Random crap with Uno.

[E_T]

So, you had stated earlier that this last Halloween was more an experimental one than normal, so...  how did the experiment(s) pan out?

[Unorthodox]

So, you had stated earlier that this last Halloween was more an experimental one than normal, so...  how did the experiment(s) pan out?

Really a mixed bag. 

The lighting test, as is, violates Uno's first law of haunt lighting, in that the bulbs are obvious.  Granted, this was exacerbated by the fact we were HAMMERED by wind this year, but it's a thorn in my craw that I can't look past

THAT SAID, at the same time, it proved a yard wholly lit by props is POSSIBLE.  I'm not convinced it is IDEAL.  But some mixture should allow more limited torch use in the future (always a safety concern)



The first fence concept was an utter failure I didn't even picture, but the solution we come up with was great, IMO. 



New lawn care schedule meant my lawn didn't notice the lack of the bridge of death.  This is HUGE going forward... 

My prosthetic makeup job got more comments than anything I've ever done before.  I still don't love it...

[E_T]

well, if anything, the torches would have been a problem WITH all of the wind that you did have, so all is sort of good...

[Unorthodox]

Eh, my torches are more or less windproof.  The wind was mostly the day of the party, not Halloween night as well. 

[Rusty Edge]

Isn't it practically normal for you to get some hard winds in October? It seems like this is a constant problem.

How did you like the new external power outlets from your remodel?

[Unorthodox]

Isn't it practically normal for you to get some hard winds in October? It seems like this is a constant problem.

How did you like the new external power outlets from your remodel?

We religiously get a storm the week of Halloween.  20-30 mph is normal.  I normally just set everything down and rebuild after, or wait it out prior to set up.  This year that wasn't an option due to timing.  We braced the fence with some of the straw bales, and ended up staking rebar for those corn/grass bundles. 

This year's storm was 50-60 mph and no water. 

The outlets have worked great, save for one caveat:  I discovered they put it all on one circuit, instead of the 3 I asked for. 

I'm still night and day better off than before, since that socket was shared with the bathrooms, but wish I would have caught that when it was fixable.  I also should have put a few plugs in the soffit on switches for heat tape and Christmas lights. 

We even went to an electric mower with the convenience of power. 

[Geo]

The outlets have worked great, save for one caveat:  I discovered they put it all on one circuit, instead of the 3 I asked for. 

I hope you weren't charged for 3 circuits?

[Unorthodox]

The electrical wasn't billed that way, so cost wouldn't have changed.  Just a detail that slipped from the first meeting to when electrical was installed.  My fault for not making sure that didn't make the drawing. 

[E_T]

Well, maybe you can get an electrician in to correct that and add the soffit plugs...  At least get an estimate as to possible costs...

[Spacy]

Punch list it

[Unorthodox]

Punch list it

Too late for that. 

It's most likely a moot point.  I now have easy access to 3 circuits for halloween.  The 2 in the garage used to share with various bits of the kitchen, but are now both dedicated to the garage.  The other for the outdoor plugs will work fine as well, especially with the rise of LED lighting. 

The soffit decision was initially because we weren't replacing the soffits on the front of the house.  It wasn't top of mind when that was changed because of siding issues. 

Focus for the next few years is as follows:

Pithenge and perma path for back yard.

Sprinkler system. (might get pushed back to a later year)

Gourd tunnel (likely a rolling project, not a dedicated year)

Gazebo. 

[Spacy]

So, on a whim we put in a lowball offer on a house, as the plan for constructing our own house has been derailed time and time again.... and it looks like they might accept!?!

Crazy place.  https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/fsba,fsbo_lt/24567408_zpid/globalrelevanceex_sort/42.506401,-83.321965,42.492843,-83.342157_rect/15_zm/1_rs/

[Geo]

They're asking over 400000 dollar???

[Spacy]

That house, new build today, would cost about 1.2-1.3 million without the land.  The land at that location is worth over 200k without a house on it. 

Different areas have different pricing.  I don't know anything about the Belgium market (it is Belgium, right?), but that house almost anywhere in New York or California would be about 3 million.  Of course, if it was in southern Indiana it would be half that price.  We are getting it well below market as it needs work and the children with to finish with the liquidation of assets.  The work is mostly cosmetic, or bringing up to code from the 70's. 

[Geo]

Well. My newly built 1 bedroom appartment will set me back roughly 250k $.
For comparison, my parents buit a 3 bedroom house in '74-75 as well, and IIRC it costed them 110k $.