Last minute stuff before Christmas trip.

So for some reason having the last couple of days off messed with my schedule, and I did my packing today, so I guess I will be heading over to Aunt's and Uncles early tomorrow, by lunch if Aunt reads it.  So I didn't get much done today on the house.  Originally I was supposed to work through Friday when the trip was planned, but I ended up not taking one of the vacation days during Thanksgiving due to working long hours, and got another free day this week, though working 2 12 hour days isn't really free.

I did get more work done on the bed frame.  I picked up the 2x10.  It is too big for my miter saw.  I ended up doing one side and then flipping it and doing the other.


I also completed the shelves in the bathroom.


This allowed me to unpack the bathroom box.  Even with both of these, I still have less storage than the old apartment, but still more than adequate.


The other big thing I did was a water test.  Nothing too surprising came of it.  My water was actually pretty good today.  I will be doing another one when it is bad.  Sometimes the water looks like there is gas or something in it (there is a film on top that gives you the rainbow effect when you look at it) but it wasn't like that today.
As expected, the copper was obnoxiously high.  The iron was also really high.


The rest of the tests all came out good.  No chlorine, no nitrates or nitrites, and oddly enough it came in almost perfect PH and not hard. No lead or pesticides either.




Here is the scorecard.


Unfortunately I did not read the instructions before running the bacteria test.  It takes 48 hours to complete, so it will be done around the time we hit Maryland.  Oops.  On its face, it looks good.  Red at the bottom is good, dissolving and turning yellow is bad.


I also installed the boards to help reduce drafts from the ceiling.




Speaking of heating, my first real heating bill came in.  For November, my power bill was 180 dollars.  Not bad, it was a fairly cold November.  Last winter my power bills were in the neighborhood of 80 dollars, though a lot of that is because I had service in two locations.

It was nice and warm today and rainy.  I am glad it wasn't snow to be honest.  My snow isn't all gone (this is still the stuff from Thanksgiving) but it is close.  If the rain keeps going it might not make it to Christmas.


The creek is high.  Very high.




My tire tracks have become a river.


I did fine some good news though.  I found my license plate for the trailer.  It had been washed into the front hedge.


I also put the extra wheel weights in the back of my truck.


This is my last post before Christmas, so have a Merry Christmas everyone.

Lazy Saturday, but still made progress

It was nice to not spend my whole weekend at work.  Saturday I slept a lot and was incredibly lazy.  I did go look at a dishwasher, which looked pretty bad and didn't have a top sprayer, but the dealbreaker was the almost sickening smell when I opened it.  It appeared that they never drained it, and it hadn't been used in a while.  I also got a hold of Barry, and unfortunately the gravel pile that I got a few loads from last year is a sold block, so I can't really use that.  I did pick a few things, but didn't really accomplish too much. 

I got up early this morning so I could get through town before it got bad.  I made a miscalculation.  I got a 2x6 and a 2x8 for the bed, but the bed was too thick, if I fold up at edge of only the 2x8 , the bed is too thick.  So I tried to do this, where it doesn't sit on the 2x6.  When I leaned on it though, it was pretty clear that this orientation is not strong enough.  So I will need to up it to a 2x10 and put it back on top.  I looked at just using 5" brackets, but the ones at home depot are only rated for around 65 lbs, so I would need a very large number of them. 


I also got the trim boards cut for the edge.  I am doing this mostly to limit the draft that comes in from this end of the house.  I will be putting it up this evening, I brought the air compressor in.


I also built the first shelving unit for the bathroom.  I miscalculated the amount of wood I needed though.  I still have a few of the deeper scraps that I could rip to the right depth, though I was intending to use them as shelves in the laundry room.  I made the shelves adjustable, since I am not sure how I want to store everything.


So much for following the directions.  They aren't supposed to be at that angle, it means that the drill bit the directions said to use was too large.  I will probably leave it alone unless I have a problem with it though.


I do have the long pieces cut for the other shelves.


I also cut some trim.  I was surprised how hard it is to find plastic trim.  This was the only stuff Home Depot had. 


I don't know what was up this weekend, but I saw more cops since Friday than I saw on the whole trip down at Thanksgiving.

You may notice that this is posted awfully early.  We are in the process of getting some really nasty stuff (In Keene it is a mix of rain and snow.  In Sullivan it was a mix of sleet, snow, and ice), so I decided to bail while I could still get out.  I also picked up everything I need to do the gas work for the stove.

