bats, irony or let it snow.

How do I title this post? Our wood stove was delivered today. The chimney that goes through the roof has had insulation stuck in it since August. While we waited for a stove I didn't want heat loss through it.

Today when the guys came to install the stove the first thing they did was pull out the insulation and about 2 dozen flying bats came out with them. It truly was an amazing site. I took about a half an hour to get them all (hopefully). I have a small short fishing net that I used. Some I killed (accidentally) and some I was able to catch and release (sort of like fishing). The irony is that I plan on making bat houses this winter and put them up in the spring. I wondered if I would be able to attract them - I guess I should have put up houses earlier as one way to get bats is when they are displaced from a home. Apparently the contractor neglected to put in an insect screen. They fireplace guys will be back next week to take care of the problem. Poor bats.

(one of the last 2 bats)


Installation went quick - maybe an hour.

Coefficient of thermal expansion

The wood around the hearth is ash flooring with the grain perpendicular to the floor. I never accounted for expansion and contraction and as the wood expanded it pulled the nails out and pushed the wood away from the corners.






This probably shows the problem the best. I reinstalled the wood but the corners are only about an inch on each side with a 3/8" gap to the main run on each side (forgot to take a pic). I will then put a piece of 1/2" by 1 1/2" piece on each side which will allow the main run to expand.




My breakfast bar also seems to be affected but to a lessor extent.

New Toy

I bought a chainsaw. Its a Stihl MS 290. It works good. We have gone foraging for wood maybe 4 times. I also made a sawbuck for cutting wood. Because of my experience with the table saw I bought a pair of chaps which are supposed to protect you. I feel like a dork wearing them but its safer.

The finds after 2 trips.

Update

Well I haven't written in a long while. Thus far I have done the following:
1) The loft bathroom is finished. I trimmed the ceiling, floor and door.
2) The loft ceiling trim is finished (finally) and I installed floor trim till I ran out. I need a more baseboard and shoe molding.
3) The stairs are varnished.
4) The drywall around the stone wall is finished and painted.
5) All casement molding and rosettes are installed.
6) The stair spindles are installed.

Things left to do:
1) Trim where the stairs and railings meet.
2) Grout the stair tiles.
3) Varnish the floor in the great room (pretentious description in a cabin with a footprint of 720 SF). Deb will varnish on Friday and Saturday.
4) Install the mantel (today)
5) Finish trimming and grout the hearth.
6) Sand and varnish the wood around the hearth (today).
7) Install 3 remaining door knobs.
8) Make the cabinet doors.
9) A bit of trim around the breakfast bar.
10) Finish all baseboard molding.
11) trim the newel posts.
12) Go fishing.