Tiny Old House Seal the Leaks Challenge final update!

Stop The Leaks final update- This was a great challenge to me to do some work on the house- First and foremost was caulking all the windows and doors, then adding the duo-pane window in the kitchen and finally adding the siding to the north gable of the house, as well as insulting the window in the master bath (the only non dou-pane window left in the house). The house is warmer and less drafty. Thanks Jennifer!

Weekly Challenge Update

Well the 57 day strike is over at Boeing- I will be returning to work on the 3rd- sigh I must admit I was enjoying practicing for retirement; I must say that challenges have taught me to live frugally, and more self sustaining. If you haven’t tried a challenge, I highly suggest you start! Also, beansprouts blog started a challenge which is right up my alley- A make your own Christmas gifts challenge!

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 20
Plant something: Kale plants that I bought

Prep something: 3 more pumpkins roasted, pureed and froze. Roasted pumpkin seeds!

Harvest something- A few beans and some lettuce; sunflower heads from the garden for bird food- strung them up with a stick or twig stuck in the head as a perch for birds- I use to do this as a kid
Manage something: Finish putting up the new siding on the north gable

Cook Something New: Cook some of Beth’s Cat food for my cat

Work on Local Food Systems: Not really, but I did buy three more sugar pumpkins for pie/soup/pumpkin bread from my local green grocer- He lowers the price on the day after halloween!

Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Saved some of the scrap cedar shingles to use in the rocket stove or my chiminea; took the rest for burn barrel on the picket line; cut down sunflowers as their growing season is over- saved the heads for birdfood and put the stalks in the composter

Learn a skill: Nothing much except learned how to recharge Nicad batteries to reduce waste batteries for flashlights, remotes, etc. Found out the NiCad batteries are rechargeable and not much more expensive than the alkaline- great for my digi-cam or as I call it My AA Battery eater! And learned I could make a solar recharger for them! Also learned That you can use the NiCad rechargeble batteries in your solar powered lights if your batteries in them went tits up

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Went to St. Vincent’s and bought 2 vegetable peelers, 2 stainless steel bowls with covers and a zester. I needed a new vegetable peeler, they were $6-$14 at the grocery- ridiculous! So I bought two slightly used ones that work fine for $.49 a piece! Since there was a tag sale at St. Vinnie's I got them for $.13 each! Bought two pumpkins from the green grocer that went on sale the day after Halloween! Roasted and pureed and froze them for pie! Roasted the seeds! I Bought four kale plants at Duane’s. Except for groceries, Bought nothing else.

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Finished the gable project- 2 more to go on the house, two more on the garage. The holes are gone! Will do/finish the house first since the garage is not heated and is an “outbuilding”.

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE: Didn’t do too well this week- went to a local creperie that opened here in Burien- they put crepes in cardboard boxes which went into my yard waste container, and no bag but I could have eaten them there- but they use chinet paper plates and plastic forks/spoons so I thought it would be better to eat them at home- at least I knew containers would get composted! And bought two pizzas this week- we needed a quick meal one night- the containers also went into yard waste bin! No coffee to go without my stainless steel commuter cup this week though so that was good!

MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE: Trying to figure out why my Kale etc. is not growing. Am going to try bell Cloche’s (I made some out of 2 liter pop bottles)
Any info anyone has on Kale would be appreciated!

Beansprout's Make a Christmas Gift Challenge: Ms. Melanie has a wonderful challenge for November- I make most of my Christmas gifts, so this should be neat and easy. She didn't have a button for the challenge, at least not one I saw so I made her one! I have laready started- I made fruit infused vodka for my relatives, and will make brownies in a jar, ornaments and I am making or rather reupholstering a head board for my mom for christmas, and a turning pig shaped cutting board into a clock for her as well.

