Never thought retirement would be like this

My first thought is that it is from a cemetery marker or memorial. Maybe they were Sisters.
NancyNGA said:
Is this as bad as posting a picture of what you ate for breakfast? :playful:

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I've been cleaning dirt and old mortar off the wall and re-discovered this brick. It was lying in the dirt in the basement when I bought the house and I saved it. The corner was already gone. It is not a clay brick, more like white stone.

I like to imagine the history of things like this. Who could Florence and Annie be? What was the occasion? Was the brick made when the house was built? I prefer to imagine that Annie was the woman who first lived in the house, and her sister (or mother), Florence, gave it to her when she and her husband started to build it. An old neighbor told me the husband died before the house was completed, but she lived in it until near her death. Very sad.

Flo & Annie would probably be surprised if they knew someone who is not even a relative would be interested in it.

First change in plans already! The concrete curb should go a few inches higher than the step (long story). That is doable.

I hate digging around the foundation of the house. I keep thinking the bricks are probably deteriorating and the house will fall down. They sometimes didn't do foundations carefully back then. Sure don't ever want any building inspectors in the basement. Ha!
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Don't know, Meanderer. It's probably something completely different and totally unromantic. :)

Another coincidence. In a post here last week I wondered if people collected flat rocks (say from river bottoms) for some purpose, rather than just rousting out snakes. Then in the Cowboy thread, I posted about the movie Shepherd of the Hills. In Part 6 of that movie, at 2:20-2:30, there is a man unloading flat rocks from a wagon. Doesn't tell me what they were for, but interesting timing.

Shepherd of the Hills (Part 6) 2:20

A captured image from the video.

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Btw, I believe that is Fuzzy Knight doing the lifting.
 
He worked for the Highway Department, over in the little Town of Flatrock.:confused:
 

Have you thought that maybe a letter is missing and it could be "Dannie" or "Fannie", etc. ? But as I look at it again, with the letter spacing, it is probably "Annie". Wow, interesting! I think you can go to the court house in your area and do a research of the property and it's past owners. What a find!
 
Maggiemae. Picked up a few blocks from Lowes---a little rougher cut, and more granite looking than concrete block. They will look fine. Two things I can't do neatly are lay blocks and finish concrete. I think it's an art that takes lots of practice. I'll muddle through. Maybe these will be easier.
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Another puzzle. ;) The lady that owned my house rented out rooms, like a bed and breakfast. I found her log book from 1939-1942. Her name was not on it, but it had this picture stuck inside. He is in a WWI uniform. Was that her husband?

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Meanderer, I'm going to Flatrock you. :playful: [I just made that up. It sounds impressive.] All the pieces of all my puzzles have to be put together eventually.
 
Nancy, I think that an imperfect looking finish to your block work would fit in better with the existing finish. Call it rustic.
 
Meanderer said:
Nancy, I think that an imperfect looking finish to your block work would fit in better with the existing finish. Call it rustic.
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THAT is what I call diplomacy. ... Will definitely have to strive for the rustic look. ;)
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children-blocks-masonry-constructions-toy-toy_bricks-jhan1264_low.jpg
 
Nancy, they will look so good! The trick is to get the first row (or bottom row) as level as possible and the next rows should go on easy. As for concrete mix...I always used the Quickrete brand. Just mix it the consistency of a cake mix batter. You can always add a little more water as needed but don't make it too thin. And just smoothing and "patting" it until smooth. Takes a little practice, but you will get the hang of it in no time. I'm excited....wish I could be there to help you! LOL
 
maggiemae said:
...I'm excited....wish I could be there to help you! LOL
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Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, maggiemae.

Wish you could help, too. I could hand you the blocks and you could lay them all. ;) I'd be your assistant gofer. Be patient. I'm slow because I'm still thinking. Too much. :rolleyes:

More later...
 
More on shelf project. Promise not to elaborate on all the things I know from experience could go wrong because of this strange house, which, notwithstanding, I love dearly most times. [Btw, notwithstanding is my favorite word. Glad I finally got a chance to use it. :)]

All the blocks are laid out where I think they should go, and the mortar is bought, but if I get this thing the wrong size, or in the wrong place, it can't be changed. So I'm thinking now I should build the frame for the wall above first, and hold it up there to see just exactly how it will fit. There will almost surely be a problem I can't foresee. The wall can be redone if I mess it up.

