Changing our look

Posted Jan 20, 2009 by Herbie — Comments (2) — Filed under: Personal, Geeky things

Hey Friends and Family

As promised in our last newsletter we wanted to re-do the look our our website.  It is still a work in progress if you are viewing this on the 20th and 21st.  The “Herbal Update” really no longer IS who WE are.  Lisa came up with the idea of calling our newsletter and website the “Drackley Download” so we are experimenting with what does that look like and mean.  Jesse Schutt has been a huge help in honing my skills of this tool called ExpressionEngine.  It takes some getting used to but really does a good job once you master it.  I am but an apprentice .

Well we hope you keep checking back and seeing more updates - Lisa is going to start getting involved too in posting some messages.

Home Improvements Part 03 - Before and After Shots

Posted Dec 04, 2008 by Herbie — Comments (2) — Filed under: Personal, Cross-ing's

Our home is looking like a home more and more.  So many people have helped in so many ways to get it to this point.  Here are some before - during - and after shots.

Here is a view from the kitchen towards the Family Room:

Here is a view from the hallway to the Front Door

Here is a view from the front door to the Dinning Room

Home Improvements Part 02 - new furnace

Posted Dec 02, 2008 by Herbie — Comments (0) — Filed under: Personal, Cross-ing's

Other improvements that have taken place is our new furnace (Actually it is an electric boiler that replaced our old boiler).  I have been concerned about that old boiler since I bought the place.  It would leak water all over the basement and run for hours before any heat would come from it.  My parents came to the rescue to help us out by getting us this new boiler and a water heater (the thing that looks like a missile ).  So, my Uncle Marlin and my folks came up to also help install it mid October.  We ran out of time to completely complete the job that weekend but there was enough help around us to keep the project going. All of these new electric appliances also needed a new electric panel which was put in by a good friend from camp Will Scott.

This boiler has been “fun” to install .  To make a long story boring, even after all the pipes and electricity were connected we couldn’t keep the pipes to stop leaking.  Mostly it was due to my inexperience on how to sweat a pipe properly.  I even tried to fix one of the leaks with an old rubber ball and some hose clamps.  It kinda worked - at least it helped build up the pressure in the system to expose other leaks I created in other areas But then there was this new invention called the PEX system.  Specifically, the “Shark Bite” system.  It is a true gift from the Lord.  It is as easy as putting LEGO’s together .  You can see how happy it made me.

We just received our electric bill for the Month of November and we don’t know if we are to believe if it is the truth.  It is 1/3 the bill it was last year at this time.  We pray that this is a truth we can depend on for this coming winter.