Thursday, January 26, 2012

Home Improvement


For the past seven or so years, I've had tenants in my chimney...



The swifts arrive in April and stay through September.  They eliminate a ton of flying insects but it's disconcerting to have the swifts chirping in the fireplace...  they are quite loud and the chirping does interrupt a conversation... not to mention puzzling any visiting grand-puppies.  Here's what they sound like...





I had the chimney cleaned and this week... when the temperatures were in the upper 50s and 60s, the chimney dudes repointed the bricks, added a ledge thing, extended the flues, and put on a cap.


Although I feel a little guilty for decreasing by one habitat for the swifts, I won't worry about any dead birds and bird droppings in my chimney and fireplace!


Funny that since the chimney dudes were here the first time, I've been paying a lot of attention to chimneys as I drive around.  Quite interesting actually...








I received a phone call this afternoon that my sewing machine is fixed!



I will pick it up Saturday morning.....








19 comments:

  1. Good job on the bird problem.

    Good news on the machine.

    Happy Friday tomorrow and this weekend, sewing will resume!!!

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  2. My parents had racoons nest in their chimney...that was really noisy (and gross)! Hooray for a fixed Bernina. Wishing you a wonderful weekend with some sewing mixed in. :)

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  3. After some uninvited guests, we too got a chimney cap years ago.
    So glad the Bernina is coming out of hospital!

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  4. We all love our feathered freinds but sometimes you have to do what is best for the humans. I doing a happy dance for you and your sewing machine.

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  5. I could see where the birds might be a problem. Yea in the sewing machine repair. I bet you'll be busy on Sunday testing it out. :)

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  6. We had wood ducks in our chimney one time... pretty disconcerting.
    Yeah for the good news from the sewing machine hospital!

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  7. Hooray for your machine getting to come home! :o) What a relief to have your chimney capped. I shuddered at the mere mention of dead birds in the chimney. Eek.

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  8. Wonderful news !!!
    I know what you will be doing on Saturday. Lol.

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  9. Good news - on the chimney and the Bernina. So happy you're getting it back.
    Lillian @ lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

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  10. Hooray! a new year of quiet. And I know you'll be glad to get back in your sewing groove. Happy for ya!

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  11. They sounded quite noisy, they've had a good seven years and I'm sure they will find somewhere else to roost. Good news about your sewing machine, you will be up early Saturday morning to go and get it, make sure you take it for a test drive in the shop, that way you can make sure there are no problems with it.

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  12. Watch out fabric - here she comes!!! Yay you!!!

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  14. May a thousand swifts poop on your newly fixed sewing machine.

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  15. Makes sense to add a cap to your chimney.
    Glad your sewing machine is fixed. Enjoy!

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  16. The cap is good! Little birdies will make a home anywhere, that doesn't mean you need to have any regrets on your home improvement. (For shame on the smelly comment above!!)
    I'm so happy for you to get your machine back, you have been so--o much more patient than I would have been. I do hope everything works well!
    :-}pokey

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  17. Too Alfred Hitchcock for me! Plus the chimney cap looks cool. They'll find a new home.

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