Weekly Challenge Check In

Photo of Tomato Chutney
from Mad Tea Party Blog

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 19
Plant something: Nope
Prep something: Made and froze some more pumpkin puree- dehydrated some apple rings. Made some banana chips.
Harvest something: nothing more than a few beans
Manage something: Started putting garage in order
Cook Something New: Tried some Tomato Chutney ( I have of unfounded fear of anything with the name “chutney”) on Millet Bread spread with Cream Cheese to qoute Paris Hilton- “Loves it”- and found a Corn Chowder recipe that I doctored up-
Rob’s Corn Chowder Recipe
1/2 cup diced bacon or ½ cup diced soy bacon
Three garlic cloves- minced
4 medium potatoes, chopped
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 cups chicken stock or broth
1 can cream-style corn, 2 (12 ounces each) cans or 1 pound, 4 ounce package frozen
1 can regular corn- or 1 package frozen corn
2 teaspoons salt
pepper to taste
2 cups half-and-half or light cream, scalded
Preparation:
Sauté bacon until browned and crisp; add chopped potatoes and onions and garlic. Add stock, corn, and seasonings; cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in half-and-half; heat through but do not boil. You can substitute regular frozen corn for the cream corn. Serves 4.

Work on Local Food Systems: bought some Honey Crisp apples and bananas from the green grocer
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Sunflower stalks, raked up some leaves: put on compost bin, Gave the worms in worm bin a bad apple, Took a Pig Shaped cutting board my mom had (she collects these and routed it out to put a clock work in so she can hand it up with the other pigs in her kitchen, for Christmas, And I recovered an old headboard for her for Christmas as well. Fixed the lock on the back door.
Learn a skill: Nope

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: The only thing I bought this week (besides groceries) was some more brads to finish the siding project. And my shopping was done local at my neighborhood “green grocer” Duane’s Garden Patch, and I learned that my favorite bread, available at Trader Joe’s is local- thanks to Melinda’s Blog

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE- Just about finished the siding project on the North Gable- Looks good- or at least better than what was there- like gaping holes in the siding thanks to the roofing contractors- Just like Jennifer said in her blog this week “I'm never hiring out work again” of course I will change my mind- but I certainly feel her pain after the roofing contractor left me this job to do!

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE- LOL! Ran into a bit of trouble this week buying produce- Duane, the produce stand manager looked at me like I was some kind of nut for not putting my produce into little plastic bags! Get over it Duane! I think produce bags are totally stupid!
Remembered my commuter mug and “Kleen Kanteen” every trip this week! Take out once- Pizza, throw boxes in yard waste bin!

Weekly Challenge Update

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 18
Plant something: Nothing
Prep something: Baked Sugar Pumpkins and one of my pumpkins I grew and pureed them and froze for pies; Roasted pumpkin seeds!Harvest something: Just some peas, one of my pumpkins- the other two are not ripe yet
Manage something: Painted bathroom vanity; cabinet; Repairing the siding that the roofers damaged during the addition by putting up sheathing, covering with roofers felt, then covering with cedar shingles to match the addition
Cook Something New: Actually- roasting the pumpkins and making and freezing pumpkin puree is new for me; But I feel that would be a cop out, so I made Simple Pumpkin Soup- it is super good!
Work on Local Food Systems: Bought some local sugar pumpkins I found at the green grocer’s
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Reduce, Repair or Compost something: Repairing the siding that the roofers damaged during the addition by putting up sheathing, covering with roofers felt, then covering shingles to match the addition, started a Mend and make do challenge; Re-used an orange Chinese lantern- drew a Jack ‘O Lantern face on it- made into a decoration for Halloween- will keep for future use!
Learn a skill: making and freezing pumpkin puree

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Pretty good this week as I bought nothing except for some wire brads for the nail gun and some cedar shakes for the house. And two sugar pumpkins from the green grocer.

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Started working on repairing the siding that the roofing contractor broke off. Removes big hole in the attic.

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE: I managed to remember my shopping bag everytime I went out- even to Lowes! And I remembered my commuter mug everytime as well. No take out this week at all

Work Work Work- Weekly Chalenges Update

Dig, dig, rake, rake and HOE. Busy little bugger am I

I am getting ready for the winter storms and power outages we always seem to have, from finding new ways to cook without power, and restocking supplies (propane, gasoline)

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 17
Plant something: Nothing
Prep something: Got some emergency weather cooking plans together, Pureed some pumpkins and froze

Harvest something: a few peas a few carrots.

