Tag Archives: winter

And we’re back to the window nightmare.

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Work moved on to the three remaining windows that needed replacing in our bedroom and as with every single other project we attempt in this house, it was a monumental f*ck up.

These are the old windows, stripped of trim and ready to be removed.

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Yes, that’s snow you see outside.

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Ideal conditions for exterior work.

Not.

The trouble began when the first small window was removed and its replacement was fitted.

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The problem? It didn’t fit.

Because it was too big.

Incorrect measurements by our contractor? He says no and has the paperwork to prove it.

Incorrect measurements by the retailer? They say no and have the paperwork to prove it.

Incorrect measurements by the manufacturer? They say they built what they were told and refuse to refund and replace.

Solution… (other than pulling my hair out, stripping naked, dousing myself in tequila and running down the road cursing the home renovation Gods?) … cut bigger holes in the wall.

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It wasn’t that much bigger. Maybe and inch and a quarter on each side but it meant (what has now become my mantra) more time, more work, more money. Not to mention a tighter fit when it comes to trim.

And after that first window rough opening was enlarged and the slightly larger window fitted and secured?

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An ice storm.

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Which coated everything that stood still.

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Good times.

😩

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I never thought I’d love it, but I do.

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In my younger days I was a sun worshiper.

A summer lover. A beach bum who loved nothing more than sultry hot days and long walks on burning white sand.

Now? I like a different kind of white.

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I want cold crisp air and a blanket of snow.

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While most people crave warmth as they age, the older I get the more I look forward to winter.

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It’s beautiful…

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And peaceful.

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I love the gentle colors …

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And the stillness of the season.

❄️

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First snow.

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Now it feels like winter!

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We had our first snow recently and it was the heavy wet variety that instantly turns your world into an ice cream wonderland.

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Yes, it’s hard to shovel… but with the smooth new driveway under me it was much less painful.

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We only got a few inches and it will probably melt before long because winters aren’t as cold as they used to be in Maine…

Look at the green grass underneath.

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But for now, I’m enjoying the storybook scenes.

❄️

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This should be fun. Not.

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The Marvin window specialist didn’t show up the day they were scheduled, which for once was a good thing. Our contractor is back in town now and thankfully will be meeting the rep at our house later this afternoon.

That’s the good news.

The bad news looks like this :

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Not exactly optimal window repair and/or extraction weather.

And while I feel sorry for our contractor… it seems like the expert is getting what he deserves for making us wait an entire month.

😈

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Miscellaneous nonsense.

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After the recent mass shooting tragedy in Maine lots of people were paying tribute to the resilience of my state and its people. I happen to like Stephen Colbert’s take…

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And since it’s November in my northern home, temperatures are dropping rapidly at night. They had snow to the west of us and we’re waking up to frost. I say bring it! But my husband is starting to shiver. Since menopause has endowed me with internal heating I’m slow to crank up the furnace these days and see nothing wrong with throwing another blanket on top of the spouse. … which is why I got a kick out of seeing this online the other day.

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I really need to post that on our thermostat.

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If you’ve never listened to the Grateful Dead? Never mind, you won’t get it.

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And if you’ve never watched Game of Thrones or The Last of Us? Never mind you won’t get this either.

But speaking of the latter?

It’s real.

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Thankfully it hasn’t moved on to humans, but you never know.

Which is why I was a little shocked to see it was the top ingredient in a coffee that’s being hawked on FB.

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What the Hell people?

😳

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I was today years old…

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We’ve all seen the bell ringers standing in front of stores during the holidays. They’re raising money for the Salvation Army which is one of the few charities you can trust not to spend 80% of donations on “administrative” costs.

Standing outside in Maine in December can be tough. I’ve seen bell ringers wrapped up in so many layers of clothing they look like the Michelin Man.

Hell, I’ve bought coffee and hot chocolate for those poor volunteers to keep them warm.

Because, you know… they volunteered to help.

Or did they?

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Whaaaat!

Is this a new thing… or am I just woefully out of touch.

What happened to the volunteers?

🥴

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Of fog and wooly bears.

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We had a really warm week in Maine with temps hitting the lower 80’s. Not my idea of fall, but lots of people were thrilled summer is still hanging on.

With cool nights and warm days comes fog.

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So much fog the deer who usually only show up at dusk are here at dawn.

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This next picture is of a poor starling who smashed into our living room picture window.

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He was okay and eventually flew away after recovering from the shock. But he sure drove our cat crazy.

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Yes, people here still believe caterpillars can predict the weather.

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Looks like a mild winter to me.

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In the dark.

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The giant N’Or Easter predicted to slam the Maine coast came and went yesterday with admittedly high winds…. but not nearly the amount of snow they were promising.

The weathermen said a foot, we got roughly 4 inches. But it was the heavy wet crap that weighs down tree branches which then take out power lines. And at 9:00 last night?

Poof.

We woke up to darkness and no electricity today.

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Thank goodness for a fireplace. It doesn’t heat the whole house but kept the living room a toasty 63.

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And thank goodness for powerful battery operated lanterns that light up the kitchen so His Royal Highness can be fed.

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Turns out the problem was right next door where a tree fell on the main line that feeds the whole road. The power company was out early …

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As was the husband… who won’t use the snowblower when it’s heavy and wet because it clogs the auger. It was still snowing when I took the picture so his newly cleared driveway was filling back up behind him. Why didn’t he wait till it stopped?

Because we had no power, which means no satellite, which means no television. He was bored.

Thankfully the power came back on late morning and nothing in the freezer or fridge was lost. The temperature is supposed to be 48 tomorrow so it will all melt again.

I swear I have winter whiplash this season.

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The culprit. The wind lifted it right out of the ground…

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