Free Lawnmowers

As I was sitting at the computer a herd of deer walked right by my view.  One caught sight of me as I flashed pictures and we played a staring game until something spooked them and off they went.  I went out to the big picture windows in the living room and several deer were busily grazing.  This one was eating not more than twenty feet away.  We also engaged in some stare play.  Looks like we can hold off on buying a lawnmower for now.

Not Exactly the Good Ole Days

Unearthing history is a mixed bag.  There's the excitement of discovering something over 100 years old.  Glimpses of the past sometimes cause a sense of romanticism of ages gone by.  Yet on closer inspection the bubble can be burst about those good old days.  Every generation since the beginning has had its bright spots and those that are equally dark.  We've all seen how individuals, groups, and nations cover over, justify, rationalize, deny or try to rewrite history, as if that makes the truth go away.
A couple of the articles on these old newspapers bring to light the darkness of the times.  In 1906 a Congolese man named Ota Benga  was housed in the bronx zoo as an exhibit in the Monkey House. He would entertain the crowds by shooting arrows, drinking soda and playing with the monkeys.
Black clergymen like the Rev. James H. Gordon protested, “Our race, we think, is depressed enough, without exhibiting one of us with the apes,” Mr. Gordon said. “We think we are worthy of being considered human beings, with souls.”
That same year, James Jeffries, was persuaded to make a comeback after retiring as a world champion boxer.  Can you hear the music from Rocky?  The darkness of the story comes to light when you discover that the persuasion to return to the ring came from white supremicists who wanted to prevent a black boxer from becoming a champion.  Jeffries, who had been living an opulent lifestyle and was overweight was no match for Johnson.  His legendary career was now capped with the defeat of his lifetime. 
How fitting that the old newspapers were used for sealing wood and hidden behind paneling.   

Favorite Finds

When you tear out walls of old buildings, you never know what you will find.  So far, what tops the list are the pipes that lead to nowhere.  This pipe wrench, invented after the Civil War by Stillson, who went to work for the Walworth Manufacturing Company, was most likely forged in the Boston manufacturing plant between 1892 -1911.  This small "superadjustable" wrench was forged between 1935-1947 by J.H. Williams & Company who got their start in 1882.  The company was acquired by Snap-On in 1993.
I wonder how long the poor guy looked for his tools!

Code? What code?

For anyone in the building industry this is...interesting?...painful?...funny?  This was all covered up by some cabinets over the stove wall.  The cement block used to be a chimney from the original wood burning stove.  When they added the second floor, they cut the chimney off and removed the vent pipes.  When indoor plumbing was added...well you can see where they put the pipes.  The gas stove has no ventilation system other than a fan at the opposite end of the kitchen.  The soot and grease build up on the wall and underneath the cabinets was....black.  Oh, those days of no codes or regulations!

They're Gone!

Four days of deconstructing cabinets, removing screws and nails from every piece of wood possible to use it for our outdoor fire pit and hauling the rest to the dumpster.  Now all the paneling has to come off because we need to have electrical and plumbing work done.  Just a side note...after I got pierced by the first nail, I did check to make sure I was up to date on my tetanus vaccine.  I'm good to go!  

Let The Demo Begin

Where to start...pick a cabinet, any cabinet.  Because the cabinets were hand constructed creating a frame screwed into the wood paneling, every cabinet door has to be removed and then every support has to be loosened with a crowbar.  I managed to get this back wall demolished, before I said to Jim, "I'm going into town and get me a serious screwdriver"!  Back at the ranch, my attempts to use the new superpowered screwdriver was a learning adventure.  Thank goodness these cabinets were destined for the fire pit, because they looked like we had a beaver working on them by the time I got all the screws out.  I don't think I can be trusted with this thing.

Where Is The Missing Drawer?

Our handmade cabinets have seen a lot of use over a lot of years.  Haven't come across the missing drawer.  Was it the project that never got finished?  Was is it emergency firewood?  Was the silverware stolen (with the drawer)?  I love a mystery!

Those 60's Cabinet Doors

The cabinets were hand built.  These decorative doors were probably put on in the 60's.  They are a green plastic material.  When I use the gas stove burners, the warming in the kitchen causes them to pop. The cabinets hang down so low that I can't fit my food processor, blender or mixer underneath them and I have hit my head more than once.

Old Blackie

Our 1892 lodge kitchen originally had a wood burning stove.  This was the upgrade in the 30's.  The burners are marvelous, but the oven is poor, so we will be departing with old blackie.

Since we opened the doors for business, we have had lodgers every weekend.  This weekend we were anticipating the arrival of Jim's brother and wife from Missouri.  We had no reservations and spent a lovely, quiet weekend able to fully enjoy our time with family.  The heavy snow predicted never materialized, so Rich and Jennifer arrived and left with no driving difficulties.  After rain all afternoon it has turned to snow and is blanketing the ground.  Praise God for His blessings!

Stimulating the Economy

Since we acquired the lodge we have been doing our part to stimulate the economy:  improvements such as wood flooring, this new wood railing, baseboards, painting, decorating; supplies such as bedding, towels, sundries, cleaning supplies and equipment, nails, light bulbs; appliances such as new large washing machine, dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, convection oven/gas range, microwave; furniture such as new sleeper sofas in suites, tables and stools; tools, toilet parts, lamp parts, storage/organizing containers, tvs and dvd players in suites......you get the idea!  
Next up is gutting and remodeling the kitchen.  We'll have to say goodbye to the 1930's vintage gas stove, home constructed cabinetry, hodgepodge wiring and plumbing, florescent lighting and flooring with a large rug covering a destroyed section.  Once that is finished we'll be able to go into our next phase of providing the breakfast part of our bed and breakfast!