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That's the Way It Crumbles, Cookie-Wise
- Thread starter Nancy Hart
- Start date
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
When I redid the upstairs closet, I left a 4" x 10" hole in the wall with just a cover screwed on over it. On the other side of the wall is a small crawl space under the roof between the bedroom and the hallway. I don't remember what I was thinking at the time, but that little hole came in handy this week.
Last Friday and Saturday were hot enough (high 89F) to turn on the AC on the 2 year old upstairs heat pump. It reminded me that last summer it would get too hot before the AC would kick on, and way too cold before it would shut off. The heat does OK. It's likely caused by the location of the thermostat.
So this week I took a break from the bathroom remodel to start a relocation, thermostat-wise.
The plan was to try to fish the existing thermostat cable back through the attic and use it, to avoid messing with the wiring inside the central unit in the attic. That would be above my pay grade and too hard to get to anyway. The cable would be plenty long enough to reach the inside wall of any room upstairs.
The puzzle was finding TWO brown thermostat cables coming from the unit. Then I remembered that little hole in the closet, unscrewed the cover, stuck the phone back there and was able to take a picture of the backside of the thermostat with the flash. Only ONE cable was attached, and it wasn't stapled anywhere.
LINK (to phone picture)
Flipped a coin, tugged on one of the 2 cables a little bit, took another picture and it had moved. Unhooked the thermostat and pulled the cable all the way back and down from the attic with no problems. Hooked the wires back to the thermostat. Left it laying on the dresser in the bedroom. Whenever the weather gets hot again, I'll move it around and see where it works best.
I could have done without the hole in the wall, but might have ruined something trying to blindly guess what was going on without it. The hardest part of this job so far was bringing the 8' step ladder upstairs from the basement without hitting the walls. I'll live with the ladder in the hallway until the next hot weather spell.
Last Friday and Saturday were hot enough (high 89F) to turn on the AC on the 2 year old upstairs heat pump. It reminded me that last summer it would get too hot before the AC would kick on, and way too cold before it would shut off. The heat does OK. It's likely caused by the location of the thermostat.
So this week I took a break from the bathroom remodel to start a relocation, thermostat-wise.
The plan was to try to fish the existing thermostat cable back through the attic and use it, to avoid messing with the wiring inside the central unit in the attic. That would be above my pay grade and too hard to get to anyway. The cable would be plenty long enough to reach the inside wall of any room upstairs.
The puzzle was finding TWO brown thermostat cables coming from the unit. Then I remembered that little hole in the closet, unscrewed the cover, stuck the phone back there and was able to take a picture of the backside of the thermostat with the flash. Only ONE cable was attached, and it wasn't stapled anywhere.
LINK (to phone picture)
Flipped a coin, tugged on one of the 2 cables a little bit, took another picture and it had moved. Unhooked the thermostat and pulled the cable all the way back and down from the attic with no problems. Hooked the wires back to the thermostat. Left it laying on the dresser in the bedroom. Whenever the weather gets hot again, I'll move it around and see where it works best.
I could have done without the hole in the wall, but might have ruined something trying to blindly guess what was going on without it. The hardest part of this job so far was bringing the 8' step ladder upstairs from the basement without hitting the walls. I'll live with the ladder in the hallway until the next hot weather spell.
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The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang got a new member!
Tom O'Day, alias Joe Chancellor,
member of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang
"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was a gang in the American Wild West, which took its name from the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, where several outlaw gangs had their hideouts."
"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was not simply one large organized gang of outlaws but rather was made up of several separate gangs, all operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass, using it as their base of operations. The gangs formed a coalition, each planning and carrying out its own robberies with very little interaction with the others. At times, members of one gang would ride along with other gangs, but usually each gang operated separately, meeting up only when they were each at the hideout at the same time." (READ MORE)
Tom O'Day, alias Joe Chancellor,
member of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang
"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was a gang in the American Wild West, which took its name from the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass in Johnson County, Wyoming, where several outlaw gangs had their hideouts."