Manage something: Found a Sterno folding stove at the thrift store, put in my emergency kit, built a rocket stove using on old popcorn tin, and some old stove pipe sitting in the garage, Made sure I had candles; checked propane tanks, made sure my mini propane tanks were full as well (I run a catalytic heater with them in no power times, made sure all battery lamps worked, checked battery powered fan on my catalytic heater;Check to make sure I had candles and sterno fuel- since i just bought a sterno stove it came with 4 cans (true confession: I buy a product called "Canned Heat" used for chafing dishes, works as well lasts as long and is cheaper than Sterno- I get it at the Party Universe Store, right here in Burien- am sure it is available in other cities at Party City (Same company)anyway Got 6 cans, Took a WSU Extension Class on composting to learn some tricks I did not know
Cook Something New: Yam Bread, Crunchy’s Grilled Pumpkin slices with Rosemary and Sea Salt

Work on Local Food Systems: Went to the last Farmer's Market of the year

Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Let’s see, re-used a popcorn tin, reused some stove pipe making my rocket stove, Made a comforter using an old Ikea quilt cover and some cotton batting I’ve had sitting around for awhile- I stuffed the batting in the quilt cover and sewed it solid with some yarn; Took a WSU King County Extension service Tools for Resourceful Living on composting to learn some tricks I did not know

Learn a skill: Learned how to make a rocket stove, learned how to make a quick quilt; Took a WSU Extension Class on composting to learn some tricks I did not know

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE: Bought a sterno folding camping stove at the thrift store; bought a lamp there as well; Made a comforter using an old Ikea quilt cover and some cotton batting I’ve had sitting around for awhile- I stuffed the batting in the quilt cover and sewed it solid with some yarn , Got 6 cans of "Canned Heat (Sterno) at Party Universe right here in Burien

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Didn’t do much of anything- except put a door sealer strip on a couple of doors that were drafty. I need to put some Great Stuff in these doors behind the moulding as well

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE: Did very well this week. Went to the last farmers market of the year, and used no plastic bags at all for my purchases- I think the vendors are starting to get the message- I am not the only one who doesn’t see the need to put a peach or apple in a plastic bag, when I bring my own shopping bag- I see many who request No plastic bags. Remembered my Commuter mug every trip out- no disposable mugs used at all! No take out containers either!

Weekly Challenge Update

Well the cooler weather is moving in and so my sunflowers have decided to make a debut- Good thing cause they will be good food for the birds in the upcoming months. Also The garlic scapes are making their debut as well in their Earthtainer that I made from two 5 gallon buckets



Sunflowers and garlic scapes
make a debut!

Onto the challenges:

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge Week 16
Plant something: A few Kale seeds in pots.
Prep something: Froze peppers and onions; Froze tomatoes(I didn’t know you could freeze them but found this info from the U of Nebraska at Lincoln Extension Service)
Harvest something: A few peas, carrots, tomatoes, fall green beans are getting ready as are the pumpkins!
Manage something: Changed the bedding in the worm bin- Noticed I have worm babies! Made a couple of Mason Bee Houses, Finished in the Guest room/office, Cleaned freezer out and stocked it with game hens that I purchased at Grocery Outlet for a great price
Cook Something New: Note- I am really stretching it on this one- was reviewing Chile’s blog and her Quick and easy recipes and found the “Naner and Bread” in the “Quick Snacks” section so I made a couple of those (My blood sugar dropped suddenly, and I needed a quick snack) But I am counting it as I have never made these before.
Work on Local Food Systems: Attended a Sustainable Burien meeting
Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Re-Duce, Repair or Compost something: Shredded newspaper to use as bedding for worm bed. Put old worm bed bedding in regular compost. Put pepper plants in compost bin. Trimmed the plum tree and put the leaves and clippings and old zuke and cuke plants in yardwaste bin, repaired lamp that I dumpster dived for; Reused an old lamp and some bottles making booze bottle lamps for Christmas, re-used a booze bottle and made an oil lamp
Learn a skill: Learned how to cut holes in glass- not a real skill, but one I will use again in making more lamps and some other crafty items– helps re-use a bottle! Learned how to make oil lamps from the booze bottles as well

