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I got an excellent deal on a new house from a "motivated seller" and, I don't want to disparage folks in a hard place, but they were clearly in over their head. Lot of drafts, lot of scratches and claw marks on the hardwood floors (raccoons?), fair amount of water damage, and the whole outside needs redone.  The new dream house But a manor on a hill isn't a deal you can pass on, especially one with so much gorgeous, old-growth forest around it. It's my own little piece of Old World charm right here in New England, hedge maze and all. Plus I just adore the authentic wrought iron and wooden sculpture all imported from a workshop in Moravia by the original builders. I'm just over the moon, but I need a weency bit of guidance and I thought we could sort of share our experiences and DIY together (if that makes any sense). More of this:  And less of this:  Right, guys? Let me get us started. I think I have an HVAC issue in the basement. Whenever I go down there, I can see my breath. It's crazy cold down there; it cuts right through me no matter how much I bundle up. There's even frost forming on all the old bottles down there (OH did I mention WINE CELLAR? Yeah, be jealous). I guess it doesn't hurt anything, but it seems like a serious waste of money. I can't actually find any vents, so I guess the cold air must be coming down from the floor above? Is that a thing? I want to get it sorted as soon as possible especially because the temperature difference creates a serious draft. I've been locked down there twice already. Haha. Old houses, right? |
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May 8, 2017 17:33
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| # ¿ May 1, 2024 20:32 |
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I did not realize how annoying gophers could be. Every morning these wooden statues are in a different position in the yard. And they are pretty heavy too, I'm not sure how the little devils manage it. They are really tearing up the yard though, cause all that burrowing is forcing dirt and rocks and little animal bones out of the ground. I know a house in the country is a little more "real" than an apartment, but I DO NOT need to see squirrel bones. By the way, does anyone know why Moravian angels all have their wings cut off? Is that like a symbolism thing? The statues are sooo well made, I wouldn't dream of getting rid of them; I just want to "get" them. |
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May 8, 2017 17:39
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I've never owned a home before -- totally running before I walk here -- but how often should it rain in the attic? I know it's all moisture from the basement and mountain air and stuff. I'm totally aware that keeping up a house is real work. But are we talking like once a month? Every other month? I need to make a plan, because all that rain can't be good for the porcelain dolls I found up there. |
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May 8, 2017 18:24
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Scroon posted:Hey I think I recognize that house. Isn't that the one up on the hill that the birds and squirrels refuse to go near? I really like the wrought-iron fence but don't you worry that the spikes at the top being sharpened and curving inwards towards the property might, y'know, be That's the first thing the insurance guy said! Still haven't gotten that quote, thank you for reminding me. I think the builders wanted to keep the deer in. I haven't seen any out in the day, but I can hear them out in the woods most nights calling to one another. Majestic creatures. I am really loving getting in touch with nature. Did you know their eyes kind of glow like cat eyes? So bright in the dark. hockey jockey posted:Interested to hear that you have porcelain dolls up there. In my house they're just in the cupboard under the stairs. Think they attract mice, judging by the scratching sounds at night, but however often I put them out for the bin men they always end up back on the doorstep- obviously some kind of recycling contravention I'm glad it's not just me. I was starting to worry, haha. I bet you are right, probably the paint or something. Still, I guess it is nice of them to put the dolls back in the attic for me. It's funny how you can't help but humanize a doll. Almost all of them remind me of someone I know. If anyone collects dolls I'll be opening a thread in the Mart. |
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May 8, 2017 19:03
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King of the Beach posted:idk sounds like u love it but im gonna say LIST IT No can do, my Sandy Liege. I've got a plum piece of real estate here and we're gonna get crafty together. I think I've shown the wolves who's the "alpha" around here and if I put up a for-sale sign, they would sense my weakness. I will not lose face in front of them. Manifisto posted:e: and definitely dig up anything you think might be buried, you don't want random stuff just moldering away in your basement/backyard So this turned out to be a heck of a good idea. I thought, "Teef, you need to relax if you're going to get through a project like this, so why not put in a little garden?" Let me tell you buster, I can taste that fresh basil and garlic already. I'm going to be making pesto out the wazoo and all of you are invited! I turned up a lot of fieldstone, which is good, because stacked stone is tres chic. I also found a lot more horse bones than I was expecting. Not a lot of skulls though. I think I read once that wild animals eat antlers for the calcium...Does anyone know if the town used to have a tannery up here? |
