Adding a Heat Shield to the Antique Mantel

Adding a Heat Shield to the Antique Mantel

We added a mantel shield to our antique mantel so that we won’t burn the house down. It had been suggested that if you have a blower, it won’t get hot enough to catch fire. That is so not true. We tried the fire for 

Adding the Blower to the Jotul Gas Fireplace

Adding the Blower to the Jotul Gas Fireplace

I thought we had ordered the fireplace with a blower, but I had not. So, I called Etowah Fireplace and had them ship it directly to us. Cliff was pretty confident he could add it himself. If not, we can always call for help. No 

Comparing Pre-Fab Chicken Coops and Little Cottage Company Chicken Coop Kits

Comparing Pre-Fab Chicken Coops and Little Cottage Company Chicken Coop Kits

When we were comparing barns, we noticed chicken coops. More and more of our neighbors are raising chickens. We hear roosters from every direction in the morning and we see chickens in fenced yards every time we walk the dog. One of the houses has 

Installing the Jotul Sebago Free Standing Gas Fireplace

Installing the Jotul Sebago Free Standing Gas Fireplace

This post is step-by-step how we put in a Jotul Free Standing Direct Vent Fireplace with horizontal through-the-wall termination. That means the pipe goes out the back of the stove through the wall. On the other side of the wall it has a snorkel termination. 

Installing Our Whole House Generator

Installing Our Whole House Generator

We had some really bad storms and lost our power for over a week. We had a generator and ran an extension cord into the house to the fridge, freezer, coffee maker, microwave, wifi and an electric blanket. So, we didn’t really suffer. But when 

Blue and White Cross Stitch Curtains from a Table Cloth

Blue and White Cross Stitch Curtains from a Table Cloth

I found this great tablecloth on eBay. It is white with wonderful cross stitch in cobalt blue. The pattern looks kinda Scandinavian. The size seemed just right to make curtains for the guest room. You can likely see how I cut it. One end made 

Safely Displaying, Storing and Organizing Guitars

Safely Displaying, Storing and Organizing Guitars

I am trying to find a way to get all of Cliff’s guitars, amplifiers and the rest out of a big pile leaning against walls and at least a little more organized. There are a lot of posts and pages on the subject, but most 

Fireplace Hood, Canopy or Heat Deflector

Fireplace Hood, Canopy or Heat Deflector

I’ve been looking at photos of the fireplaces in historic houses. I was trying to decide what will look best, or at least not stupid when I try to use an antique fireplace mantel with a new efficient gas heating stove. The idea is by 

Nine Kinds of Native Azalea

Nine Kinds of Native Azalea

We decided on mountain laurel, rhododendron and azalea for all around the new house. My husband went to school with Richard Mucci. His wife raises native azalea. Cliff told me to take a look at the website: www.mountainmist-nursery.com and pick something out. About Native Azaleas 

Adding a Sprayer to our Delta Kitchen Faucet

Adding a Sprayer to our Delta Kitchen Faucet

We added a sprayer to the kitchen faucet that came standard with our Schumacher Home. Schumacher offers a lot of options, but we decided to stick with the kitchen faucet that was included. Included Linden kitchen faucet (chrome) Single handle kitchen faucet. Spout swivels 120