"The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang was not simply one large organized gang of outlaws but rather was made up of several separate gangs, all operating out of the Hole-in-the-Wall Pass, using it as their base of operations. The gangs formed a coalition, each planning and carrying out its own robberies with very little interaction with the others. At times, members of one gang would ride along with other gangs, but usually each gang operated separately, meeting up only when they were each at the hideout at the same time." (READ MORE)
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
In one corner of the bathroom, the baseboards are square, but the walls are not. The red lines show where the wall used to be. They came out over top of the baseboards. It looks like the baseboards were there first, and then they tried to put in drywall. 
This corner has bothered me since I bought the house.
Starting about 4 feet from the floor and up, the corner is square again. (A miracle happened.) Apparently no one in cyber land has this same problem. Even if they did, they'd just say tear out everything and start over from scratch. An easier possible solution is to tear out just the corner, replace with thinner drywall, and use Quickset (plaster) and build up to make the wall run flat from one end to the other.
The tearing out started with the little mouse hole in the first picture... and kept growing.
By the way, I discovered there are cross-braces in the wall, so the blown-in insulation didn't get to the bottom of at least 3 wall cavities at the floor. Cold air was coming up through a hole from the basement.
Anyway, once you get the wall flat, you just go from there as usual with all-purpose joint compound and finish it. The Quickset cures in 45 minutes, so I should be able to get the wall flat today, if I keep adding coats and nothing else goes wrong. However it turns out, there is no backup plan, so I'm stuck with it.
This corner has bothered me since I bought the house.Starting about 4 feet from the floor and up, the corner is square again. (A miracle happened.) Apparently no one in cyber land has this same problem. Even if they did, they'd just say tear out everything and start over from scratch. An easier possible solution is to tear out just the corner, replace with thinner drywall, and use Quickset (plaster) and build up to make the wall run flat from one end to the other.
The tearing out started with the little mouse hole in the first picture... and kept growing.
By the way, I discovered there are cross-braces in the wall, so the blown-in insulation didn't get to the bottom of at least 3 wall cavities at the floor. Cold air was coming up through a hole from the basement.
Anyway, once you get the wall flat, you just go from there as usual with all-purpose joint compound and finish it. The Quickset cures in 45 minutes, so I should be able to get the wall flat today, if I keep adding coats and nothing else goes wrong. However it turns out, there is no backup plan, so I'm stuck with it.
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Something still wasn't right. There was a little hump in the wall in a place where it should either be hollow underneath or have cottony crumbles.
So I dug another chunk out of the wall. 
The culprit all along has been an old 4" x 4" sticking out about 3/8" beyond all the studs... and I almost missed finding it.
Chiseled it down flat and put in another chunk of new drywall. It's starting to look like a jigsaw puzzle.
Things should go more smoothly now.
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Has anyone tried Durham's Water Putty as wood filler?
Good reviews
Around since 1932
Mix what you need
In stock at Home Depot
Good reviews
Around since 1932
Mix what you need
In stock at Home Depot
Yes, I love that stuff! A nice big can, with a sturdy resealable lid. It's great for indoors, outside, not so much. I would highly recommend it! I like it because it keeps well in the can and I feel like I will never run out. REVIEW I have also used it to fill in large rotted out bottom of our side porch post. Can be sanded and painted. Not sure about staining to match wood. I love the look of the can, along with the low price.
How to Rock Hard. Durham's Water Putty Special. Will it hold a screw?
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Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Thanks for the recommendation. I've bought so many containers of various wood fillers over the years, where I just used a couple of tablespoons and then the rest dried up. Glad I stumbled onto this stuff.
The discussion in your first link answered the questions I could not find answers to in Home Depot/Amazon reviews. I'm liking Reddit in general.
Strange tests he performed in your video. I just want to fill 1/4" wide holes in wood. Should be perfect for that.