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGE:
I did buy my lamp parts- but I went to IKEA and got one shade for $1 at the as is bin; (should count the same as buying used), Bought some river pebbles for the same project; bought a shopping bag at the grocery today which is okay- I needed another shopping bag

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE
Insulated the window in my bathroom, This is the only single pane window in the house and will be replaced hopefully next year- trying to figure out why the worlds smallest bathroom has such a huge window (it is on the north side of the house)

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALLENGE Did okay this week- remembered my coffee mug and kleen kanteen every day! No plastic bags- I did forget my non-disposable bag today when I went grocery shopping, but bought a new one, which was okay as I needed another bag

Weekly Challenge Update: Phew I am tired!

This week was extremely busy on the home front (amazing what unemployment will do for working around the house) Did some guest posts for Burban Mom on her Going Green blog on plumbing repair and saving water-although I think she likes plumbing terms like “ball cock” and “nipples”! Anyway, I got a lot of shit done, got a plumbing job tomorrow to do for my cousin. Damn relatives- they just wait for a strike!

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge WEEK 15
Plant something: Broccoli (again), Turnips, Kale and Corn salad
Prep something: Took a class at Seattle Free School on growing sprouts- made some sprout growing jars out of mason jars and window screenHarvest something- More tomatoes, The last of the cucumbers or so I thought, I left two vines that have some baby cukes growing on them; lettuce; a few peas

Manage something- Got the window added to the kitchen- This is good for adding light and for warmth from the sun as it is on the South side of the house. Got the guest room/office organized a bit better, made some window screen Mason Jar growing thingys for sprouting

Cook Something New: Okay I broke down and finally made Melinda’s Lowfat Pancrack (Pancakes) since every one was saying how wonderful it is- And it is. Also, I was cooking an acorn squash and figured why not roast the seeds? So I did- Yummy little crunchy seeds- prepped them the same way as pumpkin seeds! And I did it the same time as I cooked the squash!
Work on Local Food Systems: Took a class at Seattle Free School on on growing sprouts, one of the advantages of the strike is I can attend classes and meetings!

Re-Cycle, Re-Use, Reduce, Repair or Compost something: Re-used lumber in my Window project. The lumber came from demolition when I had the addition put on my house. Re-used window trim leftover from addition project. Re-used a wine cork and a gin bottle in a lamp project; composted garden “junk”; re-used flyers from car show- I take the backside of flyers and use them when I print out things on my computer; Re-use some booze bottles for Oil Lamps; Used some leftover window screen to make Sprouting jars, and re-used some of my half pint jelly jars as well!

Learn a skill: Making oil lamps out of bottles- You can use olive oil for these or corn oil or safflower oil, but I chose lamp oil for my first one; Took a class at Seattle Free School on growing sprouts

MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE Borage still great- about the end of it’s life; I might try freezing it or maybe dehydrating it. I really recommend this plant!
Broccoli- I have decided to replant broccoli seeds since I have appeared to kill mine. I will plant them in the garlic planter, since it is an "Earth-Tainer" and watering should not be a problem and the garlic of course hasn’t grown yet- Ooops- Just looking at the garlic planter and I have something growing already- so I planted broccoli in the squash box since it is mostly cleaned out

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE Finished installing the window in the kitchen- Now on to the garage! I am going to install four windows in there replacing the corrugated fiberglass panels already there. I got the windows at 2nd Use.

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS' DITCH THE DISPOSABLES CHALENGE I Failed on this one. I stopped for a coffee and forgot my commuter mug. Luckily the cup at Tully’s was compostable- but that doesn’t make it all right. It’s very unusual for me to forget my mug. Anyway I didn’t forget it any other time this week.

