Getting a Foam Gun

I finally bit the bullet and did what the Amazing PR Man would have done from the get-go, and that’s getting a serious piece of equipment rather than going the quick, cheap, and easy route. Actually, the cost will probably even out in the end. There is a ton of spray foaming that needs to be done, and it’s probably cheaper to just buy the disposable cans and toss them when I’m done. The disposable cans are single use, and clog easily. It used to be that you had to finish the can once you started it, because once it clogged, it was finished. Now they’ve improved the nozzle so it doesn’t clog and you can take a break and then come back and use the can.

The can’s don’t cover a lot, though, and it takes a bunch to get the job done. They aren’t expensive, from $3 to $5, but you just need about 30 of them. The alternative is to get a gun, and then buy the cans, which are more expensive, but last much longer. The benefit of the gun is that it doesn’t clog, and you can adjust the spray. Plus, it makes you look like you know what you’re doing. I borrowed a gun from my friend, JP, but it’s so badly clogged, I couldn’t use it. It had been sitting for years.

Now I know the Amazing PR Man would have gotten the best gun possible, but then we’re talking over $150. No thank you. I got the cheaper one, around $40, and it works fine. Good enough for me, but that’s not saying much.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to red_5_rogue for the pic.

Barn Movement

Despite the fact that SH has completely dropped off the face of the earth, we are inching along on that barn. The ceiling is getting to the point (thanks to SH) where maybe in a month we can bring in the big guns and finish the insulation, and once the downstairs is done, we can think about dry-walling it. SH talked about starting on the exterior siding, but again, he’s been AWOL, so I’m not sure what the status of that is. I can’t worry too much about it because there is enough for me to do so that I don’t have the luxury of sitting around feeling sorry for myself.

I’m about done insulating the exterior space between the joists on the gable side, and once I get the other gable done, we can finish putting in the soffit. The insulating is a little tedious because it involves inserting three 2” foam pieces (for a total of 6”) and then foaming around the edges. It’s the foaming part that makes it hard, because not only is that stuff a nasty mess, but it’s in a tight space, and it’s hard to get the foam up in there. It doesn’t help that you have to hold the darn spray can upside down.

I also have to seal the edges of the interior insulation on the ceiling, which is a boatload of sealing, but at least it’s easier than working between the joists. Once that is done, I can contact the insulation guys and they can put in the cellulose, which is a huge step. From there, we finish the walls, and then it’s drywall time in the not too distant future. Then again, don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Meanwhile, we have to think about siding and getting the heating system in, which could take years, but hopefully not. Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Mdrn~Mrvls for the pic.

Happy Mother’s Day

Last Sunday was Mother’s Day, and we had a nice day, as usual. A was over at ES’ house for a sleepover, so I went to get her, and from there, we stopped en route to get mom some flowers, with A doing the choosing. We didn’t have a set plan, but R mentioned that she wanted to do our favorite hike and have a picnic at the top of the summit, which has a great view of the Valley. In the meantime, we had planned on clearing the garden of weeds and fertilizing. I contacted BS about getting this killer tomato she gave me last year, but she said she didn’t have them this year and couldn’t find the seeds. She did, however, mention that she and JM were bringing tons of free plants to the garden and we could help ourselves. Then, of course, there was ultimate frisbee right afterward.

We headed over after lunch. N wanted to ride his bike, so R and A drove with all of our garden/ultimate frisbee stuff. The weather was colder than I anticipated, and the wind was howling, making it worse, but we forged on. The garden was a bit of a mess, especially in contrast to the other plots, which were beautifully groomed. There are some serious gardeners in this town. We pulled weeds and worked the soil, then we used up the organic fertilizer that we had stored in the shed. Our plan is to use up the kitchen compost when we do the actual planting.

