Thursday, November 6, 2014

mind in the new rain gutter(s)

Dianne and Glenn Scatchard
Rappahannock Restoration and Repair Inc
agree to install the new rain gutter, two runs:
20 feet the section above the kitchen and "sunrise" room windows facing the Chesapeake Bay;
and 14 feet the section on the sunrise side of the large screened porch, also facing the Bay.
In the current week or next week (includes painting white the two treated lumber fascia board(s).

Friday, October 24, 2014

Life in Mathews County 2014

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in Mathews county. The Isle of Gwynn 23066 is a part of Mathews County.

Friday, October 10, 2014

what a difference a decade and one year - Hurricane Isabel

Hurricane Isabel 2003 a young family (three children) wound up at Mad Calf Lane 
to vacation for the weekend and wound up doing the massive cleanup. Tide surge 
came all the way up underneath the cottage (without lifting it off foundation pillars). 
Many limbs and trees down, it was a mess (big mess). Now, eleven years later, 
same family (kids now all grown) are returning to Mad Calf Lane for long weekend. 
Prayers that they get to enjoy (2003 there was no electricity which meant 
no running water and so forth - really "roughing" it!

Friday, October 3, 2014

movin' on up - dream of addition 3-season hurricane-proof

For more than 60 years the Pirkle family has had current cottage 15' x 45' army barracks world war II.
It is only about 24" or slightly more elevated above the ground on cinderblock columns. It is sideways
(broadside) to the Chesapeake Bay and very near (about 100 feet) from the current shoreline,
which has rip-rap (cost us bucks $**,000). Not heated, this vacation place is "3-season"
I am imagining an elevated 3-season annex (no plumbing, no heat a/c) perhaps 28' by either 16'
or perhaps even wider, such as 28' x 28' with hip roof all around
such that we could make a connection to
the current cottage 62 Mad Calf Lane. We own the "lot" adjacent
to the cottage, between there and the Baker (luxurious) property for sale bucks $***,000
http://www.homesinrichmond.com/listings/116-mad-calf-lane-gwynn-va-45-1411328/451411328/


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

down in the spout

To give help in getting into and out of the cottage, over the years I have constructed in two places a deck about 8' x 8' or so. One of these is in the corner of the large screened porch and the outside from kitchen window, so the "valley" of the metal roof guides prodigious amounts of rainwater onto the deck and the water also splashes against the exterior wall siding (stressing the paint job). I have contacted a contractor and requested an estimate. I want the big (5-inch) gutters and downspouts due to the heavy rainfall along the shore - Chesapeake Bay. We are planning to go down - before the beginning of November, 2014.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Almost Haven

In 1910 the Foster family built the house now known as 341 N. Bayhaven, Gwynn, VA 23066

Thursday, July 18, 2013

"Rafter" provides a wonderful opportunity for word play at the Bay shore. It could mean a person who sits or lies on a raft and floats. It also means those lengths of timbers that support the roof of metal and other materials. For this week at Pirkles' Perch it is the rafter feet that we have been covering for two days. The purpose of fastening fascia (boards) on the plumb - cut rafter feet is so that rain gutters can be installed. The first day we fastened 2" x 6" pieces first along the length of the screened porch, then above the kitchen window and window to the sunrise bedroom. By starting fairly early in the morning, we were able to survive the heat. The second day is today, Thursday. We fastened four lengths of 2" x 6" the whole side of the cottage nearest the road Mad Calf Lane. The last piece we cut just a few (about four) inches. Since the four pieces are each a length of twelve (12) feet, that means the cottage roof is not quite 48 feet in length. We used two tall metal ladders to do this work, returning both each day after we did the work. The remaining three pieces of 2" x 6" are left for the upper landing of the Perch itself, which by now is about 19 years old.