Holey Trees and Naked Houses

Painters continued priming the house this week. It's just about done; still a bit of caulking to do and some work on the wrap-around porch where the old siding was just replaced.

Electricians have started to make up the electrical panel and asked for final specs on the electrical and low voltage (network, cable + speaker) wiring so that they can button up that work. We got rid of a lot of structural load when the plaster was removed, but I'm replacing part of that with copper for all the wiring! If things go well, it should be off temp power by next week and back on internal power.

I forgot to mention that Jim Cortese with Cortese Tree Specialists was out there on Saturday. His partner Sam Adams has done a lot of work with the maples, magnolias and hemlocks on the property for me. Unfortunately we removed the large sugar maple that used to sit in front of the house last winter. That tree was neat, but it was on the windward side of the house with a weak root system, and the right wind would have toppled it over into the house causing tremendous damage. Not something I really wanted.

Anyways, Jim took a good look at the cedar tree outside the kitchen. It has a split trunk - you can see daylight through it - yet has stood for a number of years. He believe we may be able to get it listed as a State Heritage Tree. That'd be neat. He also identified it as in the running for a County Champion.

The guys continue to yank the roof off with the goal of starting the new roof next week. One of them remarked that this roof is somewhat easy to work on because you don't have to bend over at all; it's so steep that you just stand up next to it. OK - whatever works!