I unmarked the propane as being in progress since I haven't really set anything up yet, and the bed frame is started.

1. Install bathroom fixtures.
2. Get hot water heater installed.
3. Install some form of cabinets in the kitchen.
4. Install kitchen sink.
5. Install kitchen appliances.
6. Get propane installed.
7. Build bed frame.
8. Build closets.
9. Install table.
10. Smooth driveway enough to plow/clear
11. Fix snowblower.  
12. Winterize equipment (mower, undercoat the truck, etc).
13. Clear slab
14. Shed work
1. Extend roof to prevent snow pushing on the side.
2. Fix pilings

Sadly unproductive week.

After pulling a dad and working 12 days straight (most of the time over 10 hours a day), there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I am taking an extra day off next week regardless of whether of everything is complete or not. 

The only thing I have done this week was investigate the smell that I previously thought was from the fridge.  It had gotten significantly worse, to the point where I had to open the windows for fresh air.  Turns out the issue was from the plumbing.  It never crossed my mind that the shower drain didn't have water in the p-trap, and there is no p-trap in the kitchen yet.  The traps are what prevent sewer gasses from leaking back in.  After filling the shower drain and covering the kitchen drain, it smells much better in the house now. 

I think I will install the water heater myself at this point.  I might grab Greg's guy, but they really aren't complicated.  I mostly just wanted a professional to do the gas line work.  Doing compression fittings is one thing (that is all the CSST is), but the rest of the installation requires sediment traps and other things.

Working weekend. Just missing pictures

Unfortunately I worked pretty much all weekend, so I didn't really get anything done. 
Here are some missing pictures from the last couple posts though. 

My new tires.


There is a lot of rust in my toilet now.


For one of the packages that I ordered, the guy braved the driveway.  The other box was left down at the road.

More odds and ends

All in all I haven't been doing too much during the week, since I haven't gotten a lot of free time, since I have to go to work to shower, and have started hitting the gym as well.

I did finish the medicine cabinet.  I picked up the wood to do the other set of shelves in the bathroom, but haven't gotten around to it yet.


I also got some larger electric covers.  Some still don't have complete coverage, the ones where I oopsied I will still have to figure something out for, but most of them can be covered with the larger sized covers.


The other major thing that I did this week was getting my car up at the property.  It had been sitting at the apartment.  It is now parked at the bottom of the hill.  Considering it almost got stuck parking there, I think it is safe to say I probably won't drive it much until I get snow tires on it.


Speaking of snow tires, I just got new snows for my truck.  Ouch.  Along with some other servicing (oil change and tranny flush) it came to a grand.  Ouch.   Good thing I don't have a rent payment anymore.  At least the truck drives nice and my rims are the cleanest they have been since I bought it.  The car goes in next week to get its tires swapped over.  It should be cheap.

I changed out my water filter tonight, even though it is only a few weeks old.  My water the last few days has gotten extremely metallic.  Even the instant tea mix has trouble masking it...  I can't find my Brita pitcher, but might want to pick up one of the big filters.  I am not sure I have enough space for a big Culligan softener/filter, but even with the new filter, while it was better, it still tastes like it has rust and a lot of copper in it.  And I forgot to nab a picture, but the toilet is turning orange.

Despite several calls, Dead River company has yet to send me a quote for installing the water heater.  Greg knows a guy who, while he freely admitted he hasn't done tankless and it might take longer than an experienced guy, was willing to do it.  I originally hesitated since he doesn't have a lot of experience with gas work either (which he did mention when first approached about the job), but since I haven't gotten anywhere with anyone else, willing to do the job and not costing an arm and a leg is a good start.  They really aren't complicated.

Progress has been slow, but the big rush is over, so I really don't mind.  When I do the kitchen, I am still considering replacing the fridge.  Even after a month of being in service, it still smells strongly of mice when running.  I had hoped it would dissipate with time.  I also don't really need 18 cubic feet.  I could easily get by with 10.

1. Install bathroom fixtures.
2. Get hot water heater installed.
3. Install some form of cabinets in the kitchen.
4. Install kitchen sink.
5. Install kitchen appliances.
6. Get propane installed.
7. Build bed frame.
8. Build closets.
9. Install table.
10. Smooth driveway enough to plow/clear
11. Fix snowblower.  
12. Winterize equipment (mower, undercoat the truck, etc).
13. Clear slab
14. Shed work
1. Extend roof to prevent snow pushing on the side.
2. Fix pilings

Mostly just odds and ends this weekend.