JM gave us a bunch of plants, tomatoes, squash, peppers, etc. We have more plants than we know what to do with, but that beats having nothing, right? The next step will be to transplant them. After working the garden, JM said it was too windy to play ultimate frisbee, so we went home and planned for our hike/picnic. We decided it was too cold and windy to eat outside, so after our hike, we were going to have a picnic on the floor by the fire. How’s that for New England adaptability?

The hike was nice, and though it was cool and windy, the skies were beautiful and clear, and we had a glorious view of the valley. Afterward, we stopped at the store and bought some bread and cheese, and then headed home for our Mother’s Day feast by the warm fire.

Once again, a nice end to a wonderful Mother’s Day. I even called my mom, but she wasn’t home, so I left a message, which for the record will get me in the doghouse with her, but what else is new?

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

New Wheelbarrow

One of the first pieces of equipment that we bought when we moved into this house was a wheelbarrow, and believe me when I tell you that not only did it get a lot of use, but hard use. Hauling wood, tools, compost... you name it. I even transported the kids into town on the ski trails way back when we only had one car, which for the record was not easy.

After about 6 years, our old friend is finally showing signs that it’s the end. I’ve changed a couple of wheels, shimmed the frame because the bed was being pounded in by the load, and replaced countless nuts and bolts. The final straw was when the rust in the bed was causing the metal fall apart, and that’s something I can’t fix. I went to the hardware store and got the same one, and it wasn’t that expensive. Talk about a deal.

Best of all, with N being the engineer that he is, he wanted to assemble the thing, so I left him with the tools and let him at it. He did a great job, and now we’re back in business. Good help is hard to find.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Focus

One of the big issues that holds me back from finishing a project is focus, or lack thereof. It doesn’t help that I have so many projects, and as anyone around here knows, life in New England entails a constant stream of new endeavors that demand my attention. Factor in being a parent, making meals, cleaning, teaching the kids, and getting them to their various activities, and it becomes clear that this isn’t going to be easy.

I’m not going to make excuses, however. I’m merely pointing out that things either take a long time to get done, or they don’t get done at all, leaving both R and myself frustrated, though I think R beats me in the frustration category. With this in mind, I’ve found that I really need to focus on one area, and literally ignore all the others. I find myself stumbling when I start something and then notice that something to my left needs to be taken care of, only to realize that something to my right also needs my attention.

Boy, life sure ain’t easy when you’re easily distracted. This should be interesting, not only because it will take enormous amounts of effort to counteract my distracted nature, but also because things will move along and get done, and as many of you might know, I love when that happens.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Michael Dales for the pic.

Better Late Than Never... I Think

I’m not sure what to make of this, but in the spirit of trying to look at the bright side, I’ll give my brother credit. The other day a big box came for N and it was a late birthday present for N. We’re talking really late. N’s birthday is in October, and this is April. Never mind that he also forgot A’s birthday, which is in March.

My brother has neglected our kid’s birthdays almost every year, though just recently he’s started to send presents. I don’t think he’s ever sent R or I anything for our birthdays, and for the record, I always send him a card on his even though he’s completely unworthy of the effort. I usually send it late, but I send it nonetheless.

What is interesting with my brother is that he embraces the idea that you can make up for being absent of thoughtless by sending bigger and better things, as if money makes up for being absent and insensitive. I’m not sure if his interaction with his daughter is like this at all, but it’s good to keep in mind that money and material possessions can’t replace the time you give to your family, and can’t replace your presence.

Then again, maybe I should look at the bright side and appreciate the fact that he did anything at all. After all, my mom didn’t do a thing.

Sorry to be cynical, I just can’t help it when it comes to my family. Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Express Monorail for the pic.

Back in Green

One thing that really struck us when we returned home from our trip was how green the area was, especially our yard. When we left two weeks back, there was still the residual brown from the end of winter, and then when we got back, the whole state was green. It’s really pretty, spring is here full force, it’s just sort of funny to look out the window and see an entirely different world. That’s life in New England for you.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to CubaGallery for the pic.