Are You Sick of Snow Pictures Yet? (Window Trim 5)

I spent three hours shoveling snow today. Even though the storm lasted more than 36 hours, the snow wasn't all that deep--at the most, about 8 inches. It took so long to clear out because of how far I have to drag each shovelful in order to find a place to dump it.

I waited and waited for my plow guy to come clear out my driveway. (He'd come once mid storm, but I still wanted the last 4-5 inches moved.) By late afternoon, I stopped waiting and went to work on the flashing above the living room window trim.

The first two pieces of flashing installed.

The long third piece of flashing installed.

The middle short piece of flashing installed.

The housewrap tape applied.

The flashing is all done on the south side windows.

Also see:
Window Trim 1
Window Trim 2
Window Trim 3
Window Trim 4
Window Trim 6
Window Trim 7
Window Trim 8
Window Trim 9


The snow in the yard just keeps getting deeper.

And the snow keeps melting on the roof, sending water running down through the eaves to form thick ice on the outside of the old house.

I have been wondering when this large pile of snow is going to let loose from this tree...and if I'll be underneath it when it happens.

A Wiser Woman Would Just Get a Massage

Some other (healthier?) person whose personal life had suddenly turned to *&#! would go get a massage, take a vacation, drink, eat chocolate, go dancing, spend time with friends. What do I do? Move more snow!

By way of explanation, suffice it to say that I mistook myself for someone who has a love life. Thwap! Take that, you fool! Ouch. Okay, okay, I stand corrected.

Yesterday was cold but sunny, so I worked out my frustration by removing the remaining snow from the JayBee. It was more than three feet deep in the valleys on the north side of the roof, with another 10-18" snowstorm on the way.

Much better (even if I did drop my phone into the snow, causing the next couple of images to be quite blurry).

Unfortunately, the snow is now up onto the housewrap along the north side of the JayBee. Guess some serious landscaping is in order for this next summer.

After the snow removal, I worked with a storypole to try to figure out the exposure I will use when installing shingles. All I figured out is that 5" won't work.

Today, the new snowstorm has already begun. That didn't stop me from wrestling with more snow. I got this much of the shop uncovered. Couldn't pull off more snow because the extended pole on the roof rake hits the garage when I pull the snow off the edge. I haven't allowed anyone to walk on this part of the roof for years; it's not strong enough for that.

The JayBee already has a new layer of snow collecting on it. I should have just had a massage instead. Off to stain more shingles...

Window Trim 4

I have spent hours shoveling and moving snow each of the last few days. When not shoveling, I have been staining/weatherproofing more shingles, and I have been crafting some metal flashings to install on top of the window trim. The key blocks in the top pieces of window trim require a bit of custom work. Each window will have four pieces of flashing. Since I want the flashing to be inconspicuous, I am using cedar-colored paint on the part of it that might end up exposed.

The first two pieces installed in the key block corners.

Then the other two pieces installed.

As a final step, I put housewrap tape over all aluminum and nail heads that might come in contact with cedar shingles, in order to ensure the shingles don't react with the metals. I am pleased with the results; the flashing blends in enough to sort of disappear.

Second window done.

Also see:
Window Trim 1
Window Trim 2
Window Trim 3
Window Trim 5
Window Trim 6
Window Trim 7
Window Trim 8
Window Trim 9


Two days ago, Arlen shoveled off the roof. It was quite a job, especially since this west side had about three feet of snow on it. I used the snow scoop to haul away all the snow he tossed down. Of course we got more snow overnight. Yesterday, Arlen used the roof rake to get some of the new snow off. Arlen says if the snowbanks grow a few inches higher, he won't need a ladder to get up on the roof.

I guess this ladder is going to stay here until springtime now.

I thought the cats would forego going into the garage now that the snowbanks are so tall, but these fresh tracks suggest otherwise.

Here's Arlen heading out for another cross-country skiing adventure out behind the JayBee.

It's All About the Snow

During yesterday's snowstorm, I stained several batches of siding shingles--all in optimism that I will find a way to keep working on the exterior of the JayBee.

But, my world has become all about the snow.

Today, after two rounds of plowing, I headed out to shovel snow (surprise, surprise).

It took longer than usual because I was having to drag the snow quite a ways away from where it had fallen. I built a little snow ramp, dragged the snow from around the car, and threw it off the back side of the ramp using the snow scoop.

Even though the sun was out and I was working hard, I could not get warm enough. After an hour of shoveling, and a long ways from being done, I went back inside to warm up.

I cleaned up the rest of the yard with round two of shoveling. I have stopped adding snow to this pile. Once a snowbank rises above the bottom of a window, I think it's deep enough.

The snowbanks are now six feet tall. Notice how the septic system sign has disappeared completely?

It is getting difficult to keep open access around the west end of the JayBee.

Cat's view of the snow paths...

The ice dams on the old house are so bad, the water is coming down through the overhangs and freezing on the outside of the house. Guess it's time to shovel the roof. Yuck. Where will I put that snow?

By the time I was done shoveling, the sun was disappearing. The sky now looks like...
more snow is coming.

Window Trim 3

I cannot say today is the calm before the next storm. We are expecting another storm tomorrow, but today was not calm; it was extremely windy. It was quite a sound, hearing all the bare trees knocking against each other in the wind. Nice blue sky, though, and sunny.

The cold is always easier to take when in the sun, so I started on the sunny south side. Another window trimmed out!

Next up: trimming the window on the north side. There were good reasons why I had avoided going back there to finish up the window flashing. It was hard to imagine how I was going to navigate the ice and snow back there. And check out the snow on the roof! I could just see all of that letting loose and sliding off right when I'm underneath it all.

The bottom layer is thick ice that slants down the hill. Once when I fell, I almost disappeared underneath the JayBee. One good thing: The north side was sheltered from the wind. After my first exploratory trip back there...

A few trips of slipping and wrestling...and I had this set up. I completed the flashing around the window...

and started all the screws in the window trim.

Here is the trim resting on the plank, ready to be lifted into place.

After I was done, I almost had a highway back there.

North side window all trimmed out!

Also see:
Window Trim 1
Window Trim 2
Window Trim 4
Window Trim 5
Window Trim 6
Window Trim 7
Window Trim 8
Window Trim 9