Ryan's Here!

Ryan flew in thursday nite without the ubiquitous red book bag. He flew without baggage and decided he needed a larger carryon. Quick stop at Rudys for some moist and lean and then a stop at Wallyworld before we headed home.

Friday Ryan moved all the pea gravel back up the driveway and then lined the edge along the grass with large logs from around the property. Dan insulated the foundation along the northeast corner ( where we had frost damage last winter) and then covered it with vinyl siding. The siding and insulation goes up to the window. I will continue it along under the bay windows another day. I have insulation and enough small pieces of vinyl to cover it. That should keep the room a bit warmer this winter and maybe a little cooler in summer. The half bath is already cooler with the air leaks plugged.

Ryan also cleared out miscellaneous wood and piled it over the tank on the northside. We are watering the foundation along with the plants as the drought continues. Its been cloudy in the evenings and it stays pretty warm thru the night usually about 81 F. Thats a break from the 105 in the daytime.

Saturday we cut and nailed up the vinyl siding on the west wall of the shed. The pieces are small (maximum 8') and have to be spliced together but they were free. Normally the siding in nearly 14'. After a full day of splicing and cutting and learning we only have one big scrap and it may be reusuable some way.

Sunday we head to Wimberly and tubing with the Cuz. Monday, Ryan will catch up with Suzanna from Germany and then we will head down to Charles Schwab for some business.

Drought continues

article on the drought, not the worst yet but definitely the leading contender

The cats are attached to the cool tile floor, getting lots of brushing. The garden has some new-to-us shade cloth. I am headed out this morning to get some more free siding. will quit by 1000 hrs and work inside on the soffets (adding holes and screen). The attic seems to be cooling a bit better despite the heat. got a few more spots to patch and spackle like the little bathroom. It seems to leak a lot of heat into the house. There may be a hole in the bottom of the floor.

More winter prep

I spent the last two mornings 6:45 to 7:45 in the attic turning the insulation to fluffy side down and paper on the top. I also pulled it away from the soffet vents. Everytime I enter the attic thru the hatch in the hall there is a whooosh of air up. Not good, that means the roof vent is pulling harder then the soffet vents. It also means the roof vents will try to pull air from the house thru the insulation. More reasons to get better air flow into the attic.

while I was up in the attic this morning, I replaced the tape that holds the insulation around the duct going over to the master bedroom. The other duct needs work but I ran out of tape and its way the heckover on the north side which is harder to get too. I still have only seen light ( and hence air flow) on the Northwest corner of the attic. Need to spend more time on the north, maybe tonight.

I put the extension ladder up the side of the house and got grey foam insulation on the airconditioner cold line all the way up the wall to the roof. I can see the line in the attic but I will be belly crawling thru the insulation to wrap the foam insulation round it. Another morning project. Its only gonna make a difference in summer temps, I need to be sure what ever I do covers both seasons.

I am even watering the big trees as I am losing some branches on one of the big oaks. Suddenly the leaves turned yellow. It maybe too late, but I watered anyway. One of the star Jasimine gave out and the shrimp plant turns black and then a few days later replaces the missing stems. One jasmine is still trying to climb the chain but it is very slow progress. The lantana is hanging on but not producing blooms. I lost one of the 3 vincas atop the water tank. I have 4 more waiting to replace it. I wonder if those are ready for full sunshine?