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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Hey! Who You Callin' A Drip?


Lots of snow here.
Maybe lots of snow where you are, too.


Snow on the grass, the driveway, the patio
and piled up against the sunroom.


Yup.  That's Dylan and Anne, below.
Yup.  That's a lot of snow.
(They are in front of a six foot fence.)

Howard, trying to keep up with clearing
snow from paths, so the dogs can get about their business!

Eventually, even when it is still below freezing,
the Sun begins to melt the vintage snow.

And replace that snow with . . . ice and water.
So far, our sunroom windows are managing to fend off
the efforts of the melting ice to storm the barricades,
and sneak into the house.

As for another part of the house,
the ice is being more clever.
Walls are not supposed to look like this:

This is the small wall to the left of my desk, in a little windowed
"bump out" that juts from our study out onto the front porch.

Lots of ice on the flat porch roof is damming up
the melting ice, and the water is snaking its way into the house.

Walls are weeping and paint is peeling.
The ceiling is beginning to look a little . . . umm . . . dampish.
The window frame was running with water a day ago.
What nerve.

When you own a house, especially a house as
old as That Old House, there's always something.

Hey. No point in fretting. It's all fix-able.
As my Mom used to say, 
"If it doesn't bleed, don't worry about it!"
Amen, Mom.

(We -- if by "we" I mean "Anne" -- went up to the 2nd floor window that overlooks the
ice dam, leaned out, and shoved a lot of the ice and snow away.
This has slowed down the drips.  Not counting the ones that dripped all over Anne.)

Stay warm and dry, my friends!  -- Cass

26 comments:

  1. I think you and my daughter (who lives in NY) had about the same amount of snow. Are you digging out yet?

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  2. Cass,
    We had an old house in Maine and every January and February the ice would back up and and leak. I finally would just poke a hole in the swelling and release the water into pails. what a mess. Hope it all clears up for you. Maybe a snow blower would help?

    Hang in there!
    Carol

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  3. Oh my - I am sorry. A little water can do a whole lot of damage.:(

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  4. Same here, snow, snow, snow, repeat. Our shovels didn't get rusty this year. We have a LOT of snow on the roof, too, and I'm hoping it will stay up there. The roof, that is, not the snow. I hope the leak has stopped, it's always something, isn't it?

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  5. I can't even imagine! I live in South Texas and today it may hit 90 degrees.
    Extremes everywhere-
    You have the right attitude though and a great spirit.
    Enjoyed visiting, and I am a new follower.

    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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  6. My last house had problems with ice dams and that was a home we built. My current home, over 150 years old, had a leak over my bed!!! Put in a new roof to take care of that mess and so far, so good. Flat roofs and snow aren't a great mix...both porches have flat roofs. Have resisted buying a roof rake and thought about pushing snow off the roof from a bedroom window. Not something I am anxious to do. I have had nighmares about ice dams, my sympathy is extended.

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  7. Water has a way of making its way into our homes despite our best efforts. Although we don't get ice dams in our area we do get a lot of rain and it is a constant problem to make sure it is draining off our roofs properly and not finding that one tiny little spot in the roof that isn't doing its job properly.
    The good thing is that you can see it and know it is there. You wouldn't want a mess like that in an attic and not find it until there is a terrible mold problem in there.

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  8. That is a scary sight indeed! I agree with your mother. Years ago, I read this: "If little children aren't dying from it, it is not worth getting too excited about." It has been my motto ever since.

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  9. I am tired of it! We got a roof rake to get it off so we don't get ice dams. Made it out today, first time in 2 weeks. Had a little retail therapy over in Riverhead. They had less snow over there. We barely got back in the driveway!
    A little warming and rain, then snow on Wed., or so they say! :(

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  10. Your pictures look so familiar. My sister lives near you in Landing and her pictures look just like yours. She has 6 foot hedges and the snow is up to the top of them. We have had a lot of snow here in Philly, but you have us beat. I like winter, but this has been too much. I am so looking forward to spring and flowers.

    I hope you can get your leak fixed. That is awful that it happened.

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  11. Yep...snow, we have tons of it too!!! Don't know where we will put the next shovel full when we get more.
    But IT'S WINTER...so it will snow.
    Yikes...we were afraid of the ice dams on the den/family room part of our house. Doug was on the roof Friday trying to get rid of some of it to prevent the leakage. So far so good.
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  12. Same here, so much excess this winter, cold and snow. We have some big ice dams, but so far so leaking. Hurry spring!!
    Feel for you, just another job to fix in the spring.
    Carol

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  13. Hi Cass,
    It's snowing yet again as I tap out this comment. So happy to know we are not the only ones living in a Pandora's Box aka old house! We have a wall that looks exactly like yours. :)
    Stay warm.
    Your Friend,
    Deborah
    PS Did you receive your package from The Fairfield House?

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    Replies
    1. Yes I did, Deb! And so unexpected. It will be in my next blog post. :-)
      Love, Cass
      PS Hope your wall is drying out . . . I'm hoping we can do the repairs to ours soon!

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  14. Hope we see your next post soon....missing one of my favorite blogs

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  15. I keep checking to see if you are back...I miss your blog so much!

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  16. I keep checking to see if you have updated your blog...I miss it!

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  17. Oh Cass, I miss you! Did all the snow melt?

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  18. I have missed your posts and hope all is well.

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  19. pretty nice blog, following :)

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  20. It is time for a Spring blog post!

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  21. I adore living in an old house, with all the quirks and kinks. Yours is beautiful and I hope you have many years of happiness. My time in my old house is coming to an end; a change of life seasons.

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  22. Hi Cass! Oh, I've been missing you!! I hope you're doing okay and I really appreciate your visit. Yes, I adore the Biscuit color! So fresh. I'll bet it would look good on kitchen cabinets. Hope the little fuzzy faces are doing well. I do read the antics on FB! Come back to blogging!!!! I miss you!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  23. Cass - we miss you! Hope all is well with you!

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  24. Cass,

    We miss you and hope all is well with you and your family.

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  25. I miss your blog. I pray that all is well with you and your family.

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