Heat on yet?

[Kay/NC]

We could probably use a tad bit of space heat this morning, since this old house is a sieve. It's in the fifties out. I will probably ask Mike to turn the circulators here to run the hot water to our heat exchanger. That way, we can warm up the bathrooms, at the very least. I hate a cold bathroom....

Tonight will be forty-something, so we will be switching to the new heat pump in Va, assuming we get there later today. We were watching a show with a fireplace crackling in it last night, and he was starting to jones for a fire. I reminded him that we can burn the fireplace there or light gas logs here anytime we want ambiance.

We burn wood every day here in NC, but the little smolder it takes for hot water isn't much. With the backup system in Va now, we don't have to light one to stay comfy, but he is more than ready to crank up there, too.

Mike looks forward to his first real blaze every fall. I used to say we loved two fires every year:the first one in fall, and the last one in springtime.

I know you folks have been cooler already, but your houses are built better, or you don't have my thin Southern blood. Tonight starts our warming needs for this year, for sure, no matter where we stay. Anyone else turned on the heat yet?

[turkey feather]

No and I hope it is several weeks yet.  We are enjoying the cooler days and nights. It is a beautiful day today with perfect clear blue skies. Hate to complain after that statement but it is very dry.

[manureseller]

Nope...I'm a the heat nazi as Todd calls me.  I refuse to turn the heat on until the last possible minute because we have an old boiler fuel oil furnance that costs more money then I like to part with to stay warm.  LOL  We do use a small plug in heater if it gets cooler but otherwise it's blankets until we turn it on.  Normally it's around the 1st of Nov. if I can get by.

[dairy mom]

Been down in the 30's past couple of mornings so did kick the furnace on to take the chill off.  But the sun did it's job in a short time so shut it off after hubby went outside.  Besides I had slipped on long john bottoms to do my early morning chores comfortably.

[wt51015]

Nope, even though it has been chilly at times., but not bad. We put in insulation last fall so we don't have the heat loss from the day like we used to. Maybe that could be your next project, Kay?

[Kay/NC]

Well, the NC house got insulated as well as it could be as we went along. Jenna's house in VA got a professional job wherever the contractor recommended it, before she moved in. It had next to none, and he said ceiling and floor batts were about all that would be cost- effective there.

We actually removed the stuff he put in the basement ceiling, under the bathrrom floor and enclosed porch/ laundry, last summer. It was just too much on our faces when we went in the basement, since that has a low ceiling.

I would say we will see how well the heat pump handles the cool evening and morning temps, for a while. We will need to get into mid- november before we cna be there often enough to really keep the boiler going most of days.

My projects are purely decorative these days, and not many of those. Several small painting projects and a couple of 7x 18 stained glass panels for the glass in the good exterior doors are about it. We planted three flats of violas and dianthus the other morning, to get them in ahead of a nice rain saturday night. Can't wait to see if that got them going good....

Spent most of today outside, mostly follwoing Winn around. My favorite job, you know!

[wt51015]

That is definitely a long term project! Enjoy every day.

[linda/IL]

It's been really chilly in the mornings & at night.  DH had the BR window open last night & even though I threw a light blanket on extra, I wasn't warm enough to fall asleep.  Didn't want to rummage around for another so put on a robe, made a hot chocolate & finally went back to bed & asleep.

We don't have the furnace on yet but talked about maybe running it to check it out.  Same with the gas fireplace.

Last of the season we had some issues with it.  Need to clean it out & go from there.

Regarding projects.  Boy, my list is long.  This house is a mess-especially the closets.  And the basement needs a good ridding out.  Looks pretty good on the surface but if I died tomorrow I'd have to come back & clean.

Brings up another point.  Do you gals who have projects of pleasure- like Kay's stained glass and those that quilt, etc.-do you ever feel guilty when you pursue these "projects" when so much other work is sitting & waiting?  What is your alloted time to replenish yourself?  I have a hard time excusing myself to enjoy the time I get involved in.

Beautiful weekend outside & lots of garden projects & such, but I got a book from the library that just hit the spot & couldn't get away from it.  LOL  And I finally found out those chairs on the deck are to SIT in!

[turkey feather]

Interesting comment 'if I died tomorrow I would have to come back and clean'. I never heard that before but it fits here too. When you live in a large house with plenty of storage space and /or a spare room, the stuff does pile up. We seem to go by the thought that I might need that next week. And it does seem to happen after something is thrown away.

We are getting ready for the new window installation and I am culling a lot of stuff. As I have said before we made mistakes thinking antiques would appreciate in value. Now those things have lost value and are out of style with today's buyers. We also have our share of family things. I really need to learn to sell on line.

[Kay/NC]

First, let me say, the only glass project I have even started since Jenna passed is the mosaic frog for the shower here at her house.  The shop is about 95% moved and set up in the stores space, but other things have needed doing more.  

We feel the new system is finally work in right here now.  The day was moderate here yesterday, but low forties last night required the heat pump function,  just to be really cozy without acfireceithrrvin the fireplacecinsert or the outdoor boiler. We arrived late from ND, so flipping on a button was a nice luxury, over crumbling newspaper and handling wood.

Linda, I am truly fnished with big projects, as far as I can anticipate, for this lifetime.   The glass work I have ahead of me for this house is mostly tiny panels. I will not feel one iota guilty for taking the rector do them, and actually hope that will get done while Winn is on his Disney cruise this fall. 

I think life is many to give us some quiet hours with a good book.  The cruddy closets will be there when you finish that one or the next.  

If we waited until we could really afford them, most people would never have children, right?  Same deal...if we wait until all of our work is done, we would never have any fun.