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May 8, 2017 22:17
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I noticed an unusual amount of rumbling from the basement last night. Normally it just sounds like a house settling -- creaks, pops, some screaming, that sort of thing. But last night was more of a howl followed by...I want to say "phlegmy" but that's not the right word. Anyway, I go down into the main basement, pry up the access panel to the reinforced sub-basement, push aside the security door to the canning vault and I'll be darned if there isn't a hole in the wall. Fine, haha, let's do this. Now I'm not thrilled. Foundation damage is a big deal! Then I realize it's going IN and not down and I think we're like forty feet underground at this point anyway... I decide to poke my nose in and what do I find but a really lovely natural cavern. There are all these stagmites (sp?) and they are just amazing. I thought stagmites were supposed to be pointy, but these were almost like saguaros with a "head" and "arms." I think its because of the humidity and all the steam coming up. The cavern sloped in and down for a long ways and just got warmer and warmer. Must be a spring, but I couldn't find any sign of it. Let me tell you, I never thought of myself as a spelunker, but it was so peaceful in there. I had the strongest urge to go as deep as I could. But, I also wanted to just stand and marvel at the dancing lights. I darn near fell asleep standing there watching the cave lights playing. I wonder how deep I can go... Does anyone have a good cavern guy? I need someone bonded and licensed. I skimped last time and the roofers just bailed on me. They worked half a day in the attic, I ran out to buy us all lunch, and when I came back there was nothing but tools up there. |
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May 10, 2017 00:04
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hockey jockey posted:Okay OP you need to get in touch with your local amateur caver's club. If they're legit, the members will include a hot blonde chick, a handsome man, a nerdy brunette chick and one (1) black guy. There may be some other members but this is your core group. Insist on them taking you down there with them- they'll claim that it's too dangerous but they're just trying to steal all the glory for themselves. For a small New England town, this place has a real surplus of adventurous types. I swear everyone up here is a former Navy This or a retired Anthropologist That. I took your advice and tacked an ad to the town notice board: WANTED posted:Intrepid explorers to explore my depths. Journey of discovery awaits as we plunge in together. No idea what we will find, surprisingly moist, but depth unknown. Bring your own supplies. Experience a plus. Inclusive employment opportunity -- a balanced race/gender team considered a necessity. I've gotten a lot of calls already! King of the Beach posted:the quaint New England village u moved to isn't named Tristram by any chance is it?? Close, it is named after Tristram Coffin, but I guess they figured "Tristram" was too obvious...Not the choice I would have made, but I'm not one to judge. King, your more familiar than I am with New England, so do you know anything about this church near me?  It's called "Our Father In His Iron-bound Fastness." I think it is presbyterian? Manifisto posted:I think you are on the right track op, thick rusty water leaks have to come from somewhere OHH, that explains so much. Once I breached the cavern I got a lot more of the thick rust and that red mold someone mentioned too. But for some reason it just doesn't bug me anymore. I've actually gotten pretty fond of the texture. It gives things a sheen. So what do you think gang: do I get serious about the expedition or do I explore the town of Coffin and its majestic churches? |
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May 10, 2017 16:14
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| # ¿ May 1, 2024 20:32 |
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heard u like girls posted:I'd go explore the town and churches first, see if you can get to know some of the locals, you know. Go to a church meet or two, these people might have their own caverns beneath their houses and have spare spelunking equipment. hockey jockey posted:Can you catch the fish? Could be an excellent opportunity to save on grocery bills! And it must be great to have your own indoor pool for parties. I decided to take HULG's advice and meet the new neighborinos. I thought I could "fish" for some information about HULG's indoor lake arrangement at the same time. I think you may be in luck, because everyone at the BBQ was really interested in that house and in meeting its owner, so if you do decide to let go of it there is deffo a market for basement lakes. As one of the old timers put it "cave fish is the sweetest meat of all bar one." Sounds like you should throw a line in! I asked about the big church, but you know how people get about religion. When I asked if they were Presbyterian someone told me that they "do respect the elders," which I guess is a yes? Anyway, they said I could stop by for the feast of Sethian later this month. Expedition is on the back burner until I sort out my recruitment issue. |
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May 15, 2017 14:37
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