I'm not in the mood to do that though. :( I was all psyched to try laying stones. {sigh}

Btw, the floor is at least 1/2" lower on one side where the shelves will go. Another thing to remember. Picky, picky, picky...

Heading out to check on the goats this afternoon. That may be enough work today, 'cause I'll have to think about that wall now. ;)
 
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Nancy, I know how you are feeling...I will analyze and think in my mind a hundred different scenarios after researching a project on line! Yep, "dry fitting" before you actually apply any mortar will save a lot of time. The 1/2" difference can be adjusted with a bit more mortar on that side. But my theory has always been..."It's my house and if it's not perfect, so be it. Let the next owners deal with it after I'm dead and gone"!
 
Maggie, the problem is, every project I do it's always for the first time, so there is no experience to draw upon. Except painting, which I hate.:p Which reminds me, have you thought anymore on your painting job? Don't want to put pressure on you. Just asking. ;)

The next owners of my house will almost surely have a bulldozer ready. The lot is worth more than the house. I just have to get, hopefully, 20 more years out of it.

maggiemae said:
... my theory has always been..."It's my house and if it's not perfect, so be it. ...
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But will I be expected to post a picture, if it comes out awful? That's the catch. :eewwk:
 
Just a thought...why would you start from the top and then down? I would build my stone wall from the bottom at the height you wanted it and then put a couple of stones on each end that you could lay a shelf on and then add more stones to each end (depending how high you needed the opening to be) and lay another shelf. Does that make sense? I'm not sure I would go to the trouble of building a frame. What are you storing down there? LOL

And I don't even want to talk about painting until this plumbing work gets corrected! I can only deal with one project at a time! LOL And now it looks like we are going to have an early Spring and I will want to be outside playing in the dirt! No rest for the weary!
 
maggiemae said:
Just a thought...why would you start from the top and then down? I would build my stone wall from the bottom at the height you wanted it and then put a couple of stones on each end that you could lay a shelf on and then add more stones to each end (depending how high you needed the opening to be) and lay another shelf. Does that make sense? I'm not sure I would go to the trouble of building a frame. What are you storing down there? LOL
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You will be sorry you asked.;) The wall I'm referring to is easier thought of as just the back side of the shelves. The granite basement wall is very uneven, with big stones jutting out in odd places. You can't attach anything to it. Too hard to drill into. The shelves have to be straight up and down. What looks straight up and down to the eye right now may not be, at least not all the way across. Hard to explain. You almost have to be there and see it. :p

maggiemae said:
And now it looks like we are going to have an early Spring and I will want to be outside playing in the dirt! No rest for the weary!
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I know, some of my daffodils are out already and the mockingbirds are singing!!! Next thing---lawn mowing! No! Not yet.
 
Just logging in to prove by picture that I'm not completely loafing. Part of today spent chiseling off protruding bits of mortar, like this big blob, which would have made shelves not fit in the space neatly. :playful:

Before and after. (Surely I can lay blocks this well. :rolleyes:)

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The situation down there is not like anything found anywhere on the internet. I'll have to make it up as I go along.

Dentist wants to make another impression in the morning. :confused: Then out to check on the goats in the afternoon, then pick up some lumber. Maybe I'll get started Wednesday.
 
Meanderer said:
Nancy, why don't you embed the"Mystery" tile, you came across, into the mortared base?
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Meanderer, that is great idea. I actually considered it. It would really confuse the heck out of the next owner, wouldn't it. [Oh wait, the bulldozers will be coming.] It would have to be on a corner to get both sides to show. I'll see if I can work it out, just for fun.
 
Meanderer, that would be such a wonderful thing! Nancy, if this house is so old, you need to have it put on the register. It should never be torn down! Check with the Historical Society in your area and see what they can do to keep it standing. You might be surprised what old history is in that house! You have done such a good job maintaining it. Such a shame to let some contractor tear it down to build "student housing" and you know that is what they would do. There are "Old Ghosts" there that would not be happy! LOL Just messing with you!
 
Maggiemae, the house is just a little old bungalow style, nothing special. So far I've heard no ghosts.

Today I'm going to *try* to get started on something. Got some lumber. Heading to the basement to wander around a bit. First I have to clear out a bigger place to work. :rolleyes:
 

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