Month: August 2007

Made in China, Made in America

An article in The Boston Globe puts some good historical perspective on the adulterated and counterfeit products that China has been shipping. Apparently, we’ve been there and done that ourselves. Be sure to read the sidebar article on poisoned medicine. It reminds me of the big story in the news before 9/11/01. A pharmacist in Kansas City was diluting cancer medication.

Purgatory Chasm Charm

Purgatory Chasm, Sutton, MA

Yesterday, we hiked the poor man’s Grand Canyon, Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts. That sure looks like me in that picture, but as far as I know it isn’t. I grabbed it from here. But I own a green cap, gray t-shirt, and green shorts just like those. Weird.

Purgatory Chasm is a fun and free excursion. But be careful! It can be dangerous. Stay on the blue trail and you’ll be through it, and back along the rim, in less than an hour.

Pratt Porch Project – Day 11

We’re in one of those phases when there’s activity but the changes don’t appear to be huge. That will change when the wall board goes up.

The left photo shows the shingle that’s going up outside, and the new, smaller window that makes the porch wall intersection possible. The middle picture shows where the ceiling fan will go, and some of the electrical work. And on the right is more wiring and the wall sleeve for the air conditioner, loosely placed in the opening to check for fit. The wall sleeve came from an outfit in New Jersey called AM Royal, as mentioned back on day 3.

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Pratt Porch Project – Day 10

As the actor Jack Hawkins says in the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, “there’s always the unexpected, isn’t there?” If you look at this photo from day 2 of the porch project, you will see the shingle siding intact on the back of the house. We didn’t plan on removing it to make the outside wall of the house look like an inside wall, but that is what’s going to happen.

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The small window in the left photo doesn’t open, to avoid conflicting with the kitchen casement window. In the middle photo you can look through the left window to see the new window in the living room. Whoever built the porch framed it too close to the window, so a smaller one has been installed, allowing the wall to meet the house properly. And the blue dumpster seen through the window at right belongs to the house next door, which is for sale.