The weather this weekend was awful.  Saturday was sleeting most of the day, which turned to freezing rain which finally turned over to rain this afternoon.  So I didn't go out for most of the weekend.  Instead I did some odds and ends.  The first being installing a medicine cabinet in the bathroom.  Unfortunately it looks like it didn't come with the pegs for the shelves, which is annoying.  They are less than a buck, so I won't bother returning it for that, but it is still annoying


I also set up a humidifier.  Decent ones are getting hard to find, so I ended up with a cheap one.


I also finally ran laundry.  Even though I forgot to report it, you can tell from the towels on the floor that the drain hose leaked a lot the first time I tested it a few days ago.  It is now working good.


While that was running I went to install some of the electrical cover plates.  Looks like I need to get the jumbo ones.


I will eventually need to find a better way to deal with this.  This doesn't really fit here, and will be in the way when I get the kitchen done.



Today I did some snowblowing.  I also noticed that apparently at some point in the last week, I had another tree come down. 


The bathroom is nearly complete at this point.  It is just a matter of completing the sealing, since the shower rod and whatnot are already there.

1. Install bathroom fixtures.
2. Get hot water heater installed.
3. Install some form of cabinets in the kitchen.
4. Install kitchen sink.
5. Install kitchen appliances.
6. Get propane installed.
7. Build bed frame.
8. Build closets.
9. Install table.
10. Smooth driveway enough to plow/clear
11. Fix snowblower.  
12. Winterize equipment (mower, undercoat the truck, etc).
13. Clear slab
14. Shed work
1. Extend roof to prevent snow pushing on the side.
2. Fix pilings

Yet another snowblower

I bought the snowblower that I mentioned in the last post yesterday.  It runs good, kind of a pain to start without the electric start though.  It is a bit of a monster though.  The 8HP engine is not lacking for power.  Which makes it odd that it doesn't throw the snow that far.  At the end of the driveway it struggles to reach the edge.  It doesn't really throw any further than the 5HP worn out one I used last year.  It is also geared kind of funny.  First gear is a very brisk walk.  It is too fast.  Reverse however is kind of poky, even R2.  I might consider getting chains for it.  It would make it easier to use, the wheels struggled with bite going uphill.




I did a chunk of the top of the driveway.  My truck turned around a lot easier this morning. 


I tried to do between the ruts.  It didn't do so great.  The underside of my truck has packed it down so much that it had trouble digging in.  It is better, but the truck still scrapes in a few spots.


I started doing the end of the driveway.  It is mostly done.


I didn't quite finish everything though.


I also did over by the mailbox so my postal guy doesn't whine. 


I think I found out why it was still hanging around.  The snowblower was $250 online, but the slip on it was for $400.  At $400 I wouldn't have even looked at it.  I only paid the $250.


As I mentioned yesterday, snow removal isn't on the checklist, so no movement there.  Stay tuned, there might be another update tonight, this was actually yesterday's update.

I am beginning to dislike the snow.

I almost lost the tractor in PA (the ratchet strap came loose and it was sitting on the cinch strap at the end of the trailer) but everything made it home OK.  The ramps came loose, but I just tossed them in the bed of the truck.  I pretty much just came home and crashed.

Everything on Monday was supposed to be rain.  That didn't turn out to be the case.  It was rain when I got home from work, so I started unpacking (I don't have enough space to just let things sit around) and when I finished that up, I was intending to go out and finish working on the snowblower.  This is what I was met with:


Grumbling, I unloaded the tractor, and found that the arm Dad noticed was loose (the one with the chute controls) had actually come off.  One of the bolts was sheared completely off.  Dismayed, and not wanting to drive in that I at least decided to do something productive and got my washing machine set up.  I intend to test it tonight.


I went out today and got a new bolt and shear pins and put them in at lunch.  Fired it up, and it got about 2 feet before the belt started smoking.  It is too loose somewhere.  I am guessing it is the top belt (the one directly connected to the PTO) but haven't confirmed it.  Dismayed, I returned to work.