The discussion in your first link answered the questions I could not find answers to in Home Depot/Amazon reviews. I'm liking Reddit in general.
Strange tests he performed in your video.
I just want to fill 1/4" wide holes in wood. Should be perfect for that.
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Nancy Hart
Well-known member
I bought the smaller, one pound, can of Durham's Putty. It works great. Took about a quarter cup of powder to fill a dozen holes. The powder will still be usable a month from now, or a year from now. Sands smooth as glass. I think I'm in love.
The putty test video, with the big round holes, reminded me of the hole in the picture above. It is in the downstairs bedroom door. Someone installed a heavy-duty surface lock on the inside. The only key went missing and it had a tendency to snap locked accidentally,
so I took the lock out long ago. It can be filled now.
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
(4/23/25) Wednesday
Yesterday a young bluebird showed up on the deck all by itself. Could it be from this birdhouse, or is there another pair in the neighborhood?
I remodeled the bluebird house for cold weather on Feb 15th. Working back, it's been 65 days. More than enough time to have a fledgling on the deck by itself. Time flies. How could I have missed all the activity? I think they are early morning workers.
Head out to take the house down to modify for hot summer weather. Empty nest. No unhatched eggs. No new eggs. They had just started to build on top of the old nest. Many bluebirds won't do that. Cleaned it out, put it back. Just in the nick of time. I think they will start again.
Just now TWO little ones showed up on the deck.
Took down the chickadee house. No takers. It is too much in the sun for hot weather. Bluebirds harass the chickadees where it is located. Won't go back this season.
Yesterday a young bluebird showed up on the deck all by itself. Could it be from this birdhouse, or is there another pair in the neighborhood?
I remodeled the bluebird house for cold weather on Feb 15th. Working back, it's been 65 days. More than enough time to have a fledgling on the deck by itself. Time flies. How could I have missed all the activity? I think they are early morning workers.
Head out to take the house down to modify for hot summer weather. Empty nest. No unhatched eggs. No new eggs. They had just started to build on top of the old nest. Many bluebirds won't do that. Cleaned it out, put it back. Just in the nick of time. I think they will start again.
Just now TWO little ones showed up on the deck.
Took down the chickadee house. No takers. It is too much in the sun for hot weather. Bluebirds harass the chickadees where it is located. Won't go back this season.
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Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Grocery shopping at Kroger last night. The shelves were mostly empty. Non-perishables had already moved next door to the new Kroger Marketplace. They have moved the opening up to Wednesday, April 30th. The only thing they had that I went for was bread. Forced me to try some different, rather unusual things. I was getting in a rut. As long as they keep the groceries together on one side of the building and have wider aisles, I'll be happy.
Does anyone else shop at a Kroger Marketplace?
Progress as of mid-March
Does anyone else shop at a Kroger Marketplace?
Progress as of mid-March
Yvonne Smith
Moderator
I have not heard of Kroger Marketplace before, @Nancy Hart . Is that going to be a smaller Kroger, more like the Walmart neighborhood Market is, compared to the super centers ?Grocery shopping at Kroger last night. The shelves were mostly empty. Non-perishables had already moved next door to the new Kroger Marketplace. They have moved the opening up to Wednesday, April 30th. The only thing they had that I went for was bread. Forced me to try some different, rather unusual things. I was getting in a rut. As long as they keep the groceries together on one side of the building and have wider aisles, I'll be happy.
Does anyone else shop at a Kroger Marketplace?
Progress as of mid-March
I wish we still had a Kroger close to us because it is my preferred place to shop, but ours closed down several years ago, and the closest one now is a lot further away.
Bobby said that when he needs to go to Lowe’s, we can stop at Kroger as we go, because it is near Lowe’s; but I still will be doing my regular shopping at Walmart, since that is what is close to where we live.
