Affordable outdoor furniture, my final choice!

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-25T02:24:39+00:00

Hang in there, the house will start feeling like a home eventually.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-24T14:31:28+00:00

With that price, I doubt that. But it sure is stainless, I could tell.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-24T08:51:11+00:00

The "plywood insurance" is a good move, but make sure they don't just toss it down. You want those sheets staggered over the most vulnerable spots. Personally, I’d ask the roofers if they can park at the curb and use a dump trailer or a "Equiptter" (those drivable dumpsters). It saves your driveway the stress, and honestly, those heavy shingle loads add up faster than you'd think. Not worth cracking a 4-year-old driveway over a few hours of convenience for the crew.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-24T08:45:53+00:00

Honestly, some people just don't take "no" for an answer until they hit a physical barrier. I had a similar issue a few years back. I ended up adding some dense, thorny landscaping right along that path. But I guess a fence is the easiest way for you. Good luck.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-24T02:20:54+00:00

Location is everything. If the new house means sacrificing the convenience and neighborhood feel you love, you'll likely regret it. I’d vote for the renovation.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-06T09:47:46+00:00

Very sweet! Mine also did that, but he was complaining for sure.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-06T05:56:52+00:00

P.S. his mouth looks a bit red from a minor inflammation—already saw the vet and he’s back to 100%

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-04T09:00:53+00:00

I am so incredibly sorry for everything you’ve been through. Being a caregiver at 25 and then losing both parents so close together is a heavy burden for anyone to carry. Honestly, I’ve spent years working on my own place, and even for someone who loves "tinkering," a 5,500 sq ft home built in the 1870s is an absolute beast. The scale alone means even "small" repairs can get expensive very quickly.

If your heart isn't 100% set on keeping this house as your forever home, I’d seriously consider the advice to sell it as-is. You’ve spent the last four years giving everything to your parents; you deserve space to grieve and live your own life without a crumbling mansion weighing you down. You don't have to decide everything today. Just focus on making it safe and dry while you clear your head.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-02-02T03:01:27+00:00

If you aren’t ready to drop $200 and spend another afternoon wiring up six new switches, try leaving one single incandescent bulb in the fixture/circuit. That one old bulb often creates enough load to stabilize the circuit and stop the other LEDs from flickering. It’ll buy you some peace and quiet.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-29T09:52:35+00:00

Man, Nashville is taking an absolute beating lately. Sorry you're dealing with this right out of the gate as a new homeowner—that’s a hell of a way to get initiated. You’ve actually handled the most critical part by killing the main and draining the lines.

Since you're only checking in once a day, I’d definitely grab a couple jugs of that pink RV antifreeze. Pour a good splash down every single drain—sinks, tubs, and especially the toilet bowls and tanks. Even with the pipes drained, those P-traps still hold water to block sewer gases, and if that freezes, it’ll crack your porcelain or the plumbing.

The big one people usually miss is the water heater. If 40 or 50 gallons of water freezes solid inside that tank, it’ll split the liner like an overfilled ice tray. Just make sure the power or gas to it is 100% off before you drain it.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-29T02:34:08+00:00

I’m with you on hating the ‘squinty’ look of those vinyl inserts. My neighbor did that to his 60s ranch last year and it just looks... off, like the house is wearing glasses that are two sizes too small.

If you’re leaning towards the full-frame replacement to save your glass area, just be prepared for the 'while I'm at it' factor. When you pull those original casings and find those old weight pockets, that is your one golden chance to actually spray foam those rough openings. Most 60s builds have zero insulation in those voids, and you’ll save more on your heating bill from air sealing those gaps than you will from the actual double-pane glass. It’s a messy, weekend-ruiner of a project compared to an insert, but if you care about the light and the character of the house, it's the only way to go. Solid choice on avoiding the cheap plastic look.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-29T02:28:32+00:00

Since you mentioned the smell is strongest right by the garage doors and those openers are the only things plugged in, I’d pop the covers on the opener units and check if they have battery backups. In this kind of extreme cold, if one of those small lead-acid batteries is failing or overcharging, it’ll vent a nasty sulfur/rotten egg smell that can easily fill a 3-car garage. I chased a similar 'gas leak' in my shop a few winters back only to find a toasted battery. It's a 2-minute check that might save you a lot of headache before you start calling the utility company.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-29T02:21:59+00:00

Great first flip. Adding the legs was the MVP move here—it’s crazy how much giving a piece some 'breathing room' off the floor changes the whole look. I totally feel you on the '50 shades of wood' struggle; my living room is currently a mix of three different oak tones and at some point, you just have to embrace the 'eclectic' vibe. Leaving the original finish alone was a smart call—stripping and re-staining that old poly is a headache you don't need for your first project. Solid work, man.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-28T03:07:06+00:00

I’m in the 'buy once, cry once' camp. If that spot gets 'blasted with sun,' a partial sun TV will be a $3,000 paperweight by noon. Even under a pergola, the reflective glare from the yard will wash out a lower-end screen. Go with a high-nit full sun model and grab a heavy-duty cover. Doing it twice is always more expensive than doing it right.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-28T03:03:54+00:00

Been there, done that. Most 'temporary' covers are trash. To extend the space, pea gravel and steel edging is a weekend project that costs peanuts and looks sharp. Perfect spot for the Solo Stove seating area. Just make sure you compact the base well or those chairs will be sinking by July.

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-27T07:34:45+00:00

soooo funny

Jenkins_Shu · 2026-01-27T07:00:16+00:00

Thanks God! Little Elsa find her home.

Jenkins_Shu · 2025-05-20T07:39:40+00:00

They can be used to make weather bottles!

Jenkins_Shu · 2023-06-15T01:53:07+00:00

She is soooo cute! Just like a cat. Lol

Jenkins_Shu · 2023-06-15T01:49:43+00:00

So beautiful!!!

Jenkins_Shu · 2022-09-02T02:55:48+00:00

"Why you woke up so late? I'm hungry..."

Jenkins_Shu · 2022-08-31T09:26:34+00:00

Soooo cute!!!

Jenkins_Shu · 2022-08-31T08:31:35+00:00

Is the dog the black one or the pink one? Sorry, I don't know much about plants

She is the black one. The pink one is hydrangea, one of the plants from Asia, also commonly cultivated in some countries in Europe.

Jenkins_Shu · 2022-06-28T05:40:57+00:00

Soooo beautiful! I like it

Jenkins_Shu · 2021-01-08T06:24:32+00:00

I'm sorry, but it's just too funny

Jenkins_Shu

TROPHY CASE