105 year old chimney

[Bkeepr]

Just for "proof of life:" I've been on a roof for several weeks re-building an old brick chimney. The 2-story building was combined wash house, summer kitchen, and smokehouse, though we use it for storage now. The roof is very steep and slick, and one half is ag metal, and the other half is old slate, and I feel like I'm working on a 20' high sliding board.

I thought the job was just going to be re-pointing a non-functional chimney, but it turned out that most of the bricks up there were just sitting loose the old mortar was no longer holding the top most courses at all.  Holding on for dear life, what could have been a 3 or 4 day job on the ground, so I'm working really slow so I don't break my neck. Anyway, I'm about ready to declare success. The Mrs says it looks good--exactly like before I started. The difference, though, is that the bricks are now solidly in place. I'm hoping it'll tempt the chimney swifts back-- they'd quit nesting in that chimney for the last 5 or 6 years.

Anyway, that's my life: fix what's decaying, and take my time doing it.

Hope y'all are doing well (y'all=all 4 of you!).

[GeneMO]

That sounds like a very worthwhile project. I had barn owls nest in my old barn for about 4-5 years. But dumb like I put out some mouse poison, I think they may have ate some dead mice and caused them harm. Had a fun time with the grandkids breaking open the "owl pellets" and seeing what bones and fur were inside. But on the positive side. Maybe the purple martins will come back now. The owls had pretty much scared them off.

Owls and Martins do not mix.

Hope your swifts come back.

Gene

[GeneMO]

While you are up there you need to hang a CB antenna on that chimney. I have about 6-8 old CB's in a box left over from our farming days. They sure came in handy. We ran them in the trucks, tractor and combine, and of course a base station at both of our houses. I think we had them from 1973 to about 2003. My dad loved to set in the house and gab to all the neighbors. They even met once a month for a carry in dinner. Had a regular club, with dues and everything. They are all dead now. I have a handheld unit, and occasionally take it with us on trips. Never hear much. Old days are gone.

Gene

[Bkeepr]

Cool idea! I recently found the old handheld CB I had when I commuted 65 miles each way every day into Washington DC. Like you, I tried it out— still works but not much to listen to nowadays. But it was useful back in the day.