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
There was a grand opening Wednesday with ribbon cutting, a band, and even the mayor showed up. I didn't go near it that day. Sneaked out late last night to take a peek. I love it! It's just right. Still mostly groceries. Wide, maybe 12', aisles. I found everything I wanted easier than in the old store, after years of going there, because they kept squeezing things in where they didn't belong, and rearranging things, in the old store.
There is a separate area with casual clothing. Prices way too high to even consider. A salad bar and a Sushi bar. I may have missed some things. Everything else is just an expansion of what the old Kroger had.
There is a Walmart Neighborhood Market here. Haven't been there because it's on the other side of town in a high traffic area. Don't know how it compares.
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Yvonne Smith
Moderator
I looked up the Kroger marketplace, and it appears that it is actually larger than a regular Kroger store, so more like a super center. We have one similar to that here, but it is way across town, and i have not been there for several years.
I do not remember if it had clothing, but it did have just about everything else, as well as the salad bar and sushi bar, and a machine that made milkshakes. I really liked it, but it was HUGE !
The Walmart marketplace is a smaller store than a regular Walmart, and just has grocery items in it, and not a 1-stop shopping like a regular Walmart, so it is much smaller and easier to find a parking place (usually). It has groceries and pharmacy and that is all.
I do not remember if it had clothing, but it did have just about everything else, as well as the salad bar and sushi bar, and a machine that made milkshakes. I really liked it, but it was HUGE !
The Walmart marketplace is a smaller store than a regular Walmart, and just has grocery items in it, and not a 1-stop shopping like a regular Walmart, so it is much smaller and easier to find a parking place (usually). It has groceries and pharmacy and that is all.
Nancy Hart
Well-known member
Your red car reminded me of my Ford Ranger.
A year ago, I reached up and back with the left arm to grab the seatbelt. Sudden sharp shoulder pain. Thought it would resolve on its own over time. Not much improvement so far.
The doctor's office recently began nagging about an Annual Wellness Exam. At least there was now something to talk about. Appointment last Friday. I had come up with my own internet diagnosis.
Tried to lead the Doc in that direction without mentioning it, in case she has SAVS (Small Animal Vet Syndrome). She took a picture with her phone to show me the left shoulder was slightly forward compared to the right. She was convinced it was a fracture and a shoulder dislocation. 
I keep forgetting that it doesn't really matter what the GP thinks. They will make a referral. This time to an orthopedic surgeon, but she wrote "possible fracture" on the referral. {sigh} Appointment May 9th. I think one of the 2 upper bicep tendons slipped out of a little groove in a bone in the shoulder where it's supposed to stay. Very common. No zebras. Not hard to fix. People often can fix it themselves, but sometimes it doesn't stay put.
I may be all wrong. We'll see.A chiropractor might be better.
All this slowed my momentum on the bathroom remodel project last weekend. Got some of it back now, since there is at least a plan.
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I would see a Chiropractor first, if I were you!Your red car reminded me of my Ford Ranger.
View attachment 559
A year ago, I reached up and back with the left arm to grab the seatbelt. Sudden sharp shoulder pain. Thought it would resolve on its own over time. Not much improvement so far.
The doctor's office recently began nagging about an Annual Wellness Exam. At least there was now something to talk about. Appointment last Friday. I had come up with my own internet diagnosis."Couldn't it just be because I've been favoring the left shoulder for so long, I've learned to hold it funny? "Nope!" Mentioned a snapping feeling. She corrected me, "You mean a click!" No, "Snap, like a rubber band." She knows how it feels?
I keep forgetting that it doesn't really matter what the GP thinks. They will make a referral. This time to an orthopedic surgeon, but she wrote "possible fracture" on the referral. {sigh} Appointment May 9th. I think one of the 2 upper bicep tendons slipped out of a little groove in a bone in the shoulder where it's supposed to stay. Very common. No zebras. Not hard to fix. People often can fix it themselves, but sometimes it doesn't stay put.
A chiropractor might be better.
View attachment 560
All this slowed my momentum on the bathroom remodel project last weekend. Got some of it back now, since there is at least a plan.
