This is the house that Ben built....... well not really but I had to quote the old rhyme. (Thanks Rachel for your blog that I could rip off !) OK, so here's the general layout of the place... Downstairs: Long narrow back entry way which at least used to double as a laundry area, kitchen/eating area, "front" room, bedroom, bathroom, and parlor. Yes the house has an old fashioned parlor! Upstairs: bedrooms and a falling down chimney Ben is removing top to bottom. He will replace it with an insulated metal one. The old ones bricks and mortar are crumbling even as you read this! Apparently the Great Grandparents used to clean the chimney by setting it aflame!! Fast and dangerous and very hard on the masonry! There is a coal cellar under the kitchen. Ben has his work cut out for him but is quite motivated to do this. Where else can you get an entire house just for fixing it up and paying the bills? Ben has been given a range by cousin Mark and offered a washing machine by my supervisor and a couch by my brother Jim and his wife Carol! Ben already has a nice microwave and various furniture down in the Troll cave. He is hoping to move in before winter.
Aside from that, Dennis works all the time, Andy is coming home for the weekend, and I'm still (mostly) happily working at the Library. November is fast approaching when my hours will increase. More work, more money. Actually I think the work dynamic may actually improve with the new regime. I am not sure I will like the changes in my job description but that remains to be seen and experienced.
I'm starting to ramble now so here is today's interesting fact:
When chimney fires occur in masonry chimney the high temperatures at which they burn (around 2000' F) can "melt" mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material.
Exactly! ~Sue
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