Window is in!

Well guess what - I got the window put in in the kitchen.
It took me a while. And all the lumber used is reclaimed from the demolition phase of the new addition.






And of course I sealed the window. I used "Great Stuff" expanding foam product. I have cans of this stuff. It is also handy to seal up the holes in pots when making water fountains as well as a great expanding foam sealant for cracks and holes. Use it around pipes where they enter into the house, too.






A picture after the Great Stuff does it's job!


I did a strike duty tonight so it is a a quarter to five (AM) so I think I will go off to bed and finish the trim in the morning (or rather the afternoon!)

CHALLENGE UPDATE! Or what I didn't get done this week!

I didn't get as much done this week as I would have hope to; strike is still a big deal around this house, Although I did help out at the Stratocruisers Car Show which raises money for variuos charities around the Puget Sound

Sharon's Independence Days Challenge:
Plant something: Nada
Prep something: Finished prepping guest room/closet for storing things
Harvest something: Lettuce, Cucmbers, tomatoes, Green peppers, a few peas
Manage something: Made new planting box; Worked the Stratocruisers car show, which raised money for various charities including Northwest Harvest and Food Lifeline, King County Medic One, Pierce County Medic One, The LeMay Museum, Enumclaw Hospital , The Family Renewel Center in Tacoma, Children's Orthopedic Hospital; Still putting in new window in kitchen (still in work)
Cook Something New: Green pepper fritatta
Work on Local Food Systems: Nothing, although did get some bread from strike head quarters
Reuse, reduce, recyle or repair or Compost something: Composted old plants; cut tree limbs;
Learn a skill: Took the WSU Extension Service class"Productive Vegetable Gardening in Small Spaces- Planning Raised Beds and Containers"at the Burien Community Center. This got me enthused enought to make a new planter box

CRUNCHY DOMESTIC GODDESS’ 5 MINUTE SHOWER CHALLENGE : Still the same, found a new bucket to catch warm up water in, found I collect about a gallon of water if I leave it in while taking a shower!

CRUNCHY CHICKENS' SWEATY BUTT-CRACK CHALLENGE: Even though we have been having real nice weather, and it has gotten warm here the last few days, No A/C use at all except I did turn it on for a few hours after the car show, as I was taking a nap and wanted some cool!

MELINDA'S GROWING CHALLENGE: Very happy with the borage, very unhappy with the broccoli

JENNIFER'S STOP THE LEAKS CHALLENGE: Didn't do much this week- still putting in window (hope to be done this week)

How to insulate a window for under $2

Jennifer's "Stop the Leaks" challenge has me all pumped up. So lets start with window insulation. First seal all cracks and leaks with caulking. This is easy to do. Just watch this video:

If you dont have dou-pane windows, you are losing a lot of heat through your windows. Storm windows - the answer? Not necessarily,First they are expensive. Second, not easy to put up (especially 2nd and 3rd story windows). 3rd, if you rent, it will be like pulling teeth to get your landlord to pay for them.Install NEW Dou-pane or Tri-pane Windows? Got a loan. So what's a guy to do? Well for a couple of bucks, you can get a Shrink & Seal Window Kit. They are available at most home improvement stores. They are easy to install. The only tools you need are a box cutter. And a hair dryer. I know most of you gals and a few guys already know how to handle one of those. Even Bald Rob has a hair dryer. I used to have hair! and I need one to dry stinky dinky binky after his bath. It is easy as pie. You simply put the double backed tape around the frame and then spread out the plastic sheet and put around the frame. Then when the film is tight take the dryer and heat the film, this should take out any wrinkles. All this and it only costs about $2 per window. The savings on your fuel bill will be higher. And more than pay for the film kits. When I lived in Ye olde mobile home, I had storm windows but the large picture window was missing the storm window. So I used these kits because those windows were something else drafty. My current house has duo-pane windows except one which will get this treatment this winter.
This video will give you the idea, but remember most kits are for the interior. But the idea is the same. I have never seen this particular product from 3M.