are alternatives such as bugs and worms still available – but that won’t last much longer.

Here are some ideas for backyard feeders and other feed solutions that will help your smallest feathered friends survive the coming winter. The last few days of cool temperatures in some areas may mean Hummingbirds have headed south for the winter so think about bringing those feeders in soon.

Sunflower Seed Wreath

Contains Sunflower Hearts and Black Oil Sunflower Seed.

3 pounds.

Cardinal Delight Wreath

Hearty bird-edible wreaths -each made with the freshest seeds and Duncraft’s exclusive blends.

Each is trimmed with a red raffia bow and hangs from a jute hanger.

7 x 2 inches thick.

Eco-Strong Seed Block Feeder

Protect whole peanuts, suet, and seed blocks from weather! Fill with bird seed blocks or suet blocks.

Small birds can cling anywhere on the mesh sides. The overhanging roof discourages starlings and house sparrows that find clinging to the mesh a difficult position to manage.

Constructed of recycled plastic with a wood-grain finish.

10″ wire cable hanger. Feeder measures 5-1/2 x 9-1/4 x 10-1/2″ tall.

Duncraft Wild Bird Superstore has hundreds of products – all for the birds!

++ Win $250 Duncraft Shopping Spree – Enter at duncraft.com.
++ Shop the new fall catalog arrivals at duncraft.com.
++ Give a Duncraft eGift Certificate. Arrives Quickly! Always Perfect!

No, I don’t mean global warming! I mean when the nights begin to get cool, the humidity begins to drop, and you want to sit outside and just enjoy the evening. Unfortunately, temperatures seem to go from “just right” to “too chilly” very quickly.

Here are some fire pit products that will allow you to extend your outdoor season this year…

This Gemstone Fire Pit is designed for years Of enjoyment.

The beauty and elegance of The Gem Stone speaks for itself-a masterpiece for your patio! This firepit comes complete with granite on the top and sides. This unit weighs approximately 400 pounds. Choose from a large selection of granite tile available at Dal-Tile for the top and from any of the 4 standard colors for the base.

~ Constructed of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
~ 90,000 BTU
~ Color Selection

The Summer Nights Fire Pit offers a simple elegance with its smooth round design.

This fire pit is 46″ in diameter and 18″ tall with plenty of room to rest your weary feet. Comes complete with the 90,000 BTU stainless steel burner.

Included With Every Fire Pit: Free Black Vinyl Cover and 6 Outdoor Gas Logs.

~ Constructed of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
~ 90,000 BTU
~ Various Colors

For those who have a smaller space to heat…

This Chalice Urn Fire Pit might be perfect for you!

+ Constructed of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
+ 90,000 BTU’s
+ Stainless Steel Burner Assembly
+ Available in 4 Colors
+ Weight: 250 lbs
+ Dimensions: 26.5″ Top Diameter x 35.5″ H x 18″ Bottom Diameter

Check out these and many other selections at Garden.com and right now…