Aug 29 2010 0 comments
yard

Sundial, part deux

So, a sundial is pretty much useless, unless it is in the sun.  I decided, since this was a scientific sundial, indeed a precision instrument, that it needed a precision base.

With left over materials from our last solar job, I fashioned a base using 8 inch sonotube, 3 inch PVC conduit and an 80 pound bag of ready mix.

Scientific Sundial, mounted

Scientific Sundial, mounted

I knew were a large rock, by large I mean car sized, was in my yard,  I found it the first year while digging trenches for drain pipes for the gutters.  I dug down with a post hole digger and placed about 18 inches of sonotube on the rock.  I also drilled into the rock a little bit with a masonry bit and put a 1/2 inch rebar into the rock, pinning the sonotube footing in place.

Then I filled the sonotube and the 3 inch PVC with ready mix concrete.

I waited two days.

Scientific Sundial, about 5 pm

Scientific Sundial, about 5 pm

Using the Solar and Moon calculator App for my android phone, I determined that solar noon was 12:57:58 pm today.  I don’t thing that two seconds will make that much difference, so at exactly 12:58 pm, I aligned the 12:00 noon analemma with the shadow made by the Gnomon.   This sundial is now aligned to true north/south.

The motto means “Life resembles a shadow“

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags:
Aug 25 2010 0 comments
Garden

Grapes!

This year we have lots of them:

Concord Grapes on the vine

Concord Grapes on the vine

I picked several pounds of these, destemed them and washed them:

Concord Grapes ready to be juiced

Concord Grapes ready to be juiced

Using a potato masher, I smashed them up as best as possible, then put them on the stove.  Brining them to a low simmering boil for 10 minutes, I mashed them again.  Then, I strained them through a metal strainer to get rid of the seeds and skins.  Finally, I strained that juice through cheese cloth and ended up with about two quarts of grape juice.

I must say, the grape juice is pretty good, slightly tangy but yummy.  I found cutting the grape juice with 1/2 water made it taste better.  Also, my wife is planning to make grape jelly with the juice, as we have lots of it, and having homemade grape jelly, just like the home made strawberry jam, will be welcome in the middle of winter.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: , ,
Aug 23 2010 0 comments
yard

Sundial

I wanted to get a sundial for our kitchen garden for the last several years.  There seemed to be many choices, all good.  Truth be told, I couldn’t make up my mind.  I also had several other projects going on simultaneously.  I figured I should finish some of those before starting something new.

Fast forward to this summer.  I was researching sundials for some other reason when I came upon a company called Scientific Sundials.  They looked really cool, and they are completely customizable.  I ordered one and it showed up yesterday via US Mail.

Scientific Sundial

Scientific Sundial

I’ll be making a mount for this one and putting it up when I build the new front porch.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags:
Aug 22 2010 0 comments
Exterior, Structure

Removing the deck, part III

It is hard to believe that this project started almost two years ago.  I started removing the old deck from the front of our house but had to stop for several reasons:

  1. The zoning laws had changed.  The deck no longer met the required setback from the road for the front of the house and I wanted to get clarification on what I was allowed to do.
  2. We decided that we were not going to replace the deck in kind, but rather install a covered porch along the front of the house, which will require more money.
  3. Lack of time.

After last fall’s mix up when installing the footings for the solar system, I wanted to be sure that we weren’t going to run afoul of the town code enforcement officer.  I reviewed the situation and he said what we were planning was fine, reducing the encroachment into the required setback is always welcome.

removal in progress

removal in progress

So, last Saturday, I got busy and removed the rest of the deck.  What I found explained quite a few things.  I think it was constructed around 1980 or so.  First of all, not all the wood used on the deck was pressure treated.  Several supporting members were full of carpenter ants.  Secondly, the deck was not properly attached to the house, it was nailed to the siding.  Thirdly, no flashing was used, so the ledger board was extensively rotted.  In fact, it is so bad under the front door that the rot made its way into the rim joist.

pile of junk

pile of junk

I used the trusty skilsaw, sawsal and 10 pound sledge hammer to get the job done.  In the end, I had a pile of mixed wood, some treated, some rotted, some not.  I took the stuff to the town transfer station, which charges $0.05 per pound for C&D material.  It ended up costing me $64.00 to get rid of everything, which works out to 1,280 pounds.

Front deck removed

Front deck removed

Apparently I wasn’t quite tired enough, so I also got out the chain saw and removed the two overgrown rhododendron bushes as well.  The front of the house looks a little bare right now, but I kind of like it.

Fortunately, the rotted rim joist is one small section and it doesn’t seem to affect the sill plate.  I will examine the sill more closely when we get ready to replace the rim joist.

In the coming weeks, I will get a building permit and put the front porch on before winter time.  It will be nice to have this project done.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Jul 20 2010 1 comments
Garden

Growing Wheat, Part II

And a general update.  First, I have not been blogging on the home improvement front because we haven’t really done any home improvements lately.  The new job pays less than the old one, and truth be told, things are a little tight.  Plus, there is just never enough time to get everything done.  I have made the decision that when I have time off, spending time with the family is important.  So, the house sits in it’s 80 percent completed state.  One thing that might happen, if a certain solar job comes through, is the front porch may be done this year.

Now, onto the wheat.  This was done as somewhat of an experiment.  I must admit that I expected nothing from this, and therefore I am not disappointed with whatever the outcome.  To my surprise, the wheat is growing well:

Hard red spring wheat

Hard red spring wheat

As of last week, all the wheat stalks have heads and are growing well.  It is a little stunted because of all the hot dry weather we had earlier this month, but by and large, I expect to increase the amount of wheat by about 20 times what I sowed. I left the weeds growing in between the wheat plants unless they get too tall, then I pull them out.

Exactly what I am going to do with this when I harvest it, I don’t know.  I may make wheat beer.  I could save it up and grind it as needed to make bread and pizza dough.  Or I might collect it and plant it again next year.  I figure that if I do that, I am making seeds that are adapted to my area.  Each successive planting will yield better, more adept, more viable seeds.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags: