Smoke from both chimneys! Incredible insulation. A $500 match on offer for labor, so shares needed.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017;
all rights reserved.

We have heat in two stoves tonight!

And a problem with the tile that is making me crazy. Oh, it looks great. But after using their measurements, AND rounding up? By, like, a lot? They're running out of tile. And I don't know whether we can get it in in time to finish it like it needs to be. I'm also annoyed that they didn't start with the floor, so that the plumbers could install the pedestal when they show up tomorrow, but as I keep saying, nobody listens to me.

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

Still — woodstoves! Fire! Heat! Smoke from both chimneys! And they work, believe me. Overnight, we had a fire burning in the small stove, knowing, of course, that it would burn down well before morning. We awakened at 5 AM, and Wings went downstairs to check on both woodstove and dogs . . . and found the front door wide open, both dogs out running somewhere for heaven knows how long. It was 25 degrees, with a strong east wind, and we had no idea, that's how warm our bedroom was, even with the bedroom door open as wide as the front door. [We had to have a window cracked for the stove, and we've learned that cross-drafts at just the right angle can suck the front door open if it's not locked; apparently I was so tired last night I forgot to lock it.] At any rate, if there was any doubt as to the stoves' heating capability (this was only the small one, remember; not both) or the quality of the house's insulating properties, I think they've been effectively laid entirely to rest.

We also have stairs all the way to the deck now:

Photo copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved.

The guys will do the railings and balusters next week, along with some more interior stuff. The week after that, we should be getting a call about appliance delivery.

And there's a lot yet to do and a long way to go.

We had snow two days ago; 19 degrees yesterday morning, 25 this morning . . . and 70 this afternoon. Indian Summer returns, at least for a few hours. Even so, winter is obviously here at night, and there's a lot more cold to come. As close as we are, there's too much to be done, and that means a lot of labor, which means a lot of expense, and a lot of materials to buy and damaged goods to replace. My beloved Ono has a diary up for us with a $500 match on offer to help with the ongoing labor costs, so please T&R and share. Also, here are our regular links:

• Wings's direct PayPal link;
• Wings's site, for sales;
• Lowe's cards (the physical version) via our Amazon wishlist;
• Lowe's e-cards (delivered via e-mail) here; and
• Home Depot cards via the company site. The e-version using my e-mail address is great; I take the tablet to the store with me, and they scan it off the screen.
• Our Amazon wishlist generally.
• Wayfair gift cards, to replenish all the furnishings that the RV has destroyed in one way or another.
• Partial registry #1, from Bed, Bath and Beyond. It's not complete; what's on it so far are drapes for the upstairs, associated curtain rods, bath rugs for both bathrooms, and doormats and a few other miscellaneous items.]
• Partial registry #2, from Wayfair. Also not complete, but covers a number of the area rugs needed for the upstairs and some kitchen items. I've finally added a bunch of items to it, although nothing in the way of small tables or lamps or kitchen items beyond three basic things, because yesterday proved to be a time-suck of epic proportions, and today was more of the same. What I did get to is all of the rugs for the whole house, and a few basic furniture items. But about Wayfair, and VERY IMPORTANT: They make it possible to crowdfund each item. So if you'd like to help, but the prices are too much for one person? You can kick in 20 bucks, or ten, or five, on any one item; many small donations can add up to one item. Also, it appears that everything that was listed as out of stock/on backorder is back in stock. It's a slow process, but every day I find a few more items that fall into the badly-needed category, because the wiring and mold and lime and everything else in this toxic tin can has destroyed so much of what we used to have. I'm sickened by the amount of stuff we have to throw out (on top of the things that were simply ruined, such as the microwave fried by the wiring in this place).

Many thanks and much love from us both, for donations, gift cards, shares, recs, moral support, and just generally helping me not lose my mind. Not much has changed on the health front:  As I've been saying daily, it seems, this has been a difficult day health-wise, with my flare itself seeming to flare, no doubt in part due to our high winds and drastic weather changes. But there are also the breathing difficulties, and sundry other issues secondary to the AI problems, and so I am moving very, very slowly, and accomplishing things only with quite a lot of difficulty. I'm going to be slow, and late, and unfocused; please bear with me while we try to get into a much healthier space. We are both so thankful for each and every one of you who made it possible for us to sleep now, for the first time in seven years, in a safe and healthy (and warm!) place.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2017; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.