Pearl Sutton

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Ask around. You probably know someone who can determine if a fix is possible.

As well, the world is awash in perfectly good Windows 10 machines that can't be upgraded to Windows 11. And yes, they can still receive security updates until September 2026. After that, install Linux Mint!

Yeah, I paid 100.00 for one of those. And I have seen win 11 ewww :P

Mike Barkley wrote:

My Dad worked for the folks who invented the percolator, Landers, Frary and Clark, the Universal was its brand name.

He told me about the great amount of testing that went into figuring out when the coffee was done, but not overdone.

The magic number they turned up was right around 150 degrees F.

Was making a fresh pot of coffee when I remembered this post. Since the boiling point of water is 212' Farenheit & a percolator needs boiling water to function how did that particular brand of percolator work? Seems magical or something. Might it be a typo & 250 was intended???

If I recall right (and I might not) the reason behind the flat flared part at the bottom is it increases the pressure in a small area, making the water in that small area boil at a lower temperature, enough to bounce it up the tube.

I didn't have a tree, but I strung lights in the house, and yes they are still up and still on :D

Chival Lambent wrote:Pearl, thank you so much for the great information! I took your advice on several of your suggestions. Moving along into our 2nd 24-hour timeframe of ice/freezing rain/sleet/snow mix. Throughout the day, the snow plows have passed, some vehicles can be seen unable to reach the summit of a hill, many 4-wheelers and side-by-sides driving the 5-lane hwy. I took precautions yesterday and have been able to enjoy a few good books, hearty soup, calm music, and a warm fire today. Thanks again!
-AM

Chival: Welcome to Permies!
I'm VERY GLAD to hear you used some of this!!
I have soup too, fresh bread, and I'm sewing, nice peaceful day.
I got my bare feet wet yesterday evening, and walked around to see if I felt any more drafts, I win! I did not!! I'm dancing smug :D
More snow tonight, looking like by tomorrow noon or so I'll top out at 8 inches, give or take.
I'm glad I'm warm, hoping I don't lose power, but ready for it if I do.

Bever Branson wrote:I've been testing woodstove heat tendencies, window drafts etc for years with incense sticks.

This is how I do it, I'm atypical, and think sideways :D
Low budget air flow visualization

..when it's late January, a snowstorm is coming in, and you are canning.
In my defense, I'm claiming it's to heat the house for the night :D
But in truth, I don't even put away the canner, the weight lives on the back of the stove, the jar lifter and lid tongs on the counter by the tea. I don't even pretend to clean them up at this point.

I was working by my north door, and it was still drafty so it got reworked, this time I had a camera with me. I added one blanket to the top part of the door before I started the low part. That's where the main problem was. Main door covering goes outside too, blanket, Styrofoam chunk that is too small, the door, another small foam sheet, the drapes that magnet to the wall, 2 thin blankets, that mattress pad on top. (And the fact that all that isn't enough to stop the wind tells how how pathetic that door is! )

All the bottom stuff removed



Cardboard box as a windbreak



Tucked up with a blanket



Victims about to be used, my usual draft blocker and a blanket



Rolled up into a burrito and kicked up tight



Dead electric blanket folded so the wires support it, kind of stood up and forced to behave



Checked it, bottom is warm now, still a draft off the left side. Looked around, ended up with a chunk of trim wood probably from a trash pile, needed bulk, threaded a pool noodle from another project (that's sitting on the floor) onto it. (brooms etc were too short)



Spiffy! Put another one on



Stood it up, hey it reaches under the curtain rod! Even more spiffy!!



Needed something to  just kind of enforce it staying put... The vacuum that lives right in that area (still plugged in!)


THERE WE GO!! Draft free door!  Take THAT, you crappy door!!   :D

Incidentally, when I was preparing for cold this year (having looked at the long range forecasts) I saw that rug you see there rolled up at a thrift store, tried to move it to see if it had a tag, holy CRAP was that heavy!! Tag was 25.00. At that price, and weighing that much, I don't care if it's hideous or not, I have a VERY cold floor right there, if it's damaged badly, I'll cover it up.  It's in perfect condition. I had to wash it, one good spill on it, too much to be pee, maybe a pan of soup? Dried it on the the hood of my truck, took 4 days to dry. Not my colors, I don't care. It's heavy!!  5 foot 2  by 7 foot 11.  Wonderful score!!!  Every time I walk over it my feet say Aahaaahhhhh!!

Another picture... I always have curtain rods across this door with a blue blanket on one, a clear shower curtain on the other. Lets me adjust how much heat/cool/air/light come in it. I added the gray blanket yesterday, and the pieces of wood on the sides to hold it all tight against the wall. I hadn't thought of that until I realized the cold was coming out the edges at me, as the curtain rods are not tight against the wall, they need sliding room.

This morning I woke up to 16 degrees with a wind chill near zero. Nasty bitey wind. Usually, no matter how much the heat runs, this house feels cold.  This morning it did not, and the heat hasn't been running often to keep it feeling this nice. It's not tropical, but that constant feeling of "Augh it's cold!" is gone. Thermostat hasn't been changed. Only factor that changed, besides the temps dropped when the front hit, is I have insulated everything I can reach, all of the doors, windows, floors.

I'm WINNING!!!

I like the broken fence....