It snowed all night last night and the bank at the end of my driveway is at the bumper, so I need to do something about it.  I still think I should get this working, but I need something now so I am looking at snowblowers on Craigslist.  These would replace the little 5HP that I never got around to fixing, but will work in a pinch.  This is the current leading candidate:
https://nh.craigslist.org/grq/d/yard-machine-snowblower-8hp/6757210776.html

It is supposed to be above freezing during the days for the rest of the week, so the hose idea is looking more and more tempting...  The truck goes in tomorrow for new tires and its annual servicing, so I can't go to the quarry tomorrow, but might pick up that snowblower tomorrow. 

Snow isn't on the checklist, so no movement.

Long day. Short post.

I got up early to work with my European counterparts, coming in at 5, and am just finishing up now just after 630.  Ugh.  I am tired.

I did end up moving the trailer last night.  My truck didn't like it, but it dragged it down the hill.  I discovered something unnerving about the trailer too; the ball doesn't lock.  I towed it from Tilton (hour and a half) at interstate speeds without trouble, but I might have just gotten lucky.  If I decide to go forward taking it down, I will have to do something to make sure the trailer doesn't come off the ball.  I raised it right up off the truck without unlatching it.


On the bright side, I did get an email from the town saying that they signed off on my occupancy permit.  Everything is now legit.

Occupancy in progress

They came up and looked around for the occupancy permit today.  They said they found everything they were looking for and it is on the agenda for tonight.  I also asked and they said I didn't need to show up to the selectman meeting tonight; it was already on the agenda, which is nice. 

The last couple of days I have been doing more moving stuff.  I now have a more or less complete kitchen setup now.  I was even able to run the hot plate and the microwave at the same time.


No movement on the checklist.  We got more snow (and are getting another 3-5 tonight) so I am considering loading up the trailer and getting it down the hill tonight, since I can't clear it.  If this doesn't melt off I might have to have to park all the way down at the bottom all winter, which would suck.

1. Install bathroom fixtures.
2. Get hot water heater installed.
3. Install some form of cabinets in the kitchen.
4. Install kitchen sink.
5. Install kitchen appliances.
6. Get propane installed.
7. Build bed frame.
8. Build closets.
9. Install table.
10. Smooth driveway enough to plow/clear
11. Fix snowblower.  
12. Winterize equipment (mower, undercoat the truck, etc).
13. Clear slab
14. Shed work
1. Extend roof to prevent snow pushing on the side.
2. Fix pilings

Clearing snow and odds and ends.

I spent a good chunk of the day clearing snow.  Since I haven't cleared the driveway, I really really hope that it melts off soon.  I didn't even try to hide the fact that I am staying there last night.


Even though we only got about 4-5 inches up there, the truck was dragging on the way up.  I need to fix the driveway.


I spent a good chunk of the morning shoveling.


The storm naturally brought wind, and the skirting blew across the yard.  Thankfully it was partially still on the slab, so I was able to locate it.


I then fired up the tractor and did the slab.  It did a surprisingly good job considering there were no chains on it or anything.


This stuff is kind of in the way.  I moved it back a bit.


I didn't need to do anything with the roof.  It took care of itself.


After that I went inside and made a bunch of little livable updates.  The first thing I did was fix enough of the plumbing under the sink to make the sink usable.  It still leaks a little if you pour a lot of water in all at once, but it is generally usable.


I also installed the water filter.


The water looks much better.  I took a swig and it tasted fine.


I also did a bunch of other little things, cleaned up the kitchen a little, put up some hooks to hang things.  I also hooked up my computer.  I can now watch movies, play music and stuff again.  I haven't hooked up the receiver yet though.


I checked my badge on the way in and they haven't turned it back on yet for the gym, which is annoying.  With the water filter in now though, I can drink and use the water a

Most of these things were just moving in type things, so no movement on the checklist.  I hope to pick up the

1. Install bathroom fixtures.
2. Get hot water heater installed.
3. Install some form of cabinets in the kitchen.
4. Install kitchen sink.
5. Install kitchen appliances.
6. Get propane installed.
7. Build bed frame.
8. Build closets.
9. Install table.
10. Smooth driveway enough to plow/clear
11. Fix snowblower.  
12. Winterize equipment (mower, undercoat the truck, etc).
13. Clear slab
14. Shed work
1. Extend roof to prevent snow pushing on the side.
2. Fix pilings