That post title will make sense in a minute. In the meantime, let’s cut to the chase:
A lot happened to get to this place: first, you’ll see Michael has framed in stuff to the right way more, with more studs. But underneath the shower base, lots of stuff happened today.
First, he started to explore where all the pipes are, in the basement, and how they get up into the bathroom. Shown below – the first incision.
This is the back right corner of the base of the shower.
Then he and Kevin went down into the basement proper and studied the line that feeds into the toilet – cause the toilet’s going to have to be moved over a few inches – and they discovered (O Happy Day) that the toilet actually has both hot and cold going into it. Did you know that that is a really good idea? It is. Around here, in the summer, particularly with bone-chillingly cold well water, you don’t want exclusively cold water going to your toilet. You want j-u-s-t enough hot water mixed in so that you have room temperature water. This prevents condensation on the toilet from developing, running down, and wrecking your floors. You’re welcome.
And here’s Our Hero having removed the plywood that had been underneath the bathtub, and building up the floor.
It was a strange day – moody. It went from somber, grismal, and rainy, to breathtakingly sunny, back and forth, several times.
Here’s the view from the bedroom. We’re going to zoom in – check out how all the rain of the past couple of days is overtaking the field.
There is an actually rushing current there, where normally it’s grass.
A little while later, glorious sun…
Ahhh, glowing yellow birch in the side yard…
And then, out of nowhere, the mail carrier brought something up to the house. An unexpected box. Addressed to me! From my friend Katie!
Check this out!
Is this not the coolest thing? Little does Katie know that I have a chunk of amethyst the size of a brick from a trip my father made to Brazil back in the 80’s. This beauty fits in nicely in the Whole Scheme. Thanks, Katie!
Lastly, OK, I didn’t go for a walk today, but I do have nature pictures. These are reallllllly blurry. I don’t know exactly why – I suspect my camera’s acting up, but on the other hand, the subject was moving. It’s a beetle of some kind, I expect.
Sarah, This is not a beetle. A beetle's outer wings (elytra) come together in perfect symmetry when the animal is at rest; meeting in a straight line down the middle of the back. This characterizes most members of the order Coleoptera.
ReplyDeleteBelow are 8 orders of which we run into most in New England - This is from a write up from our Incredible Insects program that I did at BEEC. After reading these, now who do you think you took a photo of?
• Butterflies & Moths (order, Lepidoptera): These creatures have two pairs of fine, powdery-covered scaly wings.
• Ants, Bees & Wasps (order, Hymenoptera): These “tiny-waisted” creatures are usually considered to be very social, living together in large colonies or hives.
• Mosquitoes, Flies & Gnats (order, Diptera): Insects in this group have only one pair of wings, usually clear, rather than the usual two pairs.
• Beetles (order, Coleoptera): To know this group of insects look for tough front wings that meet in a straight line down their back. A pair of thinner wings is kept folded under the top pair when this creature is not flying.
• Dragonflies & Damselflies (order, Odonata): These darlings have two pairs of nearly transparent wings that are almost equal in length. They have large compound eyes and long slender abdomens.
• Leafhoppers & Cicadas: Observe two pairs of wings that form a tent over the insect’s body when it is not flying or jumping.
• Grasshoppers & Crickets (order, Orthoptera): Notice the long hind-legs of these jumping musicians of the field.
• True Bugs (order, Hemiptera): Look for the triangle shape on these creatures’ backs. The triangle is formed by the leathery forewings crossing each other when the insect is not flying. These insects have sucking mouth parts, whether they are supping on plant or animal juices. YUM!
Bright Blessings, Arianna
Good Lord & Lady, I stand corrected. My husband did some research after his initial, "that looks like a blister beetle" and confirmed. Hmph. Well, glad we got that cleared up but that means I am way too rusty. Poop! - Bright Blessings, Arianna
ReplyDeletehttp://www.insectidentification.org/user/american-oil-beetle-picture.asp
ReplyDeletehm.